Tent Fan

Abstract

A tent fan ( 20 ) for moving air through a tent ( 50 ) or canopy. The tent fan ( 20 ) includes a housing ( 22 ) with magnets ( 36, 38 ), and a separate metal plate ( 40 ). The metal plate ( 40 ) may be placed on the opposite side of a screen ( 54 ) from the housing ( 22 ) and may be attached to the magnets ( 36, 38 ). In this manner, the tent fan ( 20 ) is mounted for directing air into or out of the tent ( 50 ) or canopy through the screen. The metal plate ( 40 ) is bent at one end so that it may act as a stand for the tent fan ( 20 ) to be arranged in an upright manner. A special port ( 52 ) may be provided for fitting the tent fan on a side or top of a tent ( 50 ) or a canopy.

1 . A fan for moving air through a tent or canopy, the tent or canopy including a fabric structure, the tent fan comprising:
 a housing;   a fan blade mounted in the housing;   a structure separate from the housing, one of the housing and the structure comprising at least one magnet, and the other of the housing or structure comprising a ferromagnetic material attracted to said at least one magnet; and   the housing, the structure, the magnet, and the ferromagnetic material being arranged and configured such that when the magnet is mounted on one side of a fabric material for a tent or canopy and the ferromagnetic material is on the opposite side, the housing is supported on the fabric material by connection of the magnet to the ferromagnetic material.   
     
     
         2 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein lower portions of the structure and the housing are configured so that when the ferromagnetic material is attached to the housing, the fan is supportable on the lower portions so that the fan may extend upright. 
     
     
         3 . The fan of  claim 2 , wherein the structure comprises a metal plate formed of ferromagnetic material, the metal plate being configured to extend against the housing with the lower portion of the metal plate being bent away from the lower portion of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The fan of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one magnet is mounted on the housing, and the structure comprises a metal plate formed of ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         5 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an opening for receiving the fan blade. 
     
     
         6 . The fan of  claim 5 , wherein the structure attaches around the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The fan of  claim 5 , further comprising a protective structure extending over the opening on opposite sides of the fan blade. 
     
     
         8 . The fan of  claim 7 , wherein the protective structure comprises spokes extending over the opening. 
     
     
         9 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a notch into which at least a part of the structure fits. 
     
     
         10 . The fan of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery pack connected to the housing by a cord. 
     
     
         11 . A tent comprising a screened port for fitting the tent fan of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A tent or a canopy and fan combination, comprising:
 a fabric material forming a wall for the tent or canopy;   a screen in the fabric material;   a fan, comprising:   a housing mounted on the first side of the screen;   a fan blade mounted in the housing;   a structure mounted on the opposite side of the screen from the housing, one of the housing and the structure comprising at least one magnet, and the other of the housing or structure comprising a ferromagnetic material attracted to said at least one magnet; and,   the housing, the structure, the magnet, and the ferromagnetic material being arranged and configured such that the housing is supported on the fabric material by connection of the magnet to the ferromagnetic material, and the fan blade is mounted so that when rotating the blade draws air through the screen.   
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises an opening for receiving the fan blade. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein the structure attaches around the opening. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14 , further comprising a protective structure extending over the opening on opposite sides of the fan blade. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein the protective structure comprises spokes extending over the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises a notch into which at least a part of the structure fits. 
     
     
         18 . The fan of the combination of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the screen covers an opening of a port that is sized to receive the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 12 , further comprising a battery pack connected to the housing by a cord.