Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to portable cooling devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to compact, portable bladeless fans featuring water misting capabilities for improved cooling functionality.

Description:
[0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/510,838, filed Jul. 22, 2011, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to portable cooling devices. More specifically, the present, invention relates to compact, portable bladeless fans featuring water misting capabilities for improved cooling functionality. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Compact, portable cooling devices such as handheld water misting fans exist. Such devices operate by combining a fine mist or spray of a liquid with an air stream that serves to both distribute the liquid droplets and accelerate the evaporation of the liquid from a user&#39;s skin and/or clothing. The combination of the cooling effects of the evaporation of the liquid into the surrounding air and the blowing of the air stream provides an enhanced cooling effect for the user of the device. Examples of such handheld misting fans can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,495 to Steiner et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,667,732 and 5,837,167 to Lederer, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,667,731, 5,843,344, 5,965,067, 6,398,132, and 7,806,388 to Junkel et al., the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
         [0004]    These portable misting fans feature traditional fan mechanisms that use a series of blades that rotate about an axis. One disadvantage of a traditional bladed fan mechanism is that the rapidly rotating blades present a safety issue if an object or body part comes in contact with them. Another disadvantage of a traditional bladed fan mechanism is that the forward flow of air current produced by the rotating blades of the fan is not felt uniformly by the user, due to variations across the blade surface or across the outward facing surface of the fan. A third disadvantage of a traditional bladed fan mechanism is that such mechanisms tend to be noisy, due to the sound of the fan blades moving through the air. 
         [0005]    Embodiments of the present invention provide novel, portable, bladeless misting fans that overcome the disadvantages of the bladed portable misting fans of the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention relates generally to portable cooling devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to compact, portable bladeless fans featuring water misting capabilities for improved cooling functionality. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, provided herein is a portable bladeless misting fan assembly comprising: a base; a bladeless air nozzle mounted on the base; a component for creating an air flow through the nozzle; a liquid reservoir (e.g., for holding a water supply); and a misting nozzle connected to said liquid reservoir. In some embodiments, the liquid reservoir is contained within the base. In some embodiments, the air nozzle is circular in shape. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the fan assembly comprising a handle configured for gripping by a human hand. In some embodiments, the fan assembly comprises an actuator for initiating a misting action from the misting nozzle. In some embodiments, misting is continuous or controlled by a timer. 
         [0009]    The present invention further provides methods for cooling objects (e.g., humans or other animals). In some embodiments, the methods comprise using a fan assembly as described in any of the embodiments described herein and passing air and mist from the fan onto an object to be cooled, 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a left side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a left side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention, the left and right, side elevational views being mirror images. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  shows a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows a rear elevational view of an embodiment of the invention, 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  shows a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  shows a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]      FIGS. 1-8  show a bladeless misting fan  100  in one embodiment of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the bladeless misting fan  100  has a housing  101  comprising an annular air nozzle  102  for directing an air stream. The air nozzle  102  defines a central opening  103  through which an air stream is directed. The air nozzle  102  comprises an interior passage  104  into which an air stream produced by a fan mechanism is received, and a mouth  105  through which the air stream is emitted. A rear surface  106  adjacent to the air nozzle  102  is shaped to direct the air stream through the central opening  103 . 
         [0019]    The housing  101  has a base portion  107  housing the mechanical and operational components of the bladeless misting fan  100 . The front of the base portion  107  comprises a misting nozzle housing  108  comprising a misting nozzle  109  and a trigger  110  for actuating a misting mechanism to direct a flow of atomized liquid through the misting nozzle  109 , The misting mechanism comprises a means of drawing a liquid (e.g., water) from a liquid reservoir  113  to the misting nozzle  109 , such as a trigger-actuated spray pump  111  that draws liquid from the liquid reservoir  113  to the misting nozzle  109  via a tube  112 . The liquid reservoir  113  has an end cap  114  that is removable to allow the reservoir to be filled with a suitable liquid. In some embodiments, the liquid reservoir  113  and the opening covered by the end cap  114  are sized to allow frozen liquids (e.g., ice cubes) to be placed within the liquid reservoir. 
         [0020]    The rear of the base portion  107  comprises a button  115  for actuating a fan mechanism. The fan mechanism is enclosed within the base portion  107 , and includes a means for producing a controlled air stream, as well as a suitable power source. The means for producing a controlled air stream may comprise an electric motor  116  that drives a turbine  117 . The base portion  107  may comprise a battery compartment  118  housing one or more batteries that serve as a power source for the motor  116 . 
         [0021]    The controlled air stream is produced by using the rotational force of the turbine  117  to draw air into the base portion  107  through, for example, one or more vents  119 , direct the air stream into the interior passage  104 , and emit the air stream from the mouth  105  of the air nozzle  102 . The emitted air stream provides a cooling effect for persons, animals, objects, or ambient air in the path of the air stream. The simultaneous operation of the fan mechanism and the misting mechanism results in wider dispersion of the flow of liquid via the controlled air stream, which provides an enhanced cooling effect. 
         [0022]    The housing  101  further comprises a handle portion  120  connecting the base portion  107  and the liquid reservoir  113 , The handle portion  120  encloses the tube  112  connecting the liquid reservoir to the misting means. In some embodiments, the handle portion may contain at least a portion of the misting mechanism, the fan mechanism, and/or the power source for the fan mechanism (e.g., batteries). 
         [0023]    The housing  101  may comprise a loop  121  for attaching a carrying strap. In some embodiments, the loop  121  is located at the top of the air nozzle  102 . In other embodiments, the loop  121  may be located at a different portion of the bladeless misting fan  100 , such as the handle portion  120  or the end cap  114 . In preferred embodiments, the carrying strap is detachable. In yet other embodiments, the carrying strap is permanently attached. 
         [0024]    The housing  101  may be fabricated from any suitable materials. In preferred embodiments, the material is both lightweight and durable, to aid in portability. In particularly preferred embodiments, the housing  101  is fabricated from a thermoformable material such as plastic. In other embodiments, the housing  505  is fabricated from metal or glass. In yet other embodiments, the housing  101  is fabricated from a combination of materials. 
         [0025]    The fan mechanism may comprise any suitable means of producing an air stream that is delivered via a bladeless air nozzle. Suitable fan mechanisms are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,467 to De Lisio and U.S. Pat. No. 7,931,449 to Fitton et al., the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the fan mechanism is powered by a small electric motor of conventional design. In particularly preferred embodiments, the fan mechanism is battery powered. Examples of battery powered electric motors used to power fan mechanisms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,495 to Steiner et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,667,732 and 5,837,167 to Lederer, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,667,731, 5,843,344, 5,965,067, 6,398,132, and 7,806,388 to Junkel et al., the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties 
         [0026]    The misting mechanism may comprise any suitable means of drawing a liquid from a liquid reservoir  113  to one or more misting nozzles  109  to produce an atomized liquid spray, such as, for example, via a conventional trigger-actuated spray pump mechanism  111 . Suitable spray pump mechanisms are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,495 to Steiner et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,667,732 and 5,837,167 to Lederer, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,667,731, 5,843,344, 5,965,067, 6,398,132, and 7,806,388 to Junkel et al., the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the misting mechanism comprises two misting nozzles. In other embodiments, the misting mechanism comprises three or more misting nozzles. In embodiments where two or more misting nozzles are used, the misting nozzles may be arrayed about the circumference of the air nozzle  102 . For example, in embodiments using three misting nozzles, the nozzles may be located at approximately the twelve o&#39;clock (0 degrees) position, the three o&#39;clock (90 degrees) position, and the nine o&#39;clock (270 degrees) position relative to the annular face of the air nozzle, although any suitable locations may be used for the misting nozzles. The two or more misting nozzles may be connected to the misting mechanism via one or more tubes. In some embodiments, each of the two or more misting nozzles is connected to the misting mechanism via a separate tube. In other embodiments, each of the two or more misting nozzles is connected to a separate misting mechanism and is capable of being independently operated by a user. Where a single tube is employed to deliver liquid to multiple misting nozzles, in some embodiments a circular tube is employed having holes located at each of the misting nozzle positions to allow delivery of liquid to each of the misting nozzles. 
         [0028]    The flow rate of the one or more misting nozzles may be adjustable by a user (e.g., via a switch or dial operating a valve) to control the level of moisture produced by the one or more misting mechanisms. In embodiments where two or more misting nozzles are used, the flow rates of each misting nozzle may be independently adjustable by a user. In some embodiments where two or more misting nozzles are used, each of the misting nozzles is capable of being independently opened or closed completely. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the one or more misting nozzles may be configured to direct a flow of liquid to the interior of the housing  101 , such that the controlled air stream produced by the fan mechanism is combined with the flow of atomized liquid produced by the misting mechanism prior to being emitted through the mouth  105  of the air nozzle  102 . Thus, in some embodiments, pre-moistened air is emitted from the mouth  505 . In some such embodiments, a misting nozzle is positioned internally anywhere between an air intake component (e.g., a vent  119 ) and the air nozzle  102 . In some embodiments, the housing  101  may comprise a draining means, such as an opening or drainage tube in communication with the liquid reservoir  113 , to prevent liquid from collecting in the interior of the housing  101 . 
         [0030]    The housing  101  may be of any suitable dimensions. In preferred embodiments, the housing  101  is sufficiently compact to be capable of being held in a user&#39;s hand. In particularly preferred embodiments, the housing has a height of between 200 and 400 millimeters, a width of between 50 and 150 millimeters, and a depth of between 75 and 175 millimeters. In other embodiments, the housing has a height of between 275 and 325 millimeters, a width of between 75 and 125 millimeters, and a depth of between 100 and 150 millimeters, although other dimensions may be used. 
         [0031]    The air nozzle  102  may be of any suitable size and shape. In preferred embodiments, the air nozzle  102  is generally circular in shape, and has a diameter of between 50 and 150 millimeters. In other embodiments, the air nozzle  102  is generally oval in shape. In yet other embodiments, the air nozzle is rectangular, triangular, or irregularly shaped. 
         [0032]    From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes, and modifications. Such improvements, changes, and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims. All references, publications, and patents cited in the present application are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.