Wearable device for delivering air

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11679287-B2
Application number	US-201515529653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2015
Priority date	Dec 4, 2014
Publication date	Jun 20, 2023
Grant date	Jun 20, 2023

Abstract

A personal entertainment respiratory apparatus provides air to a user to provide a fully immersive entertainment experience. The personal entertainment system may comprise a flow generator for providing the flow of air. A personal spatial respiratory interface may be coupled to the flow generator. The personal spatial respiratory interface may comprise an outlet for the flow generator. The personal spatial respiratory interface may further be configured to direct the flow of air within an ambient breathing proximity of a user. The personal entertainment respiratory apparatus may further comprise a controller and a sensory particle dispenser. The controller and sensory particle dispenser may be configured to selectively activate release of a sensory particle from the dispenser into the directed flow of air in response to an entertainment triggering signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A personal portable respiratory apparatus to provide cleaned air to a user, the apparatus comprising:
a flow generator configured to generate a flow of air;
a personal spatial respiratory interface coupled to the flow generator, the personal spatial respiratory interface comprising at least a first air outlet and a second air outlet, wherein the first air outlet is configured to direct the flow of air at a first flow velocity to within an ambient breathing proximity of a user and the second air outlet is configured to produce an air shield that has a second flow velocity to separate the directed flow of air in the ambient breathing proximity of the user from uncleaned environmental air, wherein the first flow velocity is lower than the second flow velocity;
one or more sensors configured to detect orientation of the personal spatial respiratory interface and/or ambient wind conditions external to the personal spatial respiratory interface;
a controller configured to adjust operation of the apparatus at least based on either or both of: (1) a first signal from the one or more sensors indicating the detected orientation of the personal spatial respiratory interface, and (2) a second signal from the one or more sensors indicating the detected ambient wind conditions; and
a set of filters comprising different types of filters for filtering the flow of air;
wherein the controller is configured to determine different filters in the set of filters for filtering the flow of air based on received data that is associated with aspects of the air in the user's environment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one filter of the set of filters is configured to remove particles from air drawn in through an air inlet to the flow generator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the set of filters comprises any two or more of a HEPA filter, an electret filter, an ionizer purifier, a thermodynamic sterilization filter, an activated carbon filter and a catalytic oxidation filter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second air outlet comprises a dispersed set of air outlets.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second air outlet comprises a laminarizing nozzle.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the laminarizing nozzle comprises a honey comb structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 second air outlet comprises a set of air outlets to produce one or more air curtains to separate the ambient breathing proximity of the user from uncleaned environmental air.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the personal spatial respiratory interface comprises a fashion accessory.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the fashion accessory comprises any of a scarf, a shirt, or a shirt collar.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the fashion accessory comprises eyeglasses, a visor or goggles.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the fashion accessory comprises a necklace.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the necklace comprises a plurality of outlets along a length of the necklace to direct the flow of air.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the fashion accessory comprises a hat or a brim of a hat that comprises one or more air outlets coupled to the flow generator.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the personal spatial respiratory interface comprises a headset or a headset boom.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the personal spatial respiratory interface comprises any of an under-a-collar flexible attachment, a hydration backpack, a nose clip, a mouth guard, a sport band, or a sliding mask.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is wearable.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the personal spatial respiratory interface comprises a position-able goose neck tube.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the personal spatial respiratory interface comprises a wristband and/or glove.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein cleaned air is provided to a user without facial contact.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein cleaned air is provided to a user without head contact.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flow generator comprises a motor and an impeller.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flow generator is configured for battery operation and the flow generator further comprises a battery power source.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flow generator comprises a multi-stage blower.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an aromatic dispenser, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate release of an aromatic from the aromatic dispenser into the directed flow of air in response to an entertainment triggering signal.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the controller comprises a communications interface for receiving the entertainment triggering signal.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the communications interface is adapted to receive the entertainment triggering signal wirelessly from an entertainment console.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the aromatic dispenser is adapted to receive replaceable aromatic cartridges containing aromatics.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the apparatus is configured to release different aromatics in response to different entertainment triggering signals.

29. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the aromatic comprises smell and/or taste particles.

30. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more air quality sensors coupled with the controller, the received data comprises a signal from the one or more air quality sensors.

31. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured with a location sensor to detect a geographic location of the apparatus and set operation of the set of filters of the apparatus based upon detection of the geographic location of the apparatus detected by the location sensor.

32. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a communications interface, and wherein the controller is configured to request and receive external weather or pollution data and set operation of the set of filters based on the received external weather or pollution data.

33. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more user sensors configured to detect physiological data of the user, the controller configured to set an operation of the apparatus based on a signal from the one or more user sensors.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the controller is configured to generate an entertainment triggering signal for operation of an aromatic dispenser of the apparatus based on detected physiological data.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the physiological data includes any one or more of heart rate data, perspiration data, temperature data, breath rate data, O 2 saturation data and the one or more user sensors comprises any one or more of a heart rate sensor, moisture sensor, thermistor, flow sensor, oximeter respectively.

36. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the controller includes a communications interface to communicate the physiological data to an entertainment console.

37. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the flow generator.

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Yu Tzu-Chin
• Connell Emma Anne
• Creusot David
• Darkin Donald
• Kenyon Barton John
• Klasek Paul Jan
• Sims Andrew
• Yang Quangang
• Kwok Philip Rodney

Classifications

• A61M21/00

  Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis · CPC title

• A61M2230/42

  Rate · CPC title

• A61M2205/8206

  battery-operated · CPC title

• A61M16/161

  with means for measuring the humidity · CPC title

• A62B18/003 Primary

  having means for creating a fresh air curtain · CPC title