The present invention relates to portable column tower fans and portable electric heaters. More specifically, the present invention relates to an air directing grill augmenting the ability of the device to affect different size areas.
Fans have been used or many years to provide a cooling sensation for the user. The cooling sensation associated with fans of all types is dependent upon developing a moving current of air passing over the user. The passage of an air current over the user increases the evaporation of moisture from the skin surface of the user. A liquid must extract the necessary heat of vaporization in order to make the phase change to the gaseous state. Evaporating liquids extract heat from the remaining liquid and other materials in contact with the liquid. When subjected to elevated ambient temperatures evaporation is an important means of heat transfer away from the human body.
To increase and assist in this process a series of portable electric devices have been developed. One such device is the column tower fan. A column tower fan utilizes an elongated impeller to create a vertical column of air. One advantage of the conventional column tower fan is the fact that the vertical aspect ratio of the device efficiently uses floor space. Space efficiency is especially important when the device is used in a room, such as for example a bed room in which other large pieces of furniture are present. Another advantage of a conventional column tower fan is the transverse impeller used in the device is relatively quiet when compared to conventional fans that utilize axial type blades.
Although space efficient and quiet, there are several disadvantages that accompany the conventional column tower fan. One disadvantage is the narrow width of the air stream. The width of the air stream minimizes the area affected by the air current, which in turn minimizes the area in which the cooling affect of the device can be sensed. In an attempt to overcome this disadvantage, conventional column tower fans have added features such as oscillation. Although oscillation mitigates this disadvantage it simply deprives one area from the cooling effect of the air current until the oscillating movement returns the air current to that area.
Responses to these problems have varied, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,321,034, 6,830,433 and 7,059,826. As can be seen, these responses are complicated and expensive requiring the need to rotate air generator components and complete sections of the device housing.
Although the above mentioned patents increases the width of the exhaust air stream when compared to a conventional tower fan these embodiments have disadvantages as well. The exhaust air stream in the mentioned patents is divided by moving one section of the housing relative to another section of the housing. As can be appreciated the mechanisms, additional parts and additional assembly labor required to achieve the relative movement of the housing sections increases the manufacturing complication and as a result the cost of the product to the consumer.
In view of the deficiencies of conventional column tower fans what is needed is a device that preserves the advantages while overcoming the deficiencies. The portable air moving device with multi directional grill according to embodiments of the present invention provides a simple yet economical structure that preserves the space saving and low noise characteristics while increasing the area of coverage of the air current.
As described and shown, the portable air moving device with multi directional grill uses a novel grill design to increase the coverage area of the air current. The use of a grill structure with multiple segments allows the air current to be segmented, each segment capable of being controlled independently to effect directional control of each segmented air current. As a result, in lieu of the single column of air produced by conventional column tower fans and tower heaters, the portable air moving device with a segmented, multi-directional grill produces multiple streams of air that can be independently controlled and adjusted to cover a larger or smaller area, as desired.
One aspect of the invention includes a housing defining an interior space and an air inlet in the housing allowing air to enter the interior space along with an air outlet allowing air to exit the interior space.
Another aspect of the invention is the location of an air generator within the interior space of said housing.
Yet another aspect of the invention is the inclusion of an air directing grill located proximate the air outlet including two or more grills segments being independently movable relative to each other. In some embodiments, the portable air moving device includes a single air outlet opening having multiple grill segments, each grill segment being capable of independent movement with respect to other grill segment(s).
Another aspect of the invention is the vertical alignment of the two or more grill segments along a substantially co-linear axis of rotation.
The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawing are not to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawing are the following Figures:
Arrows 254 and 256 show the possible movement of grill segments 250 and 252, respectively. Arrows 254 and 256 show the independent movement of each grill segment 250 and 252 relative to each other. As shown by arrows 254 and 256 the grill segments 250 and 252 are capable of horizontal movements. The ability to adjust the position of grill segments 250 and 252 independently enhance the functionality of the device for the user, as shown in and described with respect to
As shown, grill frame 240 is assembled over air outlet 214. Grill segments 250 and 252 are assembled into grill frame 240, which in turn assures that air stream 150 will pass through grill segments 250 and 252. The air segments 250 and 252 are capable of independent movement with respect to one another and as a result may split air stream 150 into two separate air exhaust streams 150a and 150b.
In the illustrated embodiment, housing bottom 212 is adapted to interface with oscillation motor 270, link arm 272, and link 274. Oscillation motor 270 may be fixed to upper adaptor 312 which in turn is adapted to assemble housing 200 onto the upper end of riser 310. Oscillator motor 270 may be used to generate a horizontal movement of housing 200 thereby increasing the coverage area of the exhaust air flow, (see
As shown, control 216 is located proximate and under housing top 210. Control 216 is used to control the functions of the fan such as, for example: on/off, oscillation, impeller speeds, timers, etc.
Located within interior space 202 of housing 200 is air generator 400. In the illustrated embodiment, air generator 400 includes air cut off 402, motor 404, impeller 406, air guide 408, and upper bearing 410. As shown, air generator 400 uses impeller 406 which is a transverse or crossflow impeller.
Base 300 is used to maintain portable air moving device with multi directional grill 100 in an upright position. Base 300 may include stabilizer 320, lower adaptor 314, riser 310, and upper adaptor 312. It is contemplated that base 300 may be utilized absent riser 310.
As shown air stream 150 passes into and through housing 200 as a substantially straight vector. Air stream 150 is divided into multiple exhaust air streams 150a, 150b as it passes through grill segments 250 and 252, respectively.
Although two grill segments 250 and 252 were shown in the exemplary embodiments, the invention is not so limited. It is contemplated that two or more grill segments could be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, three grill segments may be used; four grill segments may be used, five grill segments may be used; etc.
In addition, although the illustrated embodiment shown two grill segments that are substantially the same size, the invention is not so limited. It is contemplated that the grill segments may be different sizes. Further, although the illustrated embodiment shown two grill segments having substantially similar louver elements and louver spacing, the invention is not so limited. It is contemplated that each grill segment could comprise different louver elements and/or louver spacing.
The area affected by the exhaust air stream can be increased by oscillation movement (represented by arrow 350) of housing 200. This increased affected area is shown by coverage angle β 352 defined by exhaust air boundaries 352a and 352b. This is a possible configuration for portable air moving device with multi-directional grill 100.
The area affected by the exhaust air stream can be increased by oscillation movement (represented by arrow 350) of housing 200. This increased affected area is shown by coverage angle β 356 defined by exhaust air boundaries 356a and 356b. This configuration for portable air moving device with multi-directional grill 100 is a performance enhancement not present in conventional tower fans and tower heaters.
It is contemplated that grill segments 250 and 252 may be automatically oscillated along movements 254 and 256. Such automatic oscillation may oscillate the grill segments together or in opposite oscillation directions. Such automatic grill oscillation may be used with or without oscillation movement 350 of housing 200.
However, when the device is located in corner 506 of the room, as shown, the ability to oscillate housing 200 by oscillation movement 350 may be impeded. An example of one such impediment is the physical interference of housing 200 with either of walls 504 and 502 during oscillation. A second example of a possible impediment is the location of air inlets 204 located in a rear portion of housing 200 (see
When the device is located in corner 506 of a room, as shown in
Heating element 602 is used to raise the temperature of the air flow generated by air generator 650 prior to exiting interior space 202 of housing 200. As such, the enhanced performance characteristics and advantages of a portable air moving device with multi-directional grill 100, as shown and described with respect to
As shown, heating element 602 is a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater but the invention is not so limited. It is contemplated that other types of heating elements could be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.
It is also contemplated that other air conditioning structures could be used in lieu of heating element 602. For example, humidification mechanisms, air filtration mechanisms, and/or air purification mechanisms could be placed within interior space 202 of housing 200 either before or after air generator 650.
As shown in
Portable air moving devices with multi-directional grill 100 and 600, as shown and described. overcome many if not all of the deficiencies of conventional column tower fans and tower column heaters. The portable air moving device with multi-directional grill 100 and 600 describes a structure that preserves the space saving and low noise characteristics while increasing the area of coverage of the exhaust air current.
The use of a novel grill design including grill segments 250 and 252 having independent movement relative to each other increases the coverage area of the generated exhaust air steam. The use of grill segments 250 and 252 greatly decreases manufacturing complication and cost when compared prior designs that require the rotation of air generator components and the rotation of complete sections of the device housing.
Although the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/349,250 filed May 28, 2010 and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/380,798 filed Sep. 8, 2010.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61380798 | Sep 2010 | US | |
61349250 | May 2010 | US |