Multi-pivot tower fan

Abstract

An appliance assembly that can provide multiple independently positionable appliances, such as fans. The appliance assembly includes a base support, a frame coupled to the base support, and a number of appliances each contained within an appliance housing. Each appliance housing is rotatably mounted to an outer gimbal such that it is rotatable about a first axis, and each outer gimbal is mounted to the frame such that it is rotatable about a second axis. The appliance assembly can provide two degrees of freedom for positioning each of the number of appliances. The frame, outer gimbals, and appliance housing can be formed in a variety of shapes. The appliance assembly can be used, for example, with any product where it is desirable to have multiple independently positionable assemblies, such as fans, speakers, microphones, lights, and heaters.

1 . An appliance assembly comprising:
 a base support;   a frame coupled to the base support;   a plurality of appliances, each appliance contained within a respective appliance housing;   an outer gimbal frame for each of the plurality of appliance housings,   wherein each appliance housing is rotatably mounted to the respective outer gimbal so that the appliance housing is rotatable about a first axis, and each respective outer gimbal is rotatably mounted to the frame so that the outer gimbal is rotatable about a second axis, the second axis being non-parallel to the first axis.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of appliances includes a blower fan. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second axis are perpendicular. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power control unit configured to control the power of each appliance independently of the other appliances.   
     
     
         5 . The appliance assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the power control unit is further configured to independently power each of the appliances at a desired power level. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a power control unit configured to control the speed of each of the blower fans independently of the other blower fans.   
     
     
         7 . The appliance assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the power control unit is further configured to independently operate each of the blower fans at a desired speed. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the power control unit is embedded in the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of appliances is provided electrical power by a set of wires, the wires being contained within at least one of the base, the frame, outer gimbal, and the appliance housing. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to the frame. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is detachably coupled to the base support. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable outer gimbal mounting to the frame establishes a predetermined degree of rotation of the outer gimbal. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable appliance housing mounting to the outer gimbal establishes a predetermined degree of rotation of the appliance housing. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of outer gimbals includes a circular ring, and each of the plurality of appliance housings includes a circular body received within a respective ring. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of appliance housings includes a detachable grill. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of appliances are mounted such that the plurality of appliances are substantially vertically aligned. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of appliances are mounted such that the plurality of appliances are substantially horizontally aligned. 
     
     
         18 . A fan assembly comprising:
 a base support;   a frame coupled to the base support;   a plurality of blower fans, each blower fan contained within a respective fan housing;   an outer gimbal frame for each of the plurality of fan housings,   wherein each fan housing is rotatably mounted to the respective outer gimbal so that the fan housing is rotatable about a first axis, and each respective outer gimbal is rotatably mounted to the frame so that the outer gimbal is rotatable about a second axis, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis.   
     
     
         19 . The fan assembly of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of outer gimbals includes a circular ring, and each of the plurality of blower housings includes a circular body received within a respective ring. 
     
     
         20 . The fan assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a power control unit configured to control the speed of each blower fan independently of the other blower fans.