GB2416807A

GB2416807A - Folding fan with clamp mounting

Info

Publication number: GB2416807A
Application number: GB0417528A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sarah Marie Frankling
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-06
Filing date: 2004-08-06
Publication date: 2006-02-08
Also published as: GB0417528D0

Abstract

A fan device 1 is designed for attaching to a carrier such as a pram, pushchair, buggy, stroller or wheelchair, the fan device 1 comprising a fan 2 and a clamp 6 each attached to a support arm 5, the clamp 6 being releasably attachable to a support member of the carrier, and the clamp 6 being attached to the arm 5 by way of a swivel joint 9. The clamp 6 may comprise two U-shaped clamp members which from a tubular body to grip the support member, the clamp members being tightened by way of a screw 7. The swivel joint 9 may be a ball-and-socket joint and may allow the support arm 5 to be folded so as to be positioned against a portion of the carrier. A power cable for the fan 2 may run through the support arm 5.

Description

24 1 6807 Foldaway Fan The current invention relates to a foldaway fan for

use with a device for carrying persons, for example a baby buggy or an invalid's wheelchair.

It is known that fans can be attached to for example a baby stroller to provide cooling for the infant during l0 the heat of the day. Various devices have been proposed, for example in US 6489521, where a fan is shown which is attached to a baby buggy. A series of C clamps secure the fan to the buggy and the fan is positioned on a telescoping or fixed arm which can be used to adjust the height of the fan relative to the child.

US 5725356 again describes a portable fan for a child's stroller. There is a clamp for securing the fan to the stroller and the position of the fan relative to a child in the stroller can be adjusted by using a bendable support.

However, all the prior art devices show fan mounting systems that are cumbersome and involve several clamp members to secure a fan in position. Further, known devices are generally designed to maintain a fan in a fixed position, they do not generally allow for stowing away of a fan and in particular, they do not provide for a way of storing a fan involving a simple mode of operation.

According to the present invention, there is provided a foldaway fan device for attachment to a carrier for an individual, said fan device comprising a fan, supported by an arm, said arm being attached to the carrier by way of a clamp, wherein said clamp comprises an attachment member which can be releasably clamped around a support member of the carrier, said clamp including a swivel joint to which the arm is attached so that the fan can be moved between a stored and an in use position.

Preferably the attachment member of the clamp comprises a tubular body to encircle at least part of the support member to which it is attached.

It is envisaged that the tubular body includes a securing mechanism by which said body can be tightened around the support member to which it is attached.

Preferably the tubular body comprises two U-shaped portions which are drawn together by tightening the securing mechanism.

It is preferred that the securing mechanism comprises a screw member which on tightening causes the tubular body to grip the support member.

It is envisaged that the swivel joint is provided as a ball joint. By having a ball joint, the fan can be swivelled around 360 so enabling the fan to be positioned where required and then stored away when not needed or so it can be moved when access is needed to attend to the individual that is being carried.

An added advantage of having a ball joint that can swivel within the attachment member is that it reduces the number of moving parts that are near to the individual.

If telescoping members are used or joints having hinged members, there is an increased risk that the individual could trap part of the body when the fan is being moved. The current invention seeks to avoid such problems by having means to move the fan with minimal exposed moving parts.

It is preferred that the carrier for an individual is a buggy for a toddler or child. However, it is envisaged that the device could be used with carriers such as prams, strollers, invalid wheelchairs or even carriers for pets.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: Figure 1: shows a front perspective view of a foldaway fan device according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2: shows a rear perspective view of a foldaway fan device as shown in Fiqure 1; Figure 3: shows a rear perspective view of a foldaway fan device according to an embodiment of the invention, when attached to the chassis of a buggy for a child; Figure 4: shows a front perspective view of the foldaway fan device and buggy as shown in Figure 3; and Figure 5: shows a side view of a foldaway fan device and buggy according to an embodiment of the invention.

A foldaway fan device is generally shown as 1 in Figure 1. The device comprises a cage 2 in which i.

contained fan blades 3 mounted on a blade support 4. The fan is supported on arm 5 which is attached to the rear of the fan. In turn, the arm is supported on a ball joint 9, which is connected to a clamp having a tubular member 6 which can be placed around a supporting structure, such as the chassis of a baby buggy. Securing means comprising a screw thread 7 passing through screw support 8 on either side of attachment member 6 provide means to tighten the member 6 around the support.

As shown in Figure 2, the fan 2 is attached to support arm 5 by a joint 14 at the rear of the fan. Wiring to the fan runs through arm 5. The ball joint 9, allows the arm to swivel relative to the attachment member 6. In this Figure, the end of screw thread 10 of the securing means can be seen.

Figure 3 shows the fan 2 in situ when attached to a baby buggy 11. The buggy comprises a chassis 12 having wheels 13. The arm 15 can be moved to various positions relative to the buggy by way of swivel joint 9.

As can be seen from Figure 4 the fan 2 can be pushed towards a child in the buggy as a result of having the swivel joint 9 as the attachment member 6. The attachment member 6, provides a clamp means which, being in line with a support arm of the buggy, minimizes intrusion of the device into the personal space of the individual in the buggy. Further, the swivel joint 9, allows the fan to be folded so that it is folded against and parallel to the arm 15 of the buggy. This means that if the buggy is folded down, it can be done without having to remove the fan as it will be held between the arm 15 of the buggy. This will allow for storage of the buggy within as small a space as possible. In known fan devices, the fans would have to be removed before a buggy could be folded down to a compacted size.

Finally, Figure 5 shows a side view of a buggy and foldaway fan device 2. Again, the swivel joint 9, allows for the fan to be positioned where desired relative to the child in the buggy by moving arm 5 in a pivotal movement between an extended position as shown, to a retracted position, where the arm is folded so that the fan is in parallel with support arm 15. As the joint 9 is a ball joint, the arm 6 may be folded such that the fan 2 is positioned within the body of the buggy i.e. it is in the vicinity of the buggy where an individual would sit or alternatively, it could be swivelled so that the fan rests parallel to the outside of the buggy.

The invention is envisaged as covering all combinations of the features described. It will be apparent that modifications and variations of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described.

Claims

Claims 1. A foldaway fan device for attachment to a carrier for an

individual, said fan device comprising a fan, supported by an arm, said arm being attached to the carrier by way of a clamp, wherein said clamp comprises an attachment member which can be releasably clamped around a support member of the carrier said clamp including a swivel joint to which the arm is attached so that the fan can be moved between a stored and an in use position.
2. A foldaway fan according to claim 1, wherein the attachment member of the clamp comprises a tubular body to encircle at least part of the support member to which it is attached.
3. A foldaway fan according to claim 2, wherein the tubular body includes a securing mechanism by which said body can be tightened around the support member to which it is attached.
4. A foldaway fan according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the tubular body comprises two U-shaped portions which are drawn together by tightening the securing mechanism.
5. A foldaway fan according to any preceding claim, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a screw member which on tightening causes the tubular body to grip the support member.
6. A foldaway fan according to any preceding claim, wherein the swivel joint is provided as a ball joint so the fan can be swivelled around 360 so allowing the fan to be positioned where required.
7. A folding fan according to any preceding claim, wherein wiring for the fan runs through the arm.
8. A foldaway fan according to any preceding claim, wherein the carrier for an individual is selected from one of the following a buggy for a toddler or child, a pram, a stroller, an invalid wheelchair or a carrier for a pet.
9. A foldaway fan according to claim 8, wherein the fan is adapted to be folded and positioned against an arm of the carrier so that the fan does not intrude into the personal space of an individual in the carrier.
10. A carrier including a foldaway fan according to any preceding claim.
11. A foldaway fan as substantially described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figures.