US 5,397,382 AGranted

Bio regenerating air filter

AssigneeAlliance Research and Manufacturing Corporation

InventorWayne R. Anderson

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Abstract

A bio regeneration air filter having a pot for holding a filtering media and plant. The filtering media traps contaminates from air circulated therethrough and microorganisms associated with the root system break down the contaminates to convert them to plant food whereby the filtering media regenerates and need not be replaced. Air intake tubes draw air to or force air through the filtering media and communicate with a motor driven fan located in a base assembly which is removable from the pot. The fan can push air upwardly through air intake tubes, or reversely, draw air downwardly through the air intake tubes, whereby in either direction to bring ambient indoor air through the filtering media for bio regeneration filtering to occur. The pot may have an integrally formed air chamber for the air intake tubes or the system may include a separate air pan assembly forming a chamber below the pot and between the pot and the fan in the base.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A bio regeneration air filtering apparatus comprising:

a pot for growing a plant, means for containing filtering, media, the pot formed integrally with at least one upstanding air intake tube having an upper open end and a lower open end communicating outwardly of the pot;
means forming an aperture for passage of air to and from said pot and having means for mounting to a base member;
a base having a chamber therein, said chamber including a motor and fan mounted therein, said fan communicating with said means forming an aperture whereby to cause airflow therethrough, said base including means forming vents therethrough for communicating airflow to or from the chamber, said base having a bottom wall and fastening means securing said means forming said aperture to said base independent of and remote from said base bottom wall;
said pot being movable relative to and separable from said base and said means forming said aperture, and said pot being capable of resting upon said base in a substantially airtight manner whereby airflow may occur between said at least one air intake tube and said means forming vents in either inward or outward direction, and wherein said at least one air intake tube has said upper open end opening interiorly of said pot;
and,
a filtering media contained by said means for containing filtering media and extending to a height above said upper open end of said at least one air intake tube.

3 more elements

A bio regeneration air filter apparatus comprising:

a pot having means for holding filtering media and being formed with a plurality of air intake tubes, the air intake tubes having upper and lower open ends, said upper open ends opening into the means for holding filtering media, said lower open ends communicating with a central air chamber, the central air chamber integrally formed with the pot and having a pot-outwardly opening aperture for air flow passage therethrough and wherein said central air chamber and air intake tubes are water fight with respect to said means for holding filtering media, and means for covering the upper open ends of said air intake tubes whereby to permit air flow while preventing water and particles from entering therein;
a base comprising a chamber, a motor and fan assembly within said chamber, said fan being driven by said motor, a covering air disk member having an aperture therethrough for communicating with the central air chamber of said pot, means for mechanically fastening together said air disk member, the motor and fan assembly, and the base;
the base further having a screen and securing cap, the securing cap securing said screen over said aperture and to said air disk member, wherein said pot is capable of being supportively rested atop said base for providing air passage communication between said central air chamber through said aperture of the air disk member into said chamber of the base;
said base further including means forming vents for air passage to and from said chamber, said base having a bottom wall thereof, said means for mechanically fastening being independent of said bottom wall.

1 more element

A bio regeneration air filter apparatus comprising a pot and separable base:

said pot having means for holding filtering media, the pot being integrally formed with a plurality of air intake tubes having open upper ends opening to the means for holding filtering media and lower open ends, the pot having a bottom wall, the lower open ends of the air intake tubes opening through the bottom wall of said pot, said pot being capable of retaining water for a plant and being watertight around said air intake tubes;
and,
a base including a fan, an air pan, a lower portion forming a chamber for the fan and an upper portion receiving the air pan, the base capable of supporting the pot thereon and over the air pan, said air pan and said pot capable of forming an air chamber for air passage from said air intake tubes, the air pan including a bottom wall having an aperture therethrough communicating with the chamber for the fan, mechanical fastening means extending from said air pan to engage means for receiving the fasteners formed in said base, said base including a bottom wall, said means for receiving the fasteners extending from said bottom wall, air vents opening to said chamber for the fan whereby air passage may occur between said air vents and said air intake tubes, said air pan further including means for receiving a screen filtering assembly at said aperture, said bottom wall of said pot being spaced from the bottom wall of said air pan forming said air chamber therebetween upon resting the pot on the base.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.