Heating and cooling apparatus

Abstract

A heating and cooling apparatus provides hands free operation for heating and cooling a room and purifying the surrounding air. Apparatus includes a fan, a housing for receiving the fan, and at least one heating element positioned between an outer edge of the fan and an inner surface of the housing. Apparatus further includes system logic to control operation of a motor when a parameter, such as temperature or occupation of a room is detected. Housing includes air purifying properties to reduce virus or bacteria in the air moving through the apparatus.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A heating and cooling apparatus comprising:
 a fan comprising a plurality of blades extending between a support plate and a retaining collar;   a housing configured to receive the fan; and   at least one heating element attached to the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inner surface of the housing;   an annular outer edge of the retaining collar on the fan;   a spaced gap defined between the inner surface and the outer edge; and   wherein the at least one heating element is disposed within the spaced gap.   
     
     
         3 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each blade comprises:
 a first edge extending along the support plate;   a second edge spaced apart from the first edge extending along the collar;   an entrance edge configured to draw air inwardly in a substantially vertical direction; and   an exit edge spaced apart and shorter than the entrance edge configured to move air outwardly in a substantially horizontal direction.   
     
     
         4 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each blade comprises:
 a concave first surface to draw air generally vertically upwards; and   an opposite facing convex second surface to move air horizontally outward as the fan rotates about an axis.   
     
     
         5 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support plate includes:
 a concave segment extending through the center of the plate;   an annular convex segment spaced radially outward of the concave segment; and   wherein each blade extends downward from the plate beyond a bottom surface of said support plate and move air upward and radially outward as the fan rotates about an axis.   
     
     
         6 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element includes:
 an element resistor in electrical communication with a power source configured to receive electricity therethrough and adapted to radiate heat; and   wherein the element resistor is positioned between an outer edge of the fan and an inner surface of the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a temperature control system having logic to control a set point temperature, wherein the temperature control system is in communication with the heating element.   
     
     
         8 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a drive motor connected to the fan; and   a motion sensor operatively connected to the drive motor to turn the motor to one of the on and off positions when the motion sensor detects one of the following (a) movement and (b) an absence of movement.   
     
     
         9 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises:
 a tapered annular sidewall, having a first diameter at a top end of the sidewall and a second diameter at a bottom end of the sidewall, wherein the first and second diameters are not equal;   said annular sidewall defining a cavity for receiving the fan; and   a plurality of ports formed in the sidewall extending therethrough.   
     
     
         10 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the top diameter is larger than the bottom diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is integrally formed with air purifying properties. 
     
     
         12 . The heating and cooling apparatus of apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an annular sidewall comprising an air purifying coating. 
     
     
         13 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes:
 an annular sidewall extending substantially vertical from a top edge to a bottom edge; and   a plurality of u-shaped ports defined in the top of the sidewall.   
     
     
         14 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an aperture formed in the center of the support plate adapted to receive a drive shaft of a motor; and   a boss extending downward from the support plate aligned with the aperture adapted to secure the drive shaft to the plate permitting the fan to be rotated.   
     
     
         15 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor having a drive shaft connected to the fan;   a sensor to detect when an object has entered or left a defined space; and   logic in communication with the sensor and the motor configured to turn on the motor when the sensor indicates a person has entered the space, and configured to turn off the motor when the sensor indicates a person has left the space.   
     
     
         16 . The heating and cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor having a drive shaft operatively connected to the fan;   a temperature control system to detect a temperature set point in a defined space; and   logic in communication with the temperature control system, the at least one heating element, and the motor configured to turn on one of the motor and the at least one heating element, when the system indicates the surrounding temperature is not equal to the set point temperature.   
     
     
         17 . A heating and cooling device comprising:
 a mixed flow fan to move fluid as the mixed flow fan rotates about an axis, the fan includes a plurality of blades having generally vertically extending exit edges to move fluid in a horizontal direction;   a fan housing to receive the mixed flow fan, the housing including an annular sidewall, wherein the sidewall is spaced apart and generally parallel to the vertical exit edges, defining therebetween a heater element gap; and   at least one heating element mounted to the fan housing and positioned in the heater element gap.   
     
     
         18 . The heating and cooling device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a motor connected to the mixed flow fan;   an air purifying material formed integrally into the fan housing;   a sensor in communication with the motor to detect when an object has entered or left a defined space;   a temperature control system in communication with the motor to detect a temperature set point in a defined space; and   logic in communication with the temperature control system, the motion sensor, the at least one heating element, and the motor configured to turn on one of the motor and the at least one heating element, when one of (a) the temperature system indicates the surrounding temperature is not equal to the set point temperature and (b) the motion sensor indicates a person has left the space.