Method and apparatus for a fan grill and a fan producing a multi-directional air current

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for a fan grill, and a fan utilizing the fan grill, that produces a multi-directional air current. The fan grill includes a frame, and a first subset of one or more louvers with major surfaces that are angled to be about perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the fan grill frame. The fan grill also includes a second subset of one or more louvers with major surfaces that are angled to deviate from the first subset of louvers at an offset angle. The fan grill, and the fan utilizing the grill, is capable of producing an air current in a cone or vortex-shape in order to significantly increase air flow in a room. The fan may rotate the fan grill on an axis that is collinear with an axis of rotation of the propellers of the fan.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fan grill, comprising:
 a grill frame existing in a horizontal plane; and   a plurality of louvers affixed within the grill frame, each of the louvers being substantially flat and having a longitudinal length, the plurality of louvers being about parallel to each other,   the plurality of louvers including at least a first subset of louvers that are positioned within the grill frame with at least a first offset angle, the first offset angle deviating from an angle of a centerline of the grill frame relative to the horizontal plane, the centerline traversing through a midpoint of the grill frame and being about perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the grill frame.   
     
     
         2 . A fan, comprising:
 a fan frame;   propellers positioned inside the fan frame;   a first motor configured to rotate the propellers to produce an air flow in a first direction; and   the fan grill of  claim 1  positioned within the fan frame such that the air flow in the first direction is directed through the fan grill, the first direction being about parallel to the centerline of the grill frame.   
     
     
         3 . The fan of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a second motor configured to rotate the fan grill in one of a clock-wise and a counter-clockwise direction within the fan frame.   
     
     
         4 . The fan of  claim 3 , wherein the first subset of louvers share a common offset angle that is the first offset angle. 
     
     
         5 . The fan of  claim 3 , wherein the first set of louvers have varying offset angles, the varying offset angles each deviating from the angle of the centerline of the grill frame relative to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         6 . The fan of  claim 5 , wherein the first set of louvers includes a first ordered series of louvers, the first ordered series of louvers each possessing a unique offset angle, the unique offset angles of the first ordered series of louvers progressively increasing from a first louver to a last louver within the first ordered series of louvers. 
     
     
         7 . The fan of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of louvers includes at least a second subset of louvers possessing at least a second offset angle relative to the horizontal plane of the grill frame, the second offset angle being different from the first offset angle. 
     
     
         8 . The fan of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plurality of louvers has an offset angle that is about equal to the angle of the centerline of the grill frame relative to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         9 . The fan of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of louvers each have an offset between 0 and 20 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The fan of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of louvers each have an offset between 0 and 12.7 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . A fan, comprising:
 a fan frame;   propellers positioned in the fan frame;   a first motor configured to rotate the propellers to produce an air flow in a first direction;   a fan grill positioned within the fan frame such that the air flow in the first direction is directed through the fan grill; and   a second motor configured to rotate the fan grill in one of a clock-wise and a counter-clockwise direction within the fan frame.   
     
     
         12 . The fan of  claim 11 , wherein the fan grill includes,
 a grill frame existing in a horizontal plane, and   a plurality of louvers affixed within the grill frame, each of the louvers being substantially flat and having a longitudinal length, the plurality of louvers being about parallel to each other,   the plurality of louvers including at least a first subset of louvers that are positioned within the grill frame with at least a first offset angle, the first offset angle deviating from an angle of a centerline of the grill frame relative to the horizontal plane, the centerline traversing through a midpoint of the grill frame and being about perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the grill frame.   
     
     
         13 . The fan of  claim 12 , wherein the first subset of louvers share a common offset angle that is the first offset angle. 
     
     
         14 . The fan of  claim 12 , wherein the first set of louvers have varying offset angles, the varying offset angles each deviating from the angle of the centerline of the grill frame relative to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         15 . The fan of  claim 14 , wherein the first set of louvers includes a first ordered series of louvers, the first ordered series of louvers each possessing a unique offset angle, the unique offset angles of the first ordered series of louvers progressively increasing from a first louver to a last louver within the first ordered series of louvers. 
     
     
         16 . The fan of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of louvers includes at least a second subset of louvers possessing at least a second offset angle relative to the horizontal plane of the grill frame, the second offset angle being different from the first offset angle. 
     
     
         17 . The fan of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of louvers has an offset angle that is about equal to the angle of the centerline of the grill frame relative to the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         18 . The fan of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of louvers each have an offset angle between 0 and 12.17 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making a fan, comprising:
 positioning propellers in a fan frame;   configuring a first motor to rotate the propellers to produce an air flow in a first direction;   positioning a fan grill within the fan frame such that the air flow in the first direction is directed through the fan grill; and   configuring a second motor to rotate the fan grill in one of a clock-wise and a counter-clockwise direction within the fan frame.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 forming the fan grill by,
 providing a grill frame that exists in a horizontal plane, 
 affixing a plurality of louvers within the grill frame, each of the louvers being substantially flat and having a longitudinal length, the plurality of louvers being about parallel to each other, 
 positioning at least a first subset of louvers, of the plurality of louvers, within the grill frame with at least a first offset angle, the first offset angle deviating from an angle of a centerline of the grill frame relative to the horizontal plane, the centerline traversing through a midpoint of the grill frame and being about perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the grill frame. 
   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of louvers each have an offset between 0 and 12.7 degrees.