There are many examples of table/air treatment unit combinations in which the air treatment unit is operable to remove smoke laden air from the environment above the table top and to filter the air. Examples of such combinations are disclosed in WO 97/32504, U. S. 4,248,162 and JP-6- 344159.

An object of the subject invention is to provide an improved table/air treatment unit combination.

The subject invention provides in combination a table, air treatment means and electric transmission means, said table comprising a table top and photoelectric cell means at said table top, said air treatment means comprising air inlet means in communication with the environment above said table top, air induction means and air filtration means, said air induction means comprising electric motor drive means and being operable to draw air from said environment via said air inlet means and thence through said filtration means, and said electric transmission means being operable to transmit electric energy generated at said photoelectric cell means to said electric motor drive means.

The table of a combination in accordance with the subject invention may be a dining table, a coffee table, a games table, a desk, a work bench, a bar, a counter, a consul or similar. In plan view, the table may be round, square, rectangular, polygonal, oval, L-or U-shaped or of other shape.

The photoelectric cell means is preferably of panel- like conformation. Advantageously, the central main plane of a panel-like cell means is disposed parallel or substantially parallel to the upper surface of the table top of the table. Suitably, the upper surface of a panel-like cell means provides the upper surface, or a proportion thereof, of the table top. A photoelectric cell means of panel-like conformation may be coextensive with a large proportion, or all or substantially all, of the plan view area of the table top of the table.

The photoelectric cell means may comprise monocrystal solar cells. According a preferred alternative, the photoelectric cell means comprises a thin film silicon (TFS) panel, or a side-by-side array of a plurality of TFS panels.

Conveniently, a TFS panel employed to provide the cell means, or a portion thereof, comprises a film of amorphous silicon deposited on the underside of a transparent superstrate, preferably of glass. The deposited film is suitably divided into a plurality of band-like cells, which cells may advantageously be electrically connected in series. If a plurality of TFS panels is used, these TFS panels may be connected in parallel or series, or in a combination thereof, in order to obtain the required voltage/current output combination. Suitable TFS panels are manufactured by Intersolar Group Limited of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England If the upper surface of the superstrate is to provide the upper surface of the table top, or a proportion thereof, the superstrate is suitably of toughened glass.

The air filtration means of the air treatment means is preferably electrical air filtration means, polarising air filtration means for example. Alternatively, or in addition, the air filtration means may comprise chemical air filtration means. If electrical air filtration means is employed, the requisite electrical energy for operation of the electrical air filtration means may be supplied from the photoelectric cell means, in which case a voltage multiplying circuit may be employed to provide for the necessary high voltage supply for the filtration means.

The electric transmission means may comprise electronic circuitry, of a type generally known per se, providing for the storage of electrical energy in storage means (a battery for example) when the electrical energy being produced by means of the photoelectric cell means exceeds the requirements at the time of the electric motor drive means.

When the power requirements of the motor drive means exceed the power generation level of the cell means, the circuitry permits the motor drive means to be powered from the storage means.

If the photoelectric cell means is employed additionally for the supply of electrical energy to electrical air filtration means of the air treatment means, such circuitry may be used for the same purposes in respect of the electrical air filtration means.

In a very much preferred arrangement, the air treatment means is of a unit with the table.

Whereas superior results are to be expected when direct sunlight is incident upon the photoelectric cell means, the photoelectric cell means may be operable to generate electric energy when artificial light only is incident thereon. Artificial light may be supplied by, for example, a metal halide lamp.

The power output of each photoelectric cell depends upon the surface area of the cell and the amount of light incident thereon. The arrangement of photoelectric cells and the amount of incident light should be arranged so as to generate sufficient electric energy to power the required device/devices.

In order that the subject invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the drawings herewith, in which:- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a coffee table; Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the table of Figure 1 as viewed in the direction of arrow A and taken centrally of the table; and Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a portion of a table top of the table of Figure 1.

The coffee table shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a table top 1, four support legs 2-5 and an air treatment unit 6.

The table top 1 comprises a rectangular frame 7 within which is supported a side-by-side array 8 of four rectangular TFS panels. The TFS panels are model number B107W supplied by Intersolar Group Limited. With reference to Figure 3, each TFS panel is comprised of a superstrate 9 of toughened glass and a deposited film 10 of amorphous silicon. The film 10 is composed of band-like cells 11 (Figure 1). Thus when the array 8 is viewed from above, the boundaries between adjacent cells 11 are seen as thin, parallel, dark lines 12. The cells 11 in each of the four TFS panels of the array 8 are electrically connected in series, whilst the four panels are electrically connected in parallel.

Beneath the superstrate 9 and in contact with the film 10 thereon there is located a unitary protective panel 13.

Suitably, the panel 13 is of a unit with the superstrate 9.

The air treatment unit 6 comprises a housing 14 mounted beneath the table top 1 by way of being secured to the panel 13. The housing 14 is axially aligned with a circular opening 15 extending through the table top 1, the opening 15 providing air inlet means whereby the interior of the housing 14 is in air flow communication with the environment above the table top 1. A decorative collar 16 extends about the opening 15 and upwardly of the upper surface of the table top 1 and a grill 17 extends across the opening 15.

The air treatment unit 6 further comprises, disposed within the housing 14, an electric fan 18, providing air induction means, and an assembly 19 of four rectangular, vertically extending, electrically interconnected polarising air filter units, providing air filtration means, two of which units are shown in Figure 2 and are designated 19'and 19". Each of the filter units is located adjacent an air outlet grill of the housing 14, the air outlet grills associated with filter units 19', 19"being designated 20' and 20". The motor of the fan 18 is nominally rated at 15 watts, with operating conditions being close to 12 volts and 1 amp.

The table further comprises electric transmission means comprising a circuit unit 21, a lead 22 and voltage multiplying means 23. The unit 21 is secured beneath the table top 1 and the lead 22 extends from the unit 21 to the motor of the electric fan 18 and to the assembly 19 of the polarising filtration units. The voltage multiplying means 23, provides the 6kV energy requirements of each polarising filtration unit of the assembly 19.

When the electric transmission means 21/22 has been placed in an operative condition and with natural and/or artificial light being downwardly incident upon the table top 1, electrical energy can be transmitted from the array 8 of TFS panels to the electric motor of the fan 18, thus to cause operation of the fan 18, and to the assembly 19 of polarising filtration units, thus to provide thereto the required voltage potential. Operation of the fan 18 induces air flow from above the table top 1, through the filtration units of the array 19 and then outwardly of the housing 14 via the associated outlet grills, including 20'and 20".