Air Purifying Apparatus, Method and System

Abstract

An air-purifying apparatus draws in an airflow from an ambient environment, kills germs in the airflow within the apparatus and expels the airflow purified back into the environment. The apparatus has a housing with an interior chamber. An airflow enters the chamber through an inlet. From the interior chamber, the airflow is expelled through an outlet. The apparatus has an airflow-germ-killing-system that kills germs in the airflow. The apparatus has an airflow-generator which causes the airflow to flow from the inlet to the outlet. In an aspect of the invention, the apparatus has a three-dimensional filter structure that has air-filter-surfaces that define a filter interior region and encompassed by the air-filter-surfaces of the filter structure. The filter is positioned in connection with the inlet so that airflow entering the inlet is dispersed into the housing interior chamber in multiple directions exclusively through the air-filter-surfaces of the three-dimensional filter structure.

1 . A human-activity-environment air-purifying apparatus that draws in an airflow from an ambient human-activity-environment, kills germs in the airflow within the apparatus and expels the airflow purified back into the human-activity-environment, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior chamber into which an airflow enters through an inlet and from which interior chamber the airflow is expelled through an outlet;   an airflow-germ-killing-system adapted to kill germs in the airflow;   an airflow-generator which causes the airflow to flow from the inlet to the outlet;   wherein the inlet includes multiple inlet apertures that are arranged, when in use mounted on a wall, to each draw in part of any incoming airflow from a different direction relative to other of the multiple inlets.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus, when mounted on the wall, has a central axis, and each of the inlet apertures has a plane that defines a front face of its opening, and wherein the plane of one of the inlet apertures is not co-planar with the plane of the other of the inlet apertures. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the respective planes of each of the apertures are not perpendicular to the central axis in order that the face of each inlet aperture points away from the central axis and not directly downwards in the direction of the central axis. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus of either of  claim 2  or  3  wherein the multiple inlet apertures are able, in use, to each draw in part of any incoming airflow in a lateral direction relative to the central axis. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus of any one of  claims 2  to  4  wherein the inlet includes two inlet apertures that draw in the incoming airflow laterally from the right hand side and left hand side of the central axis. 
     
     
         6 . A human-activity-environment air-purifying apparatus that draws in an airflow from an ambient human-activity-environment, kills germs in the airflow within the apparatus and expels the airflow purified back into the human-activity-environment, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior chamber into which an airflow enters through an inlet and from which interior chamber the airflow is expelled through an outlet;   an airflow-germ-killing-system adapted to kill germs in the airflow;   an airflow-generator which causes the airflow to flow from the inlet to the outlet;   wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system includes a three-dimensional filter structure comprising air-filter-surfaces that define a filter interior region therein and encompassed by the air-filter-surfaces of the filter structure, the encompassed filter interior region, in use, positioned in connection with the inlet so that airflow entering the inlet is dispersed into the housing interior chamber in multiple directions exclusively through the air-filter-surfaces of the three-dimensional filter structure.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the three-dimensional filter structure is formed as a container or a box with one side fully opened 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus of either of  claim 6  or  7  wherein the air-filter-surfaces include wall-structure and ceiling-structure. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus of any one of  claims 6  to  8  wherein the air-filter-surfaces comprise a non-flat surface structure. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus of any one of  claims 6  to  9  wherein the air-filter-surfaces comprise a multi-faceted surface structure having a pleated or, corrugated structure. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus of any one of  claims 6  to  10  wherein the air-filter-surfaces comprise multiple layers of different filter material, and wherein the multiple layers of the air-filter-surfaces comprise a sequence of layers from nearest to the filter interior region to furthest from the filter interior region as follows:
 i) a germ-killing filter layer that carries germ-killing-substance; and 
 ii) a germ-killing-substance interception filter layer that intercepts or substantially intercepts the germ-killing-substance. 
 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said sequence of layers from nearest to the filter interior region to furthest from the filter interior region comprises:
 i) said germ-killing filter layer that carries germ-killing-substance; and 
 ii) said germ-killing-substance interception filter layer that intercepts or substantially intercepts the germ-killing-substance, and 
 iii) a material entrapment layer that entraps at least any filter material that come from said germ-killing filter layer and said germ-killing-substance interception filter layer. 
 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus of either  claim 11  or  12  wherein the germ-killing-substance interception filter layer includes charcoal or carbon. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the material entrapment layer includes anti-fibre-migration filter material that is able to entrap material that has potential to cause nasal irritation or allergies in humans. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus of any one of  claims 6  to  14 , wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system comprises germ-killing-substance positioner that is able to position one or more sources of one or more air-diffusible germ-killing-substances inside the filter interior region that air-diffuse the germ-killing-substances upon engagement with any airflow in the filter interior region. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus of  claim 15  wherein each of the one or more sources before air-diffusion occurs is initially in the form of a solid or gel. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus of any one of  claims 6  to  16  wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system includes a wick-delivery-system that includes a wick mechanism able to effuse into the airflow within the apparatus a germ-killing-liquid-substance stored in a replaceable container. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the wick-delivery-system includes a filter holder that is able to support the wick mechanism and also a further germ-killing-substance interception filter layer that intercepts the germ-killing-liquid-substance that effuses from the wick mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the filter holder is also able to support a further material entrapment layer that entraps at least any filter material that comes from said further germ-killing-substance interception filter layer. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus of either  claim 18  or  19  where the filter holder includes one or more side apertures adapted to allow, in use, a portion of the airflow to enter the filter holder through the one or more side apertures so as to pass across a face of the further filter layer while, in use, another portion of the airflow enters through the further filter layer, such that the passage of airflow through the one or more side apertures serves to draw the airflow through the further filter layer. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus of any one of  claims 6  to  20  wherein the apparatus includes airflow-path-size-alterable arrangement that enables adjustment of the size of at least part of a path that the airflow takes within the apparatus. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the airflow-generator includes a fan in a fan-housing and also includes a motor in a motor-housing, said part of the path that the airflow takes includes a gap between the fan-housing and the motor-housing, and wherein the airflow-path-size-alterable arrangement is able to allow adjustment of the gap in order to alter any airflow through the gap. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus of any one of  claims 6  to  22  wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system includes a germ-killing-substance-sprayer that sprays germ-killing-liquid-substance into the airflow at a location where, in use, the germ-killing-liquid-substance does not coat onto surfaces of the apparatus itself. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the germ-killing-substance-sprayer is arranged to spray the germ-killing-liquid-substance into the airflow at a point where, in use, the airflow has already exited the apparatus so as not to coat onto surfaces of the apparatus itself. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the germ-killing-substance-sprayer has a spray-outlet in the form of an arrangement of several atomizer spray ducts which are arranged on a duct-support, each of the spray ducts arranged to spray liquid in a different direction. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the duct-support is able to be rotated as spray is emitted from its spray ducts. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the duct-support has a direction of rotation that is able to be intermittently and periodically changed from clockwise to anti-clockwise. 
     
     
         28 . Use of an apparatus according to any one of  claims 6  to  27  wherein an anti-germ substance used in or inside the three-dimensional filter structure is substantially toxic to humans, and any anti-germ substance used elsewhere in the filter interior region, airflow path and outside of the three-dimensional filter structure is substantially non-toxic to humans. 
     
     
         29 . A method of using an apparatus according to any one of  claims 6  to  27  wherein an anti-germ substance used in or inside the three-dimensional filter structure is substantially toxic to humans, and any anti-germ substance used elsewhere in the filter interior region, airflow path and outside of the three-dimensional filter structure is substantially non-toxic to humans. 
     
     
         30 . An airflow-germ-killing-system-filter adapted to be used in a human-activity-environment air-purifying apparatus that draws in an airflow from an ambient human-activity-environment, kills germs in the airflow within the apparatus and expels the airflow purified back into the human-activity-environment, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior chamber into which an airflow enters through an inlet and from which interior chamber the airflow is expelled through an outlet;   an airflow-germ-killing-system adapted to kill germs in the airflow;   an airflow-generator which causes the airflow to flow from the inlet to the outlet;   wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system-filter comprises a three-dimensional filter structure having air-filter-surfaces that define a filter interior region therein and encompassed by the air-filter-surfaces of the filter structure, the encompassed filter interior region, in use, positioned in connection with the inlet so that airflow entering the inlet is dispersed into the interior chamber in multiple directions exclusively through the air-filter-surfaces of the three-dimensional filter structure.   
     
     
         31 . A filter of  claim 30  wherein the three-dimensional filter structure is formed as a container or a box with one side fully opened. 
     
     
         32 . A filter of either of  claim 30  or  31  wherein the air-filter-surfaces include wall-structure and ceiling-structure. 
     
     
         33 . A filter of any one of  claims 30  to  32  wherein the air-filter-surfaces comprise a non-flat surface structure. 
     
     
         34 . A filter of any one of  claims 30  to  33  wherein the air-filter-surfaces comprise a multi-faceted surface structure having a pleated or corrugated structure. 
     
     
         35 . A filter of any one of  claims 30  to  34  wherein the air-filter-surfaces comprise multiple layers of different filter material, and wherein the multiple layers of the air-filter-surfaces comprise a sequence of layers from nearest to the filter interior region to furthest from the filter interior region as follows:
 i) a germ-killing filter layer that carries germ-killing-substance; and 
 ii) a germ-killing-substance interception filter layer that intercepts or substantially intercepts the germ-killing-substance. 
 
     
     
         36 . A filter of  claim 35  wherein said sequence of layers from nearest to the filter interior region to furthest from the filter interior region comprises:
 i) said germ-killing filter layer that carries germ-killing-substance; and 
 ii) said germ-killing-substance interception filter layer that intercepts or substantially intercepts the germ-killing-substance, and 
 iii) a material entrapment layer that entraps at least any filter material that come from said germ-killing filter layer and said germ-killing-substance interception filter layer. 
 
     
     
         37 . A filter of either  claim 35  or  36  wherein the germ-killing-substance interception filter layer includes charcoal or carbon. 
     
     
         38 . A human-activity-environment air-purifying apparatus that draws in an airflow from an ambient human-activity-environment, kills germs in the airflow within the apparatus and expels the airflow purified back into the human-activity-environment, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior chamber into which an airflow enters through an inlet and from which interior chamber the airflow is expelled through an outlet;   an airflow-germ-killing-system adapted to kill germs in the airflow;   an airflow-generator which causes the airflow to flow from the inlet to the outlet; wherein the apparatus has an underside and a base-mounting adapted to be attached to a wall, and wherein both the inlet and the outlet are on the underside of the apparatus such that the inlet is not between the outlet and the base-mounting.   
     
     
         39 . An apparatus of  claim 38  wherein the inlet and outlet are arranged on the underside generally in a row or sequence where the direction of the row or sequence is generally alongside the base-mounting. 
     
     
         40 . An apparatus of either  claim 38  or  39  where, on the surface where the outlet and inlet are positioned, the inlet occupies a very substantial portion of said surface that is outside the outgoing-airflow-protected-surface-region. 
     
     
         41 . A vacuum cleaner air-purifying apparatus that draws in an airflow from an ambient human-activity-environment, kills germs in the airflow within the apparatus and expels the airflow purified back into the human-activity-environment, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior chamber into which an airflow enters through an inlet and from which interior chamber the airflow is expelled through an outlet;   an airflow-germ-killing-system adapted to kill germs in the airflow;   an airflow-generator which causes the airflow to flow from the inlet to the outlet;   wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system includes a three-dimensional filter structure comprising air-filter-surfaces that define a filter interior region therein and encompassed by the air-filter-surfaces of the filter structure, the encompassed filter interior region, in use, positioned in connection with a path of the airflow inside the vacuum cleaner so that airflow entering the inlet is dispersed into the housing interior chamber in multiple directions exclusively through the air-filter-surfaces of the three-dimensional filter structure.   
     
     
         42 . A human-activity-environment air-purifying apparatus that draws in an airflow from an ambient human-activity-environment, kills germs in the airflow within the apparatus and expels the airflow purified back into the human-activity-environment, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior chamber into which an airflow enters through an inlet and from which interior chamber the airflow is expelled through an outlet;   an airflow-germ-killing-system adapted to kill germs in the airflow;   an airflow-generator which causes the airflow to flow from the inlet to the outlet;   wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system includes a wick-delivery-system that includes a wick mechanism able to effuse into the airflow within the apparatus a germ-killing-liquid-substance stored in a replaceable container.   
     
     
         43 . An apparatus of  claim 42  wherein the wick-delivery-system includes a filter holder that is able to support the wick mechanism and also a further germ-killing-substance interception filter layer that intercepts the germ-killing-liquid-substance that effuses from the wick mechanism. 
     
     
         44 . An apparatus of  claim 43  wherein the filter holder is also able to support a further material entrapment layer that entraps at least any filter material that comes from said further germ-killing-substance interception filter layer. 
     
     
         45 . An apparatus of either  claim 43  or  44  where the filter holder includes one or more side apertures adapted to allow, in use, a portion of the airflow to enter the filter holder through the one or more side apertures so as to pass across a face of the further filter layer while, in use, another portion of the airflow enters through the further filter layer, such that the passage of airflow through the one or more side apertures serves to draw the airflow through the further filter layer. 
     
     
         46 . A human-activity-environment air-purifying apparatus that draws in an airflow from an ambient human-activity-environment, kills germs in the airflow within the apparatus and expels the airflow purified back into the human-activity-environment, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior chamber into which an airflow enters through an inlet and from which interior chamber the airflow is expelled through an outlet;   an airflow-germ-killing-system adapted to kill germs in the airflow;   an airflow-generator which causes the airflow to flow from the inlet to the outlet;   wherein the apparatus includes airflow-path-size-alterable arrangement that enables adjustment of the size of at least part of a path that the airflow takes within the apparatus.   
     
     
         47 . An apparatus of  claim 46  wherein the airflow-generator includes a fan in a fan-housing and also includes a motor in a motor-housing, said part of the path that the airflow takes includes a gap between the fan-housing and the motor-housing, and wherein the airflow-path-size-alterable arrangement is able to allow adjustment of the gap in order to alter any airflow through the gap. 
     
     
         48 . A human-activity-environment air-purifying apparatus that draws in an airflow from an ambient human-activity-environment, kills germs in the airflow within the apparatus and expels the airflow purified back into the human-activity-environment, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior chamber into which an airflow enters through an inlet and from which interior chamber the airflow is expelled through an outlet;   an airflow-germ-killing-system adapted to kill germs in the airflow;   an airflow-generator which causes the airflow to flow from the inlet to the outlet;   wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system includes a germ-killing-substance-sprayer that is able to spray germ-killing-liquid-substance into the airflow at a location where, in use, the germ-killing-liquid-substance does not coat onto surfaces of the apparatus itself.   
     
     
         49 . An apparatus of  claim 48  wherein the germ-killing-substance-sprayer is arranged to spray the germ-killing-liquid-substance into the airflow at a point where, in use, the airflow has already exited the apparatus so as not to coat onto surfaces of the apparatus itself. 
     
     
         50 . An apparatus of either  claim 48  or  49  wherein the germ-killing-substance-sprayer has a spray-outlet in the form of an arrangement of several atomizer spray ducts which are arranged on a duct-support, each of the spray ducts arranged to spray liquid in a different direction. 
     
     
         51 . An apparatus of  claim 50  wherein the duct-support is able to be rotated as spray is emitted from its spray ducts. 
     
     
         52 . An apparatus of  claim 51  wherein the duct-support has a direction of rotation that is able to be intermittently and periodically changed from clockwise to anti-clockwise. 
     
     
         53 . A method of using the apparatus in any one of only the apparatus claims in the above  claims 1  to  52 . 
     
     
         54 . A human-activity-environment air-purifying apparatus that draws in an airflow from an ambient human-activity-environment, kills germs in the airflow within the apparatus and expels the airflow purified back into the human-activity-environment, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior chamber into which an airflow enters through an inlet and from which interior chamber the airflow is expelled through an outlet;   an airflow-germ-killing-system adapted to kill germs in the airflow;   an airflow-generator which causes the airflow to flow from the inlet to the outlet;   wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system includes a germ-killing-substance-sprayer that sprays germ-killing-liquid-substance into the airflow,   and wherein the germ-killing-liquid-substance comprises at least one antimicrobial agent and a disperser.   
     
     
         55 . An apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent is a quaternary ammonium salt and the disperser is an alkyl glucoside. 
     
     
         56 . An apparatus of  claim 54  or  55 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent includes a first anti microbial agent comprising alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and a second anti microbial agent comprising didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride. 
     
     
         57 . An apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein the ratio between the first and the second antimicrobial agent is approximately 4:6. 
     
     
         58 . An apparatus of any one of  claims 54  to  57 , wherein the disperser includes one or more of decylglucoside and octylglucoside. 
     
     
         59 . An apparatus of any one of  claims 54  to  58 , wherein the disperser includes decylglucoside and octylglucoside in the ratio of approximately 6:5. 
     
     
         60 . An apparatus of any one of  claims 54  to  59 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent includes a third antimicrobial a biguanide. 
     
     
         61 . An apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the biguanide is poly-hexamethylene biguanide. 
     
     
         62 . An apparatus of  claim 60  or  61  when dependent on any one of  claims 56  to  59 , wherein the ratio of the combination of the first and second antimicrobial agents to the third antimicrobial agent is approximately 1:1. 
     
     
         63 . An apparatus of any one of  claims 54  to  62  wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system includes a three-dimensional filter structure which is in accordance with any one of  claims 30  to  37 . 
     
     
         64 . Use of a germ-killing-liquid-substance in a human-activity-environment air-purifying apparatus that draws in an airflow from an ambient human-activity-environment, kills germs in the airflow within the apparatus and expels the airflow purified back into the human-activity-environment, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an interior chamber into which an airflow enters through an inlet and from which interior chamber the airflow is expelled through an outlet;   an airflow-germ-killing-system adapted to kill germs in the airflow;   an airflow-generator which causes the airflow to flow from the inlet to the outlet;   wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system includes a germ-killing-substance-sprayer that is able to spray germ-killing-liquid-substance into the airflow,   and wherein the germ-killing-liquid-substance comprises at least one antimicrobial agent and a disperser.   
     
     
         65 . Use of a germ-killing-liquid-substance of  claim 64 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent is a quaternary ammonium salt and the disperser is an alkyl glucoside. 
     
     
         66 . Use of a germ-killing-liquid-substance of  claim 64  or  65 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent includes a first anti microbial agent comprising alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and a second anti microbial agent comprising didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride. 
     
     
         67 . Use of a germ-killing-liquid-substance of any one of  claims 64  to  66  wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system includes a three-dimensional filter structure which is in accordance with any one of  claims 30  to  37 . 
     
     
         68 . A method of spraying at least one antimicrobial agent onto and spreading the agent over a user's hands, the method comprising:
 spraying a germ-killing-liquid-substance using a human-activity-environment air-purifying apparatus that draws in an airflow from an ambient human-activity-environment, kills germs in the airflow within the apparatus and expels the airflow purified back into the human-activity-environment, the apparatus comprising:   a housing having an interior chamber into which an airflow enters through an inlet and from which interior chamber the airflow is expelled through an outlet;   an airflow-germ-killing-system adapted to kill germs in the airflow;   an airflow-generator which causes the airflow to flow from the inlet to the outlet;   wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system includes a germ-killing-substance-sprayer that is used to spray the germ-killing-liquid-substance into the airflow,   and wherein the germ-killing-liquid-substance comprises at least one antimicrobial agent and a disperser,   and wherein the germ-killing-liquid-substance comprises at least one antimicrobial agent and a disperser, and the method includes using the airflow and the disperser to spread the least one antimicrobial agent across the user's skin of the hands.   
     
     
         69 . A method of  claim 68  wherein the airflow-germ-killing-system includes a three-dimensional filter structure which is in accordance with any one of  claims 30  to  37 .