USRE34551E — Ducted fan — Luxuse Patents

Claim 1

Independent Claim 174 words

A ducted fan comprising: a base member with a motor and bladed impeller attached to the base; a funnel-shaped duct with its large end facing upstream concentrically positioned upstream of the blades and around the motor and connected thereto; an outer cowling concentrically positioned, connected to the funnel-shaped duct through a series of radial ribs; a inner cowling positioned inside the outer cowling and attached thereto, the inner cowling being circular in lateral cross section and tapered longitudinally in shape from its larger diameter intake end to its lesser diameter discharge end; a circular grill having an outer radius attached to the discharge end of the inner cowling, the grill including a center hub and a series of arcuate shaped ribs extending outwardly from the hub to said outer radius, each rib having a constant curvature radius and each rib being equally spaced from each other around the hub, the maximum lateral spacing between the ribs is inboard from said outer radius; and a support means pivotally attached to said motor and base member.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 174 words

A ducted fan comprising: a base member with a motor and bladed impeller attached to the base; a funnel-shaped duct with its large end facing upstream concentrically positioned upstream of the blades and around the motor and connected thereto; an outer cowling concentrically positioned, connected to the funnel-shaped duct through a series of radial ribs; a inner cowling positioned inside the outer cowling and attached thereto, the inner cowling being circular in lateral cross section and tapered longitudinally in shape from its larger diameter intake end to its lesser diameter discharge end; a circular grill having an outer radius attached to the discharge end of the inner cowling, the grill including a center hub and a series of arcuate shaped ribs extending outwardly from the hub to said outer radius, each rib having a constant curvature radius and each rib being equally spaced from each other around the hub, the maximum lateral spacing between the ribs is inboard from said outer radius; and a support means pivotally attached to said motor and base member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

A ducted fan as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ribs of the grill each have a center of curvature which locus of points lies on a circle concentric with the grill at approximately one-half the outer radius of the grill.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 57 words

A ducted fan as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ribs of the grill each have a center of curvature which locus of points lies on a circle concentric with the grill at approximately one-half the outer radius of the grill and the hub has a radius of approximately one-fifth the outer radius of the grill.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 55 words

A ducted fan as a set forth in claim 1, wherein the ribs of the grill have a radius approximately two-thirds the outer radius of the grill with the center of curvature point of each rib lying on a circle concentric with the grill having a radius approximately one-half the outer radius of the grill.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 62 words

A ducted fan as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ribs of the grill each have a center of curvature which locus of points lies on a circle concentric with the grill at approximately one-half the outer radius of the grill and the lateral cross section of each rib has an airfoil shape with its leading edge facing the fan blades.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 55 words

A ducted fan as set forth in claim 1, including multiple tab means positioned around the periphery of the inner cowling's intake end which deflect in and engage the upstream edge of the outer cowling which when all of the tab means are deflected allows separation of the inner cowling and grill from the fan.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 53 words

A ducted fan as set forth in claim 1, including four hook-shaped tab means positioned around the periphery of the inner cowling intake end which deflect in and engage the outer cowling at its upstream edge, which requires two or more manual operations before the inner cowling can be separated from the fan.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 48 words

A ducted fan as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support means is a single tubular metal leg formed to provide a curved floor engaging portion and horizontal mounting portion which engages the base member and electrical wires from the motor which pass through the tubular leg.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 93 words

A ducted fan as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support means is a single tubular metal leg formed to provide a floor-engaging portion and a horizontal mounting portion which engages the base, a preloaded spring means surrounding the horizontal mounting portion of said leg which engages the motor and said metal leg, to provide a spring force to counter balance the offset weight of the fan and mounting brackets which rotatably attach the horizontal mounting portions of said leg to the base, permitting the fan to rotated on tits support means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 127 words

A ducted fan as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support means is a single tubular metal leg formed to provide a floor-engaging portion and a horizontal mounting portion which engages the base, a preloaded spring means surrounding the horizontal mounting portion of said leg which engages the motor and said metal leg, to provide a spring force to counter balance the offset weight of the fan and mounting brackets which rotatably attach the horizontal mounting portion of said leg to the base permitting the fan to be rotated on its support means, and spring stop means attached to the horizontal mounting portion of said leg comprising an offset tab which engages an end of said spring means preventing the spring from rotating around said leg.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 184 words

A ducted fan comprising: a base member with a motor and bladed impeller attached to the base which blades rotate in one direction; a funnel-shaped duct with its large end facing upstream concentrically positioned upstream of the blades and around the motor and connected thereto; an outer cowling concentrically positioned, connected to the funnel-shaped duct through a series of radial ribs; a inner cowling positioned inside the outer cowling and attached thereto, the inner cowling being circular in lateral cross section and tapered longitudinally in shape from its larger diameter intake end to its lesser diameter discharge end; a circular grill having an outer radius attached to the discharge end of the inner cowling, the grill including a center hub and a series of arcuate shaped ribs extending outwardly from the hub and curving in the opposite direction of rotation from said blades to said outer radius, and each rib being equally spaced from each other around the hub, the maximum lateral spacing between the ribs is inboard from said outer radius; and a support means pivotally attached to said motor and base member.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 184 words

A ducted fan comprising: a base member with a motor and bladed impeller attached to the base which blades rotate in one direction; a funnel-shaped duct with its large end facing upstream concentrically positioned upstream of the blades and around the motor and connected thereto; an outer cowling concentrically positioned, connected to the funnel-shaped duct through a series of radial ribs; a inner cowling positioned inside the outer cowling and attached thereto, the inner cowling being circular in lateral cross section and tapered longitudinally in shape from its larger diameter intake end to its lesser diameter discharge end; a circular grill having an outer radius attached to the discharge end of the inner cowling, the grill including a center hub and a series of arcuate shaped ribs extending outwardly from the hub and curving in the opposite direction of rotation from said blades to said outer radius, and each rib being equally spaced from each other around the hub, the maximum lateral spacing between the ribs is inboard from said outer radius; and a support means pivotally attached to said motor and base member.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

A ducted fan as set forth in claim 11, wherein the lateral spacing between the ribs of the grill is no greater than 0.5 inches.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 40 words

A ducted fan as set forth in claim 11, wherein the outer cowling has a convex outer surface with a rounded upstream edge which together with the inner cowling at its intake end forms an aerodynamically clean rounded leading edge.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 65 words

A ducted fan as set forth in claim 11, wherein the outer cowling has a convex outer surface with a rounded upstream edge which together with the inner cowling at its intake end forms an aerodynamically clean rounded leading edge and between the downstream edge of the outer cowling and the inner cowling is an annular cavity which provides a handle for lifting the fan.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 191 words

A ducted fan comprising: a base member with a motor and bladed impeller attached to the base; a funnel-shaped duct with its large end facing upstream concentrically positioned upstream of the blades and around the motor and connected thereto; an outer cowling concentrically positioned connected to the funnel-shaped duct through a series of radial ribs; a removable inner cowling positioned inside the outer cowling and releasably attached thereto, the inner cowling being circular in lateral cross section and tapered longitudinally in shape from its larger diameter intake end to its lesser diameter discharge end; a circular grill having an outer radius attached to the discharge end of the inner cowling, the grill including a center hub and a series of arcuate shaped ribs extending outwardly from the hub to said outer radius, and a support means pivotally attached to said motor and base member. .Iadd.16. A ducted fan as in claim 15 wherein said outer cowling extends axially toward the discharge end of the inner cowling and is spaced radially outwardly therefrom. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A ducted fan as in claim 15 wherein the arcuate shaped ribs have a continuous curvature. .Iaddend.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 153 words

.Iadd.18. A ducted fan as in claim 15 wherein the funnel shaped duct extends generally axially toward the blades from the series of radial ribs. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A ducted fan as in claim 15 wherein said outer cowling connects together and rigidifies one set of ends of the series of radial ribs. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A ducted fan as in claim 15 wherein the curvature of said arcuate shaped ribs is in the opposite direction of rotation from that of said bladed impeller. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A ducted fan comprised of a base member including a motor and a bladed propeller operatively attached thereto, an entry duct concentrically positioned upstream of the bladed propeller and connected to said base member, an outer member concentrically positioned relative to and connected to said entry duct so as to be spaced therefrom, duct means for enclosing the bladed propeller and having a portion removably connected to allow access

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 158 words

to the interior of said ducted fan. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A ducted fan comprised of a base member including a motor and a bladed propeller operatively attached thereof, an entry duct concentrically positioned upstream of the bladed propeller and connected to said base member, an outer member concentrically positioned relative to and spaced from said entry duct by a series of radially extending ribs, a removable inner member having a portion thereof positioned inside the outer member and releasably attached thereto, the inner member being generally circular in lateral cross-section and terminating at a discharge end, and a grill member having an outer radius attached to the discharge end of said inner member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A ducted fan as in claim 22 wherein said removable inner member is positioned and spaced radially within said outer member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A ducted fan as in claim 22 wherein said outer member surrounds at least a portion of said inner member. .Iaddend.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-02-21	1997-08-23	1998-02-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-02-21	2001-08-23	2002-02-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-02-21	2005-08-23	2006-02-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ducted fan

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