Ceiling mounted fan ventilation device

• US 7,497,773 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary D. Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Gary D. Schmidt
• Inventors: Schmidt, Gary D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson; Gregory A
• Application Number:
  US10/702,245
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: 454/346, 454/349, 454/353, 454/354, 454/355, 182/77, 236/49.3
• US Class Current: 454/354
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/025 with forced air circulation by means of a built-in ventilator

Abstract

A ceiling mounted fan ventilation device moves a fresh inflow of air from within a room such as a garage to said attic thereof in an effective manner in order to mitigate the climatic effects on the room due to adverse ambient conditions. The device is not only capable of moderating the temperature of the room, but also augments the existing ventilation system for the attic enclosure. The device may utilize the existing hole of an attic access means such as a disappearing stairway or scuttle hole thus negating the need for extensive modifications to an existing ceiling structure. Alternatively, a method is disclosed herein whereby the fan ventilation device may be mounted directly to the ceiling portion of the room. The device may be implemented in any type of room wherein it is desirous to maintain a fresh flow of air therethrough.

Claims

1. A method for the moderating the climate of a generally enclosed room of an architectural structure, said architectural structure having a roof and a ceiling defining an attic enclosure therebetween and wherein said ceiling partitions said attic enclosure from said room of climate to be moderated, said ceiling having an attic access means for access to said attic enclosure by a user wherein said attic access means is disposed within a rectangular shaped hole in said ceiling, said attic access means includes a flat panel for selectively covering said rectangular shaped hole wherein said panel lies generally flush with said ceiling when selectively covered, said method comprising:

providing a fan ventilation device having a fan which is electrically operable to create an airflow from said room to said attic enclosure, said fan is adapted to be mounted to said panel, said fan comprising an impeller having at least one blade for the forced movement of said airflow, an electric motor having electrical cables, said motor being mechanically connected to said impeller for rotational movement thereof, and a fan base for structural support of said fan device, said fan base includes a motor mount for mounting of said electric motor, and climate regulating means which operates to turn on said motor when climatic conditions within said room exceed a first predetermined level and to turn off said motor when climatic conditions within said room drop below a second predetermined level, whereby said climate regulating means automatically controls the operation of said fan in order to alleviate a user'"'"'s need for manual manipulation of said fan,

cutting a hole through the panel of said attic access means of a size and shape sufficient to allow said airflow to flow freely from said room into said attic enclosure,

mounting said fan ventilation device to said panel substantially over said hole of said panel such that said airflow created by said fan is allowed through said hole in a relatively unrestricted manner; and

,

connecting said electrical cables to a suitable source of electrical power.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of connecting a microswitch to the electrical cables of said electric motor via a series connection in order to automatically interrupt electrical power to said electric motor when said stairway is drawn to the extended position by a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said attic access means is a conventional scuttle hole.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said attic access means is a conventional disappearing stairway.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said room is a garage enclosure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said climate regulating means is a conventional thermostat for the moderation of temperature in said room.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said climate regulating means is a conventional humidistat for the moderation of humidity in said room.

8. A fan ventilation device for moderating the climate of a generally enclosed room of an architectural structure, said architectural structure having a roof and a ceiling defining an attic enclosure therebetween and wherein said ceiling partitions said attic enclosure from said room of climate to be moderated, said fan ventilation device comprising:

an attic access means for access to said attic enclosure by a user wherein said attic access means is disposed within a rectangular shaped hole in said ceiling, said attic access means includes a flat panel for selectively covering said rectangular shaped hole wherein said panel lies generally flush with said ceiling when selectively covered, said panel having an air hole therein to permit the easy flow of air therethrough by,

a fan which is electrically operable to create an airflow from said room to said attic enclosure, said fan is mounted to said panel and is disposed thereon such that said airflow is allowed to move through said air hole in a relatively unrestricted manner, said fan comprising;

an impeller having at least one blade for the forced movement of said airflow through said air hole,

an electric motor which is connected to said impeller for rotational movement thereof, and

a fan base for structural support of said fan device, said fan base includes a motor mount for mounting of said electric motor substantially over said air hole, and

climate regulating means which operates to turn on said motor when climatic conditions within said room exceed a first predetermined level and to turn off said motor when climatic conditions within said room drop below a second predetermined level, whereby said climate regulating means automatically controls the operation of said fan in order to alleviate a user'"'"'s need for manual manipulation of said fan.

9. The fan ventilation device of claim 8, wherein said attic access means is a conventional scuttle hole.

10. The fan ventilation device of claim 9, wherein said fan ventilation device further includes a microswitch which is connected to the electrical cables of said electric motor via a series connection in order to automatically interrupt electrical power to said electric motor when said stairway is drawn to the extended position by a user.

11. The fan ventilation device of claim 8, wherein said attic access means is a conventional disappearing stairway.

12. The fan ventilation device of claim 8, wherein said room is a garage enclosure.

13. The fan ventilation device of claim 8, wherein said climate regulating means is a conventional thermostat for the moderation of temperature in said room.

14. The fan ventilation device of claim 8, wherein said climate regulating means is a conventional humidistat for the moderation of humidity in said room.

15. The fan ventilation device of claim 8, wherein said architectural structure is a building selected from the list consisting of homes, warehouses, barns, sheds, animal enclosures, prefabricated trailers, detached garages, commercial structures, and outbuildings.

16. The fan ventilation device of claim 8, wherein said electric motor is selectively reversible in rotational direction via a manually operated switch, said manually operated switch is mounted on said electric motor, said first rotational direction causes said impeller to force airflow from said room into said attic enclosure and said second rotational direction causes said impeller to force airflow from said attic enclosure to said room.