HEADBAND FAN

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/678,418, filed Aug. 1, 2024, entitled Headband Fan. The above-identified related application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to personal cooling devices and, more particularly, to a personal cooling fan worn as a headband.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fans are widely used to circulate air with the purpose of providing ventilation to an area, like a room, or to aid in the cooling of one or more persons. For example, a table fan, when used properly, may cool a person through evaporative cooling of sweat perspired by the person. Evaporative cooling is essentially the process of cooling air through the evaporation of water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a headband cooling fan, according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 2-26 illustrate multiple views of a headband cooling fan, according to one or more embodiments.

FIGS. 27A-27E illustrate multiple embodiments of an anti-sweat headband according to one or more embodiments.

FIGS. 28A-28E illustrate multiple embodiments of an anti-sweat headband according to one or more embodiments.

FIGS. 29A-29E illustrate multiple embodiments of an anti-sweat headband according to one or more embodiments.

FIGS. 30A-30E illustrate multiple embodiments of an anti-sweat headband according to one or more embodiments.

FIGS. 31A and 31B illustrate an example of a headband cooling fan including a removable gel pack, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 32 illustrates an example comb according to one or more embodiments.

The Figures described above are representative and are not exhaustive with respect to embodying the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a system, method, and article of implementing a personal cooling fan. The following description is presented to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the various embodiments. Descriptions of specific devices, techniques, and applications are provided only as examples. Various modifications to the examples described herein can be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other examples and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the various embodiments.

Reference in this disclosure to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment, and multiple references to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment” should not be understood as necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or to different embodiments.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art can recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

The schematic flow chart diagrams included herein are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams and are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown.

Definitions

Example definitions for some embodiments are now provided.

A headband fan may be a lightweight personal cooling device worn around a wearer's head. A headband fan may be used, inter alia, to keep a wearer cool in hot temperatures, when the wearer is exerting effort (e.g., during exercise or performing manual labor), or the like. The headband fan may be worn to evaporate sweat excreted by a wearer and help cool them down when they exert themselves enough to cause perspiration.

Bladeless Fan—Also referred to as an air multiplier fan, is a fan that blows air from one or more openings and has no external blades. While a bladeless fan has no external blades, it may have one or more internal blades as part of the bladeless fan assembly.

Headband—A headband is an accessory that is typically worn to hold hair away from a person's face or eyes. Additionally, or alternatively, a headband may be worn when performing strenuous activities (e.g., sports, running) to collect sweat perspired by the wearer. A headband may be comprised of fabric materials (e.g., terrycloth, quilting cotton), rigid and semi-rigid materials (e.g., rubber, plastic), or combinations thereof. Additionally, a headband may include elastic materials, flexible materials, or combinations thereof to allow the headband to form to the head of the wearer.

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

A headband cooling fan is disclosed. In some examples, the headband cooling fan may be worn around the head and serve multiple purposes.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a headband fan 100, according to some embodiments. As shown, headband fan 100 may be a headband suitable for wearing around the head that effectively cools the wearer while in operation. Headband fan 100 may have a band 1 comprised of fabric materials, such as terrycloth or microfiber materials. As shown, headband fan 100 may include a fan 2. In some embodiments, the fan may be a bladeless fan. Additionally, headband fan 100 may include a plurality of airflow holes 3.

Headband fan 100 may also include a clasp 4. Clasp 4 may be used, for example, to secure the headband fan 100 to a wearer's head. Additionally, or alternatively, the headband fan 100 may be fitted to a person's head using different types of attachments. For example, the headband fan 100 may be comprised, at least in the rear portion of the headband, of elastic materials that conform to the person's head for a snug fit. In another embodiment, the headband fan 100 may be fastened using a button, a snap, or the like. In yet another embodiment, the headband fan 100 may be tied in the back. The clasp illustrated in FIG. 1 is merely an example and is not meant to be limiting in any way.

FIGS. 2-26 illustrate an example of a headband fan 100 in use, according to some embodiments. As shown, a person may wear the headband fan 100 over their head and behind their ears. It is understood that a headband may be worn in different ways. For example, a person may wear the headband fan 100 around their head so the headband is worn over their forehead, at their hairline, or just above or below their hairline. In some embodiments, the headband fan 100 may be positioned in such a way to evaporate a person's sweat, which may vary from one person to the next.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the headband may have a fan that is located at the rear of the headband that blows air forward. The headband may have a flexible inner core extrusion with two air channels, a central rib for structure, and air exit points along the perimeter, as indicated by the arrow. Air may blow forward through a channel within the stretchy headband and exit through holes on the perimeter. The channel and holes may be large enough to not introduce back-pressure. The headband may also feature an outer layer of removable fabric on the top and bottom that can be washed and reattached.

As shown in FIG. 4, fans may be located on either side of the headband, or both side. Two batteries and circuit boards may be located at the rear of the headband. Additionally, peltier coolers may be placed on the wearer's neck for additional cooling.

As shown in FIG. 5, the headband may be comprised of stretchy materials with an internal air channel. A rear housing may be provided to house the electronics (e.g., circuit board, batteries).

As shown in FIG. 6, a fan may be located at the rear of the headband that blows air forward over a peltier cooler to cool the air before it goes through the air channel of the band and exits from the headband.

As shown in FIG. 7, in some embodiments the batteries may be stacked to make room for the peltier coolers within the rear housing. FIGS. 8, 9 and 13 show alternative configurations. In FIGS. 10 and 11, the coolers may be removed to maximize space within the housing. In FIG. 12, the rear housing features two fans, two batteries, and a circuit board.

In another configuration, as shown in FIG. 14, to minimize the size of the rear housing, the batteries and circuit boards may be moved to an additional element hung around the neck. The fan may be located at the rear of the headband and configured to blow air forward over a cooler, such as a peltier cooler, to cool the air before it exits from the headband. As shown in FIG. 15, an alternative variant could have the batteries stored in a housing connected by a longer cable, which may be stored in a user's pocket or garment, rather than directly on the body. FIGS. 16-19 illustrated the rear housing featuring two fans and two peltier coolers.

In another configuration, as shown in FIG. 20, the rear housing may be as small as possible, only featuring two fans. FIGS. 21-26 illustrate alternative embodiments of the headband cooling fan. FIGS. 27A-27E, 28A-28E, 29A-29E, and 30A-30E illustrate alternative layouts of the headband as described herein.

FIG. 31A illustrates the described headband having a cool gel pack. Air exiting the headband's channels may run over the cool gel pack before exiting the headband, cooling the wearer. The gel pack may be removable and reusable. In some embodiments, the gel pack may be placed in a freezer or refrigerator before use.

FIG. 32 illustrates a special comb with bristles that act like ballpoint pen tips. The ballpoint pen tips may deposit antiperspirant directly to the scalp through the hair. Some of the thicker bristles of the comb may have an inner cavity that holds antiperspirant, which may be deposited via a roller ball mechanism.

The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various embodiments of the present disclosure. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.