Fan assembly

Abstract

A fan assembly includes a fan housing at least partially defining an airflow chamber, a plurality of fan blades positioned within the airflow chamber, a motor operable to rotate the plurality of fan blades, and a base configured to be placed on a support surface. The base includes a stand having a foot. The fan assembly further includes a frame assembly connecting the fan housing and the base. The frame assembly is movable to adjust a height of the fan housing relative to the base, and the foot is automatically deployed in response to movement of the frame assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fan assembly comprising:
 a fan housing at least partially defining an airflow chamber;   a plurality of fan blades positioned within the airflow chamber;   a motor operable to rotate the plurality of fan blades;   a base configured to be placed on a support surface, the base including a stand having a foot; and   a frame assembly connecting the fan housing and the base, the frame assembly being movable to adjust a height of the fan housing relative to the base;   wherein the foot is automatically deployed in response to movement of the frame assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly includes a first leg coupled to the base and a second leg coupled to the fan housing, and wherein the second leg is telescopically coupled to the first leg. 
     
     
         3 . The fan assembly of  claim 2 , wherein when the second leg is retracted into the first leg, the foot is in a collapsed condition against the base, and wherein when the second leg is extended from the first leg, the foot is in a deployed condition relative to the base. 
     
     
         4 . The fan assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the stand also has a coupler connected to the foot, and wherein an end of the second leg engages the coupler to inhibit movement of the foot from the collapsed condition to the deployed condition when the second leg is retracted into the first leg. 
     
     
         5 . The fan assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the end of the second leg disengages the coupler to allow movement of the foot from the collapsed condition to the deployed condition when the second leg is extended from the first leg. 
     
     
         6 . The fan assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the stand further has a spring connected to the coupler, and wherein the spring biases the foot to the deployed condition. 
     
     
         7 . The fan assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the base defines a recess configured to be pressed by a user during telescoping of the second leg apart from the first leg. 
     
     
         8 . The fan assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first leg is rotatably fixed with respect to the base, and wherein the fan housing is rotatably coupled to the second leg. 
     
     
         9 . The fan assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a height lock to selectively inhibit movement of the first leg relative to the second leg. 
     
     
         10 . The fan assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a handle positioned on the fan housing and including a trigger;   a coupler rotatably supporting the fan housing on the frame assembly; and   a line connected to the handle and the height lock, the line being routed through the coupler and through the frame assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The fan assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the trigger is selectively operable to pull the line and actuate the height lock, permitting movement of the second leg relative to the first leg. 
     
     
         12 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the foot is a first foot located on a first side of the base, and wherein the stand also has a second foot located on a second side of the base opposite the first side. 
     
     
         13 . A fan assembly comprising:
 a fan housing at least partially defining an airflow chamber;   a plurality of fan blades positioned within the airflow chamber;   a motor operable to rotate the plurality of fan blades;   a base configured to be placed on a support surface;   a frame assembly connecting the fan housing and the base, the frame assembly including a first leg coupled to the base and a second leg coupled to the fan housing, the second leg being telescopically coupled to the first leg;   a handle coupled to the fan housing, the handle including a trigger;   a height lock supported by the frame assembly to selectively inhibit movement of the second leg relative to the first leg; and   a line extending between the trigger and the height lock;   wherein the trigger is selectively operable to pull the line and actuate the height lock, permitting movement of the second leg relative to the first leg.   
     
     
         14 . The fan assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the trigger is a first trigger supported on a first side of the handle, wherein the handle further includes a second trigger supported on a second side of the handle opposite the first side. 
     
     
         15 . The fan assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the frame assembly also includes a third leg coupled to the base and a fourth leg coupled to the fan housing, wherein the fourth leg is telescopically coupled to the third leg, the fan assembly further comprising:
 a second height lock supported by the frame assembly to selectively inhibit movement of the fourth leg relative to the third leg; and   a second line extending between the second trigger and the second height lock;   wherein the second trigger is selectively operable to pull the second line and actuate the second height lock, permitting movement of the fourth leg relative to the third leg.   
     
     
         16 . The fan assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the handle includes a rocker coupled to the first trigger and to the second trigger, and wherein operation of the first trigger in a first direction rotates the rocker and simultaneously moves the second trigger in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         17 . The fan assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the height lock is positioned within the first leg and the second leg, and wherein the first leg includes a plurality of apertures each associated with a desired height of the fan housing relative to the base. 
     
     
         18 . The fan assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the height lock includes
 a slider connected to the line and moveable along a first direction in response to operation of the trigger, the slider defining a slot arranged at an oblique angle relative to the first direction, and   a locking member coupled to the slider via the slot and selectively moveable along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.   
     
     
         19 . The fan assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the locking member is selectively received in each of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         20 . A fan assembly comprising:
 a fan housing at least partially defining an airflow chamber;   a base configured to be placed on a support surface;   a plurality of fan blades positioned within the airflow chamber;   a motor operable to rotate the plurality of fan blades;   a frame assembly connecting the fan housing and the base;   a coupler rotatably connecting the fan housing to the frame assembly, the coupler including
 a stationary mount coupled to the frame assembly, 
 a squeeze plate coupled to the stationary mount, the squeeze plate defining an aperture in communication with an opening of the frame assembly, and 
 a head coupled to the fan housing and sandwiched between the stationary mount and the squeeze plate, the head being rotatable relative to the stationary mount to adjust an orientation of the fan housing relative to the frame assembly; and 
   a line extending from the frame assembly, through the aperture of the squeeze plate, and to the fan housing.   
     
     
         21 . The fan assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the coupler also includes a threaded fastener, wherein the threaded fastener extends through the stationary mount and engages the squeeze plate, and wherein the threaded fastener pulls the squeeze plate toward the stationary mount to increase friction between the head and the stationary mount. 
     
     
         22 . The fan assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising a battery receptacle positioned on the base, wherein the line includes electrical wiring extending from the battery receptacle to the motor. 
     
     
         23 . The fan assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the frame assembly includes a first leg coupled to the base and a second leg coupled to the fan housing, and wherein the second leg is telescopically coupled to the first leg. 
     
     
         24 . The fan assembly of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a trigger supported by the fan housing; and   a height lock supported by the frame assembly to selectively inhibit movement of the second leg relative to the first leg;   wherein the line extends between the trigger and the height lock.   
     
     
         25 . The fan assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the base includes a stand having a foot, and wherein the foot is automatically deployed in response to movement of the second leg relative to the first leg. 
     
     
         26 . The fan assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the coupler also includes a protuberance received in a radial slot to limit rotation of the head relative the stationary mount. 
     
     
         27 . The fan assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the radial slot is formed in the stationary mount, and wherein the protuberance extends from the head. 
     
     
         28 . The fan assembly of  claim 26 , wherein protuberance and the radial slot limit rotation of the head relative to the stationary mount to approximately 270 degrees.