US20090208353A1

US20090208353A1 - Motorized fan with whimsical figure appearance

Info

Publication number: US20090208353A1
Application number: US11/544,171
Authority: US
Inventors: Margaret Weiser
Original assignee: Exhart Environmental Systems Inc
Current assignee: Exhart Environmental Systems Inc
Priority date: 2006-10-05
Filing date: 2006-10-05
Publication date: 2009-08-20

Abstract

A motorized fan with a whimsical figure appearance that has an electric fan and a body member, and it may also have appendages and a support base. The body member is connected to the electric fan such that the electric fan is generally located within the body member. The appendage may represent the arm, leg, tail, neck, wing, head, tongue, quill, antenna, or other body part that is connected to the body of the whimsical figure. There may be a plurality of appendages. An appendage may further contain additional embellishments to represent other features of the whimsical figure's body, such as the brush at the end of a tail, feet, hooves, the figure's head, fins, flippers, hands, ears, horns, feathers, or whiskers. Preferably, the whimsical figure is the characterization of an animal.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a motorized fan incorporated into the whimsical form of a figure, particularly an animal.

BACKGROUND ART

Various apparatuses exist to provide novelty devices having fan mechanisms. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,331 to Weiser shows a novelty with an incorporated fan. However, the existing devices do not teach a motorized fan coupled to a whimsical figure, particularly of an animal.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a motorized fan with a whimsical figure appearance that has an electric fan and a body member, and it may also have appendages and a support base. The body member is connected to the electric fan such that the electric fan is generally located within the body member. The appendage may represent the arm, leg, tail, neck, wing, head, tongue, quill, antenna, or other body part that is connected to the body of the whimsical figure. There may be a plurality of appendages. An appendage may further contain additional embellishments to represent other features of the whimsical figure's body, such as the brush at the end of a tail, feet, hooves, a head, fins, flippers, hands, ears, horns, feathers, or whiskers. Preferably, the whimsical figure is the characterization of an animal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a motorized fan with whimsical figure appearance.

FIG. 2 is a front side plan view of an embodiment of a motorized fan with whimsical figure appearance.

FIG. 3 is a rear side plan view of an embodiment of a motorized fan with whimsical figure appearance.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the top of an embodiment of a motorized fan with whimsical figure appearance.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Referring to the figures, the present invention is directed to a motorized fan with a whimsical figure appearance 10 that has an electric fan 12, a body member 14, and at least one appendage 16. The motorized fan with a whimsical figure appearance 10 may also have a support base 18. The whimsical figure is preferably the characterization of a whimsical animal.
The electric fan 12 may have an electric motor 20 having an output shaft 21, a plurality of fan blades 22 connected to the output shaft 21 of the electric motor 20, a protective guard 24 surrounding the electric motor 20 and the plurality of fan blades 22, and a power cord 26 to provide electric power to the electric motor 20.
The electric fan 12 may further have a switch for turning the fan off and on. The switch may also select various speeds for the fan ranging from a relatively high radial speed to a relatively low radial speed. The switch may be located on the electric fan 12, on the body member 14, on the power cord 26, on the support base 18 or in any other convenient location. In some embodiments, the electric motor 20 may be powered by batteries rather than by the power cord 26.
The body member 14, fan member, or cowling is connected to the electric fan 12 such that the electric fan 12 is generally located within the body member 14. The electric fan 12 may be connected to the body member 14 by way of one or more fan mounts 15. In some embodiments, the electric fan 12 is generally centered within the body member 14. The body member 14 may be semi-toroidal in shape as depicted in the figures. Furthermore, the body member 14 may have a plurality of wire loops, with reticulate material, such as mesh or screen, or spanning between the wire loops. The wire loops may be generally parallel to each other to form a generally rounded shape. Although the body member 14 is described with reference to wire loops, it is also contemplated that the wire forms can be various non-circular shapes, such as polygonal or irregular shapes, to depict the body or portion of the body of the whimsical figure to be characterized. Furthermore, the body member 14 may be formed without using wire forms, and in some embodiments the body member 14 may have non-reticulate material. It is also contemplated that the protective guard 24 may be the body member 14, and it is contemplated that the body member 14 might not completely encircle or surround the electric fan 12. Furthermore, although it is preferred that the electric fan 12 be generally located within the body member 14, in some embodiments the electric fan 12 may be located generally outside of the body member 14. In embodiments where the electric fan 12 is generally located within the body member 14, the body member 14 may have at least one side to reveal the electric fan 12 and to permit air to be drawn into the body member 14 by the electric fan 12. The body member 14 may further have another side to allow airflow out of the body member 14.
The appendage 16 may represent the arm, leg, tail, neck, wing, head, tongue, quill, antenna, or other secondary body portion that is connected to the body of the whimsical figure. There may be a plurality of appendages 16 connected to the body member 14. In fact, a plurality of appendages 16 is preferred as that will generally provide a better characterization of the whimsical figure to be depicted. The appendage 16 may be a helical spring, a straight or curved wire form, or various solid shapes to depict body parts of the characterized figure. An appendage 16 may further contain additional embellishments to represent other features, such as the brush at the end of a tail, feet, hands, hooves, the figure's head, fins, flippers, ears, horns, feathers, or whiskers.
The support base 18 may be a flat plate or other supportive surface. One or more appendages 16 may be connected to the support base 18. In embodiments having appendages 16 that represent legs, for example, the lower part of the leg, the foot, or the hoof (where present) may be connected to the support base 18. Although not required by all embodiments, the support base 18 provides stability to the motorized fan with a whimsical figure appearance 10; it is useful to counter the forces exerted on the device by the electric fan 12 and to provide structural integrity for the appendage 16 or plurality of appendages 16, where necessary. The support surface may further be decorated to represent or signify, for example, grass, water, dirt, or clouds, as an appropriate background for the characterized figure. While described as being a supportive surface, it is also contemplated that the support base 18 need not be located underneath the remainder of the motorized fan with a whimsical figure appearance 10. For example, the support base 18 may be to the side of or above the remainder of the device. Such alternative placements may be useful for, for example, mounting the motorized fan with a whimsical figure appearance 10 on a generally vertical surface or suspending it from a generally horizontal surface.
While the present invention has been described with regard to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept. Furthermore, it is understood that the figure's features as described and depicted are whimsical. As such, it is also understood that the various features may differ from their counterparts on living figures, if any.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

This invention may be applied to the manufacture and use of motorized fans incorporated into the whimsical form of a figure, particularly an animal.

Claims

1. A motorized fan having a whimsical animal appearance, comprising:

(a) an electric fan, the electric fan comprising an electric motor having an output shaft, a plurality of fan blades connected to the output shaft of the electric motor, a protective guard surrounding the electric motor and the plurality of fan blades, and a power cord to provide electric power to the electric motor;

(b) a body member, the body member being connected to the electric fan such that the electric fan is generally centered within the body member, the body member being shaped and dimensioned to represent a body portion of a whimsical animal, the body member having at least one side to reveal the electric fan for drawing air into the body member, and the body member having another side configured to allow airflow therethrough;

(c) at least one appendage, the at least one appendage comprising a helical spring and being positioned on the body member to represent the arm, leg, tail, or neck of an animal; and

(d) a support base connected to the body member for supporting the motorized fan

wherein the combination of the electric fan, the body member, the at least one appendage, and the support base provide the appearance of a whimsical animal.

2. A novelty incorporating a powered fan, comprising:

(a) a cowling, shaped and dimensioned to represent a body portion of a whimsical figure;

(b) an electric fan connected to the cowling; and

(c) at least one appendage attached to the cowling;

wherein the combination of the cowling and the at least one appendage provide the general appearance of the whimsical figure.

3. The novelty fan of claim 2, the electric fan comprising an electric motor having an output shaft, a plurality of fan blades connected to the output shaft of the electric motor, a protective guard surrounding the electric motor and the plurality of fan blades, and a power cord to provide electric power to the electric motor.

4. The novelty fan of claim 2, the electric fan being generally within the cowling.

5. The novelty fan of claim 4, the cowling further having an inlet side for drawing air into the electric fan and an outlet side for expelling air from the electric fan.

6. The novelty fan of claim 2, the at least one appendage comprising a helical spring.

7. The novelty fan of claim 2, the at least one appendage further comprising an embellishment, the embellishment being shaped and dimensioned to represent a part of the whimsical figure's body selected from the group consisting of: a brush at the end of a tail, a foot, a hoof, a hand, a head, a fin, a flipper, an ear, a horn, a feather, and a whisker.

8. The novelty fan of claim 2, further having an on-off switch.

9. The novelty fan of claim 2, the electric fan being generally outside of the cowling.

10. The novelty fan of claim 2, the whimsical figure being a whimsical animal.

11. The novelty fan of claim 2, the at least one appendage being shaped and dimensioned to represent a part of the whimsical figure's body selected from the group consisting of: an arm, a leg, a tail, a neck, a wing, a head, a tongue, a quill, and an antenna.

12. The novelty fan of claim 2, further comprising a support base connected to the cowling.

13. The novelty fan of claim 12, the support base being decorated to signify grass, water, dirt, or clouds.

14. A motorized fan having a whimsical figure appearance, comprising

(a) a central fan member defining a body representative in contour of a main body portion of an animal and having at least one support to mount a electric fan; the electric fan supported from the at least one support; and

(b) an at least one appendage member peripherally disposed relative to the central fan member, the at least one appendage member being representative of a secondary body portion of the figure in whimsical configuration,

wherein the combination of the central fan member and the at least one appendage member provides an appearance of a whimsical figure.

15. The motorized fan of claim 14, the central fan member further having a first side and a second side, the first side being shaped and dimensioned to permit air to be drawn into the electric fan, the second side being shaped and dimensioned to permit air to be exhausted from the electric fan.

16. The motorized fan of claim 14, the at least one appendage member being shaped and dimensioned to represent a part of the whimsical figure's body selected from the group consisting of: an arm, a leg, a tail, a neck, a wing, a head, a tongue, a quill, and an antenna.

17. The motorized fan of claim 14, the at least one appendage member comprising a spring.

18. A novelty of an animal having a body, the novelty comprising a fan member representative of a main body portion of the animal in contour and defining an enclosure and a head member peripherally disposed relative to the body representative of a secondary body portion of the animal, the fan member having coupled thereto at least one support to mount an electric fan; an electric fan supported from the at least one support, the electric fan being configured to draw in air from a rear side of the electric fan and expel air from a front side of the electric fan, the fan member being fabricated of a see-through material and including a support for the novelty.

19. The novelty of claim 18, the see-through material being a reticulated material.

20. The novelty of claim 18 further comprising appendages representative of the animal.