Fan

Abstract

A fan configured to generate multidirectional airflow from a vertically elongated main outlet is disclosed. The fan includes a housing with a blower assembly that receives ambient air through lateral intake openings and emits air through a narrow, vertically extending outlet. Internally, a blower housing with a curved wall directs airflow into a duct chamber that includes an upwardly angled wall surface. The blower outlet is spaced below the main outlet, and the duct geometry, including the angled wall, induces a portion of the airflow to adhere to the surface and exit the outlet in an upward direction. The remaining airflow exits horizontally, producing a compound airflow pattern comprising both forward and upward components without any movable louvers or tilt mechanisms. An oscillating base and optional pivoting support arm allow further directional control.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fan comprising:
 a fan housing having a main outlet formed along a front face of the fan housing;   a blower assembly positioned within the fan housing, where the blower assembly comprises a blower and a first motor for rotating the blower to generate airflow;   a blower housing positioned within the fan housing and surrounding at least a portion of the blower, the blower housing having a blower outlet positioned within a lower portion of the fan housing and rearward of the main outlet; and   an air duct chamber formed between the blower outlet and the main outlet, the air duct chamber including an angled interior wall that extends upward from the blower outlet toward an upper portion of the main outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The fan of  claim 1  where the blower housing is a volute. 
     
     
         3 . The fan of  claim 1  where the air duct chamber has a narrowing taper from the blower outlet to the main outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The fan of  claim 1  where the main outlet has a height and where the blower outlet is positioned vertically below a midpoint of the height of the main outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The fan of  claim 1  where the angled interior wall extends greater than the midpoint distance between the main outlet and the blower outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The fan of  claim 1  where the angled interior wall is configured to induce a portion of the airflow expelled from the blower outlet to adhere to and follow the angled interior wall toward the upper portion of the main outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The fan of  claim 1  where the fan housing is supported by a base having a second motor, where the second motor is configured to oscillate the fan housing relative to the base. 
     
     
         8 . A fan comprising:
 a fan housing having a length, height and width;   a main outlet having a length, height and width, where the main outlet extends vertically along the height of the fan housing, where the width of the main outlet is less than half the width of the fan housing;   a blower positioned within the fan housing for generating airflow, where the blower includes at least one or more blades and a motor; and   a blower housing positioned within the fan housing, where the blower housing includes a blower outlet positioned within a lower portion of the main outlet.   
     
     
         9 . The fan of  claim 8  where an air duct chamber is formed between the blower outlet and the main outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The fan of  claim 9  where the air duct has a narrowing taper from the blower outlet to the main outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The fan of  claim 8  where the blower outlet includes a protective outlet grill extending vertically along a height of the blower outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The fan of  claim 11  where an angled interior wall is positioned within the fan housing and extends upward from the blower outlet toward an upper portion of the main outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The fan of  claim 12  where a first portion of the airflow is expelled in an upward airflow direction from the upper portion of the main outlet and where a second portion of the airflow is expelled in a generally horizontal direction from the lower portion of the main outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The fan of  claim 9 , where the air duct includes an interior wall positioned rearward of the main outlet, and where the fan further includes a remote control that removably attaches to the interior wall. 
     
     
         15 . A fan comprising:
 a fan housing having a main outlet having an upper portion and lower portion;   a blower assembly positioned within the fan housing, where the blower assembly comprises a blower and a first motor for rotating the blower to generate airflow;   a blower housing positioned within the fan housing, the blower housing having a blower housing outlet positioned within the fan housing; and   an air duct formed between the blower outlet and the main outlet, the air duct including an angled interior wall that extends greater than half the distance between the blower outlet and the main outlet.   
     
     
         16 . The fan of  claim 15  where the blower outlet and the main outlet have a height, where the height of the blower outlet is half or less than half the height of the main outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The fan of  claim 15  where a first portion of the airflow is expelled in an upward airflow direction from the upper portion of the main outlet and where a second portion of the airflow is expelled in a generally horizontal direction from the lower portion of the main outlet. 
     
     
         18 . The fan of  claim 15  where the air duct has a narrowing taper from the blower outlet to the main outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The fan of  claim 15  where the fan housing is supported by a base via a support arm having a first end and opposing second end, where the fan housing is pivotally attached to the first end of the support arm for pivoting fan housing in a vertical plane. 
     
     
         20 . The fan of  claim 19  where the second end of the support arm is attached to the base and where the base further includes an oscillating mechanism having a second motor, a drive gear driven by the second motor, and an oscillation gear that engages with the drive gear, where the oscillating mechanism is configured rotate the fan housing in a horizontal plane.