Modular fan assembly with articulating nozzle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11384956-B2
Application number	US-201815986377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2018
Priority date	May 22, 2017
Publication date	Jul 12, 2022
Grant date	Jul 12, 2022

Abstract

An air treatment system is disclosed that includes a modular configuration whereby a fan module, filter module, and humidifier module may couple together to provide a plurality of air treatment solutions. In more detail, the modules can stack end-to-end in a vertical configuration. The modules may electrically couple to each other via a common electrical bus and enable a controller disposed in the fan module (or other module) to control fan flow rates, direction, and humidity. The fan module can include an articulating nozzle capable of directing airflow in virtually any direction and angle about an environment. The fan module can further include an inlet arrangement that can selectively restrict external air from entering the fan module housing when the fan module is fluidly coupled to the filter module. Thus, the fan module may generate air flow from exclusively filtered air to minimize or otherwise reduce bacterial/mold growth within the fan module housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular air treatment system comprising:
a fan module, the fan module including:
an intake having at least a first inlet to receive air;
a motor to generate airflow from the received air; and
a fan body having a first side, a second side, and a nozzle to output generated airflow at the first side such that the generated airflow travels to the second side, the nozzle being configured to rotate about a first rotational axis to direct the generated airflow from the second side of the fan body toward a region of interest in a surrounding environment;

an air filter module removably coupled to the fan module, the air filter module having at least one output port fluidly coupled to the first inlet of the fan module to provide filtered air directly from the air filter module to the first inlet of the fan portion; and
a humidifier module having a first side separably connected to the fan module and a second side separably connected to the air filter module, the humidifier module having an outlet configured to output humidified air from the humidifier module directly outside of the modular air treatment system.

2. The modular air treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the intake further comprises a second inlet, and when the air filter module is removably coupled to the fan module, a flow of humidified air generated by the humidifier module is output external to the modular air treatment system.

3. The modular air treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the fan module, the air filter module and humidifier module are coupled end-to-end and collectively form a vertical stack configuration.

4. The module air treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the air filter module includes a bus electrically coupled to the fan module, and wherein the humidifier module is electrically coupled to the fan module by way of the bus provided by the air filter module.

5. The module air treatment system of claim 4 , wherein the fan module further includes a controller to provide a signal via the bus to the humidifier module to control an amount of humidified air output by the humidifier module.

6. The modular air treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the fan module further includes a pan and tilt mechanism to cause the nozzle to rotate about at least the first rotational axis and a second rotational axis to reposition and direct air in a selected direction.

7. The modular air treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the fan module includes a network interface module, and wherein the fan module is configured to adjust operation based on wireless communications received via the network interface module from a user device.

8. The modular air treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the fan module includes an image sensor configured to output thermal image data, and wherein the fan module determines what direction to provide output air based at least in part on the thermal image data.

9. The modular air treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the fan module includes an image sensor configured to output image data, and wherein the fan module is configured to identify at least one user in an environment based on the image data.

10. The modular air treatment system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one user is identified based on a facial recognition algorithm.

11. The modular air treatment system of claim 9 , wherein the fan module is configured to adjusts at least one operational parameter based on a user profile associated with the at least one identified user.

12. The modular air treatment system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one operational parameter comprises a fan speed, an output direction for output air, and/or an output fragrance.

13. The modular air treatment system of claim 1 , further comprising a fragrance diffuser configured to produce at least one predefined fragrance.

14. The modular air treatment system of claim 13 , wherein the fragrance diffuser electrically couples to the fan module.

15. An air treatment system comprising:
a fan portion having a base and a fan body, the fan portion including:
an intake to receive air from at least a first inlet, the first inlet disposed on a bottom surface of the base;
a motor to generate airflow from the air received by the intake; and
a nozzle to output generated airflow adjacent a first side of the fan body such that the generated airflow travels to a second side of the fan body, the nozzle being configured to rotate about a first and second rotational axis to direct the generated airflow from the second side of the fan body toward a region of interest in a surrounding environment;

an air filter portion having a first end coupled to the bottom surface of the base and a second end, the first end of the air filter portion having at least one output port fluidly coupled to the first inlet of the fan portion to provide filtered air directly from the air filter portion to the first inlet of the fan portion; and
a humidifier portion separably coupled to the second end of the air filter portion, the humidifier portion having an outlet to output humidified air from the humidifier module directly outside of the modular air treatment system.

16. The air treatment system of claim 15 , wherein the intake further comprises a second inlet, and when the air filter portion is removably coupled to the fan portion, a flow of humidified air generated by the humidifier portion is output external to the modular air treatment system.

17. The air treatment system of claim 15 , wherein the fan portion, air filter portion and humidifier portion are configured to couple together and form a vertical stack configuration.

18. The air treatment system of claim 15 , wherein the air filter portion includes a bus electrically coupled, to the fan portion, and wherein the humidifier portion electrically couples to the fan portion by way of the bus provided by the air filter portion.

19. An air treatment system, the air treatment system comprising:
a fan portion, the fan portion including:
an intake to receive air from at least one of a first inlet and/or a second inlet;
a motor to generate airflow from the air received by the intake;
a fan body;
a nozzle to output generated airflow adjacent a first side of the fan body such that the generated airflow travels to a second side of the fan body, the nozzle being configured to rotate about a first rotational axis to direct the generated airflow from the second side of the fan body toward a region of interest in a surrounding environment; and
a controller to cause the nozzle to rotate about the first rotational axis;

an air filter portion removably coupled to the fan portion, the air filter portion having at least one output port to fluidly couple to the first inlet of the fan portion to provide filtered air directly to the first inlet of the fan portion, wherein the second inlet is mechanically closed as the air filter portion is removably coupled to the fan portion; and
a humidifier portion having one side separably connected to the fan portion and the air filter portion, the humidifier portion configured to output humidified air via an outlet based on a signal received from the controller of the fan portion, wherein humidified air from the humidifier portion is output directly outside of the air treatment system via the outlet.

20. The air treatment system of claim 19 , further comprising means for identifying a user within the surrounding environment and adjusting operation of the air treatment system based on the identified user.

Assignees

• Sharkninja Operating Llc

Inventors

• Brown Andre D
• Thorne Jason B
• Hutchinson Peter
• Palladino Gary
• Kelsey Alden
• Innes Daniel J
• Hellman Zach

Classifications

• F24F8/10

  by separation, e.g. by filtering · CPC title

• F24F11/79

  for controlling the direction of the supplied air · CPC title

• F24F13/28

  Arrangement or mounting of filters · CPC title

• A61L2209/13

  Dispensing or storing means for active compounds · CPC title

• F24F7/007

  with forced flow (using ducting systems F24F7/06) · CPC title