Pivot arrangement for a motorized device

Abstract

In the exemplary embodiment, an electric rotary fan has a fan head including a rotary motor and a fan blade, the fan blade rotated by the motor for producing an air stream. A pair of rubber bushings are each disposed between the fan head and a stand and each have a hole though the bushing and a key displaced from the hole, the holes of both bushings being coaxially aligned on a horizontal pivot axis. A pair of fasteners each pass through the associated bushing's hole to affix the fan head to the stand such that each fastener and its associated bushing cooperate to allow forced pivoting of the fan head relative to the stand the pivot about the pivot axis. The keys prevent relative pivoting between the bushings and the fan head by each engaging a mating tab hole in the fan head.

1 . A fan comprising:
 a fan head comprising a rotary motor and a fan blade, the fan blade rotated by the motor for producing an air stream;   a stationary support;   a bushing disposed between the fan head and the support and comprising a pivot and a key displaced from the pivot and configured to prevent relative pivoting between the bushing and one of the fan head and the support; and   a fastener affixing the fan head to the support via the pivot of the bushing such that the fastener and bushing cooperate to allow forced pivoting and to deny non-forced pivoting of the fan head relative to the support about the pivot.   
     
     
         2 . The fan of  claim 1  wherein the pivot comprises a pivot hole though the bushing and the fastener passes through the pivot hole to affix the fan head to the support. 
     
     
         3 . The fan of  claim 2  wherein the bushing is comprised of a rubber-like material. 
     
     
         4 . The fan of  claim 3  wherein the key is a tab and is configured to prevent relative pivoting between the bushing and one of the fan head and the support by engaging a mating tab hole in the one of the fan head and the support. 
     
     
         5 . The fan of  claim 4  wherein the one of the fan head and support is the fan head. 
     
     
         6 . The fan of  claim 5  wherein the fastener compresses the bushing to cause frictional interference between the fan head, the bushing, and the support, to thereby deny non-forced pivoting of the fan head relative to the support. 
     
     
         7 . The fan of  claim 6  wherein the support comprises a stand. 
     
     
         8 . The fan of  claim 7  wherein the pivot is disposed about a horizontal pivot axis and the forced pivoting of the fan head relative to the support is about the horizontal pivot axis. 
     
     
         9 . The fan of  claim 8  wherein the support comprises a clearance hole aligned with the horizontal pivot axis and the fan head comprises a threaded hole aligned with the horizontal pivot axis, and the fastener is an elongate screw passing through the clearance hole and pivot hole and threadedly engaging the threaded hole to affix the fan head to the support. 
     
     
         10 . A fan comprising:
 a fan head comprising a rotary motor and a fan blade, the fan blade rotated by the motor for producing an air stream;   a stationary support;   each of a pair of bushings disposed between the fan head and the support and each comprising a pivot and a key displaced from the pivot and configured to prevent relative pivoting between the bushing and one of the fan head and the support, the pivots of both bushings being coaxially aligned; and   a pair of fasteners each affixing the fan head to the support via the pivot of one of the bushings such that each fastener and its associated bushing cooperate to allow forced pivoting and to deny non-forced pivoting of the fan head relative to the support about the pivot.   
     
     
         11 . The fan of  claim 10  wherein the pivots each comprise a pivot hole though the bushing and the fasteners each pass through one of the pivot holes to affix the fan head to the support. 
     
     
         12 . The fan of  claim 11  wherein the bushings are each comprised of a rubber-like material. 
     
     
         13 . The fan of  claim 12  wherein each key is a tab and is configured to prevent relative pivoting between the bushing and one of the fan head and the support by engaging a mating tab hole in the one of the fan head and the support. 
     
     
         14 . The fan of  claim 13  wherein the one of the fan head and support is the fan head. 
     
     
         15 . The fan of  claim 14  wherein each fastener compresses the associated bushing to cause frictional interference between the fan head, the associated bushing, and the support, to thereby deny non-forced pivoting of the fan head relative to the support. 
     
     
         16 . The fan of  claim 15  wherein the support comprises a stand. 
     
     
         17 . The fan of  claim 16  wherein the pivots are both disposed about a single horizontal pivot axis and the forced pivoting of the fan head relative to the support is about the horizontal pivot axis. 
     
     
         18 . The fan of  claim 17  wherein the support comprises a pair of clearance holes aligned with the horizontal pivot axis and the fan head comprises a pair of threaded holes aligned with the horizontal pivot axis, and the fasteners are each an elongate screw passing through one of the clearance holes and one of the pivot holes and threadedly engaging one of the threaded holes to affix the fan head to the support. 
     
     
         20 . In combination:
 a fan head comprising a guard surrounding and supporting a rotary motor and a fan blade, the fan blade rotated by the motor for producing an air stream;   a stationary stand;   each of a pair of rubber bushings disposed between the fan head and the stand and each comprising a hole though the bushing and a key displaced from the hole, the holes of both bushings being coaxially aligned on a horizontal pivot axis; and   a pair of fasteners each passing through the associated bushing's hole to affix the fan head to the stand such that each fastener and its associated bushing cooperate to allow forced pivoting of the fan head relative to the stand the pivot about the pivot axis;   wherein each key is a tab and is configured to prevent relative pivoting between the bushing and the fan head by engaging a mating tab hole in the fan head;   wherein each fastener compresses the associated bushing to cause frictional interference between the fan head, the associated bushing, and the stand, to thereby deny non-forced pivoting of the fan head relative to the stand; and   wherein the stand comprises a pair of clearance holes aligned with the horizontal pivot axis and the fan head comprises a pair of threaded holes aligned with the horizontal pivot axis, and the fasteners are each an elongate screw passing through one of the clearance holes and one of the pivot holes and threadedly engaging one of the threaded holes to affix the fan head to the stand.   
     
     
         21 . The combination of  claim 20  further comprising a pair of nuts, wherein the guard is molded polymer and comprises a pair of integrally molded rectangular slots each for receiving one of the nuts and preventing rotation thereof, and the threaded holes are disposed in the nuts.