Patent Publication Number: US-2003231958-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for portable ventilation system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application is a non-provisional application and claims the benefit of application Ser. No. 60/336,535, filed Nov. 1, 2001, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Portable Ventilation System”, (Attorney Docket No. 14572P-062300US) which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     
       STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002] NOT APPLICABLE  
       REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK.  
       [0003] NOT APPLICABLE  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] The present invention relates to a fan device for a personal computer, and more specifically, to a fan device that is portable, flexible, and derives power from a USB port on a laptop computer.  
       [0005] Personal computers are customarily equipped with numerous types of input/output device connectors or I/O connectors. These connectors allow peripheral devices to be attached to the computer to facilitate communication between the computer and peripheral device or merely to provide the peripheral device with access to the computer&#39;s power source.  
       [0006] Increasing numbers of peripheral devices have been developed to work in conjunction with personal computers, including portable laptop computers. A premium is placed on devices that are compact, lightweight, or otherwise portable to be transported along with portable computers.  
       [0007] A series of devices have been developed to improve computer users&#39; comfort while using their computers in stable working environments or in transit. Several lighting or fan devices have been developed to address this problem. In particular, fan devices are desirable because of increased air circulation in environments where air conditioning or ventilation may be inadequate, including airplanes, trains, subway cars, automobiles, etc.  
       [0008] Some of these add-on devices carry separate, and often bulky, power supplies designed for the specific add-on device. In the interest of portability, other devices plug directly into an I/O connector to utilize the computer&#39;s power supply.  
       [0009] Previously developed computer-compatible electric fans are notable for their bulky design. Although using the computer power supply, such fans are designed with large bases and/or fan blade cages that make them less appealing for portable use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] The present invention provides a simple, efficient solution to the disadvantages of the prior art. Embodiments of the invention provide for a small, lightweight ventilation system that may be used in conjunction with portable electronic equipment.  
       [0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a fan assembly includes a ventilation apparatus; a connector for communicating power; and a positionable power cord, coupled to the connector and the ventilation apparatus for communicating power from the connector to the ventilation apparatus. This embodiment operates in cooperation with a source of power, such as for example a laptop computer, a USB hub, a power receptacle on a plane, train or bus.  
       [0012] These and other novel aspects of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the drawings and the remaining portions of the specification. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013]FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of a portable ventilation system used in conjunction with a portable electronic device; and  
     [0014]FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of a fan assembly used in the portable ventilation system. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
     [0015]FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of a portable ventilation system used in conjunction with an external device  110 . FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of a fan assembly  200  used in portable ventilation system  100 . In the preferred embodiment, external device  100  is typically a portable electronic device, such as a laptop computer as depicted in FIG. 1. Nonetheless, the present invention is adaptable to any external device that has an external device jack that is electrically connected to a power source, including external device jacks on airplane seats, etc.  
     [0016] External device  110  includes an external device jack  120  that may provide power to other devices. External device jack  120  may be either an input or output (I/O) port with an electrical connection to a power source.  
     [0017] Fan assembly  200  preferably includes a connector  220 , a positionable power cord  230 , and a ventilation apparatus  240 .  
     [0018] Connector  220  includes a plug that is able to couple to external device jack  110 . When coupled to external device jack  110 , connector  220  is connected electrically and mechanically to external device  100  and communicates power to fan assembly  200 . In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, connector  220  is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector or other type of I/O connector.  
     [0019] Positionable power cord  230  couples to connector  220  and ventilation apparatus  240  and communicates electrical power between connector  220  and ventilation apparatus  240 . In a preferred embodiment, positionable power cord  230  is a “gooseneck” (i.e., a lightweight and flexible insulated cord that may be oriented into a wide array of three-dimensional configurations). After positioning, the cord will maintain and retain relative positional stability in the desired configuration without external support.  
     [0020] Ventilation apparatus  240  consists of one or more fan blade(s)  260  coupled to a fan blade housing  250 . In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, two teardrop-shaped fan blades are coupled to a opposite sides of a rotating cylindrical fan housing. However, the present invention is not limited to this number, shape, or configuration of fan blades.  
     [0021] In a preferred embodiment, the fan blades are not contained with a protective cage, as a result they are made of a flexible material that maintains shape during rotation while also being malleable enough not to harm or injure user appendages that may accidentally contact the blades while rotating at maximum speed. This cage-less embodiment reduces the dimensions and weight of the fan assembly and thus, increases portability.  
     [0022] At least a portion of the fan blade housing  250  rotates 360-degrees around an axis, likewise causing the externally attached fan blades to rotate in the same manner and produce airflow. Internally, the fan housing may contain an electric motor and other electrical or mechanical components to allow at least a portion of the housing to rotate. This motor and other components are powered by electricity obtained from the external device. As depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the fan housing is depicted as having a primarily cylindrical shape, but may be alternatively configured.  
     [0023] In operation, connector  220  is plugged into a compatible external device jack  120  on a laptop computer, portable electronic device, airplane seat, etc. Fan blade rotation may either be initiated by simply plugging the connector into the external jack. Alternatively, after plugging the connector into the external jack, the user may also have to operate a switch or other mechanism located on the fan assembly to initiate rotation of the fan blades. The user may also modify the static configuration of the positionable power cord  230  to reposition the ventilation apparatus and obtain the desired direction of airflow. To turn off the device, the user may either turn off a switch, if available, or unplug the device from the external device jack.  
     [0024] The invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof. However, these embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the present invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.