GB2625564A

GB2625564A - Head wearable air purifier

Info

Publication number: GB2625564A
Application number: GB2219280.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Murray Orchard James; Scott Middleton Thomas; David Taylor Samuel
Original assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2022-12-20
Filing date: 2022-12-20
Publication date: 2024-06-26
Also published as: WO2024134375A1; GB202219280D0

Abstract

A head wearable air purifier 10 comprising a headgear 12, an air purifier assembly 14 for generating a purified airflow, and a nozzle assembly 90 comprising an air inlet configured to receive a purified airflow from the air purifier assembly, and an air outlet. The air purifier assembly comprises an air purifier moveably mounted (directionals 23, 25) to the headgear 12, allowing the air purifier to be rotated for better nozzle assembly positioning, or displaced on the headgear to a more comfortable position.

Description

HEAD WEARABLE AIR PURIFIER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a head wearable air purifier.

S

Background

Air pollution is an increasing problem and a variety of air pollutants have known or suspected harmful effects on human health. The adverse effects that can be caused by air pollution depend upon the pollutant type and concentration, and the length of exposure to the polluted air. For example, high air pollution levels can cause immediate health problems such as aggravated cardiovascular and respiratory illness, whereas long-term exposure to polluted air can have permanent health effects such as loss of lung capacity and decreased lung function, and the development of diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and possibly cancer.

In locations with particularly high levels of air pollution, many individuals have recognised the benefits of minimising their exposure to these pollutants and have therefore taken to wearing face masks with the aim of filtering out at least a portion of the pollutants present in the air before it reaches the mouth and nose. There have also been various attempts to develop air purifiers that can be worn by the wearer but that do not require the wearer's mouth and nose to be covered. For example, there are various designs for wearable air purifiers that are worn around the neck of the wearer and that create a jet of air that is directed upwards towards the wearer's mouth and nose. There is a general desire for wearable air purifiers to provide effective air purification.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head wearable air purifier comprising: a headgear; an air purifier assembly for generating a purified airflow; and a nozzle assembly comprising an air inlet configured to receive a purified airflow from the air purifier assembly, and an air outlet for emitting the purified airflow from the nozzle assembly, wherein the air purifier assembly comprises an air purifier moveably mounted to the headgear.

People desiring to use a head wearable air purifier may have a wide range of different head sizes and shapes. A non-adjustable head wearable air purifier may fit one person comfortably but may be ill-fitting on another person. An ill-fitting head wearable air purifier may be less effective at providing purified air to a wearer. For example, if there is a larger than intended gap between a mouth of the wearer and an air outlet, purified air may leak into an external environment rather than being directed into the mouth of the wearer.

The air purifier of the head wearable air purifier of the first aspect is moveably mounted to the headgear. This for example allows the air purifier to be moved to a comfortable position on the head of the wearer. This can improve the fit of the head wearable air purifier on the head, which can improve the effectiveness of the air purification achieved by the head wearable air purifier. The air purifier may have a range of movement relative to a fixed point on the headgear, so that the fit of the head wearable air purifier is adjustable to suit a wide range of different head sizes and shapes. For example, the air purifier may be moveable to sit away from an ear of a wearer, e.g. to be positioned behind an ear of the wearer, to aid in securing the head wearable air purifier on the head of the wearer.

The air purifier may be coupled to the nozzle assembly such that the nozzle assembly is moveable by movement of the air purifier. This for example allows the position of the nozzle assembly to be easily adjusted to direct the purified airflow into the mouth and/or nose of the wearer. In particular, there is a large amount of variance in the relative position and size of human facial features, which can lead to varying distances between different facial features, such as from the top of the head to the mouth or nose, or from the back of the head to the mouth or nose. A moveable nozzle assembly allows the nozzle assembly to be moved, e.g. relative to the headgear, into a desired position to efficiently supply purified air to a wearer of the head wearable air purifier. For example, the nozzle assembly may be moveable, by movement of the air purifier, into a breathing zone of the wearer, which is e.g. in front of a mouth and/or nose of the wearer. In addition, a moveable nozzle assembly for example allows the head wearable air purifier to be worn in a flexible manner by different wearers. For example, some wearers may choose to wear the headgear at a different angle or in a different position, depending on what feels comfortable to them. With the nozzle assembly being moveable, e.g. relative to the headgear, different wearers can move the nozzle assembly to different extents to compensate for different positioning of the headgear on the head.

The air purifier may be slidably mounted to the headgear. Slidable mounting of the air purifier for example allows the air purifier to be moved along a length of the headgear, e.g. to different positions around the circumference of the head (in examples in which the headgear is arranged to at least partly wrap around the circumference of the head).

In this way, the air purifier can be positioned in different locations for wearers with different head sizes so as to achieve a comfortable and effective fit. Furthermore, if a slidably mounted air purifier is coupled to the nozzle assembly such that the nozzle assembly is moveable by movement of the air purifier, the wearer can for example slide the air purifier along the headgear to straightforwardly control the distance between the nozzle assembly and the breathing zone of the wearer, so as to efficiently direct purified air into the breathing zone.

The air purifier may be rotatably mounted to the headgear. A rotatably mounted air purifier can for example be rotated as desired to obtain a comfortable and effective fit of the air purifier on a head of a wearer. The wearer can for example rotate the air purifier to cause the nozzle assembly to rotate relative to the headgear, e.g. to change a vertical position of the nozzle assembly. For example, rotation of the air purifier in this manner may cause an air outlet of the nozzle assembly to traverse an arced path in a median plane of the wearer so as to move the air outlet up or down, along the arced path. This for example allows the wearer to position the nozzle assembly at an appropriate height to supply purified air into the breathing zone.

The air purifier may be moveable along a curved path for following a curvature of a head of a wearer. This for example allows the air purifier to be moved in conformance with the curvature of the head of the wearer to maintain a secure fit of the air purifier, and hence of the head wearable air purifier, on the head of the wearer. This can aid in retaining the head wearable air purifier on the head of the wearer, which may improve the maintenance of effective air purification.

The air purifier may be moveable by a plurality of discrete movements. For example, a discrete movement may be a slide of the air purifier in a particular direction by a predetermined distance, or a rotation of the air purifier in a particular direction by a predetermined angle. This for example simplifies control of the movement of the air purifier, so as to achieve an effective positioning of the air purifier for secure mounting of the head wearable air purifier on the head of the wearer. For example, the air purifier may be moveable to a limited number of predetermined positions or configurations relative to other components of the head wearable air purifier, each of which provides a sufficiently balanced distribution of weight across the head wearable air purifier to stably mount the head wearable air purifier on the head of the wearer.

In some of these examples, the air purifier assembly comprises a plurality of air purifiers, the plurality of air purifiers comprising the air purifier, and each of the plurality of air purifiers is moveable by the same plurality of discrete movements. This for example makes it easier for the wearer to align the air purifiers in a particular configuration compared to air purifiers that are moveable by continuous movements. In this way, the wearer can e.g. move the air purifiers into a symmetric arrangement in a straightforward manner.

The plurality of discrete movements may comprise at least two different types of movement. For example, the types of movement may include rotation and sliding. The types of movement may be in different directions and/or planes. This for example provides flexibility to position the air purifier in an appropriate position for a given wearer, e.g. to provide a comfortable and effective fit.

The head wearable air purifier may comprise a locking mechanism for locking the air purifier in a static position. This may limit or prevent unwanted movement of the air purifier during use, which can improve the stability of the head wearable air purifier on the head of the wearer. This may be beneficial for example where the wearer is in motion, e.g. if the wearer is exercising or playing sport.

In some examples, the air purifier is a first air purifier moveably mounted to a first side of the headgear and the air purifier assembly comprises a second air purifier moveably mounted to a second side of the headgear, opposite to the first side of the headgear. Mounting the first and second air purifiers on opposite sides of the headgear for example allows the weight of the first and second air purifiers to be distributed over the head wearable air purifier, which can improve the stability of the head wearable air purifier on the head of the wearer.

In some of these examples, the first air purifier and the second air purifier are biased to move to a predetermined position upon activation of a release mechanism. This for example allows the first and second air purifiers to be easily moved to the predetermined position. With the first air purifier and the second air purifier in the predetermined position, the head wearable air purifier may be in an open configuration to allow insertion of a head of a wearer into the head wearable air purifier. The wearer can thus easily open the head wearable air purifier by activating the release mechanism rather than having to individually adjust the position of the first and second air purifiers.

This facilitates easy insertion of the head of the wearer into the head wearable air purifier. For example, with the first and second air purifiers in the predetermined position, the wearer may be able to insert their head forward into the head wearable air purifier, towards the nozzle assembly, rather than moving the head wearable air purifier down over the top of the head. This for example allows the wearer to mount the head wearable air purifier on the head without the head wearable air purifier interfering with other head-mounted accessories such as glasses or headphones. The head wearable air purifier may comprise at least one spring mechanism to cause the first air purifier and the second air purifier to move to the predetermined position upon activation of the release mechanism. A spring mechanism is for example a simple and lightweight mechanism to cause movement of the first and second air purifiers in this manner.

In some of these examples, the first air purifier is configured to be placed behind a first ear of the wearer and the second air purifier is configured to be placed behind a second ear of the wearer. This can reduce the profile of the head wearable air purifier when viewed from the front (i.e. facing the wearer). The field of vision of the wearer can thus be increased compared to different arrangements in which parts of the air purifier assembly are located closer to the eyes of the wearer. Wind resistance is for example decreased, as the first and second air purifiers may be less exposed to wind directed towards the face of the wearer than if they are located on or in front of the ears of the wearer. Moreover, locating the first and second air purifiers behind the ears of the wearer can aid in securing the head wearable air purifier on the head of the wearer, as forward motion of the first and second air purifiers (and hence of the head wearable air purifier as a whole) can be limited by the ears of the wearer.

In some of these examples, the nozzle assembly comprises a first end section coupled to the first air purifier, a second end section coupled to the second air purifier, and a midsection between the first end section and the second end section, the midsection comprising a face mask comprising the air outlet. This arrangement for example facilitates the easy positioning of the face mask over the mouth and/or nose of the wearer. Coupling of two end sections of the nozzle assembly to respective air purifiers for example improves the stability of the nozzle assembly, in use.

In some of these examples, the air inlet is a first inlet aperture of the first end section, the first air purifier has a first air purifier aperture connected to the first inlet aperture to form a first continuous air duct from the first air purifier to the first end section, the nozzle assembly has a second inlet aperture of the second end section, and the second air purifier has a second air purifier aperture connected to the second inlet aperture to form a second continuous air duct from the second air purifier to the second end section. Providing first and second continuous air ducts may reduce interruption to a flow of purified air into the nozzle assembly that may otherwise be caused by movement of the first and/or second air purifiers. The purified air may thus be provided more efficiently to the wearer.

The first end section and/or the second end section may be flexible in at least one direction. Flexibility of the first and/or second end sections for example allows for a variation in position of the first and/or second air purifiers to account for different head shapes and sizes. For example, a wearer with a smaller head may choose to position the first and second air purifiers with a larger angle between inward faces of the first and second air purifiers than a wearer with a larger head. Flexible first and/or second end sections can for example allow for such differences in angle between the first and second air purifiers or for other differences in relative position or configuration of the first and second air purifiers for different wearers.

The first end section may be coupled to the first air purifier via a first flexible connection and/or the second end section may be coupled to the second air purifier via a second flexible connection. Flexible connections, such as flexible tubing, for example provide a simple way of providing flexibility in the connection of the first and second end sections to the first and second air purifiers, e.g. to accommodate different head shapes and sizes, and/or to facilitate opening of the head wearable air purifier for a wearer to insert or remove their head.

In some examples, a housing of air purifier has a concave face for conforming with a head of a wearer. This for example allows the housing to be placed against the head of the wearer in a range of positions without unduly affecting the comfort of the wearer or the fit of the housing against the head. It is to be appreciate that, in examples, the air purifier components move with the housing. In other words, movement of the air purifier may be considered to include movement of the housing as well as internal components located within the housing.

In some examples, the air purifier is moveably mounted to a headband of the headgear. This facilitates easy mounting of the air purifier on the headgear. Furthermore, a headband is for example a relatively compact component, and may be lower in weight than more bulky components while still aiding in securing the head wearable air purifier on the head of the wearer and providing a suitable component for mounting of the air purifier.

The headband comprises a front portion configured to be placed on a forehead of a wearer. This for example allows the headgear to be mounted on the head of the wearer in a more stable manner than otherwise, making the head wearable air purifier particularly suitable for use in situations in which the wearer is moving.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a headgear for a head wearable air purifier, the headgear comprising: a support system for an air purifier for generating a purified airflow to be provided to a nozzle assembly of the head wearable air purifier, wherein the support system comprises a mounting assembly for moveably mounting the air purifier to the headgear. As explained with respect to the first aspect, the air purifier being moveably mounted to the headgear for example allows the air purifier to be moved to a comfortable position on the head of the wearer. This can improve the fit of the head wearable air purifier on the head, which can improve the effectiveness of the air purification achieved by the head wearable air purifier.

In some examples of the second aspect, the mounting assembly is configured for slidably and/or rotatably mounting the air purifier to the headgear. This for example allows for flexibility in movement of the air purifier into a desired position.

In some examples of the second aspect, the mounting assembly is configured for mounting the air purifier to the headgear such that the air purifier is moveable along a curved path for following a curvature of a head of a wearer. This for example allows the air purifier to be moved in conformance with the curvature of the head of the wearer to maintain a secure fit of the air purifier, and hence of the head wearable air purifier, on the head of the wearer.

In some examples of the second aspect, the mounting assembly is configured for mounting the air purifier to the headgear such that the air purifier is moveable by a plurality of discrete movements. This for example simplifies control of the movement of the air purifier, so as to achieve an effective positioning of the air purifier for secure mounting of the head wearable air purifier on the head of the wearer.

Optional features of aspects of the present invention may be equally applied to other aspects of the present invention, where appropriate.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a head wearable air purifier according to examples; Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the head wearable air purifier of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic rear view of the head wearable air purifier of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic underside view of the head wearable air purifier of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic simplified plan view showing mounting of the head wearable air purifier of Figure 1 on heads of different sizes; Figure 6 is a schematic side view of the first air purifier and side cutaway view of the first end section of the head wearable air purifier of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a schematic front view of the first air purifier of the head wearable air purifier of Figure]; Figure 8 is a schematic front view of a headband for a head wearable air purifier according to examples; Figure 9 is a schematic rear view of the headband of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a schematic side view of the headband of Figure 8; Figure 11 is a schematic side view of a support for an air purifier moveably mounted to a headband according to examples; Figure 12 is a schematic side view of a first air purifier and side cutaway view of a first end section of a head wearable air purifier according to further examples; and Figure 13 is a schematic side view of the first air purifier and flexible connection of Figure 12.

Detailed Description

A head wearable air purifier, generally designated 10, is shown schematically in Figures 1 to 4. The head wearable air purifier 10 is mounted on a head 50 of a wearer in Figures 1 and 2. Figures 3 and 4 show the head wearable air purifier 10 in isolation.

The head wearable air purifier comprises a headgear 12, first and second air purifiers 14, 16, which together form an air purifier assembly for generating a purified airflow, and a nozzle assembly 100.

Figure 5 illustrates schematically a comparison between the mounting of the head wearable air purifier 10 of Figures 1 to 4 on a first head 50a of a first wearer with a head circumference at the 2. 5th percentile and a second head 50b of a second wearer with a head circumference at the 97.51h percentile. The head wearable air purifier 10 is shown in simplified form in plan view in Figure 5; various components of the head wearable air purifier 10 shown in Figures 1 to 4 are omitted from Figure 5.

In Figure 5, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are arranged behind opposite ears 78a, 80a of the first head 50a, and similarly behind opposite ears 78b, 80b of the second head 50b With this arrangement, the distance from a central reference region 13 defined with respect to the centre of the headgear 12 to a centre of each of the air purifiers 14, 16 (indicated in Figure 5 using the reference numeral 15 for the centre of the first air purifier 14) is greater for the larger head (the second head 50b) than for the smaller head (the first head 50a). In this example, the difference in this distance (indicated in Figure 5 using the reference numeral 17) is 32 millimetres.

There is also a difference in a first angle 21a and a second angle 21b between an axis 11 passing through a closest edge of the reference region 13, parallel to a central axis 19 passing through the reference region 13, and the closest edge of the air purifiers 14, 16 to the reference region 13, when the head wearable air purifier 10 is mounted on the first head 50a and the second head 50b, respectively. In this example, the central axis 19 corresponds with a median plane of the first and second wearers, which is an anatomical plane that divides the body into left and right sides along midline structures such as the navel and spine (and may be referred to as a mid-sagittal plane). In this example, the first angle 21a is greater than the second angle 21b, as the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are located closer to the reference region 13 when the head wearable air purifier 10 is mounted on the first head 50a, as the first head 50a is smaller than the second head 50b.

In order to accommodate different head sizes such as the first head 50a and the second head Sob, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are moveably mounted to the headgear 12. This allows the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 to be moved, for example to achieve the difference 17 in distance and the first and second angles 21a, 21b shown in Figure 5, so that the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 can be comfortably located behind the ears of wearers of various different head sizes. Movement of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 relative to the headgear 12 causes a corresponding movement of internal components of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 In the example of Figures Ito 4, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are slidably mounted to a headband 60 of the headgear 12. In this example, the headgear 12 has a first portion 52, a second portion 54 and a front portion 56 between the first and second portions 52, 54. The front portion 56 is connected at one side to the first portion 52 and at the other side to the second portion 54, and is arranged at the front of the wearer' s head 50, in use. The front portion 56 is configured to be placed on a forehead of the wearer. The first and second portions 52, 54 of the headgear 12 are configured to be placed on opposite sides of the head 50, to mount the headgear 12 on the front and sides of the head 50.

The headgear 12 comprises a headband 60, which is generally elongate and arcuate in form. The front portion 56 of the headgear 12 comprises a front portion 62 of the headband 60, which is also configured to be placed on the forehead. The headband 60 has first and second sides 64, 66, which are each connected to opposite sides of the front portion 62 of the headband 60 and are configured to be placed on opposite sides of the head 50. The front portion 62 of the headband 60 includes a central portion of the headband 60, which is aligned with a central portion of the forehead, in use. The headband 60 thus wraps around the wearer's head, from one side of the head 50, across the forehead and around the other side of the head 50. Hence, rather than being arranged longitudinally on the head 50, the headband 60 is instead configured to circumferentially surround part of the head 50, in use, by wrapping around part of a circumference of the wearer's head 50 from one side of the head to the other.

The slidable mounting of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 to the headband 60 (indicated in Figure 1 by a dashed arrow 23) means that the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 can be moved backwards and forwards along the length of the headband 60. This allows the distance between the front portion 62 of the headband 60 and the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 to be adjusted as needed, so that the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 can be placed in a secure and comfortable position on the head 50.

As the headband 60 is generally arcuate, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are moveable (in this case, slidable) along a curved path along the headband 60. The first and second air purifiers 14, 16 can thus be moved around the head 50 of the wearer along a path that generally follows the curvature of the head 50, so that conformity between the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 and the head 50 can be maintained with the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 positioned in various different locations along the length of the headband 60.

The first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are also rotatably mounted to the headband 60 (indicated in Figure 1 by a dashed arrow 25). This allows the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 to be moved in a circular direction in a plane of the headband 60 around a pivot point corresponding to a centre of gravity of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16, respectively.

The first and second air purifiers may be moveable (e.g. slidable and/or rotatable) by continuous movements. However, in the example of Figures Ito 4, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are moveable by discrete movements rather than continuous movements. In other words, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are moveable by fixed, pre-defined increments rather than by variable amounts. In this case, the discrete movements include two types of movement: slidable movement and rotational movement, but in other cases the first and/or second air purifiers may be moveable by discrete movements of a single type (or a greater number of types). The first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are each moveable by the same discrete movements. In other words, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 can each be slid to one of the same set of positions along opposite sides of the headband 60 and can each be rotated to one of the same set of rotational positions, to simplify positioning of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16, e.g. in a symmetrical fashion if desired.

Once the wearer has positioned the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 in a desired position on the head 50, the wearer locks the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 in a static position using a locking mechanism (not shown in Figures 1 to 4 but discussed in more detail with reference to Figures 8 to 10). Locking of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 prevents further movement of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 relative to the headband 60 until the locking mechanism is released.

Turning back to the headgear 12, the headgear 12 further comprises a connecting portion 68, which connects the first side 64 of the headband 60 to the second side 66 of the headband 60. In Figures 1 to 4, the connecting portion 68 forms a crown of the headgear 12, which overlies the top of the head 50, in use. The connecting portion 68 in this case rests on an upper surface of the head 50, to aid in supporting the head wearable air purifier 10 on the head 50. Various materials may be used for the connecting portion 68. For example, the connecting portion 68 may be formed of fabric, for wearer comfort, and may be or comprise flexible material to conform to heads of different shapes and sizes. The connecting portion 68 of Figures 1 to 4 is connected to the headband 60 along a portion of the headband 60 extending from the first side 64 to the second side 66 of the headband 60, i.e. around a circumference of the headband 60, along an elongate upper section of the headband 60. In other examples, though, the connecting portion 68 may be connected to a smaller extent of the headband 60, e.g. to form a strip connecting one side of the headband 60 to the other, and may not overlie the entirety of the crown of the head 50 in use.

The connecting portion 68 has a cut-out 69 (shown in Figure 3), which is an absence of material of the connecting portion 68. The cut-out 69 is located at the back of the connecting portion 68, which is to be arranged at the back of the head, in use. The cut-out 69 in this example has an inverted U-shape in a plane of the connecting portion 68 but other cut-outs may have other shapes. The cut-out 69 forms a gap in the connecting portion 68, meaning that there is an absence of material of the connecting portion 68 between opposite sides 71, 73 of the cut-out 69 (i.e. between opposite arms of the inverted U-shape of the cut-out 69 in the example of Figure 3). Due to this absence of material, the sides 71, 73 of the cut-out 69 can move towards or apart from each other to create a smaller or larger circumference of the headgear 12, respectively. For example, the sides 71, 73 of the cut-out 69 can be moved away from each other to open up the back of the headgear 12 to facilitate mounting or removal of the headgear 12 on the head 50. Similarly, the sides 71, 73 can be brought closer together once the headgear 12 has been mounted on the head 50. In addition, the cut-out 69 allows the size of the headgear 12 to be adjusted for wearers with different head sizes. The sides 71, 73 can for example be moved closer together or further apart to decrease or increase the size of the headgear 12 as desired.

In other examples, though, a connecting portion need not have a cut-out in order to adjust a size of the headgear 12, e.g. to accommodate different head sizes. In these examples, the connecting portion may have a different shape (such as the shape of a stripe from one side of the headband 60 to the other), may be flexible or may include a flexible portion to allow the size of the headgear 12 to be altered as desired. For example, the headgear 12 may include a flexible portion instead of the cut-out 69 shown in Figure 3.

The headgear 12 of Figures 1 to 4 includes a peak 70, which is connected to the front portion 62 of the headband 60 and acts to provide shade to the wearer, for example to partially shield the wearer's eyes from sunlight. In this case, the headgear 12 takes the general form of a peaked cap, but this is merely an example.

The first and second sides 64, 66 of the headband 60 comprise a first and second battery compartment 72, 74, respectively. The first and second battery compartments 72, 74 are each hollow housings for receiving one or more batteries therein. It will be appreciated that batteries may be removable from the first and/or second battery compartments 72, 74, or may be intended to be retained within the first and/or second battery compartments 72, 74 during normal use. Where the batteries are replaceable and intended to be removable from the first and/or second battery compartments 72, 74, the first and/or second battery compartments 72, 74 may, for example, comprise a releasable door or cover to enable access to the interior of the first and/or second battery compartments 72, 74. Where batteries are rechargeable and intended to be retained within the first and/or second battery compartments 72, 74 in normal use, the first and/or second battery compartments 72, 74, or indeed other components of the head wearable air purifier 10, may comprise at least one charge port to enable recharging of batteries.

In examples in which the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are moveable by continuous movements, the first and second battery compartments 72, 74 may constrain slidable movement of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 along the length of the headband 60. For example, the wearer may be able to slide the first air purifier 14 forwards along the headband 60 until it contacts the first battery compartment 72 (and similarly for the second air purifier 16 but with the second battery compartment 74). However, in the example of Figures 1 to 4, slidable movement of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 is already constrained to a plurality of discrete positions without the involvement of the first and second battery compartments 72, 74.

The first and second battery compartments 72, 74 are elongate along the length of the headband 60 and thus extend along the length of the headband 60 in a direction parallel to the length of the headband 60. In this example, the first and second battery compartments 72, 74 are each arranged to receive an elongate battery orientated so that a length of the battery is parallel to the length of the headband 60, i.e. around the circumference of the head 50. The first and second battery compartments 72, 74 are opposite each other on the headband 60, so that the first and second battery compartments 72, 74 face each other. This allows the first and second battery compartments 72, 74 to be placed in substantially the same position relative to the head 50 of the wearer but on opposite sides of the head 50, so as to evenly distribute the weight of the batteries around the head 50. In this example, the first and second battery compartments 72, 74 are mirror images of each other with respect to a mirror plane coinciding with the median plane 76 of the wearer (shown in Figure 3). The first and second battery compartments 72, 74 are arranged on opposite sides of the peak 70 so that the weight of batteries within the first and second battery compartments 72, 74 is not so far forward to cause the front portion 56 of the headgear 12 to tip downwards into the eyes of the wearer.

In addition to comprising the first battery compartment 72, the first side 64 of the headband 60 is also coupled to the first air purifier 14 via a first support. The second portion 66 of the headband 60 is similarly coupled to the second air purifier 16 via a second support. The first and second support are not shown in Figures 1 to 4 but example supports for supporting air purifiers are discussed in more detailed with reference to Figures 8 to 11. The first and second support together form a support system for the air purifier assembly, which in this example includes the first and second air purifiers 14, 16. The first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are arranged opposite each other, so that the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are mirror images of each other with respect to a mirror plane coinciding with the median plane 76 of the wearer.

The first and second battery compartments 72, 74 are located between the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 along the length of the headband 60. In Figures 1 to 4, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are located behind first and second ears 78, 80 of the wearer and the first and second battery compartments 72, 74 are located in front of the first and second ears 78, 80, in use It is to be appreciated that a component may be considered to be located in front of an ear if it lies forward of a longitudinal axis of the ear (i.e. closer to the wearer's face than the longitudinal axis), even if the component is not aligned with a horizontal axis passing through a centre of the ear. Similarly, a component may be considered to be located behind an ear if it lies behind the longitudinal axis of the ear (i.e. further from the wearer's face than the longitudinal axis), irrespective of whether the component is aligned with the horizontal axis passing through the centre of the ear. This is the case in Figures 1 to 4, in which a centre of gravity of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 is located diagonally backwards and upwards from the first and second ears 78, 80, respectively, in use, and in which a centre of gravity of the first and second battery compartments 72, 74 is located diagonally forwards and upwards from the first and second ears 78, 80, respectively, in use In this example, a centre of gravity of the first battery compartment 72 is also horizontally and vertically offset from a centre of gravity of the first air purifier 14. As shown in Figure 1, in this case the first battery compartment 72 is thus located diagonally forwards and upwards of the first air purifier 14, so that the centre of gravity of the first battery compartment 72 is higher than that of the first air purifier 14 and is located closer to the face than that of the first air purifier 14. The second battery compartment 74 and the second air purifier 16 are arranged in the same manner as the first battery compartment and air purifier 72, 14, but on the opposite side of the head 50.

To enable electrical connection of batteries contained within the first and second battery compartments 72, 74 to components internal of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16, the headband 60 may include a cavity, for example to allow electrical wiring or the like to pass therethrough.

The first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are arranged to generate purified air to be provided to the wearer via the nozzle assembly 100. The first and second air purifiers 14, 16 each include respective hollow housings, to house internal components such as a filter assembly to filter incoming air, and an airflow generator. The first air purifier 14 is shown in more detail in Figures 6 and 7. It is to be appreciated that the second air purifier 16 of Figures Ito 4 includes the same components as the first air purifier 14, although in other examples the first and second air purifiers may have a different structure than each other.

As can be seen in Figure 6, the housing of the first air purifier 14 includes an ambient air inlet 82 through which ambient air 84 may be drawn into the interior of the housing.

The ambient air inlet 82 is an elongate aperture in a lower section of the housing of the first air purifier 14. The housing of the first air purifier 14 has a generally circular cross-section, with a generally circular inner face 83 to be arranged on the head of the wearer and an opposing outer face 85 to face the ambient environment, in use. The inner face 83 is concave to conform to the head 50 of the wearer. In other words, the inner face 83 curves inwardly, in a generally dished shape, so as to approximately match the outward, convex curvature of the head 50. The elongate aperture is elongate along a side wall section 87 of the housing joining the inner and outer faces 83, 85 of the housing. In other cases, though, the ambient air inlet 82 may include a plurality of apertures and/or at least one aperture of a different shape or location than that shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Turning back to Figures 1 to 4, it is to be appreciated that each of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 includes a filter assembly disposed within a respective housing between the ambient air inlet and a respective airflow generator (not shown). Each filter assembly includes a filter material chosen to provide a desired degree of filtration of air to be provided to a wearer in use. In the example of Figures 1 to 4, each airflow generator comprises a motor driven impeller to draw air from the respective ambient air inlet, through the respective filter assembly, and output air through respective outlet apertures (not shown in Figures 1 to 4), of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16, which are e.g. outlets of the housing of the respective air purifier to be connected to respective air inlets of the nozzle assembly 100 to provide a purified airflow to the nozzle assembly 100. Outlet apertures of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 may be referred to as first and second air purifier apertures, respectively.

An outlet aperture 89 of the first air purifier 14 is shown in Figure 7. In this example, the outlet aperture 89 is an elongate aperture in the side wall portion 87 of the housing for connection to nozzle assembly 100. The outlet aperture 89 in this example is wider and shorter than the ambient air inlet 82 in Figure 7, and is located at an angle with respect to the ambient air inlet 82. The location of the outlet aperture 89 with respect to the ambient air inlet 82 is selected so that the nozzle assembly 100 can be connected to the outlet aperture 89 without impeding a flow of ambient air into the ambient air inlet 82. The outlet aperture 89 is connected to an air inlet 91 of the nozzle assembly 100 (shown in Figure 6) to receive a purified airflow 93 from the first air purifier 14.

Returning to Figures 1 to 4, the airflow generators of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are configured to receive power from the batteries housed by the first and second battery compartments 72, 74. In this example, the airflow generator of the first air purifier 14 is configured to be powered by at least one battery within the first battery compartment 72, whilst the airflow generator of the second air purifier 16 is configured to be powered by at least one battery within the second battery compartment 74, in this way, purified air can be generated by the first and second air purifiers 14, 16, to be provided to the nozzle assembly 100.

The nozzle assembly 100 has a first end section 86, a second end section 88 and a midsection 90 between the first and second end sections 86, 88. Opposite ends of the midsection 90 are configured to receive ends of the first and second end sections 86, 88, respectively. The first and second end sections 86, 88 include teeth to engage with the midsection 90 so as to form a ratchet mechanism that enables adjustment 27 of the length of each side of the nozzle assembly 100. To this end, the teeth, a spacing between the teeth and an opposing internal wall of the midsection 90 may be sufficiently resilient to provide the required retention.

The nozzle assembly 100 is curved between the first and second end sections 86, 88 such that the nozzle assembly 100 is generally arcuate in form. The first and second end sections 86, 88 are placed beneath the first and second ears 78, 80 respectively, in use, to reduce interference in the wearer's hearing and discomfort that may otherwise occur if the first and second end sections 86, 88 pass over the ears. In this case, the first and second end sections 86, 88 curve around each side of the wearer's lower face so as to generally follow the shape of the face.

The first and second end sections 86, 88 of the nozzle assembly 100 in this example are flexible along their length, to allow outward and inward flexing of the first and second end sections 86, 88 along their length. This allows the first and second end sections 86, 88 to be flexed to accommodate different positions of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 e.g, to accommodate wearers with different head shapes and sizes. The first and second end sections 86, 88 of the nozzle assembly 100 are resilient so as to return to an unflexed configuration in the absence of an applied force.

The first and second end sections 86, 88 are connected to the first and second air purifiers 14, 16, respectively, to receive a purified airflow therefrom. The connection between the first end section 86 and the first air purifier 14 is shown in Figure 6, which shows a side view of the first air purifier 14 and a side cutaway view of the first end section 86. The first and second end sections 86, 88 and the midsection 90 are generally hollow in form, to receive the purified air 93 therethrough.

As can be seen in Figure 6, the first end section 86 includes the air inlet 91, which may be referred to as a first air inlet, which is connected to the outlet aperture 89 of the first air purifier 14, which may be referred to as a first air purifier aperture. The second end section 88 similarly includes a second air inlet connected to a second air purifier aperture of the second air purifier 16 Connection of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 to the nozzle assembly 100 in this manner forms a first continuous air duct from the first air purifier 14 to the first end section 86 and a second continuous air duct from the second air purifier 16 to the second end section 88. These air ducts are continuous for example in that the air purifiers are directly connected to the respective end sections by the air ducts rather than via an indirect connection via another component through which air may be undesirably escape from the head wearable air purifier 10.

Referring again to Figures 1 to 4, when the nozzle assembly 100 is connected to the first and second air purifiers 14, 16, and the head wearable air purifier 10 is worn by a wearer, the nozzle assembly 100 is configured to extend in front of the face of the wearer, and particularly the mouth and lower nasal region of the wearer, without contacting the face of the wearer. The midsection 90 of the nozzle assembly 100 includes a face mask 92 to be placed over the wearer's mouth and nose, in use. In other examples, though, a face mask may cover a different extent of a wearer's face, such as just the mouth or just the nose, and/or the face mask may be configured to contact the face of the wearer, in use.

The midsection 90 has an air outlet to emit the purified airflow. The air outlet in this example is in the form of a mesh 101 (shown in Figure 3), which is defined by an array of holes between adjacent fibres or sections of the material of the mesh 101 for the purified airflow to pass through. Upper and lower surfaces of the midsection 90 may comprise flow guides that extend rearwardly, to reduce the entrance of unfiltered air into a breathing zone adjacent a mouth and nasal region of a face of a wearer in use, particularly in conditions where the head wearable air purifier 10 is worn outside in a cross wind.

In this example, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are coupled to the nozzle assembly 100 (via the first and second end sections 86, 88 respectively) so that movement of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 causes movement of the nozzle assembly 100. This allows the wearer to adjust the position of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16, by sliding and/or rotating the first and second air purifiers as desired, in order to achieve a desired fit of the head wearable air purifier 10 on the head and a desired positioning of the nozzle assembly 100. For example, different wearers may choose to wear the headgear 12 at different angles to suit their comfort or vision requirements. For example, different wearers may wish to have the peak 70 of the headgear 12 at a different angle with respect to their face. With this arrangement, different wearers can adjust the position of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 with respect to the headgear 12 as desired. For example, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 can be slid along the length of the headgear 12 to account for different head sizes. The first and second air purifiers 14, 16 can also be rotated in order to move the nozzle assembly 100 up or down, to bring the midsection 90 of the nozzle assembly 100 into the breathing zone. For example, a wearer with a smaller head 50 may rotate the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 to move the midsection 90 closer to the peak 70 (e.g. in an upwards direction) than a wearer with a larger head 50. The midsection 90 can also be brought closer to or further from the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 by an adjustment 27 of the length of each side of the nozzle assembly 100 to account for different head 50 depths. For example, a wearer with a smaller head 50 may shorten the length of each side of the nozzle assembly 100 compared to a wearer with a larger head 50, so that the midsection 90 is not unduly far away from their mouth and/or nose. In this way, the head wearable air purifier 10 can be mounted in an adjustable manner so as to account for variances in head shapes and sizes.

Figure 3 shows a rear view of the head wearable air purifier 10, in which a rear portion 94 is visible. In this example, the rear portion 94 is a rear portion of the headgear 12, and in this case includes a rear section of the connecting portion 68. The rear portion 94 is opposite to the front portion 56 (shown most clearly in Figure 2) and is opposite the face mask 92 of the nozzle assembly. The rear portion 94 is located on the back of the head 50, in use, and includes a closure mechanism to retain the head wearable air purifier 10 in a closed configuration, e.g. after it has been positioned on the head 50 or when it is not in use.

The closure mechanism in this case is an adjustable closure mechanism, which in this example is a circular rotational ratchet mechanism that connects opposite sides 71, 73 of the cut-out 69 when the closure mechanism is in a closed configuration such as that shown in Figure 3. The closure mechanism of Figure 3 is formed by a ratchet component 96, which includes a finger component to engage with teeth in first and second straps 102, 104 connected to opposite sides 71, 73 of the cut-out 69, which in this case correspond to opposite sides of the rear portion 94. The closure mechanism can thus be used to close a gap 103 between the opposite sides 71, 73 of the cut-out 69.

The gap 103 may be considered to be closed by the closure mechanism if the closure mechanism connects the opposite sides of the rear portion 94, even if the gap 103 has a non-negligible size. This may, for example, be the case where the head wearable air purifier 10 is mounted on a relatively large head. However, the size of the gap 103 can be adjusted by rotation of the ratchet component 96 to account for different head sizes and to allow the head wearable air purifier 10 to be placed on or removed from the head. Rotation in one direction shortens a length of one or both of the first and second straps 102, 104 external to the ratchet component 96, and rotation in the opposite direction lengthens one or both of these straps 102, 104. To open the closure mechanism, e.g. for opening of the rear portion 94, rotation in the direction to widen the gap 103 can continue until at least one strap 102, 104 can be removed from the ratchet component 96. The opposite sides 71, 73 can then be moved further apart from each other, to further widen the gap 103, e.g. so that the head wearable air purifier 10 can be removed from or mounted on the head 50.

In the example of Figures 1 to 4, the first and second air purifier 14, 16 are biased to move to a predetermined position, in this case an open position, upon activation of a release mechanism, in this case the closure mechanism shown in Figure 3. In other words, when the head wearable air purifier 10 is opened, by opening the closure mechanism, the first and second air purifier 14, 16 move to the open position. The first and second air purifier 14, 16 are moved by springs arranged between the first and second air purifier 14, 16 and the headband 60. In this example, the springs are located between the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 and respective portions of the headband 60 rearwards of the first and second battery compartments 72, 74, although this is merely an example. The spring 59 between the first air purifier 14 and the headband 60 is shown in Figure 1 and it is to be appreciated that a similar spring is located between the second air purifier 16 and the headband 60 in this example (not visible in Figure 1).

When the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are not retained in a closed position by the closure mechanism, the force applied by the springs 59 between the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 and the headband 60 cause the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 to move away from each other and in a forwards direction (i.e. towards the face if the head wearable air purifier 10 is mounted on the head 50), so as to reduce the distance between the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 and the face mask 92 in plan view. This automatically opens up the rear portion 94 of the head wearable air purifier 10 to a greater extent than otherwise, so the head wearable air purifier 10 can be removed from or mounted on the head 50 as needed. As the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are connected to the nozzle assembly 100, the movement of the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 to the open position also causes the nozzle assembly 100 (and hence the face mask 92) to move to an open position, which is further forward than otherwise. Hence, with the head wearable air purifier 10 mounted on the head 50, opening of the closure mechanism will cause the face mask 92 to move away from the wearer's face, and the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 to move away from the head 50, so that the head wearable air purifier 10 can easily be removed. Movement of these components in this manner upon release of the closure mechanism similarly allows for opening of the head wearable air purifier 10 to allow a head to be more easily inserted therein. After the head wearable air purifier 10 is mounted on the head 50, the wearer can bring the opposite sides 71, 73 of the cut-out portion 69 together, using the closure mechanism, to close the rear portion 94 and bring the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 into a closed position such as that shown in Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 8 is a schematic front view of a headband 260 for a head wearable air purifier, such as the head wearable air purifier 10 of Figures I to 4, without an air purifier assembly mounted to the headband 260. A rear view of the headband 260 of Figure 8 is shown schematically in Figure 9, and Figure 10 shows a side view of the headband 260 of Figure 8. Figures 8 to 10 show the headband 260 mounted on a head 250 of a wearer. Features of Figures 8 to 10 that are similar to corresponding features of Figures 1 to 4 are labelled with the same reference numerals but incremented by 200; corresponding descriptions are to be taken to apply.

The headband 260 of Figures 8 to 10 is elongate and arcuate and includes a front portion mounted on a forehead of a wearer 250, in use. The headband 260 includes first and second battery compartments 272, 274 which are arranged on opposite sides of the headband 260, similarly to the headband 60 of Figures 1 to 4. In use, the first and second battery compartments are located in front of opposite ears 278, 208 of the wearer.

First and second portions of the headband 260 include first and second supports 106, 108 for supporting a first air purifier and a second air purifier, such as the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 shown in Figures Ito 4, of an air purifier assembly. This can be seen most clearly in Figures 9 and 10. The first and second supports 106, 108 are configured to be placed behind first and second ears 278, 280 of the wearer, in use. Both the first and second battery compartments 272, 274 are located between the first and second supports 106, 108, along the length of the headband 260. A centre of gravity of the first battery compartment 272 is horizontally and vertically offset from that of the first support 106, with the first support 106 located diagonally rearwards and downwards of the first battery compartment 272. Similarly, a centre of gravity of the second battery compartment 274 is horizontally and vertically offset from that of the second support 108, with the first support 108 located diagonally rearwards and downwards of the first battery compartment 274.

The first and second supports 106, 108 are each generally circular in form and each include a respective mounting plate 107, 109 for mounting the first and second supports 106, 108 onto the headband 260, and for supporting an air purifier (which in this example also has a generally circular cross-sectional shape). The surface of the first and second mounting plates 107, 109 is configured to conform to a corresponding surface of the first and second air purifiers, respectively, to aid secure mounting of the first and second air purifiers to the first and second supports 106, 108. Although not shown in Figures 8 to 10, it is to be appreciated that the first and second supports 106, 108 may include at least one recess to receive a corresponding at least one protruding element of the first and second air purifiers so as to couple the first and second air purifiers to the first and second supports 106, 108 respectively (or vice versa). In such cases, a recess and corresponding protruding element may form a locking mechanism for locking the air purifier in place on a given support. Such a locking mechanism may be releasable so as to unmount the air purifier from the headband. In this way, the air purifier can be mounted and released from a given support in a straightforward manner.

The first and second mounting plates 107, 109 are moveable relative to the headband 260 so as to moveably mount the first and second supports 106, 108 (and hence the first and second air purifiers supported by the first and second supports 106, 08) onto the headband 260, as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. In this example, similarly to Figures 1 to 4, the first and second supports 106, 108 are slidably and rotatably mounted to the headband 260. The first and second supports 106, 108 also each include a respective further mounting plate 110, 112 to aid in secure mounting of the first and second supports 106, 108 onto the headband 260. In this example, the further mounting plates 110, 112 also have a generally circular form and are centred on a centre of the first and second supports 106, 108, but with a smaller diameter than the first and second supports 106, 108 themselves. Locking plates 113, 115 are located between the mounting plates 107, 109 and the further mounting plates 110, 112 respectively, to create a wedging effect when locked using a respective locking mechanism 114, 116.

The locking mechanisms 114, 116 can therefore be used to lock the first and second supports 106, 108 in place once the wearer has positioned them at a desired position. In this example, each locking mechanism 114, 116 is a locking tab of a respective locking plate 113, 115. The locking plates 113, 115 are tensioned (e.g. by a wearer manipulating the respective tab, for example by rotating the tab) to wedge the mounting plates 107, 109 in position relative to the further mounting plates 110, 112, thereby locking the first and second supports 106, 108 in place. The wearer can then release the locking mechanism 114, 116 by releasing the tab, which releases the wedging effect of the locking plates 113, 115 so the mounting plates 107, 109 can be moved relative to the headband 260. The mounting plates 107, 109, further mounting plates 110, 112, locking plates 113, 115 and locking mechanisms 114, 116 together form a mounting assembly for moveably mounting the first and second supports 106, 108 (and hence the first and second air purifiers) to the headgear of the head wearable air purifier.

The first and second supports 106, 108 may include a through-hole for electrical wiring or the like so as to enable electrical connection of batteries contained within the first and second battery compartments 272, 274 to electrical components of the first and second air purifiers. The headband 260 also includes a closure mechanism such as that described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. In such cases, a component of the closure mechanism, such as a strap may be connected to the first support or the second support, or may instead be connected to or form part of the headband 260 itself The closure mechanism is partially shown in Figure 9, which shows a first strap 304, which is to be connected to a second strap via a ratchet component (not shown in Figure 9), Figure 10 shows the first support 106 moveably mounted to the headband 260 in side view, with the first support 106 positioned behind the ear 278 along the length of the headband 260, and the first battery compartment 272 positioned in front of the ear 278. A portion 118 of the headband 260 rearwards of the first battery compartment 272 on which the first support 106 is moveably mounted has a different structure than a central portion of the headband 260. In this example, whereas the central portion includes a spring steel strip to aid in clamping the headband 260 to the head 250 when mounted, the spring steel strip stops before the portion 118 of the headband 260 on which the first support 106 is mounted so that flexion of the spring steel strip does not interfere with mounting of the first support 106. In other examples, though, the structure of the headband 260 does not change along its length.

Figure 11 shows an example of a support 206 for an air purifier moveably mounted to a headband 160 of a head wearable air purifier. The support 206 is similar to the support 106 of Figures 8 to 10 and includes a mounting plate 207 and a further mounting plate 210, both of which are generally circular in cross-section, with the further mounting plate 210 having a smaller diameter than the mounting plate 207. In use, the headband 160 is located beneath the support 206 and is coupled to the support 206 via fixation components (such as screws) that pass through the support 206 to mount the headband 260 to the support 206. The headband 260 is arranged beneath a locking plate of the support 206 (not shown in Figure 11 but discussed with reference to Figures 9 and 10), which is located between the headband 160 and the mounting plate 207 and acts to create a wedging effect when locked in position (e.g. by rotation, using a tab of the locking plate). The mounting plate 207 is located between the locking plate and the further mounting plate 210. The air purifier is mountable to the mounting plate 207.

In this example, the further mounting plate 210 is fixedly coupled to the headband 160, and the mounting plate 207 is moveable relative to the further mounting plate 210 and headband 160. The mounting plate 207 includes two slots 120, 122 to allow for movement of the mounting plate 207 relative to the further mounting plate 210 and headband 160, so as to move the air purifier with respect to the headband 160 (once the air purifier is mounted on the support 206). The slots 120, 122 are rectangular in shape, with a larger dimension (i.e. a length) in a direction parallel to a length of the headband and a smaller dimension (i.e. a width) in a direction perpendicular to a length of the headband 160, in the plane of the slots 120, 122. The further mounting plate 210 is fixedly mounted to the headband 160 via fixation components that pass through holes 124, 126 in the further mounting plate 210, through the slots 120, 122 in the mounting plate 207, and through holes in the locking plate (not shown in Figure 11).

The mounting plate 207, on which the air purifier is mountable, can move relative to the further mounting plate 210 and the headband 160 by movement of the further mounting plate 210 and headband 160 within the first and second slots 120, 122). The further mounting plate 210 and headband 160 are slidable along a length and width of the first and second slots 120, 122, in directions parallel and perpendicular to the length of the first and second slots 120, 122 in a plane of the first and second slots 120, 22, respectively (i.e. to the left and right, and up and down in Figure 11). In this way, the headband 160 can be moved in these directions relative to the mounting plate 207 and relative to the air purifier (once the air purifier is mounted on the mounting plate 207).

In addition, the dimensions of the slots 120, 122 allow rotation of the further mounting plate 210 and headband 160 relative to the mounting plate 207 so as to rotate the headband 160 relative to the mounting plate 207 and relative to the air purifier (once the air purifier is mounted on the mounting plate 207) After a desired configuration of the support 206 is obtained, the support 206 can be locked in position as explained with reference to Figures 8 to 10, e.g. by locking the locking plate (not shown in Figure 11).

The air purifier can then be mounted on the support 206, in this case on the mounting plate 207 (although in other examples, components of the support 206 such as the mounting plate 207 are moveable relative to the headband 160 with the air purifier already in situ on the support 206).

In further examples, the head wearable air purifier includes a first air purifier that is flexibly connected to a first end section of a nozzle assembly via a first flexible connection and/or a second air purifier that is flexibly connected to a second end section via a second flexible connection respectively. Figure 12 is a schematic side view of a first air purifier 314 and side cutaway view of a first end section 386 of a head wearable air purifier according to such examples, and is similar to Figure 6 but includes a flexible connection 29 connecting the first air purifier 314 to the first end section 386. Features of Figures 12 and 13 that are similar to corresponding features of Figures 1 to 7 are labelled with the same reference numerals incremented by 300; corresponding descriptions are to be taken to apply. It is to be appreciated that a second air purifier, second flexible connection and second end section may be the same as or similar to the first air purifier 314, the first flexible connection 29 and the first end section 386 but e.g. arranged at an opposite side of a head wearable air purifier.

In Figure 12, ambient air 384 is drawn through an ambient air inlet 382 in the first air purifier 314. The first air purifier 314 has a similar structure to the first air purifier 14 of Figures 1 to 7, with a generally circular cross-section, with a generally circular inner face 383 to be arranged on the head of the wearer and an opposing outer face 385 to face the ambient environment, in use. A side wall 387 of the first air purifier 314 connects the inner face 383 to the outer face 385 and includes the ambient air inlet 382.

An airflow generator within the first air purifier 314 filters the ambient air 384 and generates a purified airflow 393, which flows out of an outlet aperture of the first air purifier (which in this case is the same as the outlet aperture 89 shown in Figure 6) and into an air inlet 391 of the first end section 386 of the nozzle assembly 400 via a flexible connection 29.

The flexible connection 29 in this example is in the form of a live hinge, which is an example of a flexible component. A live hinge is for example a flexible hinge, which may be made from the same material as a duct 35 of the first air purifier 314 and/or the first end section 386 of the nozzle assembly 400. The duct 35 in this example is formed integrally with the first air purifier 314 and the first end section 386. This can be seen in Figure 13, which shows a side view of the first air purifier 314, the flexible connection 29 and the first end section 386. The outlet aperture of the first air purifier 314 in this case is the aperture in the housing of the first air purifier 314, through which the purified air passes into the duct 35. The air inlet 391 of the nozzle assembly 400 is the outlet of the live hinge, which in this case corresponds to an end of a portion in the duct 35 comprising apertures forming the live hinge (one of which is labelled in Figure 13 with the reference numeral 37), which end is opposite to the end of the duct 35 which is adjacent to the outlet aperture of the first air purifier 314. Figure 13 further shows that the first end section 386 is connected to a midsection 390 of the nozzle assembly 400, in this case via a ratchet mechanism so that the length of the nozzle assembly 400 can be adjusted.

As shown in Figure 13, the apertures 37 of the live hinge are formed in a side wall of the duct 35. The apertures 37 in this case are elongate slots in the side wall, but in other cases they may be of a different shape or arrangement. The apertures 37 are formed by spacings between adjacent ribs 39 mounted to first and second spines (although in other cases, a rib may only be mounted to a single spine). The first spine 41 is shown in Figure 13, and the second spine is opposite to the first spine 41 in Figure 13, at a lower side of the flexible connection 29 and thus not visible in the figure. The first and second spines limit the flexion of the live hinge due to the apertures 37 so as to maintain stability of the flexible connection 29. The first and second spines 41, 43 may be considered to form a connecting web to connect adjacent apertures 29.

Flexing or other movement of the ribs 39 in an upwards and downwards direction (perpendicular to a direction of flow of the purified airflow 93 through the flexible connection 29) is limited by the first and second spines, whereas the apertures 37 allow side-to-side flex of the flexible connection 29 parallel to the direction of flow of the purified airflow 93. Hence, in this case, the flexible connection 29 is flexible along an axis parallel to the direction of flow of the purified airflow 393, which may be considered a first axis, and is rigid along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis within a plane of the flexible connection 29. The flexible connection 29 is also torsionally flexible, so as to allow a twisting motion of the flexible connection 29 relative to the first air purifier 314. This allows the flexible connection 29 to be flexed outwardly and inwardly along the first axis, and twisted around the first axis. Flexing of the flexible connection 29 in this manner for example facilitates positioning of the first air purifier 314 in different positions on the head (such as to account for different head shapes and sizes) and/or allows the rear portion of the head wearable air purifier to be opened up to remove or mount the head wearable air purifier on the head.

In this example, the live hinge itself is formed of flexible material, in this case a flexible plastic, which is flexible along the first axis and has a certain degree of torsional flexibility. However, in other examples, the flexible connection 29 may be formed of rigid material, with the flexibility provided by the structure and arrangement of the rigid material rather than by inherent flexibility of the material of the flexible connection 29.

While examples have thus far been described, it should be understood that these are illustrative only and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

In the example of Figures Ito 4, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are both slidably and rotatably mounted to the headband 60. However, in other examples, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 may be mounted differently from each other, e.g. both first and second air purifiers 14, 16 need not be slidably and rotatably mounted. In still further examples, there may be a single air purifier moveably mounted to a headgear.

In examples above, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 are mounted onto a headband of a head wearable air purifier. However, in other examples, the first and second air purifiers 14, 16 may be mounted in a similar manner to a different component of a headgear of a head wearable air purifier.

Claims

CLAIMSI. A head wearable air purifier comprising: a headgear; an air purifier assembly for generating a purified airflow; and a nozzle assembly comprising an air inlet configured to receive a purified airflow from the air purifier assembly, and an air outlet for emitting the purified airflow from the nozzle assembly, wherein the air purifier assembly comprises an air purifier moveably mounted to the headgear.
2. The head wearable air purifier of claim 1, wherein the air purifier is coupled to the nozzle assembly such that the nozzle assembly is moveable by movement of the air purifier.
3. The head wearable air purifier of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the air purifier is slidably mounted to the headgear.
4. The head wearable air purifier of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air purifier is rotatably mounted to the headgear.
5. The head wearable air purifier of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the air purifier is moveable along a curved path for following a curvature of a head of a wearer.
6. The head wearable air purifier of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the air purifier is moveable by a plurality of discrete movements.
7. The head wearable air purifier of claim 6, wherein the air purifier assembly comprises a plurality of air purifiers, the plurality of air purifiers comprising the air purifier, and each of the plurality of air purifiers is moveable by the same plurality of discrete movements.
8. The head wearable air purifier of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the plurality of discrete movements comprise at least two different types of movement.
9. The head wearable air purifier of any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a locking mechanism for locking the air purifier in a static position.
The head wearable air purifier of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the air purifier is a first air purifier moveably mounted to a first side of the headgear and the air purifier assembly comprises a second air purifier moveably mounted to a second side of the headgear, opposite to the first side of the headgear.
11. The head wearable air purifier of claim 10, wherein the first air purifier and the second air purifier are biased to move to a predetermined position upon activation of a release mechanism.
12. The head wearable air purifier of claim 11, wherein, with the first air purifier and the second air purifier in the predetermined position, the head wearable air purifier is in an open configuration to allow insertion of a head of a wearer into the head wearable air purifier.
13. The head wearable air purifier of claim 11 or claim 12, comprising at least one spring mechanism to cause the first air purifier and the second air purifier to move to the predetermined position upon activation of the release mechanism.
14. The head wearable air purifier of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the first air purifier is configured to be placed behind a first ear of the wearer and the second air purifier is configured to be placed behind a second ear of the wearer.
15. The head wearable air purifier of claim 14, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a first end section coupled to the first air purifier, a second end section coupled to the second air purifier, and a midsection between the first end section and the second end section, the midsection comprising a face mask comprising the air outlet.
16. The head wearable air purifier of claim 15, wherein the air inlet is a first inlet aperture of the first end section, the first air purifier has a first air purifier aperture connected to the first inlet aperture to form a first continuous air duct from the first air purifier to the first end section, the nozzle assembly has a second inlet aperture of the second end section, and the second air purifier has a second air purifier aperture connected to the second inlet aperture to form a second continuous air duct from the second air purifier to the second end section.
17. The head wearable air purifier of claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the first end section and/or the second end section is flexible in at least one direction
18. The head wearable air purifier of any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the first end section is coupled to the first air purifier via a first flexible connection and/or the second end section is coupled to the second air purifier via a second flexible connection
19. The head wearable air purifier of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein a housing of air purifier has a concave face for conforming with a head of a wearer.
20. The head wearable air purifier of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the air purifier is moveably mounted to a headband of the headgear.
21. The head wearable air purifier of claim 20, wherein the headband comprises a front portion configured to be placed on a forehead of a wearer. 25
22. A headgear for a head wearable air purifier, the headgear comprising: a support system for an air purifier for generating a purified airflow to be provided to a nozzle assembly of the head wearable air purifier, wherein the support system comprises a mounting assembly for moveably mounting the air purifier to the headgear.
23. The headgear according to claim 22, wherein the mounting assembly is configured for slidably and/or rotatably mounting the air purifier to the headgear.
24. The headgear according to claim 22, wherein the mounting assembly is configured for mounting the air purifier to the headgear such that the air purifier is moveable along a curved path for following a curvature of a head of a wearer.
25. The headgear according to claim 22, wherein the mounting assembly is configured for mounting the air purifier to the headgear such that the air purifier is moveable by a plurality of discrete movements.