Abstract:
A fan support bracket which includes a first member having a proximal end and distal end portions, a second member extending from and hingedly connected to the proximal end of the first member, wherein the second member can be displaced angularly from the first member; and manually operable clips individually rigidly mounted upon the distal end portions of the first member, and a free end of the second member, for attaching these ends to the back end or grill of a box fan, for safely and securely retaining the fan at a desired angle to control the path of the airflow.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to portable electric fans, and more particularly to fan support brackets for enabling a portable electric fan such as a box fan to be oriented at a desirable non-vertical position on the floor. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Portable electric fans have been used for generating air movement within an enclosed area, thus enhancing air circulation. A popular type of portable electric fan is the box fan. The box fan provides relatively good airflow characteristics and is easy to maintain and store. The box fan typically includes a generally rectilinear housing having an air inlet at one end and an air outlet at the other end with a fan unit housed therebetween. The fan unit enclosed within the housing includes a central hub mounted to an electric motor which functions to rotatably drive the central hub. The central hub driven by the electric motor includes radiating blades placed and twisted so that each form part of a helical surface for moving air therethrough. 
     Although box fans produce good airflow in an energy efficient manner, a user typically is unable to easily and safely adjust the angular position of the box fan to redirect the airflow. Users may simply attempt to lean the box fan on another object (e.g., furniture) or prop the fan in position by placing objects (e.g., books or magazines) under one side. Such measures can obstruct airflow and reduce efficiency, or provide inadequate where the propped fan can easily tip or fall on its side, presenting a safety hazard. 
     In view of the problems in the prior art, there is a need for a device which allows the user to safely, quickly and easily adjust the angular position of a box fan in a cost effective and secure manner, for redirecting airflow. It would be further desirable to design a device which can enable the user to adjust the angular position of the box fan without diminishing the performance and operation thereof, to redirect the airflow away from the user&#39;s legs, for example. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fan support bracket adapted for attachment to a box fan to allow a user to adjust the orientation of the box fan to a non-vertical position so that the direction and orientation of the airflow generated can be varied as desired. The fan support bracket of the present invention can be implemented effectively in a simple and secure manner without adversely affecting the airflow generated by the fan or diminishing the fan stability. The fan support bracket generally comprises a body portion having two ends, wherein one end is configured for secure attachment to a portion of a box fan and the other end configured for placement on a fixed support surface. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fan support bracket for a portable electric fan having a front end and an opposing back end, which generally comprises an elongated body having a proximal end for placement on a support surface and a distal end adapted for releasable attachment to the back end of the fan to enable the fan to be moved to and securely retained at a desired non-vertical position. 
     In one particular aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fan support bracket for a portable electric fan having a front end and an opposed back end, the fan support bracket comprising: 
     a first member having at least a proximal end and a distal end; 
     a second member extending from and hingedly connected to the proximal end of the first member, wherein the second member can be displaced angularly from the first member; and 
     attachment means rigidly and individually mounted upon the proximal ends, respectively, for attaching these ends to one of the front and back ends of the fan for retaining the fan at a desired angle to control the path of airflow therefrom. 
     In another particular aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fan support bracket for a portable electric fan having a front end and an opposed back end, which comprises: 
     a U-shaped member having first and second elongated free end portions extending substantially co-extensively from a common end portion thereof; 
     a central elongated member hingedly attached at one end to the common end portion of the U-shaped member, the central elongated member having a free end extending substantially co-extensively with the first and second elongated end portions; and 
     attachment means rigidly mounted on each of the first and second elongated end portions, and the free end of the central elongated member, for attaching the bracket to the back end of the fan, the point of attachment at the central elongated member being selectable for retaining the fan at a desired angle relative to the horizontal plane. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which like items are identified by the same reference designation, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fan support bracket for one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fan support bracket of the present invention mounted to a box fan; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the fan support bracket in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the fan support bracket in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a living hinge of the fan support bracket along lines  3 — 3  of FIG. 3 in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an attachment member of the fan support bracket in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the attachment member of the fan support bracket in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the attachment member of the fan support bracket in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the fan support bracket of the present invention mounted to the box fan. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a fan support bracket for permitting a user to adjust the angular position of a box fan in a simple, safe and secure manner, to control the direction of airflow. The fan support bracket of the present invention is cost effective to make and use. Moreover, the fan support bracket is designed to significantly enhance the stability and safety of the box fan, thus greatly minimizing it from tipping or falling on its side. The fan support bracket of the present invention is designed for use with various box fan configurations, and does not diminish the performance or operation of the box fan. The fan support bracket of the present invention is constructed for durability and compactness, thus affording extended use and easy storage. The fan support bracket of the present invention is adapted to be universally used with any type or make of box fan. In addition, the fan support bracket is easy and cost effective to fabricate using commercially available manufacturing techniques. 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a fan support bracket, or a bracket, is shown and illustrated for one embodiment of the present invention, and is indicated generally by the reference numeral  10 . The bracket  10  generally comprises a U-shaped base portion  12  having a pair of side arms  14  which are joined at a common end  22 , and a central arm  16  movably positioned between the side arms  14  with a distal free end  20  and an opposed proximal end  18  connected to the common end  22  of the base portion  12  via a flexible joint  24  preferably in the form of a flexible web providing a flexible hinge. The central arm  16  is adapted to move relative to the base portion  12 . The free distal end  20  of the central arm  16  and the free ends of the side arms  14  each include a clip  26  rigidly mounted thereon. In one embodiment, the clips  26  can be attached to the central arm  16  and side arms  14  of the base portion  12  through suitable methods including ultrasonic welding. 
     The bracket  10  can be constructed from any suitable rigid material including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, wood, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the bracket  10  is constructed from a plastic material selected from polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon, polycarbonate, polyester, acrylic resin, acetal resin, polyolefin, and the like, and combinations thereof. The bracket  10  can be fabricated through conventional techniques including molding. For example, if plastic material is used, the bracket  10  can be molded as a single piece. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the bracket  10  is shown securely mounted to a box fan  28  to provide support and allow the angular position of the box fan  28  to be adjusted for controlling the direction of airflow therefrom. The box fan  28  generally includes a rectilinear housing  30  which has an air passing grill  32  mounted at each opposed open end of the housing  30  to permit a continuous airflow therethrough, a central hub  34  with a plurality of fan blades  36  attached thereto, and an electric motor  35  operatively engaged to the central hub  34  for rotatably driving the fan blades  36  to generate airflow therethrough. 
     The bracket  10  is generally attached to the box fan  30  with the base portion  12  positioned below the central arm  16  as shown. Preferably, the bracket  10  is attached to the inlet side of the box fan  10 . The central arm  16  is secured to the grill  32  via attachment of the associated clip  26 . The pair of side arms  14  are each secured to a lower portion of the grill  32  via attachment of the associated clips  26 , respectively. Once the bracket  10  is secured, the box fan  28  can be adjusted and maintained at a desired non-vertical position or angle by selecting the appropriate point of attachment of the central arm  16 . It is noted that the means for attaching the central and side arms to the grill of the box fan is not limited to a clip  26 , and can include other types of attaching means or fasteners as known in the art. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a top plan view of the bracket  10  is shown. The central arm  16  is positioned between the side arms  14  and is adapted to move freely in a vertical plane therebetween via the flexible joint or living hinge  24 . In this embodiment, the central arm  16  is relatively longer in length than the side arms  14 . It is noted that the relative lengths are not critical and may vary as required to accommodate box fans of various dimensions. The clips  26  of the side arms  14  are each offset at a slight angle to ensure level and flush mounting engagement with the grill  32  of the box fan  28 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the bracket  10  is shown with the central arm  16  moved to an elevated position from the horizontal plane of side arms  14 . As described above, the central arm  16  is movable about the flexible joint or living hinge  24  to form an angle, α, as measured between the central arm  16  and the base portion  12 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5, a cross-sectional view of the common end  22  of the base portion  12 , the proximal end  18  of the central arm  16 , and the flexible joint or living hinge  24 , is shown along lines  3 — 3  of FIG.  3 . The central arm  16  and the base portion  12  are each preferably formed to yield an I-beam structure for providing enhanced rigidity and strength while minimizing weight and material usage. The flexible joint or living hinge  24  is generally corn posed of a flexible web  25  having a continuous structure extending between the central arm  16  and the common end  22  of the base portion  12 , wherein the web  25  is made sufficiently thin for establishing flexibility. In this embodiment, the flexible joint or living hinge  24 , the central arm  16  and the base portion  12  are each fabricated from a rigid plastic polymer material. In one embodiment of the present invention, the web  25  can be composed of a molded plastic polymer material such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, nylon, polyolefin or the like. 
     With reference to FIGS. 6 to  8 , the clip  26  includes a clip body  38  having an upper portion  39  and a lower portion  41 , a clip handle  40  attached to a top portion of the clip portion  38 , and a slot  42  in communication with a cavity  44  for receiving a portion of the box fan grill  32 . The clip handle  40  can be urged downwardly by applying a force on top thereof. This causes the upper and lower portions  39  and  41  to move apart and extends the slot  42  therebetween, thus permitting the grill portion to be received by the cavity  44 . The clip handle  40  can then be released and the upper and lower portions  39  and  41  return to the unloaded position, respectively, thereby captively retaining the grill portion in position within the cavity  44 . The clip  26  is suitably dimensioned to avoid contact with the fan blades  36  during operation of the box fan  28  while sufficiently accommodating the grill portion to be retained in the cavity  42  thereof. 
     With reference to FIG. 9, the bracket  10  is shown mounted to the box fax  28 . As described above, the central arm  16  is adapted for movement relative to the side arms  14  of the base portion  12  to form a desired angle α therebetween. The bracket  10  permits the box fan  28  to angularly move relative to the floor  50  to form an angle β therebetween. The angle α increases as the clip  26  of the central arm  16  is mounted to upper portions of the grill  32 , while angle β decreases. Alternatively, angle α decreases as the clip  26  of the central arm  16  is mounted to the lower portions of the grill  32 , while angle α increase. In this manner, the user is able to vary the angular position of the box fan  28  as desired for controlling the direction of path of airflow from the box fan  28 . 
     Although various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, they are not meant to be limiting. Those of skill in the art may recognize various modifications to these embodiments, which modifications are meant to be covered by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In one example of the present invention, the hinge portion can be provided by a standard hinge rather than a living hinge or flexible hinge as described hereinabove, depending on the typed of material used to fabricate the bracket.