Apparatus for enhancing the environmental quality of work spaces
OwnerRobert A. Baron, Frederick Haberinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for enhancing the environmental quality of work and living spaces is provided. The apparatus combines a high efficiency particulate air filter, a gas-adsorbent element, a means for moving air, a means for releasing a pleasant odor and a means for sound masking. The odor-releasing means and sound-producing means are designed to improve the affective state, and thereby the task-performance, of persons working in the space being treated. Preferred fragrances are citrus, floral, eucalyptus and mint, released at about 1 to 20 mg/hr. The sound masking is preferably accomplished by a sound-generating device which generates pink noise.
Claims13
An apparatus for enhancing the environmental quality of work and living spaces comprising:
- a) a portable housing;
- b) a high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter mounted in said housing, said HEPA filter having an intake surface and an output, said intake surface being accessible to air from the exterior of said housing;
- c) a gas adsorbing filter mounted in said housing, said gas adsorbing filter having an intake surface and an output surface, said intake surface of said gas adsorbing filter receiving air substantially entirely from said output surface of said HEPA filter;
- d) means for generating airflow from the exterior of said housing through said HEPA filter and said gas adsorbing filter and back to the exterior of said housing;
- e) means, disposed in said housing downstream of said gas adsorbing filter, for releasing into said airflow a controllable amount of fragrance;
- and
- f) means, disposed in said housing, for generating sound of a frequency and strength such that the combined acoustic output of said sound generating means and said airflow generating means is broad band noise having no outstanding pure tones, said acoustic output comprising sound waves in the range from 80 Hz to 10 KHz in frequency and 10 to 70 dB in strength.
An apparatus for enhancing the environmental quality of a workplace comprising:
- (a) a housing having two ends and first, second and third sides;
- (b) said ends being in the form of triangles;
- (c) said first, second and third sides being in the form of rectangles;
- (d) said first, second and third sides being joined each to one other at two opposite edges of said rectangles and to said ends at two other opposite edges of said rectangles;
- (e) said first side supporting a plurality of controls and an air intake;
- (f) said second side providing an air outlet;
- (g) said third side forming a base substantially in a horizontal plane;
- and
- (h) said housing enclosing filter means, air moving means, fragrance-releasing means and sound-generating means.
A method for enhancing the environment quality of a workspace comprising in combination:
- (a) lowering the level of particulate matter in a body of air within said workspace below 10.sup.4 particles per liter;
- (b) introducing a fragrance into said air in said workspace;
- and
- (c) introducing broad band noise into said workspace, said broad band noise comprising sound waves in the range from 80 Hz to 10 KHz in frequency and 10 to 70 dB in strength and having no outstanding pure tones.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.