Air blower with horizontal air outlet

Abstract

A portable, free standing air blower capable of generating a user directed exhaust air stream is provided. The device includes an air blower assembly located within an air director housing rotatably coupled to a base about a horizontal axis of rotation. The air blower device includes a pre-determined range of rotation of the air director housing around the axis of rotation and the air director housing is able to rotate about the axis of rotation within the pre-determined range of rotation substantially unimpeded by the base. Preferably, the at least one air outlet can be positioned so as to direct a flow of exhaust air at an angle below an imaginary plane through the air outlet and parallel to the support surface.

1 . A portable, free standing air blower comprising: 
 at least one air director housing;    at least one interior space defined by said at least one air director housing;    at least one air intake passageway in said at least one air director housing allowing air to enter said interior space as an intake air stream;    at least one air outlet in said at least one air director housing allowing air to exit said interior space as an exhaust air stream;    an axis of rotation of said air director housing, said axis of rotation being parallel to a support surface;    a rotational perimeter of said air director housing defined by the radial extents of said air director housing being rotated about said axis of rotation of said air director housing;    a pre-determined range of rotation of said air director housing;    a blower assembly comprising, at least one motor having at least one shaft, at least one air impeller connected to said at least one shaft, said at least one air impeller at least partially disposed within said interior space of said air director housing;    an axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller, said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller being substantially parallel with said axis of rotation of said at least one air director housing;    an elevation of said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller relative to said support surface;    a controller for controlling a function of said air blower;    a base in contact with said support surface, said air director housing being rotatably coupled to said base;    wherein said air director housing rotates within said pre-determined range of rotation with respect to said base and said rotational perimeter of said air director housing is unimpeded by said base during a rotation of said housing through said pre-determined angular range; and    wherein said predetermined angular range of rotation permits said at least one air outlet to be positioned so as to direct a flow of said exhaust air stream at an angle below an imaginary plane through said air outlet and parallel to said support surface.    
   
   
       2 . The air blower of  claim 1 , wherein said base further comprises: 
 at least a pair of side-supports extending upward from said support surface and being oriented substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart by a pre-determined distance;    a space between said side-supports defined by said pair of side-supports and said pre-determined distance;    wherein said at least one air director housing rotates within said space between said side-supports of said base.    
   
   
       3 . The air blower of  claim 2 , wherein said space further comprises: 
 a front opening extending upward from said support surface and laterally between front edges of said at least a pair of side supports;    a rear opening extending upward from said support surface and laterally between rear edges of said at least a pair of side supports;    wherein said at least one air director housing rotates unimpeded from said front opening upward and backward through said rear opening.    
   
   
       4 . The air blower of  claim 1 , wherein said base further comprises: 
 a side-support in a substantially orthogonal orientation relative to said support surface;    a lower member connected to and supporting said side-support, said lower member contacting said support surface;    wherein said at least one air director housing is rotatably coupled to said side support of said base.    
   
   
       5 . The air blower of  claim 4 , wherein said side support further comprises: 
 a front opening extending upward from said support surface and laterally from a front edge of said side support;    a rear opening extending upward from said support surface and laterally from a rear edge of said side support;    wherein said at least one air director housing rotates unimpeded from said front opening upward and backward through said rear opening.    
   
   
       6 . The air blower of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one saddle surface on said base;    a mounting surface on said at least one air director housing, said mounting surface substantially conforming to said at least one saddle surface;    wherein said a mounting surface slidably engages said at least one saddle surface allowing said at least one air director housing to rotate about said axis of rotation of said air director housing.    
   
   
       7 . A portable, free standing air blower comprising: 
 a base contacting a support surface, said base comprising:    at least a pair of side-supports oriented substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart by a pre-determined distance;    open peripheral edges of said side-supports defined as peripheral edges of said side-supports opposing one another from opposite extents of said predetermined distance, said open peripheral edges extending from a point on a front portion of said side-supports to a point on a rear portion of said side-supports;    an open peripheral area between said side-supports defined by said open peripheral edges of said side-supports and said pre-determined distance, said open peripheral area being substantially unobstructed;    at least one air director housing rotatably coupled to said base, said at least one air director housing comprising:    at least one wall defining at least one interior space;    at least one air intake passageway in said at least one wall allowing air to enter said interior space as an intake air stream;    at least one air outlet in said at least one wall allowing air to exit said interior space as an exhaust air stream;    an axis of rotation of said air director housing, said axis of rotation being parallel to a support surface;    a blower assembly at least partially disposed within said interior space of said at least one air director housing, said blower assembly comprising:    at least one motor having at least one shaft;    at least one air impeller connected to said at least one shaft;    an axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller, said axis of rotation being substantially parallel with said support surface;    an elevation of said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller relative to said support surface;    a controller for controlling a function of said air blower;    a pre-determined angular range of rotation of said at least one air director housing, wherein a portion of said air director housing rotates within said open peripheral area between said side-supports of said base substantially unimpeded by said base; and    wherein said point on said front portion of said side-supports defining said open peripheral edges is at an elevation between said elevation of said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller and said support surface.    
   
   
       8 . The air blower of  claim 7 , wherein said axis of rotation of said at least one air director housing is substantially orthogonal to respective planes defined by said side-supports.  
   
   
       9 . The air blower of  claim 7 , wherein said location on said rear portion of said side-supports defining said open peripheral edges is at an elevation between said elevation of said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller and said support surface.  
   
   
       10 . The air blower of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one lower member, wherein said at least one lower member extends between and connects said pair of side-supports to one another.  
   
   
       11 . A portable, free standing air blower comprising: 
 a base contacting a support surface, said base comprising:    a side-support in a substantially orthogonal orientation relative to said support surface;    said side-wall defining at least one interior space;    a lower member connected to and supporting said side-support, said lower member contacting said support surface.    at least one air director housing coupled to said side-support of said base, said at least one air director housing comprising:    at least one interior space;    at least one air intake passageway allowing air to enter said interior space;    at least one air outlet allowing air to exit said interior space as an exhaust air stream;    a blower assembly at least partially disposed within said interior space of said at least one air director housing, said blower assembly comprising:    at least one motor having at least one shaft;    at least one air impeller connected to said at least one shaft;    an axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller, said axis of rotation being substantially parallel with said lower member of said base;    an elevation of said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller relative to said support surface;    a controller for controlling a function of said air blower; and    an axis of rotation of said at least one air director housing, wherein said at least one air director housing rotates within a pre-determined angular range substantially unimpeded by said base and said axis of rotation is substantially parallel to said lower member of said base.    
   
   
       12 . The air blower of  claim 11 , wherein a portion of said blower assembly is at least partially disposed within said interior space of said side-support of said base.  
   
   
       13 . The air blower of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one air director housing further comprises two air director housings, said two air directing housing being independently rotatable relative to one another.  
   
   
       14 . A portable, free standing air blower comprising: 
 at least one air director housing comprising:    at least one interior space;    at least one air intake passageway allowing air to enter said interior space as an intake air stream;    at least one air outlet allowing air to exit said interior space as an exhaust air stream;    a mounting surface;    a blower assembly at least partially disposed within said interior space, said blower assembly comprising:    at least one motor having at least one shaft;    at least one air impeller connected to said at least one shaft;    an axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller, said axis of rotation being substantially parallel with a support surface;    an elevation of said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller relative to said support surface;    a controller for controlling a function of said blower assembly;    a base contacting said support surface, said air director housing being rotatably coupled to said base, said base comprising:    at least one saddle surface substantially conforming to and slidably engaging a portion of said mounting surface of said at least one air director housing; and    an axis of rotation of said air director housing, wherein said at least one air director housing rotates within a predetermined angular range substantially unimpeded by said base, and said axis of rotation of said air director housing is substantially parallel to said support surface.    
   
   
       15 . The air blower of  claim 14 , further comprising a retainer wherein said at least one air director housing is coupled to said base and retained by said retainer.  
   
   
       16 . The air blower of  claim 15 , wherein said retainer is a rolling retainer.  
   
   
       17 . The air blower of  claim 15 , further comprises mating features, said mating features being disposed between and slidably coupling said at least one air director housing to said saddle area of said base.  
   
   
       18 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said axis of rotation of said at least one air director housing and said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller are substantially parallel.  
   
   
       19 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said axis of rotation of said at least one air director housing and said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller are substantially coaxial.  
   
   
       20 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said pre-determined range of rotation is between about 0 degrees and about 360 degrees.  
   
   
       21 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said pre-determined range of rotation is between about 0 degrees and about 270 degrees.  
   
   
       22 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said pre-determined range of rotation is between about 0 degrees and about 180 degrees.  
   
   
       23 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said pre-determined range of rotation is between about 0 degrees and about 90 degrees.  
   
   
       24 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said predetermined angular range of rotation permits said at least one air outlet to be positioned so as to direct a flow of said exhaust air stream substantially orthogonal to said support surface.  
   
   
       25 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , further comprising detents disposed between said base and said at least one air director housing, wherein said detents provide a plurality of positive location stops for a controlled rotation of said at least one air director housing with respect to said base.  
   
   
       26 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said controller is a remote controller.  
   
   
       27 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said controller is mounted to said base.  
   
   
       28 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said controller is mounted to said at least one air director housing.  
   
   
       29 . The air blower of  claim 28 , wherein said blower assembly is mounted to said at least one air director housing.  
   
   
       30 . The air blower of  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , further comprising control wires that connect said controller to said blower assembly, wherein said control wires remain substantially stationary with respect to said controller and said blower assembly during a rotation of said at least one air director housing.  
   
   
       31 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , further comprising: 
 an overall height of said air blower defined as the distance from said support surface to a furthest extent of said air blower measured substantially orthogonal to said support surface when said air director housing is rotated to position said air outlet for directing said exhaust air stream forward and substantially horizontal with said support surface;    an overall width of said air blower defined by a dimension that would encompass the extents of said air blower measured parallel to said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller;    an overall depth of said air blower defined by a dimension that would encompass the extents of said air blower measured substantially orthogonal to said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller.    
   
   
       32 . The air blower of  claim 31 , further comprising an overall horizontal aspect ratio, said overall horizontal aspect ratio being defined as said overall width being greater than said overall height, wherein said overall horizontal aspect ratio is greater than 1.1 to 1.  
   
   
       33 . The air blower of  claim 31 , further comprising a planar usage area, said planar usage area being defined by said overall width multiplied by said overall depth, wherein said planar usage area is about 80 square inches or less.  
   
   
       34 . The air blower of  claim 31 , wherein said overall height is about 10 inches or less.  
   
   
       35 . The air blower of  claim 31 , wherein said overall height is about 6 inches or less.  
   
   
       36 . The air blower of  claim 31 , wherein said elevation of said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller relative to said support surface is less than about 66% of said overall height of said air blower.  
   
   
       37 . The air blower of  claim 31 , further comprising a shipping configuration wherein said air blower is assembled substantially complete and stored in a shipping package.  
   
   
       38 . The air blower of  claim 37 , further comprising dimensions of said shipping package defining a package height, a package width, and a package depth, wherein all of said dimensions of said shipping package are less than 115% of said corresponding overall height, said corresponding overall width and said corresponding overall depth, respectively, of said air blower.  
   
   
       39 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said elevation of said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller relative to said support surface is about 4 inches or less.  
   
   
       40 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , further comprising a horizontal aspect ratio of said air outlet, said horizontal aspect ratio defined by a width of said air outlet being greater than a height of said air outlet, wherein said width of said air outlet is measured parallel to said axis of rotation of said impeller and said height of said air outlet is measured substantially orthogonal to said width of said air outlet from an extent of said air outlet to an opposite extent of said air outlet.  
   
   
       41 . The air blower of  claim 40 , wherein said horizontal aspect ratio of said air outlet is about 2:1 or greater.  
   
   
       42 . The air blower of  claim 40 , further comprising an area of said air outlet defined by said width of said air outlet multiplied by said height of said air outlet, wherein said area of said air outlet is about 15 square inches or less.  
   
   
       43 . The air blower of  claim 40 , further comprising an area of said air outlet defined by said width of said air outlet multiplied by said height of said air outlet, wherein said area of said air outlet is between about 8 square inches and about 14 square inches.  
   
   
       44 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein less than about 25% of a circumference of said at least one air impeller is visible through said air outlet.  
   
   
       45 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said at least one air impeller further comprises a diameter and an axial length, and an elongated aspect ratio defined by said axial length being greater than said diameter of said at least one air impeller.  
   
   
       46 . The air blower of  claim 45 , wherein said diameter of said at least one air impeller is about 4.5 inches or less.  
   
   
       47 . The air blower of  claim 45 , wherein said diameter of said at least one air impeller is between about 1.5 inches and about 4 inches.  
   
   
       48 . The air blower of  claim 45 , wherein said elongated aspect ratio of said at least one air impeller is about 1.5:1 or greater.  
   
   
       49 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said at least one air director housing comprises a scroll shape.  
   
   
       50 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , further comprising at least one air intake grill located proximate said at least one air intake passageway.  
   
   
       51 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , further comprising at least one protective grill located proximate said air outlet, wherein said protective grill has at least one grill element, said at least one grill element at least one of substantially directs and/or substantially forms said exhaust air stream.  
   
   
       52 . The air blower of  claim 51 , wherein said at least one grill element further comprises at least one louver to at least one of substantially focus and/or substantially diffuse said exhaust air stream.  
   
   
       53 . The air blower of  claim 52 , wherein said at least one louver is adjustable allowing said exhaust air stream to be adjusted between a substantially focused exhaust air stream and a substantially diffused exhaust air stream.  
   
   
       54 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said air enters said interior space along a first flow path and said exhaust air stream exits said interior space along a second flow path, said first flow path being substantially orthogonal to said second flow path.  
   
   
       55 . The air blower of  claim 54 , wherein said first flow path and said axis of rotation of said at least one air impeller are substantially parallel.  
   
   
       56 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said blower assembly further comprises, at least one motor having two opposing shafts and two air impellers, said two air impellers connected each respectively to one of said two opposing shafts.  
   
   
       57 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said blower assembly further comprises a centrifugal blower.  
   
   
       58 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said blower assembly further comprises, a transverse blower.  
   
   
       59 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said motor is a DC electric motor.  
   
   
       60 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11 , or  14 , wherein said base further comprises a clamping mechanism to attach said air blower to an edge of said support surface.  
   
   
       61 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , wherein said base further comprises features allowing said air blower to be mounted to a vertical or inverted surface.  
   
   
       62 . The air blower according to  claim 1 ,  7 ,  11  or  14 , further comprising at least one of a clock, an auxiliary plug, a circuit interrupter, a pencil holder and/or a storage compartment.  
   
   
       63 . The air blower according to  claim 7 , 11  or  14 , wherein said predetermined angular range of rotation permits said at least one air outlet to be positioned so as to direct a flow of said exhaust air stream below parallel to said support surface and downward toward said support surface.