Disguised air displacement device
A body has a back and parallel front. The back of the body defines an air inlet and a peripheral air outlet is associated with the front. A body chamber between the back and the front is in fluid communication with the air inlet and the air outlet. A structurally prominent faceplate is on the body proximate to the peripheral air outlet and bears a transforming aesthetic overlay. An air displacement unit is formed of a plurality of blades rotatable in a plane parallel with the back and the front. The air displacement unit is substantially concealed within the body chamber and is configured to accept air from the air inlet and urge the air through the air outlet.
The present application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/729,752 filed Mar. 29, 2007, which, in turn, claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/798,703 titled ELECTRIC FAN WITH MULTIPLE FACIAL TREATMENTS, filed May 8, 2006, the subject matter of which applications is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the field of air displacement devices and more specifically to the field of disguised air circulation devices.
BACKGROUNDA fan is common sight within homes and offices. However, simply because the sight of fan is common does not mean that it is a welcome sight. Fans are utilitarian objects that are infrequently structured to appeal to the personal tastes of spectators. Common fans generally include a bulky stand that supports a metal or plastic wire cage with fan blades disposed therein. Such objects rarely fit into the decor of a home or office building.
Fans that attract minimal attention are portable fans, as can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,341,220; 2,725,184; and 2,811,304. Portable fans commonly include a fan unit that is mounted onto a base that allows the fan to be tilted forward and backward, or sometimes allows on oscillating or rotational movement about a vertical axis. The fan usually includes a motor inside a motor housing for driving the fan blades and a motor actuating switch for actuating the motor.
Although portable fans are less likely to attract the attention of a spectator than their larger analogs, portable fans are still recognizable as fans—which is often unwanted in many decoration schemes. Therefore, there is a need for a portable fan unit that is unrecognizable as a fan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a portable air displacement device having one or more aesthetic overlays that disguise its visible air circulation properties. By portable, it is meant that the present invention is capable of relatively simple relocation from one point to another. In a picture frame air displacement device embodiment of the present invention, the device includes a body, a stabilizer, a releasable faceplate, and an air displacement unit. The body includes a body cavity on its surface and a body chamber within. The body chamber is connected to an air outlet and an air inlet. The stabilizer of the picture frame embodiment includes mechanisms and articles commonly used in the frame art to brace a picture frame, such as a stand or a wall mount aperture. The releasable faceplate is a cover for the body cavity that serves to accept an aesthetic overlay disposed within the body cavity. Within the body chamber, the air displacement unit includes any air circulation devices common in the air circulation art, but is dimensioned to fit within the picture frame embodiment's body, which is comparable to a typical picture frame.
A motive air displacement device embodiment of the present invention includes a body, a stabilizer, a structurally prominent faceplate, and an air displacement unit. The body of the motive embodiment includes a substantially solid body surface that masks both a minimally-sized air inlet and peripheral air outlet. Within the body is a body chamber supporting an appropriately-sized air displacement unit connected to the air inlet and air 5 outlet. Upon the body, and near the air outlet, is located a structurally prominent faceplate that supports a transforming aesthetic overlay, i.e. an aesthetic overlay capable of altering its surface detail. Suitable stabilizers for the motive embodiment will vary with the transforming aesthetic overlay, but might include a base, wall mount, rotatable stand, and the like.
A buried air displacement device embodiment of the present invention includes a body, a retractable faceplate with an aesthetic overlay, and an air displacement unit. The body defines an interior body chamber connected to an air inlet and an air outlet, both of which are positioned on the surface of the body. Affixed to the body is a retractable faceplate configured to selectively obstruct the air outlet. Upon the retractable faceplate is an aesthetic overlay, whether a separate entity or integrated therein. The stabilizer includes any article capable of supporting the buried air displacement device on a surface. Within the body chamber is an air displacement unit configured to accept air from the air inlet to the air outlet.
A model air displacement device embodiment of the present invention includes a 20 body that is an aesthetic overlay. The aesthetic overlay is adapted to mimic a natural object that would naturally include apertures. Within the aesthetic overlay body is a body chamber that connects to the air inlet and the air outlet. The air outlet and air inlet are positioned to correspond to the natural aperture locations. It is preferred that the air inlets and air outlets are masked by either protrusions or recesses of material circumscribing the air inlets and air outlets. Within the body chamber is the air displacement device.
Therefore, it is an aspect of the present invention to present an air circulation device disguised by an object unrelated to air circulation. It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a disguised and portable air circulation device.
It is a still further aspect of the present invention to provide an air circulation device having a function unrelated to air circulation.
It is a final aspect of the present invention to provide a disguised air displacement device that has a body with a back and parallel front with the back of the body defining an air inlet and a peripheral air outlet associated with the front. A body chamber between the back and the front is in fluid communication with the air inlet and the air outlet. A structurally prominent faceplate is on the body proximate to the peripheral air outlet and bears a transforming aesthetic overlay. An air displacement unit is formed of a plurality of blades rotatable in a plane parallel with the back and the front. The air displacement unit is substantially concealed within the body chamber and is configured to accept air from the air inlet and urge the air through the air outlet.
These aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive. Furthermore, some features may apply to certain embodiments or versions of the invention, but not others. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read in conjunction with the following description, and accompanying drawings.
Referring first to
The body 102 of the present invention acts as the protective housing for the internal components of the device, and also contributes to the disguised nature of the present invention. As can be seen in the picture frame fan 100, the body 102 is configured to include an internal body chamber 112, which is simply the space within the body 102. Upon the surface of the body are apertures allowing fluid connection with the body chamber 102, the air inlet 114 and the air outlet 116. The air inlet 114 allows air entrance into the body chamber 112, and the air outlet 116 allows air egress from the body chamber 112. The air displacement unit 110 is disposed within the body chamber 112.
The air displacement unit 110 is a mechanism adapted to accept air from a first point and transport it to a second point. The preferred air displacement unit 110 of the present invention is a fan; however, fan alternatives, e.g. pumps, are part of the present invention. In the present invention the air displacement unit 110 is always sized, such that in conjunction with the configuration of the body 102, the air displacement unit 110 is obscured, sometimes selectively, by the body 102 or some other component adjacent to the body. As
Beyond merely obscuring the air displacement unit 110, a faceplate 106, as
The faceplate 106 of the present invention includes an assembly adapted to support and/or protect the aesthetic overlay 118 in its position on the body 102 of the present invention. The faceplate 106 of the present invention may be: completely removable from the body 102; removable only at selected points to allow a hinged attachment to the body 102; or permanently affixed to the body 102. At its simplest, the faceplate 106 can consist of a glass cover adapted to cover a single surface of the aesthetic overlay 118 as
As is further illustrated by
The air displacement unit 110 of the present invention will vary with the particular embodiment with which it is used. The air displacement unit 110 can include any mechanism capable of displacing and directing air in a given direction. In the preferred picture frame fan 100, the air displacement unit 110 is a twelve volt, 120 mm fan. Such a fan is preferred as it possesses substantial power and airflow generation with a minimum of sound generation.
The air inlet 114 of the present invention includes one or more apertures located on the body 102 in a position suitable to allow air entrance into the body chamber. The air inlets 114 comprise a minimum amount of space on the body 102 to minimize the recognition factor of the present invention's true nature. As is common in current fans, the amount of open space in the rear generally comprises the entire rear surface, limited merely by grating thereon. With the present invention, the air inlet—be it on the side, rear, or front—does not consume that entire surface; rather it is minimized for purposes of disguising the nature of the present invention. It is preferred that the air inlet 102 include only the space necessary to allow an amount of airflow suitable to allow the air displacement unit 110 to operate effectively. It is preferred that the air inlet 114 and air outlet 116 are offset or spaced to a degree that prevents a viewer from seeing through the body 102 of the present invention.
The stabilizer 104 of the present invention is a device or structure adapted to steady the body 102 on a surface. In instances where the surface that will most likely support the present invention is a horizontal surface, the stabilizer preferably includes one of the following: a base, which is material integrated within the body and is dimensioned to support the present invention; or a stand, which includes material shaped to confer a high degree of stabilization with a minimum of material. In instances where the surface that will most likely support the present invention is a vertical surface, the stabilizer preferably includes an aperture dimensioned to accept a nail, screw or other hanging article; or the body includes an integrally formed hanging articles, such as a hook. The stabilizer 104 may include features allowing the present invention to be easily moved or adjusted, such as a rotatable connection controlling pitch, yaw, or a combination of the two. Other stabilizers may be capable of actuating the present invention in a tiltable, rotatable, slidable, or reversible fashion. In the preferred picture frame fan 100 embodiment, the stabilizer 104 includes a wire fashioned to support the picture frame fan 100 on a horizontal surface. Commercial embodiments may include two such wires: one to allow the body a lengthened vertical appearance; the other to allow the body a shortened vertical appearance.
As the present invention includes an air displacement unit 110, the present invention includes a power source 124. As shown in
The aesthetic overlay 118 of the present invention includes any aesthetic design of adapted to disguise the present invention as a device other than a fan. The present invention includes at least one aesthetic overlay 118, and may include multiple aesthetic overlays 118 as
The primary aesthetic overlay includes generally two-dimensional articles such as photographs, visual works of art, postcards, stickers, characters, symbols, images, mirrors, and the like. Articles not capable of serving as aesthetic overlays include visual cues that indicate that the device is a fan, e.g. a trademark of a brand of fan.
In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in
In the clock fan 200 embodiment, it is preferred that the air outlet 116 spans the periphery of the clock fan 200, and the stabilizer (not shown) include either an aperture adapted to accept an article adapted to hang the clock fan 200 on a wall or include a hanging aperture upon the rear of the body 102 of the clock fan 200. As
As embodiments of the present invention utilizing transforming aesthetic overlays include functional aesthetics, the ability to alter the functional aesthetics will not be necessary. Unlike the picture frame fan embodiments of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention utilizing a transforming aesthetic overlay need not be amenable to aesthetic overlay substitution. Thus, removable faceplates or faceplates adapted to accept multiple aesthetic overlays may be used with transforming aesthetic overlay embodiments, but are not necessary.
As
Embodiments of the present invention may further include ornamental fan blades. As shown in
The embodiment of the buried fan 300 shown in
Both the air inlets 114 and air outlets 116 of the model embodiments are preferably situated proximate to structural recesses and protrusions to further hide the air circulation aspects of the present invention. As the air inlet or air outlet is masked by a protruding or recessed aperture, the line of sight of an observer in peering into the innards of the present invention would be more greatly obstructed. Such masked apertures are preferred, and are present in the device of
As
The present invention, from a generic view point, broadly includes a body, a body chamber, a structurally prominent faceplate, and an air displacement unit. First provided in the broadest embodiment is a body having a back and an associated front parallel with the back. The body defines an air inlet associated with the back. The body has a peripheral air outlet associated with the front.
Next in this broadest embodiment, a body chamber is provided between the back and the front. The body chamber is in fluid communication with the air inlet and the air outlet.
A structurally prominent faceplate is provided in this broadest embodiment. The faceplate is on the body proximate to the peripheral air outlet and bears a transforming aesthetic overlay.
Finally, in this broadest embodiment, an air displacement unit is provided. The air displacement unit is formed of a plurality of blades rotatable in a plane parallel with the back and the front. The air displacement unit is substantially concealed within the body chamber. The air displacement unit is configured to accept air from the air inlet and urge the air through the air outlet.
Note now the embodiment of
Note now the embodiment of
Reference is again made to the embodiment of
Lastly, in this final embodiment of the invention, an air displacement unit is provided. The air displacement unit is within the body chamber. The air displacement unit is located between the air inlet and the air outlet. The air displacement unit is formed of a plurality of rotatable blades configured to accept air from the air inlet and to urge the air through the air outlet.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.
Claims
1. A portable, disguised air displacement device comprising:
- a body having a back and an associated front parallel with the back, the body defining an air inlet associated with the back, the body having a peripheral air outlet associated with the front;
- a body chamber between the back and the front, the body chamber being in fluid communication with the air inlet and the air outlet;
- a structurally prominent faceplate on the body proximate to the peripheral air outlet and bearing a transforming aesthetic overlay; and
- an air displacement unit formed of a plurality of blades rotatable in a plane parallel with the back and the front, the air displacement unit being substantially concealed within the body chamber, the air displacement unit being configured to accept air from the air inlet and urge the air through the air outlet.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the front is circular with an area and the back is circular and parallel with the front and wherein the transforming aesthetic overlay comprises a circular clock having an area of 74 percent of the area of the front, plus or minus 10 percent.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the front is rectangular with an area and the back is rectangular and parallel with the front and wherein the transforming aesthetic overlay comprises a rectangular picture having an area of 44 percent of the area of the front, plus or minus 10 percent.
4. A disguised air displacement device comprising, in combination:
- a body having a rectangular back with an associated air inlet, the body having a rectangular front with an associated air outlet, the body defining a body chamber, the body chamber being in fluid communication with the air inlet and the air outlet;
- a rectangular faceplate with a rectangular central section in the form of a picture, the central section being imperforate and obstructing the air outlet, the central section bearing an aesthetic overlay, the rectangular faceplate having a peripheral section surrounding the central section and constituting the air outlet, the central section having an area of between 44 and 77 percent of the area of the peripheral section; and
- an air displacement unit, within the body chamber, the air displacement unit being located between the air inlet and the air outlet, the air displacement unit being formed of a plurality of rotatable blades configured to accept air from the air inlet and urge the air through the air outlet.
Type: Application
Filed: May 28, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 24, 2009
Inventor: Roland Santa Ana
Application Number: 12/455,134
International Classification: F04D 29/40 (20060101);