FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10)
"COLLAPSIBLE FAN"


We , UNITED PHOSPHORUS LIMITED,
a company incorporated under the Companies Act,
1956 and having its registered office at 3-11, GIDC,
Vapi-396 195,
State of Gujarat, India,
INDIAN.

The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-


COLLAPSIBLE FAN
[01] Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a collapsible fan. More particularly, the present invention relates to a handheld fan collapsible within a cylindrical housing. .
[02] Background of the Invention
A handheld fan, in its simplest construction, comprises a circular or a semi¬circular plastic material known as the leaf, which is attached to a handle through a plastic or metallic rod. However, these fans are not preferred currently as they cannot be folded, which causes inconvenience during their carriage from one place to another.
To overcome this problem, folding hand fans are well known in the art. These fans are usually prepared from folded paper connected with the fan handle at. one end. When the fan handles are opened, the folded paper opens into a circular arc known as the rivet, which when moved back and. forth propels a draft of cool air towards the user.
However, such handheld fans apart from being used for cooling needs, are also used for decorative purposes and for designing fashionable items such as wall hangings or occasion gifts to friends, relatives and customers.
There exists a continuous need for handheld fans that are prepared :from readily available materials, and hence are inexpensive to make and easy to assemble. Moreover, when a company rewards a customer for purchasing the company's product in the form of a free handheld fan as gift or incentive, particularly in the rural parts of India, it is beneficial to the company's advertising portfolio if the gifted fan also includes an advertisement display listing the company's products in order to capture the rural customer's mindspace. Accordingly, there exists a further need in the art for a handheld fan having an advertising display surface for promoting one or more
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humanitarian ideas, political parties'- ideologies or the sponsoring company's product line.
United States Patent No. 7 347 670 assigned to Henderson discloses a folding hand fan with decorative handles and replaceable fan inserts to match a female user's clothes. This patent is based on the finding that females prefer those handheld fans whose fan inserts could be changed to match different clothes by removing one insert from the handle and replacing it with another befitting handle. However, this patent does not address the need for a foldable fan that collapses within a cylindrical housing and which is being capable of being used as an advertising medium.
United States Patent No. 7 300 249 to Cobb discloses automatic double folding hand fans, which possess a first guard, a second guard and spring mechanisms to open the fan when required. However, the complex mechanistic design features of the disclosed fan make it cumbersome and expensive to be prepared thereby rendering the same incapable to be used as low cost advertising medium. Moreover, this patent also does not address the need for a foldable fan that collapses within a cylindrical housing and which is being capable of being used as an advertising medium.
United States Patent No. 6 213 716 to Bucher et al. discloses ready to hang ceiling fans that either has foldable mounting arms for each of the fan blades so that an installer can take both the motor and the pre-attached blades out of the shipping box and allow the folded arms to unfold when the ceiling fan is being mounted or has foldable blades pre-attached to mounting arms that are attached to a motor housing while the installer simply takes out both the motor and the pre-attached folded blades out of the shipping box and allows the folded blades to unfold when the ceiling fan is being mounted. This patent however does not address the need for a handheld fan having the desired characteristics, which forms the subject matter of the present invention.
United States Patent No. 4 911 611 to Moore discloses a collapsible fan that unfolds into a fan that is about six times its folded size. Though the collapsible fan disclosed herein may include logos and messages, the mechanistic
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construction of this fan includes a spring type frame foldable into itself and unfoldable to its original shape and a membrane connected across the spring frame. Thus, this patent also does not address the need for a foldable fan that collapses within a cylindrical housing and which is being capable of being used as an advertising medium.
There is a further need in the art for a collapsible handheld fan that is capable of being stored in large numbers within a small enclosure having limited storage space such that the individual fans are stacked beside, upon or below '. each other without damaging the fan pleats.
Thus, there exists a need in the art for a collapsible handheld fan that addresses the aforesaid needs existing within the art.
[03] Objects of the invention
The. various embodiments of the present invention may, but do not necessarily, achieve one or more of the following advantages and/or objects:
It is a general objective of the present invention to provide a handheld fan that is collapsible within a substantially hollow cylindrical housing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible fan that can be conveniently carried by the user like a baton or a stick in the user's hand in its folded position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible handheld fan capable of being used as occasion gifts to friends, relatives and customers.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible handheld fan that is made from readily available materials and is therefore inexpensive to make and easy to assemble.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible fan that can be suitably rewarded to a customer buying a company's product offered as a purchase incentive.
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Yet another object.of the present invention is to provide a collapsible fan that, in its fully opened position, includes an advertising display surface for promoting the sponsoring company's product line.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible handheld fan that could be stacked upon each other thereby capable of being stored in large quantities within a limited space without damaging the fan pleats.
These and the other advantages may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification, claims and abstract.
Summary of the invention
In accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention, there is provided a collapsible handheld fan comprising:
(a) a hollow, substantially cylindrical inner tube having a first end and. a second end;
(b) a substantially cylindrical outer tube having a first and a second end, said outer tube externally surrounding said inner tube and being slidably disposed thereon; and
(c) a fan insert made from a substantially rectangular material and accordion folded to form a base and a top of said accordion folding, said base of said accordion folding being bonded adhesively and immovably placed inside said open first end of the inner tube and the two ends of the top of said accordion folding being tethered at two points on said first end of the outer tube through a tethering means.
In accordance with another exemplary aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for making a collapsible handheld fan comprising:
(a) folding a provided fan insert material in accordion pleats;
(b) adhesively bonding one end of the accordion folding;
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(c) immovably placing said bonded end inside a first open end of a provided inner tube;
(d) inserting a provided outer tube over said provided inner tube such that the leading end of said outer tube is aligned with the first end of said inner tube; and
(e) tethering the two ends of top of said accordion folding at two points on said first end of the outer ring.
The above description sets forth, rather broadly, a summary of one embodiment of the present invention so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. Some of the embodiments of the present invention may not include all of the features or characteristics listed in the above summary. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and will" form the subject matter of the present invention. In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in connection with the drawings described hereinafter.
Figure 1 illustrates a collapsible fan according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a fan insert according to an embodiment of the present invention.
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Figure 3 illustrates a fan insert according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in its fully extended position displaying the pictorial representation that transforms to a lotus upon being accordion folded.
Figure 4 illustrates a fan insert according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention displaying a lotus displayed across the display surface.
Figure. 5 illustrates the collapsible fan of the present invention in its closed position.
Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method for. making exemplary collapsible fan according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed description of the Invention
In accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention, there is thus provided a collapsible handheld fan. The collapsible handheld fan of the present invention comprises an inner tube, an outer tube and a fan insert.
The inner tube is a hollow cylindrical tube having a first end and a second end. The tube may be made of polished wood, glass, plastics or other such materials that are conventionally known in the art. The choice of the material used for preparing the inner tube is not particularly limiting and it may be made from any plastic that is conventionally used in the art for making such tubes.
In a preferred embodiment, said first end is open while the second end is closed or partially closed. In this embodiment, the second end of the cylindrical tube thus formed may be folded or semi-folded and sealed or semi-sealed using adhesives, bonding tapes or other such materials known in the art.
In a preferred embodiment, the inner tube is made of a plastic material selected from the group comprising cast acrylic sheet, extruded acrylic sheet, acrylic mirror sheet, aluminum composite sheet comprising polyethene core and aluminum polyester varnish, foam PVC sheets, solid PVC sheets,
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polycarbonate sheets, polyester sheets, thermoplastic copolyester, polyester PETG sheets, polyethylene, polypropylene and the like.
In another preferred embodiment, the inner tube is made of a flexible, plastic sheet that is rolled into a cylindrical shape. In case, the inner tube is composed of a flexible plastic sheet foiled into the cylindrical shape, the leading edge of such rolled cylindrical may be bonded adhesively to the tapered surface of said cylinder so that the tube does not open up easily.
The outer tube of the present invention is a substantially cylindrical tube having opened first and second ends. This outer tube is slidably disposed on the inner tube and is capable of being slid throughout the length of the inner tube and has a length which is preferably shorter than the length of the inner tube.
The outer tube externally surrounds the inner tube and therefore possesses a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the inner tube.
The outer tube may also be made of polished wood, glass, plastics or other such materials that are conventionally known in the art. The choice of the material used for preparing-the outer tube is not particularly limiting and it may be made from any plastic that is conventionally used in the art for making such tubes. Further, the material used for preparing the outer tube may be the same or may be different from the materia? used for preparing the inner tube.
It has been found that providing the inner and outer tubes enables the fan insert to be accommodated completely within the outer cylindrical housing in its closed position which protects the fan insert from frictional damage when large quantities of such fans are stored within an enclosure having a limited space for storage. Moreover, providing the outer and inner tubes enable better handle grips for the user and enhances convenience of operation for the user.
Further, the operation of opening and closing the fan insert is actuated by the mechanical sliding of the outer tube over the inner tube, which enhances the ease of operation of the handheld fan. Moreover, the handheld fan according to the present invention assumes a cylindrical shape in its closed position and
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is therefore, capable of being conveniently carried like a baton in the user's hands. None of the handheld fans that are conventionally known in the art are" capable of being opened or closed actuated by the sliding of a provided outer tube over another inner tube.
The collapsible fan of the present invention comprises a fan insert, also known. as the leaf. The fan insert according to the present invention is made from a substantially rectangular material, preferably reinforced paper or reinforced fabric.
The substantially rectangular material is accordion pleated to form an accordion folding having a base and a top. The base of the accordion folding is bonded together in any manner preferred to a person skilled in the art. For example, the base of the accordion folding may be glued, pinned or stapled together;
In a preferred embodiment, the base of said accordion folding is bonded adhesively and immovably placed inside said open first end of the inner tube.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base of the accordion folding is glued together.
The two top corners of the substantially rectangular material, upon accordion pleating as aforesaid, form the two ends on top of the said accordion folding. These two ends are tethered at two points on the first end of the outer tube through a tethering means.
The tethering means may be plastic which fastens the two top ends of the accordion folding to the first end of the outer tube and may be any fastening means that is suitable. For example, the tethering means may be a thin plastic rope, cotton or synthetic thread or thin metallic wire having sufficient strength such that it does not break down during the repeated opening and closure of the collapsible fan.
The tethering means is preferably of a length such that it enables the outer tube to be slid over the entire length of the provided inner tube.
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In a preferred embodiment, the tethering means is made from cotton or synthetic thread.

In another preferred, embodiment, the two ends of the accordion folding are tethered at two diametrically opposite points on the circumference at the first end,oif,the outer tube.
In another preferred embodiment, the length of the tethering means defines the maximum allowable sliding movement of the outer tube over the inner tube in either direction.
In another preferred embodiment, the rectangular insert material may be enlarged along with a corresponding increase in the length of the tethering means in order to obtain a larger collapsible fan. It should be understood that the size of the collapsible fan according to the present invention is dependent upon several factors such as dimensions of the rectangular insert material, the diameters and lengths of the inner and outer tubes and the length of the tethering means, which all can be varied depending upon the requirements. It should be understood that the size of the collapsible fans made according to the present invention is not limiting and may be varied without departing from the scope of the present invention.
During the operation of the described collapsible fans according to an aspect of the present.invention, the outer tube is slid in a direction opposite to the closed second end of the inner tube till said first end of the inner tube and the entire length of the collapsed fan insert are submerged within the outer tube. In this relative positioning of the outer tube substantially covering the top portion of the inner tube, the first end of said outer tube is aligned with the top of the collapsed fan insert. In this closed position, the collapsible fan according to the present invention appears as a cylindrical tube wherein the diameter of the top portion is greater than the diameter of the lower portion.
In a preferred embodiment, the tethering means is of a length barely sufficient to allow the movement of the outer tube only to an extent that the first end of the outer tube is aligned with the top of the collapsed fan insert.
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Conversely, when the outer tube is slid towards the closed second end of the inner tube, the accordion folding slowly emerges from within the outer tube and-gradually opens up to provide a circular arc with the stretching of the tethering means. The circular arc upon being displaced in a direction perpendicular to the circular arc propels a draft of cool air towards the user.
In this relative positioning of the outer tube substantially covering the lower half of the inner tube, the second end of said outer tube is aligned with, the closed second end of the inner tube. In this opened position, the collapsible fan according to the present invention appears as a cylindrical tube having a fully displayed circular leaf affixed at one end thereto.
In a preferred embodiment, the tethering means is of a length barely sufficient to allow the movement of the outer tube only to an extent that the second end of the outer tube is aligned with the closed second end of the inner tube.
In this embodiment of the present invention, the circular arc in its fully opened position forms an extended display surface. The display surface has advertising information displayed thereon.
In an embodiment, the collapsible fan of the present invention may be offered as purchase incentives to customers purchasing a company's products. In this embodiment, the displayed information includes information identifying the company sponsoring the gifted collapsible fan its logo and a description of the company's product. In a further preferred embodiment, the displayed product information is different from the product already purchased by the customer receiving the gift.
In another preferred embodiment, the fan insert or the leaf is divided into two semi-circular portions comprising an outer rim and an inner fuente. Preferably, the outer rim of the fan insert displays brand information identifying one or more branded products marketed by the sponsoring company.. In this embodiment, the fuente displays the pictorial representation of the branded product identified in the brand information displayed on the outer rim portion.
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In another embodiment, the displayed information includes advertising information promoting one or more humanitarian ideas. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the message "World Aids Day, Fight Against HIV" is, displayed across the display surface together with a visual representation identifying a folded red ribbon.
In another embodiment, the displayed information includes information identifying a political party and its motto displayed across the display surface along with a visual representation identifying the party's insignia.
In another preferred embodiment, the displayed information includes a
pictorial representation of a lotus embossed substantially over the entire
display surface. Preferably, this pictorial representation identifies an orange
colored lotus having purple outlines against a substantially greenish
background.
In this embodiment, the rectangular fan insert material includes a pictorial representation displayed thereon which when accordion folded to a fanfold transform into a lotus displayed on the leaf of the fan according to the present invention.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for making a collapsible handheld fan.
The method comprises selecting a fan insert material, which is substantially rectangular in shape having desired dimensions. The fan insert material, which is preferably reinforced paper, is folded back and forth in a fanfold. A preferred method for making a fanfold is folding one end over about an inch, turning the paper over and folding the end up and thereafter continuing folding the paper in accordion like pleats.
The accordion folding obtained thereby is adhesively bonded or stapled together at one end thereof. The bonded or stapled end of the accordion folding is tied, bonded, fastened, stapled or adhered, whichever method is suitable, to the first open end of the inner tube. The inner tube and the outer
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tube may be prepared as per the methods using the materials described hereinabove.
In the next step of the method of .the present invention, the outer tube is . inserted over the inner tube such that the first end of the inner tube is aligned with the first end of the outer tube. Thereafter, the two top corners of the accordion folding are tethered using tethering means hereinbefore described at two points on the first end of the outer ring. In a preferred embodiment, these two points may be diametrically opposite to each other.
In an embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, providing an inner tube comprises rolling a flexible plastic sheet into a cylindrical sheet and adhesively bonding the leading edge of such rolled cylinder to the tapered surface of the cylindrical tube.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
Turning now to figure 1, illustrated is an exemplary embodiment of the collapsible fan according to the present invention. The collapsible fan comprises an inner tube 2, an outer tube 3 and a fan insert 4. The inner tube is a hollow cylindrical tube having a first open end 5 and a second partially closed end 6. The second end 6 of the cylindrical tube thus formed is pinch-folded and sealed using bonding tapes. The outer tube 3 is a substantially cylindrical tube having opened first 7 and second 8 ends. This outer tube is slidably disposed (shown by arrows A and B in the accompanying figure 1) on the inner tube. The fan insert or the accordion folding is adhesively bonded together at one end 9 thereof while the other end thereof opens up in" an arc 10. The two top corners (11, 12) of the top 10 are tethered at two points (13, 14) on the first end of the outer tube through a tethering means (15).
Figure 2 illustrates a fan insert according to the present invention. The fan insert or the accordion folding is adhesively bonded together at one end 9 thereof while the other end thereof opens up in an arc 10. The two top corners (11, 12) of the top 10 are tethered at two points on the first end of the outer
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tube through a tethering means. The. circular arc of the fan insert forms an extended display surface 16.
Figure 3 illustrates another exemplary fan insert in its fully extended position. In this embodiment, the rectangular fan insert material 19 includes a pictorial representation 17, 18 displayed thereon which when accordion folded to a fanfold transforms into a lotus displayed on the leaf of the fan according to the present invention.
Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary fan insert made according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention. The information displayed on the display
surface includes a pictorial representation of a lotus embossed substantially
over the entire display surface. Preferably, this pictorial representation
identifies an orange colored lotus having purple outlines against a substantially
greenish background.
Figure 5 illustrates the collapsible fan according to the present- invention in its closed position wherein the entire length of the collapsed fan insert is submerged within the outer tube. In this position, the outer tube 22 substantially covers the top portion of the inner tube 23 and the first end of said outer tube 24 is aligned with the top of the collapsed fan insert 25. In this closed position, the collapsible fan according to the invention appears as a cylindrical tube 26 wherein the diameter 27 of the top portion is greater than the diameter 28 of the lower portion.
Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method for making exemplary collapsible fan according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method comprises selecting a fan insert material, which is substantially rectangular in shape having desired dimensions (SI). The fan insert material, which is preferably reinforced paper, is folded back and forth in a fanfold (S2). The accordion folding obtained thereby is adhesively bonded at one end thereof (S3). The bonded or stapled end of the accordion folding is tied, bonded, fastened, stapled or adhered, whichever method is suitable, to the first open end of the inner tube (S4). A flexible plastic sheet is rolled (S5) into a cylindrical tube and adhesively bonded the leading edge of such rolled
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cylinder to the tapered surface of the cylindrical tube. An outer tube is inserted over the inner tube such that the first' end of the inner tube is aligned with the first end of the outer tube (S6). Thereafter, the two top corners of the accordion folding are tethered using tethering means at two points on the first end of the outer ring (S6) to provide the collapsible fan according to the present invention.
Wherein the aforegoing reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that changes may be made to the above described embodiments of the invention without departing from the principles taught herein. Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent for those skilled in the art after considering the principles in particular form as discussed and illustrated. Thus, it will be Understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described or illustrated, but is intended to cover all alterations or modifications which are within the scope of the present invention.
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WE CLAIM:
1. A collapsible handheld fan comprising:
(a) a hollow, substantially cylindrical inner tube having a first end and a second end;
(b) a substantially cylindrical outer tube having a first and a second open end, said outer tube externally surrounding said inner tube and being slidably disposed thereon; and
(c) a fan insert made from a substantially rectangular material and accordion folded to form a base and a top of said accordion folding, said base of said accordion folding being bonded adhesively and immovably placed inside said open first end of the inner tube and the two ends of the top of said accordion folding being tethered at two points on said first end of the outer tube through a tethering means.

2. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein sliding the outer tube in a direction opposite to the closed second end of the inner tube causes the top of said accordion folding collapsing together within said outer tube and sliding the outer tube towards the closed second end of the inner tube extending the tethering means therewith causes the top of said accordion folding tethered to said outer tube to emerge from the inner tube and stretch thereby opening up to provide a circular arc.
3. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first end of the inner tube is open and said second end of the inner tube is at least partially closed.
4. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second end of the inner tube is completely closed.
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5. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 2, wherein said circular arc in its fully opened position forms a display surface, having information displayed thereon.
6. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner tube is made from a flexible plastic sheet rolled into a cylindrical tube.
7. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer tube has a shorter length relative to the length of the inner tube.
8. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer tube has a diameter greater than the diameter of the inner tube.
9. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer tube is made of aplastic material.
10. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fan insert is made from reinforced paper or from reinforced fabric.
11. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein-said base of the accordion folding is glued together using an adhesive.
12. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tethering means is selected from a thin plastic rope, cotton thread, synthetic thread and thin metallic wire.
13. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said two ends of the top of said accordion folding are tethered at two diametrically opposite points on me circumference at said first end of the outer tube.
14. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 5, wherein said information displayed on the display surface includes information identifying the company sponsoring the gifted collapsible fan, its logo and a description of the company's products.
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15. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 5, wherein said information displayed on the display surface includes information identifying a political party and its motto.
16. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 5, wherein said display surface includes an outer rim and an inner fuente wherein said outer rim displays brand information identifying one or. more branded products marketed by the sponsoring company and said inner fuente displays the pictorial representation of the branded product identified in the brand information displayed on the outer rim portion.
17. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 5, wherein said displayed information includes a pictorial representation of a lotus embossed substantially over the entire display surface wherein said embossed lotus is substantially orange colored having purple outlines against a substantially greenish background. •
18. A collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 17, wherein the rectangular fan insert material includes a pictorial representation displayed thereon which when accordion folded to a fanfold transforms into a lotus displayed on the leaf of the fan.
19. A method for making a collapsible handheld fan comprising:

(a) folding a provided fan insert material in accordion pleats;
(b) adhesively bonding one end of the accordion folding;
(c) movably placing said bonded end inside a first open end of a provided inner tube;
(d) inserting a provided outer tube over said provided inner tube such that the leading end of said outer tube is aligned with the first end of said inner tube; and
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(e) tethering the two ends of top of said accordion folding at two points on said first end of the outer ring.
20. A method for making a collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 19, wherein folding said provided fan insert material in accordion pleats comprises selecting a fan insert material having desired dimensions and folding the fan insert material back and forth in a fanfold.
21. A method for making a collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 20, wherein said folding the fan insert material back and forth in a fanfold comprises folding one end of the selected fan insert material over about an unit inch, turning the paper over and folding the end up, and continuing folding the paper in accordion likepleats.
22. A method for making a collapsible handheld fan as claimed in claim 19, wherein providing said inner tube comprises the steps of: rolling a flexible plastic sheet into a cylindrical shape and adhesively bonding the leading edge of said rolled cylinder to the tapered surface of said cylinder.
23. A collapsible handheld fan substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of the drawings.
24. A method for making a collapsible handheld fan substantially as described herein with particular reference to the drawings and the detailed description of the drawings.

Dated this17 th day of October 2008


Ashwini Sandu GM-IPR United Phosphorus Limited

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