Shrouded household fan

A portable fan comprising:

• a. unitary torus-shaped shroud means having an aerodynamic cross-sectional configuration for directing a flow of air in a laminar flow pattern therethrough to produce a focused stream of laminar flow air;
• b. impeller means mounted within said shroud means and including an aerodynamically configured central nose cone and a plurality of aerodynamically configured radial blades for moving air through said shroud means in a laminar flow pattern with a minimum of turbulence;
• c. vane means mounted within said shroud means downstream of said impeller means for reducing turbulence and promoting the discharge of a focused stram of laminar flow air from said shroud means;
• and
• d. motor means for driving said impeller means and causing said blades to rotate about said central nose cone.

A portable fan comprising:

• a. an aerodynamically configured torus-shaped shroud including intake means for directing air in a substantially laminar flow pattern into the shroud to produce a substantially homogeneous column of air downstream of a discharge orifice defined in said shroud;
• said intake means including an intake orifice defined by a Venturi surface on the exterior of the shroud, an aerodynamic surface spaced inwardly from said Venturi surface along the shroud interior and a radiused edge connecting said Venturi surface and said aerodynamic surface;
• b. impeller means supported by and mounted completely within the shroud for moving air through the shroud in a laminar flow pattern with a minimum of turbulence, said impeller means including an aerodynamically configured central nose cone supporting a plurality of aerodynamically configured radial blades having tips which extend toward and conform to the configuration of said aerodynamic surface;
• c. aerodynamically configured vane means mounted within said shroud downstream of said impeller means for supporting a motor housing and promoting the discharge of said homogeneous column of air;
• d. motor means mounted within said housing for driving said impeller means;
• e. grill means for providing a protective barrier around said intake means and at said discharge orifice;
• and
• f. adjustable support means for adjustably supporting said shroud so that the direction of flow of said homogeneous column of air from said discharge orifice can be varied.