Abstract:
An apparatus for dispensing a fluid includes a fan, at least light on the moving part of the fan, and a fluid dispenser disposed to dispense a fluid into the gas moved by the fan. Optionally there is a fluid reservoir supply the fluid and it provides mechanical support to the fan. This apparatus may be optionally configured to be suitable for handheld operation. Further the apparatus includes an optional drinking port allow drinking from the optional fluid reservoir.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/680,821 filed on May 14, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention generally relates to an apparatus for dispensing a fluid in a moving gas. Particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for generating a mixture of gas and fluid.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     A representative example apparatus for generating a mixture of gas and fluid is a misting system. An example misting system includes at least one fan and at least one fluid dispenser. A fan is an apparatus for moving a gas such as air. A fan comprises a gas-moving assembly, a stationary assembly, and an actuator for generating a gas movement through moving the gas-moving assembly in the gas with respect to the stationary assembly. The stationary assembly may be only stationary with respect the gas moving assembly. In some fan design, the stationary assembly may be in motion; for example, the stationary assembly of an oscillating fan is oscillating slowly between two positions to generate a predetermined gas movement pattern, or the stationary assembly is mounted on a moving vehicle. The fluid dispenser may include an ejector for ejecting a fluid into the moving gas. Examples of ejector include but are not limited to atomizer, nozzle, or sprayer. Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,873, which is incorporated by reference herein for details on ejectors. Optionally, the fluid dispenser comprises a pump or a fluid reservoir. Selected fluid dispenser types may be employed for dispensing a suspension efficiently.  
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows the side view of a representative prior art misting system, which employs an axial fan. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the axial fan comprises a gas-moving assembly  12 , a motor  131 , and a stationary assembly  11 . The axial fan stands on stationary assembly  11 . Example implementations of stationary assembly  11  include but are not limited to a base, a frame, or a housing. Stationary assembly  11  supports the actuator, motor  131 . On the axle  1311  of motor  131  is gas-moving assembly  12 . Gas-moving assembly  12  comprises a hub  123  and at least one fan blades  121  extending from hub  123 . Axle  1311  of motor  131  mechanically couples to gas-moving assembly  12  through hub  123 . In some axial fan designs, there may be a mechanism, for example, a gear system or a pulley system, between motor axle  1311  and hub  123 . In operation, motor  131  drives fan blades  121  to rotate about an axis, for example the axis of axle  1311  in  FIG. 1 , and generate a gas movement. The design of fan blade and hubs are well known to one skilled in the art of fan design. Fan blades may be soft or rigid, and clear or colored. Selected arrangements of the ejectors of the fluid dispenser are represented by nozzle  2111  through nozzle  2115 ; in which, nozzle  2111  dispenses a fluid onto the gas-moving assembly  12  in the gas flow direction; nozzle  2112  dispenses a fluid onto the gas-moving assembly  12  opposite to the gas flow direction, nozzle  2113  dispenses a fluid away from the gas-moving assembly  12  in the gas flow direction, nozzle  2114  and nozzle  2115  dispenses a fluid into the moving gas at an angle to the gas flow direction. Optionally the fluid dispenser comprises at least one pump, which is arranged to pump fluid to the ejector. The pump may be powered or manually operated.  
         [0005]     Other types of fans may be employed in a misting system instead of the axle fan, which moves gas to flow in a direction along the axis of rotation of gas-moving assembly  12 . The centrifugal fan, for example, moves gas to flow away from its gas-moving assembly in directions that are perpendicular to the axis of rotation of its gas-moving assembly. The gas-moving assembly of a representative centrifugal fan shapes like a squirrel cage. Further, actuators are not limited to motors. Linear actuators, internal combustion engines, and turbine are example of actuators employed for driving the gas-moving assembly of a fan. The actuator of the fan may include a mechanism. This mechanism allows the gas-moving assembly to move in a complex pattern. The fan, including stationary assembly  11 , may be moving during operation. For example, the fan is on a moving vehicle or on an oscillating base. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     A better understanding of the invention may be gained from the consideration of the following detailed descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a representative prior art apparatus for dispensing a fluid in a moving gas.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a simplified side view of an embodiment according to the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIGS. 3 through 6  show simplified partial cutaway views of various alternative embodiments according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In the description that follows, like parts are indicated throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals. The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  shows the side view of an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , an axial fan comprises a gas-moving assembly  12 , a motor  131 , and a stationary assembly  11 . The axial fan stands on stationary assembly  11 . Stationary assembly  11  supports the actuator of the axial fan, motor  131 . On the axle  1311  of motor  131  is gas-moving assembly  12 . Gas-moving assembly  12  comprises a hub  123  and at least one fan blades  121  extending from hub  123 . At least one light  122  is on gas-moving assembly  12 . Lights  122  are shown on blade  121  and hub  123  in  FIG. 2 . Light  122  may be on an optional extension member, not shown in  FIG. 2 , of gas-moving assembly  12 . Axle  1311  of motor  131  mechanically couples to gas-moving assembly  12  through hub  123 . In some axial fan designs, there may be a mechanism, for example a gear system or a pulley system, between motor axle  1311  and hub  123 . In operation, motor  131  drives fan blades  121  to rotate about an axis, for example the axis of axle  1311 , and generate a gas movement. The embodiment comprises a fluid dispenser. Selected arrangements of the ejectors of the fluid dispenser of the embodiment are represented by nozzle  2111  through nozzle  2115  as in  FIG. 1 . Also in  FIG. 2 , the axial fan and motor  131  may be replaced by other types of fan and other types of actuator. The actuator may include a mechanism. The whole fan may be moving during operation. Hub  123  is optional for selected types of actuator. Light  122  may provide functions including, for example, indication, entertainment, ornamental, lighting, safety, or a combination thereof.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a partial cutaway view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 3 , in housing  31  are motor  131  and manually operated trigger type pump  2122  of the fluid dispenser of the embodiment. Trigger  2123  of pump  2122  extends to the outside of housing  31 . Housing  31  attaches to an optional first fluid reservoir  22 . Optional first cap  2211  secures pump  2122  or housing  31  to first fluid reservoir  22 . Pump  2122  draws a fluid through optional siphon tube  2124  from first fluid reservoir  22  and sends the fluid to atomizer  2121 . Atomizer  2121  dispenses the fluid in the close proximity of gas-moving assembly  12 . Siphon tube  2124  extends into first fluid reservoir  22  through first opening  221 . On the axle  1311  of motor  131  is gas-moving assembly  12 . Atomizer  2121  dispenses the fluid in the close proximity of gas-moving assembly  12 . Gas-moving assembly  12  comprises hub  123  and at least one fan blades  121  extending from hub  123 . At least one light  122  is on gas-moving assembly  12 . Blades  121  are made from a soft and light transmitting material such as, for example, plastic or elastomer. Shown in  FIG. 3  are multiple lights  122  of the light emitting diode type of at least one color on a flexible printed circuit board  1221  in one of the fan blades  122 . Light  122  may be on multiple fan blades  121  and hub  123 . Hub  123  holds an optional control circuit for light  122 . The optional control circuit may be implemented with, for example, discrete electronic components, at least one integrated circuit, or a commercially available special purpose light emitting diode control integrated circuit. The optional control circuit may operate lights  122  to show at least one lighting pattern. Optionally, the control circuit may operate light  122  to display a substantially stationary pattern. An optional sensor in hub  123  allows light  122  to turn on when gas-moving assembly rotates above a predetermined angular speed. This optional sensor may be implemented with, for example, a tilt switch, a motion sensor, a spring switch, or a ball switch. Hub  123  holds the battery power source to light  122 . Alternatively, power for light  122  may be supplied through, for example, a slip ring system on axle  1311  from a stationary power source or a generator in hub  123 . Implementations of the slip ring system are understood by ones that are skilled in directed current motor or direct current generators. Implementations of a generator in hub  123  are understood by ones that are skilled in providing power to the wheels of a vehicle. In housing  31  is an optional battery compartment for the battery that supplies power to motor  131 . The embodiment may include an optional power control switch, which is not shown in the figure, for controlling the electrical power flow to motor  131 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a partial cutaway view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  except that: at least one light  122  includes an integrated battery and an optional integrated sensor for turning on light  122  when the optional integrated sensor senses a predetermine motion; and pump  2122  couples to an optional adapter  33 . Adapter  33  is for coupling pump  2122  and housing  31  to an optional fluid reservoir, which is not shown in  FIG. 4 . On adapter  33  is a drinking port. Optionally the drinking port includes a first drinking tube  2231  extending into the optional fluid reservoir. Siphon tube  2124  also extends from pump  2122  into the optional fluid reservoir.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  shows a partial cutaway view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 5 , a fan comprises an actuator assembly  13  and a gas-moving assembly  12 . Gas moving assembly comprises hub  123 , a least one fan blade  121  extending radially from hub  123 , and light  122 . In actuator assembly  13  is a gearhead motor, which is not shown in the figure. On axle  1311  of gearhead motor is hub  123 . Stationary assembly  11  comprises the housing of actuator assembly  13 . The housing of actuator assembly  13  attaches to trigger type sprayhead  212  of the fluid dispenser of this embodiment. Optionally, actuator assembly  13  removably attaches to sprayhead  212 . Sprayhead  212  attaches to first fluid reservoir  22 . Siphon tube  2124  of sprayhead  212  extends into first fluid reservoir  22  through first opening  221 . Optionally, sprayhead  212  removably attaches to first fluid reservoir  22 . Optional first cap  2211  secures sprayhead  212  onto first fluid reservoir  22 . On first fluid reservoir  22  is a second opening  222 , which may provide a drinking port function. The drink port is indicated by arrow  123  in the figure. Second cap  2221  covers second opening  222 . First drinking tube  2231  extends through second cap  2221 . Optionally, first drinking tube  2231  is flexible. Optional second drinking tube  2232  extends from first drinking tube  2231  deep into first fluid reservoir  22 . This is an optional cover for second cap  2221 , which is not shown in  FIG. 5 . When this optional cover properly covers second cap  2221 , this optional cover bends the optionally flexible first drinking tube  2231  against second cap  2221  and provides a relatively fluid resistant seal for drinking port  223 . The optional cover for second cap  2221  may be rotatably attaches to second cap  2221 . Optionally, first drinking tube  2231  extends into fluid reservoir  22 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  shows a cutaway view of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  except in the arrangement of the fluid reservoirs. Referring to  FIG. 6 , housing  31  and pump  2122  attach to first fluid reservoir  22  with the aid of optional cap  2211 . Siphon  2124  extends from pump  2122  through first opening  221  into first fluid reservoir  22 . A second fluid reservoir  36  with second opening  222  attaches to first fluid reservoir  22 . Second opening  222  provides, for example, a drinking port function or other functions. The drinking port is indicated by arrow  223  in the figure. Second cap  2221  covers second opening  222 . First drinking tube  2231  extends through second cap. Optionally, first drinking tube  2231  is flexible. Optional second drinking tube  2232  extends from first drinking into first fluid reservoir  22 . There is an optional cover for second cap  2221 , which is not shown in the figure. When this optional cover properly covers second cap  2221 , this optional cover bends the optionally flexible first drinking tube  2231  against second cap  2221  and provides a relatively fluid resistant seal for drinking port  223 . The optional cover provides a fluid valve function. Optionally first drinking tube  2231  extends into fluid reservoir  22 .  
         [0016]     There are numerous variations to the embodiments discussed above which will be trivial to the one skilled in the art. Examples of these variations include but not limited to: 
        Examples of gas include but are not limited to air;     Examples of fluid include but are not limited to a liquid or a suspension;     Pump is optional for the fluid dispenser;     Any type of fluid pump may be employed in the fluid dispenser;     Fluid reservoir is optional for the fluid dispenser;     Examples of a fan include but are not limited to an axial fan, a centrifugal fan, or a blower;     Examples of actuator include but are not limited a motor, a engine, a turbine, or a linear actuator;     Actuator may include a mechanism;     Actuator may include a controller;     Drinking tube is optional at drinking port  223 ;     Examples of light  122  include but are not limited to a incandescent light source, a light emitting diode, a electroluminescent light source, a florescent light source, a solid state light source, or a chemiluminescent light source;     Lights  122  may receive power from hub  123  through a controller;     Light  122  is optional; and     A combination or subcombination of the above.        
 
         [0031]     Although the embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and that the form has been described, it is readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.