Fan Frame and Fans Including the Fan Frame

Abstract

A fan frame is provided to solve the problem that the metal plate of the conventional fan frame is easily squeezed and deformed. The fan frame includes a metal plate and a rim. The metal plate includes at least one notch located on an edge of the metal plate. The rim is formed on the edge of the metal plate by injection molding. The rim includes at least one gap located corresponding to the at least one notch of the metal plate. The at least one gap divides the rim into a plurality of side wall parts. A vertical extent of the at least one gap does not overlap with the metal plate. Fans including the fan frame are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fan frame comprising:
 a metal plate including at least one notch located on an edge of the metal plate; and   a rim formed on the edge of the metal plate by injection molding, wherein the rim includes at least one gap located corresponding to the at least one notch of the metal plate, wherein the at least one gap divides the rim into a plurality of side wall parts, and wherein a vertical extent of the at least one gap does not overlap with the metal plate.   
     
     
         2 . The fan frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one notch is located on an arcuate portion of the edge of the metal plate, and wherein the at least one notch equally divides an arc of the arcuate portion. 
     
     
         3 . The fan frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gap divides the rim into a plurality of side wall parts separate from each other. 
     
     
         4 . The fan frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein two distal ends respectively of two adjacent side wall parts are connected by a connecting wall, and wherein the connecting wall is located in a respective gap between the two adjacent side wall parts. 
     
     
         5 . The fan frame as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the connecting wall extends to a respective notch corresponding to the respective gap, wherein the connecting wall abuts an edge of the respective notch, wherein the connecting wall has a height flush with a thickness of the metal plate. 
     
     
         6 . The fan frame as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the connecting wall extends to a respective notch corresponding to the respective gap, wherein the connecting wall abuts an edge of the respective notch, wherein the connecting wall has a height higher than the thickness of the metal plate by a difference smaller than or equal to 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The fan frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein two distal ends respectively of two adjacent side wall parts are staggered to form L-shaped structures complementary to each other, and wherein a respective gap between the two distal ends is substantially Z-shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The fan frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gap has a width greater than or equal to 0.4 mm and smaller than or equal to 0.5 times a thickness of the rim. 
     
     
         9 . A fan comprising:
 the fan frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the metal plate is a base of the fan;   an impeller disposed in the fan frame, wherein the impeller is rotatable about a rotating axis perpendicular to a plane of the metal plate; and   an upper lid coupled to an end of the rim opposite to the metal plate.   
     
     
         10 . The fan as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein air currents driven by the impeller flow along an inner wall of the rim in an advancing direction and a passage from an inner side of the rim through the at least one gap to an outer side of the rim is in a direction reverse to the advancing direction. 
     
     
         11 . The fan as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the upper lid includes at least one bent extension protruding from an edge of the upper lid in a direction parallel to the rotating axis of the impeller, and wherein the at least one bent extension is located corresponding to the at least one gap of the rim. 
     
     
         12 . The fan as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein two distal ends respectively of two adjacent side wall parts do not overlap with each other in a radial direction perpendicular to the rotating axis of the impeller, wherein the at least one gap forms a radial opening in the rim, and wherein the at least one bent extension is inserted into a respective gap to cover the radial opening. 
     
     
         13 . The fan as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each of the two distal ends respectively of two adjacent side wall parts forms a recess on an outer wall of the rim, such that the vertical extent of the respective gap is substantially T-shaped, and wherein the at least one bent extension is inserted into the recesses on the outer wall of the rim. 
     
     
         14 . The fan as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each of the two distal ends respectively of two adjacent side wall parts forms a recess on an inner wall of the rim, such that the vertical extent of the respective gap is substantially T-shaped, and wherein the at least one bent extension is inserted into the recesses on the inner wall of the rim. 
     
     
         15 . A fan comprising:
 the fan frame claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the metal plate is an upper lid of the fan;   a base coupled to an end of the rim opposite to the metal plate; and   an impeller disposed between the fan frame and the base, wherein the impeller is rotatable about a rotating axis perpendicular to a plane of the base.   
     
     
         16 . The fan as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein air currents driven by the impeller flow along an inner wall of the rim in an advancing direction and a passage from an inner side of the rim through the at least one gap to an outer side of the rim is in a direction reverse to the advancing direction. 
     
     
         17 . The fan as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the base includes at least one bent extension protruding from an edge of the base in a direction parallel to the rotating axis of the impeller, and wherein the at least one bent extension is located corresponding to the at least one gap of the rim. 
     
     
         18 . The fan as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein two distal ends respectively of two adjacent side wall parts do not overlap with each other in a radial direction perpendicular to the rotating axis of the impeller, wherein the at least one gap forms a radial opening in the rim, and wherein the at least one bent extension is inserted into a respective gap to cover the radial opening. 
     
     
         19 . The fan as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein each of the two distal ends respectively of two adjacent side wall parts forms a recess on an outer wall of the rim, such that the vertical extent of the respective gap is substantially T-shaped, and wherein the at least one bent extension is inserted into the recesses on the outer wall of the rim. 
     
     
         20 . The fan as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein each of the two distal ends respectively of two adjacent side wall parts forms a recess on an inner wall of the rim, such that the vertical extent of the respective gap is substantially T-shaped, and wherein the at least one bent extension is inserted into the recesses on the inner wall of the rim.