Rotatable pivot mount for fans and other appliances
View Patent ↗A pivot assembly that can be used with various appliances. The pivot assembly provides up to three degrees of freedom when positioning the appliance. The pivot may be used, for example, with a fan that is mounted on a base such that direction of the airflow generated can be adjusted about three coordinate axes by manipulating a single rotatable pivot mount. The fan assembly includes a base unit and an arm to which an appliance may be detachably coupled. The opposite end of the arm is provided with a spherical cap which is received by the base unit. Any adjustments to the positioning of the rotatable pivot mount are maintained by the friction within the rotatable pivot mount. Additionally, the pivot mount may include a pivot guide to restrict the degree of rotation about the pivot, thereby increasing stability.
1. A pivot assembly comprising:
an arm having a receiving end, a pivot end, and an axis defined by the receiving end and the pivot end, the pivot end including a spherical cap having an inner radius, an outer radius, and a diameter; and
a base unit including a
a bottom portion and
a top portion having an opening smaller than the diameter of the spherical cap,
wherein the base unit receives the pivot end of the arm and the arm extends away from the bottom portion of the base unit, the spherical cap of the pivot end of the arm being held between the bottom portion and the top portion, and the arm being rotatable so that the axis of the arm can be positioned at a selected orientation and the axis of the arm is angularly rotatable about the selected orientation.
2. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the top portion is substantially flush with the outer surface of the spherical cap of the arm.
3. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion includes a spherical cap mount positioned against the inner surface of the spherical cap.
4. The pivot assembly of claim 3 , wherein the spherical cap mount includes a spherical cap having an outer radius roughly equal to the inner radius of the spherical cap of the arm and the spherical cap of the spherical cap mount is positioned so that it is substantially flush with the inner surface of the spherical cap of the arm.
5. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion includes a coupling positioned to tightly hold the spherical cap of the arm between the bottom portion and the top portion.
6. The pivot assembly of claim 5 , wherein the coupling includes a spring.
7. The pivot assembly of claim 3 , wherein the spherical cap mount includes a threaded portion coupled to the bottom portion allowing the position of the spherical cap mount to be adjusted relative to the bottom portion.
8. The pivot assembly of claim 3 , wherein the bottom portion further includes at least one screw that when rotated adjusts the vertical position of the spherical cap mount relative to the bottom portion of the base unit.
9. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the top portion includes a pivot guide.
10. The pivot assembly of claim 9 , wherein the base unit defines an area of support and the pivot guide prevents the center of gravity of the pivot assembly from extending beyond the area of support.
11. The pivot assembly of claim 9 , wherein the pivot guide includes at least one stabilizing inlet.
12. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , wherein the arm includes a telescoping arm.
13. The pivot assembly of claim 12 , wherein the telescoping arm includes a plurality of segments and an extension locking mechanism for each of the plurality of segments.
14. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a heater unit coupled to the receiving end of the arm.
15. The pivot assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a blower unit coupled to the receiving end of the arm.
16. The pivot assembly of claim 15 , wherein the blower unit includes a handle coupled to the blower.
17. The pivot assembly of claim 16 , wherein the handle is positioned to provide a lever for rotating the blower unit about the vertical axis and pivoting about the center of the spherical cap of the arm.
18. The pivot assembly of claim 15 , wherein the blower unit is detachable from the arm.
19. A pivot assembly comprising:
a blower unit,
an arm including
a receiving end coupled to the blower unit,
a pivot end, the pivot end including a spherical cap having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a diameter, and
an axis defined by the receiving end and the pivot end; and
a base unit including
a bottom portion,
a spherical cap mount including a spherical cap having an outer radius substantially equivalent to the inner radius of the spherical cap of the arm and substantially flush with the inner surface of the spherical cap of the arm,
a pivot guide, and
a top portion having an opening smaller than the diameter of the spherical cap of the arm, the opening being substantially flush with the outer surface of the spherical cap of the arm,
wherein the base unit receives the pivot end of the arm and the arm extends away from the bottom portion of the base unit, the spherical cap of the pivot end of the arm being held between the bottom portion and the top portion, the spherical cap of the pivot end of the arm being rotatable so that the axis of the arm can be positioned at a selected orientation and the axis of the arm is angularly rotatable about the selected orientation.