Air treatment apparatus having an electrode extending along an axis which is substantially perpendicular to an air flow path

An air treatment apparatus, comprising:

• a housing having:
• (a) a bottom and a top;
• (b) an axis extending between the bottom and the top;
• (c) an inlet;
• and
• (d) an outlet;
• an ion generator having:
• i. an elongated first electrode supportable by the housing so as to extend substantially parallel to the axis;
• ii. an elongated second electrode supportable by the housing so as to extend substantially parallel to the axis, the second electrode being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing;
• and
• iii. a voltage generator operatively coupled to the first and second electrodes, the voltage generator being operable to produce an electric field, the electric field being operable to cause a germicidal effect;
• and
• at least one air movement mechanism supported by the housing, the air movement mechanism configured to cause air to move from the inlet through the outlet along a path which is substantially perpendicular to the axis.

An air treatment apparatus, comprising:

• a housing including:
• (a) a top and a bottom;
• (b) an axis extending between the top and the bottom;
• (c) an inlet;
• and
• (d) an outlet;
• an ion generator supportable by the housing, the ion generator further comprising:
• i. a voltage generator, the voltage generator being operable to produce an electric field, the electric field being operable to cause a germicidal effect;
• ii. an elongated first electrode electrically coupled to a first output port of the voltage generator, the first electrode being supportable by the housing so as to extend substantially parallel to the axis;
• and
• iii. an elongated second electrode electrically coupled to a second output port of the generator, the second electrode supportable by the housing so as to extend substantially parallel to the axis, the second electrode being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing;
• and
• at least one air movement mechanism supported by the housing, the air movement mechanism configured to cause air to move from the inlet through the outlet along a path which is substantially perpendicular to the axis.

An air treatment apparatus, comprising:

• a housing having a bottom, a top, a first side wall and a second side wall, the housing having:
• (a) an axis extending between the bottom and the top;
• (b) an inlet located adjacent to the first side wall;
• and
• (c) an outlet located adjacent to the second side wall;
• at least one emitter electrode supportable by the housing so as to extend substantially parallel to the axis;
• at least one collector electrode supportable by the housing so as to extend substantially parallel to the axis, the collector electrode being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing;
• a voltage generator operatively coupled to the emitter electrode and the collector electrode, the voltage generator being operable to produce an electric field, the electric field being operable to cause a germicidal effect;
• a germicidal light source supported by the housing and operable to cause a germicidal effect in addition to the germicidal effect caused by the electric field;
• and
• at least one air movement mechanism supported by the housing, the air movement mechanism configured to cause air to move from the inlet through the outlet along a path which is substantially perpendicular to the axis.

An air treatment apparatus, comprising:

• a housing having a bottom and a top, the housing having:
• (a) an axis extending between the bottom and the top;
• (b) an inlet;
• and
• (c) an outlet;
• a wire first electrode supportable by the housing so as to extend substantially parallel to the axis;
• a removable second electrode supportable by the housing so as to extend substantially parallel to the axis, the second electrode being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing;
• a voltage generator operatively coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, the voltage generator being operable to produce an electric field;
• at least one air movement mechanism, the air movement mechanism being configured to cause air to move from the inlet through the outlet along a path substantially perpendicular to the axis;
• and
• a germicidal area defined by the housing where a germicidal effect is producible, the effect being producible by an apparatus selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) a germicidal device;
• (ii) the electric field produced by the voltage generator;
• (iii) a germicidal light source supported by the housing;
• and (iv) a combination of the electric field and the germicidal light source.

An air treatment apparatus, comprising:

• at least one electrical power line operable to carry electrical current;
• a housing having:
• (a) a bottom and a top;
• (b) an axis extending between the bottom and the top;
• (c) an inlet;
• and
• (d) an outlet;
• an emitter electrode supportable by the housing so as to extend substantially parallel to the axis;
• a collector electrode supportable by the housing so as to extend substantially parallel to the axis, the collector electrode being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing;
• a voltage generator operatively coupled to:
• (i) the at least one electrical power line;
• (ii) the emitter electrode;
• and (iii) the collector electrode, the voltage generator operable to produce an electric field, the electric field being operable to cause a germicidal effect;
• and
• an air movement mechanism supported by the housing, the air movement mechanism being operable to cause air to move from the inlet through the outlet along a path substantially perpendicular to the axis.