IT202000022297A1 - AIR MOVEMENT DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

Description of the invention entitled:

"AIR MOVEMENT DEVICE"

FIELD OF APPLICATION

Embodiments described here refer to an air movement device preferably suitable for cooling people. The device of the present invention ? usable in internal environments, such as spas, swimming pools or similar, but also in external environments, without an electricity network, for a prolonged period of time and without requiring particular effort from the user. This device can be advantageously associated with a sun lounger.

STATE OF THE ART

? note the need of cooling, for example in situations of particular heat or humidity. Sometimes, to satisfy this need? ? It is possible to use air conditioning and/or ventilation devices. Am I otherwise? frequent situations in which not ? Is it possible to use these devices, for example in environments where they are not installed and/or where there is no? immediate access to the electricity grid.

In these cases ? It is possible to use solutions of the manual type or of the portable electric type, such as fans or pocket fans. The solutions of the manual type can be effective only for a limited period of time, or until? the user does not get tired or until? does not need both hands free to perform other tasks.

In a similar way, the functioning of the solutions of the portable electric type ? limited by their charge and battery life. Furthermore, these devices, in order to guarantee operation for an acceptable time, present compromise solutions, for example with a reduced power of the ventilation means, thus reducing their effectiveness.

These drawbacks can be particularly disadvantageous for example in the case where it is necessary or desired to remain outdoors and in the heat for a prolonged period of time.

For example, if a user wants to get tanned while sunbathing lying on a sun lounger, two partially opposing needs arise. The first, to pass the pi? time possible under the sun, pu? be in contrast with the second, or with the need? of cooling. In fact, a user to cool off can? be brought to place in the shade, effectively avoiding exposure to the sun.

Is there therefore a need? to perfect an air movement device which can overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the technique.

In particular, an object of the present invention ? that of creating a device that can also be used outdoors, for a prolonged period of time and without the need for an electrical network.

Another object of the present invention ? that of providing a device that can cool a user without hindering him and without limiting him in his activities.

To obviate the drawbacks of the prior art and to obtain these and further objects and advantages, the Applicant has studied, tested and implemented the present invention.

DISCOVERY DISPLAY

The present found ? expressed and characterized in the independent claim. The dependent claims disclose other characteristics of the present invention or variants of the idea of the main solution.

In accordance with the above purposes, an air movement device is described which overcomes the limits of the prior art and eliminates the defects present therein.

The device according to the present invention comprises a containing body and ventilation means configured to generate an air flow. The ventilation means can be housed in the containment body and the air flow can cross, at least partially, this body of containment that can? include at least an entrance and an exit for the air.

According to one aspect of the invention, the ventilation means can be powered by a photovoltaic panel, included in the device, and operatively associated with the containment body.

In preferred embodiments, the device further comprises hooking means configured to hook this device to a parasol of a sunbed. This conformation allows a user to remain exposed to the sun for a prolonged time without any discomfort related to the ambient temperature.

The containment body can be advantageously substantially tubular in shape and the ventilation means can be operatively associated with one end thereof? equipped with an air inlet. The other end? of the containment body pu? be fluidically closed and between these ends? can? the air outlet be arranged.

In preferred embodiments, the photovoltaic panel can be of the roll-up type and can? assume a wrapped configuration in which ? substantially cylindrical in shape, and an extended configuration in which? substantially flat and rectangular in shape. Preferably, when the photovoltaic panel ? in the wrapped configuration ? mostly included in the containment body. Conversely, when the photovoltaic panel? in the extended configuration ? for the most part external to the containment body.

In embodiments, the photovoltaic panel can be retained by springback in the wrapped configuration and pu? be manually rolled out to the extended configuration. Furthermore, the device can include second hooking means associated with an?end? of the photovoltaic panel and configured to hook onto the parasol. Advantageously, in this way the device can? be hooked to the parasol, on one side by means of the first hooking means, and on the opposite side by means of the second hooking means. The stable grip of the aforementioned hooking means? guaranteed by the fact that the photovoltaic panel ? held by springback. There? makes the device easy to install.

In possible variants of realization, the photovoltaic panel can? be of the rigid type and pu? extend in a single body from the containment body.

The device can further comprising electrical energy storage means configured to store at least part of the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panel. Furthermore, such electrical energy storage means may be electrically connected to electrical connection interfaces configured to supply electrical energy to mobile devices. Advantageously, in this way, a user can? use part of the electric energy generated by the device of the present invention to charge said mobile devices. Here and in the following, mobile devices are understood to mean mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, game consoles or laptops and similar or equivalent devices.

Furthermore, the device can comprising support means operatively associated with said containment body, and configured to support mobile devices.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DESIGNS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- fig. 1 ? a side view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, in a condition of use;

- the f?g. the ? an enlargement of fig. 1;

- fig. 2 and 3 are axonometric views of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention in respective operative configurations;

- fig. 4 ? an isometric view of another embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

- fig. 5 ? a schematic representation, in section, of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention.

For ease of understanding, identical reference numerals have been used wherever possible to identify identical commonalities in the figures. It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further specification.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Will it be done? now reference in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more? examples are illustrated in the attached figures by way of non-limiting example. Even the phraseology and terminology used here? for non-limiting example purposes.

Referring to FIG. 1, the number 10 indicates an air movement device, hereinafter device 10, suitable for generating an air flow F, suitable for cooling things, people or animals.

Device 10 can? comprise ventilation means 11 configured to generate the air flow F, and can? be advantageously associated with the parasol 51 of a sun lounger 50.

In embodiments, the device 10 comprises a containment body 12 containing the ventilation means 11, and which can? be crossed, at least partially, by the air flow F. In particular, with reference to figs. 2-5, the containment body 12 can? have a tubular shape that develops along an X axis and at one end? 14 of the same can be associated with the ventilation means 11, while the other end? 15 pu? be fluidly closed. Outlets 13 for the air can be obtained on the containment body 12, interposed between the ends? 14, 15 of the same. These outlets 13 for the air can be configured as a plurality? holes or slits. In this way, the air sucked in by the ventilation means 11 partially travels through the containment body 12 and comes out of the outlets 13. In these embodiments, the ventilation means 11 can take the form of one or more? axial-type impellers arranged aligned with the X axis (fig. 5).

Device 10 can? further comprise first hooking means 16 configured to allow the hooking of the device 10 to any mechanical element extraneous to the device 10. In particular, the device 10 can? be advantageously hooked to the parasol 51 of a sun lounger 50 (fig. 1). Although reference is made below to parasol 51, it is not excluding that the device 10 can be hooked to other objects to perform a similar cooling function.

In embodiments, the first hooking means 16 can comprise one or more? protuberances 17, 18 which develop from the containment body 12. With reference to fig. 3, in a first variant the protuberances 17, 18 extend longitudinally along the development of the containment body 12 and are substantially parallel to the axis X. In a second variant, with reference to fig. 4, the protuberances 17, 18 extend intermittently from the containment body 12.

This conformation makes the device 10 substantially as wide as the parasol 51 and between the aforementioned protuberances 17, 18 can be accepted, at least part, of the frame of the same. In this way the device 10 can? be fixed to the parasol 51, preferably with the air outlets 13 substantially facing the sunbed 50. This conformation allows a user to enjoy the flow of air F generated by the ventilation means 1 1 without having to hold the device 10 and without it intervening between the sun and the user. In this way both needs? of the user can be satisfied, i.e. both that of cooling and that of exposing themselves to the sun for a prolonged period of time.

According to some embodiments, the coupling means 16 can furthermore comprise adapters 22 operatively associated with the protuberances 17, 18 and configured to improve the coupling between the device 10 and the sun visor 51. In particular, these adapters 22 can have a shape substantially "C" shaped, shaped in the external portion to couple with the protuberances 17, 18 and in the internal portion to couple with the frame of the parasol 51.

Furthermore, the aforementioned adapters 22 can be removable and supplied in different shapes and sizes to allow the device 10 to be coupled to different types of parasol 51. of use to the device 10 of the present invention.

According to one aspect of the invention, the device 10 can comprise a photovoltaic panel 25 operatively associated with the containment body 12.

In a first embodiment, represented in fig. 4, the photovoltaic panel 25 pu? be of the rigid type and pu? extend from the containment body 12. In these cases, the photovoltaic panel 25 can? be installed on a support 25a which extends in a single body from the containment body 12. Alternatively, the photovoltaic panel 25 can? be connected directly to the containment body 12 by means of fastening and/or gluing devices of the known type.

In another embodiment, the photovoltaic panel 25 can be of the roll-up type. In particular, this type of photovoltaic panel 25 pu? be configured as a film, or a mesh of non-woven fabric, flexible and comprising photovoltaic cells, strings or modules.

The photovoltaic panel 25 can? be of the roll-up type and can? assume a substantially cylindrical configuration when wound and substantially flat when extended. In other words, said photovoltaic panel 25 can assume a wrapped configuration in which ? wrapped up s? itself and forms a substantially cylindrical body. Furthermore, can assume an extended configuration in which ? unrolled and forms a substantially flat and rectangular body.

In preferred embodiments, the photovoltaic panel 25 in question can be, at least partially, contained in the containment body 12 of the device 10. In particular, when the photovoltaic panel 25 is wound is contained for the most part in the containment body 12 and when the photovoltaic panel 25? extended it is for the most part external to said containment body 12. In other words, in the wound configuration the photovoltaic panel 25 can? be included for the most part in the containment body 12 of the device 10. In this case, the axis d? winding of the photovoltaic panel 25 substantially coincides with the X axis of the containment body 12. On the contrary, in the extended configuration the photovoltaic panel 25 is? arranged for the most part externally to the containment body 12 of the device 10. To allow the extension of the photovoltaic panel 25, in the containment body 12 it can? be obtained? an opening 26 through which pu? be extracted at least part of said photovoltaic panel 25. In fact, a user can? manually pull the photovoltaic panel 25 from one? 27 external to said opening 26. In the extended configuration, the photovoltaic panel 25 can? present an extension comprised between approximately 400 and 500 millimeters in a direction perpendicular to the axis X. However, photovoltaic panels 25 which have smaller or greater extensions are not excluded.

According to preferred embodiments, the photovoltaic panel 25 can be held by springback in the wrapped configuration. In particular, elastic means (not shown) associated with the photovoltaic panel 25 can be housed inside the inside the containment body 12 of the device 10 to keep it wrapped.

According to preferred embodiments, at the end? 27 of the photovoltaic panel 25 can be functionally associated with second hooking means 28 also suitable for hooking to the sunshade 51. In particular, the second hooking means 28 can comprise one or more? supports 28a connected to the photovoltaic panel 25 and substantially shaped like ?C? to accommodate the internal part of the frame of the parasol 51. Two or more? supports 28a can be connected to each other by a rod 28b which allows the end? 27 of the photovoltaic panel 25, and which facilitates the manual unrolling of the same. Advantageously, in this way the device 10 can be hooked to the parasol 51, on one side by means of the first hooking means 16, and on the other, opposite side, by means of the second hooking means 28 (fig. la). The grip of the aforementioned hooking means 16, 28 ? guaranteed by the fact that the photovoltaic panel 25 ? held by springback in the wrapped configuration. There? makes the device 10 easy to install and gives a high stability when hooking up.

Device 10 can? furthermore comprising electric energy storage means 30, hereinafter storage means 30, electrically connected to the photovoltaic panel 25 to store at least part of the energy generated by it. The accumulation means 30 can advantageously be housed inside the containment body 12. In embodiments, the ventilation means 11 can be powered by means of the electrical energy accumulated in the accumulation means 30.

According to further embodiments, the accumulation means 30 can be electrically connected to electrical connection interfaces 31, for example of the USB, microUSB, USB-C type and the like. These electrical connection interfaces 31 can be configured to charge mobile devices, such as for example smartphones, tablets and the like, with the electrical energy stored in the storage means 30. Furthermore, the electrical connection interfaces 31 can comprise a charging input electrically connected to the accumulation means 30. This charge input can? be configured to allow the charging of said accumulation means 30 through sources other than the photovoltaic panel 25. For example, the charging input can? allow the accumulation means 30 to be charged via the domestic network. In these cases, the charge input can? configure itself as a microUSB socket.

Advantageously, this way ? It is possible to charge the accumulation means 30 before using the device 10 outdoors. In this way the device 10 can? be immediately functional, thanks to the means of accumulation 30 previously loaded and pu? ensure prolonged operation over time thanks to the photovoltaic panel 25. The aforementioned electrical connection interfaces 31 can be arranged in the containment body 12, for example at the end of the 15 fluidly closed.

With reference to fig. 5, device 10 can? also include a? unit? management and control system 32 electrically connected to the accumulation means 30 and configured to manage their charge. Such a unit? of management and control 32 pu? be connected to the ventilation means 11 and to the electrical connection interfaces 31. In particular, this unit? of control and management 32 pu? be configured to manage the electrical energy transmitted to the electrical connection interfaces 31 and the operation of the ventilation means 11.

In embodiments, the device 10 can furthermore having a user interface 34 configured to allow the user to activate or not the ventilation means 11 and to manage their operation. The user interface 34 can? comprise for example an electric switch, and/or means for regulating the power of the ventilation means 11.

Device 10 can? furthermore comprising support means 35 configured to support mobile devices, such as for example smartphones, tablets and similar or assimilable devices.

The support means 35 can comprise one or more? elongated elements 36 which develop from the containment body 12 and to which it can be associated with a gripper 37 configured to grip the mobile device to be held. This conformation? advantageous and makes the device 10 particularly versatile, with the capacity? to hold a mobile device, for example in front of the face of a user lying on a sunbed 50 .

In a first embodiment, the elongated elements 36 can develop in a single body from the containment body 12.

In a variant embodiment, the elongated elements 36 can take the form of a plate shaped to couple with the containment body 12.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the air movement device 10 described up to now, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

In the claims that follow, the references in brackets have the sole purpose of facilitating the reading and must not be considered as limiting factors as regards the scope of protection implied in the specific claims.

Claims (10)

1. Air movement device (10) which can be associated with a parasol (51) of a cot (50) comprising a containment body (12) to which ventilation means (11) configured to generate an air flow (F ), characterized in that said containment body (12) comprises hooking means (16) configured to hook said device (10) to said parasol (51). 2. Device (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a photovoltaic panel (25) operatively associated with said containment body (12) and configured to power said ventilation means (11). 3. Device (10) as in any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said containment body (12) is essentially tubular in shape and has two ends? (14, 15) and that said ventilation means (1 1) are operatively associated with one end? (14) of said containment body (12) and that there are outlets (13) for the air interposed between said ends? (14, 15) of said containment body (12). 4. Device (10) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said photovoltaic panel (25) is of the roller type and pu? assume a substantially cylindrical configuration when wound and substantially flat when extended. 5. Device (10) as in claim 4, characterized in that when said photovoltaic panel (25) is wound is contained for the most part in said containment body (12) and that when said photovoltaic panel (25) ? extended, it is for the most part external to said containment body (12). 6. Device (10) as in any one of claims from 3 to 5, characterized in that said photovoltaic panel (25) is held by springback in said wrapped configuration. 7. Device (10) as in any one of claims from 3 to 6, characterized in that it comprises second hooking means (28) associated with one end of the device. (27) of said photovoltaic panel (25) and configured to be hooked to said parasol (51). 8. Device (10) as in claims 2 or 3 characterized in that said photovoltaic panel (25) ? of the rigid type and ? connected to said containment body (12). 9. Device (10) as in any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises electric energy storage means (30) configured to store at least part of the electric energy generated by said photovoltaic panel (25) and in that it comprises interfaces electrical connection (31) electrically connected to said electrical energy storage means (30). 10. Device (10) as in any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises support means (35) operatively associated with said containment body (12) and configured to support mobile devices,