U.S. patent application number 13/775094 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-28 for airflow outlet of air-conditioning device.
This patent application is currently assigned to TREASURE UNICORN LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is TREASURE UNICORN LIMITED. Invention is credited to Peng-Chieh Lee, Po-Chang Lee, Tzu-I Lee, Wei-Ching Lee, Yu-Hsuan Lee, Yu-Jieh Lee.
Application Number | 20140242901 13/775094 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51388615 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140242901 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Wei-Ching ; et
al. |
August 28, 2014 |
AIRFLOW OUTLET OF AIR-CONDITIONING DEVICE
Abstract
The present invention provides an airflow outlet of
air-conditioning device, which comprises a main body having one end
forming an entrance opening and an opposite end forming a plurality
of outward-projecting curved ridges. At least one of the curved
ridges has a side wall forming at least one through hole to allow
air to pass through the through hole. The present invention allows
airflows generated by an air-conditioning device to be conducted to
the through hole to be discharged therefrom. Since the through hole
is formed in a side wall, airflows do not blow directly down as
that occurring in the conventional devices and instead blowing
sideways so as to eliminate any potential risk of causing
discomfort of persons located under the airflow outlet.
Inventors: |
Lee; Wei-Ching; (Taipei
City, TW) ; Lee; Tzu-I; (Taipei City, TW) ;
Lee; Yu-Jieh; (Taipei City, TW) ; Lee; Yu-Hsuan;
(Taipei City, TW) ; Lee; Peng-Chieh; (Taipei City,
TW) ; Lee; Po-Chang; (Taipei City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TREASURE UNICORN LIMITED |
Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
TREASURE UNICORN LIMITED
Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
51388615 |
Appl. No.: |
13/775094 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/339 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/339 |
International
Class: |
F24F 7/00 20060101
F24F007/00 |
Claims
1. An airflow outlet of air-conditioning device, comprising: a main
body, which has one end forming an entrance opening and an opposite
end forming a plurality of curved ridges, at least one of the
curved ridges having a side wall in which at least one through hole
is formed to allow airflow that enters the entrance opening to pass
through the through hole.
2. The airflow outlet of air-conditioning device according to claim
1, wherein each of the curved ridges has a height that is gradually
decreased from a center of the main body toward the outside.
3. The airflow outlet of air-conditioning device according to claim
1, wherein the curved ridges are arranged to be adjacent to each
other.
4. The airflow outlet of air-conditioning device according to claim
1, wherein the main body further comprises an outward-projecting
cup-like protrusion, the cup-like protrusion comprising a cup body
and a bottom cover, the bottom cover being set on an end of the cup
body, the cup body comprising at least one through hole.
5. The airflow outlet of air-conditioning device according to claim
4, wherein the bottom cover further comprises at least one airflow
guide plate, a rotatable mechanism being coupled between the bottom
cover and the cup body to allow the bottom cover to be rotatable
with respect to the cup body.
6. The airflow outlet of air-conditioning device according to claim
5, wherein the cup body comprises an extendable structure to allow
the cup body to selectively extend/retract.
7. The airflow outlet of air-conditioning device according to claim
6, wherein the extendable structure comprises: at least one first
cup body, which comprises a first upper cup opening and a first
lower cup opening; and at least one second cup body, which
comprises a second upper cup opening and a second lower cup
opening, wherein diameter of the second upper cup opening is
greater than or equal to diameter of the first lower cup opening
and diameter of the second lower cup opening is smaller than the
diameter of the first lower cup opening, the bottom cover being set
on the second lower cup opening.
8. The airflow outlet of air-conditioning device according to claim
7, wherein the curved ridges are arranged in a concentric form or a
radiating form.
9. The airflow outlet of air-conditioning device according to claim
6, wherein the extendable structure comprises: at least one first
cup body, which comprises a first upper cup opening, a first lower
cup opening, and a first internal retention strip, wherein the
first internal retention strip is mounted to an inside surface of
the first cup body; and at least one second cup body, which
comprises a second upper cup opening, a second lower cup opening,
and a second external retention strip, wherein the second external
retention strip is mounted to an outside surface of the second cup
body and the bottom cover is set on the second lower cup opening;
wherein the second upper cup opening is received in the first cup
body and is movable in the first cup body and the second external
retention strip is arranged on the first internal retention
strip.
10. The airflow outlet of air-conditioning device according to
claim 9, wherein the curved ridges are arranged in a concentric
form or a radiating form.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to an airflow outlet
structure of air-conditioning device, and more particularly to an
airflow outlet that is structured to allow airflows generated by an
air-conditioning device to blow downward.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Referring to FIG. 1, an airflow outlet that is provided for
an air-conditioning device generally mounted to a light steel frame
is shown and is used in combination with a central control
air-conditioning device, such as air-conditioning devices installed
in high buildings, to regulate the temperature of indoor spaces.
Such a known airflow outlet is an airflow outlet that is composed
of a plurality of concentric frames, where airflows generated by
the air-conditioning device are allowed to blow out through the
spacing between adjacent ones of the concentric frames.
[0003] However, experiences show that airflows blowing out of such
an airflow outlet are generally guided to blow directly downward.
This makes persons that are located exactly below the airflow
outlet uncomfortably cold or hot and may lead to health problems,
such as headaches. This is particularly problematic for public
sites where crowd may gather, such as restaurants and movie
theaters, for it may make the customers of these sites
uncomfortable and affecting the quality of service provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In view of such problems, the present invention provides an
airflow outlet of air-conditioning device, which comprises main
body having one end forming an entrance opening and an opposite end
forming a plurality of outward-projecting curved ridges, wherein
each curved ridge has a side wall forming at least a through hole
to allow air to pass the through hole.
[0005] The present invention allows airflows blown from an
air-conditioning device to be conducted to the through hole to be
discharged therefrom. Since the through hole is formed in the side
wall, the airflows do not blow downward directly as was observed in
the conventional device and instead, the airflows blow sideways, so
that discomfort of persons caused by airflows directly impinging
the persons can be eliminated.
[0006] Preferably, each of the curved ridges has a height that is
gradually decreased from a center of the main body toward the
outside.
[0007] Preferably, the curved ridges are arranged to be adjacent to
each other.
[0008] Preferably, the main body further comprises an
outward-projecting cup-like protrusion, which comprises a cup body
and a bottom cover that is set on an end of the cup body, and the
cup body comprises at least one through hole so as to increase
airflow discharge sites at different orientations.
[0009] Preferably, the bottom cover further comprises at least one
airflow guide plate and a rotatable mechanism is coupled between
the bottom cover and the cup body so as to allow the bottom cover
to be rotatable with respect to the cup body. As such, airflows
generated can be conducted to discharge sideways in a swirling
manner to expand the range of spreading.
[0010] Preferably, the cup body further comprises an extendable
structure to allow the length of the cup body to be increased,
which together with the through hole formed in the cup body, can
expand the range of spreading.
[0011] The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0012] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional airflow
outlet.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is also a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of
the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the embodiment of the present
invention that is combined with a cup-like protrusion.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of
the present invention that is combined with the cup-like
protrusion.
[0020] FIG. 8 is also a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment
of the present invention that is combined with the cup-like
protrusion (with arrows showing directions of airflows).
[0021] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the
present invention that is combined with an extendable cup-like
protrusion (with the cup in an extended condition).
[0022] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the
present invention that is combined with the extendable cup-like
protrusion (with the cup in a retracted condition).
[0023] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the
present invention that is combined with another extendable cup-like
protrusion.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the extendable
cup-like protrusion of FIG. 11 in a retracted condition.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the
present invention that is combined with a further extendable
cup-like protrusion.
[0026] FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 13.
[0027] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the
present invention that is combined with a further extendable
cup-like protrusion.
[0028] FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of
the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 17 is a bottom view showing a further embodiment of the
present invention.
[0030] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.
17.
[0031] FIG. 19 is a bottom view showing yet a further embodiment of
the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.
19.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only,
and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following
description provides a convenient illustration for implementing
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the
described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement
of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0034] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 2 is a perspective view
showing an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a front
view of the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a
cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention;
and FIG. 5 is also a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the
present invention.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 2-5, an airflow outlet of air-conditioning
device according to the embodiment comprises a main body 10. The
main body 10 has an end forming an entrance opening 11 and an
opposite end forming a plurality of outward-projecting curved
ridges 20. Further, the curved ridges 20 each have side walls
forming at least one a through hole 21 to allow airflow that enters
from the entrance opening 11 to move through the through holes 21.
The entrance opening 11 can be configured in the form shown in the
drawings in order to couple to piping of an air-conditioning
device.
[0036] Reference being also made to the cross-sectional view shown
in FIG. 5, when airflows (indicated by arrows W) generated by the
air-conditioning device blow from the top side of the drawing to
the bottom side, the airflows pass through the entrance opening 11
to be discharged through the through holes 21 of the curved ridges
20. Since the through holes 21 are formed in the side walls of the
curved ridges 20, the airflows are guided to blow sideways, whereby
persons located below are not directly blown by the airflow and
thus no discomfort will be perceived.
[0037] Further, as shown in FIG. 4, each of the curved ridges 20
has a height H that is gradually decreased from a center of the
main body 10 toward the outside so that individual airflows
respectively blowing through the through holes 21 do not interfere
with each other and can thus blow a much longer distance to thereby
improve overall temperature control capability of the
air-conditioning device.
[0038] Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, adjacent ones of the
curved ridges 20 are arranged to juxtapose and connect to each
other to facilitate manufacture thereof. Further, the embodiment
can be formed as a unitary member and can be made of plastics or
metals to simplify the manufacturing process.
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 6-8, the main body 10 further comprises
an outward-projecting cup-like protrusion 30. The cup-like
protrusion 30 comprises a cup body 31 and a bottom cover 32. The
bottom cover 32 is set at an end of the cup body 31. Further, the
cup body 31 comprises at least one through hole 311. Thus, when
airflows (indicated by arrows in FIG. 8) travels from the top side
to the bottom side, the airflows may be discharged through the
through hole 311 and the through holes 21. As such, airflows in
different directions can be additionally provided.
[0040] The cup body 31 can be of an extendable structure to allow
the cup body 31 to selectively extend or retract thereby providing
additional combinations of airflow directions. Various solutions
that are known to provide an extendable structure and two are
discussed below to allow those having ordinary skills in the art to
understand the extendable structure, but the present invention is
not limited to such two structures.
First Type of Extendable Structure:
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the extendable structure is
composed of a first cup body 312 and a second cup body 313. The
first cup body 312 comprises a first upper cup opening 3121, a
first lower cup opening 3122, and a first internal retention strip
3123. The first internal retention strip 3123 is mounted to an
inside surface of the first cup body 312. The second cup body 313
comprises a second upper cup opening 3131, a second lower cup
opening 3132, and a second external retention strip 3133. The
second external retention strip 3133 is mounted to an outside
surface of the second cup body 313. The bottom cover 32 is set on
the second lower cup opening 3132. The second upper cup opening
3131 is received in the first cup body 312 and is movable inside
the first cup body 312. Further, the second external retention
strip 3133 is arranged on the first internal retention strip 3123.
The second cup body 313 is slidable downward to such a location
where the second external retention strip 3133 abuts the first
internal retention strip 3122 and is the prevented from further
sliding downward, whereby the relative position between the first
cup body 312 and the second cup body 313 can be fixed to facilitate
convenience of use.
[0042] Further, the through hole 311 can be formed in the first cup
body 312 or the second cup body 313 in such a way to allow airflows
to flow out sideways, rather than directly blowing downward.
Second Type of Extendable Structure:
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the extendable structure is
composed of at least one first cup body 314 and at least one second
cup body 315.
[0044] The first cup body 314 comprises a first upper cup opening
3141 and a first lower cup opening 3142.
[0045] The second cup body 315 comprises a second upper cup opening
3151 and a second lower cup opening 3152. The second upper cup
opening 3151 has a diameter that is greater than or equal to
diameter of the first lower cup opening 3142 and diameter of the
second lower cup opening 3152 is less than that of the first lower
cup opening 3142. The bottom cover 32 is set on the second lower
cup opening 3152.
[0046] Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the bottom cover 32
may be further provided with at least one airflow guide plate 321.
A rotatable mechanism 33 is mounted between the bottom cover 32 and
the cup body 31 to allow the bottom cover 32 to be rotatable with
respect to the cup body 31. Here, a frame 331 is coupled inside the
cup body 31 and a bar 332 rotatably couple the bottom cover 32 and
the frame 331, whereby when airflows that blow toward airflow guide
plate 321 may drive the bottom cover 32 to rotate. The rotation
induces centrifugal force that helps spread the airflow further. An
alternative arrangement shown in FIG. 15 may also be used for
combination with an extendable structure.
[0047] Further, the curved ridges 20 may be arranged in the ways
shown in FIG. 16, where the curved ridges 20 are arranged parallel
to each other, or as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, they are made in a
concentric arrangement with the ridges 20 getting closer to the
ground in a direction from outside to inside. Or alternatively, as
shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the ridges are arranged in radiating form
and the curves make the ridges 20 getting close to the ground in a
direction from outside to inside. These drawings are simply
provided to illustrate the numerous possible arrangements of the
curved ridges 20, which are not limited to the form illustrated in
FIG. 2. Further, although these drawings show no extendable cup
arranged at the center, yet they can be used in combination with
extendable cups or cups having rotatable bottoms to achieve such
functions.
[0048] It will be understood that each of the elements described
above, or two or more together may also find a useful application
in other types of methods differing from the type described
above.
[0049] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *