Abstract:
Disclosed is a dropped ceiling fan that includes an elongated body with a fan inside the elongated body that move air downward in the elongated body with a plate positioned below the fan with a hole in the airflow of the fan, a peripheral intake that surrounds the plate and several inclined elements that direct air that is adjacent to the elongated body into the peripheral intake. The elongated body includes a hole in the top that, in combination with the peripheral intake, defines the intake for the fan, to take inlet air from either the room below or both the room below and the space above the dropped ceiling. Also disclosed is a mounting bracket to permit HVAC ducting to be coupled to the hole on top of the body to permit the fan to be used as a powered register with an HVAC system.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 61/798,501 filed Mar. 15, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to dropped ceiling fans. 
     Fan housing units are used in various industries to distribute, circulate, or divert fluids, such as air, propelled by a fluid impelling device. One example where fan housings are used is in the heating and cooling industry. Fan housings typically direct or circulate the flow of hot or cold air into particular rooms or areas within a building or structure. Fan housings may be coupled to a duct or a fluid impelling device. The duct may carry the air from a heating or cooling unit to an opening of the fan housing. The shape and design of the fan housing unit may either disperse the air current over a wide area or redirect the air current to another duct or fan housing unit. 
     One purpose of current fan housing units is to circulate air to heat or cool an area quickly and efficiently. As a result, the shape and design of current fan housing units typically do not direct the air to a centralized or focused location. To direct the air to a localized area, instead of dispersing the air over a wide area, will result in the room or area to have a substantial temperature gradient. Moreover, more air and energy would be required before the room temperature is substantially uniform. To overcome some temperature gradient situations, ceiling fans may be employed, generally without any housing unit, to further disperse and mix the air over a wide area within a room. The term “ceiling fan” is used in this document in the conventional sense to refer to a fan not connected with the ducting of any central HVAC system and adapted to be situated to move air substantially vertically within an area. 
     In a commercial setting, such as a department store or warehouse, the requirements may be different. For example, a commercial or industrial structure may have higher ceilings than a residential unit. Moreover, commercial settings may also include aisles or display units comprising products or goods with rows therebetween. In such a setting, dispersing the air over a wide area may not effectively circulate, heat, or cool the areas between the display units. Accordingly, one problem with conventional ceiling fans is that they do not direct the air to a focused location within a room, but rather tend to disperse the air over a wide area. Conventional ceiling fans are not designed to produce a sufficient column of air that will remain focused on a localized area as the air approaches the ground level. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a bottom perspective view of a dropped ceiling fan. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top perspective view of the  FIG. 1  dropped ceiling fan. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front elevational view of the  FIG. 1  dropped ceiling fan. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom plan view of the  FIG. 1  dropped ceiling fan. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 1  dropped ceiling fan taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dropped ceiling fan. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a top perspective view of the  FIG. 6  dropped ceiling fan. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a front elevational view of the  FIG. 6  dropped ceiling fan. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a bottom plan view of the  FIG. 6  dropped ceiling fan. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 6  dropped ceiling fan taken along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional side elevational view of a third embodiment of a dropped ceiling fan. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates the dropped ceiling fan of  FIG. 1, 6 or 11  installed in a ceiling. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a bottom perspective view of yet another alternative embodiment of a dropped ceiling fan. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a top perspective view of the  FIG. 13  dropped ceiling fan. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a side view of the  FIG. 13  dropped ceiling fan. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 13  dropped ceiling fan taken along line  16 - 16  in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a bottom plan view of the  FIG. 13  dropped ceiling fan with the illustrated grid element removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made to certain embodiments and specific language will be used to describe the same. It should be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure and the claims are thereby intended, such alterations, further modifications and further applications of the principles described herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates. In several figures, where there are the same or similar elements, those elements are designated with the same or similar reference numerals. 
     The disclosed embodiments relate to modular ceiling fan housing units  100 ,  200 ,  300  and  400  described below. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , dropped ceiling fan  100  is illustrated. Dropped ceiling fan  100  includes outer body element  110 , inner body element  140  and fluid impelling device  180 . Outer body element  110  includes top surface  112 , bottom  114  and four side surfaces  116 . In the illustrated embodiment, top surface  112  and side surfaces  116  are substantially fluid impenetrable and together define cavity  118 . Bottom  114  defines opening  120 . 
     Inner body element  140  includes top surface  142 , bottom  144  and four side surfaces  146 . The four side surfaces  146  are substantially fluid impenetrable and together define cavity  148 . Top surface  142  includes opening  150  and bottom  144  defines opening  152 . 
     In general, dropped ceiling fan  100  is constructed and arranged to be suspended in a dropped ceiling replacing a ceiling tile with dropped ceiling fan  100  between ceiling tile supports. In this regard, outer body element  112  may include various attachment points to suspend dropped ceiling fan  100  from a ceiling and/or to mount dropped ceiling fan  100  on a suspended tile support rail system (not illustrated). 
     Fluid impelling device  180  is mounted within cavity  148  of inner body element  140  and is arranged to move air downward from top surface  142  towards bottom  144  and opening  152 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 5 , inner body element  140  includes filter  190  mounted across top surface  142 . Filter  190  is mounted in such a way that substantially all the air passing through opening  152  passes through the filter  190 . 
     Dropped ceiling fan  100  also includes grid element  160 , inclined elements  162 , inclined elements  164  and inclined elements  166 . As best seen in  FIG. 5 , inner body element  140  is positioned near the center of cavity  118  of outer body element  110 . Inclined elements  162  extend downwardly and outwardly from the periphery of sides  116  defining outer body element  110 . Inclined elements  164  extend downwardly and outwardly from sides  146  defining the periphery of inner body element  140 . Grid  160  is supported in the middle of opening  152  with inclined elements  166  extending downwardly and outwardly from the periphery of grid  160 . Inclined elements  162  and  164  cooperate to define inlet  163  that is constructed and arranged to collect air from the periphery area of the dropped ceiling fan near the ceiling. Inclined elements  164  and  166  cooperate to define outlet  165  that is constructed and arranged to direct expelled air outwardly and downwardly from dropped ceiling fan  100 . Grid  160  comprises a plurality of vertically oriented elements positioned in opening  152  and constructed and arranged to direct expelled air downwardly from dropped ceiling fan  100 . 
     Filter  190  may be rated MERF 14 which is sufficient for nonsurgical rooms in a hospital and may be used to maintain air quality in such an environment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-10 , dropped ceiling fan  200  is illustrated. Dropped ceiling fan  200  includes outer body element  210  and fluid impelling device  280 . Outer body element  210  includes top surface  212 , bottom  214  and four side surfaces  216 . In the illustrated embodiment, side surfaces  216  are substantially fluid impenetrable and together define cavity  218 . Bottom  214  defines opening  220 . 
     In general, dropped ceiling fan  200  is constructed and arranged to be suspended in a dropped ceiling replacing a ceiling tile with dropped ceiling fan  200  between ceiling tile supports. In this regard, outer body element  212  may include various attachment points to suspend dropped ceiling fan  200  from a ceiling and/or to mount dropped ceiling fan  200  on a suspended tile support rail system (not illustrated). 
     Fluid impelling device  280  is mounted within cavity  218  of outer body element  210  and is arranged to move air downward from top surface  212  towards bottom  214  and opening  220 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 10 , outer body element  210  includes filter  292  mounted across top surface  212 . Filter  292  is mounted in such a way that substantially all the air passing through opening  222  passes through filter  292 . 
     Dropped ceiling fan  200  also includes grid element  260 , inclined elements  262 , inclined elements  264  and inclined elements  266 . Inclined elements  262  extend downwardly and outwardly from the periphery of sides  216  defining outer body element  210 . Inclined elements  164  extend downwardly and outwardly from plate  268  that extends around the periphery of opening  220  above grid  260 . Grid  160  is supported in the middle of opening  220  with inclined elements  166  extending downwardly and outwardly from the periphery of grid  260 . Inclined elements  262  and  264  cooperate to define inlet  263  that is constructed and arranged to collect air from the periphery area of the dropped ceiling fan near the ceiling. Inclined elements  264  and  266  cooperate to define outlet  265  that is constructed and arranged to direct expelled air outwardly and downwardly from dropped ceiling fan  200 . Grid  260  comprises a plurality of vertically oriented elements positioned in opening  252  and constructed and arranged to direct expelled air downwardly from dropped ceiling fan  200 . 
     Dropped ceiling fan  200  is configured to draw air from the room below through inlet  263  as well as draw air from above the ceiling through opening  222  and filter  292  and expel the air into the room below through grid  260  and outlet  265  when fluid impelling device  280  operates. In one embodiment, dropped ceiling fan  200  draws approximately half the inlet air from the room below and the other half from the space above the dropped ceiling. 
     Filter  292  may be rated MERF 14 which is sufficient for nonsurgical rooms in a hospital and may be used to maintain air quality in such an environment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , dropped ceiling fan  300  is illustrated. Dropped ceiling fan  100  includes outer body element  310 , inner body element  340  and fluid impelling device  180 . Outer body element  310  includes top surface  312 , bottom  314  and four side surfaces  116 . In the illustrated embodiment, side surfaces  316  are substantially fluid impenetrable and together define cavity  318 . Bottom  314  defines opening  320 . Top surface  312  defines opening  322 . 
     Inner body element  340  includes top surface  342 , bottom  344  and four side surfaces  346 . The four side surfaces  346  are substantially fluid impenetrable and together define cavity  348 . Top surface  342  defines opening  350  and bottom  344  defines opening  352   
     In general, dropped ceiling fan  300  is constructed and arranged to be suspended in a dropped ceiling replacing a tile with dropped ceiling fan  300 . In this regard, outer body element  312  may include various attachment points to suspend dropped ceiling fan  300  from a ceiling and/or to mount dropped ceiling fan  300  on a suspended rail system (not illustrated). 
     Fluid impelling device  380  is located within cavity  348  of inner body element  340  and is arranged to move air downward from top surface  342  towards bottom  344  and opening  352 . 
     Outer body element  310  includes filter  392  mounted across top surface  312 . Filter  392  is mounted in such a way that substantially all the air passing through opening  322  passes through filter  392 . Inner body element  340  includes filter  390  mounted across top surface  342 . Filter  390  is mounted in such a way that substantially all the air passing through opening  352  passes through the filter  390 . 
     Dropped ceiling fan  300  also includes grid element  360 , inclined elements  362 , inclined elements  364  and inclined elements  366 . Inner body element  340  is positioned in the center of cavity  318  in outer body element  310 . Inclined elements  362  extend from the periphery of sides  316  defining outer body element  310 . Inclined elements  364  extend outwardly from sides  364  defining the periphery of inner body element  340 . Grid  360  is supported in the middle of opening  352  with inclined elements  366  extending outwardly from the periphery of grid  360 . Inclined elements  362  and  364  cooperate to define inlet  363  that is constructed and arranged to collect air from the periphery area of the dropped ceiling fan near the ceiling. Inclined elements  364  and  366  cooperate to define outlet  365  that is constructed and arranged to direct expelled air outwardly and downwardly from dropped ceiling fan  300 . Grid  360  comprises a plurality of vertically oriented elements positioned in opening  352  and is constructed and arranged to direct expelled air downwardly from dropped ceiling fan  300 . 
     Dropped ceiling fan  300  is configured to draw air from the room below through inlet  363  as well as draw air from above the dropped ceiling through opening  322  and filter  392  and expel the air into the room below through grid  360  and outlet  365  when fluid impelling device  380  operates. In one embodiment, dropped ceiling fan  300  draws approximately half the inlet air from the room below and the other half from the space above the dropped ceiling. 
     Filters  390  and  392  may be rated MERF 14 which is sufficient for nonsurgical rooms in a hospital and may be used to maintain air quality in such an environment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , a representative dropped ceiling fan  100 ,  200  or  300  is shown installed in a dropped ceiling. Specifically, dropped ceiling fan  100 ,  200  or  300  is suspended with the outer periphery of dropped ceiling fan  100 ,  200  or  300  defined by inclined elements  162 ,  262  or  362  positioned near dropped rails  80  with ceiling tiles  60  positioned on the opposite sides of dropped rails  80 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-10 , dropped ceiling fan  200  is illustrated. Dropped ceiling fan  200  includes outer body element  210  and fluid impelling device  280 . Outer body element  210  includes top surface  212 , bottom  214  and four side surfaces  216 . In the illustrated embodiment, side surfaces  216  are substantially fluid impenetrable and together define cavity  218 . Bottom  214  defines opening  220 . 
     In general, dropped ceiling fan  200  is constructed and arranged to be suspended in a dropped ceiling replacing a ceiling tile with dropped ceiling fan  200  between ceiling tile supports. In this regard, outer body element  212  may include various attachment points to suspend dropped ceiling fan  200  from a ceiling and/or to mount dropped ceiling fan  200  on a suspended tile support rail system (not illustrated). 
     Fluid impelling device  280  is mounted within cavity  218  of outer body element  210  and is arranged to move air downward from top surface  212  towards bottom  214  and opening  220 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 10 , outer body element  210  includes filter  292  mounted across top surface  212 . Filter  292  is mounted in such a way that substantially all the air passing through opening  222  passes through filter  292 . 
     Dropped ceiling fan  200  also includes grid element  260 , inclined elements  262 , inclined elements  264  and inclined elements  266 . Inclined elements  262  extend downwardly and outwardly from the periphery of sides  216  defining outer body element  210 . Inclined elements  164  extend downwardly and outwardly from plate  268  that extends around the periphery of opening  220  above grid  260 . Grid  160  is supported in the middle of opening  220  with inclined elements  166  extending downwardly and outwardly from the periphery of grid  260 . Inclined elements  262  and  264  cooperate to define inlet  263  that is constructed and arranged to collect air from the periphery area of the dropped ceiling fan near the ceiling. Inclined elements  264  and  266  cooperate to define outlet  265  that is constructed and arranged to direct expelled air outwardly and downwardly from dropped ceiling fan  200 . Grid  260  comprises a plurality of vertically oriented elements positioned in opening  252  and constructed and arranged to direct expelled air downwardly from dropped ceiling fan  200 . 
     Dropped ceiling fan  200  is configured to draw air from the room below through inlet  263  as well as draw air from above the ceiling through opening  222  and filter  292  and expel the air into the room below through grid  260  and outlet  265  when fluid impelling device  280  operates. In one embodiment, dropped ceiling fan  200  draws approximately half the inlet air from the room below and the other half from the space above the dropped ceiling. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13-17 , dropped ceiling fan  400  is illustrated. Dropped ceiling fan  400  includes outer body element  210  and fluid impelling device  480 . Outer body element  410  includes top surface  412 , bottom  414  and four side surfaces  416 . In the illustrated embodiment, side surfaces  416  are substantially fluid impenetrable and together define cavity  418 . Bottom  414  includes several opening as described below. 
     In general, dropped ceiling fan  400  is constructed and arranged to be suspended in a dropped ceiling replacing a ceiling tile with dropped ceiling fan  400  between ceiling tile supports. In this regard, outer body element  412  may include various attachment points to suspend dropped ceiling fan  400  from a ceiling and/or to mount dropped ceiling fan  400  on a suspended tile support rail system (not illustrated). 
     Fluid impelling device  480  is mounted within cavity  418  of outer body element  410  and is arranged to move air downward from top surface  412  towards bottom  414  and opening  420 . Fluid impelling device  480  is generally aligned with the vertical axis defined by outer body element  410 . Opening  420  is generally aligned with both body element  410  and fluid impelling device  480 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 14-16 , outer body element  410  includes opening  422  surrounded by mounting flange  492  on top surface  412 . Mounting flange  492  may be constructed and arranged to be connected to HVAC ductwork. Mounting flange  492  may be circular, as illustrated, or may be any other shape or size to be connected to any desired ductwork or other structure. As shown in  FIG. 16 , mounting flange  492  may be connected to HVAC duct  98  to couple dropped ceiling fan  400  to an HVAC system (not illustrated). When coupled to HVAC duct  98 , ceiling fan  400  may operate in part as a HVAC register that includes a booster fan to increase airflow through HVAC duct  98 . This may be useful in connection with particularly long HVAC ducts and/or with HVAC ducts located in high demand areas, for example, building entry areas. 
     Dropped ceiling fan  400  also includes grid element  460 , inclined elements  462 , inclined elements  464 , inclined elements  466  and plate  468  that defines opening  420 . Plate  468  is generally centered in bottom  414 . Inclined elements  462  extend downwardly and outwardly from the periphery of sides  416  defining outer body element  410 . Inclined elements  464  extend downwardly and outwardly from plate  468 . This can be seen in  FIG. 17  that illustrates the bottom of ceiling fan  400  with grid  460  omitted. Grid  460  is supported below opening  420  with inclined elements  466  extending downwardly and outwardly from the periphery of grid  460 . 
     Inclined elements  462  and  464  cooperate to define inlet  463  that is constructed and arranged to collect air from the periphery area of the dropped ceiling fan near the ceiling. Inclined elements  464  and  466  cooperate to define outlet  465  that is constructed and arranged to direct expelled air outwardly and downwardly from dropped ceiling fan  400 . Inlet  463  and outlet  465  are located between plate  468  and sides  416 . Inclined elements  464  are coupled to plate  468  and define a barrier between inlet  463  and outlet  465  that is best seen in  FIG. 16 . 
     Grid  460  comprises a plurality of vertically oriented elements positioned below opening  420  that are constructed and arranged to direct expelled air downwardly from dropped ceiling fan  400 . 
     While not illustrated, elements  466  and  464  are coupled to element  462  by small extension rods positioned in the corners of the elements. Element  462  is coupled to body element  210 . Grid  460  is attached to inclined elements  466 . 
     Dropped ceiling fan  400  is configured to draw air both from the room below through inlet  463  and from duct  98  through opening  422 . Dropped ceiling fan  400  is configured to then expel the air into the room below through grid  460  and outlet  465  (when fluid impelling device  480  operates). In one embodiment, dropped ceiling fan  400  draws approximately half the inlet air from the room below and the other half from duct  98  when the attached HVAC system is operating. During time in which the HVAC system is not forcing air through duct  98  (with a separate fan or blower), dropped ceiling fan  400  may be operated to mix air in an area by drawing inlet air from the room below to re-circulate that air in the room below. 
     This disclosure serves to illustrate and describe what is claimed below to aid in the interpretation of the claims. However, this disclosure is not restrictive in character because not every embodiment covered by the claims is necessarily illustrated and described. All changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims are desired to be protected, not just those embodiments explicitly described.