Patent Publication Number: US-2013233426-A1

Title: Air duct

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an air duct. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     An air duct for guiding airflow generated by a fan generally includes a frame including two opposite sidewalls, and a plurality of guiding pieces detachably mounted between the sidewalls. Each sidewall defines a plurality of fixing holes, opposite ends of each guiding piece are inserted into two corresponding fixing holes of the sidewalls, to fix the guiding piece to the sidewalls. However, these guiding pieces may be disengaged from the corresponding fixing holes easily. As a result, the guiding pieces may drop into the frame and cause damage to the fan. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of an air duct and a fan. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the air duct of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the circled portion III of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary embodiment of an air duct includes a frame  10  and a plurality of guiding members  20  for guiding airflow generated by a fan  40 . 
     The frame  10  includes two opposite sidewalls  12 , a top wall  14  perpendicularly connected between top ends of the sidewalls  12 , a bottom wall  16  perpendicularly connected between bottom ends of the sidewalls  12 , and a cover  18  perpendicularly connected to front sides of the sidewalls  12 , the top wall  14 , and the bottom wall  16 . Each sidewall  12  longitudinally defines a plurality of through holes  120  adjacent to a rear side of the sidewall  12 . Each through hole  120  includes two fan-shaped holes  122  communicating with each other. 
     Each guiding member  20  includes a plate  24 , and a pole  22  connected to a side of the plate  24 . An annular protecting portion  26  extends from the circumference of the pole  22 , at each end of the plate  24 . A protrusion  28  is formed on each of opposite ends of the pole  22 . Each protrusion  28  comprises two fan-shaped block  280  connected to each other. Two engaging protrusions  30  protrude from the circumference of the pole  22  between each protrusion  28  and the corresponding protecting portion  26 . Each engaging portion  30  is perpendicularly connected to an outer surface of the corresponding protecting portion  26  away from the other protecting portion  26 , spaced from the corresponding protrusion  28 , and perpendicular to the fan-shaped block  280 . Each engaging portion  30  also aligns with one of the two concave portions  282  formed at the joint of the fan-shaped block  280 . 
     In assembly of each guiding member  20  to the frame  10 , the guiding member  20  is deformed to curve. The protrusions  28  aligning with the corresponding through holes  120  of the sidewalls  12  from a space between the sidewalls  12 , and the fan-shaped blocks  280  are aligned with the corresponding fan-shaped holes  122 . The guiding member  20  is then allowed to restore, thereby the fan-shaped blocks  280  are extend through the corresponding fan-shaped holes  122 . The blocks  280  are then rotated about 90 degrees and blocked by outer surfaces of the corresponding sidewalls  12 , to prevent the guiding member  20  from disengaging from the sidewalls  12 . At this time, the engaging protrusions  30  are aligned with and movably received in the corresponding fan-shaped holes  122 . The protecting portions  26  are respectively blocked by inner surfaces of the sidewalls  12  opposite to the blocks  280 . The fan  40  is accommodated among the cover  18 , the guiding members  20 , the sidewalls  12 , the top wall  14 , and the bottom wall  16 . 
     In use, if the direction of the airflow from the fan  40  needs to be adjusted, each of the guiding members  20  can be rotated about the pole  22 . The rotation angle of the guiding member  20  can be limited by the engaging portions  30  contacting the sidewalls  12  at the joints of the fan-shaped holes  122 . 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the description or sacrificing all of their material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being exemplary embodiments.