Multi-way low profile mounting bracket

Abstract

A fan assembly includes a fan housing and a fan mount that is mountable on surfaces of many orientations. The fan assembly additionally has indexed positions, so that the direction of airflow emanating from the fan can be oriented in one of a number of different directions.

1 . A fan assembly, comprising: 
 a mounting bracket; and    a fan supported by said mounting bracket, said fan being movable about a rotation axis between a plurality of index positions;    wherein said mounting bracket is mountable to a surface in at least two of supported, suspended, horizontal side, and vertical side orientations.    
     
     
         2 . The fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting bracket includes a base and said rotation axis is substantially parallel to said base.  
     
     
         3 . The fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said fan is separable from said mounting bracket.  
     
     
         4 . The fan assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one indexing mechanism that maintains said fan at each of said plurality of index positions.  
     
     
         5 . The fan assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one indexing mechanism includes at least one of a biased member, an indentation, a hole, a detent mechanism and a spring-loaded member.  
     
     
         6 . The fan assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one indexing mechanism includes a plurality of indexing mechanisms.  
     
     
         7 . The fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said fan is arranged to emit an air flow;    said plurality of index positions comprises first and second index positions;    said mounting bracket includes a base;    said fan positioned in said first index position directs said air flow substantially parallel to said base; and    said fan positioned in said second index position directs said air flow substantially perpendicular to said base.    
     
     
         8 . The fan assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising third and fourth index positions, wherein said fan in said third index position directs said air flow at an angle inclined approximately 30 degrees from said base, and said fan in said fourth index position directs said airflow at an angle inclined approximately 60 degrees from said base.  
     
     
         9 . The fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of index positions comprises index positions which direct air flow from said fan substantially at 0 degrees, 30 degrees, 60 degrees, and 90 degrees relative to a plane defined by at least part of said mounting bracket.  
     
     
         10 . The fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of index positions comprises first and second index positions, and further comprising a drive mechanism coupled to said fan such that said drive mechanism selectively moves said fan from said first index position to said second index position.  
     
     
         11 . The fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting bracket has a length and a height, and the length of said mounting bracket is at least three times the height of mounting bracket.  
     
     
         12 . The fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said fan is arranged and configured to selectably automatically oscillate about said rotation axis.  
     
     
         13 . The fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said fan comprises a rectangular air outlet.  
     
     
         14 . The fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said fan comprises a housing shaped as an extruded tear drop.  
     
     
         15 . The fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the fan assembly can be stably mounted in the supported position without attachment means.  
     
     
         16 . A fan assembly, comprising: 
 a substantially rectangular mounting bracket having two ends;    two support members attached to said ends of said substantially rectangular mounting bracket; and    a fan mounted between said two support members, said fan being positionable in a plurality of index positions oriented relative to said mounting bracket about a rotation axis substantially parallel to said substantially rectangular mounting bracket, said plurality of index positions including 0 degree, 30 degree, 60 degree, and 90 degree inclinations from said mounting bracket;    wherein said fan assembly is mountable to a surface via said mounting bracket in at least two of supported, suspended, horizontal side, and vertical side orientations.