Patent Publication Number: US-2021161120-A1

Title: Air Supply Device with Air Refreshing and Mosquito Repelling Function

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to an air-conditioning device and, more particularly to an electric air supply device for refreshing air and repelling mosquito, which is capable of blowing refreshing aromatherapy gas and mosquito repellent gas. 
     Description of Related Arts 
     Electric fans are well-known household appliances which are widely used because they are inexpensive, easy to operate and has low cost of use. The conventional electric fan uses a motor to drive fan blades to generate air supply function, and can only generate cool air. In winter, in addition to using air conditioners and heating equipment for heating, small-sized, low-cost and portable heaters are also widely used. However, the function of a conventional heater is relatively limited, which has only a single heating function. In addition, the conventional electric fans and heaters are different types of products, each of which is designed for providing one particular function only. A single household may need to purchase two products for cooling and heating purposes, which is not only costly, but also takes up a large amount of space. Also, in order to regulate the indoor air for different purposes, it is necessary to purchase an aromatherapy diffuser, a mosquito repellent device, and etc., which is not only costly, but also inconvenience to use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide an air supply device capable of providing air refreshing function and mosquito repellent function. The air supply device has a small size and is easy to operate, which integrates the different functions of a fan, a heater, an aromatherapy diffuser and a mosquito repellent diffuser in one single device according to the need of a user. 
     Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims. 
     According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by an air supply device with air refreshing and insect repellent function, comprising: a housing, which comprises: 
     an air duct unit supported inside the housing having a hollow body defining an air channel; 
     a centrifugal fan received inside the air duct unit; two main air inlets arranged at two opposite sides of the housing; 
     an air outlet arranged at a top portion of the housing and channeled through with the air channel inside the air duct unit at a front side of the housing perpendicular to each of the main air inlets; 
     an auxiliary air inlet arranged at a rear side of the housing opposite to the air outlet; and 
     an auxiliary component, which is an aromatherapy component or a mosquito repellent component, detachably connected to the housing at the auxiliary air inlet. 
     The air supply device with air refreshing and insect repellent function may further comprises a heating component detachably connected to the housing at one of the main air inlet serving as an optional component for heating air intake from one of the main air inlets. 
     The housing comprises: a left case member having one the main air inlet; a right case member having one the main air inlet, mated and connected with the left case member; a front case member connected to the left case member and the right case member at a front side of the housing; an inlet grid mounted onto each of the left case member and the right case member at each of the main air inlets; a control knob arranged on the front case member for on/off control and temperature adjustment; and a plurality of positioning sockets provided at an end surface of the left case member. 
     The auxiliary component, which is an aromatherapy component or a mosquito repellent component, comprises a heating body and a sheet element moveably arranged on a top portion of the heating body, wherein the sheet element is selected from the group consisting of an aroma sheet and a mosquito repellent sheet such that the aroma sheet or the mosquito repellent sheet are interchangeable for use, wherein the heating body is positioned at the auxiliary air inlet. 
     The heating body comprises a heating body casing formed by an upper case and a lower case mating and connecting to each other, an upper electrode plate, a lower electrode plate, and a PTC heating plate sandwiched between the upper electrode plate and the lower electrode plate and electrically connected to the upper electrode plate and the lower electrode plate, the upper electrode plate and the lower electrode plate are connected to a power source. 
     A heating temperature of the heating body (PTC heating plate) is 70° C. to 80° C. for heating the aroma sheet, and is 95° C. to 105° C. for heating the mosquito repellent sheet. 
     The air duct unit comprises an air duct casing and the air channel is inside the air duct casing, wherein the air duct casing is formed by a left air duct member and a right air duct member coupled with the left air duct member, and has a longitudinal section of helical shape, an opening of the air channel faces obliquely upwardly, each of the left air duct member and the right air duct member has a panel protruded upwardly at a top portion thereof, and the air outlet with a cylindrical shape is formed by mating the two panels of the left air duct member and the right air duct member. 
     The centrifugal fan comprises a fan wheel eccentrically disposed inside the left air duct member of the air duct casing, and a motor disposed inside the right air duct member of the air duct casing and connected to the fan wheel, wherein an outer contour of the fan wheel and an inner wall of the air duct casing of the air duct unit form the air channel that gradually expands from one end to the other end. 
     The heating component comprises a heating component casing, a heating element channel casing arranged at one end of the heating component casing, a heating element frame affixed at one end portion of the heating element channel casing, a heating element affixed on the heating element frame, and an overheat protector mounted on a top portion of the heating element frame and electrically connected to the heating element, wherein the heating element channel casing comprises a plurality of engaging members spacedly arranged on an end portion thereof, the plurality of engaging members correspond to a plurality of positioning sockets of the left case member, and the heating component is plugged onto the housing through the engaging members and the positioning sockets. 
     The heating element is a PTC heating element arranged to connect to a power source. 
     The present invention can effectively solve the problems of single function of existing electric fans and heaters. The present invention can organically combine the electric fan and the heater together to form an integrated air supply device. The user can choose to use the electric fan function or the heater function. The switching and assembling of functional parts are simple, convenient and quick. More importantly, the present invention integrates an aromatherapy diffuser and mosquito repellent device to the integrated air supply device so that it can further provide air refreshing and mosquito-repellent functions into the room while supplying cool or warm air circulation. Thus it can further optimize the indoor air condition and environment, which is beneficial to people&#39;s work, life and physical health. The present invention can make the flow and conveyance of wind more smoothly and efficient through the optimized design of the air duct. The present invention also has the characteristics of convenient and fast assembly, small size, high level of portability and easy to use, etc. 
     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic front perspective view of an air supply device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic side perspective view of the air supply device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view showing the structure of the air supply device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the air supply device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of an aromatherapy component or a mosquito repellent component of the air supply device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view of a heating component of the air supply device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the heating component of the air supply device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of a heater device provided with the heating component of the air supply device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic plan view of the heater device provided with the heating component of the air supply device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the heater device provided with the heating component of the air supply device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the heater device provided with the heating component of the air supply device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is further described with the accompanying drawings as follows, which is not intended to be limiting. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, an air supply device  100  capable of providing air refreshing function and mosquito repellent function according to a preferred embodiment includes a housing  10 , an air duct unit  20 , a centrifugal fan  30 , a detachable auxiliary component  40  which may be an aromatherapy component  40 A or a mosquito repellent component  40 B. The present invention can also include an optional heating component  50 . The heating component  50  can be added on the basis of the above-mentioned air supply device to form an air supply device with integrated functions of a fan, a heater, an aromatherapy diffuser and a mosquito repellent diffuser in one single device. 
     Referring  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, the air supply device  100  has a housing  10 , the housing  10  is formed by a left case member  11 , a right case member  12 , and a front case member  13  connecting together. Each of the left case member  11  and the right case member  12  comprises an inlet grid  141  for air intake and has a plurality of screw holes  180  on the edge portion  18  at the inner side of the case member  11 ,  12 . The left case member  11  and the right case member  12  are connected by screws  181  through the screw holes  180 . The housing  10  has two main air inlets  14  at two opposite sides respectively for air intake. Air is guided to enter the housing  10  through the two main air inlets  14 . The housing  10  has an air outlet  15  at an upper end for air output. The air outlet  15  communicates through the air duct inside the air duct unit  20  and turns to a side perpendicular to the main air inlet  14 . In other words, the side at which the air outlet  15  is positioned is perpendicular to the side at which each of the main air inlet  14  is positioned. An auxiliary air inlet  16  is arranged at one end of an opposite side of the air outlet  15 . The auxiliary air outlet  16  has a ring-like body having a greater outer opening and a smaller inner opening and is connected to the air outlet  15  by snap-fit connection. Preferably, the auxiliary air outlet  16  has a connecting rim  161  engaging to a connecting groove  151  of the housing  10  at the opposite side of the air outlet  15 . When air comes out from the air outlet  15 , the negative pressure formed at the auxiliary air inlet  16  causes air to enter the auxiliary air inlet  16 . Then the aroma or the mosquito repellent gas generated by the aromatherapy component  40 A or the mosquito repellent component  40 B after heating will be introduced into the air outlet  15  to exit through the air outlet  15 . The tops of the left and right case members  11  and  12  are respectively provided with air outlet baffles  112  and  121  protruding upward and turning inward. When the left case member  11  and the right case member  12  are mated and connected, the air outlet baffles  112  and  121  of the left case member  11  and the right case member  12  are mated to cover the outside of the cylindrical air outlet  15  of the air duct unit. A plurality of positioning sockets  111  are arranged on an end surface  110  of the left case member  11  for connecting the heating component  50 . The front case member  13  is snap-fitted and fixed to the front side of the left casing  11  and the right casing  12  with screws. A control knob  17  is provided on the front case member  13  for on/off control and temperature adjustment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  of the drawings, the air duct unit  20  is received inside the housing  10  and is arranged for guiding an airflow. The air duct unit  20  comprises an air duct casing  21  and an air channel  22  as defined by the air duct casing  21 . The air duct casing  21  is formed by a left air duct member  211  and a right air duct member  212  coupled with the left air duct member  211 . The left air duct member  211  has a ring-shaped body defining a top portion, and comprises an outlet grid  2112  at the top portion and a U-shaped panel  2111  protruded upward at an outer side of the outlet grid  2112 . The right air duct member  212  has a plate-shaped body defining a top portion, and comprises a motor bracket  2122  at an outer side and a U-shaped panel  2121  protruded upward at the top portion thereof. After the left air duct member  211  and the right air duct member  212  are coupled and connected together, the U-shaped panel  2111  of the left air duct member  211  and the U-shaped panel  2121  of the right air duct member  212  are mated to form the cylindrical air outlet  15 . The cylindrical air outlet  15  faces obliquely upward, which can further spread the wind output. As shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings, the longitudinal section of the air duct unit  20  is helical, which makes the resistance of the wind generated by the centrifugal fan  30  in the air duct as small as possible, and the transmission efficiency is higher. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  of the drawings, the centrifugal fan  30  is arranged inside the air duct unit  20 . The centrifugal fan  30  comprises a fan wheel  31  and a motor  32 . The fan wheel  31  is eccentrically disposed inside the left air duct member  211  of the air duct casing  21 , and a wheel shaft of the fan wheel  31  is connected to the motor  32 . The outer contour of the fan wheel  31  and the inner wall of the air duct casing  21  of the air duct unit  20  form an air channel  22  that gradually expands from one end to the other end. The wind generated by the fan wheel  31  passes through the air channel  22  and is blown out through the air outlet  15  at the top portion. The motor  32  is disposed in the motor bracket  2122  of the right air duct member  212  of the air duct casing  21  and is connected to the wheel shaft of the fan wheel  31 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  of the drawings, the detachable auxiliary component  40 , which may be the aromatherapy component  40 A for air refreshing or the mosquito repellent component  40 B for repelling mosquito, is arranged at the auxiliary air inlet  16 . The aromatherapy component  40 A and the mosquito repellent component  40 B are optional and are interchangeable. The detachable auxiliary component  40  comprises a heating body  41  and a sheet element  42 , which can be an aroma sheet  42 A or a mosquito repellent sheet  42 B. The heating body  41  comprises a heating body casing  411 , a PTC heating plate  412 , an upper electrode plate  412  and a lower electrode plate  414 . The heating body casing  411  is a box-shaped body formed by an upper case  4111  and a lower case  4112  connecting together. The upper case  4111  has a slot  41111  at a top portion thereof arranged for placing an aroma sheet or a mosquito repellent sheet. The PTC heating plate  412 , the upper electrode plate  412  and the lower electrode plate  414  are received inside the heating body casing  411 . The PTC heating plate  412  is positioned between the upper electrode plate  412  and the lower electrode plate  414  and is electrically connected to the upper electrode plate  412  and the lower electrode plate  414  respectively. The upper electrode plate  412  and the lower electrode plate  414  are connected to a power source. The heating body  41  is positioned at the auxiliary air inlet  16 . The sheet element  42 , is moveably placed on the upper part of the heating body  41 . When using the aromatherapy function or the mosquito repellent function, the sheet element  42 , which is an aroma sheet  42 A or a mosquito repellent sheet  42 B, can be inserted into the slot  41111 , the heating body  41  is switched on, and then the aroma sheet  42 A or the mosquito repellent sheet  42 B emits vapors when heated, the auxiliary air inlet  16  sucks in air under the action of negative pressure and diffuses the vapors from the aroma sheet  42 A or the mosquito repellent sheet  42 B into the indoor air to achieve rapid diffusion effect. The aroma gas diffused into the room can have an air refreshing effect, or the mosquito repellent gas can provide mosquito repelling effect. When using the aromatherapy or mosquito repellent function, different PTC heating temperatures can be set. The heating temperature of the PTC heating plate  412  when heating the aroma sheet is 70° C. to 80° C., preferably 75° C. The heating temperature of the mosquito repellent sheet is 95° C. to 105° C., preferably 100° C. The heating temperature is determined by selecting the corresponding PTC heating plate according to the set heating temperature. The heating temperature of the PTC heating plate refers to the surface temperature of the PTC heating plate. 
     The air supply device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be embodied as a heater  200 . In particular, the heating component  50  can be added to one side of the housing  10  to form the heater  200 . Referring to  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 11  of the drawings, the heating component  50  comprises a heating component casing  51 , a heating element  52 , a heating element frame  53 , a heating element channel casing  54  and an overheat protector  55 . The heating element  52  is a PTC heating element, which is arranged to connect to a power source. The PTC heating element  52  is fixed on the heating element frame  53 , and an electrode plate  521  is provided at the bottom thereof for connecting to the power source. The heating element frame  53  has a circular connecting portion  531  and a rectangular frame  532  corresponding to the shape of the PTC heating element  52 . The connecting portion  531  is fixed to the end of the heating element channel casing  54  by screws. The PTC heating element  52  is snap-fitted inside the rectangular frame  532 . The overheat protector  55  is mounted on the top of the heating element frame  53  and is electrically connected to the heating element  52  so that the power source is cut off in the event of short circuit or overload. The heating element channel casing  54  comprises a cylindrical casing  541  and a connecting panel  542  provided at one end portion thereof. The casing  541  communicates with the inner side of the air duct unit  20 . The connecting panel  542  comprises a plurality of engaging members  5421  spacedly provided on the connecting panel  542 . The plurality of engaging members  5421  correspond to the plurality of positioning sockets  111  of the left case member  11 . The heating component  50  is connected to the housing  10  through the engaging members  5421  and the positioning sockets  111 . Preferably, the heating component  50  is plugged onto the housing  10  through the engaging members  5421  to secure into position easily and conveniently. By optionally installing the heating component  50 , the air supply device  100  can be easily expanded into a heater  200 . The expanded form of the air supply device  100 , the heater  200 , is shown in  FIG. 9  to  FIG. 11  of the drawings. 
     When the heating component  50  is in operation, the heat generated by the PTC heating element passes through the heating element channel casing  54  to enter into the air duct unit  20 , and then heated air is sent out through the centrifugal fan  30 . 
     One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. Its embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.