FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to street furniture with an integrated air cleaning device, such as a bench comprising an integrated air cleaning device, and including other types of street furniture such as bill boards, railings, and lamp posts. Furthermore, the present invention concerns a method for cleaning ambient air, as well as use of street furniture for cleaning ambient air.

Moreover, an arm rest module comprising an air cleaning device is also part of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Street furniture includes the objects and pieces of equipment installed on streets and roads. Street furniture includes benches, light poles, advertising boards, street signs, railings, public lavatories, phone and post boxes, traffic barriers and bus shelters. The aims of street furniture include safety, and services like shelter, information, comfort and beauty to people using the street.

Air purifiers remove pollution from air. They mainly comprise a fan, one or more filters and a box for housing the fan and the filter. A composite system may be constructed of several fans with associated filters and air channels. Many filtration methods are known such as mechanical filtration, adsorption and electrostatic filtration.

People in streets are exposed to polluted air, from traffic, cooking, industry, and other sources, but there have not been any systems to clean the air in streets and provide clean air to people.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns street furniture, such as a bench, an advertising board, a bill board, a lamp post, a railing, a bollard, a wall mounted unit, a sun shade, light poles, street signs, public lavatories, phone and post boxes, traffic barriers, bus shelters and a sound barrier comprising an air cleaning unit integrated into the street furniture wherein the unit comprises an air cleaning device capable of drawing ambient air into the unit and a system for emitting cleaned air from the air cleaning device to the air surrounding the street furniture. In one embodiment, the street furniture is selected from an advertising or bill board suitable for paper posters or digital displays comprising a metal frame, such as a steel frame, having a height of up to 2 meters, a railing, a lamp post and a bench. A related aspect is that the devices may be incorporated into e.g. public transportation infrastructure such as bus shelters, train platforms, or stations.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to street furniture suitable for people to rest by sitting or lying down comprising a) a resting element comprising a seating module, optionally wherein at least one seating module comprises at least one air cleaning device capable of drawing ambient air into the seating module; b) a back rest element comprising of a back rest module, optionally wherein at least one back rest module comprises an air cleaning device capable of drawing ambient air into the back rest module; c) a source of emitting cleaned air from the air cleaning device(s) to the air surrounding the street furniture; and d) wherein at least the air cleaning devices of the seating module or at least the air cleaning devices of the back rest module is present.

Typically, such street furniture is commonly referred to as a bench.

In a further embodiment of the street furniture, such as the bench, the air cleaning device is capable of cleaning polluted air including exhaust gases, such as NOx and SOx, fine particles, ozone, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, urban pollutants and naturally occurring compounds.

In a still further embodiment of the street furniture the ambient air is drawn into the air cleaning device of the street furniture through at least one air inlet and at least one means for transporting air flows, such as a fan or wind power.

In a further embodiment of the street furniture the air cleaning device comprises a system selected from the group consisting of gas phase advanced oxidation (GPAO), and filters, such as active carbon filters, gas adsorbing filters, electrostatic filters, and fabric filters. Such as selected from a combination of GPAO and an electrostatic filter, or a combination of active carbon filter and a fabric filter, or one GPAO or one filter.

In a still further embodiment of the street furniture the cleaned air is directed at the people resting on the street furniture or in close vicinity, such as up to 5 meters, of the street furniture by at least one means for transporting air flows, such as a fan.

In a further embodiment the street furniture further having an arm rest module comprising an air cleaning device capable of drawing ambient air into the arm rest module.

In a still further embodiment of the street furniture the source of emitting cleaned air is located in the arm rest module, in the back rest module and/or in the seating module, comprising a means for transporting air flows, such as a fan.

In a further embodiment of the street furniture the back rest element is flat or has a curved shape, such as a concave shape, for people to rest their backs against the flat or curve shaped back rest element.

In a still further embodiment the street furniture further comprising a sensor for monitoring ambient air pollution, clean air or both. Typically, the sensor is located inside the street furniture. Preferably, a sensor is located on each side of the air cleaning device(s) inside the street furniture.

In a further embodiment of the street furniture 4 seating modules are present.

In a still further embodiment of the street furniture 2 air cleaning devices are present inside the seating modules.

In a further embodiment of the street furniture 1 back rest module is present.

In a still further embodiment of the street furniture 5 air cleaning devices are present inside the back rest module.

In a further aspect the present invention concerns a method for cleaning ambient air surrounding street furniture, the method comprising: drawing ambient polluted air into the street furniture of the present invention, cleaning the air inside the street furniture, and directing the cleaned air to the area around the street furniture. In a still further aspect the present invention concerns use of street furniture for cleaning polluted air by drawing ambient polluted air into the street furniture of the present invention, cleaning the air inside the street furniture, and directing the cleaned air to the surrounding of the street furniture.

In a further aspect the present invention concerns an arm rest module comprising a) a housing, such as a metal box, comprising an air cleaning device, wherein the air cleaning device comprises a means for transporting air flows, such as a fan or a composite system of several fan/filter units, for drawing air into the cleaning device, a particle filter for filtering the air, and a gas filter for filtering the air, and b) an arm rest connected and secured to the housing, having a diffuser in the arm rest for directing the cleaned air from the air cleaning device to the surrounding of the arm rest module.

The present invention provides these advantages with the described solution.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description, and claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns street furniture, such as a bench, an advertising board, a bill board, a lamp post, a railing, a wall mounted unit, a sun shade, light poles, street signs, public lavatories, phone and post boxes, traffic barriers, bus shelters and a sound barrier comprising an air cleaning unit integrated with the street furniture wherein the unit comprises an air cleaning device capable of drawing ambient air into the unit and a source of emitting cleaned air from the air cleaning device to the air surrounding the street furniture.

The term "air cleaning device" as used herein means a device that is configured to draw air into the device wherein the air is cleaned from pollution, such as by leading the air through a filter removing the pollution or part of the pollution, and then typically via an air diffuser is emitted out of the device, for instance by means of a fan or similar means. Typical construction of such air cleaning devices is known to the skilled person and the air cleaning devices may be built into the street furniture. The air cleaning device is adapted to receive current from for instance a power cable. The term "integrated with" as used herein means that the unit may be located completely inside the street furniture, or is partly integrated which means that parts of the unit may protrude from the furniture if that is considered suitable. Integrated as used herein could also simply mean that the unit is mounted and fixed to the furniture by means of bolts, nails, glue or the like.

When using the term "street furniture" one or more pieces of furniture are placed out in the open air, and typically, located in a city with pollution, such as in a park or close to other facilities, such as railways, highways, where pollution is a common problem. Examples of street furniture are a bench, an advertising board, a bill board, a lamp post, a railing, a wall mounted unit, a sun shade, light poles, street signs, public lavatories, phone and post boxes, traffic barriers, bus shelters and a sound barrier.

When the street furniture is selected from an advertising or bill board suitable for advertising paper posters or e.g. digital displays, such board typically includes a metal frame.

Typically, the frame is a steel frame. Furthermore, the metal frame may be from 0.5 meter to 3 meters in height, such as having a height of up to 2 meters.

When the street furniture is selected from a railing, such railing has the air cleaning unit integrated completely or simply a part of the unit is engaged with the railing. Railings are typically located on bridges or as part of stairs in a city or a park, or can be hand rails.

The street furniture may also be a lamp post. Typically, the air cleaning unit is a circular cylinder shaped unit to be mounted on a pole of the lamp post, so that the pole extends through the cylinder shaped unit. For instance, the pole may have two circular air cleaning units mounted thereon. Preferably, the air cleaning unit, such as two air cleaning units, is mounted in the lower part of the lamp pole, close to the ground, typically in the lower half, and preferably in the lower third of the lamp pole of the lamp post.

The street furniture may also be a sun shade. Typically, the air cleaning unit is mounted on the sun shade and is configured to clean the air inside the unit, and directing the cleaned air to the surrounding of the sun shade. Sun shades that could be used in connection with the present invention are available from SL-Rasch GmbH Special and Lightweight Structures; see e.g. http://www.sl-rasch.com/ In a further aspect, the present invention relates to street furniture suitable for people to rest by sitting or lying down comprising a) a resting element comprising a seating module, optionally wherein at least one seating module comprises an air cleaning device capable of drawing ambient air into the seating module; b) a back rest element comprising a back rest module, optionally wherein at least one back rest module comprises an air cleaning device capable of drawing ambient air into the back rest module; c) a source of emitting cleaned air from the air cleaning device(s) to the air surrounding the street furniture; and d) wherein at least the air cleaning devices of the seating module or at least the air cleaning device of the back rest module is present.

In one embodiment when the back rest module comprises an air cleaning device, there are at least two air cleaning devices capable of drawing ambient air into the back rest module.

In a further embodiment the street furniture is a bench.

The term "a rest element" as used herein means an element for people to rest on by sitting or lying down as the case may be. The rest element is typically composed of one or more seating modules, which may be made of wood or steel or plastic, as the case may be. Here the term "seating module" is a part of the resting element, and merely indicates that for convenience the resting element is not one element. Each of the seating modules may be attached to one another by means of nails, bolts, glue, or the like.

The term "a back rest element" as used herein means an element of any suitable shape that it is possible for people to lean their back against to rest or simply to feel comfortable having back support. The back rest element is typically composed of one or more back rest modules, which may be made of wood or steel or plastic as the case may be. Here the term "back rest module" is a part of the back rest element, and merely indicates that for convenience the back rest element is not one element. Each of the back rest modules may be attached to one another by means of nails, bolts, glue, or the like. The term "a source of emitting cleaned air" as used herein means a device configured to push or draw air from inside the air cleaning device to the air surrounding the street furniture, such as a fan, or by wind power, by buoyancy or the like. In addition the source includes a structure to generate a suitable wind speed and direction to deliver the cleaned air.

In a still further embodiment the resting element a) has at least one seating module, such as 1-4, typically 4. Typically, the seating module has from 1 to 4 cleaning devices, such as 2 or 3. Not all seating modules may have a cleaning device incorporated and preferably, 2 air cleaning devices are present inside 2 seating modules, that is one in each.

In a further embodiment the back rest element b) has at least one back rest module, such as 1 or 2, typically 1. Typically, the back rest module has from 1 to 6 cleaning devices, such as 2-5, e.g. 4 or 5. When for instance one back rest module is present up to 5 air cleaning devices can be present inside the back rest module. In an embodiment, 5 air cleaning devices are located inside the back rest module.

In a still further embodiment at least one air cleaning device of the seating module and at least one air cleaning device of the back rest module are present.

In a further embodiment the air cleaning device is capable of cleaning polluted air comprising exhaust gases, such as NOx and SOx, fine particles, ozone, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, urban pollutants and naturally occurring compounds. Examples of preferred pollutants being reduced are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), NOx and SOx, as well as ozone, fine and ultrafine particles. NOx and particles are generated by diesel engines and due to that these pollutants should be removed from the ambient air to have a clean air.

In a still further embodiment the ambient air is drawn into the air cleaning device of the street furniture through at least one air inlet and at least one means for transporting air flows. Typically, the ambient air is drawn into the air cleaning device of the street furniture through a fan, or by the power of ambient wind. For instance, 7 or 8 air cleaning devices are present in total, e.g. 2-3 in the seating element and 4-5 in the back rest element.

In a further embodiment, the air cleaning device comprises a cleaning unit selected from the group consisting of gas phase advanced oxidation (GPAO) and filters. Typically, filters are active carbon filters, gas adsorbing filters, electrostatic filters, and fabric filters. Each of these filters constitute individual embodiments of the invention.

In a still further embodiment the cleaned air is directed at the people resting on the street furniture or in close vicinity of the street furniture by at least one means for transporting air flows, such as a fan and associated delivery structure. Typically, close vicinity means up to 5 or 6 meters from the furniture. Typically, one fan is included in each air cleaning device, but several may be present, such as 2-20 fans, typically 10 fans. The fan is typically an axial fan, a cross flow fan or a centrifugal fan.

The street furniture such as the bench may have arm rests for people to rest, for instance, by putting their arms on the arm rests. Optimally, the street furniture is constructed so that arm rests in the form of arm rest modules can be integrated in the bench. This means that when assembling the bench, the back rest element or each of the back rest modules, is adapted to receive an arm rest module, which comprises an air cleaning device. Typically, 3-5 arm rest modules are present and each arm rest module comprises an air cleaning device capable of drawing ambient air into the arm rest module. Preferably, each arm rest module contains one air cleaning device.

Typically, the source of emitting cleaned air is located in the arm rest module, in the back rest module and/or in the seating module, and comprises a means for transporting air flows, such as a fan. The source of emitting cleaned air is located in at least one of these modules, and maybe located in two or all three, which means that each module has a source, preferably one source of emitting cleaned air. In a further embodiment the source of emitting cleaned air is located in the arm rest module. In another embodiment the source of emitting cleaned air is located in the back rest module. In a further embodiment the source of emitting cleaned air is located in the seating module. In a still further embodiment, the source of emitting cleaned air is located in both the arm rest module and in the back rest module. In a further embodiment the source of emitting cleaned air is located in both the arm rest module and in the seating module. In a further

embodiment the source of emitting cleaned air is located in the arm rest module, in the back rest module and in the seating module.

The street furniture such as the bench has a back rest element, and typically one or two back rest modules on top of one another will constitute the back rest element. Such back rest element may have many shapes as long as it is suitable for people to rest their back against. In an embodiment the back rest element is flat. In another embodiment the back rest element has a curved shape, such as a concave shape. In particular the concave shape has the advantage of better concentrating the cleaned air in close vicinity of the people on the bench, in particular in the space defined by the curved shape and comprising the resting element.

To further modify the street furniture, such as the bench, one or more sensors may be placed on or inside the street furniture, such as the bench. In an embodiment the sensor(s) monitor(s) ambient air pollution, clean air or both. Typically, the sensor(s) is/are located inside the street furniture. Preferably, a sensor is located before the air cleaning device and after the air cleaning device, such as inside the street furniture, e.g. inside the bench.

In a further aspect the present invention relates to a method for cleaning ambient air surrounding street furniture, the method comprising: drawing ambient polluted air into an air cleaning device of the street furniture of any one of the above embodiments, cleaning the air inside the street furniture, and directing the cleaned air to the surrounding of the street furniture.

In a still further aspect the present invention relates to use of street furniture for cleaning polluted air by drawing ambient polluted air into an air cleaning device of the street furniture of any one of the above embodiments, cleaning the air inside the street furniture, and directing the cleaned air to the surrounding of the street furniture.

As described above, the arm rest may be an integrated part of the street furniture, such as the bench, or it may be a separate module which can be mounted in the back rest element of the bench. An advantage of an arm rest module that can be incorporated into the street furniture, is that it can be exchanged if broken, or when the air cleaning module inside should be serviced, and may be repaired. Another advantage is that it is easier to protect the air cleaning device and the filter against the leakage of rain and vandalization. Another advantage of using an arm rest module of the present invention is that since the armrest is very close to the person sitting on the bench, the released clean air from the armrest will be entrained into the upward micro flow near the human body and therefore, the clean air will be delivered effectively to the person's head. The arm rest module may have different sizes and shapes as the case may be, but is adapted to be mounted in a back rest element of the desired street furniture of the present invention, such as the bench of the present invention, so that a housing containing an air cleaning device is located inside the bench and the arm rest protrudes out of the back rest element, for instance, for people to rest their arms on. Accordingly, in a further aspect the present invention concerns an arm rest module comprising a) a housing, such as a metal box or plastic tube, comprising an air cleaning device, wherein the air cleaning device comprises a means for transporting air flows, such as a fan, for drawing air into the cleaning device, a particle filter for filtering the air, a gas filter for filtering the air, and an air intake, and b) an arm rest connected and secured to the housing, having a diffuser in the arm rest for directing the cleaned air from the air cleaning device to the surrounding of the arm rest module.

In an embodiment the housing is a metal box.

In a further embodiment the housing contains one air cleaning device.

In a still further embodiment the air cleaning device consist of one means for transporting air flows for drawing air into the cleaning device, one particle filter for filtering the air, and one gas filter for filtering the air. In a further embodiment the means for transporting air flows is a fan. In a further embodiment the means for transporting air flows is a fan and associated delivery structure. The particle filter preferably comprises a filter for fine particles (larger than 300 nm and smaller than 3 micrometer in mean mass aerodynamic diameter (MMAD)) and an ultrafine filter (for particles smaller than 300 nm in MMAD). The particle filter will be made of fibers (woven or non-woven). The gas filter comprises a charcoal filter or other gas absorbing material that can be in the shape of pellets, filter bed and/or a sponge. In further embodiments, the fan is typically an axial, cross flow or centrifugal fan, comprising a number of blades in a circular arrangement for moving the air, a coil, axis and cabling for electricity supply.

In a further embodiment the arm rest connected and secured to the housing, has one diffuser in the arm rest for directing the cleaned air from the air cleaning device to the surrounding of the arm rest module. Typically, the arm rest is made of the same material as the housing, but may be made of a different material as long as connection to the housing can be secured.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the appended drawings illustrating typical embodiments of the street furniture with air cleaning devices integrated therein. These drawings are by no means limiting the scope of the present invention and are only intended to guide the skilled person for better understanding of the present invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a bench (10) of the present invention having a concave shaped back rest element (12) defined by a concave shaped inner wall (14) for people sitting on the bench to optionally rest their back against, a concave shaped outer wall (not shown) opposite the inner wall (14), two side ends (16) and (18) defining the ends of the concave shaped back rest element, a top part (20) defining the upper limit of the back rest element, five openings (22, 24, 26, 28, 38) having an air cleaning device located in the back rest element (12), wherein three arm rests (30, 32, 34) protrudes through openings (24, 26, 28) and which are configures so as to release cleaned air into the surroundings of the bench. The bench further has a seating element (40) and a seating surface (36) for people to sit or lay on, which seating element (40) may consist of one or more modules (not shown). The bench is made curved (concave) to help keeping the cleaned air at the vicinity of the bench when the weather is windy. This will help to provide the cleaned air at a speed which is comfortable to people.

Figure 2 illustrates the bench of Figure 1 wherein the seating surface (36) has been removed and two seating modules (50, 52) are indicated which each may contain an air cleaning device (not shown). Two air cleaners will be placed beneath the seat (36, 40) of the bench in each seating module (50, 52). The air cleaner will pull the air from back of the bench (not shown) and will push out the cleaned air to the sides of the bench, through openings as indicated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates an arm rest module (60) of the present invention including a housing (64) wherein an air cleaning device is located (not shown) and an arm rest (62) connected and secured to the housing, which arm rest (62) has a diffuser in the arm rest (61) for directing the cleaned air from the air cleaning device to the surrounding of the arm rest. The arm rest (62) is configured as a diffuser (61) of the cleaned air because the arm rest is very close to people sitting, and, since the bottom side (61) of the armrest (62) is used to diffuse out clean air (see also Figure 5), the system is more weather resistant e.g. against rain.

Figure 4 illustrates the arm rest module of Figure 3 (70) seen directly from the front of the module with the arm rest (72) facing out, wherein a front panel (74) of the housing has the arm rest (72) secured thereto. As part of the housing element there is a part (76) for securing the housing to a place inside the back-resting element of the bench. Also, a cross section is indicated by A-A. Figure 5 illustrates the arm rest module of Figure 4 (80) along the cross sectional view A-A indicated in Figure 4. Inside the arm rest module (80) is a space (92) wherein a fan box (88) and a filter box (90) are shown. Air to be cleaned is drawn into the space (92) via an inlet (not shown) through the filter box (90) and further through the arm rest (82) by means of the fan box (88) and out of the arm rest (82) through an elongated opening starting at (84) and ending at (86) located so that when the arm rest module is correctly mounted the opening will face away from for instance rain.

Figure 6 illustrates the bill board (100) of the present invention having a top part (112) and a bottom part (114) opposite the top part. The bill board (100) has a front part (102) for showing e.g. information and advertising, and a back part (not shown) for similar purposes. Here 4 air cleaning units (104, 106, 108, 110) are indicated on the sides of the bill board (100). Each air cleaning unit comprises an air cleaning device as described herein.

Figure 7 illustrates an air cleaning unit (120) of Figure 6 having a front panel (122) in the form of a mesh (124), and three fans (126, 128, 130) blowing out the cleaned air to the vicinity of the bill board.

Figure 8 illustrates an air cleaning unit (140) to be mounted on a railing of the present invention having a top part (146) and in the front facing out into the open air when correctly mounted are two air intakes (not shown) placed behind the mesh (142, 144). The air cleaning unit (140) is configured to clean the air inside the unit, and directing the cleaned air to the surrounding of the railing whereto the unit is mounted.

Figure 9 illustrates a lamp post (150) of the present invention consisting of a light part (158) and a lamp pole (156). On the lamp pole (156) are mounted two air cleaning units (152, 154), which are configured to clean the air inside the unit, and directing the cleaned air to the surrounding of the lamp post (150) whereto the units are mounted.

Figure 10 illustrates one air cleaning unit (160) of Figure 9 having a top part (168) and a bottom part (not shown) opposite the top part, and wherein the top part (168) consists of a top element (166) which is circular and has an opening (170) in the center. The opening in the center is suitable for the pole of the lamp post as indicated in Figure 9. Furthermore, the air cleaning unit has a circular body part (162) which the lower part thereof has an air intake (164) for drawing air outside the unit to be cleaned into the unit and directing (not shown) the cleaned air to the surrounding of the lamp post whereto the unit is mounted.

All references, including publications, patent applications and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference was individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and was set forth in its entirety herein.

All headings and sub-headings are used herein for convenience only and should not be construed as limiting the invention in any way.

Any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a short method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless other-wise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Unless otherwise stated, all exact values provided herein are representative of corresponding approximate values (e.g. , all exact exemplary values provided with respect to a particular factor or measurement can be considered to also provide a corresponding approximate measurement, modified by "about", where appropriate).

All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless other-wise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

The terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents as used in the context of describing the invention are to be construed to insert both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Thus, "a" and "an" and "the" may mean at least one, or one or more.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise indicated. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any element is essential to the practice of the invention unless as much is explicitly stated. Throughout the description when "selected from" or "selected from the group consisting of is used it also means all possible combinations of the stated terms, as well as each individual term.

The citation and incorporation of patent documents herein is done for convenience only and does not reflect any view of the validity, patentability and/or enforceability of such patent documents.

The description herein of any aspect or embodiment of the invention using terms such as "comprising", "having", "including" or "containing" with reference to an element or elements is intended to provide support for a similar aspect or embodiment of the invention that "consists of, "consists essentially of, or "substantially comprises" that particular element or elements, unless otherwise stated or clearly contradicted by context (e.g., a composition described herein as comprising a particular element should be understood as also describing a composition consisting of that element, unless otherwise stated or clearly contradicted by context).

This invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter re-cited in the aspects or claims presented herein to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description may, both separately and in any combination thereof, be material for realizing the invention in diverse forms thereof.