Electric fan

Abstract

 An electric fan (3) includes a motor unit (11), opposite upper and lower fan units (12), and a stand unit (2). The motor unit (11) includes two opposite output shafts (112) and a motor casing (111). Each of the fan units (12) has a plurality of blades (121, 122) connected to a respective one of the output shafts (112), and a screen cover (124) connected to the motor unit (11) and covering the blades (121, 122). The stand unit (2) includes a support rod (21) extending in a vertical direction and having a top end, and a coupling unit (22) for securing the fan units (12) to the top end of the support rod (21).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electric fan, more particularly to an electric fan with two opposite fan units.

[0002] Referring to Figure 1, a conventional electric fan 3 usually includes a stand 31 and a fan unit 32 supported by the stand 31. Since the conventional electric fan 3 blows solely in one direction, the cooling effect provided by the electric fan 3 is relatively limited. In addition, rotation of the fan unit 32 relative to the stand 31 is limited to a small extent.

[0003] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide an electric fan that can overcome at least one of the aforesaid drawbacks associated with the

prior art.

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric fan that includes a motor unit, opposite upper and lower fan units, and a stand unit.

[0005] The motor unit includes two opposite output shafts and a motor casing having two opposite ends. The output shafts protrude outwardly and respectively from the ends of the motor casing.

[0006] Each of the upper and lower fan units has a plurality of blades connected to a respective one of the output shafts, and a screen cover connected to the motor unit and covering the blades. The upper and lower fan units are aligned in a vertical direction. The screen cover has a central portion aligned with the output shafts in the vertical direction.

[0007] The stand unit includes a support rod extending in the vertical direction and having a top end, and a coupling unit secured to the top end of the support rod and the central portion of the screen cover of the lower fan unit.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric fan that includes a motor unit, a fan assembly, a spherical screen cover, and a stand unit.

[0009] The fan assembly is coupled to and is driven by the motor unit.

[0010] The screen cover encloses the motor unit and the fan assembly, and is connected to the motor unit.

[0011] The stand unit includes a support rod extending in a vertical direction and having a top end, and an arcuate screen basket secured to the top end of the support rod and defining an accommodating space for receiving a portion of the screen cover therein such that the screen cover is rotatable together with the motor unit and the fan assembly in the screen basket to different angular positions relative to the stand unit.

[0012] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric fan that includes a motor unit, two opposite fan units, and a stand unit.

[0013] The motor unit includes two opposite output shafts and a motor casing having two opposite ends and two opposite sides that extend between the ends. The output shafts protrude outwardly and respectively from the ends of the motor casing.

[0014] Each of the fan units has a plurality of blades connected to a respective one of the output shafts.

[0015] The stand unit includes a support rod extending in a vertical direction and having a top end, and a frame secured to the top end of the support rod and pivoted to the sides of the motor casing so as to permit pivoting movement of the fan units together with the motor unit relative to the stand unit between a vertical position, in which the fan units are aligned in the vertical direction, and a horizontal position, in which the fan units are aligned in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0016] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional electric fan;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, partly sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of an electric fan according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a partly sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of an electric fan according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic view to illustrate a coupling unit of the second preferred embodiment;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, partly sectional view to illustrate a vertical state of the third preferred embodiment of an electric fan according to the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, partly sectional view to illustrate a horizontal state of the third preferred embodiment.

[0017] Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying preferred embodiments, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

[0018] Referring to Figure 2, the first preferred embodiment of an electric fan according to the present invention is shown to include a motor unit 11, opposite upper and lower fan units 12, and a stand unit 2.

[0019] The motor unit 11 includes two opposite output shafts 112 and a motor casing 111 having two opposite ends. The output shafts 112 protrude outwardly and respectively from the ends of the motor casing 111.

[0020] Each of the upper and lower fan units 12 has a plurality of blades 121, 122 connected to a respective one of the output shafts 112, and a screen cover 124 connected to the motor unit 11 and covering the blades 121, 122. The upper and lower fan units 12 are aligned in a vertical direction. The screen cover 124 has a central portion 126 aligned with the output shafts 112 in the vertical direction. The central portion 126 of the screen cover 124 of the lower fan unit 12 is formed with a central opening 127 that is coaxially aligned with the output shafts 112 along the vertical direction, and has opposite inner and outer sides.

[0021] The stand unit 2 includes a support rod 21 extending in the vertical direction and having a top end 223, and a coupling unit 22 secured to the top end 223 of the support rod 21 and the central portion 126 of the screen cover 124 of the lower fan unit 12. The coupling unit 22 includes an annular flange 221 formed on the tope end 223 of the support rod 21 and in contact with the outer side of the central portion 126 of the screen cover 124 of the lower fan unit 12 and coaxially aligned with the central opening 127, a threaded rod 222 extending from the flange 221 through the central opening 127 in the central portion 126 of the screen cover 124 of the lower fan unit 12, and a nut member 23 in contact with the inner side of the central portion 126 of the screen cover 124 of the lower fan unit 12 and engaging threadedly the threaded rod 222 for fastening the support rod 21 to the screen cover 124 of the lower fan unit 12 upon tightening of the nut member 23.

[0022] When electric power is supplied to the motor unit 11, the output shafts 112 drive the blades 121, 122 of the upper and lower fan units 12 to rotate, which results in an enhanced cooling effect as compared to the conventional fan unit.

[0023] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the second preferred embodiment of an electric fan according to the present invention is shown to include a motor unit 11, a fan assembly 12' , a spherical screen cover 124 , a connecting member 13, and a stand unit 2.

[0024] The fan assembly 12' is coupled to and is driven by the motor unit 11.

[0025] In this embodiment, the motor unit 11 includes two opposite output shafts 112, and a motor casing 111 having two opposite ends. The output shafts 112 protrude outwardly and respectively from the ends of the motor casing 111 . The fan assembly 12' includes two opposite fan units 12, each of which has a plurality of blades 121, 122 connected to a respective one of the output shafts 112. It should be noted herein that what is disclosed in this embodiment should not be imposed as a limitation during actual implementation. In practice, the motor unit 11 may as well include only one output shaft 112 that drives only one fan unit 12 of the fan assembly 12' as in the conventional electric fan.

[0026] The screen cover 124 includes two semispherical cover parts 1241, 1242 that cooperate with each other to enclose the motor unit 11 and the fan assembly 12'. The screen cover 124 is connected to the motor unit 11 through the connecting member 13. In this embodiment, the screen cover 124 is connected to the motor casing 111 of the motor unit 11 via the connecting member 13.

[0027] The connecting member 13 includes an outer rim 132 secured to the screen cover 124, an inner rim 131 concentrically surrounded by the outer rim 132 and secured to the motor casing 111, and a plurality of spokes 133 interconnecting the inner and outer rims 131, 132. The connecting member 13 further includes a plurality of engaging blocks 134 extending downward from a bottom side of the outer rim 132. The lower semispherical cover part 1242 engages the engaging blocks 134 through screw means 1271.

[0028] The stand unit 2 includes a support rod 21 extending in a vertical direction and having a top end 223, and an arcuate screen basket 224 secured to the top end 223 of the support rod 21 through a coupling unit 22 and defining an accommodating space for receiving a portion of the screen cover 124 therein such that the screen cover 124 is rotatable together with the motor unit 11 and the fan assembly 12' in the screen basket 224 to different angular positions relative to the stand unit 2. In this embodiment, the screen basket 224 is substantially semi-spherical in shape and has an inner side conforming to an outer side of a selected one of the semispherical cover parts 1241, 1242.

[0029] Apart from the effects of wider range of air currents, and stronger airflow, the disposition of the screen cover 124 in the arcuate screen basket 224 of the second embodiment further permits the electric fan to be easily directed to any desired 3-dimensional angle so as to adjust the direction of the main air flow generated by the electric fan.

[0030] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the third preferred embodiment of an electric fan according to the present invention is shown to include a motor unit 11, two opposite fan units 12 and a stand unit 2.

[0031] The motor unit 11 includes two opposite output shafts 112 and a motor casing 111 having two opposite ends and two opposite sides 1112 that extend between the ends of the motor casing 111. The output shafts 112 protrude outwardly and respectively from the ends of the motor casing 111.

[0032] Each of the fan units 12 has a plurality of blades 121, 122 connected to a respective one of the output shafts 112, and a screen cover 124 connected to the motor casing 111 and covering the blades 121, 122.

[0033] The stand unit 2 includes a support rod 21 extending in a vertical direction and having a top end, and a frame 24 secured to the top end of the support rod 21 and pivoted to the sides 1112 of the motor casing 111, thereby permitting pivoting movement of the fan units 12 relative to the stand unit 2. The frame 24 has an arcuate rod 242 with two opposite ends, and two radially-extending rods 243 that extend respectively from the ends of the arcuate rod 242 toward the motor casing 111 to connect pivotably with the sides 1112 of the motor casing 111 and that cooperate with the arcuate rod 242 to define a fan-passing space 20 thereamong for passage of one of the fan units 12 therethrough so as to permit the fan units 12 to rotate between a vertical position, in which the fan units 12 are aligned in the vertical direction, and a horizontal position, in which the fan units 12 are aligned in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. The fan units 12 are positioned at a selected position between the vertical and horizontal positions through a positioning unit (not shown).

[0034] Apart from the effects of wider range of air current, and stronger airflow, the third embodiment further permits the fan units 12 of the electric fan to rotate and to be positioned at any angle between the horizontal and vertical positions.

Claims

1. An electric fan characterized by:

a motor unit (11) including two opposite output shafts (112) and a motor casing (111) having two opposite ends, said output shafts (112) protruding outwardly and respectively from said ends of said motor casing (111);

opposite upper and lower fan units (12), each of which has a plurality of blades (121, 122) connected to a respective one of said output shafts (112) and a screen cover (124) connected to said motor unit (11) and covering said blades (121, 122), said upper and lower fan units (12) being aligned in a vertical direction, said screen cover (124) having a central portion (126) aligned with said output shafts (112) in said vertical direction; and

a stand unit (2) including
a support rod (21) extending in said vertical direction and having a top end (223), and
a coupling unit (22) secured to said top end (223) of said support rod (21) and said central portion (126) of said screen cover (124) of said lower fan unit (12).

2. The electric fan as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said central portion (126) of said screen cover (124) of said lower fan unit (12) has opposite inner and outer sides, and is formed with a central opening (127) that is coaxially aligned with said output shafts (112) along said vertical direction,
said coupling unit (22) including
an annular flange (221) formed on said top end (223) Of said support rod (21) and in contact with said outer side of said central portion (126) of said screen cover (124) of said lower fan unit (12) and coaxially aligned with said central opening (127),
a threaded rod (222) extending from said flange (221) through said central opening (127) insaidcentral portion (126) of said screen cover (124) of said lower fan unit (12), and
a nut member (23) in contact with said inner side of said central portion (126) of said screen cover (124) of said lower fan unit (12) and engaging threadedly said threaded rod (222) for fastening said support rod (21) to said screen cover (124) of said lower fan unit (12) upon tightening of said nut member (23).

3. An electric fan characterized by:

a motor unit (11);

a fan assembly (12') coupled to and driven by said motor unit (11);

a spherical screen cover (124) enclosing said motor unit (11) and said fan assembly (12') and connected to said motor unit (11); and

a stand unit (2) including

a support rod (21) extending in a vertical direction and having a top end (223), and

an arcuate screen basket (224) secured to said top end (223) of said support rod (21) and defining an accommodating space for receiving a portion of said screen cover (124) therein such that said screen cover (124) is rotatable together with said motor unit (11) and said fan assembly (12') in said screen basket (224) to different angular positions relative to said stand unit (2).

4. The electric fan as claimed in Claim 3, further characterized by a connecting member (13), said motor unit (11) including
two opposite output shafts (112), and
a motor casing (111) having two opposite ends, said output shafts (112) protruding outwardly and respectively from said ends,
said fan assembly (12') including two opposite fan units (12), each of which has a plurality of blades (121, 122) connected to a respective one of said output shafts (112), said screen cover (124) being coupled to said motor casing (111) through said connecting member (13).

5. The electric fan as claimed in Claims 4, characterized in that said connecting member (13) includes an outer rim (132) secured to said screen cover (124), an inner rim (131) concentrically surrounded by said outer rim (132) and secured to said motor casing (111), and a plurality of spokes (133) interconnecting said inner and outer rims (131, 132).

6. An electric fan characterized by:

a motor unit (11) including two opposite output shafts (112) and a motor casing (111) having two opposite ends and two opposite sides (1112) that extend between said ends, said output shafts (112) protruding outwardly and respectively from said ends of said motor casing (111);

two opposite fan units (12), each of which has a pluralityof blades (121, 122) connectedtoarespective one of said output shafts (112); and

a stand unit (2) including
a support rod (21) extending in a vertical direction and having a top end, and
a frame (24) secured to said top end of said support rod (21) and pivoted to said sides (1112) of said motor casing (111) so as to permit pivoting movement of said fan units (12) together with said motor unit (11) relative to said stand unit (2) between a vertical position, in which said fan units (12) are aligned in said vertical direction, and a horizontal position, in which said fan units (12) are aligned in a horizontal direction perpendicular to said vertical direction.

7. The electric fan as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that said frame (24) has an arcuate rod (242) with two opposite ends, and two radially-extending rods (243) that extend respectively from said ends of said arcuate rod (242) toward said motor casing (111) to connect pivotably with said sides (1112) of said motor casing (111) and that cooperate with said arcuate rod (242) to define a fan-passing space thereamong for passage of one of said fan units (12) therethrough so as to permit said fan units (12) to rotate between said vertical and horizontal positions.

Drawing