Patent Publication Number: US-11384775-B2

Title: System and apparatus for providing a directed air flow

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 16/378,497, which application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/655,138 filed Apr. 9, 2018, both applications of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is related in general to an improved fan design, and in particular, to an improved air fan apparatus for intaking and directing air. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the modern world, fans are commonly used in a variety of locations and environments. In many situations, small, travel sized fans are useful. However, these fans are typically very limited in the air flow they can provide. Additionally, current designs are often bulky and difficult to transport. 
     To overcome these limitations, the present invention provides an improved air fan apparatus which allows for a smaller, collapsible fan which is capable of enhanced air flow. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     To minimize the limitations found in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon the reading of the specifications, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an improved fan design with an improved air intake system and collapsible stand structure. 
     According to an exemplary preferred embodiment, the improved fan design of the present invention preferably includes a fan main body having fan blades, a front grill, a flexible guide cone, an air inlet, and supporting legs movable from a first position to a second position. According to preferred embodiments, the flexible guide cone is movable from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the flexible guide cone preferably forms a first shape which conforms to the surface of the air inlet. Ina second position, the flexible guide cone preferably extends away from the air inlet. 
     These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention, thus the drawings are generalized in form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. It should be understood that the scope of the present invention is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of a fan assembly in a first position in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a front perspective view of a fan assembly in a second position in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows rear perspective view of a fan assembly in an open position in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of the fan assembly shown in  FIG. 3  with the fan assembly in an open position. 
         FIG. 5  shows a rear perspective view of the fan assembly shown in  FIGS. 3-4  in an open configuration. 
         FIG. 6  shows a side cut-away view of the fan assembly shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  shows aside cut-away view of the fan assembly shown in  FIG. 6  in a closed configuration in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following discussion that addresses several embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below. 
       FIG. 1  shows a front view of a fan assembly in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the fan assembly  10  of the present invention may preferably include a fan main body  12  enclosing a set of fan blades  25 . As further shown, the fan main body  12  may support a front grill  20  for protecting the fan blades  25  and directing the flow of air from the fan assembly  10 . As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the fan assembly  10  may preferably further include front and rear supporting legs  14 ,  16 . According to a preferred embodiment, the front and rear supporting legs  14 ,  16  may preferably connected to the main fan body  12  via an adjustable joint mechanism  18  or the like. Preferably, the adjustable joint mechanism  18  may preferably allow the front and rear supporting legs  14 ,  16  to be fully adjustable and may allow for tilt adjustment, and a variety of lockable positions. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the adjustable joint mechanism  18  may preferably allow the front and rear supporting legs  14 ,  16  to rotationally move from at least a first position beneath the fan body  12  to a second position above the fan body  12 . Preferably, the supporting legs  14 ,  16  may be configured to lock into the first position and act as a stand to elevate the fan body  12  above a given surface. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the supporting legs  14 ,  16  may be moved to a first exemplary first position. With reference to  FIG. 2 , the supporting legs  14 ,  16  may move from the first position (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to a second position so that the respective lower leg sections  15 ,  17  are in close proximity and/or touching. In this way, the lower leg sections  15 ,  17  may be positioned to act as a handle or the like. 
     According to a further preferred embodiment, the supporting legs  14 ,  16  may be constructed with bumps and notches to assist in keeping the legs in the proper position. According to preferred embodiment, the pivot point  18  may preferably be located below the center-line of the fan body  12  to allow the supporting legs  14 ,  16  to be flipped above the fan body  12  to minimize the overall size of the fan assembly  10  for travel and storage. 
       FIG. 3  shows a rear perspective view of the fan assembly  10  with the supporting legs  14 ,  16  in the second position shown in  FIG. 2 . Specifically, the supporting legs  14 ,  16  are shown rotated above the fan main body  12  so that the lower leg sections  15 ,  17  are in close proximity. As further shown in  FIG. 3 , the rear of the fan assembly  10  preferably may further include an air inlet grill  22  for allowing air pulled by the fan blades  25  to enter the fan assembly main body  12 . Additionally, the fan assembly  10  may further include a control switch  24  or the like to control power to the fan assembly  10  and to control the speed of the fan blades  25 . In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fan assembly  10  may preferably further include a flexible guide cone  26 . Preferably, the guide cone  26  may be formed of flexible material such as silicon or the like. In operation, the guide cone  26  may preferably be formed to assume a first, closed shape where the guide cone  26  conforms to the surface of the air inlet  22 . In this way, the guide cone  26  may reduce the size of the fan assembly  10 . Additionally, the guide cone  26  may protect the interior of the fan assembly  10  from loose materials falling through the air inlet  22  openings. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , the guide cone  26  may preferably also be moved to a second, open position where the guide cone assumes a second, open shape. As shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , the guide cone  26  in the second, open position may extend away from the surface of the air inlet  22 . In the second, open position, the guide cone  26  may preferably be shaped to act as a guide for air entering the air inlet  22 . In this way, the guide cone  26  in the second, open position may act as an air intake channel and may increase air flow into the fan assembly main body  12 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 6-7 , side cut-away views of the exemplary fan assemblies shown in  FIGS. 1-5  shall now be discussed. As shown in  FIG. 6 , an exemplary fan assembly  10  of the present invention may preferably include a fan main body  12  enclosing a set of fan blades  25 . The fan main body  12  may also include an enclosing hoop/outer surface  34  which may be formed of molded plastic, PVC, PP Copolymer or the like. The fan main body  12  may preferably also include a front bezel  30 , a rear bezel  36  and a protective frame/armature  28  to strengthen the fan main body  12  and to provide rigidity to the enclosing hoop/outer surface  34 . 
     As discussed above, the fan main body  12  may include one or more air inlets  22  to direct air to the fan blades  25  which preferably then direct the air out through the front grill  20 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the fan assembly  10  may include front and rear supporting legs  14 ,  16  which may extend to a standing position. As further shown, the exemplary fan assembly  10  may preferably further include a motor  32 . The motor  32  may preferably be an O-frame motor or the like without limitation. The electrical current to the motor may preferably be controlled via a control switch/knob  24  or the like. As discussed above, the fan assembly  10  may include a flexible guide cone  26 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the guide cone  26  may be formed to adopt an open position which extends away from the surface of the air inlet  22 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the fan assembly  10  may be moved to a closed position. In an exemplary closed position, the guide cone  26  may preferably be moved to adopt a first, closed shape where the guide cone  26  conforms to the surface of the air inlet  22 . Further, the supporting legs  14 ,  16  may preferably be moved to a second position (as shown in  FIG. 7 ) so that their respective lower leg sections  15 ,  17  are in close proximity and/or touching. In this way, the lower leg sections  15 ,  17  may be positioned to act as a handle or the like. 
     Preferably, the front bezel  30  is attached to the front of the armature  28  and the rear bezel  36  attached to the back of the armature  28 . Preferably, the rear bezel  36  is secured to the armature  28  (via interlocking ribs and grooves, secured by an external hoop) and the inlet grill  22 . Similarly, the front bezel  30  is preferably secured to the front grill  20  with interlocking ribs and grooves. 
     According to preferred embodiments, the front and rear bezels  30 ,  36  may be designed to allow the outlet grill  20  and the inlet grill  22  to expand/move out from the center of the fan main body  12  for use. Alternatively, the outlet grill  20  and the inlet grill  22  may be collapsed/moved to the center of the fan for storage. An exemplary design of a bezel may preferably allow for 3 sections of more rigid silicon, and 2 flexible sections of relatively thin material to create a hinge for the bezel to collapse. According to a further preferred embodiment, the preferred 3 section design of the present invention preferably allows for a given bezel to collapse to ⅓ of its extended position thus creating a significant reduction in overall depth. In a collapsed position, the fan blade  25  may preferably be close to the front and back grills  20 ,  22 , but not touching. In this way, if the fan is energized, it may still be able to rotate while guarded adequately to comply with safety standards. 
     According to a further preferred embodiment, the armature  28  may also act as a cord wrap feature allowing a cord to wrap around the central cylindrical surface of the armature  28 . Further, the guide cone  26  may be formed to collapsed over the cord to secure the cord in place for easy travel and storage. 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is intended that the scope of the present invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto. The above described embodiments, while including the preferred embodiment and the best mode of the invention known to the inventor at the time of filing, are given as illustrative examples only. It will be readily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims below rather than being limited to the specifically described embodiments above.