Fan assembly

• US 9,927,136 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Staniforth, Mark Joseph, Beavis, Daniel James, Pullen, Jude Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Orlando, Amber R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hobson, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US13/786,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20140084492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/08 the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/626 Mounting or removal of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 5/16 displacing elastic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 5/461 Adjustable nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/14 using nozzles

Abstract

A fan assembly includes a body housing an impeller and motor for driving to the impeller to generate an air flow. A nozzle is mounted on the body for emitting the air flow. The nozzle defines an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air emitted from the nozzle. A nozzle retaining mechanism is provided for releasably retaining the nozzle on the body. The mechanism is moveable from a first configuration in which the nozzle is retained on the body to a second configuration in which the nozzle is released for removal from the body. The mechanism includes a depressible member for effecting movement of the mechanism from the first configuration to the second configuration.

Claims

1. A fan assembly comprising:

a body comprising a device for generating an air flow;

a nozzle mounted on the body for emitting the air flow, the nozzle defining an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air emitted from the nozzle;

a nozzle retaining mechanism for releasably retaining the nozzle on the body, the nozzle retaining mechanism having a first configuration in which the nozzle is retained on the body and a second configuration in which the nozzle is released for removal from the body; and

a manually actuable member located in front of the nozzle on an interior of an upper surface of the body for effecting movement of the nozzle retaining mechanism from the first configuration to the second configuration.

2. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle retaining mechanism is biased towards the first configuration.

3. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the manually actuable member is moveable from a first position to a second position to effect movement of the nozzle retaining mechanism from the first configuration to the second configuration.

4. The fan assembly of claim 3, comprising at least one biasing member for biasing the manually actuable member towards the first position.

5. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the body comprises the manually actuable member.

6. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the manually actuable member is depressible.

7. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle retaining mechanism comprises a detent which is moveable relative to the nozzle and the body to retain the nozzle on the body in the first configuration, and to release the nozzle for removal from the body in the second configuration.

8. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the body comprises the detent of the nozzle retaining mechanism.

9. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the detent is moveable from a first position to a second position to release the nozzle for removal from the body.

10. The fan assembly of claim 9, wherein the nozzle retaining mechanism comprises at least one biasing member for biasing the detent towards the first position.

11. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the detent is pivotably moveable relative to the nozzle and the body.

12. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the detent is arranged to engage an outer surface of the nozzle to retain the nozzle on the body.

13. The fan assembly of claim 12, wherein the detent is arranged to engage a recessed portion of the outer surface of the nozzle to retain the nozzle on the body.

14. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the nozzle comprises an inlet section which is at least partially insertable into the body, and wherein the detent is arranged to engage the inlet section of the nozzle to retain the nozzle on the body.

15. The fan assembly of claim 14, wherein the inlet section of the nozzle is insertable into a duct of the body to receive at least part of the air flow from the body.

16. The fan assembly of claim 15, wherein the duct of the body comprises an aperture, wherein the detent at least partially protrudes through the aperture to retain the nozzle on the body.

17. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a humidifying system for humidifying a second air flow.

18. The fan assembly of claim 17, wherein the humidifying system comprises a water tank locatable on a base of the body.

19. The fan assembly of claim 18, wherein the base houses said device for generating an air flow.

20. The fan assembly of claim 17, wherein the nozzle is configured to emit the second air flow.

21. The fan assembly of claim 20, wherein the nozzle comprises at least one first air inlet for receiving a first air flow from the body, at least one first air outlet, a first interior passage for conveying the first air flow to said at least one first air outlet, at least one second air inlet for receiving the second air flow, at least one second air outlet, and a second interior passage for conveying the second air flow air to said at least one second air outlet.

22. The fan assembly of claim 21, wherein the first interior passage is isolated from the second interior passage.

23. The fan assembly of claim 21, wherein the first interior passage surrounds the opening of the nozzle.

24. The fan assembly of claim 21, wherein the second interior passage surrounds the opening of the nozzle.

25. The fan assembly of claim 21, wherein said at least one first air outlet is arranged to emit the first air flow through at least a front part of the opening.