Systems for delivering conditioned air to personal breathing zones

Abstract

A system to significantly improve the air quality in a personal breathing environment. The system includes a blower unit that produces a conditioned air flow, a delivery system that delivers air provided by the blower unit to a person's breathing zone, and a conduit that interconnects the blower unit and the delivery system for directing conditioned air from the blower unit to the delivery system. The delivery system is positioned so that it sends conditioned air around an individual's head and into the individual's personal breathing zone, thereby creating a zone of conditioned air around the individual's head.

1 . Apparatus for creating a zone of conditioned air over a surface of a bed, comprising: 
 a tower having at least a portion thereof extending generally vertically relative to the surface of the bed, the generally vertical portion having a flow passage therein through which conditioned air is able to flow;    an air delivery unit having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end, and a flow passage between the first and second ends extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the air delivery unit being configured to connect to the tower so that the air delivery unit is cantilever supported by the tower with the longitudinal axis extending generally orthogonal to the generally vertical portion of the tower, and the air delivery unit being configured so that the flow passage of the air delivery unit is in flow communication with the flow passage of the tower when the air delivery unit is connected to the tower; and    the air delivery unit includes an air outlet section that is configured to place the flow passage of the air delivery unit in flow communication with the exterior of the air delivery unit, the air outlet section extends over a majority of the length of the air delivery unit, and the air outlet section is configured so that air is discharged therefrom generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a blower unit configured to produce a flow of conditioned air, and the tower is connectable to the blower unit to place the flow passage of the tower in flow communication with the flow of conditioned air produced by the blower unit.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the air delivery unit is configured for detachable connection with the generally vertical portion of the tower.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flow passage of the air delivery unit extends substantially the entire length of the air delivery unit between the first and second ends, and the air outlet section extends substantially the entire length of the flow passage of the air delivery unit.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus for creating a zone of conditioned air over a surface of a bed, comprising: 
 a tower having a first end and a second end, a flow passage between the first and second ends through which conditioned air is able to flow, and an outlet opening adjacent the second end in flow communication with the flow passage;    an air delivery unit having first and second ends, a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end, a flow passage between the first and second ends extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and an inlet opening at the first end in flow communication with the flow passage of the air delivery unit;    the first end of the air delivery unit being configured to detachably connect to the tower so that: 
 i) the air delivery unit is cantilever supported by the tower with the longitudinal axis extending generally orthogonal to the tower,  
 ii) the inlet opening of the air delivery unit is in flow communication with the outlet opening of the tower whereby the flow passage of the tower is in flow communication with the flow passage of the air delivery unit; and  
   the air delivery unit includes an air outlet section that is configured to place the flow passage of the air delivery unit in flow communication with the exterior of the air delivery unit.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a blower unit configured to produce a flow of conditioned air, and the tower is connectable to the blower unit to place the flow passage of the tower in flow communication with the flow of conditioned air produced by the blower unit.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the flow passage of the air delivery unit extends substantially the entire length of the air delivery unit between the first and second ends, and the air outlet section extends substantially the entire length of the flow passage of the air delivery unit.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus for use in creating a zone of conditioned air over a surface of a bed, comprising 
 an air delivery unit having first and second ends, an interior air flow passage between the first and second ends, an air inlet opening in flow communication with the flow passage through which conditioned air enters the air flow passage, and an air outlet section that is configured to place the flow passage of the air delivery unit in flow communication with the exterior of the air delivery unit; wherein the flow passage is configured to maintain a generally constant air pressure along the length of the flow passage.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the flow passage is configured to achieve a generally constant air discharge pressure, a generally constant air discharge velocity, and a generally constant air discharge volume from the air outlet section.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the air outlet section is configured to detachably connect to the air delivery unit.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the air outlet section comprises an air permeable fabric material supported on a frame.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the air flow passage decreases in size in a direction from the first end toward the second end.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the air delivery unit decreases in size from the first end toward the second end.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the pressure drop of the conditioned air across the face of the fabric is preferably approximately 0.100 inches of water.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the velocity of the conditioned air leaving the face of the fabric is between about 30 ft/min and about 60 ft/min.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  the conditioned air leaving the face of the fabric is not lower than the surrounding air by 2° F. and not higher than the surrounding air by 1° F.  
   
   
       17 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . Apparatus for use in creating a zone of conditioned air over a surface of a bed, comprising: 
 an air delivery unit having first and second ends, an interior air flow passage between the first and second ends, an air inlet opening in flow communication with the flow passage through which conditioned air enters the air flow passage, and an air outlet section that is configured to place the flow passage of the air delivery unit in flow communication with the exterior of the air delivery unit; and wherein the temperature of the conditioned air leaving the air outlet section is not lower than the surrounding air by 2° F. and not higher than the surrounding air by 1° F.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the velocity of the conditioned air leaving the air outlet section is between about 30 ft/min and about 60 ft/min.  
   
   
       22 - 23 . (canceled)