Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for a fan grill, and a fan utilizing the fan grill, that produces a multi-directional air current. The fan grill includes a frame, and a first subset of one or more louvers with major surfaces that are angled to be about perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the fan grill frame. The fan grill also includes a second subset of one or more louvers with major surfaces that are angled to deviate from the first subset of louvers at an offset angle. The fan grill, and the fan utilizing the grill, is capable of producing an air current in a cone or vortex-shape in order to significantly increase air flow in a room. The fan may rotate the fan grill on an axis that is collinear with an axis of rotation of the propellers of the fan.

Description:
PRIORITY STATEMENT 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional application that claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/010,236, filed on Jun. 10, 2014, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Example embodiments relate generally to a fan grill (and a fan utilizing the fan grill) able to produce a multi-directional air current. More particularly, example embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for a fan grill (and a fan utilizing the fan grill) able to produce a cone or a vortex-shaped air current. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , conventional fans generally produce a cylindrically-shaped flow of air. Such a conventional fan may also spread air throughout a room by being able to oscillate the propellers of a fan on an axis. However, these oscillating fans are not entirely effective at filling a room with circulating air, for several reasons. First, it takes some amount of time for the fan to oscillate the propellers in different directions. Second, because the air flow produced by the fan is limited to a generally cylindrical-shape, at any period of time the fan is only capable of blowing air in the direction that the propellers are facing (even given that the fan may oscillate). Third, because the air flow produced by the fan is limited to a generally cylindrical-shape, the fan will not offer air current in regions that are located above or below the approximate elevation of the fan propellers, even if the fan does oscillate. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0006]    Example embodiments provide a method and apparatus for a fan grill, and a fan that may utilize the grill, that may produce an air flow current in the shape of a cone or a vortex in order to significantly increase air circulation in a room. In particular, the fan grill may act to produce air flow currents that spread out across the sides of fan propellers that drive air through the fan grill. The fan grill may also act to produce air flow currents at elevations that are significantly above and below an elevation of the fan propellers, themselves. The fan may also rotate the fan grill, clockwise and/or counter-clockwise, in a plane that is about perpendicular to a direction of air flow that is leaving the fans propellers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The above and other features and advantages of example embodiments will become more apparent by describing in detail, example embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. The accompanying drawings are intended to depict example embodiments and should not be interpreted to limit the intended scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a conventional oscillating fan; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a fan grill, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a louver of the fan grill of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the fan grill of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a fan grill showing varying louver angles, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side view of another fan grill showing varying louver angles, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a side view of another fan grill showing varying louver angles, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8A  is a side view of another fan grill showing varying louver angles, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8B  is a side view of another fan grill showing varying louver angles, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8C  is a side view of another fan grill showing varying louver angles, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a fan with the fan grill, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9B  is a side view of the fan of  FIG. 9A , in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9C  is a front view of the fan of  FIG. 9A , in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a diagram of a vortex air flow produced by a fan grill, in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a diagram of a cone air flow produced by a fan grill, in accordance with an example embodiment; and 
           [0023]      FIGS. 12A-B  are diagrams of a fan motor and a fan grill motor, in accordance with an example embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Detailed example embodiments are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. Example embodiments may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein. 
         [0025]    Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but to the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of example embodiments. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures. 
         [0026]    It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
         [0027]    It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it may be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between”, “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent”, etc.). 
         [0028]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
         [0029]    It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a fan grill, in accordance with an example embodiment. The grill may include a frame. The frame may circular, square, or any other shape. Louvers may be affixed within the frame. A ‘centerline’  10  of the grill frame is shown in  FIG. 2 , traversing through a midpoint (in this case, an epicenter) of the grill frame. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a louver of the fan grill of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an example embodiment. The louver may be strip with major surfaces ( FIG. 2  shows a top surface). The louver may be somewhat rectangular in shape, though other shapes may be used as long as the louver offers major surfaces to direct a flow of air through the grill. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the fan grill of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an example embodiment. The frame of the grill may be approximately flat. The louvers may be set within the frame. The louvers that are set within the frame may be bowed to extend slightly out of the frame, thus creating a somewhat rounded/bowed shape to the front of the grill (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). Alternatively, the louvers may be set within the frame to be flat, such that the shape of the front of the grill may be flat (not shown). Notice that the ‘centerline’  10  of the grill frame traverses through a midpoint of the grill frame. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a fan grill showing varying louver angles, in accordance with an example embodiment. The grill may include a subset of louvers with major surfaces that are angled to be about perpendicular (i.e., 90 degrees) relative to the flat surface of the grill frame. That is to say, these louvers are angled to be about parallel to the ‘centerline’  10  of the grill frame (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). The grill may also have other subsets of louvers with major surfaces that are angled to be something other than 90 degrees relative to the flat surface of the grill frame, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the louvers may each be angled between 90 degrees and 102.7 degrees relative to the flat surface of the grill frame. That is to say, some of the louvers may be offset from the louvers that are 90 degrees relative to the flat surface of the grill frame (in  FIG. 5 , the two louvers shown at the very top and bottom of the figure, labeled as 102.7 degrees, are therefore ‘offset’ by 12.7 degrees). The offset louvers may be angled such that they are offset in the same general direction (that is to say, in  FIG. 5  the ‘offset’ louvers are each offset downwards). Alternatively, the offset louvers may be angled such that they are offset in different directions (as in  FIG. 8C , where the ‘offset’ louvers are angled both upward and downward, as described herein in more detail). 
         [0035]    The offset louvers may be positioned at varying angles, and these angles may be slightly increased or decreased for offset louvers that are directly adjacent to any particular louver. This is shown in  FIG. 5 , where the top two louvers are 102.7 degrees, and the next eight louvers below the top two louvers are gradually ‘flared’ upward. That is to say, in viewing  FIG. 5 , louver positions  1  and  2  (from the top) are 102.7 degrees. Louver position  3  is 99.6 degrees, louver position  4  is 98 degrees, louver position  5  is 96.4 degrees, louver position  6  is 94.8 degrees, louver position  7  is 93.2 degrees, and louver position  8  is 91.6 degrees (whereas louver positions  9 - 21  are all angled at 90 degrees). Louver positions  22 - 29  are offset louvers that flare out at varying angles from 91.6 degrees (at louver  22 ) up to 102.7 degrees (at louver  29 ). This gradual ‘flaring out’ of adjacent offset louvers helps to increase air flow currents that are traveling through the fan grill, in order to produce either a vortex air current (see  FIG. 10 ) or a cone air current ( FIG. 11 ) that significantly increases the effectiveness of a fan that is cooling a room. The gradual ‘flaring’ of the louvers may cause subsets of the louvers to each have unique ‘offsets,’ relative to each other (as in the subset of louvers  2  to  8 , and as in the subset of louvers  22  to  29 , shown on  FIG. 5 ). The offset angle of these subsets of ‘flared’ louvers may progressively increase, from a first louver in a subset (which may have the slightest ‘offset’ angle) to a last louver in the subset (which may have a greatest ‘offset’ angle), such that the subset of ‘flared’ louvers is positioned in an ‘ordered series’ of louvers that possess a progressively greater offset angle, from one louver to the next. 
         [0036]    It should also be noted that the surfaces of the louvers of the grill may each have a unique angle, such that none of the louvers share a common angle relative to the flat surface of the grill frame. Furthermore, it should be noted that none of the louvers have to be 90 degrees relative to the flat (horizontal) surface of the grill frame (such that all of the louvers may be ‘offset’ from 90 degrees, relative to the horizontal grill frame). Lastly, it should be understood that the extremely offset louvers (the louvers with the greatest ‘offset’ relative to the grill frame, shown as louvers  1 ,  2  and  29  in  FIG. 5 ) may have a greater angle than 102.7 degrees. For instance, the extremely offset louvers may be angled up to 105 degrees or 110 degrees. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is a side view of another fan grill showing varying louver angles, in accordance with an example embodiment. In this embodiment, louvers  1 - 5  (from top) are each angled at 90 degrees. The next subset of louvers (louvers  6 - 9 ) have angles of 94.2, 98.4, 102.7 and 102.7 degrees. The bottom subset of louvers all have an angle of 102.7 degrees. 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  is a side view of another fan grill showing varying louver angles, in accordance with an example embodiment. In this figure, the offset louvers (louvers other the middle subset of louvers set at 90 degrees) are again all angled downward. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 8A-C  are a side views of other fan grills, in accordance with an example embodiment. Note that  FIG. 8C  shows offset louvers (above and below the middle section of louvers set at 90 degrees) that are angled in different directions. That is to say, the offset louvers at the top of  FIG. 8C  are angled upward, whereas the offset louvers at the bottom of  FIG. 8C  are angled downward. Within  FIG. 8C , it should be understood that the offset angles may each share a common angle. For example, the upper offset louvers may all be angled upward at 102.7 degrees (an offset angle of 12.7 degrees, angled upward relative to the center set of louvers), and the lower offset louvers may all be angled downward (an offset angle of 12.7 degrees, angled downward relative to the center set of louvers). Alternatively, the section of upper and lower offset louvers may be gradually ‘flared out,’ such that each adjacent louver may have a gradually increasing offset angle (leaving the extremely offset louvers at the very top and bottom of the grill). 
         [0040]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a fan with the fan grill, in accordance with an example embodiment. The fan may include a fan frame that can be of varying size and shape ( FIG. 9A  shows a fan frame in a rectangular shape). The fan frame may hold the fan grill (described above). 
         [0041]      FIG. 9B  is a side view of the fan of  FIG. 9A , in accordance with an example embodiment. 
         [0042]      FIG. 9C  is a front view of the fan of  FIG. 9A , in accordance with an example embodiment. The fan may have a fan motor (see  FIG. 12A ) driving the propellers to create an air flow. The grill may be positioned in front of the propellers. The fan may have a separate fan grill motor (see  FIG. 12B ) that rotates the grill within the fan frame, either clockwise or counter-clockwise (note the rotational direction of the grill within the frame, as shown in  FIG. 9C ). The added rotation of the grill within the fan frame may help to significantly increase the flow of air through the fan grill in order to spread air throughout an entire room (as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 ). 
         [0043]      FIG. 10  is a diagram of a vortex air flow produced by a fan grill, in accordance with an example embodiment. This vortex-shaped air current may be produced by the fan of  FIG. 9  that utilizes any of the grills (shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , and  8 A- 8 B, in particular) with offset louvers that are angled in a same direction. That is to say, a vortex-shaped air current is formed when the offset louvers are each angled in a same direction (either upward, or downward, within the grill frame). 
         [0044]      FIG. 11  is a diagram of a cone air flow produced by a fan grill, in accordance with an example embodiment. This cone-shaped air current may be produced by the fan of  FIG. 9  utilizes the grill of  FIG. 8C  with offset louvers that are angled in different directions. That is to say, the cone-shaped air current is formed when the offset louvers are angled to face both upward and downward within the grill frame. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 12A-B  are diagrams of a fan motor and a fan grill motor, in accordance with an example embodiment. The fan motor may rotate the propellers of the fan, and the fan grill motor may rotate the grill on the fan. 
         [0046]    Example embodiments having thus been described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the intended spirit and scope of example embodiments, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.