Blower

Abstract

A blower having a housing and a motor mounted in the housing, the motor driving a fan upon receipt of power from a power supply. The blower further having a timer coupled to the motor, wherein the timer is configured to monitor the time during which the motor is operational. The blower also includes a plurality of louvers to prevent backflow of air into the blower. A method for using the described blower is also disclosed.

1 . A blower comprising: 
 a housing;    a motor mounted in the housing, the motor driving a fan upon receipt of power from a power supply; and,    a timer coupled to the motor;    wherein the timer is configured to monitor the time during which the motor is operational.    
   
   
       2 . The blower of  claim 1 , further comprising a time metering display coupled to the timer.  
   
   
       3 . The blower of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of counters.  
   
   
       4 . The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the timer operates when the motor receives power.  
   
   
       5 . The blower of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch coupled to the motor to control a supply of power to the motor.  
   
   
       6 . A method for using a time metering system on a blower comprising the steps of: 
 activating the time metering system to record a timed usage of the blower when the blower is operational; and,    displaying the recorded timed usage.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the timed usage is cumulative of the time the blower has been operational since a predetermined time.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined time is a time of manufacturing.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of determining a malfunctioning of the blower based on the recorded time usage.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of resetting the timed usage.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of verifying a password before the timed usage is reset.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of unlocking a reset switch before the timed usage is reset.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of resetting the timed usage before activating the time metering system.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of adding the timed usage to a cumulative timed usage counter.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of determining a charge for the use of the blower based on the timed usage.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of: 
 comparing the timed usage to a predetermined timed usage limit; and,    rendering the blower to be inoperable if the timed usage reaches the predetermined timed usage limit.    
   
   
       17 . A blower, the blower configured to attach to a sleeve of another device, the blower comprising: 
 a housing;    a motor mounted in the housing, the motor driving a fan; and,    a nozzle configured to connect to the sleeve, wherein the nozzle comprises a lip over which the sleeve is secured.    
   
   
       18 . The blower of  claim 17 , wherein the device is an inflatable attraction.  
   
   
       19 . The blower of  claim 17 , wherein the nozzle includes an opening that has a square cross section.  
   
   
       20 . The blower of  claim 17 , wherein the lip surrounds a portion of the nozzle.  
   
   
       21 . A blower comprising: 
 a housing having a top; a bottom support defining a footprint of the housing; and a center located vertically midway between the top and the bottom support; and,    a motor mounted in the housing, the motor having a center of gravity;    wherein the center of gravity of the motor is below the center of the housing.    
   
   
       22 . The blower of  claim 21 , wherein the housing has a generally pyramidal shape.  
   
   
       23 . The blower of  claim 21 , wherein the housing has a generally trapezoidal cross-section.  
   
   
       24 . The blower of  claim 21 , wherein the footprint defined by the bottom support is larger than a cross section of the top of the housing.  
   
   
       25 . A blower, the blower configured to attach to a sleeve of another device, the blower comprising: 
 a housing;    a motor mounted in the housing, the motor driving a fan; and,    a nozzle configured to connect to the sleeve, wherein the nozzle comprises a plurality of louvers.    
   
   
       26 . The blower of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of louvers are normally closed when no air pressure is being generated by the motor.  
   
   
       27 . The blower of  claim 25 , wherein each louver in the plurality of louvers is hingedly attached to the nozzle such that a bottom portion of at least one louver overlaps with a top portion of another louver.  
   
   
       28 . The blower of  claim 25 , wherein each louver in the plurality of louvers is hingedly attached to the nozzle at the top portion of the louver.  
   
   
       29 . The blower of  claim 25 , further comprising a support configured to prevent each louver from swinging into the.  
   
   
       30 . The blower of  claim 25 , further comprising a screen located in the nozzle.  
   
   
       31 . The blower of  claim 30 , wherein the nozzle comprises an opening, and the screen is located in the opening.  
   
   
       32 . The blower of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of louvers is located near the opening of the nozzle, and the screen is located behind the plurality of louvers.  
   
   
       33 . The blower of  claim 31 , wherein the screen is located between the opening and the plurality of louvers.  
   
   
       34 . The blower of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of louvers is configured to reduce back flow from the inflatable attraction when the motor is not operational.  
   
   
       35 . The blower of  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of louvers are configured to overlap to reduce back flow from the inflatable attraction when the motor is not operational.  
   
   
       36 . A method for preventing back-flow in a blower having a nozzle comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of louvers in the nozzle;    opening the plurality of louvers when the blower is operational to allow a passage of air out of the nozzle;    closing the plurality of louvers when the blower is not in operation to restrict the passage of air into the nozzle.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein each louver in the plurality of louvers includes a top portion hingedly coupled to the nozzle.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein each louver in the plurality of louvers are configured to overlap another louver.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36 ′, further comprising the step of providing a support behind the plurality of louvers to prevent each louver from swinging back into the nozzle.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the support comprises a screen.  
   
   
       41 . A blower, the blower configured to attach to a sleeve of another device, the blower comprising: 
 a housing, the housing comprising: 
 a first portion configured to resemble a front portion of a fanciful shape; and  
 a plurality of supports, each configured to resemble a bottom portion of the fanciful shape;  
   a motor mounted in the housing, the motor driving a fan; and,    a nozzle configured to connect to the sleeve.    
   
   
       42 . The blower of  claim 41 , wherein the fanciful shape is an animal.  
   
   
       43 . The blower of  claim 41 , wherein the fanciful shape is a cartoon character.  
   
   
       44 . The blower of  claim 41 , wherein the fanciful shape is an insect.  
   
   
       45 . The blower of  claim 41 , wherein the fanciful shape is a robot.  
   
   
       46 . The blower of  claim 41 , wherein the fanciful shape is a vehicle.  
   
   
       47 . The blower of  claim 41 , wherein the blower comprises an air inlet portion configured to resemble a back portion of the fanciful shape.  
   
   
       48 . The blower of  claim 41 , wherein the nozzle comprises a plurality of louvers that are normally closed when no air pressure is being generated by the motor.  
   
   
       49 . The blower of  claim 48 , wherein the plurality of louvers reduce back flow from the inflatable attraction when the motor is not operational.  
   
   
       50 . The blower of  claim 41 , further comprising a screen located in the nozzle.  
   
   
       51 . The blower of  claim 50 , wherein the nozzle comprises an opening and the screen is located in the opening of the nozzle.  
   
   
       52 . The blower of  claim 41 , further comprising a timer coupled to the motor, wherein the timer is configured to monitor the time during which the motor is operational.  
   
   
       53 . A blower, the blower configured to attach to a sleeve of another device and further configured to be powered by an electrical outlet, the blower comprising: 
 a housing;    a motor mounted in the housing, the motor driving a fan; and,    a ground fault circuit interrupter in electrical communication between the electrical outlet and the motor.    
   
   
       54 . The blower of  claim 53 , wherein the ground fault circuit interrupter comprises a test button configured to simulate a ground fault when the test button is activated.  
   
   
       55 . The blower of  claim 53 , wherein the ground fault circuit interrupter comprises a reset button configured to reset the ground fault circuit interrupter after the ground fault circuit interrupter has been tripped.  
   
   
       56 . The blower of  claim 53 , wherein the ground fault circuit interrupter comprises an alarm.  
   
   
       57 . The blower of  claim 53 , wherein the blower further comprises a power cord, and the ground fault circuit interrupter is located at an end of the power cord.