Fan assembly

Abstract

A fan assembly includes a base configured to rest upon a horizontal ground surface, a first arm extending between a first end and a second end, the first arm coupled to the base at the first end of the first arm, a fan housing coupled to the second end of the first arm, the fan housing enclosing a plurality of fan blades therein. The first arm is rotatable about a first rotational axis defined at the first end of the first arm to move the fan housing relative to the base. The base is rotatable about a second axis such that the fan housing is rotatable relative to the ground surface, the second axis extending perpendicular to the ground surface and perpendicular to the first axis. A length of the first arm is adjustable such that a distance between the first and second ends of the first arm is variable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fan assembly comprising:
 a base configured to rest upon a horizontal ground surface;   a first arm extending between a first end and a second end, the first arm coupled to the base at the first end of the first arm;   a fan housing coupled to the second end of the first arm, the fan housing enclosing a plurality of fan blades therein,   wherein the first arm is rotatable about a first rotational axis defined at the first end of the first arm to move the fan housing relative to the base,   wherein the base is rotatable about a second axis such that the fan housing is rotatable relative to the horizontal ground surface, the second axis extending perpendicular to the horizontal ground surface and perpendicular to the first axis, and   wherein a length of the first arm is adjustable such that a distance between the first and second ends of the first arm is variable.   
     
     
         2 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second arm extending between a first end and a second end, the second arm coupled to the base at the first end of the second arm, wherein the fan housing is coupled to the second end of the second arm, wherein the first and second arms are collectively rotatable about the first rotational axis, and wherein a length of the second arm is adjustable such that a distance between the first and second ends of the second arm is variable. 
     
     
         3 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fan housing is rotatable about a third axis at the second end of the first arm, wherein the third axis is parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         4 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base is mounted to a foot that rests upon the horizontal ground surface and is non-rotatable relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         5 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fan housing includes a rear grille through which air is drawn into the fan housing and a front grille through which air through which air is expelled from the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The fan assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the fan housing is movable relative to the base between a stowed position stowed position and a use position, wherein, in the stowed position, the front grille of the fan housing is substantially parallel to an upper surface of the base. 
     
     
         7 . The fan assembly of  claim 6 , wherein, in the use position, the front grille is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the base. 
     
     
         8 . The fan assembly of  claim 7 , wherein, in the use position, the front grille is rotatable about a third axis at the end of the first arm, wherein the third axis is parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         9 . The fan assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a handle coupled to the fan housing and configured to accommodate carrying of the fan assembly, wherein the handle is located above a remainder of the fan assembly in the use position. 
     
     
         10 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a rechargeable battery pack is coupled to the base and is configured to provide power to rotate the fan blades within the fan housing. 
     
     
         11 . A fan assembly comprising:
 a base having a lower surface configured to rest upon a horizontal ground surface and an upper surface opposite the lower surface;   an arm extending between a first end and a second end, the first arm coupled to the base at the first end of the first arm;   a fan housing coupled to the second end of the first arm and defining an airflow chamber extending between a forward side and a rear side, the fan housing enclosing a plurality of fan blades therein,   wherein the fan housing is movable relative to the base between a stowed position and a use position,   wherein, in the stowed position, the rear side of the fan housing is substantially coplanar with the lower surface of the base and the forward side of the fan housing is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the base, and   wherein, in the use position, each of the forward side and the rear side are located vertically above the upper surface of the base.   
     
     
         12 . The fan assembly of  claim 11 , wherein, in the stowed position, when the lower surface rests upon the horizontal ground surface, no portion of the fan housing is located vertically above base. 
     
     
         13 . The fan assembly of  claim 12 , wherein, in the stowed position, when the lower surface rests upon the horizontal ground surface, the fan housing has a greater height above the horizontal ground surface than the base. 
     
     
         14 . The fan assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a rechargeable battery pack coupled to the base, wherein, in the stowed position, when the lower surface rests upon the horizontal ground surface, the battery pack coupled to the base has a greater height above the horizontal ground surface than the base and the fan housing. 
     
     
         15 . The fan assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fan housing includes a rear grille through which air is drawn into the fan housing and a front grille through which air through which air is expelled from the housing, wherein the front housing defines the forward side of the fan and the rear grill defines the rear side of the fan. 
     
     
         16 . The fan assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the arm is a first arm, the fan assembly further comprising a second arm coupled to the base at a first end of the second arm and to the fan housing at the second end of the second arm. 
     
     
         17 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a lower surface configured to rest upon the horizontal ground surface and an upper surface opposite the lower surface, wherein the fan housing is movable relative to the base between a stowed position and a use position, wherein, in the stowed position, the rear side of the fan housing is substantially coplanar with the lower surface of the base and the forward side of the fan housing is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the base. 
     
     
         22 . The fan assembly of  claim 21 , wherein, in the use position, each of the forward side and the rear side are located vertically above the upper surface of the base. 
     
     
         23 . The fan assembly of  claim 22 , wherein, in the stowed position, when the lower surface rests upon the horizontal ground surface, no portion of the fan housing is located vertically above base. 
     
     
         24 . The fan assembly of  claim 23 , further comprising a rechargeable battery pack coupled to the base, wherein, in the stowed position, when the lower surface rests upon the horizontal ground surface, the fan housing has a greater height above the horizontal ground surface than the base, and wherein, in the stowed position, when the lower surface rests upon the horizontal ground surface, the battery pack coupled to the base has a greater height above the horizontal ground surface than the base and the fan housing.