Gas separation: apparatus – Solid sorbent apparatus – With indicating means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-22
2002-02-12
Spitzer, Robert H. (Department: 1724)
Gas separation: apparatus
Solid sorbent apparatus
With indicating means
C096S135000, C096S138000, C096S147000, C096S151000, C096S153000, C096S154000, C096S222000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06346143
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to air filtration and deodorizing devices, and more specifically to a portable device for removably installing in a refrigerator, freezer, or similar cold food storage unit. The present filter device captures objectionable odors in a replaceable treated filter removably disposed within a housing, which is in turn removably installed within the refrigerator or freezer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Food spoilage is a recognized occurrence from time to time in virtually any refrigerator, freezer, or cold storage unit. Even when no power loss occurs, food can still spoil in the above freezing temperatures of a refrigerator, with unpleasant odors being the unfortunate result. Even when no spoilage occurs, the placement of strong and uncomplimentary foods in the confines of a refrigerator, will lead to unpleasant scents throughout the contents.
Accordingly, various means have been developed in the past to reduce or eliminate unpleasant odors in various cold storage devices. Perhaps the most common means known is the simple placement of an open box of baking soda in the interior of the refrigerator or freezer, with the compound serving to absorb odors as air circulates through the cold storage unit. Other devices have been developed as well, but all of the various devices of the prior art known to the present inventor, suffer from one or more drawbacks in terms of odor reduction, portability, cost and complexity, or in some other manner.
Accordingly, a need will be seen for an odor adsorptive filter for installation in a refrigerator, freezer, or other cold storage device as desired. The filter device must be portable for ease of installation and removal, must take up little room in order to avoid loss of interior volume in the unit, and must provide for the adsorption and removal of odor producing compounds within the interior volume of the unit. Moreover, the present invention may also provide for the addition of a pleasant scent to the interior air of the cold storage device, if so desired, and also provide an indication of saturation or loss of adsorptive capabilities for the adsorptive filter which is installed within the filter device.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,262 issued on Dec. 27, 1977 to Mitchell Petroff, titled “Filter And Air Freshener Apparatus,” describes a furnace or air conditioning filter having a series of scent vials therein. One or more of the vials may be opened to deploy a scent through the air as it circulates through the filter. The Petroff device cannot be deployed within the relatively small confines of a refrigerator or freezer, without taking up an inordinate amount of the interior volume. Moreover, even if the Petroff filter were placed within a refrigerator or the like, it would do nothing to absorb unpleasant odors within the unit. The Petroff filter is a conventional heating or air conditioning filter which does nothing more than filter dust and the like from the air, with a means of spreading a scent through the air being added.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,567 issued on Aug. 14, 1990 to Kousuke Atarashiya, titled “Deodorizer For Refrigerators Or The Like,” describes a system which is built in to the air circulation system within a refrigerator and freezer unit. The device includes both adsorbent materials (activated charcoal, etc.) and rare earth catalytic elements, and is installed adjacent the heating element of the defroster system. During normal operation the adsorbent elements capture odors circulating through the system. When the defrost cycle operates, the catalytic elements are heated by the defrost cycle heater, and serve to oxidize and decompose elements trapped by the adsorbents. The elements and function of the Atarashiya system require its permanent installation; they cannot be replaced without considerable effort and disassembly of the unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,556 issued on Feb. 26, 1991 to Benjamin L. Arnold III, titled “Unitized Sodium Bicarbonate Deodorizer,” describes a deodorizing device comprising a series of three perforated concentric shells, each including a quantity of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) therein. In another embodiment, the baking soda is provided in the form of solid cakes of various shapes. The Arnold, III deodorant devices are essentially throwaway units at the ends of their lives, with no provision for changing the deodorant substance within the container being provided by Arnold, III. Moreover, Arnold, III does not disclose the saturation or impregnation of a fiber matrix with an odor adsorbent material, nor any means of determining when the material requires changing, as provided by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,272 issued on Nov. 5, 1991 to Marsha L. Burns, titled “Refrigerator Or Freezer Freshening Device And Process,” describes a device comprising a canister containing baking soda and/or activated charcoal, along with a scent. As in the Arnold, III device discussed immediately above, the Burns air freshener does not provide for replacement of the adsorbent material within the container; the entire container and contents must be discarded when the contents have expired. Moreover, while Burns provides means for attaching her device to the interior wall of a refrigerator or the like, she uses an adhesive. When such adhesive attachment is removed, it leaves an adhesive residue which must be removed. The present air freshener device uses suction cups for removable attachment to a refrigerator or freezer interior.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,078 issued on Jun. 6, 1995 to Amber M. Colon, titled “Apparatus For Providing A Scent,” describes a holder with orifices therethrough, and a removably replaceable scented insert for the holder. The insert merely contains a scent for distribution from the orifices of the holder; no means of adsorbing odors is disclosed by Colon. The scented insert also differs in construction from the adsorbent insert of the present invention, in that Colon uses a relatively dense thermoplastic material, while the present invention uses a woven or nonwoven fiber insert, with the fibers being coated with the adsorbent material to expose the maximum practicable surface area of adsorbent to the ambient air.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,447 issued on Nov. 21, 1995 to Edward M. Bermas, titled “Refrigerator Freshener,” describes a container filled with activated carbon and zeolite (aluminum silicate) adsorptive materials. As in the case of the Arnold, III and Burns devices discussed further above, the entire assembly of container and contents of the Bermas device must be discarded when the contents have expired. In contrast, the container of the present air freshener device is reusable, with only the contents requiring replacement. Moreover, Bermas does not provide the means developed for the present invention of exposing the maximum practicable surface area of the adsorbent material to the air, by coating the fibers of a woven or nonwoven fiber mesh with the adsorbent material. Also, Bermas does not provide suction cup attachment for his device, to reduce the amount of space required for the device in the confined interior of a refrigerator or freezer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,675 issued on Feb. 20, 1996 to Cyril J. C. Brizard, titled “Deodorant System,” describes a disposable assembly comprising a container and odor adsorbent material therein. As in the Arnold, III, Burns, and Bermas devices discussed further above, the Brizard assembly must be discarded in its entirety when the adsorbent material therein is no longer effective. As noted above, the present device provides a reusable container for holding the replaceable adsorbent contents. Also, it is noted that Brizard provides means for indicating the replacement date, comprising a series of punch-out portions similar to the system used for indicating the purchase date on an automobile battery. This system is incon
Litman Richard C.
Spitzer Robert H.
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