U.S. patent application number 11/037999 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-02 for ceiling fan blade attachment mechanism.
This patent application is currently assigned to MINKA LIGHTING, INC.. Invention is credited to Mark Gajewski.
Application Number | 20060024165 11/037999 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35732396 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060024165 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gajewski; Mark |
February 2, 2006 |
Ceiling fan blade attachment mechanism
Abstract
The invention relates generally to fans, and in particular to
ceiling fans. The invention further relates to a ceiling fan blade
attachment mechanism.
Inventors: |
Gajewski; Mark; (Avila
Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & MCKENZIE;PATENT DEPARTMENT
2001 ROSS AVENUE
SUITE 2300
DALLAS
TX
75201
US
|
Assignee: |
MINKA LIGHTING, INC.
|
Family ID: |
35732396 |
Appl. No.: |
11/037999 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
29210406 |
Jul 30, 2004 |
D510621 |
|
|
11037999 |
Jan 17, 2005 |
|
|
|
29210460 |
Jul 30, 2004 |
|
|
|
11037999 |
Jan 17, 2005 |
|
|
|
29210407 |
Jul 30, 2004 |
|
|
|
11037999 |
Jan 17, 2005 |
|
|
|
29210394 |
Jul 30, 2004 |
|
|
|
11037999 |
Jan 17, 2005 |
|
|
|
29210409 |
Jul 30, 2004 |
|
|
|
11037999 |
Jan 17, 2005 |
|
|
|
29210391 |
Jul 30, 2004 |
|
|
|
11037999 |
Jan 17, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
416/210R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 25/088 20130101;
F04D 29/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
416/210.00R |
International
Class: |
B63H 1/20 20060101
B63H001/20 |
Claims
1. A ceiling fan suspended by a down rod, the fan comprising: a
motor housing that rotates relative to the down rod; a fan blade,
wherein the fan blade comprises a first attachment member; a second
attachment member that is connected to the motor housing, wherein
the second attachment member comprises a sleeve that is capable of
receiving the first attachment member; and a mechanism for securing
the first attachment member in the sleeve of the second attachment
member.
2. The fan of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises an inner wall
that facilitates proper positioning of the second attachment member
in the sleeve.
3. The fan of claim 1, wherein the first attachment member is not
separable from the fan blade.
4. The fan of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for securing the first
attachment member in the sleeve of the second attachment member
comprises one or more screws.
5. The fan of claim 4, wherein the one or more screws are inserted
through apertures present in the first attachment member and second
attachment member.
6. The fan of claim 1, wherein the second attachment member is
connected to the motor housing by one or more screws.
7. A fan comprising: a motor having a motor shaft and a motor body
that rotates relative to the motor shaft; a motor housing rotatable
with and connected to the motor body; an attachment member
connected to the motor housing, wherein the attachment member
comprises a slot; a fan blade inserted into the slot; and a
mechanism for securing the fan blade in the slot.
8. The fan of claim 7, wherein the mechanism for securing the fan
blade comprises one or more screws.
9. The fan of claim 8, wherein the one or more screws are inserted
through apertures present in the attachment member.
10. A method of installing a fan blade, the method comprising:
aligning the fan blade with a sleeve in an attachment member,
wherein the attachment member is connected to a motor housing;
inserting the fan blade into the sleeve; and positioning the fan
blade in the sleeve to allow an attachment mechanism to secure the
fan blade in the sleeve when the fan blade is properly positioned
in the sleeve.
11. The method of claim 19, comprising securing the fan blade to
the motor housing.
12. A ceiling fan comprising: a motor having a motor shaft and a
motor housing that rotates relative to the motor shaft, the motor
housing comprising a plurality of attachment members; and a
plurality of fan blades, each blade secured to the motor housing
via an attachment mechanism, wherein the attachment mechanism
connects to one of the plurality of attachment members.
13. The ceiling fan of claim 12, wherein the attachment mechanism
comprises one or more screws.
Description
PRIOR RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 29/210,406, filed Jul. 30, 2004, and a continuation-in
part of application Ser. No. 29/210,460 filed Jul. 30, 2004, and a
continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 29/210,407 filed Jul.
30, 2004, and a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
29/210,394 filed Jul. 30, 2004, and a continuation-in-part of
application Ser. No. 29/210,409 filed Jul. 30, 2004 and a
continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 29/210,391 filed Jul.
30, 2004.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH STATEMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The invention relates generally to fans, and in particular
to ceiling fans. The invention further relates to a ceiling fan
blade attachment mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A typical ceiling fan includes a down rod assembly suspended
from the ceiling with a motor shaft which is connected to a lower
portion of the down rod assembly. A motor body rotates about the
motor shaft. A motor housing which surrounds the motor may be
secured to either the motor shaft or the down rod assembly, which
remain stationary. Blade mounting arms, also referred to as blade
irons, are connected to the motor body and extend out of an opening
of the motor housing or below the motor housing. A hub is attached
to the motor shaft below the fan blades and blade irons.
[0006] A conventional ceiling fan blade typically consists of a
solid unitary member of wood, metal or plastic, or a frame with a
covering made of nylon or some other suitable material. In both
cases, however, the blade is usually attached to the fan motor by
means of a standardized mounting structure commonly referred to as
the blade iron. The prior art provides numerous examples of fan
blades that are attached to the fan motor with the aid of a blade
iron. In a typical ceiling fan, the fan blade must first be
attached to the blade iron, which in turn must be attached to the
motor housing.
[0007] Conventional blade irons used in the art tend to be discrete
structures that are separable from the fan blades and the fan
housing. Typically, conventional blade irons are connected to their
respective fan blades via their distal ends and are connected to
the fan motor or motor housing via their proximal ends.
Conventional blade irons are often decorative in nature and are
used primarily to enhance the overall appearance of the ceiling fan
rather than in a utilitarian role. In other words, conventional
blade irons are not always critical to the operational ability of
ceiling fans.
[0008] The use of a conventional blade iron to attach a fan blade
to a fan motor can add to the cost of the fan's manufacture and
make it more expensive for purchase by a consumer. In addition, the
presence of a blade iron can add to the weight of a fan, and
thereby make it less efficient from an energy consumption stand
point. Additionally, it is a common commercial practice for ceiling
fans to be shipped to the end user in an unassembled state.
Therefore, a ceiling fan requires assembly prior to installation.
This often challenging task can be made easier if the ceiling fan
blades are capable of being easily connected to the rest of the
ceiling fan unit. Furthermore, there are a variety of reasons for
removing fan blades from the motor housing, for e.g., when the fan
motor is in need of maintenance or repair, and when the motor
housing and fan blades must be cleaned.
[0009] Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a ceiling fan
blade attachment mechanism where the ceiling fan blades are capable
of being connected to a fan motor by a mechanism that is easy and
convenient to the consumer. It would also be desirable to have a
ceiling fan blade attachment mechanism that provides an easy and
convenient way to assemble and dissemble fan blades from the motor
housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An embodiment of the invention provides a ceiling fan
suspended by a down rod, the fan comprising a motor housing that
rotates relative to the down rod, a plurality of fan blades,
wherein each fan blade comprises a first attachment member, a
second attachment member that is connected to the motor housing,
wherein the second attachment member comprises a sleeve that is
capable of receiving the first attachment member, and a mechanism
for securing the first attachment member in the sleeve of the
second attachment member.
[0011] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a fan
comprising a motor having a motor shaft and a motor body that
rotates relative to the motor shaft, a motor housing rotatable with
and connected to the motor body, an attachment member connected to
the motor housing, wherein the attachment member comprises a slot,
into which a fan blade is inserted and secured using an attachment
mechanism.
[0012] An aspect of the invention is directed to a method of
installing a fan blade, the method comprising aligning the fan
blade with a sleeve in an attachment member, wherein the attachment
member is connected to a motor housing, inserting the fan blade
into the sleeve, and positioning the fan blade in the sleeve to
allow an attachment mechanism to secure the fan blade in the sleeve
when the fan blade is properly positioned in the sleeve.
[0013] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a ceiling
fan comprising a motor having a motor shaft and a motor housing
that rotates relative to the motor shaft, the motor housing
comprising a plurality of attachment members, and a plurality of
fan blades, each blade secured to the motor housing via an
attachment mechanism, wherein the attachment mechanism connects to
one of the plurality of attachment members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, exemplify the invention
and together with the description, serve to explain the principles
of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from below of an embodiment
of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged elevation view and partial
cross-section view of the embodiment of the invention in FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of the invention
in FIG. 1 illustrating the mechanism connecting the ceiling fan
blade to the ceiling fan motor housing.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows an elevation view of the embodiment of the
invention in FIG. 3 illustrating the mechanism connecting the
ceiling fan blade to the ceiling fan motor housing.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the ceiling fan 10 is connected to a
down rod assembly 14 that is suspended from the ceiling via a
ceiling mount 12. A housing cap 15 is stationary and is typically
connected to the down rod 14. A motor housing 16 is connected to
the down rod 14 via the housing cap 15 and rotates relative to the
down rod 14 when the ceiling fan 10 is in operation. The ceiling
fan 10 includes one or more fan blades. For convenience, a
plurality of fan blades will be designated by reference numbers 18a
and 18b. The plurality of fan blades 18a and 18b each comprise a
first attachment member 20 that facilitates the attachment of the
fan blades to the motor housing 16. In certain embodiments of the
invention, the first attachment member 20 is contiguous with, i.e,
not separable from the rest of the fan blade structure. The
attachment of the fan blades 18a and 18b to the motor housing 16 is
also facilitated by a second attachment member 22 that is connected
to the motor housing 16. In certain embodiments of the invention,
the plurality of fan blades 18a and 18b may be secured to the motor
housing 16 by additional or alternative mechanisms.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2, the second attachment member 22 is
connected to the motor housing 16 via a first attachment mechanism
26. In certain embodiments of the invention, the first attachment
mechanism comprises a screw 26, where the screw connects the member
22 to the housing 16 as shown in FIG. 2. The first attachment
member 20 is connected to the second attachment member 22 via a
second attachment mechanism. In certain embodiments of the
invention, the second attachment mechanism comprises one or more
screws, 24a and 24b that are used to attach the first attachment
member 20 and the fan blades, 18a and 18b, to the second attachment
member 22 as shown in FIG. 2.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a detailed top plan view of the attachment
mechanisms that connect the fan blades to the motor housing. The
first attachment member 20 is connected to the second attachment
member 22 using an attachment mechanism that comprises two screws
24a and 24b. The screws 24a and 24b are inserted through the second
attachment member 22 via apertures provided in the second
attachment member (see FIG. 4). After being inserted through the
attachment member 22, the screws 24a and 24b are inserted through
apertures in the first attachment member 20 to connect the first
attachment member 20 to the second attachment member 22. The second
attachment member 22 is further attached to the fan motor housing
via an attachment mechanism that comprises a screw 26.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows an elevation view of the attachment mechanisms
that connect the fan blades to the motor housing. The first
attachment member 20 is connected to the second attachment member
22 using an attachment mechanism that comprises two screws 24a and
24b. An inner wall 25 is located within the second attachment
member 22. The inner wall 25 stops the progress of the first
attachment member 20 when the first attachment member is inserted
into the second attachment member 22. By stopping the progress of
the first attachment member 20, the inner wall 25 allows the first
attachment member 20 to be positioned properly within the second
attachment member 22 such that the screws 24a and 24b can be
inserted through the apertures in the second attachment member 22
and through the apertures in the first attachment member 20 (see
FIG. 3) to connect the first attachment member 20 to the second
attachment member 22. The second attachment member 22 is further
attached to the fan motor housing via an attachment mechanism that
comprises a screw 26.
[0024] An embodiment of the invention is directed to a ceiling fan
suspended by a down rod 14, the fan comprising a motor housing 16
that rotates relative to the down rod, a plurality of fan blades
18a and 18b, wherein each fan blade comprises a first attachment
member 20, a second attachment member 22 that is connected to the
motor housing 16, wherein the second attachment member comprises a
sleeve that is capable of receiving the first attachment member 20,
and an attachment mechanism for securing the first attachment
member in the sleeve of the second attachment member.
[0025] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a fan
comprising a motor having a motor shaft and a motor body that
rotates relative to the motor shaft, a motor housing 16 rotatable
with and connected to the motor body, an attachment member 22
connected to the motor housing, wherein the attachment member
comprises a slot, a fan blade 18a inserted into the slot and an
attachment mechanism for securing the fan blade in the slot.
[0026] An aspect of the invention is directed to a method of
installing a fan blade, the method comprising aligning the fan
blade 18a with a sleeve in an attachment member 22, wherein the
attachment member is connected to a motor housing 16, inserting the
fan blade into the sleeve, and positioning the fan blade in the
sleeve to allow an attachment mechanism to secure the fan blade in
the sleeve when the fan blade is properly positioned in the
sleeve.
[0027] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a ceiling
fan comprising a motor having a motor shaft and a motor housing 16
that rotates relative to the motor shaft, the motor housing
comprising a plurality of attachment members 22, and a plurality of
fan blades 18a and 18b, each blade secured to the motor housing via
an attachment mechanism 24a and 24b, wherein the attachment
mechanism connects to one of the plurality of attachment
members.
[0028] While the invention has been described with reference to one
or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will
recognize that many modifications may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Each of these
embodiments, and obvious variations thereof, is contemplated as
falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which
is set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *