Fabric fan blades

• US 7,648,339 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vornado Air, LLC (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Vornado Air Circulation Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelly, Luke Edward, Ediger, Glen Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): Look; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): White; Dwayne J
• Application Number:
  US11/215,513
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 416/143, 416/142, 416/240, 416/229.R, 416/232, 416/63, 416/70.R, 416/70.A, 416/223.R, 416/62, 415/141
• US Class Current: 416/142
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/023 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/329 Details of the hub
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/34 Blade mountings for axial flow compressors F04D29/322
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/601 Fabrics

Abstract

Cloth or fabric fan blades self-inflate when rotated about an axis to produce air movement, the blades being secured to a fan hub which is in turn connected to a fan motor assembly that provides the rotational force to inflate the blades, the blades collapsing upon contact with any object for safety purposes, the innovative blades being lightweight and safe such that no fan guard is required.

Claims

1. A fan blade assembly, comprising:

at least three flexible fan blades wherein each fan blade comprises two pieces of substantially air impermeable material secured together to present a sock-like cavity, said cavity presenting an opening in a hub end through which air enters to inflate said blade when said blade is rotated;

said at least three fan blades each secured to a fan hub having at least three apertures spaced equidistant from each other and oriented at a pitch of between approximately 30 and 40 degrees wherein each of said at least three fan blades passes through one of each of said at least three apertures from the interior side of said hub such that each of said blades extends radially outward from said hub;

said hub further comprising two pins located on each longitudinal side of each of said at least three apertures, each pin extending toward the interior of said hub, said pins passing through the material at said hub end of each blade, wherein the surrounding atmosphere is in fluid communication with said cavity; and

said fan hub is capable of mechanical connection to a motor assembly to facilitate rotation of said fan hub.

2. The fan blade assembly of claim 1, wherein said hub comprises a first complimentary piece and a second complimentary piece secured together and presenting an air passageway corresponding to each of said at least three flexible fan blades, said air passageway being in fluid communication with the atmosphere and each of said fan blades secured in said air passageway between said first complimentary piece and said second complimentary piece such that the atmosphere remains in fluid communication with said cavity.

3. A fan blade assembly, comprising:

at least three flexible fan blades wherein each fan blade comprises two pieces of substantially air impermeable material secured together to present a sock-like cavity, said cavity presenting an opening in a hub end through which air enters to inflate said blade when said blade is rotated;

said at least three fan blades each secured to a fan hub having at least three apertures spaced equidistant from each other and oriented at a pitch of between approximately 30 and 40 degrees wherein each of said at least three fan blades passes through one of each of said at least three apertures from the interior side of said hub such that each of said blades extends radially outward from said hub;

said hub further comprising a first complimentary piece and a second complimentary piece secured together and presenting at least three air passageways, one of each of said at least three air passageways corresponding to each of said at least three fan blades, each of said air passageways being in fluid communication with the atmosphere, each of said at least three fan blades secured in said corresponding air passageway between said first complimentary piece and said second complimentary piece by a plurality of pins such that the atmosphere remains in fluid communication with said cavity, wherein said fan hub is capable of mechanical connection to a motor assembly to facilitate rotation of said fan hub.