Patent Publication Number: US-2016230777-A1

Title: Portable Cooling Fan and Support System

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application is directed to portable devices for circulating air to cool a patient. More particularly, the application is directed to a cooling fan having a flexible support system that is easily stowed and transported by its user. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Ventilation fans are used for moving and circulating air in or through a location depending on the positioning of the fans therein. People commonly use such fans for cooling themselves in hot weather because of the cooling effect of flowing air over the person if the person is in or near the flow path of the air moved by the fan. 
     Persons with various medical conditions or diseases, such as diabetes, often suffer from “hot feet” or other feeling of increased warmth of a body part. This symptom can be uncomfortable to the patient, particularly at night when the patient is attempting to sleep. 
     Various fan assemblies that are presently available can be used to alleviate the “hot feet” symptom, such as box fans, oscillating fans, and similar devices. A problem with these fans is they are not easily portable when a user travels, for example on a business trip when the patient does not have significant extra space to carry a larger fan. In addition, the fans on the market cannot be easily adjusted to direct air towards a desired body part while the patient is in bed. In addition, the fans on the market do not have a means to manage the electrical cord to prevent accidental tripping or to streamline the aesthetic appearance of the fan assembly. 
     Particularly, currently available ventilation fans are not conveniently portable and are not generally suited for travel applications. Some fans are provided with rigid support brackets and are only intended for fixed mounting applications and are therefore essentially not portable at all. Other fans, e.g., oscillating room fans, are provided with a support post, which is typically a vertical cylindrical post about three or four feet in length. These products are not practically transportable and would be inconvenient to pack into one&#39;s travel luggage to say the least. 
     Yet other fans are more compact and come with spring or clamping mounts and short articulating or flexible stalks on which they are secured. These portable fans could possibly fit into some travel luggage, but are still limited in their utility. First, these types of portable fans are generally only available with short (e.g., 6 to 9 inch long) support posts, which do not allow much flexibility in positioning the fans. The support structures for such portable fans have a generally limited range of positioning. Also, the support posts of such system do not extend long enough to put the fans in suitably high elevations above a mounting point. In another limiting aspect, these types of fans are generally DC powered (battery or rechargeable). DC powered personal fans have a limited operating window before they require recharging or new batteries. In either case, their user would have to carry a charging station or spare batteries to continue the use of such DC fans, which makes them unacceptable for extended (e.g., overnight or long flight) use. Where small portable fans are AC powered they typically come attached to an electrical power cord typically measuring several feet in length. Such a power cord can be bunched up for packing in a suitcase or bag, but easily unravels and becomes tangled in itself or tangled with other belongings when packed for travel, or could be damaged or damage other items when packed for travel. 
     Publication US 2014/0112791 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 7,320,450 and similar art describe ventilation fans that can be mounted to adjustable support legs and to articulated support posts or to bendable support legs, which can therefore direct the output of the fans towards a desired direction. These systems suffer from some or all of the above-mentioned limitations. 
     All of the above examples have limited positioning and portability features and are not suitable for secure placement in certain environments such as will be described below. What is needed is a fan assembly that is practical for traveling users, that can be stowed in an organized and efficient compact manner, and that is also functional for users who require overnight or extended use of the fans. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an aspect, a portable fan includes a housing defining a cavity. The housing has a front face and a rear face. The front face has a front flanged face having a ridge that extends along an outer perimeter of the front face, and the rear flanged face has a rear ridge that extends along an outer perimeter of the rear face. The front and rear ridges define a recessed housing portion therebetween. A fan is disposed in the housing. 
     A support member is connected to the housing. The support member is capable of flexing from a portable position in which at least a portion of the support member is wrapped around the recessed housing portion, to a therapeutic position in which the support member extends away from the housing to position the fan for circulating air towards a patient. 
     A wire and/or electric cord is disposed in a conduit defined in the support member. The wire is in electrical communication with the fan for providing electricity thereto. 
     In another aspect, a portable fan comprises a housing defining a cavity. The housing has a front flanged face and a rear flanged face and a sidewall between the front and rear faces. The front face has a front ridge that extends along an outer perimeter of the front face. The rear face has a rear ridge that extends along an outer perimeter of the rear face. The housing defines a first recess between the front ridge and a middle ridge defined in the sidewall of the housing. The housing further defines a second recess between the middle ridge and the rear ridge. A fan is disposed in the housing. 
     A support member is connected to the housing. The support member is capable of flexing from a first portable position in which at least a portion of the support member is wrapped around the first recess, to a therapeutic position in which the support member extends away from the housing to position the fan for circulating air towards a patient. 
     A cord is connected to a distal end of the support member. The cord is in electrical communication with the fan for providing electricity thereto. The cord is capable of flexing from a second portable position in which at least a portion of the cord is wrapped around the second recess, to a deployed position in which the cord extends away from the housing to connect to a power supply. 
    
    
     
       IN THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary device for cooling a patient. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of an exemplary therapeutic use for a device. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a device in a therapeutic position. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a device in a therapeutic position. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a device in a portable position. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a device. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a device. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a device in a deployed configuration. 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate perspective views of an embodiment of a device in a storage configuration. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a device. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a device. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a device. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A portable fan includes a housing having at least one recess in a sidewall. The recess(es) can store a support member and/or an electric cord around the housing when the portable fan is in a storage position. In therapeutic use, the support member and/or the electric cord are unwounded. The support member provides mechanical support to the fan for positioning the fan to direct cooling air towards a patient (e.g., towards the patient&#39;s feet). An optional handle is disposed at a distal end of the support member for providing additional mechanical support, for example when the support member is inserted under a mattress to cool the patient in bed. The handle can couple the support member and the electric cord. The recess(es) can include a narrowed gap through which the support member and/or the electric cord passes to a second gap for wrapping around the housing. The narrowed gap can mechanically secure the support member and/or the electric cord when they are in the storage position. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary device  10  for cooling a patient. The device  10  includes a housing  100  that has a front face  105  and a rear face  110 . The front face  105  has a first flange  115  extending along an outer perimeter  120  of the front face  105 . The rear face  110  has a second flange  130  extending along an outer perimeter  135  of the rear face  110 . The first and second flanges  115 ,  130  define a recessed portion  140  therebetween. In an aspect, housing  100  is substantially shaped like a spool having a recessed cylindrical middle section  140  of a first diameter disposed between a pair of flanged faces  115 ,  130  having diameters greater than said first diameter. 
     As illustrated, the front face  105  and the rear face  110  are generally circular, however other shapes are within the scope of the invention. For example, the front and rear faces  105 ,  110  can be rectangles, squares, triangles, etc., Alternatively, the front and rear faces  105 ,  110  can be oval or similar shape. In some embodiments, the front and rear faces  105 ,  110  are different shapes (e.g., the front face  105  is circular and the rear face  110  is rectangular). 
     The housing  100  defines a cavity  145  that extends from the front face  105  to the rear face  110  of the housing  100 . In some embodiments, the cavity  145  extends only partially through the housing  100  (e.g., from the front face  105  to an interior region (not shown) of the housing  100 ). As illustrated, the cavity  145  is cylindrical, however other shapes are within the scope of the invention, such as rectangular prisms, cubes, and the like. A fan  150  is disposed in the cavity  145 . The fan  150  can be disposed proximal to the front face  105 , proximal to the rear face  110 , or at any location therebetween. In some embodiments, two or more fans are disposed in the cavity, for example one fan  150  can be disposed proximal to the front face  105  and a second fan  150 ′ (not shown) can be disposed proximal to the rear face  110 . 
     A flexible and/or adjustable support member  160  is connected to the housing  100 . In some embodiments, the support member  160  includes a plurality of segments for adjusting the position of the device  10 , similar to a bendable straw. The flexible and/or adjustable support member  160  can be made from plastic, metal or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, the support member  160  either acting alone, or in conjunction with its attachment mechanism, provides flexibility in as many as 5 dimensions/axes (X, Y, Z, overall length, rotational). In some embodiments, the support member  160  is highly flexible while in others the support member  160  is less flexible and/or inflexible. For example, the support member  160  can be highly flexible and can be wrapped around the recessed portion  140  for portability and/or storage, as described below. In addition, the support member  160  can position the fan  150  (e.g., by flexing a portion of the support member  160 ) so that the fan  150  circulates air across a desired body area (e.g., the feet), as described below. This adjustability, in conjunction with any speed control provided by the fan  150 , allows a user to control which body part(s) the fan  150  circulates air across as well as the speed or volume of air being circulated. For example, the fan  150  can be set at a low speed and disposed close to a user. In another example, the fan  150  can be set at a high speed and disposed far away from the user. In each example, a desired body part of the user can receive the same air flow/volume from the fan  150  but, in the latter example, the fan  150  may not circulate air across other body parts and/or a person sleeping adjacent to the user, thus leaving him/her undisturbed. 
     A wire/power cord  170  extends through a conduit  180  in the support member  160 . The wire  170  is in electrical communication with the fan  150  and can be electrically connected to a power source (not shown), such as an external electrical outlet or an internal or external battery. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the wire  170  includes an optional plug  190  for connecting to an external electrical outlet. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of an exemplary therapeutic use for a device  20 . The device  20  includes a housing  200  that defines a cavity  245  to receive a fan  250 , as discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1 . The housing  200  also defines an optional battery compartment  205 . The housing  200  is connected to a proximal portion  265  of a support member  260 . A distal portion  270  of the support member  260  is disposed under a bottom surface  210  of a mattress  220  (e.g., between the mattress  220  and a box spring  230 ) on a bed  240 . The support member  260  is flexible and adjustable so that it can be bent to position the fan  250  to circulate air towards a user, such as toward a user&#39;s feet  280  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and to pass under the mattress  220 . 
     In some embodiments, the support member  260  is modular and/or segmented. For example, the support member  260  can be a gooseneck arm such as a LOC-LINE® modular hose manufactured by Lockwood Products, Inc. of Lake Oswego, Oreg. Alternatively, the support member  260  can be a bendable metal, such as a metal gooseneck manufactured by SnakeClamp Products, LLC of Riner, Va., a plastic (e.g., LOC-LINE®), or a combination thereof. For example, the support member  260  can be assembled of multiple segments of different types (e.g., metal, plastic, etc.), or there may be a hybrid gooseneck that is manufactured from both metal and plastic parts. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a device  30  in a therapeutic position. A support member  300  on the device  30  includes multiple segments  310   a,    310   b  . . .  310   n.  As illustrated, the segments  310   a,    310   b  . . .  310   n  are generally conical but one skilled in the art will recognize that the segments  310   a,    310   b  . . .  310   n  can be other shapes (e.g., spheres). The segments  310   a,    310   b  . . .  310   n  allow the support member  300  to be adjustable, for example to create an angular section  320 . In addition, the segments  310   a,    310   b  . . .  310   n  can be modular, which allows a user and/or a manufacturer to lengthen or shorten the support member  300  by adding or removing segments  310   a,    310   b  . . .  310   n.  An optional control button  315  is disposed on the support member  300 . The optional control button  315  can turn on and off a fan  390  and/or control the velocity of the fan  390 . Alternatively, the optional control button  315  can be a button, knob, slider or other known mechanism. The optional control button  315  can also be positioned along the support member  300 , on a handle, on a power cord (e.g., the wire/power cord  170 ), or disposed on the housing  360  of the device  30 . 
     The support member  300  includes a proximal portion  330 , a middle portion  340 , and a distal portion  350 . The proximal portion  330  connects to the housing  360  of the device  30  at a connection point  370 . The proximal portion  330  is parallel to a first axis  375 , which is perpendicular to a tangent line  385  to the connection point  370 . It is noted that one skilled in the art will understand that the support member  300  and the housing  360  can be disposed at various relative orientations to each other without diverting from the scope of the disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the proximal portion  330  is approximately orthogonal to the distal portion  350  of the support member  300 . By forming the angular section  320 , the distal portion  350  can be placed under a workpiece, such as a mattress, to anchor the support member  300  so that the device  30  can be positioned near a patient (e.g., while the patient is in bed). As such, the fan  390  on the device  30  can circulate cooling air towards a patient, for example, while the patient is in bed. The fan  390  can rotate and pivot with respect to the support member  300  to direct cooling air to the patient as needed. 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that the support member  300  can be adjusted in a variety of positions depending on the therapeutic need of the patient. For example, the angular section  320  can form a 30 degree angle, a 45 degree angle, a 60 degree angle, or other angle. Similarly, the support member  300  can include multiple angular sections  320 ,  320 ′ (not shown), etc. In some embodiments, the support member  300  includes an angular section (not shown) in the proximal portion  330  to direct the fan  390  downwards (e.g., generally in the direction of the distal portion  350 ) towards a patient&#39;s feet or other body part. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of another exemplary embodiment of a device  40  in a therapeutic position. The device  40  includes a support member  400  that has a proximal portion  430 , a middle portion  440 , and a distal portion  450 , as discussed above. The proximal portion  430  connects to a housing  460  of the device  40  at a connection point  470 . The proximal portion  430  is parallel to a first axis  475 , which is parallel to a tangent line  485  to the connection point  470 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a device  50  in a portable or storage position. As discussed above, the device  50  includes a housing  500  having a pair of flanged faces, a front face  505  and a rear face  510 . A fan  590  is disposed in the housing  500  between said faces  505 ,  510 . A recessed portion  540  is defined between a front flange  515  on the front face  505  and a rear flange  520  on the rear face  510  of the housing  500 . In some embodiments, the recessed portion  540  is a groove. As illustrated, the housing  500  is generally in the shape of a spool. A support member  560  is wrapped and/or spooled around the recessed portion  540  of the housing  500 . By wrapping and/or spooling the support member  560  around the recessed portion  540 , the overall size of the apparatus  50  is decreased, which can be beneficial when storing or transporting the apparatus  50 . In some embodiments, an electric cord  580  is wrapped and/or spooled around the recessed portion  540 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the housing  500  includes an optional notch  570  that is configured to receive a distal portion  565  of the support member  560 . Alternatively, the optional notch  570  is configured to receive the electric cord  580 , which, in some embodiments, passes through a conduit in the support member  560 . In either case, the optional notch  570  can retain (e.g., by friction or as a press-fit) the support member  560  and/or the electric cord  580 , for example, to prevent the support member  560  and/or electric cord  580  from loosening during storage and/or transit. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of an alternative embodiment of a device  60 . The device  60  includes a housing  600 , as generally described above. A first support member  610  and a second support member  620  are connected to the housing  600 . The first support member  610  can be the same or different than the second support member  620 . As illustrated, the first support member  610  and the second support member  620  are each formed from modular segments as described above. However, it is noted that the first and second support members  610 ,  620  can be any type of flexible support member as described above. Alternatively, the first support member  610  can be flexible and the second support member  620  can be less flexible and/or inflexible (or vice versa). If the second support member  620  is less flexible and/or inflexible, the second support member  620  can be secured to the housing  600  with an adjustable and/or rotatable mounting. The second support member  610  can increase the stability of the device  60  during therapy, for example, by providing a second anchor point under a mattress. Additional support members can be included in the device  60  as needed, for example to form a tripod or similar support structure. 
     In some embodiments, the first support member  610  is comprised of modular segments having a first shape (e.g., the generally conical shape illustrated in  FIG. 6 ) and the second support member  620  is comprised of modular segments having a second shape (e.g., spherical shapes). Alternatively, the first support member  610  is segmented but not modular and the second support member  620  is segmented and modular. In addition, the first support member  610  and/or the second support member  620  can be formed out of a thermoplastic and/or metal, as described above, which is not segmented. The first support member  610  and/or the second support member  620  can include a control switch and/or a conduit for a wire, as discussed above. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a device  70 . The device  70  includes a housing  700  connected to a support member  720 , as discussed above. A fan  790  is disposed in the housing  700 . A generally U-shaped handle member  775  is connected to a distal portion  750  of the support member  720 . It is noted that the handle member  775  can be another shape, such as a right-angled handlebar, a bracket, etc. The handle member  775  includes a grip portion  780  and sidebar portions  785 A,  785 B. In the deployed configuration illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the handle member  775  can be disposed under a mattress to support the device  70  while in operation. Angled portions  785 C,  785 D are integrally connected to sidebar portions  785 A,  785 B, respectively. Angled portion  785 D is also connected to the distal portion  750  of the support member  720 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of the device  70  with the handle member  775  disposed between a mattress  720  and a box spring  730  of a bed  740 . For clarity,  FIG. 8  includes a cutaway section  710  to illustrate how the handle member  775  fits under the mattress  720 . In use, the handle member  775  would be hidden underneath the mattress  720  and blanket  725 . The handle member  775  can be constructed out of a rigid material (e.g., a thermoplastic, a metal, etc.) to support and/or anchor the device  70  under the mattress  720 . It is noted that the bed  740  is illustrated as an example and the device  70  can be used with other objects such as a couch, a chair, etc. In addition or in the alternative, the handle member  775  can be disposed on the floor. 
     The distal portion  750  of the support member  720  connects to the angled portion  785 D of the handle member  775  proximal to an edge  745  of the mattress  720 . This allows the support member  720  to be constructed out of a more flexible material that does not need to withstand the weight and pressure of the mattress  720  (and the user laying on the mattress  720 ). As illustrated, the angled portion  785 D extends to the edge  745  of the mattress  720 . However, the angled portion  785 D can terminate before or after the edge of the mattress  745  in some embodiments. The handle member  775  can have an irregular shape and/or multiple sections (e.g., angular sections) to increase the surface area and/or friction between the handle member  775  and the mattress  720  or similar object (e.g., a couch) so the handle member  775  can be more securely retained and/or anchored under the mattress  720  (or similar object). As would be recognized by those skilled in the art, the handle member  775  can have various designs/shapes (including materials of the handle member  775 ) to provide an increased surface area and/or frictional surface. 
     An electric cord  782  passes through an aperture  777  defined in the angled portion  785 C of the handle member  775  to carry electricity to the fan  790 . The electric cord  782  can also pass through a conduit in the support member  720  (e.g., as described above with respect to  FIG. 1 ). Alternatively, an electrical connection is integrated into the handle member  775  and/or the support member  720  in which case the electric cord  782  does not extend to the fan  790 . In that scenario, the electric cord  782  is in electrical communication with the fan  790  but they may not be in physical contact with each other. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a device  90  in a storage configuration. First and second sidebars  985 A,  985 B of handle member  975  are disposed on opposing sides of the housing  960  of the device  90 . As described above, angled portions  985 C,  985 D are connected to first and second sidebars  985 A,  985 B, respectively. The housing  960  includes a top flanged face with ridge  915 A, a bottom flanged face with ridge  915 B, and a middle ridge  915 C. Each face of the housing may be molded integrally with the housing or may comprise an annulus, disk or flanged ridge. Therefore, the opposing pair of faces in the body of said apparatus comprises at least two flanged or ridged structures to support the stowage of electrical cord windings  982 , flexible support member windings  920  and/or handle  975 . A first recess  942  is defined between the top ridge  915 A and the middle ridge  915 C. A second recess  944  is defined between the middle ridge  915 C and the bottom ridge  915 B. A space  915  for receiving a hand and/or fingers is defined between grip portion  980  and the housing  960 . In general, the device  90  in the storage configuration resembles a padlock. In some embodiments, the handle  975  is secured to the flanged faces/ridges  915 A,  915 B, and/or  915 C instead of, or in addition to, the recesses  942 ,  944 . 
     Electric cord  982  is connected to angled portion  985 D of handle member  975 , as described above. In the storage configuration illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the electric cord  982  wraps and/or spools around the first recess  942  to compactly store the electric cord  982 , for example during travel. For clarity, the electric cord  982  is only partially wrapped and/or spooled around the first recess  942  in  FIG. 9  (a portion  982 A of the electric cord  982  extends to the left-hand side of the housing  960 ). Likewise, the support member  920  wraps and/or spools around the second recess  944  to compactly store the support member  920 , for example during travel. 
     In some embodiments, the angled portion  985 C includes a curved extension that wraps around the housing  960  to mechanically secure the handle member  975  to the housing  960 . The curvature of the curved extension can be slightly greater than the curvature of the housing  960  so that the curved extension remains relatively secure against the housing  960  due to frictional or press-fit securement of the parts. Making the ridges described above from a semi-rigid material such as plastic or thin metal allows for press fitting of the cord and/or handle of the apparatus into properly sized grooves or between the slightly flexible faces of the spool-shaped housing  960 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the device  90  from another perspective. A dowel, bolt, or other threaded, welded or molded pin  91  can be used to secure the two faces of the apparatus together. In addition or in the alternative, a cap  92  can be disposed over the fan housing (not shown) for aesthetic purposes. 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the device  90  in a storage configuration. As discussed above, the electric cord  982  is wrapped and/or spooled around the first recess  942 , which is defined between the top ridge  915 A and the middle ridge  915 C. Likewise, the support member  920  is wrapped and/or spooled around the second recess  944 , which is defined between the middle ridge  915 C and the bottom ridge  915 B. The handle member  975  is disposed in the second recess  944  on the outside of the spooled support member  920 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the device  90 ′ in a storage configuration. As illustrated, the middle ridge  915 C and the bottom ridge  915 B include optional raised edges  918  and/or  922 , respectively. The raised edges define an outer gap  924  therebetween and an inner gap  926  for receiving the support member  920 . The raised edges decrease the height of the outer gap  924  such that the outer gap  924  is narrower than the inner gap  926 . The decreased height of the outer gap  924  can mechanically secure the support member  920  during storage using a snap-in, press fit or equivalent securement means. A force is required to move the support member from the inner gap  926  to the outer gap  924  across the raised edges  918  and/or  922 , spreading said upper and lower ridges apart. In an aspect, forming the device of a semi-rigid material such as plastic or thin metal allows for such flexibility to spread open outer gap  924 , which will spring return to its natural state. In addition or in the alternative, the support member  920  can be configured to be mechanically secured to the ridges  915 A,  915 B, and/or  915 C. 
     Similar raised edges can be disposed in the first recess  942  to secure the electric cord  982 . The handle member  975  is disposed on the outside of the raised edges  918 ,  922  to secure the support member  920  against the housing  960  and in the second recess  944 . Alternatively, the handle member  975  can be disposed on the inside of the raised edges  918 ,  922 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a cross-sectional view of device  1300 . As described above, the device  1300  includes first and second recesses  1342 ,  1344 . An electric cord  1382  is disposed in the first recess  1342 . The electric cord  1382  is connected to an electric plug  1360 . The electric plug  1360  includes a storage plate  1365  that is configured to be insertable into the first recess  1342  to retain the electric cord  1382 . The plate  1365  has a width  1370  that is approximately equal to or slightly less than a width  1372  of the first recess  1342  so that the plate  1365  fits snugly in the first recess  1342 . The plate  1365  includes an optional rounded end  1367  for inserting into the first recess  1342 . In addition to retaining the electric cord  1382 , the plate  1365  provides a means to store and manage the plug  1360 , for example during travel. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a perspective view of the electric plug  1360 . The plate  1365  includes a curved edge  1367  that approximately matches the curvature of the first groove  1342  in housing  1300 . By matching the curvature of the curved edge  1367  and the first groove  1342 , the plate  1365  conforms to the shape of the first grove  1342  for more efficient storage and for a more secure retention of the electric cord  1382 . The first groove can include raised edges, as discussed above, for a more secure retention of the plate  1365  and cord  1382 . 
     Therefore, the present invention provides an electrical fan disposed in a cavity of a device housing. The housing may be spool-shaped and have a pair of flanged or ridged faces surrounding said cavity of the device housing. A flexible electrical power cord and a flexible but supportive support member such as a goose neck extension can be wound about the device housing between said faces of the device for stowage or travel. When in use, the power cord and the flexible support member are unwound from their stowed positions into a deployed position to permit positioning the device in a desired location, including under a bed mattress, box spring, bedding, cushion or other item. In some aspects the electrical power cord can run through the center of a hollow flexible support structure and therefore be wound simultaneously therewith. In other aspects the electrical cord and the flexible support structure are wound about the body of the housing separately and in appropriately sized recessed grooves therein. In yet another aspect, the device has a graspable handle portion at a terminus of the flexible support structure that permits carrying the device and assists in supporting it during operation. The foregoing embodiments allow a person who needs a cooling fan during travel or sleep to compactly store the device when not in use or packed into his or her luggage, and to insert the device under a mattress near the bottom of a bed to cool the person&#39;s feet or other body parts as desired. 
     The present invention should not be considered limited to the particular embodiments described above, but rather should be understood to cover all aspects of the invention as fairly set out in the present claims. Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerous structures to which the present invention may be applicable, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention is directed upon review of the present disclosure. The claims are intended to cover such modifications.