US 6,312,507 B1 · Electro-kinetic ionic air refreshener-conditioner for pet shelter and litter box

Abstract

A hand-holdable electro-kinetic electro-static ionic air refreshener-conditioner for a pet shelter or litter box includes a self-contained ion generator that provides electro-kinetically moved air with ions and safe amounts of ozone. The ion generator includes a high voltage pulse generator whose output pulses are coupled between first and second electrode arrays. Preferably the first array comprises one or more pin-like electrodes and the second array comprises one more washer-like electrodes. Preferably a ratio between effective area of an electrode in the second array compared to effective area of an electrode in the first array exceeds about 15:1 and preferably is about 20:1. An electric field produced by the high voltage pulses between the arrays produces an electrostatic flow of ionized air containing safe amounts of ozone. Optionally, a sensor detects odor adjacent the refreshener-conditioner causes the ion generator to be activated when sensed odor exceeds a predetermined threshold. Odor-activation of the ion generator can be open or closed loop. A bias electrode, electrically coupled to the second array electrodes, affects net polarity of ions generated. The outflow of ionized air and ozone is thus conditioned.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A self-contained hand-held sized electro-kinetic air transporter-conditioner adapted for use with an animal container, comprising:

a housing defining at least one vent;
means for attaching said housing to a portion of said animal container;
a self-contained ion generator, disposed within said housing, including a high voltage generator having first and second output ports, one of which ports may be at a same potential as ambient air, that outputs a signal whose duty cycle can be about 10% to about 100%;
and
an electrode assembly, effectively coupled between said output ports of said generator, comprising a first electrode array, and a second electrode array;
wherein said ion generator outputs an electrostatic flow in a downstream direction toward said second electrode array, said electrostatic flow including at least one of ionized air and ozone;
wherein at least some particulate matter entrained in said flow collects on at least a region of said second electrode array.

4 more elements

A self-contained hand-held sized electro-kinetic air transporter-conditioner adapted for use with an animal container, comprising:

a housing defining at least one vent;
means for attaching said housing to a portion of said animal container;
a high voltage generator, disposed within said housing, having first and second output ports, one of which ports may be at a same potential as ambient air, that outputs a signal whose duty cycle can be about 10% to about 100%;
and
an electrode assembly, effectively coupled between said output ports of said generator, comprising a first electrode array that includes at least one electrically conductive electrode having a pointed tip aimed generally in a downstream direction, and a second electrode array that includes at least one electrically conductive member through which there is defined at least one substantially circular opening disposed generally coaxial with and in a downstream direction from said pointed tip of said electrically conductive electrode, said electrically conductive member having a surface that faces said first electrode array and transitions smoothly and continuously to surround a periphery of said substantially circular opening;
wherein application of high voltage across said electrode assembly results in an output electrostatic flow in a downstream direction toward said second electrode array, said electrostatic flow including at least one of ionized air and ozone.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electro-kinetic ionic air refreshener-conditioner for pet shelter and litter box

Life of this patent

Electro-kinetic ionic air refreshener-conditioner for pet shelter and litter box

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22