Abstract:
A fan device with a vibration attenuating structure is disclosed. The fan device with a vibration attenuating structure comprises a fan and a frame covering the fan. The frame entirely covers the fan, and two opposing sides of the frame have an opening thereon. The openings are corresponding to blades of the fan to form the flowing path of the air. As above-mentioned, the frame performs as a buffering member for attenuating the vibration of the fan so as to prevent the noise generated by the vibration.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Taiwan Patent Application No. 097222809, filed on Dec. 19, 2008, in the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a fan device and in particular to a fan device with an elastic frame for reducing vibration. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Depending on the development of the technology, the command for processing data is increasing. Thus, the personal or commercial computers have to be upgraded for processing data by high performance CPU and high capability of hard disk and memory units so that large amounts of data can be processed and transferred. 
     However, the primary devices of computer system usually generate much heat and it is necessary for dissipating the heat with high efficiency. Generally speaking, high speed fan is used for cooling CPU, but noise is simultaneously generated by the fan. In other words, the cooling units, such as fan, heat sink, and conduct pipe are used for dissipating the heat from the computer system, but the noise issue always takes influence on users. 
     However, the traditional fan structure has following disadvantages. 
     1. Fan noise can be transmitted (1) from the inlet and outlet of the fan; (2) from parts of the fan; (3) from vibration of parts attached to the fan. Factor (1) generates primary noise, and the noise generated from factor (3) also bothers users because that the resonance of the fan in the housing of the computer generates low frequency noise. In other words, the factors of balance of fan blades, balance of motor and the axle structure generate the vibration of fan so that the resonance of the fan and the casing will produce noise. Accordingly, the repeated mechanical movement (so-called vibration or oscillation), especially in engine, motor or turbine will produce noise because of the vibration. For example, the cooling fan or the compressor of air conditioners generates noise. Moreover, a severe vibration may cause the failure of the equipment or the structure. 
     2. Elements may be used for attenuating the vibration on the fan structure. For example, spacers can be disposed between the fan and the casing. However, spacers cannot be easily assembled and spacers usually consist of a small piece of elastic material so that they can be lost in the assembling process. Another method is providing plastic riveting for buffering the vibration from the casing, but there are still problems of cost and assembling. 
     Therefore, in view of this, the inventor proposes the present invention to overcome the above problems based on his expert experience and deliberate research. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is provided for a fan device with a vibration attenuating structure. The fan device with a vibration attenuating structure has an elastic frame for entirely holding the fan so that the vibration of the operation of the fan is isolated from the casing. Therefore, the noise generated by the vibration the fan and the casing is reduced and the quiet environment is achieved. 
     Another object of the present invention is provided for preventing the vibration of the fan from the electronic devices, such as hard drive disk in the casing so that the electronic devices are protected. 
     In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a fan device with a vibration attenuating structure. The fan device with a vibration attenuating structure comprises a fan and a frame covering the fan. The frame entirely covers the fan, and two opposing sides of the frame have an opening thereon. The openings are corresponding to blades of the fan to form the flowing path of the air. 
     Depending on the present invention, the fan device is provided on the casing for cooling the system in magnetic force or screwing manner and the frame performs as a buffer layer between the casing and the fan. Thus the noise of vibration is reduced. Moreover, the fan device can project colorful lights. 
     In order to better understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the drawings and the description are illustrative but not used to limit the scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view showing the first embodiment of the fan device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic view showing the first embodiment of the fan device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view showing the second embodiment of the fan device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows the fan device projecting light therefrom. 
         FIG. 4  shows the third embodiment of the fan device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows the fourth embodiment of the fan device according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1 to 3 ; the invention discloses a fan device with a vibration attenuating structure  1 . The fan device with a vibration attenuating structure  1  can be assembled on a casing so that noise is prevented because the vibration between the fan and the casing is attenuated. The fan device with a vibration attenuating structure  1  comprises a fan  10  and a frame  11 , and the frame  11  covers the fan  10 . In other words, the frame  111  entirely covers the fan  10  and the frame  111  has two openings  110  for air flow. The two openings  110  are defined on two opposing sides of the frame  11  and the two openings  110  on the opposing sides of the frame  11  are corresponding to the inlet and the outlet of the fan  10 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 1A  again; the fan device with a vibration attenuating structure  1  is assembled on a computer casing, and the fan  10  is a cooling device for computer The fan  10  can has various sizes, such as 80 mm*80 mm, 92 mm*92 mm, 120 mm*120 mm, and so on. The size of the frame  11  is corresponding to the size of the fan  10  so as to cover the fan  10  entirely and tightly. Both of two opposing sides of the frame  11  have an opening  110  thereon and the size, shape, and position of the opening  110  are corresponding to the blades of the fan  10  in order to achieve smooth air flow. However, the sizes of the opening  110  can be the same with each other or one opening  110  is larger than the other. In the embodiment, the frame  11  can be made by elastic material, for example, silicone so that the frame  11  can perform as a sheath for tightly covering the fan  10 . The frame  11  further has at least one through hole  111  so that the conduct line of the fan  10  can be electrically plug on the socket via the through hole  111 . 
     Furthermore, the fan  10  further has at least one first fixing hole  102  and the frame  11  further has at least one second fixing hole  112  for fixing the fan device with a vibration attenuating structure  1  on the computer casing. The first fixing hole  102  is corresponding to the second fixing hole  112 . In the embodiment the fan  10  has rectangular shape and each of the four corners of the fan  10  has a first fixing hole  102 . Similarly, the each of the four corners of the frame  11  has a second fixing hole  112 . Thus, the fan device with a vibration attenuating structure  1  can be fixed on the computer casing by screws though the corresponding first and second fixing holes for dissipating heat of computer. When the fan  10  is operating, the frame  11  can be used for vibration attenuating of the fan  10  and the noise generated by resonance of the computer casing and the fan  10  is prevented. 
       FIG. 2  shows the second embodiment of the present invention. The fan device with a vibration attenuating structure  1  is fixed on the computer casing by magnetic force in the second embodiment. Therefore, the frame  11  has at least one magnetic unit  114  thereon for fixing the fan device with a vibration attenuating structure  1  on the computer casing. 
     In the second embodiment, one of the two sides of the fan with the openings  110  has at least one hole  113 , and at least one magnetic unit  114  is disposed in the hole  113 . The hole  113  can be a through hole or a blind hole. Please refer to  FIG. 2 , there are two holes  113  defined on a wall at the two opposing sides of the frame  111  and a magnetic unit  114  is fastened into a holes  113  so that the fan device with a vibration attenuating structure  1  is fixed on the computer casing via the two magnetic unit  114  for dissipating heat of computer. 
     Moreover, the thickness of the frame  111  is even for saving the material and lowering the weight of the frame  11  in the first embodiment. On the other hand, the wall of the frame  11  with the magnetic unit  114  is thicker than the wall at the opposite side of the frame  14  for fastening the magnetic unit  114  tightly. In other words, the wall of the frame  11  with the magnetic unit  114  has thickness W 1  and the other wall without the magnetic unit  114  has thickness W 2 . W 1  is larger than W 2  in order to fasten the magnetic unit  114  tightly. Using the magnetic unit  114 , the fan device with a vibration attenuating structure  1  can be easily assembled on/disassembled form the computer casing. 
     The fan device with a vibration attenuating structure  1  of the first and the second embodiment can be modified. The fan  10  further has at least one lighting unit, such as an LED. In accordance with the color of the LED, the frame  11  can be semi-transparent or with colors so that the fan device with a vibration attenuating structure  1  can show colorful effect. The conductive line of the lighting unit also can electrically connect to the power supply via the through hole  111  of the frame  11 . In another application, lighting materials, such as fluorescent powders can be added in the silicon material made of the frame  11  so that the frame  11  can project color light in dark environment (shown in  FIG. 3 ). On the other hand, the fluorescent powders can be added into the partial portion or entire portion of the frame  11 . 
     In addition,  FIG. 4  shows the third embodiment of the present invention. The frame  11  further comprises at least one auxiliary hole  115  on the side thereof for saving the elastic material. The position, size and shape are not restricted. 
       FIG. 5  shows the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The frame  11  further comprises at least one pattern  116  on the side thereof. The pattern  116  represents words, trademark, and so on. In  FIG. 5 , the pattern  116  of “FAN” is made by printing method or injection molding method on the frame  11 . 
     To sum up, the present invention has the following advantages:
     1. The elastic frame is applied for entirely holding the fan so that the vibration of the fan can be attenuated by the frame. Thus the noise of the resonance of the fan and the casing is prevented. Moreover, when the fan is operating the solid sound generated by the casing is attenuated. In other words, the frame performs as an isolation layer for isolating the fan so as to reduce the noise.   2. The frame fits the size of the common fans and the fan device with a vibration attenuating structure can be easily assembled on and disassembled from the casing. In other words, it is convenient for assembling the fan device on the computer casing so as to cooling the computer system.   3. The fan device with a vibration attenuating structure of the present invention can project colorful lights for increasing the addition value of the fan structure.   

     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiment, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalent variations and modifications may occur to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.