Abstract:
A blower includes a housing, a motor disposed in the housing, a wire extending out of the housing, and a wire holding structure. One end of the wire is electrically connected to an external power source, and the other end thereof is electrically connected with the motor, thereby supplying the motor with power. The wire holding structure comprises a pole extending from the housing to allow the wire winding therearound.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Relevant subject matter is disclosed in a co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. filed on the same date with the present application and entitled “FAN HAVING WIRE SECURING MECHANISM”, assigned to the same assignee with this patent application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to blowers, and more particularly to a blower having a wire holding structure. 
         [0004]    2. Description of related art 
         [0005]    A blower generally includes a housing, a motor with an impeller housed within the housing, and a wire extending out of the housing with one end connected to the motor and the other end with a socket connector extending out of the housing and connected with a desired plug connector. 
         [0006]    The wire of the blower is generally kept long enough to suit various applications. However, in many situations, the length of the wire is longer than a distance from a place, where the blower is set, to the desired plug connector. The excess portion of the wire is generally loosely laid in the electrical system where the blower is positioned. If the excess portion of the wire contacts a heated part in the electrical system, the wire may burn. 
         [0007]    What is desired, therefore, is a blower which has a wire holding structure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In one embodiment, a blower includes a housing, a motor disposed in the housing, a wire extending out of the housing, and a wire holding structure. The wire is electrically connected with the motor. The wire holding structure comprises a pole extending from the housing to allow the wire winding therearound. 
         [0009]    Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a blower in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the blower including a wire holding structure and a wire extending therefrom; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an inverted view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but showing an excess portion of the wire being wound on the wire holding structure of the blower; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a blower in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a circled portion V of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a blower in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a blower in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in a first embodiment of the present invention, a blower includes a housing  10 , a wire holding structure  18  formed on the housing  10 , a motor (not visible) with a cap  30  covering a top thereof disposed to the housing  10 , a plurality of fan blades  32  extending and surrounding the cap  30 , and a wire  40  electrically connected to the motor with one end thereof. 
         [0018]    The housing  10  includes a flat top plate, a flat bottom plate opposite to the top plate, and a side portion  14  connecting edges of the top and bottom plates. A circular inlet  12  is defined in a center of the top plate. An opposite end of the wire  40  extends out through the bottom plate and is connected with a socket connector (not shown). An outlet  16  is defined in the housing  10 . When the fan blades  32  are driven by the motor to rotate, air is drawn into the housing  10  through the inlet  12  and expelled from the outlet  16 . The wire holding structure  18  is formed on the side portion  14 . The wire holding structure  18  includes a first tab  20  adjacent the top plate and projecting from an upper portion of the side portion  14 , a second tab  24  adjacent the bottom plate and projecting from a lower portion of the side portion  14 , opposite to the first tab  20 , and a resilient pole  22  extending down from the first tab  20  toward the second tab  24 . A gap  26  is formed between a distal end of the pole  22  and the second tab  24 . A width of the gap  26  is appreciably smaller than a diameter of the wire  40 . The wire holding structure  18  and the side portion  14  cooperatively define a receiving space  28  to accommodate the wire  40 . 
         [0019]    Referring also to  FIG. 3 , in use, if the length of the wire  40  is longer than a distance between a location that the blower is disposed, to a desired plug connector, the wire  40  is transversely urged through the gap  26  of the wire holding structure  18  and is wound onto the pole  22 , until an excess portion of the wire  40  is satisfactorily secured. The smaller width of the gap  26  prevents the wound portion of the wire  40  from slipping out of the receiving space  28  through the gap  26  and/or unwinding, while the resiliency of the pole  22  allows the wire  40  to be forced through the gap  26  without damage to the wire  40  by application of an adequate force by a user. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5  together, in a second embodiment of the present invention, a wire holding structure  50  is formed on a housing  59  of a blower. Differences of the wire holding structure  50  from the above-mentioned wire holding structure  18  are that a first resilient lip  54  extends upward from a distal end of a pole  52  to be adjacent a corresponding second tab  56 , and a second lip  57  extends downward from the second tab  56  to meet with the first lip  54  to cover a gap between the second tab  56  and the distal end of the pole  52 . The wire holding structure  50  and a side portion  53  of the housing  59  cooperatively define a receiving space  55  to accommodate a wire  58 . The pole  52  of the wire holding structure  50  is pressed to drive the first lip  54  to part from the corresponding second lip  57 , the wire  58  enters into the receiving space  55  and is wound onto the pole  52 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , in a third embodiment of the present invention, a generally C-shaped wire holding structure  68  is formed on a side portion  62 . The wire holding structure  68  includes a tab  70  projecting out from the side portion  62 , and a pole  72  bent upward from the tab  70 . A resilient stopping portion  74  is bent toward the side portion  62  from a distal end of the pole  72 , and a gap  76  is formed between a distal end of the stopping portion  74  and the side portion  62 . A width of the gap  76  is appreciably smaller than a diameter of a wire  79 . The wire holding structure  68  and the side portion  62  cooperatively define a receiving space  77 . In use, the wire  79  is received in the receiving space  77  through the gap  76 , and wound onto the pole  72  of the wire holding structure  68 . The resiliency of the stopping portion  74  allows the wire  79  to be force through the gap  76  without damage to the wire  79  by application of an adequate force by a user. The stopping portion  74  and the smaller gap  76  prevent the wound portion of the wire  79  from slipping off and/or unwinding. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , in a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a generally T-shaped wire holding structure  83  extends from a bottom plate of a housing  80  of a blower. The wire holding structure  83  includes a pole  85  extending from the bottom plate of the housing  80 , and a circular stopping head  87  formed at a distal end of the pole  85 . A diameter of the stopping head  87  is greater than that of the pole  85 . When a wire  89  is wound onto the pole  85  of the wire holding structure  83 , the stopping head  87  prevents the wound portion of the wire  89  from slipping off and/or unwinding. 
         [0023]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.