Patent Grant
11326767
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of hand fans, and more specifically to a hand fan with a light emitting source enclosed within its guards or ribs.
Folding hand fans are very commonly painted or otherwise decorated, allowing users to customize their appearance. The ability to decorate and customize a folding hand fan is an essential part of its appeal, in addition to its obvious function of self-cooling by fanning. Traditional folding hand fans comprise a series of ribs, made of bamboo, wood, plastic, or metal, and a fabric covering that is attached to the ribs. As the fan is spread out, the ribs stretch the fabric to create a sheet of fabric that can be used to fan oneself.
Fans have been regularly decorated and customized in a variety of ways, such as through painting or ornate wood carvings. However, before the fan of the present disclosure there was not a folding hand fan that contains a light emitting source within its ribs and/or guards. A folding hand fan with lights in its ribs and/or guards is a novel way to customize a fan, and would be very useful in, for example, the rave, ball, or party scene.
Thus, there is a need for a folding hand fan comprising a light source within its end ribs, allowing users greater customization options for their fans as well as the ability to use it in the dark, e.g. for raves or parties.
To minimize the limitations in the cited references, and to minimize other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present specification discloses a folding fan that has illuminated guards or ribs. The illumination elements are preferably contained entirely within the ribs and/or guards.
One embodiment may be an illuminated rib and/or guard for a folding hand fan comprising: a housing; and a lighting assembly, which comprises one or more light sources; wherein the lighting assembly is configured to be substantially encased within the housing; wherein when the lighting assembly is turned on a light from the one or more light sources is visible through one or more portions of the housing; and wherein the illuminated guard for the folding hand fan is configured to be operatively connected to one or more ribs and a leaf of the folding hand fan, such that when the folding hand fan is in an open or closed position the light from the one or more light sources is visible. The lighting assembly may further comprise a power source, a lighting board, and a control button. The control button may be configured to control the light sources including, but not limited to turning them off, turning them on, strobing them, alternating them, altering the illumination levels (brighter/dimmer), changing colors and alternating designs. The housing may comprises at least one screen or lighting screen that may be configured to cover the one or more light sources and allow the light from the one or more light sources to pass through the at least one screen and be visible. The at least one screen may be translucent such that the light from the light sources passes through the at least one screen but the one or more light sources are not clearly visible through the at least one screen. The power source may comprise a rechargeable battery that may be charged via wired or wireless mechanisms. The lighting board may comprise a charging port that is configured to be accessible through the housing. The lighting board may comprise a wireless module that allows the one or more light sources to be controlled wired or wirelessly. The one or more light sources may be selected from the group of light sources consisting of one or more: light emitting diodes; organic light emitting diodes; full array light emitting diodes; quantum dot light emitting diodes; liquid crystal displays; plasma; electroluminescent sheets; and combinations thereof.
Another embodiment may be an illuminated rib and/or guard for a folding hand fan comprising: a housing that comprises one or more screens; and a lighting assembly, which comprises one or more light sources, a power source, a lighting board, and a control button; wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery; wherein the lighting assembly is configured to be substantially encased within the housing; wherein when the lighting assembly is turned on a light from the one or more light sources is visible through one or more portions of the housing; and wherein the illuminated guard for the folding hand fan is configured to be operatively connected to one or more ribs and a leaf of the folding hand fan, such that when the folding hand fan is in an open or closed position the light from the one or more light sources is visible. The control button may be configured to turn off the one or more light sources, turn on the one or more light sources, and alter an illumination of the light sources, and otherwise control the light source. The at least one screen may be configured to cover the one or more light sources and allow the light from the one or more light sources to pass through the at least one screen and be visible. The at least one screen may be translucent such that the light from the light sources passes through the at least one screen but the one or more light sources are not clearly visible through the at least one screen. The lighting board may comprise a charging port that is configured to be accessible through the housing. The power source may further comprise a wireless charging coil. The lighting board may comprise a wireless module that allows the one or more light sources to be controlled wirelessly. The one or more light sources may be selected from the group of light sources consisting of one or more: light emitting diodes; organic light emitting diodes; full array light emitting diodes; quantum dot light emitting diodes; liquid crystal displays; plasma; electroluminescent sheets; and combinations thereof.
Another embodiment may be an illuminated guard for a folding hand fan comprising: a housing that comprises one or more screens; and a lighting assembly, which comprises one or more light sources, a power source, a lighting board, and a control button; wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery; wherein the lighting assembly is configured to be substantially encased within the housing; wherein when the lighting assembly is turned on a light from the one or more light sources is visible through one or more portions of the housing; wherein the illuminated guard for the folding hand fan is configured to be operatively connected to one or more ribs and a leaf of the folding hand fan, such that when the folding hand fan is in an open or closed position the light from the one or more light sources is visible; wherein the control button is configured to control the one or more light sources; wherein the at least one screen is configured to cover the one or more light sources and allow the light from the one or more light sources to pass through the at least one screen and be visible; and wherein the one or more light sources are selected from the group of light sources consisting of one or more: light emitting diodes; organic light emitting diodes; full array light emitting diodes; quantum dot light emitting diodes; liquid crystal displays; plasma; electroluminescent sheets; and combinations thereof.
Another embodiment may be an illuminated rib for a folding hand fan comprising: a housing; and a lighting assembly, which comprises one or more light sources, a power source, a lighting board, and a control button; wherein the power source comprises a battery; wherein the lighting assembly is configured to be substantially encased within the housing; wherein when the lighting assembly is turned on a light from the one or more light sources is emanates through one or more translucent or transparent portions of the housing; and wherein the illuminated rib for the folding hand fan is configured to be operatively connected to one or more additional ribs and a leaf of the folding hand fan. The control button may be configured to turn off the one or more light sources, turn on the one or more light sources, and alter an illumination of the light sources. The lighting board may comprise a wireless module that allows the one or more light sources to be controlled wirelessly. The one or more light sources are selected from the group of light sources consisting of one or more: light emitting diodes; organic light emitting diodes; full array light emitting diodes; quantum dot light emitting diodes; liquid crystal displays; plasma; electroluminescent sheets; and combinations thereof.
Another embodiment may be an illuminated rib for a folding hand fan comprising: a housing; one or more light sources; a battery, and a control button; wherein the battery and the one or more light sources are configured to be substantially encased within the housing; wherein the one or more light sources are configured to be adjacent to an inner surface of the housing; and wherein the illuminated rib for the folding hand fan is configured to be operatively connected to one or more additional ribs and a leaf of the folding hand fan. The control button may be configured to control the one or more light sources. The one or more light sources may be selected from the group of light sources consisting of one or more: light emitting diodes; organic light emitting diodes; full array light emitting diodes; quantum dot light emitting diodes; liquid crystal displays; plasma; electroluminescent sheets; and combinations thereof.
One embodiment of the present disclosure may be a folding fan that has an illumination element or light inside of a guard of a folding fan wherein the light emitted emanates both outward and inward.
One embodiment of the present disclosure may be a folding fan with programmable, changeable, and adjustable lights within a guard of the fan.
One embodiment of the present disclosure may be folding fan that has a rechargeable or changeable battery within the rib that powers the illumination element. Preferably, the battery and lighting elements are securely protected and encased within the rib or guard.
It is an object to provide lighting within a guard of a folding fan such that the lighting components are protected.
Other features and advantages are inherent in the folding fan that is claimed and disclosed will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.
The drawings are of illustrative embodiments. They do not illustrate all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details which may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration. Some embodiments may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without all of the components or steps, which are illustrated. When the same numeral appears in different drawings, it refers to the same or like components or steps.
In the following detailed description of various embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of the embodiments. However, these embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still others will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. As will be realized, these embodiments are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of protection. Accordingly, the graphs, figures, and the detailed descriptions thereof, are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment shall not be interpreted to limit the scope of protection.
In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe certain features of one or more embodiments. For purposes of the specification, unless otherwise specified, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, in one embodiment, an object that is “substantially” located within a housing would mean that the object is either completely within a housing or nearly completely within a housing. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is also equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result.
As used herein, the terms “approximately” and “about” generally refer to a deviance of within 5% of the indicated number or range of numbers. In one embodiment, the term “approximately” and “about,” may refer to a deviance of between 0.0001-10% from the indicated number or range of numbers.
As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are signified both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.
“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word “comprise” and variations of the word, such as “comprising” and “comprises,” means “including but not limited to,” and is not intended to exclude, for example, other components, integers or steps. “Exemplary” means “an example of” and is not intended to convey an indication of a preferred or ideal embodiment. “Such as” is not used in a restrictive sense, but for explanatory purposes.
Disclosed are components that may be used to perform the disclosed methods and systems. These and other components are disclosed herein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specific reference of each various individual and collective combinations and permutation of these may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein, for all methods and systems. This applies to all embodiments of this application including, but not limited to, steps in disclosed methods. Thus, if there are a variety of additional steps that may be performed it is understood that each of these additional steps may be performed with any specific embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosed methods.
The present methods and systems may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and the examples included therein and to the Figures and their previous and following description.
Various embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more embodiments. It may be evident, however, that the various embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate describing these embodiments. It is to be understood that the methods and systems are not limited to specific methods, specific components, or to particular implementations. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.
In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe certain features of one or more embodiments. For purposes of the specification, unless otherwise specified, the term guard refers to the two outermost ribs of a foldable hand fan. The term rib, which includes the guards, refers to the elongated and substantially rigid structures that form the backbones of the folding fan. The illuminated ribs are preferably made of plastic so as to be easily shaped to be hollow and contain the electrical, power, and lighting components.
Panel 305 may be a second lighting screen or may be an access panel providing access to the charger and or battery components of the rib 300. As shown, the housing 310, panel 305, and screen 355 preferably fit together so as to provide protection to the internal lighting, power, and electrical components.
In an alternate embodiment, the housing 310 itself may comprise a degree of transparency such that light generated within the housing 310 may pass through the housing 310, wherein the components housed within the housing 310 may, or may not, be visible through the housing 310.
The housing 310, panel 305, and screen 355 may be decorated or tinted to be any color desired.
The charging port 315 may be located on a distal or top end of the housing 310. The charging port 315 may be configured to accept one or more standard types of universal serial bus type plugs or propriety type plugs. The charging port 315 is preferably configured to allow the guard to accept an alternating current or direct current power charge.
The light source 651 and button 660 may be affixed to a top or front surface 611 of the lighting board 650, while the power source 610 may be affixed to a rear or bottom surface 613 of the lighting board 650.
The lighting board 650 may be a printed circuit board or the like. The lighting board 650 may be configured to electrically connect the light source 651, power source 610, and button 660.
The light source 651 may be an LED, OLED, QLED, Plasma, LCD, EL panel, or substantially any other form of lighting mechanism or illumination device. In some embodiments, the light source 651 may be a single row of lights. In some embodiments, the light source 651 may be multiple rows of lights. The light source 651 may be single or multi-colored.
The power source 610 may comprise a battery (single use or rechargeable) and a charging mechanism, if the battery is rechargeable, as preferred. The charging mechanism may comprise a wired charging port 615. In an alternate embodiment, the charging mechanism may be replaced with a wireless charging coil. In alternate embodiments, the power source 610 may comprise a cord or other mechanism that is attached to an external AC or DC power source.
The button 660 may be configured to, when actuated, toggle between an on and off lighting condition of the light source 651 by using power or electricity provided by the power source 610. In some embodiments, additional lighting conditions, programs, fades (in, out, and/or cyclical), and color changes, may be engaged, such as intermittent or flashing illumination, or specific patterns or images generated by the light source 651.
In some embodiments, the lighting assembly 600 may further comprise a communication module 699. The communication module 699 may be configured to communicate with a remote device, such as a smart phone, laptop, desktop, tablet, or other electronic computing device, such that the remote device may send to the lighting assembly 600 instructions and or commands to cause the light source 651 to activate, deactivate, or illuminate in a programmed manner. The communication module 699 may be a wireless communication module, as preferred, or a wired communication module. In one embodiment, the wired communication module 699 may receive communication through the wired charging port 615.
In other embodiments, the button 760 may be a digital or analog switch that allows the user to manually control the light source 751. The button 760 may be accessible through the housing or it may be connected to a mechanism on the housing that actuates the button 760. In other embodiments, the button 760 may be a touch screen type button on the surface of the housing. The button 760 is also called a power switch or a control button.
Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, locations, and other specifications, which set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range, which is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the above detailed description, which shows and describes the illustrative embodiments. As will be realized, these embodiments are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, although not explicitly recited, one or more additional embodiments may be practiced in combination or conjunction with one another. Furthermore, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment shall not be interpreted to limit the scope of protection. It is intended that the scope of protection is not limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims that are appended hereto.
Except as stated immediately above, nothing which has been stated or illustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedication of any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, or equivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recited in the claims.
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| 20020172597 | Shiratori | Nov 2002 | A1 |
| 20070188986 | Kobayashi | Aug 2007 | A1 |
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| 3156335 | Dec 2009 | JP |
| 2016073565 | May 2016 | JP |
| 1020020088025 | Nov 2002 | KR |
| 101506400 | Mar 2015 | KR |
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