Ionized air blower

Abstract

An ionized air blower is disclosed for simultaneously neutralizing static charge and dislodging particulate matter, such as dust, from a surface to be cleaned. The ionized air blower comprises a compressible air chamber, such as a resilient bulb, and an ionizer. The ionizer ionizes air molecules expelled from the chamber to provide a stream of ionized air.

1 . An ionized air blower comprising: 
 a compressible air chamber for producing a stream of air through an exhaust opening of the chamber when the chamber is compressed; and    an ionizer for ionizing air molecules passing through the exhaust opening.    
     
     
         2 . The ionized air blower of  claim 1  wherein the compressible air chamber comprises a resilient bulb.  
     
     
         3 . The ionized air blower of  claim 1  wherein the compressible air chamber is sized to fit within a user's hand.  
     
     
         4 . The ionized air blower of  claim 3  wherein the ionizer comprises a nuclear ionizer.  
     
     
         5 . The ionized air blower of  claim 3  wherein the ionizer comprises an electrical corona discharge ionizer.  
     
     
         6 . The ionized air blower of  claim 3  wherein the ionizer comprises a tubular nozzle in fluid communication with the exhaust opening.  
     
     
         7 . The ionized air blower of  claim 1  wherein the compressible air chamber further comprises an entrance opening comprising a one-way air valve that permits air to enter but substantially prevents air from exiting the chamber through the entrance opening.  
     
     
         8 . The ionized air blower of  claim 7  wherein the exhaust opening further comprises a one-way air valve that permits air to exit but substantially prevents air from entering the chamber through the exhaust opening.  
     
     
         9 . An ionized air blower comprising: 
 a hand-compressible resilient bulb for producing a stream of air through an exhaust opening of the bulb when the bulb is compressed; and    an ionizer for ionizing air molecules passing through the exhaust opening.    
     
     
         10 . The ionized air blower of  claim 9  wherein the ionizer comprises an alpha particle emitting nuclear ionizer.  
     
     
         11 . The ionized air blower of  claim 9  wherein the ionizer comprises an electrical corona discharge ionizer.  
     
     
         12 . The ionized air blower of  claim 9  further comprising a tubular nozzle for directing the stream of air passing through the exhaust opening.  
     
     
         13 . The ionized air blower of  claim 9  wherein the compressible bulb further comprises an entrance opening comprising a one-way air valve that permits air to enter but substantially prevents air from exiting the bulb through the entrance opening.  
     
     
         14 . The ionized air blower of  claim 13  wherein the exhaust opening further comprises a one-way air valve that permits air to exit but substantially prevents air from entering the bulb through the exhaust opening.  
     
     
         15 . An ionized air blower comprising: 
 a hand-compressible resilient bulb for producing a stream of air through an exhaust opening of the bulb when the bulb is compressed; and    a tubular nuclear ionizer comprising an air path in fluid communication with the exhaust opening.    
     
     
         16 . The ionized air blower of  claim 15  wherein the bulb further comprises first and second one-way air valves, the first air valve oriented to substantially prevent air from exiting the bulb, and the second air valve oriented at the exhaust opening to permit air to exit the bulb when the bulb is compressed.