Neck-worn air filtration device

Abstract

A neck-worn personal air filtration device for providing a zone of filtered air around or near a user's breathing zone is described. The device comprises a blower, a hose, and a neck-worn plenum including a filter. Air blown from the blower, passes through the hose and into the plenum exiting the plenum. The air is filtered by a filter for breathing by the user.

1 . A neck-worn personal air filtration device comprising:
 a blower adapted to provide an airflow;   a plenum comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, at least a portion of the upper surface of the plenum having an air permeable surface, the plenum being adapted to be worn about a neck of a user;   a hose connecting the blower to the plenum; and   a filter for filtering air flowing through the personal air filtration device, the blower being adapted to provide airflow to the plenum via the hose, the airflow being caused to exit the plenum through the air permeable surface, and the filter being disposed within the personal air filtration device to filter the airflow prior to or as the air exits the plenum.   
   
   
       2 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises a point of delivery filter. 
   
   
       3 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 1 , wherein the plenum is generally U-shaped and includes a neck portion and one or more chest portions. 
   
   
       4 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 3 , wherein the neck portion is adapted to be worn behind the neck of the user and the chest portions are worn on a chest of the user. 
   
   
       5 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 4 , wherein the air exiting through the air permeable surface is delivered to an area near a face of the user. 
   
   
       6 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 1  wherein the plenum comprises a chest portion generally shaped like a bib and adapted to be worn on a chest of the user. 
   
   
       7 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 6 , wherein the plenum further comprises one or more shoulder portions adjoined to a top edge of the chest portion. 
   
   
       8 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more shoulder portions are designed to extend around a back of a neck of the user to hold the plenum in position. 
   
   
       9 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 6 , wherein one or more connectors extend from a top edge of the chest portion. 
   
   
       10 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is removably attached to the plenum. 
   
   
       11 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 1 , wherein the plenum comprises a single air chamber. 
   
   
       12 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 1 , wherein the plenum comprises more than one air chamber. 
   
   
       13 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface comprises an air impermeable surface. 
   
   
       14 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 1 , further comprising support structures within the plenum. 
   
   
       15 . The personal air filtration device of  claim 1 , further comprising a generally air permeable cover. 
   
   
       16 . A method of providing filtered air to an area around a head of a user comprising:
 providing a plenum comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, at least a portion of the upper surface being an air permeable surface and including a filter, the plenum being adapted to be worn about a neck of the user;   providing a blower, the blower adapted to deliver air into the plenum; and   delivering air to the plenum, thereby causing the air to pass through the filter and into the area around the head of the user.