U.S. patent application number 16/993534 was filed with the patent office on 2021-02-18 for low profile fan and method of using same.
The applicant listed for this patent is O2COOL, LLC. Invention is credited to Eric F. Junkel, Charles Weber.
Application Number | 20210048030 16/993534 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005020648 |
Filed Date | 2021-02-18 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210048030 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weber; Charles ; et
al. |
February 18, 2021 |
Low Profile Fan and Method of Using Same
Abstract
A method includes providing a fan unit that has an elongate
housing and supports that support the fan unit on a support
surface. The elongate housing has an intake, a discharge, and a
hollow interior in which a blower is rotatably disposed such that
when the fan unit is energized, the blower draws air from the
intake into the hollow interior and discharges air from hollow
interior through the discharge. The intake has a length that
extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the
housing. The discharge has a length that extends in a direction
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. A user is
directed to place the fan unit on the support surface in a manner
such that the fan is supported by the supports and the longitudinal
axis of the housing is horizontal.
Inventors: |
Weber; Charles; (La Crosse,
WI) ; Junkel; Eric F.; (Mount Prospect, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
O2COOL, LLC |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005020648 |
Appl. No.: |
16/993534 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62887233 |
Aug 15, 2019 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 7/007 20130101;
F24F 1/02 20130101; F04D 17/04 20130101; F04D 25/08 20130101; F24F
2221/17 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04D 17/04 20060101
F04D017/04; F04D 25/08 20060101 F04D025/08; F24F 1/02 20060101
F24F001/02; F24F 7/007 20060101 F24F007/007 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: providing a fan unit, wherein the fan unit
has an elongate housing and supports that are adapted and
configured to support the fan unit on a support surface, the
elongate housing has an intake, a discharge, and a hollow interior
in which a blower is rotatably disposed such that when the fan unit
is energized, the blower draws air from the intake into the hollow
interior and discharges air from hollow interior through the
discharge, the intake has a length that extends in a direction
parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing, the discharge has a
length that extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal
axis of the housing; and directing a user to place the fan unit on
the support surface in a manner such that the fan is supported by
the supports and the longitudinal axis of the housing is
horizontal.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of directing the user to
place the fan unit on the support surface includes directing the
user to place the fan unit on a floor.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of directing the user to
place the fan unit on the floor comprises a bathroom floor.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of directing the user to
place the fan unit on the bathroom floor comprises placing the fan
unit adjacent a bathroom sink vanity.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of directing the user to
place the fan unit on the bathroom floor adjacent the bathroom sink
vanity comprises directing the user to point the discharge of the
housing vertically upward.
6. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of directing the user to
place the fan unit on the floor comprises directing the user to
point the discharge of the housing horizontally toward the
floor.
7. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of directing the user to
place the fan unit on the floor comprises placing the fan unit
adjacent a cabinet.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of directing the user to
place the fan unit on the floor adjacent a cabinet comprises
directing the user to point the discharge of the housing vertically
upward.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising directing the user to
enable the fan unit to oscillate the housing.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising directing the user to
operate the fan unit via a remote control.
11. A method comprising: accessing a fan unit, wherein the fan unit
has an elongate housing and supports, the supports are adapted and
configured to support the fan unit on a support surface, the
elongate housing has an intake, a discharge, and a hollow interior
in which a blower is rotatably disposed such that when the fan unit
is energized, the blower draws air from the intake into the hollow
interior and discharges air from hollow interior through the
discharge, the intake has a length that extends in a direction
parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing, the discharge has a
length that extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal
axis of the housing; and placing the fan unit on the support
surface in a manner such that the fan is supported by the supports
and the longitudinal axis of the housing is parallel to the support
surface.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of placing the fan unit
on the support surface includes directing the user to place the fan
unit on a floor.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of placing the fan unit
on the floor comprises a bathroom floor.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of placing the fan unit
on the bathroom floor comprises placing the fan unit adjacent a
bathroom sink vanity.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of placing the fan unit
on the bathroom floor adjacent the bathroom sink vanity comprises
pointing the discharge of the housing vertically upward.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of placing the fan unit
on the floor comprises pointing the discharge of the housing
horizontally toward the floor.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of placing the fan unit
on the floor comprises placing the fan unit adjacent a cabinet.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of placing the fan unit
on the floor adjacent a cabinet comprises pointing the discharge of
the housing vertically upward.
19. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling the fan unit
to oscillate the housing.
20. The method of claim 11 further comprising operating the fan
unit via a remote control.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application Ser. No. 62/887,233, filed Aug. 15, 2019, the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0002] The disclosure is directed generally to fans and, more
particularly, to a method of using a fan adjacent to a counter or
bathroom sink vanity, by placing the fan on the floor to blow cool
air up towards the user standing at the counter, bathroom sink or
vanity. The fan has an elongate housing structure with a low
profile that fits adjacent the toe kick of the counter or bathroom
sink vanity. In one application, the fan may be used by the user as
he or she gets ready styling hair or make-up. In this way, the
method and fan alleviates past problems with excessive heat while
performing post bath or showering styling and make-up
application.
[0003] For instance, one may apply makeup using a makeup mirror
device in the bathroom immediately after showering. A problem
frequently encountered with this is that the bathroom may be very
hot and steamy. This can lead to one perspiring excessively after
already showering. Further, hot air from hair dryers may also add
to an already uncomfortable environment. Small fans sitting atop
the counter or bathroom sink vanity often direct air directly into
the face of the user and can lead to drying out of the user's eyes,
eye irritation, and difficulty applying makeup. The fans may blow
powdered makeup into the eyes of the user. Such fans generally cool
only the face or the user and not the chest, neck, and upper core
of the user, which can be ineffective. The floor fans are often
solely pointed just at the legs and lower body, which can also be
ineffective.
[0004] The disclosure that follows provides a method that addresses
the need to cool down an individual as they are using hot tools to
style their hair or applying their makeup in a bathroom or vanity
area. In accordance with one aspect of the method, the fan is
placed on the floor. Due to the elongate housing structure of the
fan and its low profile, the fan may be partially tucked under the
bathroom sink vanity or cabinet toe kick. The fan may be provided
with a movable discharge. The discharge may be angled upwards to
blow air upwards and in front of the user. The discharge of the fan
may be rotated to an angle of the user's choice. This allows air
flow towards the user in a manner that does not disrupt the hair or
makeup application but cools the user. Alternatively, the discharge
may be set to automatically oscillate. By placing the fan on the
floor adjacent to the toe kick of the bathroom sink vanity or
cabinet, the fan does not take up space on the bathroom counter or
vanity and does not blow directly on the user's face or head. The
elongate housing structure of the fan may include an elongate
squirrel cage radial vane blower and a discharge extending along a
majority of the longitudinal length of the housing structure, and
more preferably, a substantial portion of the longitudinal length
of the housing structure, and more preferably, an entirety of the
longitudinal length of the housing structure. The elongate housing
structure and blower may have a relatively small diameter compared
to the longitudinal length of the housing structure and blower
allowing the fan to maintain its slim profile. The fan may include
operator switches to changes the speed of rotation of the blower.
The motor of the fan may be variable or may be provided with
switching for the user to select a number of discrete operational
speeds (e.g., low, medium, high). The fan may be powered by
household electrical power with a power cord. The power cord may
contain a convenient on/off foot switch. The fan may receive power
from both axial ends of the fan to accommodate outlets in different
locations in the bathroom. The power cord may include a fan input
plug allowing the power cord to be plugged into either axial end of
the fan as maybe desired by the user. The fan may also be battery
operated and rechargeable, for instance, through USB connections or
removable power cords.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary fan unit used
in the method with a housing structure of the fan unit oriented
with a discharge pointed upwards and an intake generally aligned
horizontally.
[0006] FIG. 2 is an alternate perspective view of the fan unit of
FIG. 1 with the housing structure in the same orientation as in
FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 3 is an alternative perspective view of the fan unit of
FIG. 1 with the housing structure of the fan unit oriented with the
discharge generally horizontal and the intake generally
vertical.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the housing
structure cut-away to show additional detail of the blower and an
air flow from the intake to the discharge along the entire
longitudinal axis of the housing structure of the fan unit.
[0009] FIG. 5 shows one aspect of a method of using the fan unit
adjacent to a bathroom sink vanity.
[0010] FIG. 6 shows another aspect of a method of using the fan
unit adjacent to a counter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] FIGS. 1-3 show an exemplary fan unit 20 that may be used in
accordance with the methods described below. The fan unit 20
includes an elongate housing structure 22 with an intake 24 and
discharge 26, and supports 28 for supporting the fan unit on a
support surface 30. The supports 28 may be provided on each axial
end of the housing structure and/or at other locations on the fan
unit. The housing structure 22 may be a hollow member that is
preferably elongate in shape and with a small diameter. This allows
the fan unit to be tucked under the toe kick of a bathroom sink
vanity or other cabinet, for instance, as shown in FIGS. 5-6. The
housing structure 22 may pivot relative to the supports 28 to
change the general position of the intake 24 and the discharge 26
relative to the support surface. The pivoting motion may be
automatic when the fan unit 20 is in an oscillating mode. In the
alternative, the user may pivot the housing structure 22 relative
to the supports 28 to change the position of the intake 24 and the
discharge 26 of the housing structure relative to the support
surface 30. The intake 24 and the discharge 26 may be arranged on
the housing structure 20 so as to be circumferentially spaced apart
at approximately 90 degrees or so. Thus, when the discharge is
generally horizontal, the intake is generally vertical and when the
discharge is generally vertical, the intake is generally
horizontal. The intake 24 has a length 34 that preferably extends
along a majority of the length of the housing structure 22, and
more preferably, the intake may extend along a substantial portion
of the length of the housing structure, and more preferably, the
intake may extend along an entirety of the housing structure.
Likewise, the discharge 26 has a length 36 that preferably extends
along a majority of the length of the housing structure 22, and
more preferably, extends along a substantial portion of the length
of the housing structure, and more preferably, extends along an
entirety of the length of the housing structure. The length 34 of
the intake 24 may arranged in a direction parallel to a
longitudinal axis 40 of the housing structure 22. The length 36 of
the discharge 26 may arranged in a direction parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the housing structure 22.
[0012] Within the hollow interior of the housing structure 22, a
blower 44 may be rotatably disposed. The blower 44 may be a
squirrel cage radial vane blower. A distal axial end of the blower
44 may be operatively rotatably connected with a support 28. For
instance, the axial end of the squirrel cage radial vane blower may
have an end plate with a stub shaft extending therefrom that is
received in a bearing disposed in the support. The opposite,
proximal end of the squirrel cage radial vane blower 44 may have an
end plate with the shaft that is operatively coupled to a motor
(not shown) that is disposed in the support. An oscillating
mechanism (not shown) may also be disposed in the same axial end
support so as to allow the motor to drive a four bar linkage
commonly used with oscillating systems for fans. The housing
structure may be operatively connected to the four bar linkage so
as to allow the housing structure to pivot relative to the axial
end supports when the oscillating mechanism is engaged. As shown
best in FIG. 4, the blower 44 has a length 46 that extends in a
direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 40 of the housing
structure 22. The blower 44 has a length 46 extends along a
majority of the length of the housing structure, and more
preferably, extends along a substantial portion of the length of
the housing structure, and more preferably, extends along the
entirety of the length of the housing structure.
[0013] The motor for the fan unit may receive power from a power
cord 50. The power cord 50 may have one end detachably connected to
the fan unit and an opposite end detachably connected to a
conventional household outlet. The fan end 52 of the power cord 50
may be a convention style such as C7, C7-P, C13, etc. The power end
54 of the power cord 50 may be a conventional style such as 5-15.
The support 28 that houses the motor may have a port 56 to receive
the fan end 52 of the power cord 50. In addition or alternative to,
the opposite support 28 may also have a port 58 to receive the fan
end 52 of the power cord 50. This allows the user to arrange the
power cord 50 in a desired manner to accommodate the location of
electrical outlets in the room in which the fan unit 20 is located.
The power cord 50 may have an on/off switch 60. The switch 60 may
be a push button adapted and configured to be operated by the
user's foot. In the alternative, the motor for the fan unit 20 may
receive power from an on-board power supply such as a battery or
rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery may be recharged
through a power cord as described above or through a USB style
charging connection. In the configuration with an onboard power
supply, the fan unit 20 may be provided with a tether type control
to power the fan unit on and off. A switch may be positioned on the
tether control and the switch may comprise a push button adapted
and configured to be operated by the user's foot.
[0014] The fan unit 20 may be equipped with a variable speed motor
to allow the user the opportunity to control the rotational speed
of the blower as desired. In the alternative, the fan unit may be
provided with discrete fan speed selections (e.g., low, medium,
high) that may be activated by the user as desired. The speed
selections may be chosen by a switch. There may be a switch for
each speed (e.g., a low speed button, a medium speed button and a
high speed button). Alternatively, sequential activation of the
same switch may change the speed to a desired level, and in this
configuration, the speed selections may be integrated with the
on/off switch 60 of the power cord 50 or the tether control. In
addition or alternative to, the fan unit 20 may be provided with a
remote control 64 that interfaces with the motor control and/or
oscillation function. The remote control 64 may include an on/off
switch, speed selections, and oscillation enable/disable functions.
The remote control 64 may interface with the fan unit 20 via
Bluetooth, IR remote control, RF remote control, etc.
[0015] In using the fan unit 20, a user may access the fan unit and
place the fan unit on the support surface 30 in a manner such that
the fan unit is supported by the supports 28 and the longitudinal
axis 40 of the housing structure 22 is horizontal. A user may also
access the fan unit 20 and place the fan unit on the support
surface 30 in a manner such that the fan unit is supported by the
supports 28 and the longitudinal axis 40 of the housing structure
22 is parallel to the support surface 30. The support surface 30
may be a floor, for instance, a bathroom floor as shown in in FIG.
5 or a kitchen floor as shown in in FIG. 6. In particular, as shown
in FIG. 5, the user may place the fan unit 20 on the bathroom floor
adjacent to a bathroom sink vanity 70, for instance, adjacent to
the toe kick 72 of the bathroom sink vanity. The user may point the
discharge 26 of the housing structure 22 vertically upward. Once
the fan motor is energized, the blower 44 may draw cooler air from
a surface level of the floor into the intake and direct the
airstream generally vertically upward in front of the user as
desired. Because the length of the discharge 26 is arranged
parallel to the support surface 30 or horizontal, the discharging
air flows vertically upward as a curtain of cooling air that may be
directed in front of the user along the user's body to enhance
cooling. In a similar way, as shown in FIG. 6, the user may place
the fan unit 20 on the floor (e.g., a kitchen floor) adjacent to a
cabinet 80, and in particular, adjacent to the toe kick 82 of the
cabinet. The user may point the discharge 26 of the housing
structure 22 vertically upward. Because the length of the discharge
26 is arranged parallel to the support surface or horizontal, the
discharging air flows vertically upward as a curtain of cooling air
that may be directed in front of the user along the user's body to
enhance cooling.
[0016] In another aspect of the method of using the fan unit 20,
the user may place the fan unit on the floor and point the
discharge 26 of the housing horizontally toward the floor, for
instance, as shown in FIG. 3. Once the fan motor is energized, the
blower 44 may draw air from above the fan unit 20 and direct the
airstream generally horizontally across the floor. This flow may
allow the user to dry a wet floor. Because the length of the
discharge 26 is arranged parallel to the support surface or
horizontal, the discharging air flows horizontally across the
floor, more evenly drying the floor.
[0017] In another aspect of the method of using the fan unit 20,
the user may place the fan unit on a support surface and enable the
fan unit to oscillate the housing. Once the fan motor is energized,
this mode provides general airflow in a oscillating pattern.
[0018] In another aspect of the method, the user may be provided
with instructions with the fan unit 20 directing the user to
perform any one or more of the aforementioned steps. The
instructions may include text or indicia on the fan unit, packaging
for the fan unit, or point of sale displays for the fan unit
showing the user how to use the fan unit. In connection with the
sale or distribution of the fan unit 20, the user (e.g., a
purchaser of the fan unit) is instructed that the purpose of the
fan unit is to use the fan unit in a manner as described
previously. Thus, the user is induced to use the fan unit in a
manner as described previously.
[0019] As various modifications could be made in the constructions
and methods herein described without departing from the scope of
the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the
foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall
be interpreted as illustrative and not as limiting. The breath and
scope the present invention should not be limited by any of the
above described exemplary embodiments.
* * * * *