U.S. patent application number 13/489389 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-20 for table and fan combo.
Invention is credited to Raymond Noeth.
Application Number | 20120318179 13/489389 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47352653 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120318179 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Noeth; Raymond |
December 20, 2012 |
Table and fan combo
Abstract
The device is comprised of a low profile motorized fan and
housing enclosure that mounts out of plain site beneath a typical
utility table top. The table and fan assembly allows for occupant
leg room, easy storage, and portability of table. The fan enclosure
avoids comingling of intake and vented air by redirecting intake
air flow perpendicularly to the vented air. The enclosure vents air
outward from the center of the underside of table top up to three
hundred and sixty degrees parallel to the table top. The device
allows for the optimum installation of an optional heater and or
water mister device by supplying a section for their installation
where the complete air stream is channeled. The enclosure provides
optional receptacles for a shade umbrella support pole to transfer
umbrella support loads through the housing enclosure.
Inventors: |
Noeth; Raymond; (West Palm
Beach, FL) |
Family ID: |
47352653 |
Appl. No.: |
13/489389 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61520914 |
Jun 17, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
108/50.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 37/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/50.13 |
International
Class: |
A47B 37/00 20060101
A47B037/00 |
Claims
1. An enclosed motorized fan assembly for use with a utility table
comprising: a table; a direct current powered motor; said motor
having an output shaft supporting vanes to convert mechanical
rotation to air current; an enclosure that houses said motor and
output shaft supporting vanes to convert mechanical rotation to air
current; said housing enclosure that mounts out of plain view to
the bottom side of said table; said table and fan housing having
maximum floor clearance for leg room; said housing enclosure that
channels and redirects air flow from vertical flow to a horizontal
flow; said housing enclosure with intake port facing vertically and
exhaust vent facing horizontally; said housing enclosure with
debris guard on the intake port; said housing enclosure with an
exhaust vent having a finger guard; said exhaust vent having doors
that adjust for air direction and flow; said housing enclosure
having receptacles to receive the connecting ends of a sectional
support pole for a typical table umbrella.
2. An enclosed motorized fan assembly for use with a utility table
comprising: a table; an alternating current powered motor; said
motor having an output shaft supporting vanes to convert mechanical
rotation to air current; an enclosure that houses said motor and
output shaft supporting vanes to convert mechanical rotation to air
current; said housing enclosure that mounts out of plain view to
the bottom side of said table; said table and fan housing having
maximum floor clearance for leg room; said housing enclosure that
channels and redirects air flow from vertical flow to a horizontal
flow; said housing enclosure with intake port facing vertically and
exhaust vent facing horizontally; said housing enclosure with
debris guard on the intake port; said housing enclosure with an
exhaust vent having a finger guard; said exhaust vent having doors
that adjust for air direction and flow; said housing enclosure
having receptacles to receive the connecting ends of a sectional
support pole for a typical table umbrella.
3. A table and enclosed motorized fan assembly in accordance with
claim 1 and claim 2 having an electrical speed control;
4. A table and enclosed motorized fan assembly in accordance with
claim 1 and claim 2, and claim 3 wherein: said housing enclosure
having a dedicated space for an optional electrical heating
element;
5. A table and enclosed motorized fan assembly in accordance with
claim 1, claim 2 and claim 3 wherein: said housing enclosure having
a dedicated space for an optional heat exchanger.
6. A table and enclosed motorized fan assembly in accordance with
claims 3 and 4 wherein: said housing enclosure having a dedicated
port for an optional water misting nozzle.
7. A table and enclosed motorized fan assembly in accordance with
claim 1, claim 2 and claim 3 wherein: said housing enclosure having
a dedicated port for an optional water misting nozzle
8. A table and enclosed motorized fan assembly in accordance with
claim 1 and claim 2 having an on off switch.
Description
[0001] This application claims benefit of Provisional Application
filed Jun. 17, 2011 application No. 61/520,914
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] (1) Field of Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a low profile fan system that
mounts out of view beneath table tops for the purpose of supplying
a breeze for the comfort of the table's occupants.
[0004] (2) Prior Art
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,811 Hopkins, U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,188
Benton, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,537,015 Molnar IV et al. all use a fan
and table combination and is the closest art known. All primarily
supply air current to the table's occupants for comfort. All three
devices inherit several problems that are overcome by this present
invention. Hopkins and Benton, patents . . . 811 and . . . 188,
both have unstableness due to their high center of gravity and
cannot efficiently heat or cool the breeze from the fan.
Furthermore there is a safety concern as to expose rotating fan
blades that are in close proximity of the occupants. Additionally,
the fan obstructs view and creates a height restriction. Molnar's,
patent . . . 015 incorporates an air treatment system instead of
overhead fans that is mounted to the base of the table taking up
valuable foot room from the occupants. In addition, his patent does
not easily retrofit to existing tables because it perforates the
table top and uses up table space. In all cases, the tables are
somewhat heavy and unsightly making them less portable, storable,
and attractive, which is more evident in Molnar's patent claiming
wheels to make it easier to move the cumbersome device around.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0006] Utility tables, such as the ones used by cafes and on patios
have become very popular due to smoking regulations and in
expanding dining areas to outside grounds. This has stimulated the
need for more portable tables that can be moved and stored easily.
In many cases these tables have to be low-profile in nature to
please local covenants and able to be stacked for storage when not
use.
[0007] There are many methods to extend the use of these utility
tables when the outside temperatures become undesirable. The more
typical ways are the use of external fans, heaters, and water mist.
The present invention offers the advantages of these external
devices without using table space, being heavy, having unsightly
appearances, being unsafe, and other shortcomings.
[0008] The present invention relates to an inconspicuous light
weight fan that can be fitted or retrofitted to the bottom side of
new or existing table tops. The fan blows a sheet of air outward up
to 360 degrees from beneath the table top. It utilizes an electric
motor that is statically affixed to the bottom of a table top. The
motor shaft drives a fan comprising of vanes or impeller to convert
mechanical rotation into air current. The motor and fan assembly is
mounted in a position so that it draws air vertically up from the
direction of the deck where the table rests. The fan and motor
assembly is housed within an enclosure that is also statically
affixed out of plain view to the bottom side of the table top and
distanced from the floor to allow leg room for occupants. This
enclosure transforms the air flow horizontally by channeling it
from a vertical air column to a horizontal direction that flows
outward from the center of the bottom side of the table top to the
outer edges of the table and onto the occupants. The housing has an
air intake port with a debris guard that faces downward and a vent
with a finger guard that faces outward up to 360 degrees in
circumference on a plane that is parallel with the table top. Air
is drawn upwards through the port into the enclosure avoiding the
comingling of the horizontally vented air. The exhausted air can be
controlled by multiple doors that can block the exhausted air to
limit air flow to any one or more of the table's occupants. In the
event a typical table shade umbrella is used with the table the
fan's housing has two receptacles to receive a two or more
sectional umbrella support pole. A receptacle at the top of the
fan's housing receives the bottom of the upper portion of the
umbrella's supporting pole and a receptacle at the bottom of the
said housing receives the top of the lower portion of umbrella's
supporting pole so that the umbrella's load can be transferred to
its base through the fan's housing. The housing also offers a
designated area for an optional heating element or heat exchanger
and or water mister to optimally add or subtract heat to and from
the air stream. The motor and fan assembly is powered by typical
electrical current. For the scope and good faith of this invention
the motor or electrical power is not limited to alternating or
direct current and can utilize either in the event battery power is
needed for remote operation or house current is constantly
available. Furthermore, the optional two currents allow for the
ease and or economics of installing optional motor speed
attenuators for air velocity control.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1, depicts a typical utility table with a motor and fan
in an enclosure that has a cut away view.
[0010] FIG. 2, depicts the top and bottom view of the fan enclosure
without the table and with a partially cut away view to show the
vent doors.
[0011] FIG. 3, depicts a typical schematic of A.C. circuits for an
alternating current fan motor.
[0012] FIG. 4, depicts a typical schematic of D.C. circuits for a
direct current fan motor.
[0013] FIG. 5, depicts a basic power supply circuit that switches
from A.C. power, to D.C. converted to ac power, to supply
alternating-current circuits.
[0014] FIG. 6, depicts a basic power supply switching circuit that
switches from D.C., to A.C. converted to D.C. by an inverter, to
supply direct-current circuits.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] In FIG. 1 a utility table with a motor and fan in an
enclosure is shown. The bottom side of a table top (1) of a utility
table having typical supporting legs (2) has an electrical motor
(3) with an output shaft supporting a fan (4) that is affixed
statically to (1) and an enclosure (5) which houses (3) and (4).
Fan (4) draws air upwards into (5) through an intake port protected
by a debris guard (8). A receptacle hole (11) to receive the top
end of the lower section of an umbrella support pole (not shown)
and a receptacle hole (12) to receive the bottom of the upper
section of the umbrella support pole (not shown) is also
incorporated in (5). Enclosure (5) redirects the air by channeling
it perpendicular to the air stream going into (8) and exhaust it
out through a vent (6) with pivoting vent doors (7) to block air
flow to one or more directions up to 360 degrees on a plane
parallel to (1) and avoiding the commingling of the intake and
vented air. A port (9) is positioned in (5) to accept optional
misting nozzles from an external water misting system not shown,
which supplies mist directly into a cavity (10) of (5) where the
full air flow passes through for optimal heat transfer. Cavity (10)
also accepts an optional electric heating element or heat
exchanger, not shown, for an optimum transfer of heat to the full
air stream.
[0016] FIG. 2, Shows a top view (13) of the fan enclosure looking
down with a cutaway section to view the pivoting vent doors (7)
whereas, three vent doors from approximately 45 to 90 degrees of
the vent's circumference are shown in the closed position blocking
air flow from about 45 to 90 degrees of the vent's circumference.
In addition it shows the central position of (12) the umbrella
support pole receptacle hole. The second portion of FIG. 2 shows
the bottom view (14) of the fan enclosure looking upward showing
receptacle (11) that receives the lower section of the umbrella
pole and its relative position to the debris guard (8) and fan
enclosure (5).
[0017] FIG. 3, Shows a typical schematic for the invention using a
alternating current type power source. The input supplies A.C.
power that is switched on and off through switch (16) to control
power to (3) an A.C. motor, and two auxiliary switches (17) and
(19) that control outputs (18) and (20) for external options such
as heaters and/or water misters. An optional motor speed control
(15) can be used to control air velocities.
[0018] FIG. 4, Shows a typical schematic using a direct current
type power source. The input supplies D.C. power and is switched on
and off through switch (16) which supplies power to (3) a D.C.
motor and two auxiliary switches (17) and (19) that control outputs
(18) and (20) signals or power for external options such as heaters
and or water misters. An optional motor speed control (15) can be
used to control air velocities.
[0019] FIG. 5, Shows a basic switching circuit that can be used to
power the invention where, alternating household current applied to
the input (21). A D.C. battery current is applied to input (22) and
is converted to A.C. by a conventional inverter (23). Input (21)
and the converted input (22) are routed through a double pole
switch (24). Switch (24) toggles either inputs A.C. or the
converted D.C. directly to output (25) as alternating current.
[0020] FIG. 6, Shows a basic switching circuit that can be used to
power the invention where, alternating household current applied to
the input (26) is rectified to direct current by a rectifier (27)
and where a D.C. battery current applied to input (28) are routed
through a double pole switch (29). Switch (29) toggles either
inputs (28), or (26) that is converted to D.C. to output (30) as
direct current.
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