Personal air filtration device

Abstract

A personal air filtration device and methods of using the same for providing a zone of filtered air proximate a breathing zone of a user are described. A blower provides an air flow to a head support which delivers the air flow to a zone proximate the users head. The air flow passes through a filter. The filter can be a point of delivery filter disposed about an air permeable surface of the head support. The delivered air flow can provide a laminar air flow defining a zone of filtered air about the user's breathing zone.

1 . A device for providing a zone of filtered air proximate a breathing zone of a user, the device comprising:
 a blower configured to provide an air flow;   a filter in flow communication with the blower to filter the air flow; and   a head support in flow communication with the blower, the head support configured to be positioned underneath a head of the user, at least a portion of a surface of the head support being air permeable such the air flow can be delivered through the air permeable portion to create the zone of filtered air proximate the breathing zone of the user.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plenum disposed within the head support and in flow communication with the blower, the plenum being adapted to distribute the air flow across the air permeable portion.   
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the plenum includes one or more support structures. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the support structures include one or more air flow passages. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the plenum includes a perimeter channel. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hose having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end coupled to the blower and the distal end coupled to the head support.   
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the filter is disposed within the distal end of the hose. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the breathing zone comprises a volume of air available for inspiration of at least one (1) liter in proximity of a nose or a mouth of the user. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the breathing zone is smaller than the zone of filtered air. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the zone of filtered air has a particulate concentration less than 50% of an ambient particulate concentration. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is disposed within the blower. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is disposed downstream of the blower. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the filter is a point of delivery filter, disposed within the head support and substantially coextensive with the air permeable portion. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the air permeable portion includes a filter cover. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the filter cover includes a hydrophobic composition or treatment. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the air permeable portion is the filter. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is a HEPA filter. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is removable from the head support. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the removable filter is secured to the head support by a mating zipper, wherein a first side of the mating zipper is attached to the filter and a second side of the mating zipper is attached to the head support. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the blower is configured to provide an air flow having a flow rate of less than approximately one hundred (100) cubic feet per minute. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the head support is adapted to be used with a pillow. 
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the head support includes a pocket adapted to receive the pillow. 
   
   
       23 . A device for creating a zone of filtered air proximate a head of a user, the device comprising:
 a blower configured to provide an air flow;   an air delivery surface in flow communication with the blower and in support of the head of the user, the air delivery surface configured to distribute the air flow to the zone of filtered air;   an elongated hose providing flow communication between the blower and the air delivery surface; and   a filter disposed within the device for filtering the air flow before it is distributed to the zone of filtered air.   
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the filter is disposed between the blower and the air delivery surface. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the zone of filtered air comprises a volume of air available for inspiration of at least one (1) liter in proximity of a nose or a mouth of the user. 
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the filter comprises the air delivery surface. 
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a plenum in flow communication with the blower and adapted to collect and distribute the air flow to the air delivery surface at a pressure suitable for maintaining the zone of filtered air.   
   
   
       28 . A method of creating a zone of filtered air proximate a breathing zone of a user, comprising:
 providing i) a blower, ii) a plenum in flow communication with the blower, at least a portion of a surface of the plenum being air permeable, iii) and a filter being disposed in flow communication with the blower;   positioning the plenum in close proximity to the breathing zone of the user;   actuating the blower, thereby providing an air flow to the plenum;   directing the air flow through the filter; and   directing the air flow to the plenum, thereby causing the plenum to inflate and direct the air flow through the air permeable portion of the plenum.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the filter is disposed substantially coextensive with the air permeable portion of the plenum. 
   
   
       30 . A method of providing a user with filtered air, comprising:
 providing an air delivery surface in support of the head of the user; and   providing a laminar filtered air flow through the air delivery surface that surrounds a breathing zone of the user.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the laminar filtered air flow is provided at a flow rate of less than 100 cubic feet per minute. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the filtered air comprises air having a particulate concentration less than 50% of an ambient particulate concentration.