U.S. patent application number 10/285368 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-18 for method and apparatus for portable ventilation system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kensington Technology Group. Invention is credited to Merrem, Ralph, Murray, William R. JR..
Application Number | 20030231958 10/285368 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26963152 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030231958 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murray, William R. JR. ; et
al. |
December 18, 2003 |
Method and apparatus for portable ventilation system
Abstract
A fan assembly includes a ventilation apparatus; a connector for
communicating power; and a positionable power cord, coupled to the
connector and the ventilation apparatus for communicating power
from the connector to the ventilation apparatus. The fan assembly
operates in cooperation with a source of power, such as, for
example, a laptop computer, a USB hub, a power receptacle on a
plane, train or bus.
Inventors: |
Murray, William R. JR.;
(Redwood City, CA) ; Merrem, Ralph; (US) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, LLP
TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
EIGHTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111-3834
US
|
Assignee: |
Kensington Technology Group
San Mateo
CA
|
Family ID: |
26963152 |
Appl. No.: |
10/285368 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60336535 |
Nov 1, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
416/146R ;
454/228 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 19/002
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
416/146.00R ;
454/228 |
International
Class: |
B63H 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fan assembly, comprising: a ventilation apparatus; a connector
for communicating power; a positionable power cord, coupled to said
connector and said ventilation apparatus for communicating power
from said connector to said ventilation apparatus.
2. The fan assembly of claim 1, said ventilation apparatus further
comprising: one or more fan blades; a fan blade housing coupled to
said fan blades and said positionable power cord; means for
rotating at least a portion of said fan blade housing.
3. The fan assembly of claim 2, where said fan blades are made of a
lightweight, flexible material.
4. The fan assembly of claim 2, where said means for rotating said
fan blade housing is accomplished via an electric motor.
5. The fan assembly of claim 1, where said connector is a Universal
Serial Bus (USB) connector.
6. The fan assembly of claim 1, where said positionable power cord
is flexible cord that may be oriented in three-dimensions and after
positioning maintains relative positional stability in a
three-dimensional configuration.
7. The fan assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an external
device with a connection port that couples and provides power to
said fan assembly via said connector.
8. The fan assembly of claim 7, where said external device is a
portable electronic device.
9. The fan assembly of claim 7, where said external device is a
portable laptop computer.
10. The fan assembly of claim 7, where said external device is a
seat housing.
11. The fan assembly of claim 7, where said connection port is a
Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.
12. A fan assembly for a portable electronic device, the assembly
comprising: a ventilation apparatus coupled to an end of said
positionable power cord; a connector for communicating power; a
positionable power cord, coupled to said connector and said
ventilation apparatus for communicating power from said connector
to said ventilation apparatus. an external device with a connection
port that couples and provides power to said fan assembly via said
connector.
13. The fan assembly of claim 8, said ventilation apparatus further
comprising: one or more fan blades; a fan blade housing coupled to
said fan blades and said positionable power cord; means for
rotating at least a portion of said fan blade housing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application and claims
the benefit of application Ser. No. 60/336,535, filed Nov. 1, 2001,
entitled "Method and Apparatus for Portable Ventilation System",
(Attorney Docket No. 14572P-062300US) which disclosure is
incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED
RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] NOT APPLICABLE
REFERENCE TO A "SEQUENCE LISTING," A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM
LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK.
[0003] NOT APPLICABLE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to a fan device for a personal
computer, and more specifically, to a fan device that is portable,
flexible, and derives power from a USB port on a laptop
computer.
[0005] Personal computers are customarily equipped with numerous
types of input/output device connectors or I/O connectors. These
connectors allow peripheral devices to be attached to the computer
to facilitate communication between the computer and peripheral
device or merely to provide the peripheral device with access to
the computer's power source.
[0006] Increasing numbers of peripheral devices have been developed
to work in conjunction with personal computers, including portable
laptop computers. A premium is placed on devices that are compact,
lightweight, or otherwise portable to be transported along with
portable computers.
[0007] A series of devices have been developed to improve computer
users' comfort while using their computers in stable working
environments or in transit. Several lighting or fan devices have
been developed to address this problem. In particular, fan devices
are desirable because of increased air circulation in environments
where air conditioning or ventilation may be inadequate, including
airplanes, trains, subway cars, automobiles, etc.
[0008] Some of these add-on devices carry separate, and often
bulky, power supplies designed for the specific add-on device. In
the interest of portability, other devices plug directly into an
I/O connector to utilize the computer's power supply.
[0009] Previously developed computer-compatible electric fans are
notable for their bulky design. Although using the computer power
supply, such fans are designed with large bases and/or fan blade
cages that make them less appealing for portable use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention provides a simple, efficient solution
to the disadvantages of the prior art. Embodiments of the invention
provide for a small, lightweight ventilation system that may be
used in conjunction with portable electronic equipment.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a fan
assembly includes a ventilation apparatus; a connector for
communicating power; and a positionable power cord, coupled to the
connector and the ventilation apparatus for communicating power
from the connector to the ventilation apparatus. This embodiment
operates in cooperation with a source of power, such as for example
a laptop computer, a USB hub, a power receptacle on a plane, train
or bus.
[0012] These and other novel aspects of the present invention will
be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of
the drawings and the remaining portions of the specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of a portable
ventilation system used in conjunction with a portable electronic
device; and
[0014] FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of a fan assembly
used in the portable ventilation system.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0015] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of a portable
ventilation system used in conjunction with an external device 110.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of a fan assembly 200
used in portable ventilation system 100. In the preferred
embodiment, external device 100 is typically a portable electronic
device, such as a laptop computer as depicted in FIG. 1.
Nonetheless, the present invention is adaptable to any external
device that has an external device jack that is electrically
connected to a power source, including external device jacks on
airplane seats, etc.
[0016] External device 110 includes an external device jack 120
that may provide power to other devices. External device jack 120
may be either an input or output (I/O) port with an electrical
connection to a power source.
[0017] Fan assembly 200 preferably includes a connector 220, a
positionable power cord 230, and a ventilation apparatus 240.
[0018] Connector 220 includes a plug that is able to couple to
external device jack 110. When coupled to external device jack 110,
connector 220 is connected electrically and mechanically to
external device 100 and communicates power to fan assembly 200. In
the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, connector 220 is a Universal
Serial Bus (USB) connector or other type of I/O connector.
[0019] Positionable power cord 230 couples to connector 220 and
ventilation apparatus 240 and communicates electrical power between
connector 220 and ventilation apparatus 240. In a preferred
embodiment, positionable power cord 230 is a "gooseneck" (i.e., a
lightweight and flexible insulated cord that may be oriented into a
wide array of three-dimensional configurations). After positioning,
the cord will maintain and retain relative positional stability in
the desired configuration without external support.
[0020] Ventilation apparatus 240 consists of one or more fan
blade(s) 260 coupled to a fan blade housing 250. In the embodiment
depicted in FIG. 1, two teardrop-shaped fan blades are coupled to a
opposite sides of a rotating cylindrical fan housing. However, the
present invention is not limited to this number, shape, or
configuration of fan blades.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the fan blades are not contained
with a protective cage, as a result they are made of a flexible
material that maintains shape during rotation while also being
malleable enough not to harm or injure user appendages that may
accidentally contact the blades while rotating at maximum speed.
This cage-less embodiment reduces the dimensions and weight of the
fan assembly and thus, increases portability.
[0022] At least a portion of the fan blade housing 250 rotates
360-degrees around an axis, likewise causing the externally
attached fan blades to rotate in the same manner and produce
airflow. Internally, the fan housing may contain an electric motor
and other electrical or mechanical components to allow at least a
portion of the housing to rotate. This motor and other components
are powered by electricity obtained from the external device. As
depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the fan housing is depicted
as having a primarily cylindrical shape, but may be alternatively
configured.
[0023] In operation, connector 220 is plugged into a compatible
external device jack 120 on a laptop computer, portable electronic
device, airplane seat, etc. Fan blade rotation may either be
initiated by simply plugging the connector into the external jack.
Alternatively, after plugging the connector into the external jack,
the user may also have to operate a switch or other mechanism
located on the fan assembly to initiate rotation of the fan blades.
The user may also modify the static configuration of the
positionable power cord 230 to reposition the ventilation apparatus
and obtain the desired direction of airflow. To turn off the
device, the user may either turn off a switch, if available, or
unplug the device from the external device jack.
[0024] The invention has been described with reference to
particular embodiments thereof. However, these embodiments are
merely illustrative and not restrictive of the present invention,
the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.
* * * * *