# US 12,180,976 B2 · Ceiling fan airflow diffuser apparatus

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- Number: US 12,180,976 B2
- Document ID: US12180976B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/328,937
- Filed: 2023-06-05
- Published: 2023-12-07
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2020-12-08
- Assignees: The Regents of the University of California
- Applicants: The Regents of the University of California
- Inventors: Edward A. Arens; Hui Zhang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180976B2

## CPC

- F04D 29/542: {Bladed diffusers (fixing blades to stators F01D9/042)}
- F04D 25/088: {Ceiling fans}
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)

## Abstract

A ceiling fan airflow diffuser apparatus and system that creates elevated air speeds indoors for cooling occupants, improving room air circulation, and reducing energy use by the cooling system of the building. The apparatus has a diffuser support structure and diffuser body oriented below the blades of a ceiling fan. The diffuser body has an outer rim with an annular opening and a top surface forming a shroud for the fan blades. A smaller concentric inner ring positioned coaxially in relation to the outer rim is joined to the outer rim with struts. The inner ring has a frustoconical shape with a central opening. The outer rim and inner ring may also have directional visible light sources to provide flicker-free lighting, or an integrated UV-C light source oriented in an upward direction to inhibit airborne pathogens exposed to the light source.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fan airflow diffuser and lighting apparatus, comprising:
(a) a diffuser support structure configured to be mounted to a ceiling; and
(b) a diffuser body coupled to the support structure, comprising:
(i) an outer rim with an annular opening and a first light source producing visible light or UV-C light directed in an upward direction;
(ii) a frustoconical inner ring with an angled outer wall and a diameter that is smaller than the annular opening of the outer rim, the ring positioned coaxially in relation to the outer rim, the inner ring with a central opening, the inner ring with a second light source of a light strip producing visible light directed in a downward direction; and
(iii) a plurality of struts interconnecting the inner ring and the outer rim:
(c) wherein a diameter of the inner ring central opening and the slope of the outer wall of the inner ring determine air movement coverage area and magnitude of air velocity in the coverage area generated by a ceiling fan.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said outer rim further comprises an inner frustoconical wall with an angle matching the angled outer wall of the inner ring.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said outer rim further comprises an inner circumferential ledge and shroud in a top surface of the outer rim with a diameter sized to contain fan blades of a fan.