Modular air circulator control

• US 6,572,338 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dwight C. Janisse & Associates, Inc., Entrepreneurial Pursuits, Inc. (Griffon Corporation), Hunter Fan Company (Griffon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dwight C. Janisse & Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Tobin, Russell J., Janisse, Mark T., Janisse, Jay R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Freay, Charles G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liu, Han L.
• Application Number:
  US09/894,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20020016148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 417/12, 417/44.1, 417/53, 622/31, 454/256, 454/229, 454/239, 310/68.R, 310/71, 310/89, 310/101, 318/445, 318/452, 318/364, 318/446, 318/362, 318/778, 165/200, 236/46.R
• US Class Current: 417/12
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/1035 Details of the valve housing
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10019 Means upstream of the fuel injection system, carburettor or plenum chamber F02M35/10013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10144 Connections of intake ducts to each other or to another device
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10301 Flexible, resilient, pivotally or movable parts; Membranes F02M35/10255 and F02M35/10032 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10321 Plastics; Composites; Rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/1272 using absorbing, damping, insulating or reflecting materials, e.g. porous foams, fibres, rubbers, fabrics, coatings or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/1283 Manufacturing or assembly; Connectors; Fixations
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers

Abstract

The modular timer for an air circulator comprises a timer for energizing an air circulator motor for a predetermined amount of time. A first connector connects the timer to an air circulator motor while a second connector connects the timer to a power switch. A selection switch controls the timer setting of the timer such that the time period corresponds to at least one time period of a work shift. A housing limits access to the selection switch and protects it.

Claims

1. A modular timer for an air circulator comprising:

a timer for energizing an air circulator motor for a predetermined amount of time;

a first removable connector, for operatively and removably connecting said timer to an electric air circulator motor;

a second removable connector, for operatively and removably connecting said timer to a power switch; and

a selection control in communication with said timer, selectively controlling said predetermined amount of time wherein said predetermined amount of time relates to at least one time period of a work shift.

2. The modular timer of claim 1 wherein said timer is reset by actuation of the power switch.

3. The modular timer of claim 1 wherein said timer commences upon actuation of said power switch.

4. The modular timer of claim 1 wherein said at least one time period of a work shift comprise a plurality of hourly time periods of a work shift.

5. An air circulator assembly comprising:

an air circulator operatively connected to an air circulator motor, a housing attached to said air circulator motor;

a timer for energizing said air circulator motor for a predetermined amount of time;

a first connector, operatively connecting said timer to said air circulator motor;

a second connector, operatively connecting said timer to a power switch; and

said timer running said predetermined period of time upon actuation of said power switch, said power switch being accessible for actuation from outside said housing and said timer being inside said housing and inaccessible from outside said housing.

6. The air circulator assembly of claim 5, wherein said timer is reset by actuation of said power switch.

7. The air circulator assembly of claim 5 wherein said at least one time period of a work shift comprise a plurality of hourly time periods of a work shift.

8. The air circulator assembly of claim 5, wherein said housing is two part housing.

9. The air circulator assembly of claim 5, wherein said timer includes a control to allow selection of various predetermined time periods, said control being concealed within said housing.

10. The air circulator assembly of claim 5, wherein said timer is reset by actuation of the power switch.

11. The air circulator assembly of claim 5, wherein said switch is mounted remotely from said housing.

12. The air circulator assembly of claim 11, wherein said switch is mounted on a drop cord extending downwardly from said housing, such that said switch is accessible to a worker in a work environment.

13. A work environment comprising:

a plurality of air circulators each including an air circulator motor and a power switch, positioned adjacent to a work area to be accessible to a worker and control of said plurality of fans; and

a timer associated with each said air circulator motors to run said air circulator motor for a predetermined period of time selected to relate to a work shift, a housing attached to said air circulator motor, said power switch being accessible for actuation from outside said housing and said timer being inside said housing and inaccessible from outside said housing.

14. A work environment as recited in claim 13, wherein said timer is reset by actuation of said power switch.

15. A work environment as recited in claim 13, wherein said timer includes a control to allow selection of various predetermined time periods, said selection control being concealed within said housing.

16. A work environment as recited in claim 13, wherein there is a separate power switch for each of said plurality of air circulators.

17. A work environment as recited in claim 13, wherein said switch is mounted remotely from said housing.

18. A work environment as recited in claim 17, wherein said switch is mounted on a drop cord extending downwardly from said housing, such that said switch is accessible to a worker in a work environment.

19. An air circulator assembly comprising:

an air circulator operatively connected to an air circulator motor, a housing attached to said air circulator motor;

a timer for energizing said air circulator motor for a predetermined amount of time;

a first connector, operatively connecting said timer to said air circulator motor;

a second connector, operatively connecting said timer to a power switch; and

said timer being removably connected to said air circulator motor and said timer being removably connected to said power switch by said first and second connectors, with said first and second connectors being removable, and said first and second connectors and said timer all being received within said housing.

20. A work environment comprising:

a plurality of air circulators each including an air circulator motor, an attached housing and a power switch, positioned adjacent to a work area to be accessible to a worker and control of said plurality of fans; and

said timer being removably connected to said air circulator motor and said timer being removably connected to said power switch by said first and second connectors, with said first and second connectors being removable, and said first and second connectors and said timer all being received within said housing.