Fan body assembly

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to portable fan assemblies, and specifically to an improved fastener assembly for a fan assembly.

[0004] 2. Background of the Invention

[0005] Fan devices, such as portable electric fans and heaters, are typically made up of numerous parts that define a housing that is ventilated with an air intake area and an air out-flow area. Typically, the air intake is made up of a rear grill structure and the air out-flow area includes a front grill structure.

[0006] One difficulty of manufacturers of fan devices is the assembly of the housing and ease of manufacture in securing the front and rear grill. Typical assembly of such devices have traditionally included fastening the grills together with mechanical fasteners such as screws or rivets, or by use of adhesives. Such methods have resulted in significant labor and manufacturing costs, complexity in the manufacturing process, and difficult removability of a grill cover for cleaning of the inner housing. One other type of prior devices includes an assembly as depicted in FIG. 7, with a rear grill body (A) having an inner body (A1) engaged with a lip (B1) of the front grill (B). This type of an assembly may be engaged by inserting the front grill into a cuff (C) of the rear grill (A) such that the lip (B1) deforms as it passes beyond the inner body (A1). This type of assembly, however, requires additional cost of the material forming the circumferential inner body (A1) and the circumferential lip (B1). Also, this type of assembly has the disadvantage of recessing the front grill (B) into the cuff (C), also requiring additional cost of material and creating an appearance that may be undesirable.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for an improved assembly for a fan device with improved securement of the housing grill components.

[0008] Also, there is a need for an improved and simplified leg or stand assembly for a portable fan device. Traditional leg assemblies include feet-like bodies that are inserted into an opening in the base of the fan device. Prior art devices, however, are capable of being inserted incorrectly, thereby detracting from the appearance of the device and from the user's satisfaction.

[0009] In view of the insufficiencies discussed above, it is an object of the invention to provide a fan assembly having a fastener assembly in which a projection snaps into a mating receiver.

[0010] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a fan assembly having a housing formed of two grill members which attach by a fastening assembly having mating parts.

[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fan assembly having connecting grills with sidewalls which abut to form a substantially smooth transition.

[0012] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fan assembly having foot members which are unidirectional and provide a secure base of support.

[0013] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a fan assembly in which a plurality of fastener assemblies operate to easily and securely attach a first and second grill member to one another.

[0014] In accordance with the above objectives, a fan assembly is provided with a housing and an electric motor mounted to a grill member. The housing is formed of two grill members. Each grill member includes a vented wall for air circulation, and a peripheral sidewall. The sidewalls mate and are secured to one another by a fastener assembly.

[0015] The fastener assembly comprises a projection on the inside surface of one of the sidewalls which mates with a mating receiver on the other sidewall. Securing members may be positioned in spaced relation with the inner surface of the first sidewall to position the mating receiver into engagement with the projection. The fastener assembly snaps into engagement by slight deformation of a portion of the sidewall and provides an easily assembled secure union, preferably without the use of mechanical fasteners such as screws or rivets or the use of adhesive. A plurality of such fastener assemblies are preferably spaced around the periphery of the sidewalls.

[0016] One of the sidewalls may be provided with a lip which extends from the edge of the sidewall, and mates with the inner surface of the other sidewall such that the edges of the sidewall abut and form a substantially smooth transition for a generally smooth outer wall.

[0017] The fan assembly is further provided with foot members which are fitted into the base portion of the fan assembly with a mating geometry to the geometry of the insertion portion of the base, such that the foot members may be inserted in only one position. Thus, the possibility for orienting the foot members incorrectly is eliminated. Enhanced support for the fan assembly is provided by the foot members extending a distance toward the direction opposite to the air flow of the fan.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fan assembly of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a side view of the fan assembly of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the fastener assembly of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a cut-away view of the fastener assembly of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the fan assembly of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the fastener assembly of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of interface of parts of a prior art fan device.

[0026] While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0027] The portable fan assembly 10 of the present invention has a fan housing 20 and an electric motor mounted within the housing 20 for driving a blade assembly 30. The housing 20 has an inner chamber 40 defined by a first grill member 50 and a second grill member 60. The first grill member 50 has a vented wall 70 and a first sidewall 80 having an inner surface 90 and an outer surface 100. The sidewall 80 is preferably a peripheral sidewall having a regular shape, such as an annular or rounded shape, a rectangular shape, or a rectangular shape with rounded corners.

[0028] The second grill member 60 has a vented wall 110 and a second sidewall 120 having an inner surface 130 and an outer surface 140. Either of the first or second grill members 50, 60 may serve as a back or a front grill member. An electric motor is preferably mounted to one of the grill members 50 or 60, and connected to the blade assembly 30. In the preferred embodiment, the motor is mounted to the back grill, which is permanently secured with the base of the fan assembly. In this manner of arrangement, the front grill is secured by the means of the present invention of a fastener assembly 150, without the use of traditional fasteners such as screws or rivets, without the use of adhesive.

[0029] The first grill member 50 and the second grill member 60 are connected by a fastener assembly 150. The fastener assembly 150 comprises at least one projection 160 extending toward the inner chamber 40 from the inner surface 90 of the first sidewall 80, and a mating receiver 170 on the second sidewall 120 having an opening 180 engaged with the projection 160. The fastener assembly 150 preferably includes one or more securing members 190 in spaced relation with the inner surface 90 of the first sidewall 80 in generally close proximity with the projection 160 and the mating receiver 170. The securing member 190 is preferably in a position adapted to engaged with the opposing sidewall (the sidewall 120 of the second grill member 60) on the inner surface 200 of the sidewall 120, immediately adjacent the receiver 170. In the preferred embodiment, a securing member 190 is positioned on each side of an extended body 202 of the sidewall 120, adapted to provide a passageway for guiding the extended body 202. The securing members 190 are positioned relative to the projection 160 as to be adapted to provide a surface 210 generally opposed to the projection 160 such that deflection of the sidewall 120 of the second grill member 60 is limited or controlled during connection of the first grill member 50 and the second grill member 60. In this arrangement, the securing member 190 acts as a stop to restrain the sidewall 120 when the first 50 and second 60 grill members are secured together by engagement of the fastener assembly 150.

[0030] Also, in the preferred embodiment, a plurality of securing members 190 are provided in generally evenly-spaced relationship to one another, thereby maintaining the sidewall of the opposing grill member in fixed position around the entire extent of the sidewall. The securing members 190 preferably have a sloped upper surface 210 to make sloping contact with the opposing sidewall and to guide engagement of the mating receiver 170 into engagement with the projection 160.

[0031] The second sidewall 120 preferably comprises an annular or peripheral lip 220 extending from an edge 230 of the second sidewall 120, the lip 220 having an outer surface 240 which is recessed relative to the outer surface 140 of the second sidewall 120 and mates with the inner surface 90 of the first sidewall 80. The edge 230 of the second sidewall 120 preferably abuts an edge 250 of the first sidewall 80 such that the outer surfaces form a substantially smooth outer surface transition, or interface 260.

[0032] The fan assembly 10 preferably comprises a plurality fastener assemblies 150 arranged around the periphery of the sidewalls 80, 120.

[0033] The mating receiver 170 is preferably a tab or extension which protrudes from the second sidewall 120 or the lip 220, and is preferably integral with the lip 220.

[0034] The portable fan assembly 10 preferably includes a removable foot member 270 which is insertable into a receiving portion 280 of abase 290 of the fan assembly 10. The receiving portion 280 has a specific geometry, and the foot member 270 has an insertable portion 275 with an outer geometry adapted to fit into mating geometry of the receiving portion 280, such that the mating of the geometry of the insertable portion 275 and the geometry of the receiving portion 280 are compatible for only one arrangement. By this mating geometry arrangement, the foot 270 can only be inserted one way by the user to avoid incorrect assembly. In addition, foot has a vertical slot 285 that is adapted to align with an inwardly directed projection within the receiving portion 280 of the base 290. This arrangement of a mating vertical slot 285 and the inwardly directed projection allows for the insertable portion 275 to pass into the receiving portion 280 as the inwardly directed projection passes through the vertical slot 285 of the insertable portion 275. There are preferably two such foot members 270, and the foot members include a base of support which extends beyond the base 290 of the fan assembly 10.

[0035] While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.