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US 6,776,824 B2Granted
Antiviral and antibacterial filtration module for a vacuum cleaner or other appliance
OwnerSheree H. Weninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides a portable or hand-held vacuum cleaner that includes a filtration system or filtration module that can pick up particles and contaminants. It has a first passive stage (such as a HEPA filter) to collect dust particles, and contaminants over a predetermined size. The invention also includes an active stage filter(such as an ozone generator) which may include one or more chemical (or biological) agents effective to kill bacteria, viruses, and the like.
Claims21
A hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a vacuum cleaner body having a handle, and housing an electric powered blower powered by a battery with a switch disposed between the battery and the blower;
- an intake portion releasably connected to the vacuum cleaner body such that the intake stage forms an airtight seal with the vacuum body;
- the vacuum cleaner having an intake opening, an exhaust portion, and
- a filtration system disposed therebetween to filter contaminated air drawn through the intake opening, the filtration system including:
- a first passive stage to filter out airborne particles above a predetermined size, an active stage including an energy source and at least one agent effective to kill ambient biological contaminants, and
- a second passive stage for removing odors and hazardous chemical agents, wherein the first passive stage is sandwiched between the active stage and the second passive stage to form an integral filter.
3 more elements
A filtration unit comprising:
- a first passive stage for filtering out particles above a predetermined size,
- an active stage containing an ultraviolet source and at least one agent to kill ambient bacteria and viruses, and
- a second passive stage including an adsorbent agent for removing odors and hazardous chemical agents, wherein the first passive stage is sandwiched between the active stage and the second passive stage to form an integral filter;
- an intake port permitting contaminated air to enter into the filtration unit;
- and
- an exhalation port through which decontaminated air may be expelled.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.