Abstract:
A portable misting fan having a compact and three-dimensional body. An impeller includes a plurality of rotatable fan blades mounted to the body. An elongated and linearly actuating pump is incorporated into the body. A first end of the pump cylinder defines an inlet in communication with a fluid reservoir. A second end of the pump cylinder defines an exposed orifice in communication with a path of rotation associated with the fan blades, the orifice mounting to a discharge portion axially displaceable relative to an intermediate cylinder portion of the pump. A trigger is pivotally secured to the body, a portion of the trigger including a cam surface arranged in opposing and coacting fashion relative to a cam surface associated with the orifice. Upon depressing the trigger, the discharge tube is caused to displace inwardly relative to the cylinder portion, a spray mist issuing from the orifice and into a path associated with the rotating fan blades.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to portable fans and fluid misting pump assemblies. More specifically, the present invention discloses a portable misting fan assembly in which a pump cylinder associated with the sprayer is positioned close to the motor and such that an associated center axis is parallel to the motor shaft axis.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Personal misting devices, either including or without a fan, are known in the art. In each instance, a fine mist of water is ejected into the air, the evaporation of the water droplets cooling the air surrounding the droplets. An electrical motor driven fan propels the cooled air stream and mist in a direction towards a user.  
         [0005]     Portable misting fan devices of such design have been known for several years in the prior art, these typically employing a battery operated fan atop a trigger spray bottle. A pump sprayer is attached to a neck of the bottle and, when used in combination with the fan, enhances the evaporative and cooling effect of the issued spray mist. It is also known that the water reservoir associated with the sprayer can also be used for drinking, however limited water reservoir capacity and sanitation issues (e.g. spraying saliva-tainted water) has limited the use of misting fans with drinking nipples.  
         [0006]     Portable misting fans typically also require a pump device to move water from the low pressure reservoir through the atomizing orifice. The pump is typically manually operated and one pull of the trigger (or push of a button) sprays a fixed volume of water, and whereas repeated pulls create additional spray.  
         [0007]     A battery-operated DC motor drives a plurality of rotatably mounted fan blades. Assuming the fan blade is positioned downstream of the atomizing spray nozzle, the evaporative cooling of the moisture is enhanced, as is the evaporation of the moisture from the user&#39;s skin. Commercially available portable misting fans typically use off-the-shelf sprayers for dispensing household chemicals (e.g. window cleaner) and cosmetics/toiletries (e.g. hairspray).  
         [0008]     Other existing misting fans also attach to the reservoir using a screw thread connection. The sprayers come with these threaded closures and a sealing gasket as a standard feature. Some have used alternate means to attach the sprayer to the bottle that prevent the sprayer from being removed. In instances where the sprayer is permanently affixed to the bottle, a secondary port is required for easy filling.  
         [0009]     Problems associated with the existing art involve the commercially available misting fans relying on off-the-shelf sprayers to operate, and such that the configurations of their fan heads are limited by the geometry and strength of the sprayer. These tend to be unsatisfactory for attachment of a fan head with motor, switch and batteries.  
         [0010]     The present art further tends to be deficient in that the pumps associated with the misting fans are not well-integrated with the fan enclosure. Mechanically, they are shaped for stand-alone operation atop a bottle, not to be integrated within the fan enclosure. Typically such devices further lack the interfaces for attaching the motor and batteries and include decorative shrouds which prevent access to more structurally sound parts of the manifold and bottle attachment flange and collar.  
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0011]     The present invention discloses a compact and portable spray misting fan in which an associated pump cylinder is aligned in close proximity, and typically parallel, to a drive axis associated with a motor driving the fan blades. The pump cylinder is incorporated into a piston-mounted spray orifice.  
         [0012]     Cam surfaces associated with the spray nozzle facilitate the pump cylinder following an axially displaceable track during a piston driving stroke, and such as during coacting with an opposing cam surface exhibited upon an actuating trigger. Additional features include modifying an angle of the spray relative to the pump axis to better direct the mist into the fan blades or away from a drinking nipple.  
         [0013]     In a first variant, the pump is incorporated into a compact, typically keychain mounted misting fan and by which the fan, pump and reservoir are integrated into a single enclosure. In a further, and slightly enlarged, variant a fan subassembly is separable from the reservoir through a secondary pivot assembly associated with an actuating trigger and a separately located release latch.  
         [0014]     In a yet further embodiment, a compact water misting fan with trigger actuating sprayer is separable from a reservoir holding body. A dip tube extends from the fan into the reservoir body for communicating fluid, in vacuum withdrawing fashion, into the head attachment unit. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a component pump incorporated into the portable misting fan of the present assembly and including a uniquely configured actuator button with cam surfaces;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first compact version of a portable misting fan and incorporating the component pump of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a plan view outline of the portable misting fan of  FIG. 2  and illustrating the arrangement of the component pump within the misting fan according to the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate relaxed and spray positions, respectively, associated with the piston actuation pump associated with the portable misting fan illustrated in the embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5A  is a first perspective illustration of a secondary version of a portable misting fan with separable fan unit according to the prior art;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5B  is a second and succeeding perspective illustration and by which a trigger component is rotated to a secondary and disengage position;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5C  is a third succeeding illustration by which a release latch associated with the fan unit permits the same to be released from the reservoir body;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a plan view outline of the prior art portable misting fan of  FIGS. 5A-5C  and illustrating the arrangement of the component pump within the misting fan according to the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate succeeding rest and spray actuation positions of misting fan of the prior art in  FIG. 6 , and with the motor and switch removed for ease of illustration;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a plan view outline of a compact portable misting fan according to a further preferred embodiment and which is secured atop a fluid holding container;  
         [0026]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are respective rest and actuation illustrations, in plan view outline, of the spray misting fan of  FIG. 8  and by which the pump actuator button and arm are combined into a single component;  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is an illustration of a spray misting fan according to a still further preferred embodiment and by which a reservoir is located remotely from a fan and misting component (or Fan&#39;n&#39;Sip handpiece), interconnected by an elongated and flexible tube; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  is a plan view outline of the fan and misting component of  FIG. 10  and again exhibiting an integrally formed, closely positioned and parallel extending pump cylinder relative to a motor shaft axis. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a sectional view is illustrated at  10  of a component pump incorporated into the portable misting fan according to the present assembly. An elongated body of the component pump includes such features as a pump cylinder  12 , into which is axially displaced a piston  14 . A pump inlet  16  is fluidly connected to a reservoir (not shown in this view) and causes a fluid to be withdrawn from the reservoir into the pump cylinder  12  on the outstroke, fluid further being expelled from the pump cylinder upon lateral and inward actuation (instroke) of the pump piston  14 .  
         [0030]     Upon being actuated, and in a direction referenced by linear axis X extending through an elongated centerline of the pump  10 , see also as referenced at  17 , the fluid within the cylinder  12  is axially dispelled through a discharge tube  18  and in a direction towards a spray orifice  20  incorporated into a pump actuator button  22 . The pump actuator button is directly mounted to the shaft (or discharge tube  18 ) and provides a channel from the interior of the tube  18  to the orifice  20 . When the pressurized water flows through the orifice it is atomized into a spray of fine droplets.  
         [0031]     The body  10  further includes a coil spring  21  and which biases the piston  14  and associated discharge tube  18  in a linear direction referenced at  23 . The button includes cam surfaces  24  and which, as will be described in greater detail with respect to the succeeding figure descriptions, facilitates the spray dispersion of the fluid.  
         [0032]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view is shown at  26  of a first compact, hand-held, version of a portable misting fan and which incorporates the component pump of  FIG. 1  (see externally viewable spray orifice  20 ). The fan  26  incorporates the features of the reservoir and pump into a single and compact enclosure  28 .  
         [0033]     Additional features include a fluid filling reservoir plug  30 , a battery cover  32 , rotatable fan impeller  34  (including soft foam plastic blades) and actuating trigger  36 . The enclosure includes internal partitions to hold fluid/water without leaking and the user removes the reservoir plug  30  to refill with water. Additionally, the user slides outwardly the battery cover  32  to access an associated battery compartment. A carrying clip  38  facilitates suspending of the fan  26  for portability. A pivot is also shown at  39  and a guide at  41  (see again  FIG. 3 ) for the actuator trigger  36 . The guides for the “ears” on the sprayer button are fixed to the enclosure, and ensure linear motion and remove side loads from the associated piston and remainder of the pump assembly.  
         [0034]     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , a plan view outline is shown of the portable misting fan  26  of  FIG. 2  and better illustrating the arrangement of the component pump  10  within the misting fan according to the present invention. Specifically, a dip tube  40  extends from an end of the pump inlet and communicates within a water filled reservoir  42 , see also angled inlet end  44  of dip tube  40 . The pump  10  is mounted by an annular grommet  46  and such that the cam surfaces  24  and outlet  20  are arranged in proximity to an exterior location of the pump  10  proximate and in contact with the rotating impeller blades  34 .  
         [0035]     Additional features of the fan  26  include a motor  48  for rotatably driving the impeller blades  34 , the motor in turn being operated by a battery  50  selectively activated and deactivated by switch  52 . In this particular variant, a preferred configuration is to position the pump  10  to be located adjacent to the motor  48  and to spray toward the fan blades of the impeller  34  from behind.  
         [0036]     Referring further to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , relaxed and spray positions, respectively, are illustrated of the piston actuation pump associated with the portable misting fan illustrated in the embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Specifically, and referencing first  FIG. 4A , the sectional illustration of the sprayer is shown in a full-outstroke, resting configuration, and by which cam surfaces  54  associated with the pivotally associated trigger  36  rest against opposing cam surfaces  24  associated with the inwardly/linearly depressible pump  10 . Specifically, the trigger  36  is mounted for pivoting about a pin connection  56  associated with the fan body, and as further referenced by arcuate directional arrow  58 .  
         [0037]     Further referencing  FIG. 4B , the trigger is illustrated in a rotated position  36 ′, and by which the pump actuator discharge tube is likewise inwardly and axially depressed (see at  18 ′). In this position, the cam surfaces  24  on the pump actuator press against an opposing and half-circle shaped cam surface  54  associated with the inward engaging surface of the pump actuating button (or trigger  36 ), thus driving it and the pump piston inward (see directional arrow  59 ) in order to create the spray or mist  60 .  
         [0038]     In this configuration, a contact point established between the interengaging cam surfaces is off a center line so that there are some side loads (defined as loading vector forces not directed substantially in an axial/center line fashion such as in reference to axis  17  of  FIG. 1 ) on the actuator button  20 . Also, some side loads may be created due to friction between the opposing cam surfaces. Referring also to the perspective illustration of  FIG. 2 , and although not clearly shown, guide tracks  61  are defined in the enclosure keep the actuator button moving in a straight line and so that the discharge tube  18  can depress axially inwardly while the likewise depressing actuator button  20  is retained within the open recessed (“U” shaped) configuration of the trigger  36  top surface while the trigger  36  is being rotated in the fashion illustrated.  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIG. 5A , a first perspective illustration is shown at  62  of a secondary version of a portable misting fan with separable fan unit and which is known in the prior art. Features of this variant include a fluid filled reservoir  64 , carrying strap  66 , and trigger mechanism  68  secured about a pivot  70 . An impeller unit  72  is mounted to the fan  62  in proximity both to the pivot mounted trigger  68  as well as to a spray issuing orifice.  
         [0040]      FIG. 5B  is a second and succeeding perspective illustration and by which the trigger component is rotated to a secondary and disengage position  68 ′, such as which reveals a pump actuator button  70 .  FIG. 5C  is a third succeeding illustration, and by which a release latch  72  associated with the fan unit  62  is actuated, permitting the unit  62  to be releasingly disengaged from a main reservoir body  75 . A hook  76  and pivot  78  arrangement associated with a forward end of the fan enclosure facilitates rotation and removal of the fan unit  62  from the reservoir body  75 .  
         [0041]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a plan view outline of the portable misting fan of  FIGS. 5A-5C  is illustrated, and which includes an arrangement of the component pump within the misting fan according to the present invention. Specifically, a motor  80  is arranged in operative and driving fashion relative to the impeller unit  72  (see drive shaft  82  connecting therebetween). A switch  84  for activating the motor  80  is operated by a switch actuator  86 , in turn connected to a pair of batteries  88 .  
         [0042]     A piston pump  90  is mounted within the assembly and includes a dip tube  92 , with inlet  94 , communicating with a reservoir enclosure  96 . The trigger  68  is pivotally arranged relative to the pump  90  and such that a discharge tube  98  is depressed axially inwardly upon the trigger  68  being pivotally actuated. Guide tracks  100  facilitate proper pivotal to axial motion between the trigger and pump. Unlike the prior embodiment, the pivot and actuation pads are located on opposite sides of the pump. This provides the advantage of reducing side loads and friction existing between the cam surfaces.  
         [0043]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate succeeding rest and spray actuation positions of misting fan of  FIG. 6 , and with the motor and switch removed for ease of illustration. The motor and switch are removed from these figures for purposes of clarification of illustration. Specifically,  FIG. 7A  illustrates the pump actuator in a full outstroke condition.  
         [0044]     As further shown, opposing cam surfaces associated with the pump actuator button (at  102 ) are aligned with additional surfaces associated with the pump arm/trigger  68  (at  104 ). As shown in  FIG. 7B , the trigger is rotated to its depressed position  68 ′, causing the cam surface on the pump actuator arm to push against the pump actuator button, thus driving it inwardly into the associated pump cylinder, and by which a spray mist  106  is issued.  
         [0045]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a plan view outline is shown at  108  of a compact portable misting fan according to a further preferred embodiment, and which is secured atop a fluid holding container  110 . The unit  108  includes a fan blade impeller unit  112 , driven by an electric motor  114  operated by a switch  116  and switch actuator  118 . A battery  120  is operatively communicated to the motor  114  dependent upon the position of the switch  116  and actuator  118 .  
         [0046]     A piston pump  122  is likewise illustrated in line art fashion within the unit  108 , and such as that it extends in a linear direction substantially parallel to a centerline of the motor  114 . An orifice  124  of the pump  122  is located in proximity to a path of the rotating impeller blades and such that, upon actuating of a trigger  126  extending from the unit, a discharge tube  128  of the pump is actually and inwardly depressed, causing a spray mist to be issued.  
         [0047]     The trigger  126  is further integrally formed with a multi-angular arm  130 , pivotally connected at an opposite end  132  with lateral side locations associated with the outer shell of the fan unit. Upon depressing the trigger inwardly, opposing cam surfaces  134  established between the trigger and pump cause the desired inward actuation of the discharge tube and piston within the pump cylinder, in turn causing fluid to be withdrawn from the reservoir, into a dip tube  136  extending downwardly from the pump, and dispensing in a spray mist  138 . A screw cap  139  facilitates engagement of the fan unit atop the fluid reservoir bottle and an annular gasket  141  is provided for additional sealing between the bottle reservoir  110  an attachable unit  108 . Referring also to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , respectively illustrated are rest and actuation illustrations, in plan view outline, of the spray misting fan of  FIG. 8  and by which the pump actuator button and arm are combined into a single component.  
         [0048]      FIG. 10  is an illustration of a spray misting fan according to a still further preferred embodiment  142 , and by which a reservoir  144 , such as a flexible bladder or container, is located remotely from a fan and misting component  146  (or Fan&#39;n&#39;Sip handpiece), interconnected by an elongated and flexible tube  148 . The reservoir bladder  144  includes a screw cap  150  for refilling, as well as a location  152  from which the flexible tube  148  extends.  
         [0049]     Referring finally, to  FIG. 11 , a plan view outline is again shown of the fan and misting component  146  of  FIG. 10 . Features include a durable and plastic body  154 , to which is secured an impeller  156 . Features common to the previous embodiment also include a motor  158 , switch  160 , switch actuator  162 , and battery compartment  164 .  
         [0050]     A piston pump  166  is arranged in parallel spaced fashion relative to a centerline extending through the battery  158  and impeller drive shaft. A trigger  168  is pivotally secured at  170  to spaced apart sides of the plastic body  154 . The trigger  168  includes an arcuate configuration similar to that illustrated in perspective in the variant of  FIG. 2  and such that opposing cam surfaces  172  defined between the trigger and a discharge orifice  174  of the pump  166  coact upon the trigger  168  being pivotally depressed against the pump  166 . A manifold  176  is established between the pump  166  and the substantially perpendicularly extending supply tube  178  (see hardened plastic nipple) and in order that fluid is withdrawn from the remote reservoir  144  and through the elongated tube  148 .  
         [0051]     A drinking nipple assembly is illustrated at  180  and includes a bite valve insert  182  and bite valve sleeve  184 , these extending from a check valve  186  (with built in flapper arrangement). The pump inlet is in fluid communication with the manifold  176  which connects the water supply (via tubing) to the drinking nipple  180  and pump. Upon the user biting on the sleeve  184 , a channel opens between the insert and sleeve. In a rest position, the bite valve blocks water flow and the check valve  186  prevents backwash, such as of saliva, into the manifold  176 .  
         [0052]     Having described our invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.