APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING FILTERED AND CONDITIONED AIR TO WEARER OF APPARELS

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for delivering filtered and conditioned air to a wearer of an apparel. The apparatus includes a blower unit configured to draw ambient air through a filter unit, where the blower unit is configured to direct the air towards a predetermined direction with respect to the wearer, and a frame attached to the apparel via a pocket, where the frame is configured to accommodate the blower unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering air to a wearer of an apparel, comprising: a blower unit configured to draw ambient air through a filter unit (240), wherein the blower unit is configured to direct the air towards a predetermined direction with respect to the wearer; and a frame attached to the apparel via a pocket, wherein the frame is configured to accommodate the blower unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter unit comprises one or more filters configured to filter and condition the air passing therethrough, wherein the blower unit is configured to pass ambient air through the filter unit via an air delivery unit, and wherein the filter unit is configured to be detachably attached to the blower unit via the frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more filters are configured to add any one or combination of: a medication or an aroma, to condition the ambient air.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the blower unit comprises at least one pump configured to draw ambient air and push the ambient air towards the predetermined direction with respect to the wearer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the blower unit comprises at least one fan with one or more blades capable of pushing a volume of the air towards the predetermined direction with respect to the wearer.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more blades are configured to push a turbulent flow of air in the predetermined direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pocket is coated with fluid-resistant materials.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is attached to the apparel using a foam for passive noise and vibration reduction, the foam having a thickness ranging between about 0.5 mm and about 20 mm, and being made from a polymer foam with a close or an open cell structure having a density ranging between about 10 kg/m.sup.3 and about 300 kg/m.sup.3.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising an electrically conductive wire that is configured to allow a power source to supply power to the blower unit, wherein the electrically conductive wire is accommodated inside the pocket of the apparel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising an interface configured to allow the wearer of the apparel to operably control a volume of the air delivered by the blower unit.

11. A hat that delivers air to a wearer, comprising: a head covering portion having a crown portion for covering a crown of the head of the wearer, the crown portion having a circumferential bottom edge forming a perimeter portion; a brim attached to the crown portion having an outer perimeter portion located on an outermost edge and an inner perimeter portion shared with the perimeter portion of the crown where the brim is attached, wherein the brim is located above a face of the wearer when the hat is worn; and a blower unit, powered by a power source, attached to the brim to direct a volume of air via an integrated air delivery unit into a filter unit to produce and discharge filtered conditioned air of uniform volume and flow rate directly to a breathing zone of the wearer.

12. The hat of claim 11, wherein the blower unit comprises a fan having one or more blades for pushing a volume of the air towards a predetermined direction with a turbulent flow with respect to the wearer.

13. The hat of claim 11, wherein the brim is made of foam configured to absorb passive noise and vibrations from the blower unit.

14. The hat of claim 11, wherein the crown portion is made of foam configured to absorb passive noise and vibrations from the blower unit.

15. An apparel having an apparatus as claimed in claim 1 integrally attached thereto.

16. The apparel of claim 15, comprising a foam disposed between the apparel and the apparatus, wherein the foam is configured to absorb passive noise and vibrations from the apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus for use in creating a zone of conditioned air on or near a person's body including a blower unit connected to an air delivery unit which has orifices and through which the air exits according to U.S. Pat. No. 8,590,062 B2.

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of an example apparatus attached to an apparel, that is configured to deliver filtered and conditioned air towards a wearer, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view 300 of the example apparatus attached to the apparel, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates a first isometric view 400 of the example apparatus showing a filter unit and a hinge door thereof, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates a second isometric view 500 of the example apparatus showing an inlet face thereof, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates a top view 600 of the example apparatus, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0029] The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead is placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following detailed description of example embodiments of the present disclosure is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present disclosure, since the scope of the present disclosure is best defined by the appended claims.

[0031] As used herein, substantially means largely or considerably, but not necessarily wholly, or sufficiently to work for the intended purpose. The term substantially thus allows for minor, insignificant variations from an absolute or perfect state, dimension, measurement, result, or the like as would be expected by a person of ordinary skill in the art, but that do not appreciably affect overall performance.

[0032] As used herein, about means approximately or nearly, and in the context of a numerical value or range set forth means 10% of the numeric value.

[0033] A novel approach that is recognized by the present disclosure is to miniaturize air conditioning and air delivery units, forming an apparatus, such that they may be detachably attached to or permanently integrated with an individual's apparel such as caps, hard hats (for those working in the mining and construction business), shoes, glass frames, pieces of clothing (ties, shirt collars, and pleats of the trousers, men and women undergarments, pants, buttons), and the like, but not limited thereto. The apparatus may be integrated inconspicuously inside a pocket or a provision on the apparel such that it is masked from the outside and cannot be noticed by others, whether in operation or idle. This way the individual/wearer enjoys a continuous flow of conditioned air that is uniformly spread with a constant flow rate very near to their breathing zone, irrespective of whether they are indoors or outdoors, in a formal or causal setting, sitting, standing, walking or running, in a crowded gathering, or sitting in a closed space in a train, bus or an airplane.

[0034] The present disclosure recognizes the vast need for providing relief to adults and children who suffer from respiratory disorders and allergies and therefore cannot enjoy the outdoors. The present disclosure also provides a solution to individuals seeking to defend themselves against viral infection or inhaling foul air while being in the company of those suffering from common cold and flu. Such situations arise especially when people travel in tight closed spaces such as in buses, trains, airplanes, or when they are a part of huge indoor or outdoor gatherings.

[0035] The present disclosure provides a design to solve this problem by placing a blower unit of an apparatus directly above/over a desired area where the conditioned air has to be delivered, such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, towards the wearer. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, front view and an isometric view 300 of the apparatus 210 directly integrated into a portion of an apparel 200 such as, for example, a brim of a hat or a cap, is illustrated. The apparatus 210 may include an air filter unit 240 that is provided as a separate detachable unit such that the discharged air from a blower unit 220 is directly blown through one or more filters 244 that lines the walls of the air filter unit 240. The filter unit 240 may be provided with a hinged door 248 equipped with a spring-loaded lock that may be opened for filter (re)placement and then shut thereafter. The discharged air through the filter unit 240 may have a constant flow rate and volume, which may be further controlled by controlling speed of a fan or pump associated with the blower unit 220, and if desired even remotely via a phone application. The one or more filters 244 may be of different densities as needed for a specific application depending upon the expected size of the pollutant particles.

[0036] In an embodiment, the apparatus 210 may include an air delivery unit 224 (shown in FIG. 4). The air delivery unit 224 may provide a zone that directs the exiting air from the blower unit 220 to pass through the filter unit 240. The zone may be designed to prevent loss of air between the blower unit 220 and the filter unit 240. In some embodiments, the blower unit 220 and the filter unit 240 may be directly integrated into or made as a part of a frame 241 (shown in FIG. 4).

[0037] In some embodiments, to prevent or dampen noise and vibrations, the apparatus 210 may be attached to the apparel 200 using a foam.

[0038] While FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate embodiments where the apparatus 210 is integrated in an apparel 200 such as a cap or a hat, it may be appreciated by those skilled in that the art that the apparatus 210 may be suitably adapted for placement thereof in any apparel, including, but not limited to, any garments that cover the body, headwear/headgear, footwear, and the like. The apparatus 210 may be placed to direct air towards any specific location of the body by integrating the apparatus 210 on the garment in proximity to the specific location of the body.

[0039] Referring FIGS. 4-6, isolated illustrations (viz. isometric views 400, 500, and top view 600) of the apparatus 210 are shown. In an embodiment, the apparatus 210 includes the blower unit 220, with an integrated air delivery unit 224, which directs the air into the filter unit 240. The blower unit 220 may be powered by a power source (not shown).

[0040] In some embodiments, the blower unit 220 may include at least one fan having one or more blades that push/displace air towards a predetermined direction when rotated. In other embodiments, the blower unit 220 may include at least one pump configured to push ambient air towards the predetermined direction. In some embodiments, the predetermined direction may be towards the body of the wearer, such as including, but not limited to, face, head, neck, shoulders, torso, legs, feet, and the like. In examples wherein the apparatus 210 is attached to a brim of a cap, the fan may be configured to draw and direct the ambient air towards the wearer's face. In other embodiments, the predetermined direction may be away from the wearer's body to allow air to be ventilated between the apparel 200 and the wearer's body.

[0041] In some embodiments, the blower unit 220 may be configured to displace a volume of air from a first side (such as the ambient environment) to a second side (such as interior of the apparel 200 or towards the wearer) through the filter unit 240. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the flow rate of the blower unit 220 may be such that the volume of air passes through and exits the blower unit 220 with a velocity between about 10 and about 100 feet per minute. In some embodiments, the blower unit 220 may be configured to operably change the flow rate based on wearer's requirements. At such ranges, skin sensation for the wearer may be minimal. In such embodiments, the blower unit 220 may include an interface configured to allow the wearer of the apparel 200 to operably control volume of air delivered by the blower unit 220. The interface may be any one of including, but not limited to, mechanical interfaces such as knobs, buttons, levers etc., or digital interfaces such as smartphones, touch screens, etc., that allow the wearer to provide inputs to the blower unit 220 to change flow rate thereof based on wearer's requirements. In some embodiments, to keep the flow below 100 feet/minute, the pump or the fan may be operated at less that its full capacity, which increases lifespan of the blower unit 220 and the power source.

[0042] In some examples, the pump may be a diaphragm pump with coreless motor (E165-11-090) manufactured by Hargraves (Mooresville, North Carolina), which weighs about 45 grams, has dimensions of about 1.271.170.8. The pump may deliver a maximum volume of about 1.6 litres/minute, which may yield exit velocities in the desired range that are comfortable for breathing by a human wearer. In some embodiments, the pump may be a miniaturized, lightweight micro pump that preferably has a low power-consuming motor. In such embodiments, the low power requirements may allow the motor to operate at imperceptibly low noise levels, and may be prevented from heating up appreciably above the ambient temperature when run over an extended period of time. In some embodiments, the motor may be configured to operate at power ratings between about 1.5V and about 12V. In some embodiments, the motor may be operable using the power source.

[0043] In other embodiments, the blower unit 220 may include the at least one fan having the one or more blades. In some embodiments, the rotation of the fan may allow the blower unit 220 to draw in ambient air, and push the air towards the predetermined direction. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the blower unit 220 may include the fan displaces a volume of air through from a first side (such as the ambient environment) to a second side (such as interior of the apparel 200 or towards the wearer) through the filter unit 240. In certain embodiments, the blades of the fan may be configured to push a turbulent flow of air in the predetermined direction. In such embodiments, the blades may draw the air inside the air delivery unit 224 from the ambient environment, and cause particulate matter, such as submicron allergen particles, for example, to collide with each other (due to turbulent flow) and form/clump together larger particles. In some examples, the blades may cause particulate having diameters of less than about 0.3 micrometres to collide and clump together to form larger particulate matter having diameters between about 0.3 micrometres to about 0.5 micrometres. The turbulent air having the clumped particulate matter may then be more efficiently blocked by one or more filters 244 of the filter unit 240 (as described subsequently). In such embodiments, the filters 244 having a density lower than a predetermined threshold may also be used for filtering the air. In such embodiments, the fan may be indicative of a turbine fan. In other embodiments, the blades may be defined to have a geometric profile that produces turbulent flow during rotation.

[0044] In some embodiments, the blower unit 220 may direct the filtered air without the harmful submicron particles in the breathing zone of the wearer. The breathing zone may be indicative of an area around nose and mouth of the wearer. To make the apparatus 210 more efficient and to increase the output flow volume of the conditioned air, without increasing the size of the blower unit 220, the blades of the fan associated with the blower unit 220 may operate as micro turbine blades configured to pass air from an inlet face 242 of the filter unit 240, through the one or more filters 244, and out through an outlet face 246 of the filter unit 240. In such embodiments, the apparatus 210 may reduce the size of the blower unit 220, minimizing or dampen noises during operation thereof, and extending the operating time of the blower unit 220 on a single charge of the power source/battery. In some embodiments, the fan may have a capacity to operate at about 2000 to about 50,000 revolutions per minute (rpm).

[0045] At higher fan speeds, the wearer may experience unwanted excessive vibration and/or noise. Therefore, in certain embodiments, passive noise and vibration reduction foam may be installed around the apparatus 210 at or in proximity to the location on the apparel 200 where the apparatus 210 is attached. In examples where the apparel 200 is a hat, the foam may be defined within the brim of the cap or all around the hat. In some embodiments, the foam may have a thickness ranging between about 0.5 mm and about 20 mm. In some embodiments, the foam may be made from a polymer foam with a close or an open cell structure. In some embodiments, the foam may have a density ranging between about 10 kg/m.sup.3 to about 300 kg/m.sup.3. The material and geometric profile of the foam may be suitably adapted based on the type of apparel 200.

[0046] In some embodiments, the apparatus 210 may include the power source, such as a battery, configured to supply power to the fan or the pump of the blower unit 220. In some embodiments, the power source may be indicative of rechargeable Direct Current (DC) batteries, but may not be limited thereto. In some embodiments, the power source may be batteries made of lithium-ion, such as those available in retail stores. In some embodiments, the power source may have capacities between about 9 volts to about 15 volts. In some embodiments, the power source may be designed to run the fan for at least a pre-defined time period such as, but not limited to, 6 hours on a single charge without overheating. In some embodiments, the sizes, dimensions, and specifications of the fan or the pump may be optimized to minimize power consumption. In other embodiments, the power source may be indicative of a photovoltaic cell.

[0047] In some embodiments, the apparatus 210 may include an electrically conductive wire 222 that is configured to allow the power source to supply power to the blower unit 220. The electrically conductive wires 222 may be made of metals, such as copper, but not limited thereto. The electrically conductive wires 222 may be insulated by a sheath made of any one or combination of including, but not limited to, rubber, plastic, metallic sheaths, and the like. The wires 222 may connect the power source to the blower unit 220, and may be attached to the apparel 200 inconspicuously to hide the wires 222 from normal view. In some embodiments, the wires 222 may be attached on inner side of the apparel 200, i.e. between the wearer and a clothed portion of the apparel 200. In some embodiments, the wires 222 may be drawn through an inner flap or a pocket that is sewn on the apparel 200. In some examples, the wires 222 may be drawn from the power source to the apparatus 210 via the pocket, from inside edge of the crown of the apparel 200 indicative of a hat.

[0048] In some embodiments, the apparatus 210 may be configured to be attached to the apparel 200. In some embodiments, the apparatus 210 may be accommodated within a flap/pouch/pocket or an opening on the apparel 200. In some embodiments, the apparatus 210, having the power source, the blower unit 220, and the filter unit 240, may be placed in an inconspicuous location on the apparel 200. In embodiments where the apparel 200 is a headwear such as a hat, the apparatus 210 may be attached to the hat at any place around the crown of the hat. The pocket may allow the apparatus 210 to be camouflaged by using a fabric that matches the rest of the hat.

[0049] In some embodiments, the pockets configured to accommodate the apparatus 210, or the wires 222, may be coated with a fluid-resistant material. In some embodiments, the fluid-resistant material may be a hydrophobic material that isolates the apparatus 210 from sweat and other accidental exposure to fluids/water. In some examples, the entire brim or crown of the cap may be made using the fluid-resistance materials.

[0050] In some embodiments, the apparatus 210 may include the filter unit 240 having one or more filters 244 configured to filter and condition air passing therethrough. In some embodiments, the blower unit 220 may be configured to pass the ambient air through the filter unit 240 via the air delivery unit 224. In some embodiments, the filter unit 240 may be configured to be detachably attached to the blower unit 220 via a frame 241. In such embodiments, the filter unit 240, or the one or more filters 244 thereof, may be removed or replaced with another filter unit 240 having different specifications (such as material, type, density, etc.) based on use requirements. Further, removing the filter unit 240 may allow wearers to perform maintenance, such as cleaning, on the filter unit 240. Additionally, the filter unit 240 may be removed when quality of the ambient air is likely to be clean, and the blower unit 220 is adapted to cool or heat the ambient air.

[0051] The filters 244 filter/block particulate matter, such as including, but not limited to, harmful pollutant particulates, dust, dirt, debris, smoke, smog, aerosols, airborne biologics, and the like. In some embodiments, the filters 244 may be indicative of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter configured to filter particulate matter, and microscopic biologics such as bacteria and viruses. In other embodiments, the filters 244 may be indicative of a charcoal filter that removes odours. In further embodiments, a gas absorber may be integrated with the filter 244 to protect a wearer from inhaling unwanted gaseous pollutants and/or to allow a person to breath clean, odour-free air. In yet other embodiments, each of the filters 244 may have one or more slats defined parallelly along an edge of the frame 241. In such embodiments, each of the filters 244 may be arranged/stacked such that each of the slats form grid pattern. The density of the filters 244 may be chosen for a specific application such as for outdoor use during allergy seasons, specific filters for blocking viruses, specific filters for individuals with specific allergies to specific allergens, or for protection against occupation hazards such as in mining or fire fighting for prevention of smoke inhalation.

[0052] In some embodiments, the one or more filters 244 may be configured to add a medication or an aroma, to condition the ambient air. The filter unit 240 may have the inlet face 242 that allows to pass through the one or more filters 244. In some examples, the filters 244 may contain medication to aid the opening of the wearer's nasal passages, or injected with aromas for creating a pleasant environment.

[0053] In some embodiments, the filter unit 240 may include the outlet face 246 through which the air filtered by the filters 244 exit the filter unit 240. In some embodiments, the outlet face 246 may have one or more slats defined to deflect the air passed through the filter unit 240 towards the predetermined direction. In examples where the apparel 200 is indicative of a cap, the filtered or the conditioned air may exit through the outlet face 246 of the filter unit 240 and may be discharged directly into the breathing zone of the wearer.

[0054] In some embodiments, the apparatus 210 may include a frame 241. The frame 241 may be a part of either the blower unit 220 or the filter unit 240. In some embodiments, the frame 241 may be substantially cuboidal in geometry. The frame 241 may have an annular gap of a substantially circular or polygonal contour. The fan or the pump of the blower unit 220 may be accommodated in the annular gap. Further, the filter unit 240 and the blower unit 220 may be arranged successively inside the annular gap of the frame 241.

[0055] In some embodiments, the frame 241 may be provided with the hinged door 248. The hinged door 248 may be locked to the frame 241 of the filter unit 240 using a fastener. The fastener may be indicative of any fastening means configured to reversibly lock the hinged door 248 to the frame 241 with the filter unit 240 placed inside the frame 241. In some embodiments, the fastener may be any one or combination of including, but not limited to, clips, interlocking elements, adhesives, hook and loop fasteners, hook and slot fasteners, friction grip fasteners, nails, screws, rivets, and the like. FIGS. 4 and 5 show a perspective view of the apparatus 210 with the hinged door 248 in its open configuration. The hinged door 248 may be operably opened to allow wearers to access and replace the filters 244, and perform maintenance on the blower unit 220. In some examples, the wearer may replace the filters 244 when the filters 244 are dirty. In other examples, the filters 244 may be replaced with another set of filters having a different density for use in different environments.

[0056] In some embodiments, the apparatus 210 may include the air delivery unit 224 that directs the air pushed from the blower unit 220 towards a desired direction with respect to the wearer. In some embodiments, the frame 241 may define the air delivery unit 224. In some embodiments, the blower unit 220 may be configured to draw the ambient air into the air delivery unit 224. In some embodiments, the air delivery unit 224 prevents allergens and other harmful particles from entering the zone of conditioned air, so that the air being breathed in by the wearer is substantially filtered and conditioned air delivered by the apparatus 210.

[0057] Since the blower unit 220 directly discharges the air into the air delivery unit 224, no air volume or air pressure is lost during the transit of air into the filter unit 240. In some embodiments, pressure drop may occur when the air passes through the filters 244. The amount of pressure drop and volume of filtered air may depend upon the density of the filters 244 used. The geometric profile of the blower unit 220, the frame 241, and the air delivery unit 224 may allow the apparatus 210 to deliver air to the wearer at a uniform flow rate and pressure.

[0058] In some embodiments, the apparatus 210 may include a set of tubes with one or more holes. The blower unit 220 may be configured to draw air from the ambient environment, pass the air through the filter unit 240, and push the filtered air through the set of tubes. In some embodiments, the tubes may include an air-tight funnel that may be attachable around a receiving end of the blower unit 220, the receiving end being the side of the blower unit 220 on which the air is directed. The air being pushed into the tubes may be allowed to exit through the one or more holes. In some embodiments, the direction and position of the one or more holes may be arranged to cause the air being pushed through the tubes to exit towards the wearer. In some embodiments, the tubes may be routed through the apparel 200 to optimally supply filtered air from the apparatus 210 to the wearer. In embodiments where the apparel 200 is indicative of headgear such as a hat, the tubes may be routed along a perimeter portion of a crown and at least a portion of the outer perimeter or the inner perimeter of the brim.

[0059] The flow rate of the discharged air may be controlled by adjusting the speed of the blower unit 220. In some embodiments, the speed of the fan associated with the blower unit 220 may be controlled by the wearer/individual remotely such as by use of a remote controller or through a phone application interface, if desired.

[0060] In some embodiments, the apparatus 210 for use in creating a zone of conditioned air on or near a wearer's body may be integrated with the apparel 200, such as a cap, hat, shoe, a pair of glasses, a piece of clothing, or even with a fabric, depending upon the choice or constraints of the wearer.

[0061] In some embodiments, the apparatus 210 for use in creating a zone of conditioned air on or near a wearer's body may be integrated with a hat and may be referred to as an iHAT (integrated hat). According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the iHAT includes an apparatus, such as the apparatus 210, for use in creating a zone of conditioned air on or near a wearer's body integrated with a hard hat of a worker in, for example, the mining, construction, railroad, gardening or waste management industry so that the wearer of the iHAT can be protected from inhaling allergy-causing pollutants or small particles.

[0062] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus, such as the apparatus 210, for use in creating a zone of conditioned air on or near a wearer's body may be integrated with a cap and may be referred to as an iCAP (integrated cap). According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the iCAP can include a sports cap, a hat, or a similar piece of apparel for use by individuals suffering from allergies, asthma, and other respiratory disorders and therefore, provides relief when the wearer of the iCAP is outdoors. This may be particularly useful for school going children and college students suffering from asthma and allergies, which eventually lead to more serious medical condition such as rhinosinusitis and otitis media.

[0063] iCAP may provide a low-cost alternative for individuals who cannot afford more expensive central air filtering systems that are integrated with the central air conditioning and heating systems. iCAP may also be useful to those who do have such systems installed inside their homes but cannot take full advantage of the system's cleaning abilities as the filtered air picks up allergens by the time it reaches the individual's immediate personal breathing zone. In some embodiments, iCAP and iHAT may be indicative of a hat that delivers air to a wearer, including a head covering portion having a crown portion for covering a crown of the head of the wearer, the crown portion having a circumferential bottom edge forming a perimeter portion. The hat may also include a brim attached to said crown portion having an outer perimeter portion located on an outermost edge and an inner perimeter portion shared with the perimeter portion of the crown where the brim is attached, where the brim is located above a face of the wearer when the hat is worn. The hat may include an apparatus, such as the apparatus 210, having a blower unit, powered by a power source, attached to the brim to direct a volume of air via an integrated air delivery unit into a filter unit to produce and discharge filtered conditioned air of uniform volume and flow rate directly to the breathing zone of the wearer. In some embodiments, the blower unit may include a fan having one or more blades capable of pushing a volume of the air towards the predetermined direction with a turbulent flow with respect to the wearer. In such embodiments, the turbulent flow may cause particulate matter, such as submicron allergen particles, for example, to collide with each other (due to turbulent flow) and form/clump together larger particles, which may be filtered by the filter unit.

[0064] In some embodiments, the crown portion may be made of foam that is configured to absorb the noise and vibrations from the blower unit. In other embodiments, the brim may be made of foam to absorb the noise and vibrations from the blower unit. The dimensions and materials of the foam may be suitably adapted based on the requirements. In such embodiments, since the crown portion/brim may be in contact with the wearer's skull, the foam may absorb the vibrations and soften the noise produced by the blower unit. In embodiments where the apparatus is integrally attached to any apparel, the apparel may include a foam disposed between the apparel and the apparatus. In such embodiments, the foam may be configured to absorb passive noise and vibrations from the apparatus and prevent the noise and vibrations from reaching the wearer, thereby improving comfort for the wearer.

[0065] The word conditioned air in the specification and all the claims thereof is used to mean, ambient air, filtered ambient air, filtered or ambient air with temperature above the ambient temperature, filtered or ambient air below the ambient temperature, air conditioned with aromatic odours, air conditioned with respiratory medication such as those helping open the nasal passage, etc. In some embodiments, the apparatus 210 may be configured to be able to condition air using means, such as including, but not limited to, heating or cooling the air, humidifying the air, introducing aromas and medicines into the air, and the like. Therefore, the air conditioning systems in iHAT and iCAP can circulate hot, cold, or just ambient air depending upon the weather condition and the choice of the user.

[0066] While conditioned air may be useful to individuals/wearers with respiratory disorders, some embodiment of the present disclosure may also be useful for defensive applications such as to those seeking protection against catching a cold or a flu virus. This could be particularly useful for airline passengers that are subjected to a static air environment for long periods of time.

[0067] According to some embodiment of the present disclosure, iCAP may provide clean air for individuals/wearers traveling in highly crowded trains and buses by filtering the ambient air before it is breathed in by the wearer. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, iCAP may aid individuals/wearers such as waitresses or others working in an environment containing smoke who seek reduced exposure to smoking-related allergens can use iHAT and iCAP. In other embodiments, the iCAP and iHAT may be adapted for surgeons or doctors to prevent them from breathing in harmful and contagious biologics, such as viruses and bacteria, while treating patients.

[0068] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the following claims.