US20160033151A1

US20160033151A1 - Window fan with cover

Info

Publication number: US20160033151A1
Application number: US14/803,861
Authority: US
Inventors: Barry H. Jacobs
Original assignee: Howard Berger Co LLC
Current assignee: World And Main (cranbury) LLC
Priority date: 2014-07-31
Filing date: 2015-07-20
Publication date: 2016-02-04

Abstract

A new and novel window fan with a cover is provided which comprises a housing unit having a front panel and a rear panel, the front and rear panels having grills; a fan disposed between the front and rear panels; a motor; a control element; a cover; a plurality of first fastening members on the housing unit; and a plurality of second fastening members on the cover designed to connect with the plurality of first fastening members on the housing unit. A new and novel window fan cover is also provided which includes a plurality of fastening members for attaching to the window fan.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/031,433 filed Jul. 31, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a window fan with a cover.
The invention also relates to a window fan cover and a window fan housing with a cover.

BACKGROUND

Window fans are a practical low cost alternative to air conditioning units for maintaining a comfortable temperature and ventilation within a building. Like a portable window air conditioning unit, a window fan is typically installed within the frame of a window. However, unlike a portable window air conditioning unit, a window fan is relatively inexpensive to operate.
A window fan typically contains a housing unit with a front and rear panel, a fan, a motor and a control element. The front and rear panels both contain openings (e.g., grilles) so that when turned on, the window fan draws in air from the outside into the building (e.g., intake mode), or draws air from inside the building out (e.g., exhaust mode).
Because the exterior side of the window fan is exposed to the outside environment, the interior of the fan's housing can is exposed to and can accumulate environmental elements such as dust, rain, ice, dirt, insects, spider webs, leaves, etc. which can decrease the performance of the window fan.
Additionally, because the window fan contains grilles which are open on one side to the outside environment and on the opposite side to the building's environment, air can circulate or flow through the conventional window fan, even if the power is not on. However, there are circumstances where such natural air flow or circulation can be undesirable. For example, if the temperature outside is warmer than the interior building temperature or is colder than comfortable interior temperature.
To deal with these two potential problems, window fan users typically must remove or uninstall the window fan from the window frame so the window can be closed. When the user wishes to use the window fan again, he or she must reinstall the window fan.
As such, there is a need for an improved window fan or device so that users do not have to remove and reinstall the window fan to address the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY

A new and useful window fan with at least one cover is provided which comprises a housing unit having a front panel and a rear panel, the front and rear panels having grilles; a fan disposed between the front and rear panels; a drive motor operatively connected to the fan; a control element operatively connected to the motor; at least one cover; a plurality of first fastening members on at least one side of the housing unit; and a plurality of second fastening members on the cover designed to connect with the plurality of first fastening members on the housing unit.
A new and useful window fan cover is also provided which includes a plurality of fastening members for attaching the cover to a window fan.
A new and novel window fan housing with a cover is further provided comprising a housing unit having a front/interior panel and a rear/exterior panel, the front and rear panels having grilles; at least one and optionally two covers for covering the front and/or rear grills; a plurality of first fastening members on the front and/or the rear panels of the housing unit; and a plurality of second fastening members on the cover or covers adapted to connect with the plurality of first fastening members on the housing unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a window fan without a cover attached.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a window fan with a cover attached to the interior side of the fan housing.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the section A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the front panel of a window fan without a cover attached.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a window fan without a cover attached.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the control element of the window fan.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a window fan with a cover attached.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of Section A of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the cover attached to the window fan.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of Section A of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of Section B of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A window fan with a cover is herein provided which will overcome the deficiencies of the prior art window fan. Specifically, by including a cover or covers which go over and seal the openings or grilles of the window fan, the natural air flow or circulation of air from inside to outside (or vice versa) is stopped and the tendency of the window fan housing to accumulate environmental elements reduced.
In the present invention, the window fan comprises a housing unit having a front panel and a rear panel, the front and rear panels having grills; a fan disposed between the front and rear panels; a drive motor operatively connected to the fan; a control element operatively connected to the motor; at least one cover; a plurality of first fastening members on at least one side of the housing unit; and a plurality of second fastening members on the cover or covers designed to connect with the plurality of first fastening members on the housing unit.
The fan blades may be of any shape conventionally used in window fans. The motor is connected to the fan and the control element, which may be any such control element known in the art to turn the power on/off and adjust the speed of the fan.
As shown in FIG. 1, the window fan 1 includes a housing unit 2, which includes grilles 3 on both the rear and front panels 4. Because of these grilles 3, air will naturally flow from outside to inside or vice versa.
As shown in FIG. 2, the window fan 1 is provided with a cover 5 which covers the grille 3 (not shown because it is covered up). The cover 5 may be attached to the rear or front panel of the housing unit 2, or both the rear and front panels. Preferably, cover 5 is attached front panel for ease of access without having to open the window in which window fan 1 is mounted.
As shown in FIG. 3, which is an expanded view of the section A from FIG. 2, the cover 5 is attached to the housing unit 2 by fastening member 6. The cover 5 can be attached any part of housing unit 2, including grille 3. The fastening member 6 can be any fastening system known in the art, including but not limited to a female/male fasteners, a hook and eye/loop fasteners and connectors, etc.
In another exemplary embodiment, the housing unit 2 includes a plurality of first fastening members and the cover 5 includes a plurality of second fastening members designed to connect with the plurality of first fastening members on the housing unit 2. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of first fastening members 8 on the housing unit 2 (such as the front panel 4) can be in the form of protrusions, extensions or mounting hooks which connect to the respective attachment loops or holes (representing the plurality of second fastening members 9 as shown in FIGS. 9-11) on cover 5.
As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8, the plurality of first fastening members 8 on housing unit 2 can be located anywhere on housing unit 2, including on grille 3 and on either or both of front and rear panels 4. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, to attach cover 5 to housing unit 2 for example, the plurality of first fastening members 8 on the front panel 4 would simply connect or mate with the corresponding plurality of second fastening members 9 on cover 5.
As shown in FIG. 5, window fan 1 can also include extenders 10 on each side of the window fan to extend the length of the fan so as to fit wider windows.
As shown in FIG. 6, control element 7 of window fan 1 can include several speeds for adjusting the speed of the fan/motor (e.g., high, low).
Cover 5 can be made from fabric, plastic, rubber or other conventional cover materials. Cover 5 is preferably designed to match the shape of grilles 3 or the shape of openings 3 on panel 4 of housing unit 2 and seal them from the environment. Cover 5 may be windproof, waterproof and/or insulated as well.
As shown in FIG. 9, the plurality of second fastening members 9 on cover 5 can be located anywhere on cover 5. Preferably, the plurality of second fastening members are located on cover 5 in locations which correspond to the location of the plurality of first fastening members 8 on housing unit 2 so that the connection can be more uniform. The second fastening members 9 can be any one of many known fastening devices, including loops of elastic, rubber, rope, nylon, metal, plastic, etc.; pile and loop fasteners, mechanical fasteners such as snaps or twist connectors. The second fastening members 9 can be sewn, secured or attached to the cover 5 using any conventional methods. Preferably, the second fastening members 9 are resistant to being pulled off the cover 5 (e.g., at least resistant to 15 pounds of pulling pressure).
In an alternative embodiment, only the cover 5 has fastening members (such as the second fastening members 9 of FIG. 9) which fasten directly onto the grille 3 or housing unit 2 so that the cover 5 can be attached to any window fan known in the art. In this embodiment, the housing unit 2 would not need corresponding fastening members for the fastening members on cover 5 to attach to.
Cover 5 can be attached to either the rear and/or front panel of the window fan. In other words, the cover 5 can be attached to the panel or grille of the window fan facing outside or facing inside, or both. The cover 5 can also include art or decorations.
Having thus described the basic concept of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way of example only, and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, and modifications will occur and are intended to those skilled in the art, though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested hereby, and are within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A window fan system comprising:

a housing unit having a front panel and a rear panel, said front panel and rear panel having grilles,

a fan disposed between said front and said rear panel,

a motor,

a control element,

a cover,

a plurality of first fastening members on said housing unit,

a plurality of second fastening members on said cover designed to connect with said plurality of first fastening members on said housing unit.

2. The window fan system of claim 1, wherein the cover is made from fabric.

3. The window fan system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first fastening members are protrusions and the plurality of second fastening members are loops.

4. A window fan cover which includes a plurality of fastening members for attaching to a window fan.