BASE ASSEMBLY FOR TOWER FAN

A tower fan has a fan housing with a base and a threaded post extending from the base. The tower fan also has a base assembly that includes a front piece and a rear piece that define a domed configuration with an annular walled space when they are assembled together. The front piece has an extension provided at opposing first and second ends, with each extension having an upper surface, a well opening in the upper surface, and a vertical well extending under the upper surface from the well opening. The rear piece has a shelf that has opposing first and second ends, and a post extending under the shelf adjacent each end of the shelf. When the front and rear pieces are assembled together, each post is inserted through the well opening and the vertical well of a corresponding extension, with the base of the fan housing fitted inside the annular walled space. A threaded screw is threadably coupled to the threaded post to secure the base of the fan housing to the assembled front and rear pieces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a base assembly for a tower fan, and in particular, to a base assembly that can be quickly and conveniently assembled for use with the tower fan.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Portable tower fans have been very popular for use in cooling and venting rooms and spaces. These tower fans are portable in that they are relatively lightweight and can be conveniently moved from one space to another.

Most of these portable fans have a base assembly that is usually wider in width and diameter than the vertical body of the fan housing itself. To minimize the size of the packaging or box for the tower fan, the base assembly is usually broken down into multiple pieces and requires some minimal assembly by the end-user when unboxing the product and setting it up for use.

Thus, there still remains a need for a base assembly for use with a tower fan that can be quickly and conveniently assembled for use.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention provides a tower fan having a fan housing with a base and a threaded post extending from the base. The tower fan also has a base assembly that includes a front piece and a rear piece that define a domed configuration with an annular walled space when they are assembled together. The front piece has opposing first and second ends, with a first extension provided at the first end, and a second extension provided at the second end, with each extension having an upper surface, a well opening in the upper surface, and a vertical well extending under the upper surface from the well opening. The rear piece has a shelf that has opposing first and second ends, a first post extending under the shelf adjacent the first end of the shelf and a second post extending under the shelf adjacent the second end of the shelf. When the front and rear pieces are assembled together, the first post is inserted through the well opening and the vertical well of the first extension, and the second post is inserted through the well opening and the vertical well of the second extension, with the base of the fan housing fitted inside the annular walled space. A threaded screw is threadably coupled to the threaded post to secure the base of the fan housing to the assembled front and rear pieces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-8Billustrate a tower fan10according to the present invention. The tower fan10has a fan housing20and a base assembly30that is removably secured to the bottom of the fan housing20. The fan housing20can be any conventional fan housing having a housing22that houses the motor, the fan, and the other electrical components and controls24for operating the tower fan10. Referring toFIG. 6, the base of the housing22has an annular flange26that defines an interior space23. A cylindrical post25extends from the center of the housing22into the interior space23, and a power cord32extends from inside the housing22through the cylindrical post25. The outer surface of the cylindrical post25is threaded. An alignment post28extends from the base of the housing22adjacent the annular flange26.

FIGS. 3-6illustrate the base assembly30in greater detail. The base assembly30is generally comprised of a front piece34aand a rear piece34b.Both pieces34aand34bare generally semi-circular, with an arc-shaped top shelf36aand36b,respectively. From the outer annular edge of the top shelves36aand36b,an angled wall38aand38b,respectively, extends outwardly towards an annular outer base wall40aand40b,respectively. As a result, when the two pieces34aand34bare assembled together, they form a domed configuration with a central opening42(seeFIGS. 4A and 5A) that receives the base of the housing22. A vertical wall44aand44b,respectively, extends from the inner annular edge of the top shelves36aand36bto a plate46aand46b,respectively. The combined vertical walls44aand44bdefine an annular walled space98for receiving the annular flange26of the fan housing20. An arc-shaped ridge48aand48b,respectively extends from the center of each plate46aand46b,so that the two ridges48aand48btogether form an annular ridge when the two pieces34aand34bare assembled together. An opening50is provided on the rear ridge48b.

Referring now toFIGS. 3-5B, the front piece34ahas two identical extensions70, each extending from an opposite end72and74of the semi-circular front piece34a.Each extension70has an upper surface76and an angled ramp78extending radially outwardly. An opening80is provided in each upper surface76and leads to a vertical well82. A vertical wall84encloses the well82and the angled ramp78at each end72and74. An L-shaped holder86extends outwardly away from the vertical wall84.

The rear piece34bhas two identical posts88, each extending from an opposite end90and92of the semi-circular rear piece34b.A vertical wall94extends interiorly from the shelf36band the angled wall38badjacent the post88at each end90and92. The two pieces34aand34bare secured together by aligning the posts88with the openings80, and inserting the posts88into the wells82.FIGS. 4A and 4Bshow the two pieces34aand34bseparated, andFIGS. 5A and 5Bshow the two pieces34aand34bassembled together. The shelf36band the angled wall38bof the rear piece34bare fitted around the upper surface76and angled ramp78, respectively, of the extensions70, with the vertical wall94received by the L-shaped holders86against the vertical wall84to secure the connections.

The underside of the rear piece34balso has a cut opening106and a tab108with an opening. The base wall40bhas a cut-out110that is aligned with the tab108and the cut opening106.

FIG. 7illustrates a screw100that is used to secure the fan housing20to the base assembly30. The screw100has a wavy outer contour to allow the user to grip it more conveniently, and has a central threaded opening102.

To assemble the tower fan10, the power cord32is extended through the central opening42in the assembled base assembly30. SeeFIG. 6. The bottom of the fan housing20is seated inside the annular walled space98defined by the vertical walls44aand44b,with the annular flange26sized and configured to fit snugly inside the annular walled space98and against the vertical walls44aand44b.The power cord32is also extended through the opening102in the screw100(seeFIG. 8A) and the screw100is screwed around the threaded outer surface of the cylindrical post25. This threaded connection will secure the fan housing20to the base assembly30. The power cord32is extended through the cut opening106, the opening in the tab108, and the cut-out110so that it can be extended to a power outlet.

Although the two pieces34aand34bare illustrated as defining an annular domed configuration, it is also possible to configure the two pieces34aand34bso that they define a domed four-sided or multi-sided configuration with a central opening42when assembled together.

Thus, the base assembly30of the present invention provides a base that is easily and conveniently assembled while occupying minimal space.