Tower fan

Abstract

An air blowing apparatus is disclosed having an elongate housing with an elongate scroll defining an airflow passage. An elongate blower is surrounded by the scroll and adapted when energized to move air through the airflow passage. The airflow passage is partially helically-shaped to cause the moved air to be distributed into the surrounding environment in a partially helical pattern.

1 . An air blowing apparatus comprising:
 a housing defining an airflow passage;   a blower retained by the housing and adapted when energized to aerodynamically engage and move air through the airflow passage; wherein   said airflow passage is partially helically-shaped to cause the moved air to be distributed into the surrounding environment in a partially helical pattern.   
   
   
       2 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 said housing defines a vertical axis;   said blower rotates when energized about said vertical axis; and   said partially helically-shaped airflow passage partially surrounds said blower and vertical axis.   
   
   
       3 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said housing has a height to width ratio exceeding two-to-one. 
   
   
       4 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said helically-shaped airflow passage is initially aerodynamically engaged approximate an upper end thereof by said moved air. 
   
   
       5 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said blower rotates in a direction clockwise in top view, and wherein said airflow passage is right-hand helically shaped. 
   
   
       6 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said helically-shaped airflow passage is initially aerodynamically engaged approximate a lower end thereof by said moved air. 
   
   
       7 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said blower rotates in a direction clockwise in top view, and wherein said airflow passage is left-hand helically shaped. 
   
   
       8 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said helically-shaped airflow passage is initially aerodynamically engaged approximate an upper end thereof by said moved air. 
   
   
       9 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said blower rotates in a direction clockwise in top view, and wherein said airflow passage is right-hand helically shaped. 
   
   
       10 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said helically-shaped airflow passage is initially aerodynamically engaged approximate a lower end thereof by said moved air. 
   
   
       11 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said blower rotates in a direction clockwise in top view, and wherein said airflow passage is left-hand helically shaped. 
   
   
       12 . An air blowing apparatus comprising:
 an elongate housing comprising an elongate scroll defining an airflow passage;   an elongate blower surrounded by said scroll and adapted when energized to aerodynamically engage and move air through the airflow passage; wherein   said airflow passage is partially helically-shaped to cause the moved air to be distributed into the surrounding environment in a partially helical pattern.   
   
   
       13 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 12  wherein:
 said housing defines a vertical axis;   said blower rotates when energized about said vertical axis; and   said partially helically-shaped airflow passage partially surrounds said blower and vertical axis.   
   
   
       14 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said housing has a height to width ratio exceeding two-to-one. 
   
   
       15 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said helically-shaped airflow passage is initially aerodynamically engaged approximate an upper end thereof by said moved air. 
   
   
       16 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said blower rotates in a direction clockwise in top view, and wherein said airflow passage is right-hand helically shaped. 
   
   
       17 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said helically-shaped airflow passage is initially aerodynamically engaged approximate a lower end thereof by said moved air. 
   
   
       18 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said blower rotates in a direction clockwise in top view, and wherein said airflow passage is left-hand helically shaped. 
   
   
       19 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said helically-shaped airflow passage is initially aerodynamically engaged approximate an upper end thereof by said moved air. 
   
   
       20 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said blower rotates in a direction clockwise in top view, and wherein said airflow passage is right-hand helically shaped. 
   
   
       21 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said helically-shaped airflow passage is initially aerodynamically engaged approximate a lower end thereof by said moved air. 
   
   
       22 . The air blowing apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said blower rotates in a direction clockwise in top view, and wherein said airflow passage is left-hand helically shaped. 
   
   
       23 . A method of blowing air with an air blowing apparatus;
 wherein the air blowing apparatus comprises:
 an elongate housing defining a partially helically-shaped airflow passage; 
 an elongate blower retained by the housing and adapted when energized to move air through the airflow passage; 
   and wherein the method comprises;
 energizing said blower to move the air; 
 shaping the moved air with the partially helically-shaped airflow passage; and 
 distributing the moved air into the surrounding environment in a partially helical pattern. 
   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising initially aerodynamically engaging the moved air with the partially helically-shaped airflow passage approximate an upper end thereof. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising initially aerodynamically engaging the moved air with the partially helically-shaped airflow passage approximate a lower end thereof.