Portable misting device

Abstract

An improved portable misting fan device of the type formed by a body carrying fan means for creating and moving a stream of air, the body further provided with a reservoir and having a power source for driving the fan means and electrical means for driving the power source which further includes a powered mist generator having driving means and an actuator for actuating the mist generator, the mist generator being in fluid communication with the reservoir and a mist nozzle adapted to receive a fluid mist from the mist generator and deliver the same into the air stream created by the fan means.

1 . An improved portable misting fan device of the type formed by a body carrying fan means for creating and moving a stream of air, the body further accommodating a reservoir for providing a fluid source, and the body further accommodating a power source for driving the fan means and electrical means for driving the power source, the improvement comprising in combination,
 a powered mist generator carried within said body,   driving means associated with said mist generator for driving said mist generator,   actuator means in communication with said driving means for actuating said driving means and in turn, actuating said mist generator,   said mist generator being in fluid communication with the reservoir to be provided with a fluid source,   and a mist nozzle to receive a fluid mist from the mist generator and direct the mist into the air stream created by the fan means when said fan means is activated,   whereby actuation of said powered mist generator provides a continuous stream of fluid mist into the air stream created by said fan means.   
     
     
         2 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 1  above wherein said mist generator comprises a pump, a fluid tube interconnecting the fluid reservoir with said pump, motor means for driving said pump, a misting nozzle carried on the body and having a nozzle fluid tube interconnecting said nozzle with said pump, and a motor actuator for actuating said motor to initiate fluid misting. 
     
     
         3 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 2  above wherein said portable misting fan device further includes an air pump for pressurizing air, motor means for driving said air pump, interconnection means for interconnecting said air pump with said mist nozzle, and said mist nozzle comprising an aspirator nozzle for receiving pressurized air from said air pump and fluid from said reservoir and introducing the resulting mist into the air stream created by said fan means. 
     
     
         4 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 2  above, wherein said misting nozzle is carried on the body of the misting fan and positioned such that the misting fluid is expelled into the air stream path forward of the fan means. 
     
     
         5 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 2  above, wherein said misting nozzle is carried on the body of the misting fan and positioned such that the misting fluid is expelled to the rear of the fan means thereby to allow said misting fluid to be drawn into the air stream created by the fan means. 
     
     
         6 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 2  above, wherein said misting nozzle is carried on the body of the misting fan and positioned such that the misting fluid is expelled peripherally relative to the fan means thereby to allow said misting fluid to be drawn into the air stream created by the fan means. 
     
     
         7 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 1  above, wherein said mist generator comprises a pump, a fluid tube interconnecting the fluid reservoir with said pump, and said pump formed by a pump cylinder which accommodates a pump piston therein, a check valve carried in said pump cylinder, whereby manual actuation of said pump piston relative to said pump cylinder forces air into the reservoir in order to pressurize the fluid source therein and provide a source of pressurized fluid to said mist nozzle. 
     
     
         8 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 1  above, wherein said mist generator comprises the reservoir being provided with pressurization means for pressurizing the fluid within the reservoir, an atomizing nozzle positioned to expel misting fluid into the air stream created by the fan means, fluid path means interconnecting said pressurized reservoir and said nozzle, and flow control means to alternately open and close the fluid path means thereby to alternately start and stop said mist generator. 
     
     
         9 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 2  above, wherein said motor means for driving said pump is comprised of the power source for driving the fan means whereby the same power source drives both said pump and the fan means. 
     
     
         10 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 3  above, wherein said motor means for driving said air pump is comprised of the power source for driving said fan means whereby the same power source drives both said air pump and said fan means. 
     
     
         11 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 10  above, wherein said pump is provided with means to regulate the pump speed in accordance with the speed of the fan means. 
     
     
         12 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 1  above, wherein the electrical means for driving the power source comprises at least one battery carried by the body of said fan device. 
     
     
         13 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 1  above, wherein the body has an upper end formed by a yoke assembly supporting the fan means, said nozzle of the mist generator, and the power source for driving the fan means. 
     
     
         14 . The portable misting fan as set forth in  claim 1  above, wherein the body includes a lower end which accommodates the fluid reservoir and an intermediate narrower section which forms a grasp portion to facilitate the user's ability to grasp and hold the device. 
     
     
         15 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 1  above, wherein the body has a lower end accommodating a removable reservoir, the reservoir provided with a fill port for filling said reservoir with a fluid and a removable fill cap for occluding said fill port, the fluid communication between said mist generator and the reservoir formed by a fluid tube connected to said mist generator at one end and having a connector fitting at the opposed end, the reservoir provided with a connector fitting port positioned to accept said connector fitting,
 whereby the reservoir is constructed to be removable from the body to accommodate refilling with a fluid while being easily reassembled to the body in a manner to easily accommodate reconnection of said fluid tube to the reservoir. 
 
     
     
         16 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 1  above, wherein the electrical means for driving the power source comprises a plurality of batteries carried by the body of said fan device. 
     
     
         17 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 12  above, wherein said battery comprises a rechargeable battery and said body includes a port positioned in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery, said port accommodating a battery charger plug therein, whereby the rechargeable battery may be recharged without removal from the body. 
     
     
         18 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 1  above, wherein said actuator means comprises a three position switch having a first off position, a second position which activates only the fan means, and a third position which activates the fan means and said pump,
 whereby the misting fan device may be used as a fan device and as a misting device. 
 
     
     
         19 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 18  above, wherein said three position switch includes spring means that operates to maintain said switch in a normally off position. 
     
     
         20 . An improved portable misting fan device of the type formed by a body carrying fan means for creating and moving a stream of air, the body further accommodating a reservoir for providing a fluid source, and the body further accommodating a power source for driving the fan means and electrical means for driving the power source, and the body having a nozzle to direct misted fluid into the stream of air created by the fan means, the improvement comprising,
 a mist generator carried within said body,   said mist generator being formed by a first low pressure reservoir and a second high pressure reservoir,   a fluid connection interconnecting said first and second reservoirs,   a pump carried within the body and adapted to pump fluid from the first low pressure reservoir to said second high pressure reservoir,   actuator means for actuating said pump,   a fluid supply tube interconnecting said second high pressure reservoir to said nozzle,   valve means associated with said fluid supply tube to alternatively open and close the fluid path to said nozzle,   and actuator means for actuating said valve means,   whereby a user may actuate said actuator means causing said valve means to open which in turn releases misted fluid through said nozzle into the air stream created by the fan means.   
     
     
         21 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 20  above, wherein said body includes a pressure regulator interposed between said high pressure reservoir and said nozzle thereby to maintain a constant water pressure as the device is used. 
     
     
         22 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 20  above, wherein said actuator means comprises a switch operable by a user to operate said mist generator. 
     
     
         23 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 22  above, wherein said switch is further in electrical contact with the power source for driving the fan means, said switch including multiple switch positions for operating each of the fan means and mist generator separately and the two in combination. 
     
     
         24 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 20  above, wherein said high pressure reservoir is provided with a sealed air filled bladder to store pressure therein. 
     
     
         25 . An improved portable misting fan device of the type formed by a body carrying fan means for creating and moving a stream of air, the body further accommodating a power source for driving the fan means and electrical means for driving the power source, a reservoir for providing a source of fluid, the improvement comprising in combination,
 a powered mist generator carried within said body,   driving means associated with said mist generator for driving said mist generator;   actuator means in communication with said driving means and, in turn, actuating said mist generator,   said mist generator being in fluid communication with the reservoir to be provided with a fluid source,   and a mist nozzle to receive a fluid mist from the mist generator and introduce the mist into the air stream created by the fan means when said fan means is activated,   whereby actuation of said powered mist generator provides a continuous stream of fluid mist into the air stream created by the fan means.   
     
     
         26 . The portable misting fan device as set forth in  claim 24  above, wherein said reservoir is positioned external to the body thereby to accommodate an enlarged reservoir and, in turn, a greater volume of fluid. 
     
     
         27 . An improved portable misting device of the type formed by a body having an upper end and a lower end, a reservoir carried in the lower end and provided with a fluid therein, pump means carried in the body for pumping fluid from the reservoir, drive means for driving the pump means and electrical means for driving the drive means, the improvement comprising in combination,
 the body further provided with an air pump carried therein, drive means for driving said air pump,   said drive means being in communication with the electrical means for driving said drive means and, in turn, said air pump,   an aspirator nozzle carried on said body,   said aspirator nozzle being in fluid communication with said reservoir and being in further communication with said air pump,   whereby actuation of said pump means and said air pump delivers a mist fluid to said aspirator nozzle which expels the misted fluid therefrom.   
     
     
         28 . An improved portable misting device of the type formed by a body having an upper end and a lower end, a fluid reservoir formed in the lower end thereof and carrying a fluid source therein, and the upper end provided with a mist nozzle carried thereon, the improvement comprising in combination,
 an air pump carried by said body for receiving and pressurizing air therein,   drive means carried by said body for driving said air pump and electrical means carried by the body for driving said drive means,   said air pump being in fluid communication with the mist nozzle and the mist nozzle being in further communication with the reservoir,   the mist nozzle comprising an aspirator nozzle adapted to receive pressurized air from said air pump and fluid from the reservoir,   whereby upon actuation of said drive means, pressurized air is delivered to said aspirator nozzle which, in turn, will draw fluid from the reservoir thereby to deliver a misted fluid for expulsion through said aspirator nozzle.   
     
     
         29 . The improved portable misting device as set forth in  claim 28  above, wherein said aspirator nozzle includes at last one fluid port formed therein, said fluid port being in communication with the reservoir,
 said aspirator nozzle having an air path formed therein substantially transverse to said fluid port, 
 whereby pressurized air passing through said air path causes a negative pressure at said fluid port thereby to draw fluid from the reservoir and deliver the fluid into the air path in the form of a misted fluid.