Abstract:
A helmet-mounted fan, including a main body that includes a fan assembly having at least two fan blades each including a foldable joint, a motor operatively coupled to the fan assembly, and a power supply, operatively coupleable to deliver power to the motor and configured to drive rotation of the fan when the power is delivered. A clip-on fastener releasably secures the fan assembly, motor and power supply to a helmet. The clip-on fastener including a generally planar base portion and a deformable, arcuate member extending from the base portion, wherein the base portion and arcuate member together define a clamp area that will tightly receiving the brim, visor or brow guard of a helmet, hat or other headwear to releasably secure the fan assembly to the helmet, hat or other headwear.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/357,915, filed Jun. 23, 2010, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    This disclosure relates generally to fans, and, more specifically, to a fan that advantageously repels hazardous dust. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Dust is a serious health concern for contractors, workmen and other individuals who are exposed to dust on a regular basis. Besides being a minor annoyance, airborne dust particles may be inhaled into the lungs, where they have the potential to cause serious illness, injury or damage. While the human body possesses natural defenses that eliminate harmful particulates from inhaled air (such as mucus and cilia hairs), these defenses are not foolproof and some foreign particulate will invariably evade and/or overwhelm the body&#39;s natural defenses, if the dust is present in sufficient quantities. This can cause a wide variety of problems, depending on where the dust particulate settles. For example, inhalation of dust can cause inflammation of the mucous membrane, trachea or bronchi, fibrosis, silicosis and other problems that may even permanently impair lung function. 
         [0006]    Thus, there is a need for a simple device that repels hazardous dust, preventing it from being inhaled and causing damage to the lungs. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In one aspect of this disclosure, a helmet mountable fan assembly is disclosed, comprising a fan blade assembly, a motor for turning the fan blade assembly, and a power supply for supplying power to the motor. An attachment device allows the helmet mountable fan assembly to be removably secured to a helmet. 
         [0008]    In another aspect of this disclosure, the fan blade assembly includes joints so that individual fan blades can be folded inwards to a stowed position when the fan is not in use. 
         [0009]    In another aspect of this disclosure, a clip-on fastener is provided to allow for removably attaching the helmet mountable fan assembly to a helmet, hat or other headwear. The clip-on fastener comprises a generally planar base portion and a deformable, arcuate member extending from the base portion, wherein the base portion and arcuate member define a clamp area for tightly receiving the brim, visor or brow guard of a helmet, hat or other headwear to removably secure the fan assembly to the helmet, hat or other headwear. 
         [0010]    The foregoing has outlined rather generally the features and technical advantages of one or more embodiments of this disclosure in order that the following detailed description may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of this disclosure will be described hereinafter, which may form the subject of the claims of this application. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    This disclosure is further described in the detailed description that follows, with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a helmet mountable fan; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the fan of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the fan of  FIG. 1  mounted on a helmet and in active operation directing dust away from the face of a user; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  is a side elevation view of the fan of  FIG. 1  with the fan blades folded into a compact, stowed position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  is a front elevation view of the fan of  FIG. 1  with the fan blades folded into a compact, stowed position; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the helmet-mountable fan. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    This application discloses a helmet-mountable fan designed to repel dust and other particulate matter from the face of a user, thereby preventing the dust from being inhaled into the lungs. As an additional benefit, dust particles will also be kept away from the face and the eyes, reducing annoyance and discomfort. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a preferred helmet-mounted fan  100 . Helmet-mounted fan  100  preferably comprises three main sections, the battery case assembly  101 , motor and fan assembly  102 , and attachment assembly  103 . Battery case assembly  101  may be formed of any suitable material, and is preferably designed to accommodate both usage requirements and any desired size, shape or type of battery or other power supply. Standardized “double A” (AA) batteries may be preferable, as they offer a good balance between energy storage, weight and size. However other battery sizes may be utilized as desired, including (but not limited to) “triple A” (AAA)” size, “C” size, “D” size and 9-volt prismatic batteries. A spring  101   a  may be used to secure the battery in place and bias the battery against the contacts, preventing the negative and positive terminals of the battery from losing continuity with the circuit during movement of the helmet-mounted fan  100 . A removable cover may also be provided to ease installation and removal of batteries. The cover preferably has a locking tab (typically included as part of a molded plastic case) that allows a user to secure the cover to the battery case assembly  101 . Alternatively, the cover may be secured to the battery case assembly  101  via a screw or other type of fastener. 
         [0020]    Motor and fan assembly  102  preferably encloses motor  105  and provides support for fan assembly  107 . Motor and fan assembly  102  may also be designed according to end user requirements. It may take any desired shape and be formed of any desired material. A molded plastic case may be preferable, as plastic is lightweight, inexpensive and widely available. A switch  104  is preferably provided to control the operation of the helmet-mountable fan  100  via completion or interruption of electrical continuity circuit  104   a  between the battery case assembly  101  and the motor  105 . Motor  105  is preferably any suitable appropriately sized, mass-producible motor that receives electrical energy via electrical continuity  104   a  and transforms it into kinetic rotational energy, thereby driving the operation of fan assembly  107 . 
         [0021]    Fan assembly  107  preferably includes at least two fan blades  107   a  and  107   b . More fan blades may be provided if additional airflow is desired. Each fan blade preferably includes a joint  106   a ,  106   b , which preferably allows each fan blade  107   a  and  107   b  to fold inwards into a compact, stowed position when the fan  100  is not in use, as depicted in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
         [0022]    Attachment assembly  103  preferably allows the helmet mountable fan  100  to secure itself to a helmet (such as a “hardhat”), or any other similar safety item, hat or clothing that is worn on the head and has a suitable surface on which to mount helmet-mountable fan  100 . Attachment assembly  103  preferably includes a substantially planar base member  103   b  and a deformable clasp or member  103   a  extending from the base member  103   b . Deformable clasp  103   a  preferably has a slightly arcuate configuration. The base member  103   b  and the deformable clasp member  103   a  define a clamp area or space  103   d  for tightly receiving the brim, visor or brow guard of a helmet, hat or other headwear via mechanical tension or friction to removably secure the fan assembly  100  to the helmet, hat or other headwear. The attachment assembly  103  is preferably integrally formed as a single assembly via, for example, plastic injection molding processes. 
         [0023]    It is understood, however, that the helmet mountable fan  100  may be attached to a helmet, hat or other headwear in a manner other than the clip  103  described above. For example, attachment assembly  103  may instead utilize a hook and loop fastener, glue, mechanical fastener (such as (but not limited to) a screw or nut and bolt), a spring clamp, a stretch band that wraps around the top of the helmet, etc. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the helmet-mountable fan  100 . Battery case assembly  101 , motor and fan assembly  102 , and attachment assembly  103  may be coupled to one another, thereby forming a fully assembled helmet-mounted fan  100 . These three components  101 ,  102 ,  103  may be connected to each other to form a full body in a conventional manner, including (but not limited to) use of mechanical fasteners, glue, or by inherent design (e.g., locking tabs in molded plastic), etc. Alternatively, the three components may be integrally formed as a single assembly. 
         [0025]    Battery assembly  101  is preferably designed to receive batteries  101   b  and  101   c  in a horizontal arrangement, as depicted in  FIG. 2 . Such an arrangement may be advantageous as it minimizes the overall height of the helmet-mounted fan  100 , and provides for a more compact design and comfortable use. It is understood, however, that any arrangement for one or more batteries may be utilized as required. Fan blades  107   a  and  107   b  are preferably mounted in “push” position, and rotate in an arc  107   c  as shown, pushing airborne dust away from the face of a user. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the helmet-mountable fan  100  in active operation, directing airborne dust away from the face of a user. Helmet mountable fan  100  may be removably secured to the brim of an illustrative helmet  301  via a preferred clip-on embodiment of attachment assembly  103 . It is understood, however, that other modes of attachment of the fan  100  to the helmet are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure. Airflow  302  may be generated by the spinning of the fan blade assembly  107 , which redirects incoming airborne dust particulate away from the face of the user, as indicated by airflow lines  303   a  and  303   b . Thus, the user of helmet-mountable fan  100  may enjoy substantially reduced levels of dust inhalation, in addition to reduced annoyance from dust build-up on the face and in the eyes. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate the helmet-mountable fan  100  with the fan blades folded into a compact, stowed position. Fan blades  107   a  and  107   b  preferably fold inward towards the full body along joints  106   a  and  106   b  to create the stowed position, which may advantageously provide a compact configuration and protect fan blades  107   a  and  107   b  from accidental damage when not in use. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a helmet-mounted fan  400 . Helmet mounted fan  400  preferably attaches to the dome of a helmet (or other head-worn clothing item or equipment)  401  via attachment assembly  402 . Attachment assembly  402  may be built into helmet  401  or secured thereto via any suitable means, such as (but not including) glue, mechanical fastener (such as a screw or nut and bolt), hook and loop fastener, etc. Attachment assembly  402  may include a pivot pin or fastener  402   a  to connect to bridge segment  402   b , allowing the user to tilt the helmet-mounted fan  400  at a preferred angle. For this reason, bridge segment  402   b  preferably has a sloped bottom surface (as depicted) to allow for a wider angle of downward movement. 
         [0029]    Battery case assembly  403  may be designed to accommodate any size, shape or type of battery. Standardized “double A” (AA) sized batteries may be preferable, as they offer a good balance between energy storage, weight and size. However other battery sizes may be utilized as desired, including (but not limited to) “triple A” (AAA) size, “C” size, “D” size and 9-volt prismatic batteries. If desired, the batteries may also be rechargeable. A battery cover lock  403   a  may be provided in the battery case assembly  403  to secure a cover over an opening through which batteries can be inserted into the battery case assembly  403 . A spring  403   b  may be used to secure the battery in place with mechanical tension, preventing the negative and positive terminals from losing continuity with the circuit. 
         [0030]    Motor housing  404  preferably houses a motor  404   a . Electrical connection  404   b  preferably provides electrical continuity between batteries stored in battery case assembly  403  and motor  404   a . Motor  404   a  may thereby drive operation of fan assembly  406 , which rotates in a direction appropriate to push air outwards and away from the face of a user. The fan assembly  406  may be supported by a support encasing  405   a  and  405   b , which may either house a self-contained fan assembly or form part of its external shell. 
         [0031]    It is understand that the motor  404   a  may alternatively be powered by a power source other than or in addition to batteries. For instance, the fan  100  may include one or more solar panels having an array of solar cells (e.g., photovoltaic array) that receives direct sunlight, which is converted to electrical power to drive the motor  404   a  and/or to charge rechargeable batteries stored in battery case assembly  403 . 
         [0032]    Having described and illustrated the principles of this application by reference to one or more preferred embodiments, it should be apparent that the preferred embodiment(s) may be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from the principles disclosed herein and that it is intended that the application be construed as including all such modifications and variations insofar as they come within the spirit and scope of the subject matter disclosed herein.