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US007892501B2
(12) United States Patent
Parker et al.
(io) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent:
US 7,892,501 B2 Feb.22, 2011
AIR SANITIZER
Inventors: Andrew J. Parker, Novato, CA (US);
Gregory S. Snyder, San Rafael, CA
(US)
Assignee: Sharper Image Acquisition LLC, New
York, NY (US)
Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 1152 days.
Appl.No.: 11/293,538
Filed: Dec. 2, 2005
Prior Publication Data
US 2006/0159594 Al Jul. 20, 2006
Related U.S. Application Data
Continuation-in-part of application No. 11/004,397, filed on Dec. 3, 2004.
Provisional application No. 60/590,445, filed on Jul. 23, 2004.
Int. CI.
B01J19/08 (2006.01)
U.S. CI 422/186.04; 422/121; 422/186.3
Field of Classification Search 422/121,
422/186.3, 186.04 See application file for complete search history.
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,247,409 A 7/1941 Roper
3,374,941 A 3/1968 Okress
5,565,685 A 10/1996 Czakoetal.
5,702,507 A 12/1997 Wang
5,874,701 A * 2/1999 Watanabe et al 204/157.15
6,497,840 Bl 12/2002 Palestro et al.
6,544,485 Bl * 4/2003 Taylor 422/186.04
6,680,028 Bl 1/2004 Harris
2002/0098109 Al * 7/2002 Nelson et al 422/5
2003/0206840 Al * 11/2003 Taylor et al 422/186.04
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
JP 2003-303651 * 10/2003
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
English abstract for JP 2003-303651, inventor: Watanabe, published: Oct. 2003 *
PCT International Search Report.
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Sean E Conley
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Arent Fox LLP
(57) ABSTRACT
A germicidal lamp can selectively direct germicidal light emitted within an air transporting and/or conditioning system. The system can include a housing, an emitter electrode configured within the housing, and a collector electrode configured within the housing and located downstream from the emitter electrode. The system can further include a driver electrode that can be removed from the housing through a side portion of the housing. The driver electrode can be insulated with a dielectric material and/or a catalyst. A removable trailing electrode can be configured within the housing and located downstream from the collector electrode. A first voltage source can be electrically coupled to the emitter electrode and the collector electrode, and a second voltage source can be electrically coupled to the trailing electrode. The second voltage source can be independently and selectively controllable from the first voltage source.
21 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
