Abstract:
A cordless wall fan having a front and rear housing, and safety grills, that plugs directly into a wall socket, and configured to safely provide air movement in the home and white noise near sleeping children, without taking up space on horizontal surfaces and without using potentially dangerous power cords.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/198,766, filed Jul. 30, 2015. The contents of this application are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention encompasses a device that circulates air in a bedroom, kitchen, office or any other area indoors, and more specifically but not by way of limitation, relates to a room fan that has an electrical plug built into the rear housing of the device. This enables the fan to plug directly into an electrical socket and sit flush against a wall rather than the floor or a tabletop surface. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Conventional room fans have been shown to have limitations, particularly when it comes to the cord and fan placement. Cord accidents are one of the most reported household dangers, especially involving children. Not only are cords a tripping hazard, but dangers of electrical shock and fire exist if a cord is frayed or nicked. A tabletop surface is not always available to rest a fan based on the outlet arrangement in a room. This leaves the fan sitting on the floor, which is also aesthetically unpleasing and potentially dangerous if the openings of the fan face are wide. 
         [0004]    A further and more specific issue relates to the widespread use of fans in infant nurseries and children&#39;s rooms. A study in the Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine found that increased air circulation in a nursery from the use of a fan could reduce an infant&#39;s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome by up to 72%. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008; 162(10):963-968. As a result, safe sleep advocate groups recommend putting a fan in all rooms where infants sleep. The issue here again lies in the cord as well as the box-like nature of fans. Cords in the nursery can pose a strangulation hazard and electrical shock hazard from potential chewing of the cord. Further, when a fan is on a tabletop surface, a tipping hazard exits as a toddler or child needs to simply tug on the cord for the box-like fan to tip and fall on top of the child. 
         [0005]    Conventional room fans also lack portability. When traveling with an infant, it is likely a caregiver will want to bring the nursery fan. Cords can get tangled and damaged when trying to pack them in a bag or a suitcase. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a room fan that eliminates the electrical cord and affixes directly to the wall socket via an electrical plug built into the back face of the fan (rear housing). This not only keeps the fan off the floor, but allows the fan to be placed in areas of the room that would otherwise not be available for air circulation. For instance, one could plug the wall fan into an electrical socket on the wall where the crib sits for maximum air circulation around an infant. 
         [0007]    An additional improvement in functionality includes rear housing bracing elements which allow the cordless fan to plug directly into an electrical socket and sit flush with the wall while allowing sufficient air flow to reach behind the fan. This feature also reduces the space needed to operate the device. 
         [0008]    It is an object of this invention to provide a cordless wall fan. It is a further object of this invention to provide a cordless wall fan that has the electrical plug built-in to the rear housing of the fan. It is a further object of this invention to provide a cordless wall fan case (i.e. housing) that affixes directly into an electrical socket. It is a further object of this invention to provide a cordless wall fan that can rest flush against a wall, without the need for an additional level or horizontal space to rest upon. It is a further object of this invention to provide a cordless wall fan with grills for air escape that are small enough to prevent toddler fingers from entering. 
       COMPONENT NUMBERING 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               10 . Fan Device 
               12 . Primary Plug Base 
               14 . Secondary Plug Base 
               16 . Plug Prongs 
               18 . Rear Fan Housing 
               20 . Rear Housing Bracing Element (feet) 
               22 . Rear Housing Grill 
               24 . Motor 
               26 . Fan On/Off Switch Mechanism 
               28 . Lighting On/Off Switch Mechanism 
               30 . Front Grill 
               32 . Rear Mounting Element 
               34 . Rear Grill Housing Connector 
               36 . Nightlight Mechanism (with bulbs) 
           
         
       
     
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a rear side view of the cordless wall fan, illustrating the rear housing bracing elements, the primary and secondary plug bases, the plug prongs, and the rear housing grill. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a bottom rear view of the cordless wall fan illustrating the rear housing bracing elements, the primary and secondary plug bases, the plug prongs, the fan on/off switch mechanism, the lighting on/off switch mechanism, and the rear housing grill. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of the device illustrating an embodiment of the front grill. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the device shown without the rear housing, illustrating the rear mounting element and rear grill housing connectors. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the device shown without the rear housing illustrating the primary plug base, the plug prongs, the fan on/off switch mechanism, the lighting on/off switch mechanism, and the nightlight mechanism, and the fan motor. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the device shown with the rear housing. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the device shown without the rear housing, illustrating the primary plug base, the plug prongs, the fan on/off switch mechanism, the lighting on/off switch mechanism, and the nightlight mechanism. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of the device shown without the rear housing, illustrating the rear mounting element, the rear grill housing connectors, and the nightlight mechanism. 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of the device shown without the rear housing, illustrating the primary plug base, the plug prongs, the fan on/off switch mechanism, the lighting on/off switch mechanism, and the nightlight mechanism. 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  is a rear view the device shown with the rear housing, illustrating the primary and secondary plug bases, the plug prongs, and the rear housing grill. 
           [0033]      FIG. 11  is a rear view of the device shown without the rear housing, illustrating the primary and secondary plug bases, the plug prongs, the fan on/off switch mechanism, the lighting on/off switch mechanism, the rear grill housing connectors, and the nightlight mechanism. 
           [0034]      FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the device illustrating an embodiment of the front grill. 
           [0035]      FIG. 13  is a front view of an embodiment of the device illustrating an embodiment of the front grill, the fan on/off switch mechanism, and the lighting on/off switch mechanism. 
           [0036]      FIG. 14  is a bottom rear view of the cordless wall fan illustrating the rear housing bracing elements, the primary and secondary plug bases, the plug prongs, the fan on/off switch mechanism, the lighting on/off switch mechanism, and the rear housing grill. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a rear side and bottom rear view of the cordless wall fan  10 , illustrating the rear housing bracing elements  20 , the primary plug base  12 , the secondary plug base  14 , the plug prongs  16 , and the rear housing grill  22 . The plug prongs  16  are shown here in a two prong (ungrounded) configuration. However, the plug prongs could also comprise a three prong (grounded) configuration. 
         [0038]    In order for the device  10  to sit flush against a wall, the plug prongs  16  are separated from the rear grill  22 . In the illustrations, the separation is accomplished via one or more plug bases. Specifically, the plugs are directly attached to a primary plug base  12 . This primary plug base may be sufficient to separate the plug prongs from the rear grill  22  and the rear fan housing  18 . However, the preferred embodiment comprises a secondary plug base  14  to provide additional separation from the rear fan housing  18 . The separation is needed to allow for air induction behind the fan and to allow air circulation behind. Ideally, the plug prongs  16  are located near the top of the rear housing grill  22 . The rear housing grill  22  is also the air intake opening, and the front grill  30  is the air exhaust opening. In such a configuration, if the device is plugged into the bottom outlet of a two outlet socket, the top outlet would remain free for an additional device. An alternative configuration would locate the plug prongs  16  on the bottom of the rear housing grill  22  which would allow the fan to be plugged into the top of a two outlet socket, allowing for an additional device to be plugged into the bottom socket. 
         [0039]    Importantly, rear housing bracing elements  20  are located on the opposite side from the location of the plug prongs  16 . For example, if the plug prongs  16  are located on the top of the rear housing grill  22 , the rear housing bracing element(s)  20  should be located on the bottom of the rear housing grill  22 . The purpose for this configuration is to allow the fan to sit flush with the wall when plugged in. 
         [0040]    The ideal configuration is wherein the length of the rear housing bracing element  20  (i.e. the length of the protrusion(s) of the bracing element  20  from the rear housing  18 ) will equal the distance between the top most surface of the primary plug base  12  (located at the intersection of the plug prongs  16  and the primary plug base  12 ). Such a configuration will optimize the stability of the fan  10  against the wall, and allow for sufficient air flow. 
         [0041]    The fan on/off switch  26  is shown as a toggle type switch, but can be configured in a variety of ways, including a button, or a variable strength setting. This would allow the fan to be used at variable settings from high to low. Included, but not shown, is a fan timer which allows the user to turn the fan on for a limited period of time, then turn off automatically. Also included but not shown is a variable lighting mechanism which would allow the user to adjust the strength of the lighting from low to high, as well as a timing mechanism, which would allow the user to activate the light for a limited period of time and then turn off automatically. 
         [0042]    An alternative configuration would include the primary plug base  12  and plug prongs  16  to be located on the side of the housing (as opposed to the rear of the housing  18  shown in the drawings). This would allow the fan to be oriented such that the fan could move air along the side of the wall as opposed to away from the wall. This configuration may be preferred in some circumstances. In such a configuration, the housing bracing elements  20  would need to be located on the side of the housing as well to balance the fan to keep it stable during use. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  and  FIG. 12  are front views of an embodiment of the device illustrating an embodiment of the front grill  30 . The front grill  30  can utilize a variety of designs, however it is important that the open portions on the grill should be small in size such that a child&#39;s fingers should be unable to fit through the openings and expose them to injury via the moving fan blades (not shown) during use. This is true for the rear grill as well. The multi-curved outline of the front grill is merely an example of the shape that the front grill can use, however a variety of the shapes can be used and shouldn&#39;t have a significant effect on the utilitarian nature of the invention. The shapes could include, but are not limited to, square, circle, and/or any polygon shape consistent with the required internal components or other required claim elements. 
         [0044]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the device shown without the rear housing  18 , illustrating the rear mounting element  32  and rear grill housing connectors  34 . The nightlight mechanism  36 , shown here with the incorporated light bulbs, allows the user to turn on/off the lighting feature if desired by using the on/off switch mechanism  28 . The nightlight mechanism  36  can also include an adjustable timer to provide light for a finite amount of time (e.g. 20 minutes). The Fan on/off switch mechanism  26  and the lighting on/off switch mechanism  28  may include a feature where these switches are always lit (if the device  10  is plugged in and powered), so as to allow the user to locate the switches in the dark. Alternatively, the switches  26 ,  28  may include phosphorescent “glow in the dark” materials so they can be located in an unpowered condition. 
         [0045]      FIG. 5  and  FIG. 11  are rear perspective views of the device shown without the rear housing  18 , showing the primary plug base  12 , the plug prongs  16 , the fan on/off switch mechanism  26 , the lighting on/off switch  28 , the associated nightlight mechanism  36 , and the fan motor  24 . Again, the rear grill housing connectors  34  are used to connect the rear housing  18 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 14  are rear perspective views of the device shown with the rear housing  18 . The secondary plug base  14  adds depth and space between the rear housing grill  22  and the plug prongs  16 . This space is needed to allow air to enter from the sides of the device and into the rear grill housing  22 . Without such a space, the rear housing would lay flush against the wall and not provide proper air flow through the fan. Again, the ideal configuration is wherein the length of the rear housing bracing element  20  (i.e. the length of the protrusion(s) of the bracing element  20  from the rear housing  18 ) will equal the distance between the top most surface of the primary plug base  12  (located at the intersection of the plug prongs  16  and the primary plug base  12 ). Such a configuration will optimize the stability of the fan  10  against the wall, and allow for sufficient air flow into the rear grill housing  22 . 
         [0047]    An alternative configuration would omit the secondary plug base  14 , and instead incorporate a primary plug base  12  that has sufficient thickness to provide enough depth between the plug prongs  16  and the wall to allow proper air flow from the sides of the device and into the rear grill housing  22 . Optimally, the bracing elements  20  will be of sufficient length to balance the device and keep it in a vertical alignment by bracing the bottom of the device against the wall. 
         [0048]      FIG. 7  is a rear view the device shown without the rear housing  18  or rear housing grill  22 , illustrating the primary plug base  12 , the plug prongs  16 , the fan on/off switch mechanism  26 , the lighting on/off switch  28 , the nightlight mechanism  36 , and the rear grill housing connectors  34 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view the device shown without the rear housing, illustrating the rear mounting element, the rear grill housing connectors  34 , and the nightlight mechanism  36  which include the attached nightlight bulbs. The lighting bulbs can be incandescent, CFL, or LED, and may be “white” light, and/or of any color including red, yellow, orange, blue, green, indigo, or violet. 
         [0050]      FIG. 9  is a rear view the device shown without the rear housing  18  or rear housing grill  22 , illustrating the primary plug base  12 , the plug prongs  16 , the fan on/off switch mechanism  26 , the lighting on/off switch  28 , the nightlight mechanism  36 , and the rear grill housing connectors  34 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the device illustrating an embodiment of the front grill  30 , the fan on/off switch mechanism  26 , and the lighting on/off switch  28 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 14  is a bottom rear view of the cordless wall fan illustrating the rear housing bracing elements, the primary and secondary plug bases, the plug prongs, the fan on/off switch mechanism, the lighting on/off switch mechanism, and the rear housing grill.