Audio equipped fan

• US 9,344,787 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2014
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Homewerks Worldwide LLC
• Original Assignee: Homewerks Worldwide LLC
• Inventors: Berkman, Peter D., Zhang, Ruilin, Pischke, Jeffrey Jon, Malaker, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): DEBERADINIS, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US14/286,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20140254857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/021 Transducers or their casings adapted for mounting in or to a wall or ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 Acoustic transducer

Abstract

An audio equipped fan is disclosed having a housing defining an inner cavity, a motor disposed at least partially in the inner cavity of the housing and having an output shaft extending therefrom that is rotatable by the motor, a fan connected to the output shaft of the motor and rotatable therewith, a grille connected to the housing and positioned in alignment with the fan, the grille having an interior side and an exterior side and defining first openings through which air may flow while the fan is rotated and second openings through which sound may travel, a speaker connected to at least one of the housing, motor, fan and grille and aligned on the interior side of the grille with the second openings of the grille so that sound may travel through the grille, and a temporary power source connected to the speaker. Related methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An audio equipped fan assembly comprising:

a speaker assembly connected to at least one of a housing, motor, fan, and grille, the speaker assembly aligned on an interior side of the grille;

an actuator configured to turn on and off the fan and speaker assembly, wherein toggling the actuator on and off a first number of times instructs a controller to turn on both the fan and the speaker, and toggling the actuator a second number of times different than the first number of times instructs the controller to turn on the speaker only and not the fan;

a temporary power source connected to the speaker assembly, the temporary power source configured to provide an alternative source of power to the speaker assembly when the actuator is toggled such that power to the speaker assembly is not lost.

2. The audio equipped fan assembly of claim 1 further comprising a primary AC power source connected to the speaker assembly and motor, the primary AC power source configured to provide a primary source of power to the speaker assembly.

3. The audio equipped fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the temporary power source comprises a battery.

4. The audio equipped fan assembly of claim 3 wherein the battery is a flat lithium battery.

5. The audio equipped fan assembly of claim 3 wherein the battery is removable.

6. The audio equipped fan assembly of claim 3 wherein the battery is non-removable.

7. The audio equipped fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the speaker is connected to a network and capable of transmitting sound from an electronic device.

8. The audio equipped fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a first actuator for turning on and off the fan and a second actuator separate from the first actuator for turning on and off the speaker so that the fan and speaker may be operated independent of one another.

9. The audio equipped fan assembly of claim 1 further including a controller connected to the actuator for detecting power line communication via toggling of the actuator on and off.

10. The audio equipped fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the speaker is sealed to prevent or reduce exposure of the speaker to moisture.

11. A method of installing an audio equipped fan assembly comprising:

connecting a speaker assembly to at least one of a housing, motor, fan, and grille, the speaker assembly aligned on an interior side of the grille;

configuring an actuator to turn on and off the fan and speaker assembly, wherein toggling the actuator on and off a first number of times instructs a controller to turn on both the fan and the speaker, and toggling the actuator a second number of times different than the first number of times instructs the controller to turn on the speaker only and not the fan; and

connecting a temporary power source to the speaker assembly, the temporary power source configured to provide an alternative source of power to the speaker assembly when the actuator is toggled such that power to the speaker assembly is not lost.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of connecting a temporary power source to the speaker assembly comprises connecting a battery to the speaker assembly.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of connecting a temporary power source to the speaker assembly further comprises connecting the battery in parallel to an AC power source connected to the speaker assembly.

14. A method of operating an audio equipped fan assembly comprising:

toggling an actuator connected to a speaker assembly configured to emit audio and connected to at least one of a housing, motor, fan, and grille on and off a first number of times, wherein toggling the actuator on and off a first number of times instructs a controller to turn on both the speaker assembly and the fan;

emitting audio from the speaker assembly;

toggling the actuator on and off a second number of times different from the first number of times, wherein toggling the actuator on and off the second number of times instructs the controller to turn on the speaker assembly only and not the fan; and

providing a temporary source of power to the speaker assembly such that upon toggling the actuator on and off a first or second number of times, the speaker assembly maintains a powered connection and continues to emit audio.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein providing a temporary source of power to the speaker assembly comprises providing a removable lithium battery.