1. A bladeless fan assembly for creating an air current, the fan assembly comprising a device for creating an air flow and a nozzle comprising an interior passage for receiving the air flow, a mouth for emitting the air flow, and a plurality of stationary guide vanes located within the interior passage and each for directing a portion of the air flow towards the mouth, the nozzle defining an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth.
2. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the guide vanes are shaped to change the direction of the air flow by around 90\xb0.
3. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the mouth is shaped so as substantially to reverse the flow direction of each portion of the air flow.
4. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the interior passage is shaped to divide a received air flow into two air streams, and wherein the plurality of guide vanes comprises two sets of guide vanes each arranged to direct a respective air stream towards the mouth.
5. The fan assembly of claim 4, wherein the interior passage is shaped to convey each air stream along a respective side of the opening.
6. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises an inner casing section and an outer casing section which together define the interior passage and the mouth, and wherein the guide vanes are located on an internal surface of the inner casing section of the nozzle.
7. The fan assembly of claim 6, wherein the mouth comprises an outlet located between an external surface of the inner casing section of the nozzle and an internal surface of the outer casing section of the nozzle.
8. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the outlet is in the form of a slot.
9. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the outlet has a width in the range from 0.5 to 5 mm.
10. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the mouth comprises a plurality of said outlets spaced about the opening.
11. The fan assembly of claim 10, wherein the outlets are of substantially the same size.
12. The fan assembly of claim 6, wherein the guide vanes engage the internal surface of the outer casing section of the nozzle.
13. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle extends about the opening by a distance in the range from 50 to 250 cm.
14. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises an elongate, annular nozzle.
15. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the device for creating an air flow through the nozzle comprises an impeller driven by a motor.
16. The fan assembly of claim 15, wherein the motor is a DC brushless motor, and the impeller is a mixed flow impeller.
17. The fan assembly of claim 1, in the form of a portable tower fan.
18. A nozzle for a bladeless fan assembly for creating an air current, the nozzle comprising an interior passage for receiving an air flow, a mouth for emitting the air flow, and a plurality of stationary guide vanes located within the interior passage and each for directing a portion of the air flow towards the mouth, the nozzle defining an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth.
19. The nozzle of claim 18, wherein the guide vanes are shaped to change the direction of the air flow by around 90\xb0.
20. The nozzle of claim 18, wherein the mouth is shaped so as substantially to reverse the flow direction of each portion of the air flow.
21. The nozzle of claim 18, wherein the interior passage is shaped to divide a received air flow into two air streams, and wherein the plurality of guide vanes comprises two sets of guide vanes each arranged to direct a respective air stream towards the mouth.
22. The nozzle of claim 21, wherein the interior passage is shaped to convey each air stream along a respective side of the opening.
23. The nozzle of claim 18, comprising an inner casing section and an outer casing section which together define the interior passage and the mouth, and wherein the guide vanes are located on an internal surface of the inner casing section of the nozzle.
24. The nozzle of claim 23, wherein the mouth comprises an outlet located between an external surface of the inner casing section of the nozzle and an internal surface of the outer casing section of the nozzle.
25. The nozzle of claim 24, wherein the outlet is in the form of a slot.
26. The nozzle of claim 24, wherein the outlet has a width in the range from 0.5 to 5 mm.
27. The nozzle of claim 24, wherein the mouth comprises a plurality of said outlets spaced about the opening.
28. The nozzle of claim 27, wherein the outlets are of substantially the same size.
29. The nozzle of claim 23, wherein the guide vanes engage the internal surface of the outer casing section of the nozzle.
30. The nozzle of claim 18, wherein the interior passage extends about the opening by a distance in the range from 50 to 250 cm.
31. The nozzle of claim 18, in the form of an elongate, annular nozzle.
32. The nozzle of claim 18, comprising a surface located adjacent the mouth and over which the mouth is arranged to direct the air flow.
33. A nozzle as claimed in claim 32, wherein the surface is a Coanda surface.
34. A nozzle as claimed in claim 32, comprising a diffuser located downstream of the Coanda surface.
35. A fan assembly comprising a nozzle as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A pushbutton combination lock comprising:
a frame (1);
a lock bolt mechanism comprising:
a lock bolt (17) movably mounted on the frame (1) between a locking and an unlocking position; and
a lock bolt actuating mechanism (21, 22) arranged to move the lock bolt (17) between the locking and unlocking positions and operable from a first and a second side of the lock; and
a locking mechanism for locking the lock bolt mechanism to prevent the lock bolt (17) from being moved by the lock bolt actuating mechanism (21, 22) to the unlocking position, which locking mechanism comprises:
a first series of pushbuttons (25) on the first side of the lock and a second series of pushbuttons (25) on the second side of the lock; and
a first series of tumbler members (33) movable between normal and depressed stable positions by means of respective pushbuttons (25) of said first pushbutton series,
characterised in that
the locking mechanism further comprises:
a first check slide (39) movably mounted on the frame (1) between a first and a second position and co-operating with the first series of tumbler members (33) to be blocked, in its first position, or to be released thereby so as to be movable to its second position;
a second series of tumbler members (33) movable between normal and depressed stable positions by means of respective pushbuttons (25) of said second pushbutton series;
a second check slide (39) movably mounted on the frame (1) between a first and a second position and co-operating with the second series of tumbler members (33) to be blocked, in its first position, or to be released thereby so as to be movable to its second position; and
a selector (59) which is movably mounted on the frame (1) and which is blocked or released by the first and second check slides (39), the selector (59) coupling the first andor the second check slides (39) to the lock bolt mechanism (17, 21, 22) so that, at least when the first and the second check slides (39) are blocked, the selector (59) is blocked and is locking the lock bolt mechanism, and the selector (59) being arranged to be released by either the first or the second check slide (39) so that the lock bolt mechanism can be unlocked by releasing the first or respectively the second check slide (39).
2. A lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the selector (59) comprises a switch element (64) which engages both the first and the second check slides (39) to lock the lock bolt mechanism when the first and second check slides (39) are blocked,
which switches to the first check slide (39) so that the selector (59) is released and the lock bolt mechanism unlocked thereby when the first check slide (39) is released whilst the second check slide (39) remains blocked and which switches to the second check slide (39) so that the selector is released and the lock bolt mechanism unlocked thereby when the second check slide (39) is released and the first check slide (39) remains blocked.
3. A lock according to claim 2, characterised in that the switch element (64) is pivotally mounted about a pivot (65) and the switch element (64) and the first and the second check slides (39) comprise mutually co-operating cams and cam surfaces to pivot the switch element (64) to switch to the first or to the second check slide (39) upon operation of the lock bolt actuating mechanism when the first or respectively the second check slide (39) is released and the other check slide (39) is blocked.
4. A lock according to claim 2, characterised in that the switch element (64) comprises a switch lever pivotally mounted about a pivot (65) and having a first lever arm situated on one side of the pivot (65) and engaging the first check slide (39) and a second lever arm situated on an opposite side of the pivot and engaging the second check slide (39).
5. A lock according to any claim 1, characterised in that it further comprises a security mechanism including at least a first security slide (69) which is interposed between said first series of pushbuttons (25) and said first series of tumbler members (33) and which is movable between a first position, wherein it allows the tumbler members (33) of the first series to be moved by the respective pushbuttons (25) of the first pushbutton series from their normal to their depressed stable positions, and a second position wherein it prevents the tumbler members (33) of the first series to be moved by the respective pushbuttons (25) of the first pushbutton series from their normal to their depressed stable positions, the security slide (69) being coupled to the lock bolt mechanism (17, 21, 22) so as to be moved to said second position if said lock bolt mechanism (17, 21, 22) is actuated to move the lock bolt (17) towards its unlocking position.
6. A lock according to claim 5, characterised in that said security mechanism comprises a second security slide (69) which is interposed between said second series of pushbuttons (25) and said second series of tumbler members (33) and which is movable between a first position, wherein it allows the tumbler members (33) of the second series to by moved by the respective pushbuttons (25) of the second pushbutton series from their normal to their depressed stable positions, and a second position wherein it prevents the tumbler members (33) of the second series to be moved by the respective pushbuttons (25) of the second pushbutton series from their normal to their depressed stable positions, the second security slide (69) being coupled to the lock bolt mechanism (17, 21, 22) so as to be moved to said second position if said lock bolt mechanism (17, 21, 22) is actuated to move the lock bolt (17) towards its unlocking position and the second security slide (69) being preferably connected to said first security slide (69).
7. A lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the lock bolt is a latch bolt (17) which is biased by means of a latch bolt spring (20) out of the frame (1) of the lock and the selector (59) couples the first andor the second check slide (39) to the lock bolt actuating mechanism (21, 22) so that the latch bolt (17) can be pushed in against the spring bias even when the first and the second check slides (39) are both blocked.
8. A lock according to claim 7, characterised in that it further comprises a dead bolt (14) and a key operated dead bolt actuating mechanism (12).
9. A lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking mechanism further comprises a first reset slide (44) for resetting the tumbler members (33) of the first series all to their normal positions and a second reset slide (44) for resetting the tumbler members (33) of the second series all to their normal positions, both the first and the second check slides (39) being blocked when the tumbler members (33) of the first and of the second series are in their normal positions.
10. A lock according to claim 9, characterised in that it comprises a first coupler element (56) interposed between the first check slide (39) and the first reset slide (44) and a second coupler element (56) interposed between the second check slide (39) and the second reset slide (44) to actuate the first and second reset slide (44) upon actuation of the first and respectively the second check slide (39).
11. A lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the second series of pushbuttons (25) is replaced by one single pushbutton (68) acting on a number of the tumbler members (33) of the second series to move them to their depressed position when the push button (68) is being pushed in, the tumbler members (33) of the second series being selected in such a manner that only the tumbler member or members (33) onto which the single pushbutton (68) acts need to be depressed to release the second check slide (39).
12. A lock according to claim 1, characterised in that said lock bolt actuating mechanism (21, 22) comprises a follower (21) which is pivotally mounted on the frame (1) and arranged to receive a handle shaft, the follower (21) being provided with a lever (22) which is coupled to the selector (59) so as to block the follower (21) when the selector (59) is blocked and so as to release the follower (21) so that the lock bolt (17) can be moved to its unlocking position by means of the follower (21) when the selector (59) is released.
13. A lock according to claim 12, characterised in that the lever (22) on the follower (21) is coupled through the intermediary of a further lever (60), which is pivotally mounted about a pivot (61) on the frame (1), to the selector (59), the lever (22) on the follower (21) engaging the further lever (60) on a first distance from said pivot (61) and the further lever (60) engaging the selector (59) on a second distance from said pivot (61) which is smaller than said first distance.
14. A lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the tumbler members (33) each comprise a first (40, 41) and a second tumbler element (42), in that the frame (1) is provided with holes (34) arranged to receive the first tumbler elements (40, 41) and the first and the second check slides (39) with further holes (38) arranged to receive the second tumbler elements (42), and in that, when the first and second check slides (39) are in their first position, said further holes (38) are situated opposite said holes (34), the first tumbler elements (40, 41) are axially movable by means of the respective pushbutton (25) in said holes (34) between a first stable position, wherein the tumbler member (33) is in its normal position, and a second stable position, wherein the tumbler member (33) is in its depressed position, and the second tumbler elements (42) are axially movable in said further holes (38) and are biased by means of springs (54) against the corresponding first tumbler element (40, 41), the first tumbler elements (40, 41) of the first series and the first tumbler elements (40, 41) of the second series of tumbler members (33) each comprise one or more code tumbler elements (40, 41) having such a length that when they are in said first position, the corresponding second tumbler elements (42), which engage the code tumbler elements, project into one of said holes (34) to block the first and respectively the second check slide (39), and when the code tumbler elements are in said second position, they push the corresponding second tumbler elements (42) into said further holes (38) without projecting themselves therein, any remaining first tumbler elements (40, 41) being block tumbler elements having such a length that, when they are in said first position, they push the corresponding second tumbler elements (42) which engage the block tumbler elements into said further holes (38) without projecting themselves into these holes, and when the block tumbler elements (40, 41) are in said second position, they project into said further holes (38) thereby blocking the respective check slide (39).
15. A lock according to claim 14, characterised in that the first tumbler elements (40, 41) each comprise a base body (40) and a code body (41), the base bodies (40) having an axial through hole and are movable mounted in one of said holes (34) and the code bodies (41) being releasably fixed, preferably screwed, to the respective base body (40) to extend through said through hole and to engage the corresponding second tumbler element (42).
16. A pushbutton combination lock comprising:
a frame (1);
a lock bolt mechanism comprising:
a lock bolt (17) movably mounted on the frame (1) between a locking and an unlocking position; and
a lock bolt actuating mechanism (21, 22) arranged to move the lock bolt (17) between the locking and unlocking positions; and
a locking mechanism for locking the lock bolt mechanism 17, 21, 22) to prevent the lock bolt (17) from being moved by the lock bolt actuating mechanism (21, 22) to the unlocking position, which locking mechanism comprises:
at least one series of pushbuttons (25);
at least one series of tumbler members (33) movable between normal and depressed stable positions by means of respective pushbuttons (25) of said pushbutton series; and
at least one check slide (39) which is movably mounted on the frame (1) between a first and a second position, which co-operates with the series of tumbler members (33) to be blocked, in said first position of the check slide (39), or to be released thereby so as to be movable to said second position, and which is coupled to the lock bolt mechanism (17, 21, 22) to lock or unlock said lock bolt mechanism,
characterised in that
the tumbler members (33) each comprise a first (40, 41) and a second tumbler element (42), in that the frame (1) is provided with holes (34) arranged to receive the first tumbler elements (40, 41) and the check slide (39) with further holes (38) arranged to receive the second tumbler elements (42), and in that, when the check slide (39) is in its first position, said further holes (38) are situated opposite said holes (34), the first tumbler elements (40, 41) are axially movable by means of the respective pushbutton (25) in said holes (34) between a first stable position, wherein the tumbler member (33) is in its normal position, and a second stable position, wherein the tumbler member (33) is in its depressed position, and the second tumbler elements (42) are axially movable in said further holes (38) and are biased by means of springs (54) against the corresponding first tumbler element (40, 41), the first tumbler elements (40, 41) comprise one or more code tumbler elements having such a length that when they are in said first stable position, the corresponding second tumbler elements (42), which engage the code tumbler elements, project into one of said holes (34) to block the check slide (39), and when the code tumbler elements are in said second position, they push the corresponding second tumbler elements (42) into said further holes (38) without projecting themselves therein, any remaining first tumbler elements (40, 41) being block tumbler elements having such a length that, when they are in said first stable position, they push the corresponding second tumbler elements (42) which engage the block tumbler elements into said further holes (38) without projecting themselves into these holes, and when the block tumbler elements are in said second stable position, they project into said further holes (38) thereby blocking the check slide (39), the first tumbler elements (40, 41) each comprising a base body (40) and a code body (41), the base bodies (40) having an axial through hole and are movably mounted in one of said holes (34) and the code bodies (41) being removably fixed to the respective base body (40) to extend through said through hole and to engage the corresponding second tumbler element (42) in the first position of the check slide (39).
17. A lock according to claim 16, characterised in that the code bodies (41) are screwed to the base bodies (40).
18. A lock according to claim 17, characterised in that the pushbuttons (25) are contained in a keyboard (26) which can be removed from the frame (1) to provide access to the tumbler elements (33) to enable to interchange the code bodies (41).
19. A lock according to claim 15, characterised in that the locking mechanism comprises spring detents (43) for holding the tumbler members (33) in their normal and depressed stable positions, which spring detents (43) act upon said base bodies (40).
20. A lock according to claim 15, characterised in that the locking mechanism comprises a reset slide (44) for resetting the tumbler members (33) to their normal positions, the check slide (39) being blocked when the tumbler members (33) are in their normal positions and the reset slide (44) acting upon said base bodies (40) to reset the tumbler members (33) to their normal positions.
21. A lock according to claim 15, characterised in that it further comprises a security mechanism including a security slide (69) which is interposed between said series of pushbuttons (25) and said series of tumbler members (33) and which is movable between a first position, wherein it allows the tumbler members (33) to by moved by the respective pushbuttons (25) from their normal to their depressed stable positions, and a second position wherein it prevents the tumbler members (33) to be moved by the respective pushbuttons (25) from their normal to their depressed stable positions, the security slide (69) being coupled to the lock bolt mechanism (17, 21, 22) so as to be moved to said second position if said lock bolt mechanism (17, 21, 22) is actuated to move the lock bolt (17) towards its unlocking position.
22. A pushbutton combination lock comprising:
a frame (1);
a lock bolt mechanism comprising:
a lock bolt (17) movably mounted on the frame (1) between a locking and an unlocking position; and
a lock bolt actuating mechanism (21, 22) arranged to move the lock bolt (17) between the locking and unlocking positions; and
a locking mechanism for locking the lock bolt mechanism 17, 21, 22) to prevent the lock bolt (17) from being moved by the lock bolt actuating mechanism (21, 22) to the unlocking position, which locking mechanism comprises:
at least one series of pushbuttons (25);
at least one series of tumbler members (33) movable between normal and depressed stable positions by means of respective pushbuttons (25) of said pushbutton series; and
at least one check slide (39) which is movably mounted on the frame (1) between a first and a second position, which co-operates with the series of tumbler members (33) to be blocked, in said first position of the check slide (39), or to be released thereby so as to be movable to said second position, and which is coupled to the lock bolt mechanism (17, 21, 22) to lock or unlock said lock bolt mechanism,
characterised in that
it further comprises a security mechanism including a security slide (69) which is interposed between said series of pushbuttons (25) and said series of tumbler members (33) and which is movable between a first position, wherein it allows the tumbler members (33) to by moved by the respective pushbuttons (25) from their normal to their depressed stable positions, and a second position wherein it prevents the tumbler members (33) to be moved by the respective pushbuttons (25) from their normal to their depressed stable positions, the security slide (69) being coupled to the lock bolt mechanism (17, 21, 22) so as to be moved to said second position if said lock bolt mechanism (17, 21, 22) is actuated to move the lock bolt (17) towards its unlocking position.