Space saving fan with front elevation/illumination plate

Abstract

A space saving fan for desktop use is provided. The device includes a compact motorized impeller, a front elevation plate and/or a light dissemination plate for improved and efficient illumination of a room or work surface.

1 . A space saving fan with a front elevation plate comprising:
 a front elevation plate comprising;
 a front surface; 
 a rear surface; 
 an outer edge; 
 an opening located within a central region of said front elevation plate, said opening connecting said front and rear surfaces; 
 a width, height, and depth dimension, wherein said depth dimension is limited to less than about 15% of either the width dimension and/or the height dimension; 
   an air generator disposed within said opening and connected to said front elevation plate, said air generator comprising;
 a housing; 
 an electric motor; 
 an air impeller rotatably coupled to said motor, wherein rotation of said air impeller causes air to move from a rear of said front elevation plate to a front of said front elevation plate; 
 an air generator width, height, and depth dimension, wherein said air generator depth dimension is limited to less than 50% of either the width dimension and/or the height dimension of said front elevation; 
   wherein said limitation of said depth dimension of said front elevation plate and said limitation of said depth dimension of said air generator provide space saving characteristics for said space saving fan.   
   
   
       2 . The space saving fan of  claim 1 , wherein said front elevation plate comprises a clear or semi-clear polymer and/or glass material and said front elevation plate is illuminated by ambient light. 
   
   
       3 . The space saving fan of  claim 2 , wherein said front elevation plate further comprises colored tints and said illuminated front elevation plate includes a color intensification of said outer edge. 
   
   
       4 . The space saving fan of  claim 1 , wherein one and/or both of said front and rear surfaces of said front elevation plate further comprises a surface treatment. 
   
   
       5 . The space saving fan of  claim 1 , wherein said front elevation plate further comprises multiple sections. 
   
   
       6 . The space saving fan of  claim 1 , wherein said front elevation plate supports said space saving fan relative to a support surface. 
   
   
       7 . The space saving fan of  claim 1 , wherein said electric motor further comprises a direct current motor. 
   
   
       8 . The space saving fan of  claim 7 , further comprising a power supply cord comprising;
 conductors having a first and a second end;   a plug connected to said first end of said conductors and said motor electrically connected to said second end of said conductors; and   a transformer disposed within said plug and/or between said plug and said motor, said transformer converting an alternating electric current from a power source to a direct electric current.   
   
   
       9 . The space saving fan of  claim 1 , wherein said air impeller further comprise:
 a center hub; and   multiple blades extending radially outward from said hub;   wherein said electric motor is disposed substantially within said hub.   
   
   
       10 . The portable fan of  claim 1 , wherein said front elevation plate is a clear and/or semi-clear polymer and/or glass material. 
   
   
       11 . The space saving fan of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a light source located proximate said opening in said front elevation plate;   wherein light generated by said light source is disseminated through said front elevation plate.   
   
   
       12 . The portable fan of  claim 11 , wherein said light source comprises multiple light sources. 
   
   
       13 . The portable fan of  claim 11 , wherein said light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
   
   
       14 . The portable fan of  claim 11 , wherein said front elevation plate further comprises a pocket, wherein said light source is disposed within said pocket. 
   
   
       15 . The portable fan of  claim 14 , wherein said pocket has a circular shape. 
   
   
       16 . The portable fan of  claim 11 , further comprising a light shroud, wherein said light shroud impedes a user from directly seeing said light source. 
   
   
       17 . The portable fan of  claim 11 , wherein said outer edge of said front elevation plate is illuminated by said light generated by said light source. 
   
   
       18 . The portable fan of  claim 17 , wherein said polymer and/or glass material further comprises colored tints and said outer edge includes an illuminated color intensification. 
   
   
       19 . The portable fan of  claim 11 , wherein one and/or both of said front and rear surfaces of said front elevation plate further comprises a reflective feature. 
   
   
       20 . The portable fan of  claim 11 , wherein one and/or both of said front and rear surfaces of said front elevation plate further comprises a surface treatment. 
   
   
       21 . The portable fan of  claim 11 , wherein said front elevation plate further comprises multiple sections. 
   
   
       22 . The portable fan of  claim 11 , further comprising a base connected to said front elevation plate, wherein said base supports said portable fan relative to a support surface. 
   
   
       23 . The portable fan of  claim 11 , wherein said electric motor further comprises a direct current motor. 
   
   
       24 . The portable fan of  claim 23 , further comprising a power supply cord comprising;
 conductors having a first and a second end;   a plug connected to said first end of said conductors and said motor electrically connected to said second end of said conductors; and   a transformer disposed within said plug and/or between said plug and said motor, said transformer converting an alternating electric current from a power source to a direct electric current.   
   
   
       25 . A space saving fan with a front elevation plate comprising:
 a front elevation plate, said front elevation plate comprising:
 a front surface; 
 a rear surface; 
 an outer edge; 
 an inner edge; 
 an opening defined by said inner edge, said opening located in a central region of said front elevation plate; 
 a depth of said front elevation plate defined by the distance between said front surface and said rear surface; 
 a length and a height of said front elevation plate; 
   an air generator disposed within said opening in said central region of said front elevation plate, said air generator comprising:
 a housing; 
 an air inlet in said housing on a rear of said space saving fan; 
 an air outlet in said housing on a front of said space saving fan; 
 an air impeller rotatably disposed within said housing; 
 a motor a rotating said air impeller; 
 a depth of said air generator defined by the distance between said air inlet and said air outlet; 
 a length and a height of said air generator; 
   wherein said air generator moves air from a rear of said space saving fan to a front of said space saving fan as said air impeller rotates, wherein said front elevation plate provides a barrier between said front of said space saving fan and said rear of said space saving fan.   
   
   
       26 . The space saving fan of  claim 25 , wherein said front elevation plate further comprises a translucent or clear material such that objects located behind said front elevation plate may be viewed from in front of said space saving fan. 
   
   
       27 . The space saving fan of  claim 25 , wherein said front elevation plate further comprises a light conducting material, wherein said front elevation plate further comprises:
 one or more light entrance points located on said inner edge of said front elevation plate; and   one or more light exit points located on one or both of said outer edge and/or said front surface.   
   
   
       28 . The space saving fan of  claim 27 , further comprises:
 a light collector at each of said one or more light entrance points, wherein said light collector collects and reflects light into said front elevation plate; and   a diffuser at each of said light exit points, wherein said diffuser spreads light from said front elevation plate into a room in which said space saving fan in located and/or onto a work surface on which said space saving fan in located.   
   
   
       29 . The space saving fan of  claim 27 , further comprises one or more light sources located proximate said light entrance point(s), wherein light rays from said one or more light sources radiate into said front elevation plate. 
   
   
       30 . The space saving fan of  claim 29 , wherein said one or more light sources are located in said air generator housing and said one or more light entrance points are located on said inner edge of said front elevation plate, wherein said light entrance point(s) on said inner edge of said front elevation plate coincides with said light source(s) in said air generator housing. 
   
   
       31 . The space saving fan of  claim 29 , wherein said one or more light sources comprise natural light. 
   
   
       32 . The space saving fan of  claim 29 , wherein said one or more light sources comprise LEDs. 
   
   
       33 . The space saving fan of  claim 29 , further comprising one or more reflective features on said front elevation plate for directing and distributing light from said light source to one of said light exit points. 
   
   
       34 . The space saving fan of  claim 29 , further comprising pockets formed in said front elevation plate proximate said inner edge, wherein said one or more light sources are located in said pockets. 
   
   
       35 . The space saving fan of  claim 34 , wherein said pockets are located in said front elevation plate at a distance from said inner edge such that light vectors radiated from said light source are radiated over an angular range greater than  180  degrees. 
   
   
       36 . The space saving fan of  claim 34 , wherein said pockets are located in said front elevation plate at a distance from said inner edge such that light vectors radiated from said light source are radiated over an angular range greater than  270  degrees. 
   
   
       37 . The space saving fan of  claim 34 , further comprising a light shroud extending over a portion of said front elevation plate proximate said inner edge and covering a surface of said front elevation plate proximate said one or more light sources, wherein said one or more light sources are blocked from direct view from in front of said space saving fan. 
   
   
       38 . The space saving fan of  claim 34 , wherein said pockets comprise circular-shaped pockets. 
   
   
       39 . The space saving fan of  claim 27 , further comprises one or more light sources located proximate said light entrance point(s), wherein primary light rays from said one or more light sources radiate along a first path through said front elevation plate. 
   
   
       40 . The space saving fan of  claim 39 , wherein said first path is substantially radial. 
   
   
       41 . The space saving fan of  claim 39 , further comprises secondary light rays, wherein said secondary light rays radiate along a second path that is at an angle with respect to said first light path. 
   
   
       42 . The space saving fan of  claim 41 , further comprises a surface treatment that reflects all or a portion of said primary light rays to form said secondary light rays. 
   
   
       43 . The space saving fan of  claim 42 , wherein said surface treatment comprises a reflective material on said rear surface, wherein said secondary light rays travel along said second light path from said rear surface toward said front surface. 
   
   
       44 . The space saving fan of  claim 41 , wherein said second light path is substantially orthogonal to said rear surface.