Fan assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12038019-B2
Application number	US-202217694166-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2022
Priority date	Mar 12, 2021
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

Abstract

A battery powered fan assembly for use with a stackable storage system includes a base defining a storage area, a fan housing that at least partially defines an airflow chamber, a plurality of fan blades positioned within the airflow chamber, a motor operable to rotate the plurality of fan blades, a battery receptacle configured to receive a removable battery pack to power the motor, a mating interface formed on at least one of the base and the fan housing, and a latch mounted to the base. The mating interface is configured to interact with a complementary mating interface formed on a stackable element of the stackable storage system, and the latch is configured to selectively inhibit relative movement between the fan assembly and the stackable element while the mating interface of the fan assembly interacts with the complementary mating interface of the stackable element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fan assembly for use with a stackable storage system, the fan assembly comprising:
a base including walls that at least partially define a storage area therebetween;
a fan housing that at least partially defines an airflow chamber, the fan housing moveably coupled to the base between a stored position, in which the fan housing is positioned within the storage area, and a deployed position, in which the fan housing is at least partially positioned outside of the storage area;
a plurality of fan blades positioned within the airflow chamber;
a motor operable to rotate the plurality of fan blades;
a battery receptacle configured to receive a removable battery pack to power the motor;
a mating interface formed on at least one of the base and the fan housing, the mating interface configured to interact with a complementary mating interface formed on a stackable element of the stackable storage system; and
a latch mounted to the base, the latch configured to selectively inhibit relative movement between the fan assembly and the stackable element while the mating interface of the fan assembly interacts with the complementary mating interface of the stackable element.

2. The fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fan assembly further includes a grille at least partially overlaying the airflow chamber.

3. The fan assembly of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the mating interface is formed on the fan housing.

4. The fan assembly of claim 3 , wherein the at least a portion of the mating interface formed on the fan housing is formed on the grille such that the fan housing is retained in the stored position while the stackable element of the stackable storage system is stacked on top of the fan assembly.

5. The fan assembly of claim 2 , wherein the mating interface is formed on the base such that the grille is uncovered while the stackable element of the stackable storage system is stacked on top of the fan assembly.

6. The fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fan housing is moveable between the stored position and the deployed position while the stackable element of the stackable storage system is stacked on top of the fan assembly and while the fan assembly is stacked on top of the stackable element of the stackable storage system.

7. The fan assembly of claim 6 , wherein the fan housing is configured to generate airflow in a plurality of directions while the fan assembly and the stackable element of the stackable storage system are stacked.

8. The fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stackable element is a toolbox, and wherein the fan assembly and the toolbox are configured to be selectively arrangeable into a plurality of configurations including
a first configuration, in which the fan assembly is stacked on top of the toolbox, and
a second configuration, in which toolbox is stacked on top of the fan assembly,
wherein the fan housing is moveable between the stored position and the deployed position in one or both of the first configuration and the second configuration.

9. The fan assembly of claim 8 , wherein the fan assembly is a first fan assembly, and wherein the first fan assembly is configured to be simultaneously stacked on a lid of the toolbox with a second fan assembly that is similar to the first fan assembly.

10. The fan assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first fan assembly and the second fan assembly are configured to be simultaneously stacked on the lid of the toolbox in a side-by-side arrangement.

11. The fan assembly of claim 8 , wherein the fan assembly further includes a joint pivotally connected to the base about a first axis and rotationally connected to the fan housing about a second axis transverse relative to the first axis, the joint accommodating movement of the fan housing about the first axis between the stored position and the deployed position and accommodating movement of the fan housing about the second axis relative to the base to operably direct airflow from the plurality of fan blades in a desired direction.

12. The fan assembly of claim 11 , wherein the fan housing is moveable about the first axis and the second axis while the fan assembly is stacked with the toolbox.

13. The fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fan assembly further includes an AC power inlet, wherein the AC power inlet is electrically coupled to the motor, to the battery receptacle, or to both.

14. The fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base further includes a handle configured to accommodate carrying of the fan assembly while stacked with or unstacked from the stacking element of the stackable storage system.

15. A fan assembly for use with a stackable storage system, the fan assembly comprising:
a base including
a first wall having a first mating interface, the first mating interface configured to interact with another stackable element of the stackable storage system,
a second wall opposite the first wall and having a second mating interface, the second mating interface configured to interact with another stackable element of the stackable storage system,
a side wall extending between the first wall and the second wall; and
an opening extending through the side wall and defining a storage area in the base;

a fan housing that at least partially defines an airflow chamber, the fan housing being moveably coupled to base between a stored position, in which the fan housing is positioned within the storage area, and a deployed position, in which the fan housing is at least partially extended out of the storage area through the opening;
a plurality of fan blades positioned within the airflow chamber;
a motor operable to rotate the plurality of fan blades; and
a battery receptacle configured to receive a removable battery pack to power the motor.

16. The fan assembly of claim 15 , wherein the side wall is one of a plurality of side walls that define an outer perimeter of the base, and wherein the outer perimeter of the base is substantially polygonal.

17. The fan assembly of claim 15 , wherein the fan assembly is configured to be stacked in an upright position in which the first and second walls are positioned at opposing upper and lower sides of the base.

18. A fan assembly comprising:
a base including walls that at least partially define a storage area therebetween, one of the walls including a mating interface configured to interact with another stackable element;
a fan housing that at least partially defines an airflow chamber;
a plurality of fan blades positioned within the airflow chamber;
a motor operable to rotate the fan blades;
a battery receptacle configured to receive a removable battery pack to power the motor; and
a coupler including a first end pivotally connected to the base about a first axis, and a second end rotatably connected to the fan housing about a second axis that is transverse relative to the first axis, the first axis being perpendicular to the one of the walls,
wherein the fan housing is configured to be selectively pivoted relative to the base about the first axis to move the fan housing into and out of the storage area, and
wherein the fan housing is configured to be selectively rotated relative to the base about the second axis to change a direction of airflow generated by the plurality of fan blades.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Spaulding Christopher S
• Goodman Alexander J
• De Veer Austin F
• Owens Ellen M
• Moeller Scott T
• Scott John S
• Campbell Timothy J
• Miller Jules F
• Metcalf Christopher J

Classifications

• F04D25/084

  hand fans · CPC title

• F04D19/002

  Axial flow fans · CPC title

• F04D29/646

  Mounting or removal of fans · CPC title

• F04D29/703

  specially for fans, e.g. fan guards · CPC title

• F04D29/601

  specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title