FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 OF 1970)
AND
THE PATENT RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
“GUARD RING ASSEMBLY FOR FAN”
I/We, Bajaj Electricals Limited, an Indian National, of 45/47, Veer Nariman Road, Fort Mumbai- 400001, India.
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF INVENTION
The present disclosure generally relates to table, pedestal and/or wall-mounted fans. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a simpler and more secure means for assembly of guard rings in table, pedestal and/or wall-mounted fans.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This section is intended to provide information relating to the field of disclosure and thus, any approach or functionality described herein should not be assumed to qualify as prior art merely by its inclusion in this section.
Table, Pedestal and/or Wall-mounted (TPW) fans are popularly used as small-scale air flow units. TPW fans are popular due to their portability, lightweight construction, and easy maintenance. Typically, blades of TPW fans are made of lightweight materials, such as plastics, thus enabling even low-powered motors to generate a suitably high air flow.
TPW fans include front and back grills that define a region therebetween. The blades of the TPW fan are disposed within the region. The front and back grills serve to allow for easy and unrestricted air flow, while restricting accidental access to the blades, particularly when the blades are in motion (for example, by a user of the fan). Typically, the front and back grills are assembled using securing means, such as clasps. However, using clasps may require that the font and/or the back grill and the clasp it to be held in place simultaneously, while the clasp is also operated to secure the front and back grills together. Such a process may be difficult for a single user and may necessitate more than one user. Further, such effort may be cumbersome and inefficient. Furthermore, the clasp may have to be tightened using a screw and/or bolt arrangement, further complicating assembly of the front and back grills. Any error in proper securing of the front and back grills may cause the front and/or the back grill to be disassembled during operation of the fan, leading to potential hazard for the user of the fan.

There is a requirement in the art, for a means to safely, securely, and simply assemble the front and back grills of a TPW fan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This section is intended to introduce one or more aspects and/or embodiments of the present disclosure in a simplified form and is not intended to identify any key advantages or features of the present disclosure.
In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a guard ring assembly for a fan comprising a first section having a first end and a second end; a second section having a first end and a second end; and a rotatable hinge adapted to couple the first end of the first section with the first end of the second section.
In an aspect of the present invention, the guard ring assembly comprises at least one snap-fit attachment fixedly arranged on the second section and adapted to secure the second section to a back grill of the fan.
In an aspect of the present invention, the guard ring assembly comprises a two-part locking arrangement adapted to removably couple the second end of the first section with the second end of the second section.
In another aspect of the present invention, the two-part locking arrangement comprises a first part and a second part.
In another aspect of the present invention, the two-part locking arrangement is deemed to be positively locked if the first part and the second part is locked.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the guard ring assembly comprises at least one first groove to receive a back grill of the fan and at least one second groove to receive a front grill of the fan.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the guard ring assembly comprises a groove to receive a back grill of the fan and independently the front grill of the fan.
In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fan comprising a guard ring assembly, said assembly comprising: a first section having a first end and a second end; a second section having a first end and a second end; and a

rotatable hinge adapted to couple the first end of the first section with the first end of the second section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The present disclosure, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. These and other details of the present invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the scope of the present disclosure.
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a fan, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2A illustrates a schematic exploded view of a guard ring assembly of the fan, along with back and front grills, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic front view of the guard ring assembly, when the guard ring assembly is in an open configuration, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2C illustrates a schematic front view of the guard ring assembly, when the guard ring assembly is in a closed configuration, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2D illustrates another schematic front view of the guard ring assembly along with a rotatable hinge and a two-part locking mechanism of the guard ring assembly, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3A illustrates a schematic view of a section of the guard ring assembly including at least one groove, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic view of a section of the guard ring assembly including one groove, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of a section of the guard ring assembly including a snap-fit attachment, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter may each be used independently of one another or in any combination with other features. An individual feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or may address only some of the problems discussed above. Some of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described herein. Example embodiments of the present disclosure are described below, as illustrated in various drawings, in which same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings.
The present invention provides a guard ring assembly for a fan. The guard ring assembly includes a first section having a first end and a second end. The guard ring assembly further includes a second section having a first end and a second end. The guard ring assembly further includes a rotatable hinge adapted to couple the first end of the first section with the first end of the second section.
In an embodiment, the guard ring assembly further comprises at least one snap-fit attachment fixedly arranged on the second section and adapted to secure the second section to a back grill of the fan. In an embodiment, the guard ring comprises a plurality of snap-fit attachments. In an embodiment, the guard ring comprises a single snap-fit attachment.
In an embodiment, the guard ring assembly further comprises a two-part locking arrangement adapted to removably couple the second end of the first section with the second end of the second section. The two-part locking arrangement

comprises a first part and second part. The two-part locking arrangement is positively locked when the first part and the second part is locked.
In an embodiment, the guard ring assembly further comprises at least a first groove to receive a back grill of the fan, and at least a second groove to receive a front grill of the fan. In an alternate embodiment, the guard ring assembly further comprises a single groove to receive a back grill and front grill of the fan.
The present invention also provides a fan comprising the guard ring assembly as substantially described herein.
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a fan 200, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The fan 200 may be any one of a table fan, a pedestal fan, and a wall mounted fan. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1 the fan 200 is a table fan. The fan 200 includes a stand 202, on which the fan 200 may be mounted on a surface (e.g., table, floor, etc.). The fan 200 further includes a set of blades 204, arranged between back and front grills 110, 118. The set of blades 204 are axial flow blades, which are rotatable about a central axis, and are actuated by a motor assembly (not shown). When the set of blades 204 rotates, a gust of air is moved by the set of blades outwards, along the central axis. The set of blades 204 are secured between the back and front grills 110, 118 using securing means (e.g., lock nuts), and the back and front grills 110, 118 serve to prevent accidental access (by, for example, a user of the fan 200) to the set of blades 204 while the set of blades 204 are in motion. The back and front grills 110, 118 have holes or slots or a mesh in order to allow passage of air correspondingly therethrough. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, the back and front grills 110, 118 have a radiating grill design. In other words, the back and front grills 110, 118 have radiating grill elements 125 radiating from a centre of the back and front grills 110, 118 towards corresponding peripheries of the back and front grills 110, 118. The fan 200 further includes a guard ring assembly 100. The guard ring assembly 100 may be interchangeably referred to as “the assembly 100”. The assembly 100 is adapted to removably secure the back and front grills 110, 118.

FIG. 2A illustrates a schematic exploded view of the assembly 100, along with the back and front grills 110, 118, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic front view of the assembly 100, when the assembly 100 is in an open configuration, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2C illustrates a schematic front view of the assembly 100, when the assembly 100 is in a closed configuration, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2D illustrates a schematic back view of the assembly 100 along with a rotatable hinge 106 and a two-part locking mechanism 112 of the assembly 100, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
Referring to FIGs. 2A to 2D, the assembly 100 includes a ring 150. The ring 150 may be divided into two sections – first and second sections 102, 104. In the illustrated embodiments of FIGs. 2A to 2D, the first section 102 is a top section of the ring 150, and the second section 104 is a bottom section of the ring 150. The first and second sections 102, 104 are separate components that, when arranged together, form the ring 150. The first section 102 includes first and second ends 102a, 102b, and the second section 104 includes first and second ends 104a, 104b.
The assembly 100 further includes the rotatable hinge 106. The hinge 106 is disposed at an interface or junction between the first end 102a of the first section 102 and the first end 104a of the second section 104. Specifically, the hinge 106 includes a first part 106a, and a second part 106b. The first part 106a is located at a first end 102a of the first section 102, and the second part 106b is located at the first end 104a of the second section 104. The first and second parts 106a, 106b are adapted to be coupled together to form the hinge 106. The first and second parts 106a, 106b are coupled together such that the second part 106b is rotatable relative to the first part 106a. The hinge 106 is adapted to rotatably couple the first and second sections 102, 104 at their respective first ends 102a, 104a, such that the respective second ends 102b, 104b of the first and second sections 102, 104 switch

between the closed configuration and the open configuration. Specifically, in the closed configuration, the respective second ends 102b, 104b of the first and second sections 102, 104 are abutted, and in the open configuration, the respective second ends 102b, 104b of the first and second sections 102, 104 are separated by a distance.
The assembly 100 further includes the two-part locking arrangement 112. The two-part locking arrangement 112 is arranged at a junction of the second end 102b of the first section 102 and the second end 104b of the second section 104. Specifically, the two-part locking arrangement 112 includes a first part 112a and a second part 112b. The first part 112a is located at the second end 102b of the first section 102, and the second part 112b is located at the second end 104b of the second section 104. The first and second parts 112a, 112b are adapted to be locked when the ring 150 is in the closed configuration. The first and second parts 112a, 112b are adapted to mesh when the ring 150 in in the closed configuration. The two-part locking mechanism 112 is locked by securing or fastening the meshed first and second parts 112a, 112b. When the first and second parts 112a, 112b are locked, the two-part locking mechanism 112 is deemed to be positively locked.
The assembly 100 further includes at least one groove 114 to receive the back grill 110 of the fan 200 therein.
FIG. 3A illustrates a schematic view of a section of the assembly 100 including the at least one groove 114, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The at least one groove 114 receives a rim of the back grill 110 therein. The at least one groove 114 may serve to guide the ring 150 of the assembly 100 to assemble with the back grill 110.
The assembly 100 includes at least one first groove 114, and at least one second groove 116. The at least one first groove 114 is adapted to receive the back grill 110, and the at least one second groove 116 is adapted to receive the front grill 118. The at least one first groove 114 and the at least one second groove 116 serve to guide the ring 150 of the assembly 100 to assemble with the back grill 110, and the front grill 118, respectively.

FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic view of a section of the guard ring assembly including a groove 120, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The assembly 100 includes a groove 120 that may be adapted to receive the back grill 110 of the fan 200 and, independently, the front grill 118 of the fan 200. FIG. 3B illustrates both front and back grills 118, 110, each independently attached to the assembly 100 at the groove 120.
FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of a section of the assembly 100 including a snap-fit attachment 108, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The assembly 100 further includes at least one snap-fit attachment 108. The snap-fit attachment 108 is fixedly arranged on the second section 104 of the ring 150. The snap-fit attachment 108 is adapted to secure the second section 104 to the back grill 110 of the fan 200.
The snap-fit attachment 108 includes two prongs109a, 109b extending from the ring 150 outwards. The prongs 109a, 109b may have elastic properties, i.e., when a compressive force is applied on the prongs 109a, 109b to decrease a distance of separation therebetween, and then released, the prongs 109a, 109b are adapted to snap back to an original position.
Referring the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, when the back grill 110 is assembled with the assembly 100, the prongs 109a, 109b of the snap-fit attachment 108 are pushed between two adjacent grill elements 125a, 125b. The prongs 109a, 109b are compressed as they are being pressed between the grill elements 125a, 125b. Once past the grill elements 125a, 125b, the prongs 109a, 109b snap back to position to secure the second section 104 of the ring 150 with the back grill 110.
The assembly 100 includes two or more snap-fit attachments (not shown in figure). The two or more snap-fit attachments are fixedly arranged on any one or more of the first and second sections 102, 104 of the ring 150.
Referring now to FIGs. 1 to 4, generally, the back grill 108 of the fan 200 is assembled with the motor assembly of the fan 200, and a requirement is to assemble the front grill 118 with the back grill 110. The guard ring assembly 100 is first coupled with the back grill 110 using the snap-fit attachment 108. The assembly

100 is further guided to a correct location by receiving the back grill 110 in the first groove 116. Owing to the rotatable hinge 106, the first section 102 of the ring 150 is secured to the back grill 110 while the assembly 100 is still in the open configuration. Once the assembly 100 is secured to the back grill 110, there is no requirement to further manually support the assembly 100. Once the assembly 100 is secured to the back grill 110, the font grill 118 is placed in the second groove 116 of the assembly 100. The assembly 100 is then converted to the closed configuration by moving the second end 102b of the first section towards the second end 104b of the second section 104. The two-part locking arrangement 112 is actuated to secure the assembly 100 in the closed configuration about the front and back grills 118, 110, thereby securing the assembly of the back and front grills 110, 118.
The assembly 100 assists in assembling of the front grill 118 with the back grill 118 without requirement of additional manual support for holding the front grill 118. Further, a combination of the rotatable hinge 106 and the two-part locking arrangement 112 allows the assembly to be moved easily from the open to closed configuration, and vice-versa, without requirement of additional manual support.
While the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described hereinabove, it may be appreciated that various changes, adaptations, and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the disclosure and the scope of the appended claims. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments may to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
200 Fan
202 Stand
204 Set of Blades
110 Back Grill

118 Front Grill
125 Grill Elements
125a Grill Element
125b Grill Element
100 Guard Ring Assembly
150 Ring
102 First Section
102a First End
102b Second End
104 Second Section
104a First End
104b Second End
106 Rotatable Hinge
112 Two-Part Locking Arrangement
112a First Part
112b Second Part
114 Groove / First Groove
116 Second Groove
120 Groove
108 Snap-Fit Attachment
109a, b Prong

I/We Claim:
1. A guard ring assembly (100) for a fan (200), the guard ring assembly (100)
comprising:
a first section (102) having a first end (102a) and a second end (102b);
a second section (104) having a first end (104a) and a second end (104b); and
a rotatable hinge (106) adapted to couple the first end (102a) of the first section (102) with the first end (104a) of the second section (104).
2. The guard ring assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guard ring assembly (100) comprises at least one snap-fit attachment (108) fixedly arranged on the second section (104) and adapted to secure the second section (104) to a back grill (110) of the fan (200).
3. The guard ring assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guard ring assembly (100) comprises a two-part locking arrangement (112) adapted to removably couple the second end (102b) of the first section (102) with the second end (104b) of the second section (104).
4. The guard ring assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the two-part locking arrangement (112) comprises a first part (112a) and a second part (112b).
5. The guard ring assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the two-part locking arrangement (112) is deemed to be positively locked if the first part (112a) and the second part (112b) is locked.

6. The guard ring assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guard ring assembly (100) comprises at least one first groove (114) to receive a back grill (110) of the fan (200) and at least one second groove (116) to receive a front grill (118) of the fan (200).
7. The guard ring assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guard ring assembly (100) comprises a groove (120) to receive a back grill (110) of the fan (200) and independently the front grill (118) of the fan (200).
8. A fan (200) comprising a guard ring assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1.