An improved structure and method for mounting a fan, particularly a
miniature fan (3), in a supporting wall (4), both facilitates a mounting
operation and minimizes noise conduction after the mounting operation. An
elastomeric overcoat (1) at least partially surrounds the fan (3) and is
preferably integrally formed with a plurality of mushroom-shaped mounting
elements (7) adapted to engage in a corresponding plurality of mounting
holes (41) formed in the supporting wall (4). Each mounting element has a
shaft portion (71) and a head portion (72) with an internal channel (74)
starting in the shaft portion (71) and ending in the head portion (72).
Rapid mounting of the fan (3) to the wall (4) can be accomplished by
inserting a respective tool (10) into the channel (74) of each mounting
element (7), to elongate the mounting element and reduce its diameter,
passing the elongated mounting element into its mounting hole (41), and
withdrawing the tool, permitting elastic relaxation of the mounting
element to restore its original diameter, thereby forming a secure,
vibration-damping engagement with the periphery of the mounting hole.