Patent Application
20090208353
This invention relates to a motorized fan incorporated into the whimsical form of a figure, particularly an animal.
Various apparatuses exist to provide novelty devices having fan mechanisms. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,331 to Weiser shows a novelty with an incorporated fan. However, the existing devices do not teach a motorized fan coupled to a whimsical figure, particularly of an animal.
The present invention is directed to a motorized fan with a whimsical figure appearance that has an electric fan and a body member, and it may also have appendages and a support base. The body member is connected to the electric fan such that the electric fan is generally located within the body member. The appendage may represent the arm, leg, tail, neck, wing, head, tongue, quill, antenna, or other body part that is connected to the body of the whimsical figure. There may be a plurality of appendages. An appendage may further contain additional embellishments to represent other features of the whimsical figure's body, such as the brush at the end of a tail, feet, hooves, a head, fins, flippers, hands, ears, horns, feathers, or whiskers. Preferably, the whimsical figure is the characterization of an animal.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Referring to the figures, the present invention is directed to a motorized fan with a whimsical figure appearance 10 that has an electric fan 12, a body member 14, and at least one appendage 16. The motorized fan with a whimsical figure appearance 10 may also have a support base 18. The whimsical figure is preferably the characterization of a whimsical animal.
The electric fan 12 may have an electric motor 20 having an output shaft 21, a plurality of fan blades 22 connected to the output shaft 21 of the electric motor 20, a protective guard 24 surrounding the electric motor 20 and the plurality of fan blades 22, and a power cord 26 to provide electric power to the electric motor 20.
The electric fan 12 may further have a switch for turning the fan off and on. The switch may also select various speeds for the fan ranging from a relatively high radial speed to a relatively low radial speed. The switch may be located on the electric fan 12, on the body member 14, on the power cord 26, on the support base 18 or in any other convenient location. In some embodiments, the electric motor 20 may be powered by batteries rather than by the power cord 26.
The body member 14, fan member, or cowling is connected to the electric fan 12 such that the electric fan 12 is generally located within the body member 14. The electric fan 12 may be connected to the body member 14 by way of one or more fan mounts 15. In some embodiments, the electric fan 12 is generally centered within the body member 14. The body member 14 may be semi-toroidal in shape as depicted in the figures. Furthermore, the body member 14 may have a plurality of wire loops, with reticulate material, such as mesh or screen, or spanning between the wire loops. The wire loops may be generally parallel to each other to form a generally rounded shape. Although the body member 14 is described with reference to wire loops, it is also contemplated that the wire forms can be various non-circular shapes, such as polygonal or irregular shapes, to depict the body or portion of the body of the whimsical figure to be characterized. Furthermore, the body member 14 may be formed without using wire forms, and in some embodiments the body member 14 may have non-reticulate material. It is also contemplated that the protective guard 24 may be the body member 14, and it is contemplated that the body member 14 might not completely encircle or surround the electric fan 12. Furthermore, although it is preferred that the electric fan 12 be generally located within the body member 14, in some embodiments the electric fan 12 may be located generally outside of the body member 14. In embodiments where the electric fan 12 is generally located within the body member 14, the body member 14 may have at least one side to reveal the electric fan 12 and to permit air to be drawn into the body member 14 by the electric fan 12. The body member 14 may further have another side to allow airflow out of the body member 14.
The appendage 16 may represent the arm, leg, tail, neck, wing, head, tongue, quill, antenna, or other secondary body portion that is connected to the body of the whimsical figure. There may be a plurality of appendages 16 connected to the body member 14. In fact, a plurality of appendages 16 is preferred as that will generally provide a better characterization of the whimsical figure to be depicted. The appendage 16 may be a helical spring, a straight or curved wire form, or various solid shapes to depict body parts of the characterized figure. An appendage 16 may further contain additional embellishments to represent other features, such as the brush at the end of a tail, feet, hands, hooves, the figure's head, fins, flippers, ears, horns, feathers, or whiskers.
The support base 18 may be a flat plate or other supportive surface. One or more appendages 16 may be connected to the support base 18. In embodiments having appendages 16 that represent legs, for example, the lower part of the leg, the foot, or the hoof (where present) may be connected to the support base 18. Although not required by all embodiments, the support base 18 provides stability to the motorized fan with a whimsical figure appearance 10; it is useful to counter the forces exerted on the device by the electric fan 12 and to provide structural integrity for the appendage 16 or plurality of appendages 16, where necessary. The support surface may further be decorated to represent or signify, for example, grass, water, dirt, or clouds, as an appropriate background for the characterized figure. While described as being a supportive surface, it is also contemplated that the support base 18 need not be located underneath the remainder of the motorized fan with a whimsical figure appearance 10. For example, the support base 18 may be to the side of or above the remainder of the device. Such alternative placements may be useful for, for example, mounting the motorized fan with a whimsical figure appearance 10 on a generally vertical surface or suspending it from a generally horizontal surface.
While the present invention has been described with regard to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept. Furthermore, it is understood that the figure's features as described and depicted are whimsical. As such, it is also understood that the various features may differ from their counterparts on living figures, if any.
This invention may be applied to the manufacture and use of motorized fans incorporated into the whimsical form of a figure, particularly an animal.
