Back to results
US 9,677,565 B1Granted
Hand crank-powered fan
OwnerMichael W. Rodriguezinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A powered fan is provided having a fan housing, a plurality of fan blades, a motor, and an electrical generation system. The fan blades are mechanically coupled to the motor, both being contained within the fan housing. Rotatably affixed to an exterior portion of the fan housing, and mechanically coupled to the electrical generator, is a hand crank. Electrically coupled to the motor and affixed to some portion of the fan housing is a rechargeable battery. Manipulation of the hand crank generates electricity for powering the motor and/or charging the rechargeable battery. A control pad located on the fan housing allows a user to selectively control the functioning of the fan.
Claims14
A manually operated fan, comprising:
- a base assembly;
- a fan housing disposed upon said base assembly;
- a fan assembly disposed within said fan housing;
- a generator assembly comprising a generator having a crank handle for accepting rotational input from a user to generate a first electrical power in response to rotation of said crank handle operatively connected to said generator and a capacitor to store said first electrical power;
- at least one rechargeable battery to provide a second electrical power;
- and
- at least one non-rechargeable battery to provide a third electrical power;
- a motor operatively connected to said fan assembly and in selectable electrical communication with said generator assembly, said at least one rechargeable battery, and said at least one non-rechargeable battery to receive a selected one of said first electrical power from said generator assembly, said second electrical power from said at least one rechargeable battery, and said third electrical power from said at least one non-rechargeable battery;
- a two-position ON/OFF switch operable to open and close an electric circuit between said motor and the selected one of said generator assembly, said at least one rechargeable battery, and said at least one non-rechargeable battery;
- a first mode selection switch operable to selectively direct said first electrical power from said generator assembly to said motor;
- a second mode selection switch operable to selectively direct said first electrical power from said generator assembly to said at least one rechargeable battery;
- a third mode selection switch operable to selectively direct said second electrical power from said at least one rechargeable battery to said motor;
- and,
- a fourth mode selection switch operable to selectively direct said third electrical power from said at least one non-rechargeable battery to said motor.
11 more elements
A fan comprising:
- a base assembly;
- a fan housing disposed upon said base assembly;
- a fan assembly disposed within said fan housing;
- a generator assembly comprising a generator to provide a first electrical power and a capacitor to store said first electrical power;
- a crank handle operatively connected to said generator to generate said first electrical power in response to a rotational input;
- at least one rechargeable battery to provide a second electrical power;
- and
- at least one non-rechargeable battery to provide a third electrical power;
- a motor operatively connected to said fan assembly and in selectable electrical communication with said generator assembly, said at least one rechargeable battery, and said at least one non-rechargeable battery to receive a selected one of said first electrical power from said generator assembly, said second electrical power from said at least one rechargeable battery, and said third electrical power from said at least one non-rechargeable battery;
- a two-position ON/OFF switch operable to open and close an electric circuit between said motor and the selected one of said generator assembly, said at least one rechargeable battery, and said at least one non-rechargeable battery;
- a first mode selection switch operable to selectively direct said first electrical power from said generator assembly to said motor to drive said motor;
- a second mode selection switch operable to selectively direct said first electrical power from said generator assembly to said at least one rechargeable battery to charge said at least one rechargeable battery;
- a third mode selection switch operable to selectively direct said second electrical power from said at least one rechargeable battery to said motor to drive said motor;
- and,
- a fourth mode selection switch operable to selectively direct said third electrical power from said at least one non-rechargeable battery to said motor to drive said motor.
12 more elements
A fan comprising:
- a base assembly;
- a fan housing connected to said base assembly;
- fan assembly positioned in said fan housing and comprising a plurality of fan blades;
- a generator housing connected to said fan housing;
- a generator assembly positioned within said generator housing and comprising a generator to provide a first electrical power and a capacitor to store said first electrical power;
- a crank handle operatively connected to said generator to generate said first electrical power in response to a rotational input;
- at least one rechargeable battery to provide a second electrical power;
- and,
- at least one non-rechargeable battery to provide a third electrical power;
- a motor operatively connected to said fan assembly and in selectable electrical communication with said generator assembly, said at least one rechargeable battery, and said at least one non-rechargeable battery to receive a selected one of said first electrical power from said generator assembly, said second electrical power from said at least one rechargeable battery, and said third electrical power from said at least one non-rechargeable battery;
- a two-position ON/OFF switch operable to open and close an electric circuit between said motor and a selected one of said generator assembly, said at least one rechargeable battery, and said at least one non-rechargeable battery;
- a first mode selection switch operable to selectively direct said first electrical power from said generator assembly to said motor to drive said motor;
- a second mode selection switch operable to selectively direct said first electrical power from said generator assembly to said at least one rechargeable battery to charge said at least one rechargeable battery and direct said second electrical power from said at least one rechargeable battery to said motor to drive said motor;
- a third mode selection switch operable to selectively direct said second electrical power from said at least one rechargeable battery to said motor to drive said motor;
- and
- a fourth mode selection switch operable to selectively direct said third electrical power from said at least one non-rechargeable battery to said motor to drive said motor.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.