Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02358870 2001-10-03
1
Divisional Application
CONVERTIBLE FLOOR AND WINDOW FAN
This application is a divisional application of
Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2,052,051, which was
1o filed on 23 September 1991. The invention relates generally
to a portable electric fan and, more particularly, to a
portable electric fan for selective use as either a window
fan or a free standing fan suitable for placement on stable
support surfaces such as floors or tables.
15 Portable electric fans are used extensively to reduce
personal discomfort caused by excessive temperature. Most
users maximize utility of such fans by moving them into
different locations determined by particular activities.
For example, fans can be placed on available support
2o surfaces such as floors or tables to provide air movement
within housing enclosures or can be mounted in open windows
to provide air circulation between a housing enclosure and
the external environment. Most prior portable fans,
however, have not been structurally suitable for safe and
25 efficient use when mounted in open windows.
The object of this invention, therefore, is to
provide an improved portable electric fan that can be
conveniently and safely used in either desired ir_ternal
locations of a housing structure or in open windows thereof.
3o The invention is a portable electric fan including a
housing having a front wall defining a front opening for
transmitting air, a rear wall defining a rear opening for
transmitting air, a top surface, and a bottom si:rface; a
fan blade rotatably mounted in the housing and adapted
35 to move air in a given direction through the front and
rear openings; and retainer means projecting upwardly
from the top surface and adapted to engage
CA 02358870 2001-10-03
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one side of the sash of a vertically movable window. Also
included are first and second elongated legs movably mounted in
spaced apart positions on the bottom surface and adapted for
movement between floor and window positions, each of the legs
projecting in the given direction beyond the front and rear walls
when in its floor position and extending in longitudinally aligned
directions substantially perpendicular to the direction when in
its window position. The retainer means and elongated legs
facilitate alternative use of the fan for either internal or
window applications.
according to one feature of the invention, she retainer
means comprise tabs molded integrally with the housing and
disposed at an edge of the top surface joining the rear wall.
Lhe efficient and low cost tabs render the fan useful as an air
exhaust unit.
according to anotzer feature, the invention includes
another tai; of spaced apart tabs disposed at an edge of the
top surface joini.-lg the front wall. the second pair of tabs
termits alternative use of the fan as an intake unit.
according to yet anot::er feature of the invention, t a
retainer means further comprises a handle mounted for movement
in the given direction on a central portion of the =op surface
and projecting upwardly therefrom. after positions adust.,~e.~.t
to 'ngage an onoosite side of the sash, to handle 5rovides
'urther stability for the :window :counted fan unit.
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According to still another feature, the invention includes
means biasing movement of the handle toward the rear edge mounted
tabs. The bias means simplifies positional adjustment of the
handle.
According to a further feature, the invention includes
electrical controls movably mounted on the housing and adapted
for movement between one position accessible by a user facing the
front wall and another position accessible by a user facing the
rear wall. The movable controls facilitate alternative use of the
fan as either an intake or exhaust unit.
As such, in one aspect of the present invention resides in a
portable electric fan comprising: housing means having a front
wall defining a front opening for transmitting air, a rear wall
defining a rear opening for transmitting air, a top surface, and
a bottom surface; fan blade means rotatably mounted in said
housing means and adapted to move air in a given direction
through said front and rear openings; retainer means projecting
upwardly from said top surface and adapted to engage one side of
the sash of a vertically movable window; and first and second
elongated legs movably mounted in spaced apart positions on said
bottom surface and adapted for movement between floor and window
positions, each of said legs projecting in said given direction
beyond said front and rear walls when in said floor position and
extending in longitudinally aligned directions substantially
perpendicular to said direction when in said window p~~sition.
In another aspect, the invention resides in a portable
electric fan comprising: housing means having a front wall
defining a front opening for transmitting air, a rear wall
defining a ,rear opening for transmitting air, a top surface, and
a bottom surface; fan blade means rotatably mounted in said
housing means and adapted to move air in a given dire~~tion
through said front
CA 02358870 2001-10-03
3a
and rear openings; and electrical control means movably mounted
on said housing means and adapted for movement between one
position accessible by a user facing said front wall and another
position accessible by a user facing said rear wall.
In a further aspect, the present invention resides in a
portable electric fan comprising: housing means having a front
wall defining a front opening for transmitting air, a rear
wall defining a rear opening for transmitting air, a top surface,
and a bottom surface; fan blade means rotatably mounted in said
housing means and adapted to move air in a given direction
through said front and rear openings; and retainer means
projecting upwardly from said top surface and adapted to engage
one side of the sash of a vertically movable window; said
retainer means comprising a pair of spaced apart tabs disposed at
an edge of said top surface joining said rear wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and features of the invention will
become more apparent upon a perusal of the following description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a convertible fan
according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a rear view of the fan shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an exploded view of a handle assembly;
Fig. 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the handle
assembly shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the convertible fan
of Fig. 1 mounted in an open window;
Fig. 6 is a front perspective view of another convertible
fan embodiment;
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3b
Fig. 7 is a detailed view of a rotatable electrical control
unit included with the fan shown in Fig. 6; and
Fig. 8 is a rear perspective view of the fan shown in Fig.
s.
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A convertible fan I1 includes a housing 12 and a fan
blade 13 rotatably mounted in the housing 12. The housing 12
has a front wall 16 and a rear wall 17 joined by a top surface
18, a bottom surface 19 and a retainer system 14. Defined by
S the front surface 16 is a front opening 21 while the rear wall
17 defines a rear opening 22. The front and rear openings 21,
22 transmit air moved by the blade 13 in a direction perpendicular
to the front and rear walls 16, I7.
Included in the retainer system 14 are a pair of tabs
24, 2~ and a handle 26 all projecting upwardly prom the top
sur~ace 18. The tabs 24, 25 are molded interqrally witz the
housing 12 and are spaced apart on an edge 27 of the top sur=ace
I8 _that joins the rear wall 17. As shown in Figs. 3 and -~, the
handle 26 includes a hood portion 31 the underside 32 oz whic:l
1~ roans a gripping sur=ace, downwardly extending leg portions 33,
and ylange -portions 34 extending outwardly there=rpm. The legs
33 extend ~-hrough slots 36 in a front portion of the top sur=ace
I8 and ~ne ~'ange portions 34 slidably engage an uner surface 37
thereo=. a pair o= spring members 38 have opposite ends attac:led,
respectively, to apertures 39 in the 'lange portions 34 and
apertures in tabs 41 extending prom an inner sur=ace o' the rear
;aal1 1.. Thus, the centrally located handle 25 is -nounted _-.,_
sliding movement on the top sur=ace 18 is the given directicr_
of air glow Through c'.~.e ~ront and rear openings 21, 22 and is
?5 aiased r'ar-~ardl~r towar : _h 2 =abs 2:~, 25 ay =he spring members ~8.
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_5_
Supporting the housing 12 are a pair of elongated legs
51, 52. Each of the legs 51, 52 is pivotally secured by pivots
53 to the bottom surface 19. The legs 52 can be pivotally
moved from a floor position shown in rFig. 1 in which they project
beyond the front and rear walls 16, 17 in the given direction of
air flow through the openings 21, 22 and a window position shown
in Fig. 5 in which they are longitudinally aligned in directions
substantially perpendicular to the given direction of air flow.
During use of the fan 11, the gripping portion 32 of
the handle 26 can be used to transport the housing 12 to any
desired location providing a suitable support surface (not
shown) for the legs 51, 52 in their Tloor positions shown in
Fig. _. ~rlhen use in an open window is desired, the fan ii
is mounted in the manner shown in F'_g. 5 . ~f ter pivoti_~.g oy
the legs 5i, 52 into their aligned :window positions, the
bottom sur=ace 19 is placed on the upper surface 55 of a windcw
sill molding 56. The legs 5i, 52 extend behind and below to
:,ioldi_~.g ~6 and engage a year sur=ace ~7 thereof. with the
.an ?' in that position, the tans 24, 25 are aligned wit: a
ear surface 58 of an opened sash 59 which then is lowered ito
engagement with the top surface 13 while the handle is held
foraardly against the bias of the spring members 38. after
closing of t,'~e sash 59 against the upper surface 18, the har_dl a
is =eleased allowing the siring members 38 to rove the ccd
25 ~orti~n 31 into engagement with an inner surface of t a sas'.~_~_ ~a .
~'hus, _ a =an 1~ is recur el y retained bet;aeen tze sash ~ 9 arc
~e sill 56 while t!:e =2ar~,aard~=r p~sitionec v3DS 24, 2i ~r~-r=.=~
a ~csi~'_oni:-g stop t a= es'ablisi:es c'_aarar_c' for a ~.oi: dcw
sc_ee~ 5_.
CA 02358870 2001-10-03
-6-
Illustrated in Figs. 6-8 is another convertible fan
embodiment 71 of the invention. Parts of the fan embodiment
71 identical to those of above described embodiment 11 have
been given the same reference numerals. The fan 71 is adapted
S for use as either an intake or an exhaust unit by a retainer
system 72 and an electrical control box 70_ Included in the
retainer system 72 are a pair of rear tabs 73, a pair of front
tabs 74, and a handle 75. The rear tabs 73 extend upwardly ~rom
the top surface 18 and are spaced apart along a rear edge thereof
joining the rear surface 17. Similarly, the tront tabs i~ ext'na
upwardly from the top surface 13 and are spaced apart along a
front edge thereof joining the front surface lo. Preferably,
the tabs 73, 74 are molded as an integral unit with the housing 12.
The handle 75 is mounted for sliding movement Taithin slots 76 in
1~ the ton surface 13 in the given direction of air flow through the
openings 21, 22.
~s shown in Fig. 7, the electrical control unit 70 is
rotatably mounted in a recess 81 formed in the housing 12. Thus,
the control box 70 can be rotated between a front position shcwn
in Fig. 'o and a rear position shown in Fig. 3. When in its =rent
oosi=ion shown in Fig. 6, control buttons 33 of the unit 73 are
accessible by a user facing the =runt wall 16. Conversaly,
-,when in their rear position, the control but-~cns 83 are access=b'_a
to a wiser racing the rear wall 17.
CA 02358870 2001-10-03
-7-
When used as a window fan, the unit 71 is positioned in
an ocened window in a manner similar to that described above.
When use as an intake fan is desired, the housing 12 is placed
on a window sill and a sash is lowered into engagement with the
top surface 18 and between the rear tabs 73 and the handle.
Secure =etention is insured by moving the handle 75 into engagement
with an iizner suryace of the sash and the box 70 is rotated y~=o
its forNard position shown in Fig. o so as to be accessible to
a user in an enclosure deffining the open :,rindew into which t he
fan uni~ 71 has been placed.
;then use as an exhaus t =an is desir ed, the uni t 7 '_
is ~.osicioned cn a sil' and a window sash is moved dcwnwardl_r
into encaQe:nent ~ai~h th a too sur-ace ' 3 and bet:,reen =:~e _-_on=
tams 7s ar_d tze ha:.dle 75. ~gan, the handla 75 is adusted
;:, aiorg c he 'oc sur=ace 18 t~, estabiisrl engacement or a sas~~
bet:eeen _:~e ~=ont tabs 71 and ~:ze handle 73. _ final-y, ~h a
COntrCi. bCx 7~ 1S rCtated lntC 1tS redr L3Clng OCSi=~On 3hOwn
in Fig. 3 again estab'ishing access of the control buttons 8
LC 3 ~lS2r 'al~:l~i'1 t: a enclosure .-~..e=;:link ~.:le Or:e-~. %~11: CCW 1n
t~
=J :JhiC h th a ~3n llni~ 7T !laS been _.~._aC°d.
~'DV;CL1S.'.'J, :LIdZ:V .WCC~"1=iC3~~0115 3~G 'Tar=3';CnS :~_ =.'=a
:rrS32_~,r ; n~;~-lt_Cn 3=° COSS~C!.'3 i~ _ JC:t O~ _ he 3DOVe
~S3C:1_=1cS .
=C :e '~C2r.S'.~.Cd, _ ~er°-.:=?r =:3.C =..~e ._~.'ie_~.v._:_~_ 3~ ~e
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r;c=_cad ..~e=-.rise ch an 's speci=_cai-:r '_esc=_hed.
