Abstract:
A powered fan is provided having a fan housing, a plurality of fan blades, a motor, and an electrical generation system. The fan blades are mechanically coupled to the motor, both being contained within the fan housing. Rotatably affixed to an exterior portion of the fan housing, and mechanically coupled to the electrical generator, is a hand crank. Electrically coupled to the motor and affixed to some portion of the fan housing is a rechargeable battery. Manipulation of the hand crank generates electricity for powering the motor and/or charging the rechargeable battery. A control pad located on the fan housing allows a user to selectively control the functioning of the fan.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/905,532, filed Nov. 18, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a powered fan having a hand crank actuating mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Just about everyone has had to suffer through a power failure. Whether the outage was caused by a man-made event such as equipment failure, or as the result of a natural disaster such as a storm, the results are the same. While flashlights and other battery operated tools help to keep households running, and provide for emergency needs, one need which has gone unfulfilled is that of cooling. Many people, especially the elderly, cannot function, or even survive in periods of high heat. Standard cooling devices such as fans and air conditioners are non-operational during power failures, and there has been no acceptable battery operated substitute to date. These same cooling problems occur when camping, at outdoor events, or virtually any location where power is not available. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which one can be kept cool, without reliance on conventional electrically powered cooling devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing a manually operated fan having a base assembly, a fan housing, a fan assembly having a plurality of fan blades, an generator assembly having a crank handle, and a motor operatively connected to the fan assembly and in electrical communication with the generator assembly. The generator assembly provides an electromotive force to the motor to drive the fan assembly when a user rotates the crank handle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a manual-operated fan  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded isometric view of the manual-operated fan  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view along a line A-A as shown on  FIG. 1  of the manual-operated fan  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view along line B-B as shown on  FIG. 2  of the base assembly  50  of the manual-operated fan  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the layout of a control pad  80  of the manual-operated fan  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of the electrical components of the manual-operated fan  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  manual-operated fan 
               20  fan housing 
               22  housing inlet side 
               23  inlet opening 
               24  inlet side cage 
               25  motor support 
               26  housing fastener 
               27  fastener aperture 
               32  housing outlet side 
               33  outlet opening 
               34  outlet side cage 
               38  indicia 
               40  generator assembly 
               41  generator housing 
               42  crank 
               43  crank hub 
               44  shaft aperture 
               45  crank handle 
               46  generator shaft 
               47  generator shaft flat 
               48  generator shaft thread 
               49  crank retainer 
               50  base assembly 
               51  first battery compartment 
               52  first battery compartment cover 
               53  first cover slide way 
               54  first cover pull 
               56  second battery compartment 
               57  second battery compartment cover 
               58  second cover slide way 
               59  second cover pull 
               61  motor 
               62  motor shaft 
               63  snap ring 
               64  snap ring groove 
               65  motor shaft flat 
               66  external thread 
               70  fan assembly 
               71  fan blade 
               72  fan hub 
               73  fan hub center bore 
               74  fan hub retainer 
               75  internal thread 
               80  control pad 
               81  ON/OFF switch 
               82  multi-key switch pad 
               83  first switch 
               84  second switch 
               85  third switch 
               86  fourth switch 
               87  power source assembly 
               88  capacitor 
               89  battery charging circuit 
               90  generator 
               95  rechargeable battery 
               97  replaceable battery 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 6 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a manual-operated fan (herein referred to as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a means to generate the electrical power necessary to drive a personal ventilation and air recirculation device by inputting the necessary rotary motion through a provided hand-operated crank  42 , and a method to control the operation thereof. The apparatus  10  is configured with a multi-key switch pad  42  which also allows said apparatus  10  to be operated by dry-cell storage batteries  88 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view, and  FIG. 2 , a partially exploded isometric view from another angle, of the apparatus  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The apparatus  10  includes a fan housing  20 , a generator assembly  40 , a base assembly  50 , a motor  61 , a fan assembly  70 , and a power souse assembly  87 . The fan housing  20  includes a housing inlet side  22 , and a housing outlet side  32 . The fan housing  20  is comprised preferably of a thermoplastic material and constructed from a plurality of injection-molded parts to form a rectangular polyhedron configured to form such overlapping and interconnected portions as to adequately house, and provide support for the motor  61 , and the fan assembly  70 . The fan housing  20  may be presented in a wide variety of decorative colors and surface finish textures. However, it is understood that other materials, or other housing shapes, may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . Additionally, it is envisioned that some surface portions of the fan housing  20  may comprise various indicia  38  which may provide script or symbols based upon directions for use, or other script or logos based upon a user&#39;s preference and may include images such as, but not limited to, personal names, symbols, lines, pictures, and the like, in various colors and patterns, to further customize and personalize the apparatus  10 . 
     The housing inlet side  22  of the fan housing  20  is provided with a circular inlet opening  23  for the entrance of a flow of air into the apparatus  10 . Disposed in the inlet opening  23  is the inlet side cage  24 . The inlet side cage  24  is comprised of an outward spiraling array of ribs. In the preferred embodiment, the inlet side cage  24  is constructed of a thermoplastic material configured to protect the fan assembly  70 . Disposed at the center of the inlet side cage  24 , and extending downward to the periphery of the inlet opening  23  is a motor support  25 , which is an annular ring, molded to a plate and configured to bear the weight of the attached motor  61 . It may be necessary to incorporate other provisions into the motor support  25  to provide additional mounting structure for the motor  61 , however, it is understood that any such eventualities do not modify the scope or intent of the present apparatus. 
     The housing outlet side  32  is attached to the housing inlet side  22  by a plurality of housing fasteners  26  which are inserted through fastener apertures  27  in the housing inlet side  22 . The housing outlet side  32  is provided with a circular outlet opening  33  for the egress of air from the apparatus  10 . Disposed in the outlet opening  33  is the outlet side cage  34 . The outlet side cage  34  is comprised of an outward spiraling array of ribs further comprised preferably of a thermoplastic material configured to protect and prevent access to the fan blades  71 . In one (1) embodiment of the present invention, the ribs of the outlet side cage  34  are formed to cause the output air flow to be directed in a particular direction. In this case, the outlet side cage  34  is mounted in the fan housing  20  such that is can be rotated to selectively direct the direction of the output air flow as desired. 
     The generator assembly  40  includes the generator housing  41  that provides structural support and covering protection for the generator  90  ( FIG. 6 ) and the requisite generator crank mechanism components. The generator  90 , as will be discussed in greater detail below, includes a generator shaft  46  that extends outwardly from the generator housing  40 . Formed onto the generator shaft  46  is a generator shaft flat  47  and a generator shaft thread  48 . The crank  42  is attached to the generator shaft  46  at a crank hub  43  for a user to input the necessary rotary motion to cause an electrical current to be produced by the generator  90 . The crank  42  is preferably comprised of a rigid polymer material. However, other materials, such as some metals, may also be utilized without narrowing the scope of the apparatus  10 . The crank hub  43  is provided with a shaft aperture  44  having an appropriate diameter to be accommodated on the generator shaft  46  and a feature complimentary to the generator shaft flat  47  so that the input torque is positively transmitted to the generator  90 . The crank  42  is secured to the generator shaft  46  by engaging a complimentary thread cut, or formed, into the crank retainer  49  with the generator shaft thread  48 . Disposed on the opposite end of the crank  42  from the crank hub  43  is a crank handle  45 . The crank handle  45  is the point of the crank  42  which the user would grasp to apply the requisite rotary motion input. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a section view along line A-A as shown in  FIG. 1  of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The motor  61  is attached to the motor support  25  which is molded into the inlet side cage  24 . The motor  61  is comprised of any of a variety of commercially available, copper wound, low voltage, small frame, direct current, motors  61  with a cylindrical motor shaft  62  capable of generating sufficient torque to provide the desired rotation of the fan assembly  70 . The motor  61  is electrically powered by the power source assembly  87 , through a two-position ON/OFF switch  81  according to the selection of one (1) of a plurality of push button switches  83 - 86  on the multi-key switch pad  82 . The motor shaft  62  is preferably equipped with an annular snap ring groove  64 , a motor shaft flat  65 , and an external thread  66  at the distal end. 
     The fan assembly  70  is comprised of a plurality of the fan blades  71  each individually disposed at their root to the fan hub  72 . The fan hub  72  is provided with a center bore  73  that is configured to be complimentary to the motor shaft  62  and the motor shaft flat  65 . A snap ring  63  is retained in the snap ring groove  64  on the motor shaft  62  to provide a positive stop for the insertion of the motor shaft  62  into the center bore  73  of the fan hub  72 . The fan assembly  70  is retained on the motor shaft  62  by means of a fan hub retainer  74  engaged with the external thread  66  of the motor shaft  62 . The fan hub retainer  74  is provided with an internal thread  75  which is complimentary to the external thread  66 . The external thread  66  and the corresponding internal thread  75  are best formed in the direction which is opposite from the normal rotation of the motor  61  to prevent torsional loosening of the hub retainer  74  during operation. The plurality of fan blades  71  are each formed in like angular twist and oriented along the fan hub  72  at an angle perpendicular to the rotational axis of the fan hub  72 . The curvature and angular disposition of the fan blades  71  is optimized to reduce vortices and keep the air flow generated by them laminar. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a section view along line B-B as shown in  FIG. 2  of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. Disposed within the base assembly  50  is the power source assembly  87  that powers the motor  61  through the various means described herein. In this manner, the power source assembly  87  can utilize the power provided by at least one rechargeable battery  95 , at least one non-rechargeable replaceable battery  97 , or the generator assembly  40 . The base assembly  50  includes a first battery compartment  51 , and at the opposite side, a second battery compartment  56 . The first battery compartment  51  is configured to house a rechargeable battery  95 , which in some modes of operation would provide the necessary electrical energy to drive the motor  61 . The first battery compartment  51  is closed by a first battery compartment cover  52 . The two (2) opposite vertical edges of the first battery compartment cover  52  are tapered from the inner side to the outer side to fit into, and be retained in, first cover slide ways  53  in the base assembly  50  which are similarly configured. Disposed in the outer surface of the first battery compartment cover  52  is a first cover pull  54 . The first cover pull  54  is preferably a tapered semi-circular indentation which can be accessed by the user&#39;s fingernail, or some tool, to extricate the first battery compartment cover  52  from the first cover slide ways  53  in order to install or replace a rechargeable battery  95 . 
     The second battery compartment  56  is configured to house a set of replaceable batteries  97 , which in one (1) mode of operation provides the electrical energy to drive the motor  61 . The second battery compartment  56  is closed by a second battery compartment cover  57 . The two (2) opposite vertical edges of the second battery compartment cover  57  are tapered from the inner side to the outer side to fit into, and be retained in, second cover slide ways  58  in the base assembly  50  which are similarly configured. Disposed in the outer surface of the second battery compartment cover  57  is a second cover pull  59 . The second cover pull  59  is configured to extricate the second battery compartment cover  57  from the second cover slide ways  58  in order to install or replace a replaceable battery  97 . It is understood that the apparatus  10  may be configured without a second battery compartment  56 , if desired, thereby limiting the function to the level achieved by the rechargeable batteries  95 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5  a view of the control pad  80 , and  FIG. 6 , a block diagram of the electrical components of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The control pad  80  is comprised of the electrical switches which control the multiple functions of the apparatus  10 . The control pad  80  includes an ON/OFF switch  81  and a multi-key switch pad  82  with interlocking control switches  83 - 86  such that no two (2) functions are activated simultaneously. The ON/OFF switch  81  for the motor  61  is comprised of a two-position (2) selector switch, such as a rocker-type switch. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , in one (1) mode of operation, the ON/OFF switch  81  is set to the ON position and the first switch  83  of the multi-key switch pad  82  is depressed thereby completing a circuit between the generator  90 , the capacitor  88 , and the motor  61 . In this configuration, when the crank  42  is turned in the proper direction the electrical energy from the generator  90  is directed to the capacitor  88 . When the capacitor  88  reaches full charge the electrical energy flows through the, now closed, ON/OFF switch  81  to the motor  61  thereby turning the fan blades  71  to supply a flow of air to the user. 
     In an alternate mode of operation, the second switch  84  of the multi-key switch pad  82  is depressed thereby removing the ON/OFF switch  81  and the motor  61  from the electrical circuit. An electrical circuit is established between the generator  90 , the capacitor  88 , the battery charging circuit  89 , and the rechargeable battery  95 . In this configuration, when the crank  42  is turned in the proper direction the electrical energy from the generator  90  is directed to the capacitor  88 . When the capacitor  88  reaches full charge the electrical energy flows to the battery charging circuit  89  which regulates and limits the flow of electricity to the rechargeable battery  95 . In this mode of operation the rechargeable batteries  95  are recharged while the motor  61  operates. 
     In a second alternate mode of operation, the third switch  85  of the multi-key switch pad  82  is depressed thereby removing the generator  90  and the capacitor  88  from the electrical circuit. An electrical circuit is established between the rechargeable batteries  95 , the ON/OFF switch  81 , and the motor  61 . When the ON/OFF switch  81  is closed the electrical energy flows from the rechargeable batteries  95  to the motor  61  thereby turning the fan blades  71  to supply a flow of air to the user. 
     In a third alternate mode of operation, the fourth switch  86  of the multi-key switch pad  82  is depressed thereby establishing an electrical circuit between the replaceable batteries  97 , the ON/OFF switch  81 , and the motor  61 . When the ON/OFF switch  81  is closed the electrical energy flows from the replaceable batteries  97  to the motor  61  thereby turning the fan blades  71  to supply a flow of air to the user. It is understood that the apparatus  10  may be configured without the capacitor  88  and the multi-key switch pad  82 , if desired, thereby providing a mode of operation in which the generator  90  provides a flow of electrical energy to the rechargeable batteries  95  through the battery charge circuit  89 , and said rechargeable batteries  95  supply a flow of electrical energy through the ON/OFF switch  81  to the motor  61 . 
     In a fourth alternate mode of operation, the fourth switch  86  of the multi-key switch pad  82  is depressed thereby directly connecting the generator  90  to the motor  61  without directing electrical power to either the capacitor  88  or the rechargeable batteries  97 . The fourth switch  86  is thereby a direct connect switch for the generator  90  and motor  61  connection. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed on a firm, stable, horizontal surface as indicated in  FIG. 1 . The method of installing and utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing by performing a series of steps. It can be appreciated that certain operational steps herein described can be performed in alternative order and as such should not be viewed as a limiting factor. After acquiring a model of the apparatus  10  having a desired style to meet the user&#39;s taste, a mode of operation as previously described would be selected and the correct switch  83 - 86  on the multi-key switch pad  82  would be depressed. If the desired operational configuration resulted in the operation of the motor  61 ; the ON/OFF switch  81  would be switched to the “ON” position thereby supplying the user with a flow of air. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.