U.S. patent application number 14/803861 was filed with the patent office on 2016-02-04 for window fan with cover.
The applicant listed for this patent is Howard Berger Co., LLC. Invention is credited to Barry H. Jacobs.
Application Number | 20160033151 14/803861 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55179645 |
Filed Date | 2016-02-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160033151 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jacobs; Barry H. |
February 4, 2016 |
WINDOW FAN WITH COVER
Abstract
A new and novel window fan with a cover is provided which
comprises a housing unit having a front panel and a rear panel, the
front and rear panels having grills; a fan disposed between the
front and rear panels; a motor; a control element; a cover; a
plurality of first fastening members on the housing unit; and a
plurality of second fastening members on the cover designed to
connect with the plurality of first fastening members on the
housing unit. A new and novel window fan cover is also provided
which includes a plurality of fastening members for attaching to
the window fan.
Inventors: |
Jacobs; Barry H.; (Highland
Park, NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Howard Berger Co., LLC |
Cranbury |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55179645 |
Appl. No.: |
14/803861 |
Filed: |
July 20, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62031433 |
Jul 31, 2014 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
454/208 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/20 20130101;
F24F 7/013 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 7/013 20060101
F24F007/013 |
Claims
1. A window fan system comprising: a housing unit having a front
panel and a rear panel, said front panel and rear panel having
grilles, a fan disposed between said front and said rear panel, a
motor, a control element, a cover, a plurality of first fastening
members on said housing unit, a plurality of second fastening
members on said cover designed to connect with said plurality of
first fastening members on said housing unit.
2. The window fan system of claim 1, wherein the cover is made from
fabric.
3. The window fan system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first
fastening members are protrusions and the plurality of second
fastening members are loops.
4. A window fan cover which includes a plurality of fastening
members for attaching to a window fan.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/031,433 filed Jul. 31, 2014, which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a window fan with a cover.
[0003] The invention also relates to a window fan cover and a
window fan housing with a cover.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Window fans are a practical low cost alternative to air
conditioning units for maintaining a comfortable temperature and
ventilation within a building. Like a portable window air
conditioning unit, a window fan is typically installed within the
frame of a window. However, unlike a portable window air
conditioning unit, a window fan is relatively inexpensive to
operate.
[0005] A window fan typically contains a housing unit with a front
and rear panel, a fan, a motor and a control element. The front and
rear panels both contain openings (e.g., grilles) so that when
turned on, the window fan draws in air from the outside into the
building (e.g., intake mode), or draws air from inside the building
out (e.g., exhaust mode).
[0006] Because the exterior side of the window fan is exposed to
the outside environment, the interior of the fan's housing can is
exposed to and can accumulate environmental elements such as dust,
rain, ice, dirt, insects, spider webs, leaves, etc. which can
decrease the performance of the window fan.
[0007] Additionally, because the window fan contains grilles which
are open on one side to the outside environment and on the opposite
side to the building's environment, air can circulate or flow
through the conventional window fan, even if the power is not on.
However, there are circumstances where such natural air flow or
circulation can be undesirable. For example, if the temperature
outside is warmer than the interior building temperature or is
colder than comfortable interior temperature.
[0008] To deal with these two potential problems, window fan users
typically must remove or uninstall the window fan from the window
frame so the window can be closed. When the user wishes to use the
window fan again, he or she must reinstall the window fan.
[0009] As such, there is a need for an improved window fan or
device so that users do not have to remove and reinstall the window
fan to address the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY
[0010] A new and useful window fan with at least one cover is
provided which comprises a housing unit having a front panel and a
rear panel, the front and rear panels having grilles; a fan
disposed between the front and rear panels; a drive motor
operatively connected to the fan; a control element operatively
connected to the motor; at least one cover; a plurality of first
fastening members on at least one side of the housing unit; and a
plurality of second fastening members on the cover designed to
connect with the plurality of first fastening members on the
housing unit.
[0011] A new and useful window fan cover is also provided which
includes a plurality of fastening members for attaching the cover
to a window fan.
[0012] A new and novel window fan housing with a cover is further
provided comprising a housing unit having a front/interior panel
and a rear/exterior panel, the front and rear panels having
grilles; at least one and optionally two covers for covering the
front and/or rear grills; a plurality of first fastening members on
the front and/or the rear panels of the housing unit; and a
plurality of second fastening members on the cover or covers
adapted to connect with the plurality of first fastening members on
the housing unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a window fan without a cover
attached.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a window fan with a cover
attached to the interior side of the fan housing.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an illustration of the section A of FIG. 2.
[0016] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the front panel of a window fan
without a cover attached.
[0017] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a window fan without a cover
attached.
[0018] FIG. 6 is an illustration of the control element of the
window fan.
[0019] FIG. 7 is an illustration of a window fan with a cover
attached.
[0020] FIG. 8 is an illustration of Section A of FIG. 7.
[0021] FIG. 9 is an illustration of the cover attached to the
window fan.
[0022] FIG. 10 is an illustration of Section A of FIG. 9.
[0023] FIG. 11 is an illustration of Section B of FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] A window fan with a cover is herein provided which will
overcome the deficiencies of the prior art window fan.
Specifically, by including a cover or covers which go over and seal
the openings or grilles of the window fan, the natural air flow or
circulation of air from inside to outside (or vice versa) is
stopped and the tendency of the window fan housing to accumulate
environmental elements reduced.
[0025] In the present invention, the window fan comprises a housing
unit having a front panel and a rear panel, the front and rear
panels having grills; a fan disposed between the front and rear
panels; a drive motor operatively connected to the fan; a control
element operatively connected to the motor; at least one cover; a
plurality of first fastening members on at least one side of the
housing unit; and a plurality of second fastening members on the
cover or covers designed to connect with the plurality of first
fastening members on the housing unit.
[0026] The fan blades may be of any shape conventionally used in
window fans. The motor is connected to the fan and the control
element, which may be any such control element known in the art to
turn the power on/off and adjust the speed of the fan.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the window fan 1 includes a housing unit
2, which includes grilles 3 on both the rear and front panels 4.
Because of these grilles 3, air will naturally flow from outside to
inside or vice versa.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, the window fan 1 is provided with a
cover 5 which covers the grille 3 (not shown because it is covered
up). The cover 5 may be attached to the rear or front panel of the
housing unit 2, or both the rear and front panels. Preferably,
cover 5 is attached front panel for ease of access without having
to open the window in which window fan 1 is mounted.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, which is an expanded view of the section
A from FIG. 2, the cover 5 is attached to the housing unit 2 by
fastening member 6. The cover 5 can be attached any part of housing
unit 2, including grille 3. The fastening member 6 can be any
fastening system known in the art, including but not limited to a
female/male fasteners, a hook and eye/loop fasteners and
connectors, etc.
[0030] In another exemplary embodiment, the housing unit 2 includes
a plurality of first fastening members and the cover 5 includes a
plurality of second fastening members designed to connect with the
plurality of first fastening members on the housing unit 2. For
example, as shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of first fastening
members 8 on the housing unit 2 (such as the front panel 4) can be
in the form of protrusions, extensions or mounting hooks which
connect to the respective attachment loops or holes (representing
the plurality of second fastening members 9 as shown in FIGS. 9-11)
on cover 5.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8, the plurality of first
fastening members 8 on housing unit 2 can be located anywhere on
housing unit 2, including on grille 3 and on either or both of
front and rear panels 4. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, to attach cover
5 to housing unit 2 for example, the plurality of first fastening
members 8 on the front panel 4 would simply connect or mate with
the corresponding plurality of second fastening members 9 on cover
5.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, window fan 1 can also include extenders
10 on each side of the window fan to extend the length of the fan
so as to fit wider windows.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 6, control element 7 of window fan 1 can
include several speeds for adjusting the speed of the fan/motor
(e.g., high, low).
[0034] Cover 5 can be made from fabric, plastic, rubber or other
conventional cover materials. Cover 5 is preferably designed to
match the shape of grilles 3 or the shape of openings 3 on panel 4
of housing unit 2 and seal them from the environment. Cover 5 may
be windproof, waterproof and/or insulated as well.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 9, the plurality of second fastening
members 9 on cover 5 can be located anywhere on cover 5.
Preferably, the plurality of second fastening members are located
on cover 5 in locations which correspond to the location of the
plurality of first fastening members 8 on housing unit 2 so that
the connection can be more uniform. The second fastening members 9
can be any one of many known fastening devices, including loops of
elastic, rubber, rope, nylon, metal, plastic, etc.; pile and loop
fasteners, mechanical fasteners such as snaps or twist connectors.
The second fastening members 9 can be sewn, secured or attached to
the cover 5 using any conventional methods. Preferably, the second
fastening members 9 are resistant to being pulled off the cover 5
(e.g., at least resistant to 15 pounds of pulling pressure).
[0036] In an alternative embodiment, only the cover 5 has fastening
members (such as the second fastening members 9 of FIG. 9) which
fasten directly onto the grille 3 or housing unit 2 so that the
cover 5 can be attached to any window fan known in the art. In this
embodiment, the housing unit 2 would not need corresponding
fastening members for the fastening members on cover 5 to attach
to.
[0037] Cover 5 can be attached to either the rear and/or front
panel of the window fan. In other words, the cover 5 can be
attached to the panel or grille of the window fan facing outside or
facing inside, or both. The cover 5 can also include art or
decorations.
[0038] Having thus described the basic concept of the invention, it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing
detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way of example
only, and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, and
modifications will occur and are intended to those skilled in the
art, though not expressly stated herein. These alterations,
improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested
hereby, and are within the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *