Neck Fan
Patent No. US11920602 (titled "Neck Fan") was filed by Shenzhen Jisu Technology Co Ltd on Apr 14, 2023.
What is this patent about?
’602 is related to the field of personal cooling devices, specifically neck fans. These devices provide localized cooling by blowing air onto the wearer's neck and face. The background acknowledges the increasing demand for convenient, hands-free cooling solutions, highlighting the limitations of existing neck fan designs, particularly concerning safety (hair entanglement) and user comfort (concentrated airflow).
The underlying idea behind ’602 is to improve the safety and comfort of neck fans by using multiple small fans within a protective housing to generate a distributed airflow. Instead of exposed blades, the design employs an inner and outer shell that creates a receiving space for several fan assemblies. Air is drawn in through inlets near the neck and directed through an air duct formed within the receiving space, ultimately providing a more diffused and less jarring cooling experience.
The claims of ’602 focus on a neck fan with an inner shell positioned near the neck and an outer shell connected to it, forming a receiving space. This space houses multiple fan assemblies. The inner shell has air inlets near the neck, and the receiving space acts as an air duct. Each fan assembly draws air from outside the fan through these inlets and forces it into the air duct. An alternative claim focuses on a cover connected to the outer shell, with air inlets located between the cover and the outer shell's side.
In practice, the neck fan is worn around the neck, with the inner shell positioned close to the skin. The fan assemblies, likely small turbine fans , draw air in through the inlets. This air is then channeled through the air duct, which distributes the airflow along the neck. The multiple fan design allows for a more even and less concentrated stream of air compared to traditional neck fans with only two exposed fans.
The design differentiates itself from prior art by addressing the safety concerns of exposed fan blades and the discomfort of concentrated airflow. By enclosing the fans within the receiving space and using multiple inlets and outlets, the risk of hair entanglement is reduced, and the cooling effect is more evenly distributed. The use of a partitioned air duct further optimizes airflow and minimizes air volume loss, leading to a more efficient and comfortable cooling experience for the user.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2010s when ’602 was filed, personal cooling devices were at a time when miniaturization of components and battery technology made portable fan designs increasingly viable. At a time when ergonomic considerations were becoming more prominent in wearable technology, designs commonly relied on optimizing airflow and user comfort rather than solely focusing on raw cooling power. At a time when systems commonly relied on traditional fan blade designs rather than bladeless or alternative air propulsion methods.
Novelty and Inventive Step
Claims were rejected during prosecution. Specifically, claims 1-5, 8, 10-14, and 17 were rejected for nonstatutory double patenting over a prior patent. Claims 9 and 18 were rejected as being indefinite. Claims 1-18 were objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim. The application proceeded to allowance; however, the prosecution record does NOT describe the technical reasoning or specific claim changes that led to allowance.
Claims
This patent contains 18 claims, with independent claims 1 and 10 directed to a neck fan comprising inner and outer shells defining a receiving space for fan assemblies and an air duct. The dependent claims generally elaborate on specific features and configurations of the neck fan, such as the air inlets/outlets, partitions within the air duct, battery placement, fan assembly components, and the cover.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
Patent Family
File Wrapper
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Date
Description
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US11920602
- Application Number
- US18134571
- Filing Date
- Apr 14, 2023
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Nov 13, 2040
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents