Portable air moving device with multi-directional grill

Abstract

A portable air moving device possessing improved characteristics for air stream directing. The device includes; an air generator, a housing, and multiple independently adjustable grill segments. The device may include an electric heating element.

1 . A portable air moving device comprising:
 a housing defining and interior space;   an air inlet in said housing allowing air to enter said interior space;   an air outlet allowing air to exit said interior space;   an air generator located within said interior space of said housing;   an air directing grill located proximate said air outlet, said air directing grill comprising;
 two or more grills segments, said grill segments being independently movable relative to each other. 
   
     
     
         2 . The portable air moving device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an air stream entering said interior space of said housing through said air inlet;   said air stream passing through said air generator and subsequently exiting said housing through said air outlet and said air directing grill as an exhaust air stream; and   said exhaust air stream comprising at least two independently directable exhaust air streams, each independently directable exhaust air stream corresponding to one of said two or more grill segments through which said exhaust air stream flows.   
     
     
         3 . The portable air moving device of  claim 2 , wherein each grill segment of said two or more grill segments rotates about a substantially vertical axis of rotation, and said rotation of each of said at least two grill segments directs one of said at least two independently directable exhaust air streams flowing through that grill segment along a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         4 . The portable air moving device of  claim 3 , wherein said substantially vertical axis of rotation of each grill segment of said at least two grill segments are substantially co-linear. 
     
     
         5 . The portable air moving device of  claim 3 , wherein said at least two independently directable exhaust air streams comprise an area affected by said exhaust air stream define by an exhaust air stream angle α, and wherein said at least two independently directable exhaust air streams can be directed to increase and/or decrease said exhaust air stream angle α. 
     
     
         6 . The portable air moving device of  claim 5 , wherein said at least two independently directable exhaust air streams are horizontally off-set by an amount substantially equal to an angular off-set of said at least two grill segments with respect to said substantially vertical axis of rotations. 
     
     
         7 . The portable air moving device of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an oscillation mechanism, wherein said oscillation mechanism oscillates said housing about a substantially vertical axis of oscillation; and   wherein said oscillating of said housing oscillates said at least two independently directable exhaust air streams and comprises an increased area affected by said exhaust air stream defined by coverage angle β, and said coverage angle β is increased and/or decreased by increasing and/or decreasing said exhaust air stream angle α.   
     
     
         8 . The portable air moving device of  claim 2 , further comprising a heating element located within said interior space of said housing and between said air generator and said air outlet, wherein said air stream passes through said heating element, and said exhaust air stream exits said housing as a heated exhaust air stream. 
     
     
         9 . The portable air moving device of  claim 1 , wherein said air generator further comprises a centrifugal air blower. 
     
     
         10 . The portable air moving device of  claim 1 , further comprising a base connected to a lower portion of said housing and supporting said housing in a vertical and upright position relative to a support surface. 
     
     
         11 . The portable air moving device of  claim 10 , wherein said base further comprises a riser wherein said riser elevates said housing above said support surface. 
     
     
         12 . The portable air moving device of  claim 1 , wherein said grill segments are movable relative to said housing, and each grill segment is independently movable with respect to other grill segments. 
     
     
         13 . The portable air moving device of  claim 1 , wherein said grill segments are movable relative to said air inlet. 
     
     
         14 . The portable air moving device of  claim 2 , wherein said at least two independently directable exhaust air streams are movable relative to said air inlet. 
     
     
         15 . The portable air moving device of  claim 1 , wherein said air generator further comprises an air guide and an air cut off and said grill segments are movable relative to said air guide, said air cut off, and said housing. 
     
     
         16 . The portable air moving device of  claim 2 , wherein said air generator further comprises an air guide and an air cut off and said at least two independently directable exhaust air streams are movable relative to said air guide, said air cut off, and said housing. 
     
     
         17 . A multi-directional grill for a portable air moving device comprising:
 a first grill segment connected to a housing of said portable air moving device proximate an elongate air outlet, wherein said first grill segment comprises a vertical axis of rotation about which said first grill segment may rotate with respect to said air outlet;   at least a second grill segment connected to said housing of said portable air moving device proximate said air outlet, said at least a second grill segment located above said first grill segment, said at least a second grill segment being substantially vertically aligned with said first grill segment, said at least a second grill segment comprises a vertical axis of rotation about which said second grill segment may rotate with respect to said air outlet, wherein said vertical axis of rotation of said at least a second grill segment is substantially co-linear with said vertical axis of rotation of said first grill segment;   wherein said first grill segment and said at least a second grill segment rotate independently of one another.   
     
     
         18 . The multi-directional grill of  claim 17 , wherein a horizontal width of an exhaust air stream exiting said elongate air outlet of said portable air moving device is adjustable by said independent rotation of said first and said at least a second grill segments. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-directional grill of  claim 18 , further comprising an oscillation mechanism, wherein said oscillation mechanism oscillates said multi-directional grill and said exhaust air stream affects an increased area defined by a coverage angle β, and said coverage angle β is increased and/or decreased by adjustment of said independent rotation of said first grill segment about its vertical axis of rotation and said at least a second grill segment about its vertical axis of rotation. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-directional grill of  claim 18 , further comprising an electric heating element, wherein an air stream passes through said electric heating element prior to passing through said multi-directional grill and said air stream exits said portable air moving device comprises a heated exhaust air stream. 
     
     
         21 . The multi-directional grill of  claim 18 , further comprising at least a third grill segment connected to said housing of said portable air moving device proximate said air outlet, said at least a third grill segment located above said second grill segment, said at least a third grill segment being substantially vertically aligned with said first and second grill segments, said at least a third grill segment comprises a vertical axis of rotation about which said third grill segment may rotate with respect to said air outlet, wherein said vertical axis of rotation of said at least a third grill segment is substantially co-linear with said vertical axis of rotation of said first and second grill segments;
 wherein said third grill segment, said second grill segment, and said first grill segment each rotates independently of any other of said grill segments.   
     
     
         22 . A method of adjusting an area affected by an exhaust air stream produced by a portable air moving device, said method comprising:
 providing a housing defining an interior space;   inducing an air flow into said interior space using an air generator;   generating an exhaust air flow exiting from said interior space using said air generator;   dividing said exhaust air flow into two or more exhaust air streams as said exhaust air flow exits said interior space using at least two grill segments;   independently adjusting a direction of each of said two or more exhaust air stream relative to each other by independently rotating each of said at least two grill segments;   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 oscillating said housing along a vertical axis;   expanding an area affected by said exhaust air flow over an increased area of coverage by said oscillation; and   adjusting a size of said area affected by said exhaust air flow by adjusting said direction of each of said two or more exhaust air streams relative to each other.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of heating said air flow prior to exiting said interior space.