Fan assembly and method of making same

A cooling apparatus comprising:

• first means for moving air and defining a first aperture for mounting the first means;
• second means for supporting the first means and defining a first surface for supporting the first means thereon, a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first means relative to the first surface, an air aperture formed through second means for passing the air therethrough, and a second aperture formed through the second means and extending from the first surface to the second surface;
• third means formed integral with the second means contiguous to the second aperture, and extending outwardly from the first surface and received within the first aperture of the first means, for positioning the first means on the second means;
• and
• fourth means received with the first aperture of the first means for fastening the first means to the second means.

A method of making a fan assembly including a fan frame defining at least one first aperture, a mounting member supporting the fan frame thereon, and at least one fastener securing the fan frame to the mounting member, the method comprising the following steps:

• piercing the mounting member with at least one forming tool to form a second aperture therethrough;
• moving the forming tool into the second aperture and, in turn, moving the pierced material of the mounting member outwardly and thereby forming the pierced material into a mounting tab defining an approximately predetermined shape;
• placing the fan frame onto the mounting member with the mounting tab received within the first aperture of the frame;
• and
• inserting a fastener into the first aperture of the frame and engaging with the fastener both the fan frame and the mounting tab to secure the fan frame to the mounting member.

A fan assembly comprising:

• a fan frame defining at least one first aperture;
• a mounting member defining a first surface on one side of the member for supporting the fan frame thereon, a second surface on the opposite side of the member relative to the first surface, at least one mounting tab extending outwardly of the first surface and received within the first aperture of the fan frame, and a second aperture formed adjacent to a base of the mounting tab and extending through the mounting member from the first side to the second side thereof;
• and
• a fastener received within the first aperture of the fan frame and engaging both the mounting tab and the frame to secure the fan frame, to the mounting member,
• wherein the fan frame defines a plurality of first apertures spaced relative to each other, the mounting member defines a plurality of tabs and respective second apertures formed through the member adjacent to the base of each tab, and each mounting tab is aligned with a respective first aperture and received therein, and the fan assembly further comprises a plurality of fasteners with each fastener received within a respective first aperture and engaging the frame and respective mounting tab to secure the fan frame to the mounting member.

A fan assembly comprising:

• a fan frame defining at least one first aperture;
• a mounting member defining a first surface on one side of the member for supporting the fan frame thereon, a second surface on the opposite side of the member relative to the first surface, at least one mounting tab extending outwardly of the first surface and received within the first aperture of the fan frame, and a second aperture formed adjacent to a base of the mounting tab and extending through the mounting member from the first side to the second side thereof, wherein the mounting member is formed of sheet metal;
• and
• a fastener received within the first aperture of the fan frame and engaging both the mounting tab and the frame to secure the fan frame to the mounting member.

A fan assembly comprising:

• a fan frame defining at least one first aperture;
• a mounting member defining a first surface on one side of the member for supporting the fan frame thereon, a second surface on the opposite side of the member relative to the first surface, at least one mounting tab extending outwardly of the first surface and received within the first aperture of the fan frame, and a second aperture formed adjacent to a base of the mounting tab and extending through the mounting member from the first side to the second side thereof;
• and
• a fastener received within the first aperture of the fan frame and engaging both the mounting tab and the frame to secure the fan frame to the mounting member, wherein the fastener threadedly engages both the mounting tab and fan frame to secure the fan frame to the mounting member.

A fan assembly comprising:

• a fan frame defining at least one first aperture;
• a mounting member defining a first surface on one side of the member for supporting the fan frame thereon, a second surface on the opposite side of the member relative to the first surface, at least one mounting tab extending outwardly of the first surface and received within the first aperture of the fan frame, and a second aperture formed adjacent to a base of the mounting tab and extending through the mounting member from the first side to the second side thereof;
• and
• a fastener received within the first aperture of the fan frame and engaging both the mounting tab and the frame to secure the fan frame to the mounting member,
• wherein the at least one mounting tab defines an exterior surface adjacent to the fan frame and an interior surface for engaging the fastener, and the interior surface defines a plurality of surface irregularities for facilitating threadedly engaging the fastener.

A cooling apparatus comprising:

• first means for moving air and defining a first aperture for mounting the first means;
• second means for supporting the first means and defining a first surface for supporting the first means thereon, a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first means relative to the first surface, and a second aperture formed through the second means and extending from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the second means defines a sheet-like surface made of sheet metal;
• third means formed integral with the second means contiguous to the second aperture, and extending outwardly from the first surface and received within the first aperture of the first means, for positioning the first means on the second means;
• and
• fourth means received with the first aperture of the first means for fastening the first means to the second means.

A cooling apparatus comprising:

• first means for moving air and defining a first aperture for mounting the first means;
• second means for supporting the first means and defining a first surface for supporting the first means thereon, a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first means relative to the first surface, and a second aperture formed through the second means and extending from the first surface to the second surface;
• third means formed integral with the second means contiguous to the second aperture, and extending outwardly from the first surface and received within the first aperture of the first means, for positioning the first means on the second means;
• and
• fourth means received with the first aperture of the first means for fastening the first means to the second means, wherein the fourth means threadedly engages both the first and third means.