Fan grill construction

Abstract

Improved fan grill/guard construction for fans for supplying air, where the fan has a front grill with an outer ring which wraps around and is dimensionally structured to improve airflow and to diffuse the air over a wide area.

1. In combination with a fan, which fan has a fan motor, a fan blade assembly attached to and driven by said fan motor, a motor housing containing said motor, a rear grill to which said motor housing is mounted, and a front grill attached to said rear grill, the improvement which comprises,
 a plurality of spaced radial ribs,  
 said front grill having a center plate to which some of said radial ribs are connected,  
 at least a portion of said radial ribs extending outwardly to a circumferential ring,  
 said circumferential ring having a curved panel extending to a rim and an inclined panel to which said ribs are connected , said ribs connected to said inclined panel, 
 said circumferential ring having dimensions based on a fan blade diameter D, with a dimension A of said ring being a distance from a tip of said fan blade assembly to an inside diameter of said ring, a dimension B being a depth of said ring, and a dimension C being a width of said ring,  
 said dimension A being up to about 40% of said fan blade diameter D, said dimension B being between about 0.60 to 4.5 inches and said dimension C is between about 40 to 200% of said dimension B, and wherein said front grill provides a diffuse airflow from said fan.  
 
     
     
       2. A fan as defined in  claim 1  in which D is 16 inches, A is 0.170 inches, B is 1.41 inches and C is 0.95 inches. 
     
     
       3. A fan as defined in  claim 1  in which said front grill is of molded plastic. 
     
     
       4. A fan according to  claim 1 , wherein said front grill provides an increased air volume over a predetermined area. 
     
     
       5. A fan according to  claim 4 , wherein said fan is an oscillating fan. 
     
     
       6. A fan according to  claim 5 , wherein said motor housing is external to said rear grill. 
     
     
       7. A fan according to  claim 1 , wherein said front grill dampens vibrations of said fan based on a mass of said front grill. 
     
     
       8. A fan according to  claim 1 , wherein an inside edge of said circumferential ring overlays a portion of said fan blade by said dimension A. 
     
     
       9. A  The fan according to  claim 1 , wherein an inside edge of said circumferential ring establishes a clearance from said fan blade tip by said dimension A. 
     
     
       10. A front grill for use with an oscillating fan having a fan blade assembly, said front grill comprising:
 a circumferential ring at an outer periphery of said front grill, said circumferential ring having an inside edge spaced away from a tip of said fan blade assembly by a predetermined distance based on a diameter of said fan blade assembly, said front grill providing a diffuse air pattern.    
     
     
       11. The grill according to  claim 10 , wherein said predetermined distance is less than about 40% of a diameter of said fan blade assembly, and said circumferential ring further comprising:
 i) a depth, and    ii) a width,    wherein said depth is between about 0.60 and 4.50 inches, and said width is between about 40% to 200% of said depth.    
     
     
       12. A grill for use with a fan having a motor and a fan blade assembly, said grill comprising:
 a circumferential ring at an outer periphery of said grill, said circumferential ring having:    i) an inside edge spaced away from a tip of said fan blade assembly by a predetermined distance, where said predetermined distance is less than about  40 % of a diameter of said fan blade assembly,    ii) a depth, and    iii) a width,    wherein said depth is between about 0.60 and 4.50 inches, said width is between about 40% to 200% of said depth, and said inside edge of said circumferential ring overlays a portion of said fan blade assembly by said predetermined distance and wherein said grill provides a diffuse airflow from said fan.    
     
     
       13. A grill according to  claim 12 , wherein said grill provides an increased air volume over a predetermined area. 
     
     
       14. A grill according to  claim 12 , wherein said fan is an oscillating fan. 
     
     
       15. A grill according to  claim 12 , wherein said fan is a table mounted fan. 
     
     
       16. A grill according to  claim 12 , wherein said fan is a floor mounted fan. 
     
     
       17. A grill according to  claim 12 , wherein said grill dampens vibrations of said fan based on a mass of said grill. 
     
     
       18. A grill according to  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of attaching means for coupling said grill to a portion of said fan. 
     
     
       19. A grill according to  claim 18 , wherein said attaching means is a plurality of slots formed in said circumferential ring. 
     
     
       20. A grill according to  claim 12 , wherein said grill is mounted on a front portion of said fan such that air circulated by said fan blade exits through said grill. 
     
     
       21. A grill according to  claim 12 , wherein said grill is a plurality of grills, a first one of said plurality of grills mounted on said fan motor on a front portion thereof, such that air circulated by said fan blade enters through said first grill, and a second one of said plurality of grills mounted on a front portion of said first grill such that air circulated by said fan blade exits through said second grill. 
     
     
       22. A grill according to  claim 12 , further comprising a rear grill coupled to said grill and wherein said motor is mounted external to said rear grill. 
     
     
       23. An oscillating fan having a rear grill, a front grill attached to said rear grill, a fan motor external to said rear grill, to which said rear grill is mounted, a fan blade assembly attached to and driven by said fan motor, said front grill comprising:
 a circumferential ring at an outer periphery of said front grill, said circumferential ring having dimensions based on the fan blade assembly having a diameter of about 16 inches:    i) an inside edge spaced away from a tip of said fan blade assembly by about 0.170 inches, establishing a clearance between said fan blade assembly tip and said inside edge of said circumferential ring,    ii) a depth of about 1.41 inches, and    iii) a width of about 0.95 inches,    wherein said front grill provides a diffuse airflow from said fan.    
     
     
       24. A grill according to  claim 23 , wherein said fan is a table mounted fan. 
     
     
       25. A grill according to  claim 23 , wherein said fan is a floor mounted fan. 
     
     
       26. A grill for use with a fan having a motor and a fan blade assembly, said grill comprising:
 a circumferential ring at an outer periphery of said grill, said circumferential ring having:    i) an inside edge spaced away from a tip of said fan blade assembly by a predetermined distance, where said predetermined distance is less than about 40% of a diameter of said fan blade assembly,    ii) a depth, and    iii) a width,    wherein said depth is between about 0.60 and 4.50 inches, said width is between about 40% to 200% of said depth, and said inside edge of said circumferential ring one of i) overlays a portion of said fan blade assembly by said predetermined distance and ii) establishes a clearance from said fan blade assembly tip by said predetermined distance and wherein said grill provides a diffuse airflow from said fan.    
     
     
       27. A grill according to  claim 26 , wherein said grill provides an increased air volume over a predetermined area. 
     
     
       28. A grill according to  claim 26 , wherein said fan is an oscillating fan. 
     
     
       29. A grill according to  claim 26 , wherein said fan is a table mounted fan. 
     
     
       30. A grill according to  claim 26 , wherein said fan is a floor mounted fan. 
     
     
       31. A grill according to  claim 26 , wherein said grill dampens vibrations of said fan based on a mass of said grill. 
     
     
       32. A grill according to  claim 26 , further comprising a plurality of attaching means for coupling said grill to a portion of said fan. 
     
     
       33. A grill according to  claim 32 , wherein said attaching means is a plurality of slots formed in said circumferential ring. 
     
     
       34. A grill according to  claim 26 , wherein said grill is mounted on a front portion of said fan such that air circulated by said fan blade exits through said grill. 
     
     
       35. A grill according to  claim 26 , wherein said grill is a plurality of grills, a first one of said plurality of grills mounted on said fan motor on a front portion thereof, such that air circulated by said fan blade enters through said first grill, and a second one of said plurality of grills mounted on a front portion of said first grill such that air circulated by said fan blade exits through said second grill. 
     
     
       36. A grill according to  claim 26 , further comprising a rear grill coupled to said grill and wherein said motor is mounted external to said rear grill. 
     
     
       37. A fan comprising:
   a fan blade assembly having a diameter D;        a motor assembly used to rotate said fan blade assembly, said motor assembly comprising:      an electric motor; and        a motor housing substantially enclosing said electric motor;          a grill assembly comprising:      a unitary front grill formed of a polymer, said unitary front grill comprising:      a front center portion;        an integral front circumferential ring formed of a polymer, said front circumferential ring further comprising:      a dimension B being an axial thickness of said integral front circumferential ring,     a dimension C being a width of said integral front circumferential ring measured radially from an inside edge portion of said integral front circumferential ring to an outer periphery portion of said integral front circumferential ring, and      a plurality of front grill elements disposed between said front center portion and said front circumferential ring; and          a rear grill coupled between said motor assembly and said unitary front grill, said rear grill comprising:      a rear center portion defining an aperture for receiving at least a portion of said motor assembly, said rear grill being detachably coupled to said motor assembly and a substantial portion of said motor assembly remains external of said rear grill when said portion of said motor assembly is received by said aperture;              an outer rim, and        a plurality of rear grill elements disposed between said rear center portion and said outer rim,        wherein a dimension A is a distance from a tip of said fan blade assembly to said inside edge portion of said integral front circumferential ring, and        said dimension A is up to about  40   %  of said diameter D, said dimension B is between about  0 . 6  inches and about  4 . 5  inches, and said dimension C is between about  0 . 24  inches and about  9  inches; and        wherein said front grill provides a diffuse airflow from said fan.     
     
     
       38. The fan of  claim 37  wherein said outer rim of said rear grill is a rear circumferential ring, and an axial thickness of said rear circumferential ring combined with said dimension B defines a combined axial thickness of said grill assembly. 
     
     
       39. The fan of  claim 38  wherein said combined axial thickness is between about  1  inch and about  4 . 5  inches. 
     
     
       40. The fan of  claim 38  wherein said combined axial thickness is between about  1 . 4  inches and about  4 . 5  inches. 
     
     
       41. A fan comprising:
   a fan blade assembly having a diameter D;     a motor assembly used to rotate said fan blade assembly, said motor assembly having an electric motor and a motor housing substantially enclosing said electric motor;      a grill assembly comprising:      a unitary front grill formed of a polymer, said unitary front grill comprising:      a front center portion;        a front circumferential ring formed integral with said front grill; and        a plurality of front grill elements disposed between said front center portion and said integral front circumferential ring, where openings are defined between said front grill elements allowing air to pass therethrough,        a dimension A being a distance from a tip of said fan blade assembly to an inside edge portion of said integral front circumferential ring,        a dimension B being an axial thickness of said integral front circumferential ring,        a dimension C being a width of said integral front circumferential ring measured radially outward from a furthest radial extent of said front grill elements to an outer periphery of said integral front circumferential ring, and        said dimension A being up to about  40   %  of said diameter D, and said dimension C being between about  0 . 24  inches and about  9  inches,        wherein said front grill provides a diffuse airflow from said fan,          a rear grill adapted to be coupled to said unitary front grill, said rear grill comprising:      a rear center portion defining an aperture for receiving a portion of said motor assembly, said rear grill being detachably coupled to said motor assembly and a substantial portion of said motor assembly remains external of said grill assembly when said portion of said motor assembly is received by said aperture,            an outer rim, and        a plurality of rear grill elements disposed between said rear center portion and said outer rim, where openings are defined between said rear grill elements allowing air to pass therethrough.     
     
     
       42. The fan of  claim 41  wherein said dimension B is between about  0 . 6  inches and about  4 . 5  inches. 
     
     
       43. The fan according to  claim 37  or  41  wherein said inside edge portion of said integral front circumferential ring either (i) overlays a portion of said diameter D of said fan blade assembly by said dimension A; or (ii) establishes a radial clearance from said tip of said fan blade assembly by said dimension A. 
     
     
       44. The fan according to  claim 37  or  41  wherein a mass of said integral front circumferential ring dampens vibration of said fan. 
     
     
       45. The fan according to  claim 37  or  41  wherein said front grill elements further comprise a plurality of radial ribs, one or more of said radial ribs extending from said integral front circumferential ring to said front center portion. 
     
     
       46. The fan of  claim 45  wherein one or more of said radial ribs extend from said integral front circumferential ring towards, but short of, said front center portion. 
     
     
       47. The fan of  claim 37  or  41  wherein said rear grill is formed of a polymer and said rear grill elements comprise a plurality of radial ribs, one or more of said radial ribs extending from said outer rim to said rear center portion. 
     
     
       48. The fan of  claim 47  wherein one or more of said radial ribs extend from said outer rim towards, but short of, said rear center portion. 
     
     
       49. A fan comprising:
   a fan blade assembly having a diameter D;        a motor assembly used to rotate said fan blade assembly generating an axial air flow in a forward direction, said motor assembly comprising:      an electric motor; and        a motor housing substantially enclosing said electric motor; and          a grill assembly comprising:      a rear grill comprising a rear center portion, a rear outer periphery, and a plurality of rear grill elements disposed between said rear center portion and said rear outer periphery, said rear center portion defining an aperture for receiving a portion of said motor assembly, said rear grill being detachably coupled to said motor assembly such that a substantially portion of said motor assembly remains external of said grill assembly when said portion of said motor assembly is received by said aperture;     a unitary front grill formed of a polymer, said front grill being detachably coupled to said rear grill, said unitary front grill comprising a front center portion, an integral front outer periphery, and a plurality of front grill elements disposed between said front center portion and said front outer periphery;      a circumferential ring disposed between said front grill and said rear grill, at least a portion of said circumferential ring being unitary and integral to said front grill and/or both said front grill and said rear grill,        said portion of said unitary and integral circumferential ring corresponding to said front grill being at least partially located axially forward of said rear grill,        wherein said unitary and integral circumferential ring defines a dimension A being a distance from a tip of said fan blade assembly to a forward inside edge portion of said unitary and integral circumferential ring, a dimension B being an axial thickness of said unitary and integral circumferential ring measured from a forward edge to a rear edge of said unitary and integral circumferential ring, and a dimension C being a width of said unitary and integral circumferential ring measured radially from said forward inside edge portion of said unitary and integral circumferential ring to an outer periphery portion of said unitary and integral circumferential ring,        wherein said dimension A is up to about  40   %  of said diameter D of said fan blade assembly, and        wherein said front grill provides a diffuse airflow from said fan.       
     
     
       50. The fan of  claim 49  wherein said dimension C is between about  0 . 24  inches and about  9  inches. 
     
     
       51. The fan of  claim 49  wherein said dimension B is between about  0 . 6  inches and about  4 . 5  inches. 
     
     
       52. The fan according to  claim 49  wherein said front grill elements further comprise a plurality of radial ribs, one or more of said radial ribs extending from said unitary and integral circumferential ring to said front center portion. 
     
     
       53. The fan of  claim 52  wherein one or more of said radial ribs extend from said unitary and integral circumferential ring towards, but short of, said front center portion. 
     
     
       54. The fan of  claim 49  wherein said rear grill is formed of a polymer and said rear grill elements comprise a plurality of radial ribs, one or more of said radial ribs extending from one of said rear outer periphery and said unitary and integral circumferential ring to said rear center portion. 
     
     
       55. The fan of  claim 49  wherein one or more of said radial ribs extend from one of said rear outer periphery and said unitary and integral circumferential ring towards, but short of, said rear center portion. 
     
     
       56. The fan of  claim 49  wherein said unitary and integral circumferential ring further defines a sectional profile taken along a radial plane from a center of said unitary and integral circumferential ring, said sectional profile defining a first circumferential panel having at least one of a straight sectional profile or a curved sectional profile. 
     
     
       57. The fan of  claim 56  wherein said sectional profile further defines a second circumferential panel extending from a forward edge of an inner circumferential portion of said first circumferential panel, said second circumferential panel extending inwardly towards said front center portion of said unitary front grill, said second circumferential panel having at least one of a straight sectional profile or a curved sectional profile. 
     
     
       58. The fan of  claim 49 , wherein said forward inside edge portion of said unitary and integral circumferential ring either (i) overlays a portion of diameter D of said fan blade assembly by said dimension A, or (ii) establishes a radial clearance from said tip of said fan blade assembly by said dimension A. 
     
     
       59. The fan according to  claim 49  wherein a mass of said unitary and integral circumferential ring dampens vibration of said fan. 
     
     
       60. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said dimension B is between about  1  inch and about  4 . 5  inches. 
     
     
       61. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said dimension B is between about  1 . 4  inches and about  4 . 5  inches. 
     
     
       62. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said dimension D of said blade assembly is greater than about  12  inches. 
     
     
       63. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said dimension D of said blade assembly is greater than about  16  inches. 
     
     
       64. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said front grill provides diffuse air flow from said fan. 
     
     
       65. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said fan is an oscillating fan. 
     
     
       66. The fan of  claim 65  further comprising a pedestal, said pedestal being used to elevate and support said fan in an upright position with reference to a support surface. 
     
     
       67. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said front grill and said rear grill are detachably coupled to one another. 
     
     
       68. The fan of  claim 67  wherein said front grill and said rear grill may be manually assembled and disassembled to/from one another without tools. 
     
     
       69. The fan of  claim 67  wherein at least one of said front grill or said rear grill may be at least partially nested within the other of said front grill or said rear grill when said front grill and said rear grill are disassembled from one another, thereby facilitating efficient packaging. 
     
     
       70. The fan of  claim 67  further comprising a connecting mechanism disposed between and connecting said front grill and said rear grill. 
     
     
       71. The fan of  claim 70  wherein said connecting mechanism comprises a plurality of tab portions extending between said rear grill and said front grill, said plurality of tab portions being integral with, or coupled to, one of said rear grill and said front grill. 
     
     
       72. The fan of  claim 71  wherein said connecting mechanism further comprises a plurality of slots defined by the other of said front grill and said rear grill, said slots corresponding in number and location to said plurality of tab portions, said slots being configured to receive said tab portions. 
     
     
       73. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said motor assembly is detachably coupled to said rear grill through engagement of a male threaded component with a female threaded component. 
     
     
       74. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said rear grill is separate and distinct from said motor housing. 
     
     
       75. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said grill assembly is structurally supported by said motor assembly. 
     
     
       76. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said motor housing substantially encloses all sides and ends of said electric motor. 
     
     
       77. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said motor assembly is separate and distinct from said rear grill. 
     
     
       78. The fan of  claim 77  wherein said motor assembly is detachable from said rear grill, thereby facilitating efficient packaging. 
     
     
       79. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said front grill elements further comprise a plurality of substantially concentric rings. 
     
     
       80. The fan according to  claim 37 ,  41 , or  49  wherein said rear grill is formed of a polymer. 
     
     
       81. The fan of  claim 80  wherein said rear grill elements further comprise a plurality of substantially concentric rings. 
     
     
       82. The fan according to  claim 1 , wherein an inside edge of said circumferential ring overlays a portion of said fan blade by said dimension A.