“AIR MOVEMENT DEVICE”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described here concern an air movement device preferably suitable to cool people. The device of the present invention can be used in indoor environments, such as spas, swimming pools or suchlike, but also in outdoor environments, without an electrical network, for a prolonged period of time and without requiring particular efforts from the user. This device can be advantageously associated with a sunbed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The need to cool down, for example in particularly hot or humid situations, is known. Sometimes, to meet this need it is possible to use air conditioning and/or ventilation devices. There are also frequent situations in which it is not possible to use such devices, for example in environments where these are not installed and/or where there is no immediate access to the electrical network.

In these cases it is possible to resort to solutions of the manual type, such as fans, or of the electric portable type, such as pocket fans. Manual solutions can only be effective for a limited period of time, that is, until the user tires or until he/she need both hands free to perform other activities.

Similarly, the functioning of the solutions of the electric portable type is limited by the charge and battery life thereof. Furthermore, in order to guarantee functioning for an acceptable period of time, these devices have compromise solutions, for example with a reduced power of the ventilation means, thus reducing their effectiveness.

These disadvantages can be particularly disadvantageous, for example if it is necessary, or there is a desire, to remain outdoors and in the heat for a prolonged period of time.

For example, in the event that a user wants to tan while sunbathing led on a sunbed, two partly contrasting needs arise. The first, the need to spend as much time as possible under the sun, can be in contrast with the second, that is, the need to cool down. In fact, in order to cool down a user can be led to move into the shade, effectively avoiding sun exposure.

Furnishing articles are also known that have a small roof in which a photovoltaic panel is permanently integrated in order to power some electrical user devices. However, this type of solution is particularly expensive and complicated and, therefore, its use is limited to domestic environments.

There is therefore the need to perfect an air movement device that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a device that can also be used outdoors, for a prolonged period of time and without requiring an electrical network.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a device that can cool down a user without hindering him/her and without limiting him/her in his/her activities.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a device which can cool down a user which is simple and economical to produce and easy to install.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, an air movement device is described which overcomes the limits of the state of the art and eliminates the defects present therein.

The device according to the present invention comprises a containing body and ventilation means configured to generate a flow of air. The ventilation means can be housed in the containing body and the flow of air can at least partly pass through the containing body which can comprise at least one inlet and one outlet for the air.

According to one aspect of the invention, the ventilation means can be powered by a photovoltaic panel, included in the device, and operatively associated with the containing body.

In preferred embodiments, the device also comprises attachment means configured to attach the device, preferably in a removable manner, to a parasol of a sunbed or deck chair. This conformation allows a user to remain exposed to the sun for a prolonged period of time without any discomfort correlated to the temperature of the environment.

The containing body can advantageously be substantially tubular in shape.

The ventilation means can be operatively associated with one end of the containing body provided with the inlet for the air. The other end of the containing body can be fluidically closed and the outlet for the air can be disposed between these ends.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the ventilation means are disposed inside the containing body and both the inlets as well as the outlets for the flow of air are made on the containing body.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the ventilation means are fixed to at least one end of the containing body and outside the latter.

In preferred embodiments, the photovoltaic panel can be of the roll-up type, and it can assume a rolled up configuration in which it is substantially cylindrical in shape, and an extended configuration in which it is substantially flat and rectangular in shape. Preferably, when the photovoltaic panel is in the rolled up configuration it is for the most part comprised in the containing body. On the contrary, when the photovoltaic panel is in the extended configuration it is for the most part outside the containing body.

In some embodiments, the photovoltaic panel can be held by elastic return in the rolled up configuration and can be manually unrolled into the extended configuration. Furthermore, the device can comprise second attachment means associated with one end of the photovoltaic panel and configured to attach to the parasol. Advantageously, in this way the device can be attached to the parasol, on one side by means of the first attachment means and on the other opposite side by means of the second attachment means. The stable grip of the attachment means is guaranteed by the fact that the photovoltaic panel is held by elastic return. This makes the device easy to install.

In possible variants, the photovoltaic panel can be of the rigid type and can extend in a single body from the containing body.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the photovoltaic panel extends from the containing body in a manner substantially tangential to at least one external wall of the containing body.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the first attachment means are disposed between the photovoltaic panel and the outlets for the flow of air, so that, during use, that is, when the device is associated with the parasol, the photovoltaic panel is located above the parasol and the outlets are located below the parasol.

According to another aspect of the present invention, during use, that is, when the device is associated with the parasol, the containing body is disposed substantially in correspondence with one end of the photovoltaic panel. This facilitates both fixing the device io the parasol and also directing the flow of air toward a user sitting or lying on the sunbed.

The device can also comprise electrical energy accumulation means configured to accumulate at least part of the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panel. Such electrical energy accumulation means can be electrically connected to electrical connection interfaces configured to supply electrical energy to mobile devices. Advantageously, in this way, a user can use part of the electrical energy generated by the device of the present invention to charge such mobile devices. Here and hereafter in the description, by mobile devices we mean mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, portable consoles or laptops and similar or comparable devices.

Furthermore, the device can comprise support means operatively associated with the containing body and configured to support mobile devices.

The present invention also concerns an assembly to allow a user to be exposed to the sun, comprising a sunbed having a parasol and an air movement device according to the invention attached, in a removable manner, to the parasol.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a lateral view representation of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, in a condition of use;

- fig. la is an enlargement of fig. 1 ; - fig. 2 and 3 are three-dimensional views of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention in respective operating configurations;

- fig. 4 is a three-dimensional view of another embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

- fig. 5 is a schematic representation, in section, of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

- fig. 6 is a schematic representation, in section, of another embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

- fig. 7 is a schematic representation, in section, of yet another embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

- fig. 8 is a three-dimensional view of the device of fig. 7.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a non-limiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

With reference to fig. 1, the number 10 indicates an air movement device, hereafter device 10, suitable to generate a flow of air F suitable to cool down things, people or animals.

The device 10 can be advantageously associated with the parasol 51 of a sunbed 50 to supply a flow of air F to a user seated or lying on the bed 50.

The device 10 can comprise ventilation means 11 configured to generate the flow of air F.

In some embodiments, the device 10 comprises a containing body 12 that contains, or is associated with, the ventilation means 11.

In some embodiments, the containing body 12 can be passed through, at least partly, by the flow of air F.

With reference to the embodiments shown schematically in figs. 2-5, the containing body 12 can have a tubular shape that develops along an axis X and at one end 14 thereof there can be associated, for example fixed, the ventilation means 11, while the other end 15 can be fluidically closed.

Exit apertures, or outlets, 13 for the air can be made on the containing body 12, which are interposed between its ends 14, 15. These air outlets 13 can be configured as a plurality of holes, slots, or slits having any shape or size whatsoever. In this way, the air sucked in by the ventilation means 11 partly passes through the containing body 12 and exits from the outlets 13. In these embodiments, the ventilation means 11 can be configured as one or more axial fans 1 la disposed aligned with the axis X (fig. 5).

Alternatively, in the embodiment schematically shown in fig. 6, the ventilation means 11 are disposed completely inside the containing body 12.

In this embodiment, the ventilation means 11 can comprise a tangential fan 11b, disposed inside the containing body 12. In this case, on the lateral wall and/or at the ends of the containing body 12 there can be made both one or more inlet apertures, or inlets, 19 to allow the ventilation means 11 to suck in the air, and also one or more outlets 13 for the air.

Although in the embodiment shown by way of example in fig. 6 the tangential fan 11b is disposed in a substantially central position with respect to the longitudinal extension of the containing body 12, it can also be disposed in the proximity of one of the two ends.

According to other embodiments, two tangential fans l ib can also be provided, disposed distanced along the axis X. In this case, it can be provided that the containing body 12 comprises dedicated inlet and outlets for the flow of air F for each tangential fan 11b. In another possible embodiment, shown schematically in figs. 7 and 8, the ventilation means 11 can be fixed to the outside of the containing body 12, preferably in correspondence with one or both ends.

In this case, the ventilation means 11 comprise two centrifugal fans 11c each of which is fixed to a respective end 14, 15 of the containing body 12. Each centrifugal fan 11c comprises an external body 37 having at least one inlet aperture 38 and one outlet 13 for the flow of air F. The external body 37 is rotatable around the axis X with respect to the containing body 12, so as to allow a user to position the outlet 13 to convey at will the flow of air F generated by each centrifugal fan 11c in the desired direction.

According to possible variants, not shown, there can also be provided ducts or other tubular elements, possibly flexible, connected to one or to each outlet 13 and able to be oriented in order to direct the flow of air F in a desired manner. The device 10 can also comprise first attachment means 16 configured to allow the selective and reversible attachment of the device 10 to any mechanical element whatsoever that is foreign to the device 10.

In particular, the device 10 can advantageously be selectively and removably attached to the parasol 51 of a sunbed 50 (fig. 1). Although in hereafter we have referred to the parasol 51, it is not excluded that the device 10 can be attached to other objects to perform a similar cooling function.

In some embodiments, the first attachment means 16 can comprise one or more protuberances 17, 18 which develop from the containing body 12.

With reference to fig. 3, in a first variant, the protuberances 17, 18 extend longitudinally along the development of the containing body 12 and are substantially parallel to the axis X. According to this embodiment, the protuberances 17, 18 are disposed substantially on opposite sides with respect to the axis X and, together with the containing body 12, define a substantially U- shaped seating. During use, the protuberances 17, 18 are located on opposite sides of the parasol 51.

In a second variant, with reference to fig. 4, the protuberances 17, 18 extend intermittently from the containing body 12. In particular, a first and a second series of protuberances 17, 18 can be provided, which extend on respective planes parallel to each other, the series of protuberances 17, 18 defining, together with the containing body 12, an attachment seating for the parasol 51. During use, the first and second series of protuberances 17, 18 are positioned on opposite sides of the parasol 51.

This conformation makes the device 10 substantially as wide as the parasol 51 and at least part of its frame can be accommodated between the protuberances 17, 18.

In this way, the device 10 can be fixed, in a removable manner, to the parasol 51, preferably with the air outlets 13 facing substantially toward the bed 50. This conformation allows a user to enjoy the flow of air F generated by the ventilation means 11 without being engaged in supporting the device 10 and without the latter coming between the sun and the user. In this way, both the user’s needs can be met, that is, both that of staying cool as well as that of being exposed to the sun for a prolonged period of time.

According to some embodiments, the attachment means 16 can also comprise adapters 22 operatively associated with the protuberances 17, 18 and configured to improve the attachment between the device 10 and the parasol 51. In particular, these adapters 22 can be substantially C-shaped, shaped in the external portion so as to couple with the protuberances 17, 18 and in the internal portion so as to couple with the frame of the parasol 51.

Furthermore, the adapters 22 can be removable and supplied in different shapes and sizes to allow the attachment of the device 10 to different types of parasol 51. This configuration advantageously gives the device 10 of the present invention a high flexibility of use.

It should be noted that the attachment means 16 allow to fix and remove the device 10 according to the present invention to the parasol 51 of a bed 50 very quickly and without needing external tools.

According to one aspect of the invention, the device 10 can comprise a photovoltaic panel 25 operatively associated with the containing body 12.

In a first embodiment, shown in fig. 4, the photovoltaic panel 25 can be of the rigid type and can extend from the containing body 12. In these cases, the photovoltaic panel 25 can be installed on a support 25a which extends as a single body from the containing body 12. For example, the support 25a extends tangentially with respect to the external wall of the containing body 12.

In this first embodiment, the photovoltaic panel 25 has a first free end 27 and a second end 29 in correspondence with which it connects to the containing body 12.

Alternatively, the photovoltaic panel 25 can be connected directly to the containing body 12 by means of fixing and/or gluing devices of the known type.

In another embodiment, the photovoltaic panel 25 can be of the roll-up type. In particular, this type of photovoltaic panel 25 can be configured as a film or a mesh of non-woven fabric, flexible and comprising photovoltaic cells, strings or modules.

The photovoltaic panel 25 can be of the roll-up type and it can assume a substantially cylindrical configuration when rolled up and a substantially flat configuration when extended. In other words, the photovoltaic panel 25 can assume a rolled up configuration in which it is rolled up on itself and forms a substantially cylindrical body. Furthermore, it can assume an extended configuration in which it is unrolled and forms a substantially flat and rectangular body.

In preferred embodiments, the photovoltaic panel 25 in question can be at least partly contained in the containing body 12 of the device 10.

In particular, when the photovoltaic panel 25 is rolled up it is for the most part contained in the containing body 12, and when the photovoltaic panel 25 is extended it is for the most part outside the containing body 12. In other words, in the rolled up configuration the photovoltaic panel 25 can be for the most part included in the containing body 12 of the device 10.

Also in this case, when the device 10 is in use, that is, when it is associated with the parasol 51 , the photovoltaic panel 25 has a first free end 27 and a second end 29 in correspondence with which it connects to the containing body 12.

In this specific case, the axis along which the photovoltaic panel 25 is rolled up substantially coincides with the axis X of the containing body 12.

On the contrary, in the extended configuration the photovoltaic panel 25 is for the most part disposed outside the containing body 12 of the device 10.

To allow the extension of the photovoltaic panel 25, an aperture 26 can be made in the containing body 12 through which at least part of the photovoltaic panel 25 can be extracted. In fact, a user can manually pull the photovoltaic panel 25 from the first end 27, which is outside the aperture 26.

In the extended configuration, the photovoltaic panel 25 can have an extension comprised between about 400 and 500 millimeters in a direction perpendicular to the axis X. However, photovoltaic panels 25 which have smaller or larger extensions are not excluded.

According to preferred embodiments, the photovoltaic panel 25 can be held by elastic return in the rolled up configuration.

In particular, elastic and roll-up means 44 associated with the photovoltaic panel 25 can be housed inside the containing body 12 of the device 10 in order to hold it rolled up. The elastic and roll-up means 44 can comprise a central shaft 47 disposed inside the containing body 12 and pivoted to two elastic roll-up coders 45, 46, which are also fixed to the containing body 12. The second end 29 of the photovoltaic panel 25 is fixed to the central shaft 47.

According to preferred embodiments, with the first end 27 of the photovoltaic panel 25 there can be functionally associated second attachment means 28 which are also suitable to attach to the parasol 51.

In particular, the second attachment means 28 can comprise one or more supports 28a connected to the photovoltaic panel 25 and with a substantially C- shaped conformation in order to accommodate part of the frame of the parasol 51 in the internal part. Two or more supports 28a can be connected to each other by a rod 28b that allows to keep the first end 27 of the photovoltaic panel 25 rectilinear, and which facilitates the manual unrolling thereof. Advantageously, in this way the device 10 can be attached to the parasol 51, on one side by means of the first attachment means 16 and on the other opposite side by means of the second attachment means 28 (fig. la). The grip of the attachment means 16, 28 is guaranteed by the fact that the photovoltaic panel 25 is held by elastic return in the rolled up configuration. This makes the device 10 easy to install and gives the attachment a high stability.

Preferably, at least the first attachment means 16 are disposed between the photovoltaic panel 25 and the outlets 13 of the flow of air F generated by the ventilation means 11. In this way, during use, that is, when the device 10 is associated with the parasol 51, the photovoltaic panel 25 is located above the parasol 51 and the outlets 13 are located below the parasol 51.

The device 10 can also comprise electrical energy accumulation means 30, hereafter accumulation means 30, electrically connected to the photovoltaic panel 25 to store at least part of the energy generated by it. These accumulation means 30 can be advantageously housed inside the containing body 12. In some embodiments, the ventilation means 11 can be powered by means of the electrical energy accumulated in the accumulation means 30.

According to other embodiments, electrical connection interfaces 31, for example of the USB, micro USB, USB-C type and suchlike, can be electrically connected to the accumulation means 30. These electrical connection interfaces 31 can be configured to charge mobile devices, such as for example smartphones, tablets and suchlike, with the electrical energy accumulated in the accumulation means 30. Furthermore, the electrical connection interfaces 31 can comprise a charge input electrically connected to the accumulation means 30. This charge input can be configured to allow to charge the accumulation means 30 through sources other than the photovoltaic panel 25. For example, the charge input can allow to charge the accumulation means 30 through the home network. In these cases, the charge input can be configured as a micro USB type socket.

Advantageously, in this way it is possible to charge the accumulation means 30 before using the device 10 outside. In this way, the device 10 can be immediately operational thanks to the previously charged accumulation means 30 and it can guarantee a prolonged functioning over time thanks to the photovoltaic panel 25.

The electrical connection interfaces 31 can be disposed in the containing body 12, for example in correspondence with the fluidically closed end 15.

With reference to fig. 6, the device 10 can also comprise a management and control unit 32 electrically connected to the accumulation means 30 and configured to manage the charging thereof. This management and control unit 32 can be connected to the ventilation means 11 and to the electrical connection interfaces 31. In particular, this control and management unit 32 can be configured to manage the electrical energy transmitted to the electrical connection interfaces 31 as well as the functioning of the ventilation means 11.

In some embodiments, the device 10 can also have a user interface 34 configured to allow the user to activate, or not, the ventilation means 11 and to manage their operation. The user interface 34 can comprise, for example, an electric switch and/or means for regulating the power of the ventilation means 11.

The device 10 can also comprise support means 35 configured to support mobile devices, such as for example smartphones, tablets and similar or comparable devices.

The support means 35 can comprise one or more elongated elements 36 that develop from the containing body 12 and with which there can be associated a gripper 37 that is configured to grip the mobile device to be supported. This conformation is advantageous and makes the device 10 particularly versatile, with the ability to support a mobile device, for example in front of the face of a user lying on a sunbed 50.

In a first embodiment, the elongated elements 36 can develop in a single body from the containing body 12.

In one variant, the elongated elements 36 can be configured as a plate conformed to couple with the containing body 12.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the air movement device 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.