IP Library Granted Patent US 11,519,616
Granted Patent B2
US 11,519,616 · App. 17/829,069 · Granted Dec 6, 2022

Air circulator with vane control system

Inventors: Glen W. Ediger (North Newton, KS); Gary Israel (Andover, KS); Brian M. Cartwright (Wichita, KS); Gregory Pease (Andover, KS); Timothy Holub (Cheney, KS)
Assignee: Vornado Air, LLC
F24F7/007F04D17/04F04D25/10F04D29/444F24F1/0025F24F1/0287F24F13/1413F05B2250/314F05B2250/315F05B2250/323F05B2250/324F05B2260/506
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,519,616
App. No.
17/829,069
Granted
Dec 6, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air circulator with a vane control system to direct and adjust airflow patterns. According to an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides adjustable, vertical vanes that are attached to the outlet of a tower fan. According to a preferred embodiment, the vanes are pivotally mounted in such a way that by turning a knob, the vanes can either be directed into a focused air-flow pattern or adjusted to a divergent air-flow pattern, or at any setting in between.

Claims (37)

1. An air circulation system, wherein the air circulation system comprises:

a blower; wherein the blower is vertically aligned; wherein the blower directs a laminar flow of air in a direction which is perpendicular to the vertical alignment of the blower;

a mounting platform, wherein the mounting platform is secured above the blower; wherein a first major axis of the mounting platform is aligned substantially parallel to the laminar flow of the air from the blower;

a front post and a rear post secured to the mounting platform; wherein the front post and the rear post are arranged along a line which is parallel to the laminar flow of the air from the blower;

a cam system; wherein the cam system comprises a cam knob, a vertically aligned cam stem and a cam lobe; wherein the cam lobe is rotatably secured to the mounting platform; further wherein the cam knob is secured to the cam lobe by the vertically aligned cam stem.

2. The air circulation system of claim 1 , wherein the air circulation system further comprises an air outlet portion, wherein the air outlet portion is comprised of a plurality of vanes; wherein the vanes are vertically aligned; wherein each of the vanes is comprised of a plurality of upstream ribs and at least one downstream rib; wherein, within each vane, the upstream ribs and the at least one downstream rib are joined at a center axis; wherein, within each vane, the upstream ribs are aligned in a first direction and the at least one downstream rib is aligned in a second direction which is offset from the first direction.

3. The air circulation system of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of vanes further comprises at least one pivot pin.

4. The air circulation system of claim 1 , wherein the air circulation system further comprises a slide mechanism, wherein the slide mechanism comprises an upper slot, wherein the upper slot encloses and is mechanically engaged with the cam lobe.

5. The air circulation system of claim 1 , wherein the cam lobe comprises an eccentric circular shape.

6. The air circulation system of claim 1 , wherein the cam system is configured to translate the rotational movement of the cam knob between a first forward position and a second rear position.

7. An air circulation system, wherein the air circulation system comprises:

a blower; wherein the blower is vertically aligned; wherein the blower directs a laminar flow of air in a direction which is perpendicular to the vertical alignment of the blower;

a mounting platform;

an air outlet portion, wherein the air outlet portion is comprised of a plurality of vanes; wherein the vanes are vertically aligned; wherein each of the vanes is comprised of a plurality of upstream ribs and at least one downstream rib; wherein, within each vane, the upstream ribs and the at least one downstream rib are joined at a center axis; wherein, within each vane, the upstream ribs are aligned in a first direction and the at least one downstream rib is aligned in a second direction which is offset from the first direction.

8. The air circulation system of claim 7 , wherein the mounting platform is secured above the blower; wherein a first major axis of the mounting platform is aligned substantially parallel to the laminar flow of the air from the blower.

9. The air circulation system of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of vanes further comprises at least one pivot pin.

10. The air circulation system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one pivot pin of each vane is attached to at least one of the plurality of upstream ribs.

11. The air circulation system of claim 7 , wherein the vanes are formed of injection molded plastic.

12. The air circulation system of claim 7 , wherein the vanes comprise of one or more curved surfaces.

13. An air circulation system, wherein the air circulation system comprises:

a blower; wherein the blower is vertically aligned; wherein the blower directs a laminar flow of air in a direction which is perpendicular to the vertical alignment of the blower;

a mounting platform;

a front post and a rear post secured to the mounting platform; wherein the front post and the rear post are arranged along a line which is parallel to the laminar flow of the air from the blower;

a cam system; wherein the cam system comprises a cam knob, a vertically aligned cam stem and a cam lobe; wherein the cam lobe is rotatably secured to the mounting platform; further wherein the cam knob is secured to the cam lobe by the vertically aligned cam stem;

a slide mechanism, wherein the slide mechanism comprises:

an upper slot, wherein the upper slot encloses and is mechanically engaged with the cam lobe;

a body;

a front slide slot, wherein the front slide slot encloses and slidably engages with the front post;

a rear slide slot, wherein the rear slide slot encloses and slidably engages with the rear post; and

a plurality of angled slots; wherein each of the angled slots is formed within the body of the slide mechanism.

14. The air circulation system of claim 13 , wherein the mounting platform is secured above the blower; wherein a first major axis of the mounting platform is aligned substantially parallel to the laminar flow of the air from the blower.

15. The air circulation system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of angled slots comprise at least a first angled slot and a second angled slot; wherein the first angled slot has a first major axis aligned in a first direction; wherein the second angled slot has a second major axis aligned in a second direction; wherein the first direction and the second directions are different directions so that lines along the first and second major axes of the first and second angled slots intersect at exactly one point.

16. The air circulation system of claim 13 , wherein the slide mechanism is located above the blower.

17. The air circulation system of claim 13 , wherein the air circulation system further comprises an air outlet portion, wherein the air outlet portion is comprised of a plurality of vanes; wherein the vanes are vertically aligned; wherein each of the vanes is comprised of a plurality of upstream ribs and at least one downstream rib; wherein, within each vane, the upstream ribs and the at least one downstream rib are joined at a center axis; wherein, within each vane, the upstream ribs are aligned in a first direction and the at least one downstream rib is aligned in a second direction which is offset from the first direction.

18. The air circulation system of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of vanes further comprises at least one pivot pin.

19. The air circulation system of claim 17 , wherein the vanes are formed of injection molded plastic.

20. The air circulation system of claim 17 , wherein the vanes comprise of one or more curved surfaces.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2025
From: VORNADO AIR, LLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070671/0970 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2025
From: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
To: MERCHSOURCE, LLC; COHESION PRODUCTS, LLC; THREESIXTY SOURCING LIMITED; THREESIXTY BRANDS GROUP LLC; VORNADO AIR, LLC
Reel/Frame 070666/0256 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2024
From: MERCHSOURCE, LLC; VORNADO AIR, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 067073/0763 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2024
From: MERCHSOURCE, LLC; VORNADO AIR, LLC
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
Reel/Frame 067077/0036 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2024
From: MERCHSOURCE, LLC; VORNADO AIR, LLC
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067025/0159 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2022
From: EDIGER, GLEN W.; ISRAEL, GARY P.; CARTWRIGHT, BRIAN M.; PEASE, GREGORY; HOLUB, TIMOTHY
To: VORNADO AIR, LLC
Reel/Frame 060060/0684 →