GB2370859A

GB2370859A - Manually operated portable fan

Info

Publication number: GB2370859A
Application number: GB0028167A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Bedford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-20
Filing date: 2000-11-20
Publication date: 2002-07-10
Also published as: GB0028167D0

Abstract

A manually operated, mechanically driven, portable fan includes a main body 1, pivotable fan blades 15 and a helical plunger shaft 10. In operation, the body 1 is held in one hand while a plunger handle 13 is held in the other. Helical plunger shaft 10 is pushed into the body 1 and engages clutch assembly members 6,7,8,9 which leads to the rotation of a drive shaft 14 and a rotor 17. Rotation of the rotor 17 causes the blades 15 to pivot about pins 16 to an open position ( figure 5 ) where they are held during rotation dy a spring device contained in a domed cap 18. After use, the blades 15 can be manually returned to a folded position. The body 1 may include anti-slip grooves 4, and the drive shaft 14 may be supported by ball bearings 5.

Description

PORTABLE FAN This invention relates to a portable fan.

Portable fans are available in the form of small battery operated electrically driven rotary fans, larger plug in electrical mains operated portable rotary fans, and the hand operated pleated model of fan that unfolds into a half circle.

Electric battery operated fans, however, can be costly to run. The fan becomes slow and inoperable when the battery becomes exhausted, defeating its purpose. The electrical mains plug in portable rotary fan costs money to run and is limited for use only within the reach of an electrical power supply.

Usually they are heavy for transporting and much larger in size. The pleated model of fan unfolds into a half circle, operated by a persons hand and arm, the fan can become laborious to operate for any length of time.

The objective of this invention is to provide a portable hand operated mechanically driven fan, self contained, lightweight, comfortable to handle and easy to use with the minimum of inconvenience for the purpose of rapidly reducing temperature and cooling a person or objects. The fan can be carried in bags or pockets, providing a cost effective portable fan to the user with no running costs involved, providing a variable fan speed and air velocity that is totally regulated by the user for their own individual requirements.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable fan, for use by left or right handed users, comprising of an ergonomically moulded main body.

There are three anti-slip grooves moulded into the exterior of the body for better holding and handling.

Housed within the body is a mechanism enabling the fan blades to rotate with the drive shaft, located within bearings housed at each end of the main body and clutch housing. The bearings are additionally protected by an end cap fitted at each end of the main body.

Three fan blades have been moulded and angled to provide a good velocity of air when rotating. The fan blade assembly has been designed to automatically pivot from the closed vertical position to a right angled horizontal open position when operated, staying in the horizontal position until reverted to the closed position ready for safekeeping in a suitable storage protection container, when not in use.

The clutch assembly is housed within the clutch housing of the main body. The plunger and clutch plate assembly rotate the drive shaft and fan rotor and fan blades by a plunger device having a helical thread. When the helical plunger shaft is pushed in, the helical clutch plate and pad engages with the helical thread, also engaging with the drive shaft clutch plate and pad rotating the drive shaft and fan. The fan will spin freely gathering more speed as the plunger motion is increased. The plunger handle is designed for easy use and can be operated by a persons thumb and finger tips. Fitted on the helical thread and top of the operating handle is a buffer for deadening any force or noise when coming into contact with the end cap All parts should be made from suitable and durable materials, preferably lightweight materials for easier use. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1-Shows in perspective an oblique view of the portable fan, with fan blades open.

FIGURE 2-Shows in perspective the front elevation of the portable fan, with fan blades closed.

FIGURE 3-Shows section A-A showing all parts of portable fan assembly (see also FIGURE 2).

FIGURE 4-Shows plan view of the fan blade assembly in open position.

FIGURE 5-Shows front elevation of fan blade and cap assembly in open position.

FIGURE 6-Shows angle of fan blade view A (see also FIGURE 4).

FIGURE 3-No. 1 Main body.

No. 2 End cap for fan drive shaft.

No. 3 End cap for plunger shaft.

No. 4 Anti-slip grooves.

No. 5 Ball bearing.

No. 6 Drive shaft clutch plate.

No. 7 Drive shaft clutch pad.

No. 8 Helical thread clutch plate.

No. 9 Helical thread clutch pad.

No. 10 Helical threaded plunger shaft.

No. 11 Helical threaded plunger shaft stop.

No. 12 Buffer.

No. 13 Operating plunger handle.

No. 14 Drive shaft.

No. 15 Pivotal fan blade.

No. 16 Fulcrum pin.

No. 17 Fan blade rotor.

No. 18 Domed cap.

No. 19 Fan drive shaft plug.

No. 20 Securing bolt.

No. 21 Clutch housing.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A portable fan. Hand operated and mechanically driven, with pivotal fan blades that automatically open when the fan is operated by the plunger, and physically closed by the user when fan is not required. The fan is operated by pushing the plunger operating handle and helical shaft into the main body. The fan speed and velocity is regulated by the user. The clutch assembly works in conjunction with the helical screwed shaft, and drive shaft to rotate the fan blades. The drive shaft is housed within ball bearings for better rotation.
2. A portable fan as claimed in Claim 1 where it is hand operated.
3. A portable fan as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 where it is mechanically driven
4. A portable fan as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 and Claim 3 where the helical clutch plate and clutch pad work in conjunction with the helical plunger shaft.
5. A portable fan as claimed in Claims 1,2, 3 and 4 where the drive shaft clutch plate and clutch pad drives the fan rotor and fan blades.
6. A portable fan as claimed in Claims 1,2, 3,4 and 5 where the drive shaft is housed within ball bearings.
7. A portable fan as claimed in Claims 1,2, 3,4, 5 and 6 where the fan blades pivot automatically to the open position.
8. A portable fan as claimed in Claims 1,2, 3,4, 5,6 and 7 where the fan blades can be pressed down to the closed position when not being used.
9. A portable fan as claimed in Claims 1,2, 3,4, 5,6, 7 and 8 where a domed cap is fitted to the top of the fan rotor, acting as a spring for the fan blades and giving a decorative finish.
10. A portable fan as claimed in Claims 1,2, 3,4, 5,6, 7,8 and 9 where a threaded plug is fitted into the fan rotor drive shaft, giving added stability, also for holding a bolt or screw for securing fan rotor and domed cap.
11. A portable fan as claimed in Claims 1,2, 3,4, 5,6, 7,8, 9 and 10 where the main body has been ergonomically moulded with three anti-slip grooves moulded into the outer body.
12. A portable fan as claimed in Claims 1,2, 3,4, 5,6, 7,8, 9,10 and 11 where the main body is fitted with individual end caps.
13. A portable fan as claimed in Claims 1,2, 3,4, 5,6, 7,8, 9,10, 11 and 12 where the helical plunger shaft is fitted with an operating handle.
14. A portable fan as claimed in Claims 1, 2,3, 4,5, 6,7, 8,9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 where a buffer is fitted deadening any force or noise when operated.
15. A portable fan as claimed in any preceding claim including various shapes and size of body, and different configurations and numbers of fan blades, domed cap, buffer, bearings, plunger handle, and helical plunger shaft.
16. A portable fan as claimed in any preceding claim including different configurations of drive shaft, clutch assembly, securing bolt or screw for domed cap and fan rotor. Of different materials shapes and sizes.
17. A portable fan as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from metal, plastic, wood or a combination of these materials, or any other suitable and durable materials.
18. A portable fan substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.