Portable fan

Portable battery-operated fan comprises a two-part base of which the lower part can be detached to allow the fan to stand on its own or attached to permit the fan to be placed in a cup or bottle holder. A facsimile of an element of sports apparatus such as a golf ball, basketball, or bowling pin is pivotally attached to the fan and provides a mounting place for a DC motor which is driven by a battery in the lower base. A shrouded fan is attached to an end or a side of the sports apparatus facsimile so as to provide cooling air flow on demand.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to portable fans and more particularly to a portable fan that can stand on its own or fit into a cup or bottle holder of the type found in recreational vehicles, on exercise equipment or in other associations. In a preferred embodiment, the fan incorporates a facsimile of a popular piece of sports apparatus such as a golf ball, baseball, football, volleyball, basketball, soccer ball, bowling pin, or exercise weight or weight set.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous battery-operated portable fans have been disclosed in the patent literature. Several such fans are adapted to be handheld or draped around the neck by the way of a lanyard or simply laid on its side. None of the prior art fans of which Applicants are aware is designed for multiple environments, or to be conveniently placed in a generally cylindrical, concave receptacle such as a cup or bottle/can holder, nor is any of the prior art fans of which Applicants are aware associated by structure and appearance with a particular sports activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable fan is disclosed herein comprising a body which, in the preferred form, can stand on its own or fit into a cup or bottle holder. In addition, the variously illustrated embodiments incorporate into their structure an element which is associated with a sport or recreational activity. The fan body may be made in upper and lower parts which are threadably engageable with one another to provide multiple use arrangements. In the illustrated embodiments, the fan incorporates sports apparatus facsimile providing a motor compartment. The motor has an output shaft which is arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the body which, in use, is generally vertical. In addition, the subject fan comprises a set of fan blades attached to the motor output shaft and, in the preferred form, the blades may be shrouded for protection.

The fan of the present invention may comprise additional features such as a curved neck between the upper body and the sports facsimile. In addition, the sports apparatus facsimile may take any of a wide variety of forms such as a golf ball, football or soccer ball, as well as a bowling pin or an exercise weight. This list is not exhaustive.

The term “sports apparatus facsimile” as used herein refers generally to a body which essentially replicates the appearance features of an element of sports equipment and is not necessarily an exact copy based on size, weight or surface finish, nor is the facsimile intended to be usable in a sports activity or play.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying photographs, the latter being briefly described hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a motorized golf cart10having a dashboard12with a cup holder13, in this case holding a fan14which incorporates into the structure thereof a facsimile16of a golf ball, albeit somewhat larger in size to accommodate a DC motor for a shrouded fan18which is mounted pivotally to the fan14so that the angle of the fan rotational axis, which is also the axis of the motor within the golf ball replica16, can be adjusted relative to the vertical axis of the fan14while in use.

FIG. 2shows additional detail of another embodiment of a fan20having a two-piece body comprising a generally cylindrical but slightly tapered molded plastic base22. The base22is attached by a threaded connection shown in detail inFIG. 9to an upper body part26which carries an Off/On switch28and a charging port30and provides a compartment for a lithium-ion rechargeable battery. An elongate curved neck32is fixedly attached to the upper body part26and carries at the upper end a bracket34which is pivotally attached to the neck by a fastener35. Attached to the bracket34is a facsimile or replica36of a bowling pin containing a pocket for a brushless DC motor37having an output axis which lies at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the base22. That axis is vertical or substantially vertical when the fan20is in use. The bowling pin replica36extends through a fan shroud protecting users from a rotary blade38driven by the motor37to provide cooling on demand. The motor37preferably has ball bearings for low friction and long life. The body part26has an integral bottom flange27that provides stability when the bottom22is detached and the user wishes to stand the fan on a table. The flange also provides a stop when the bottom22is attached and inserted into a cup or bottle holder.

FIG. 3shows another embodiment with an identical base22having an identical upper body portion26to the embodiment shown inFIG. 2. TheFIG. 3embodiment likewise comprises a curved fixed neck32pivotally attached to a bracket34. Another bowling pin replica40is attached to the bracket34, in this case with the bowling pin replica in an upright position and a shrouded fan42attached to the side of the bowling pin replica40. A motor (not shown) is encased in the pin replica40and drives a fan about an axis of rotation which is essentially at right angles to the vertical axis of the base22but the position of the fan axis may be adjusted by simple manipulation of the pivot fasteners35.

FIG. 4shows a further embodiment of the fan42in which the parts which are identical to those in the embodiments ofFIGS. 2 and 3are similarly numbered. Attached to the bracket34is a replica of a basketball44carrying a shrouded fan46attached to the side of the basketball replica44. Again, a DC motor (not shown) is housed within the basketball replica44. A motor, like the embodiments ofFIGS. 2 and 3is driven by a battery carried in a compartment found in the upper body26. A charging circuit (not shown) is housed in body portion26.

FIG. 5shows still a further embodiment of a fan48in which the parts identical to the embodiments ofFIGS. 2,3and4are similarly numbered. In theFIG. 5embodiment, the bracket carries a football facsimile50attached to a shrouded fan52so that an end of the football facsimile protrudes into the center of the fan shroud. A DC motor (not shown) is carried within the football replica50to drive the fan when turned on by the switch28.

In all cases described thus far, the components22,26,30and32are preferably made of high density injection molded polyethylene, but other plastics and other materials may be used. The bracket34may also be made of plastic but may also be made of a lightweight metal such as aluminum. In all cases, the spoils apparatus replicas16,36,40,44and50are made of injection molded plastic and can have smooth or textured surface finishes.

FIGS. 8 and 10show still another embodiment in the form of a fan58having a base22and a slightly modified upper body26′ with fan speed control switch59. A bracket34is attached to the upper body by means of a short neck37. The bracket is permanently attached to a molded plastic replica of a set of exercise or barbell weights60which also houses a fan motor. The barbell weight replica60is permanently attached to the shrouded fan62which may be activated on demand by drawing power from the battery stored within the compartment provided by body26.

FIG. 10shows the fan ofFIG. 9with the bottom22disassembled. The flange27on the body part26is shown as having internal threads55while complemental external threads57are provided on a reduced diameter portion61of the bottom body part26′ so that the two components can be threaded together, if desired. Flange27provides stability to allow the fan to stand on its own.

FIG. 11shows still another embodiment in the form of a fan having a detachable tapered cylindrical bottom22, a long neck66, and attached to the long neck66, a smaller replica of a basketball68. The basketball may be differently decorated to represent a tennis ball, a volleyball, a baseball, a softball or any other round object intended for sports play. A shrouded fan69is attached to the basketball replica68to blow fan at an angle to the vertical axis of the fan when it is placed in a bottle holder70in a center console of an automotive vehicle. In this case, the diameter of the bottom22is smaller than the diameter of the bottle holder70. Accordingly, an adapter ring74preferably made of medium density closed-cell plastic is provided to snugly fit around the outside of the bottom22and take up the space between the bottom22and the bottle holder70so as to provide a snug fit when the fan is placed upright in the center console72.

In all cases, the fan preferably has two blades for high efficiency but the designer may choose a higher number as desired. While a rechargeable lithium ion battery is preferred, multiple C or D cell battery units are equally feasible.