Air blower with horizontal air outlet

Abstract

A portable, free standing air blower capable of generating a user directed exhaust air stream is provided. The device includes an air blower assembly located within an air director housing rotatably coupled to a base about a horizontal axis of rotation. The air blower device includes a pre-determined range of rotation of the air director housing around the axis of rotation and the air director housing is able to rotate about the axis of rotation within the pre-determined range of rotation substantially unimpeded by the base. Preferably, the at least one air outlet can be positioned so as to direct a flow of exhaust air at an angle below an imaginary plane through the air outlet and parallel to the support surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 10 / 236,265 filed Sep. 5, 2002.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates generally to air circulation devices for use in a household, office, or work area environment. More specifically, the present invention relates to an air circulation device having an air director housing that pivots with respect to a support surface about a horizontal axis of rotation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Various air movement devices have been utilized to generate an air stream. Many of these devices have been used to specifically create an air stream for the purpose of cooling a user. [0004] The normal use of a conventional device is to provide a cooling sensation to the user by passing a current of air generated by the air moving device over the skin of an individual. The current of air that passes over an individual serves to cool the user by increasing the convective heat loss of t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an improved air blower device that overcomes shortcomings of prior art devices. The device is portable, free standing, and includes an air director housing with an interior space and a base utilized to contact a support surface. The air blower has an axis of rotation and is able to direct the air stream at an angle below the mounting surface. The device also includes detents for controlled rotation of the air director housing with respect to the base and a space between the side-supports where the air director housing is located and rotates unimpeded. The base includes side-supports and a front and rear opening for unrestricted rotation of the air director housing. The device also includes a retainer and mating features to securely hold the air director housing in place on the base. Overall, the invention provides an improved air blower device with improved stability, efficiency, and control.

Problems solved by technology

The height of the improved air blower device would be limited to increase the stability and limit the impedance of visual inspection of the mounting surface around the air blower device.

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