Portable Cooling Fan and Support System

Abstract

A portable fan includes a housing having a first face with a first ridge and a second face with a second ridge. A recess is defined between the first and second ridges. A support member is connected to the housing. The support member can be wrapped around the recess for storage and can provide mechanical support for the housing during therapeutic use of the fan. The support member can include a handle that can be disposed under a mattress to anchor the portable fan while the patient is in bed. A second recess can be defined in the housing to receive an electric cord for storage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable fan comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity, the housing having a front face and a rear face, the front face having a front flange that extends along an outer perimeter of the front face, the rear face having a rear flange that extends along an outer perimeter of the rear face, wherein the front flange and the rear flange define a recessed housing portion therebetween;   a fan disposed in the cavity;   a support member connected to the housing, the support member capable of flexing from a stowed position in which at least a portion of the support member is wrapped around the recessed housing portion, to a deployed position in which the support member extends away from the housing to position the fan for circulating air towards a user; and   a wire disposed in a conduit defined in the support member, the wire in electrical communication with the fan for providing electricity thereto.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support member comprises a flexible tube. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support member is comprised of modular segments. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the modular segments are articulated. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the housing is in a shape of a spool having a central body portion containing said fan disposed between said front and rear flanged faces. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the cavity and central body portion are substantially cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing defines a notch to receive a distal end of the support member. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second support member connected to the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a handle, the handle having a grip portion connected to a first sidebar and a second sidebar, the first sidebar connected to a distal end of the support member, the second sidebar connected to the wire. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the first and second sidebars are disposed on opposing sides of the housing when the support member is in the portable position. 
     
     
         12 . A portable fan comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity, the housing having a front face and a rear face, the housing further having a sidewall between the front face and the rear face, the front face having a front ridge that extends along an outer perimeter of the front face, the rear face having a rear ridge that extends along an outer perimeter of the rear face, the housing defining a first recess between the front ridge and a middle ridge defined in the sidewall of the housing, the housing further defining a second recess between the middle ridge and the rear ridge;   a fan disposed in the cavity;   a support member connected to the housing, the support member capable of flexing from a first portable position in which at least a portion of the support member is wrapped around the first recess, to a therapeutic position in which the support member extends away from the housing to position the fan for circulating air towards a patient; and   a cord connected to a distal end of the support member, the cord in electrical communication with the fan for providing electricity thereto, the cord capable of flexing from a second portable position in which at least a portion of the cord is wrapped around the second recess, to a deployed position in which the cord extends away from the housing to connect to a power supply.   
     
     
         13 . The portable fan of  claim 12  wherein the first recess has an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion having an outer gap defined by a raised edge of the front ridge and the middle ridge, the inner portion having an inner gap defined by a recessed edge of the front ridge and the middle ridge, wherein the outer gap is narrower than the inner gap. 
     
     
         14 . The portable fan of  claim 12  wherein the second recess has an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion having an outer gap defined by a raised edge of the front ridge and the middle ridge, the inner portion having an inner gap defined by a recessed edge of the front ridge and the middle ridge, wherein the outer gap is narrower than the inner gap. 
     
     
         15 . The portable fan of  claim 12  further comprising a handle, the handle having a grip portion connected to a first sidebar and a second sidebar, the first sidebar connected to a distal end of the support member, the second sidebar connected to the cord. 
     
     
         16 . The portable fan of  claim 12  further comprising an electric plug connected to the cord, the electric cord having a storage plate configured to be insertable into the second recess, the storage plate including a sidewall having a width approximately equal to a width of the second recess. 
     
     
         17 . The portable fan of  claim 16  wherein the sidewall conforms to a shape of the second recess. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the support member is comprised of modular segments. 
     
     
         19 . The portable fan of  claim 12  wherein the support member comprises a gooseneck tube. 
     
     
         20 . The portable fan of  claim 12  wherein the modular segments are articulated.