AIR PURIFIER FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to air purifiers generally.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVarious types of air purifiers are currently on the market. Two products of the applicant/assignee, known as MULTI-5 and MULTI-6 employ fans for creating an air flow, an ionizer for ionizing particles in the air and a filter for collecting such particles.
It is well known to mold plastic elements using solid fragrance concentrates. A commercially available fragrance concentrate suitable for this purpose is sold by InternationalFlavors and Fragrances Inc. of New Jersey, U.S.A. under the trademark POLYIFF.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention seeks to provide an air freshener providing a selectable fragrance over a relatively long term.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an air purifier including:an air flow generator for generating an air flow along an air flow path;air purifying apparatus disposed along the air flow path for purifying the air flow; andan air flow channel defining fragrance emitting member disposed along the air flow path for adding fragrance to the air flow.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air flow channel defining member is molded of a plastic material including a fragrance concentrate.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air flow channel defining member defines at least one tapered air flow channel including a narrowed neck portion configured to enhance addition of the fragrance to the air flow.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air flow channel defining member is removably mounted in the air purifier, to enable the channel defining member to be readily replaced.
The air flow channel defining member may contain any suitable fragrance and may include, for example, insect repellent or insecticide agents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:Fig. 1 is a partially cut away pictorial illustration of an air purifier constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 2 is a partially cut away pictorial illustration of an air purifier constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; andFigs. 3A and 3B are sectional illustrations of a preferred embodiment of an air flow channel defining member useful in the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENTReference is now made to Fig. 1 which shows an air purifier constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and includes a housing 10 defining an air intake 11 and an air flow outlet 12. Disposed inside the housing in operative engagement with the air intake is a fan 14 which directs a flow of air from the air intake past an ionizer 16 and a conventional mechanical filter 18. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an air flow channel defining fragrance emitting member 20 is disposed along the air flow path downstream of filter 18 for adding fragrance to the air flow.
Fig. 2 shows an air purifier constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention and, similarly to the embodiment of Fig. 1, includes a housing 10 defining an air intake 11 and an air flow outlet 12.
Disposed inside the housing in operative engagement with the air intake is a fan 14 which directs a flow of air from the air intake past an ionizer 16 and an electrostatic filter 19. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an air flow channel defining fragrance emitting member 20 is disposed along the air flow path downstream of filter 19 for adding fragrance to the air flow.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, member 20 is removably mounted on a housing portion 22 which is removably engageable in an aperture 24 formed in the housing 10. It is appreciated that by virtue of such removable mounting, member 20 can be readily replaced as desired or required.
Reference is now made to Fig. 3 which shows in section, the configuration of a preferred embodiment of fragrance emitting member 20. It is seen that member 20 is configured to define a plurality of air flow channels 28 which are tapered down to a central neck portion 30 and thereafter widened, thereby to enhance pick up of fragrance by the air flow.
The air flow channel defining member may contain any suitable fragrance and may include, for example, insect repellent or insecticide agents.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims which follow: