AU2008265520B2

AU2008265520B2 - Fan assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2008265520B2
Application number: AU2008265520A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ben Marsh; Giles Mcdonald
Original assignee: Clipsal Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Clipsal Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-20
Filing date: 2008-06-20
Publication date: 2012-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-20
Also published as: CN101743445B; WO2008154702A1; CN101743445A; HK1145356A1; AU2008265520A1; NZ581962A

Abstract

An improved fan assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes: a housing (20) having a downwardly opening mouth (22) for drawing in air and a laterally opening exhaust air outlet (30);a top edge (32), a first side edge 34 and a second side edge (36), the edges around and adjacent to the outlet (30); a separable outlet connection tube (50) having a downwards facing upper surface (55); a pivot joint defining a hinge axis between the top edge (32) and the outlet tube (50); a protrusion and recess pair, one of the protrusion and the recess located on the tube (50) and the other on the first side edge of the housing (20); and a clip (54) and co-operating surface (42) pair, one of the clip and co-operating surface located on the tube (50) and the other on the second side edge (36) of the housing (20), wherein the downwards facing upper surface (55) of the outlet connection tube (50) is positionable onto the top edge 32 adjacent the outlet (30) so as to form the pivot joint and whereby, as the tube (50) is pivoted downwards, the protrusion and recess pair engage each other and the clip (54) engages with the co-operating surface (42) to retain the tube (50) to the outlet (30).

Description

WO 2008/154702 PCT/AU2008/000905 1 FAN ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to fans and in particular relates to air circulation and exhaust fans. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Air circulation and exhaust fans are required in domestic, commercial and industrial buildings. For instance, domestically, exhaust fans are commonly used in bathrooms, toilets, laundries, kitchens and workshops. In many applications, it is desirable to install exhaust fans in the ceiling. The space above ceilings is often small and difficult to access. It can therefore be difficult, in some cases, to install known exhaust fans in many ceilings. This is particularly so when an installer is working alone and must balance on top of a ladder. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fan assembly. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fan assembly that ameliorates at least some of the aforementioned problems or at least to offer a useful choice. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fan assembly including: a housing having an inlet mouth for drawing in air and a laterally opening exhaust air outlet mouth; a separable outlet connection tube, the tube and the housing mutually shaped such that the tube is positionable onto the housing adjacent the outlet mouth so as to form a pivot joint defining a hinge axis; and a retention means for holding the tube pivoted against the outlet mouth. Preferably the retention means includes co-operable inter-engaging snap-fit components, one of which is located on the tube and the other on the housing. Preferably the retention means also includes a protrusion engagable in a recess arranged so that as the tube is pivoted towards the outlet mouth, the protrusion and recess engage each other.

WO 2008/154702 PCT/AU2008/000905 2 Preferably the fan assembly further includes a pair of laterally spaced apart locating guides, the locating guides disposed adjacent to and on opposing side of the outlet mouth, whereby the locating guides assist in locating a downwardly facing upper surface of the tube onto a top edge positioned above the outlet mouth, the upper surface and the top edge forming the pivot joint having a substantially horizontal hinge axis. Preferably the locating guides include at least two rails, a first rail on a first side of the outlet mouth and a second rail on a second side of the outlet mouth, the second side opposite the first side. Preferably the side rails extend upwards beyond the top edge. Preferably the protrusion is a tongue and the recess is a slot, in use the tongue extending through the slot. Preferably the fan assembly further includes a weather flap, the weather flap pivotally mounted within the outlet mouth for pivoting about an axis adjacent to and substantially parallel to an upper edge of the outlet mouth. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a fan assembly including: a housing having a downwardly opening mouth for drawing in air and a laterally opening exhaust air outlet; a top edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, the edges around and adjacent to the outlet; a separable outlet connection tube having a downwards facing upper surface; a pivot joint defining a hinge axis between the top edge and the outlet tube; a protrusion and recess pair, one of the protrusion and the recess located on the tube and the other on the first side edge of the housing; and a clip and co-operating surface pair, one of the clip and co-operating surface located on the tube and the other on the second side edge of the housing, wherein the downwards facing upper surface of the outlet connection tube is positionable onto the top edge adjacent the outlet so as to form the pivot joint and whereby, as the tube is pivoted downwards, the protrusion and recess pair engage each other and the clip engages with the co-operating surface to retain the tube to the outlet. Preferably the fan assembly further includes a pair of spaced apart rails on the housing, the rails adjacent the side edges around the outlet, whereby the rails assist in locating the downwards facing upper surface of the tube onto the top edge.

WO 2008/154702 PCT/AU2008/000905 3 Preferably the protrusion is a tongue and the recess is a slot, in use the tongue extending through the slot. Preferably the fan assembly further includes a weather flap, the weather flap pivotally mounted within the outlet mouth for pivoting about an axis adjacent to and substantially parallel to an upper edge of the outlet mouth. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described in some further detail with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figures. This embodiment is illustrative, and is not meant to be restrictive of the scope of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying representations in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a fan assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 is a similar view to that of Figure 1, but shows the assembly in a partially assembled condition; Figure 3 is a similar view to that of Figure 2 but shows the assembly from a different angle and with a component removed; Figure 4 is a similar view to that of Figure 2 but is an exploded view; Figure 5 is a further isometric view of the fan assembly of Figures 1-4 revealing its other side and its underside; and Figure 6 is similar to that of Figure 5 but shows the assembly in a partially assembled condition. Referring to Figure 1, a fan assembly 10 having two main components is shown. The first component is a housing 20 and the second component is a separable outlet connection tube 50. Now referring to Figures 5 and 6, it can be seen that the housing 20 has a downwardly opening inlet mouth 22 for drawing in air and a laterally opening exhaust air outlet mouth 30. A lower flange 27 is provided for engagement up against a ceiling (not shown). The housing 20 typically protrudes through a hole in the ceiling and up into a ceiling cavity. Lugs 85 can be rotated from a stowed position (shown in Figure 6) to a deployed position over the ceiling as shown in Figure 1. This securely retains the fan housing 20 to the ceiling. Now referring to the exploded view of Figure 4, it can be seen that the separable outlet connection tube 50 and the housing 20 are mutually shaped such that the tube 50 is positionable onto the housing adjacent the outlet mouth 30 so as to form a pivot joint. A retention means for holding the tube 50 to the outlet mouth 30 is provided by a clip and co-operating surface pair 54 and 42 as can be seen in Figure 4. As the WO 2008/154702 PCT/AU2008/000905 4 tube 50 is pivoted downwards and towards the outlet mouth 30, the clip 54 engages with the co-operating surface 42 to retain the tube 50 to the mouth 22. A protrusion and recess pair 56 and 47 respectively is also provided, the protrusion 56 in the form of a tongue on the opposite side of the tube 50 to the clip 54. The recess 47 is most clearly shown in Figure 6 in the form of a slot. Again, as the tube 50 is pivoted towards the outlet mouth 30, the tongue 56 and slot 47 engage each other as is most clearly shown in Figure 5. Now referring to Figure 4, the housing 20 is shown separate from the outlet connection tube 50. In Figure 4 it can be seen that the housing 20 includes a pair of laterally spaced apart locating guides in the form of rails 60 and 70. The rails 60 and 70 are adjacent to opposing sides around the outlet 30. The rails 60 and 70 assist in locating the downwards facing upper surface 55 of the tube 50 onto a top edge 80 positioned above the outlet mouth 30. The rail ends 62 and 72 extend up above the top edge 80 and have ramped lead-in edges. This further assists in locating the upper surface 55 of the tube onto the top edge 80. Referring to Figure 4, it can be seen that the downwards facing upper surface 55 is provided by a return flange 57. In cross-section this return flange 57 is an inverted hook shape facilitating good hinging action and secure retention of the tube 50. Referring again to Figure 6, a weather flap 38 is shown. The weather flap 38 is pivotally mounted within the outlet mouth 30 for pivoting about an axis adjacent to and substantially parallel to the top edge 80 of the housing. A hinge shaft 39 providing the aforementioned axis is also illustrated in Figure 6. In use, the exhaust air outlet 30 provides an interface between the housing for the main body 20 of the fan assembly 10 and a duct. Flexible ducts are typically used to convey the exhaust air away from fans, for instance to a location outside a building. Flexible ducts are typically cylindrical and therefore preferably the outlet connection tube 50 has a circular end 59 as is shown in Figures 3 and 4. The flexible duct is typically connected to the circular end 59 with either adhesive duct tape or a cable tie. The outlet connection tube 50, with the duct attached, in turn clips at its rectangular end 52 to the rectangular opening of the exhaust air outlet mouth 30. Referring to figure 4, it can be seen that the outlet connection tube 50 is connected to the fan housing 20 by first locating the downwards facing upper surface 55 of the tube 50 on to the top edge 80 of the housing. The tube 50 is then rotated downwards from the position shown in Figure 2 to engage the clip WO 2008/154702 PCT/AU2008/000905 5 54 with its co-operating surface 42 on the housing as can be seen in Figure 1. The tongue 56 opposite the clip 54 locates into slot 47 as can be seen in Figure 5. The aforementioned operation of connecting the outlet tube 50 to the housing 20 is easy and can be accomplished with one hand. In many applications this provides significant advantages. For instance, in some applications the installer may be standing on a ladder reaching into the confines of a compact roof space. The arrangement whereby a hinge is formed at the top edge 80 of the housing provides an advantage that gravity assists in locating and actuating the clip 54. Even if the outlet connection tube 50 is not properly clipped to the housing 20, the fan assembly 10 will still function. The opposing clip 54 and tongue 56 centralise the tube 50 when it is clipped into position against the housing 20. The use of a single clip facilitates easy removal of the outlet tube 50 as required. The clip may be disengaged using one hand only. Single handed disassembly will be required in some applications given that installation may be performed within the confines of a roof space on or on top of a ladder. The fit between the outlet tube 50 and the housing 20 is such that air leakage between these components is minimal. While the present invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment in order to facilitate better understanding of the invention, it should be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications within its scope.

Claims

1. A fan assembly including: a housing having an inlet mouth for drawing in air and a laterally opening exhaust air outlet mouth; a separable outlet connection tube, the tube and the housing mutually shaped such that the tube is positionable onto the housing adjacent the outlet mouth so as to form a pivot joint defining a hinge axis; and a retention means for holding the tube pivoted against the outlet mouth.

2. A fan assembly as claimed in claim I wherein the retention means includes co-operable inter engaging snap-fit components, one of which is located on the tube and the other on the housing.

3. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the retention means also includes a protrusion engagable in a recess arranged so that as the tube is pivoted towards the outlet mouth, the protrusion and recess engage each other.

4. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 3 further including a pair of laterally spaced apart locating guides, the locating guides disposed adjacent to and on opposing side of the outlet mouth, whereby the locating guides assist in locating a downwardly facing upper surface of the tube onto a top edge positioned above the outlet mouth, the upper surface and the top edge forming the pivot joint having a substantially horizontal hinge axis.

5. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the locating guides include at least two rails, a first rail on a first side of the outlet mouth and a second rail on a second side of the outlet mouth, the second side opposite the first side.

6. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the side rails extend upwards beyond the top edge.

7. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the protrusion is a tongue and the recess is a slot, in use the tongue extending through the slot.

8. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 7 further including a weather flap, the weather flap pivotally mounted within the outlet mouth for pivoting about an axis adjacent to and substantially parallel to an upper edge of the outlet mouth. WO 2008/154702 PCT/AU2008/000905 7

9. A fan assembly including: a housing having a downwardly opening mouth for drawing in air and a laterally opening exhaust air outlet; a top edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, the edges around and adjacent to the outlet; a separable outlet connection tube having a downwards facing upper surface; a pivot joint defining a hinge axis between the top edge and the outlet tube; a protrusion and recess pair, one of the protrusion and the recess located on the tube and the other on the first side edge of the housing; and a clip and co-operating surface pair, one of the clip and co-operating surface located on the tube and the other on the second side edge of the housing, wherein the downwards facing upper surface of the outlet connection tube is positionable onto the top edge adjacent the outlet so as to form the pivot joint and whereby, as the tube is pivoted downwards, the protrusion and recess pair engage each other and the clip engages with the co-operating surface to retain the tube to the outlet.

10. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 9 further including a pair of spaced apart rails on the housing, the rails adjacent the side edges around the outlet, whereby the rails assist in locating the downwards facing upper surface of the tube onto the top edge.

11. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein protrusion is a tongue and the recess is a slot, in use the tongue extending through the slot.

12. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 9 further including a weather flap, the weather flap pivotally mounted within the outlet mouth for pivoting about an axis adjacent to and substantially parallel to an upper edge of the outlet mouth.

13. A fan assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.