U.S. patent application number 12/286983 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-03 for hollow hanging rod of a hanger assembly for ceiling fan.
Invention is credited to Mao-Hsin Lin.
Application Number | 20090294620 12/286983 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41378593 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090294620 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Mao-Hsin |
December 3, 2009 |
Hollow hanging rod of a hanger assembly for ceiling fan
Abstract
A hollow hanging rod includes a tubular section having an axial
hole extending through a top open-end thereof, and a bowl-shaped
section extending upwardly, curvedly, and expandedly from the top
open-end of the tubular section and having a top open-end distal
from the top open-end of the tubular section, a bottom open-end
connected to the top open-end of the tubular section, and a
surrounding wall connected between the top and bottom open-ends of
the bowl-shaped section and defining an interior space with a width
that gradually increases from the bottom to the top open-ends of
the bowl-shaped section. The top open-end of the bowl-shaped
section defines a single top opening having a width larger than
that of the axial hole. The interior space opens at the single top
opening. The tubular and bowl-shaped sections are made of metal,
and are formed integrally as a one-piece body.
Inventors: |
Lin; Mao-Hsin; (Taichung
County, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSHA LIANG L.L.P.
TWO HOUSTON CENTER, 909 FANNIN, SUITE 3500
HOUSTON
TX
77010
US
|
Family ID: |
41378593 |
Appl. No.: |
12/286983 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/343 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 29/601 20130101;
H02G 3/20 20130101; F04D 25/088 20130101; F21V 21/104 20130101;
F04D 29/605 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/343 |
International
Class: |
F01D 25/00 20060101
F01D025/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 30, 2008 |
TW |
097209545 |
Claims
1. A hollow hanging rod of a hanger assembly for a ceiling fan,
comprising: a tubular section having a top open-end and an axial
hole extending through said top open-end; and a bowl-shaped section
extending upwardly, curvedly, and expandedly from said top open-end
of said tubular section and having a top open-end distal from said
top open-end of said tubular section, a bottom open-end connected
to said top open-end of said tubular section, and a surrounding
wall connected between said top and bottom open-ends of said
bowl-shaped section and defining an interior space with a width
that gradually increases from said bottom open-end of said
bowl-shaped section to said top open-end of said bowl-shaped
section; said top open-end of said bowl-shaped section defining a
single top opening having a width larger than that of said axial
hole; said interior space opening at said single top opening; and
said tubular section and said bowl-shaped section being made of
metal and being formed integrally as a one-piece body.
2. The hanging rod of claim 1, wherein said surrounding wall has
inner and outer surfaces, said bowl-shaped section further having a
positioning slot provided in said surrounding wall, said
positioning slot extending through said inner and outer surfaces of
said surrounding wall and extending curvedly and downwardly from
said top open-end of said bowl-shaped section toward said bottom
open-end of said bowl-shaped section.
3. The hanging rod of claim 1, wherein said surrounding wall has
inner and outer surfaces, said bowl-shaped section further having a
positioning groove provided in said surrounding wall, said
positioning groove opening at said outer surface and extending
curvedly and downwardly from said top open-end of said bowl-shaped
section toward said bottom open-end of said bowl-shaped
section.
4. The hanging rod of claim 1, wherein said surrounding wall has a
corrugated structure, and includes a plurality of alternating
protrusions and indentations provided on said surrounding wall and
extending from said top open-end of said bowl-shaped section to
said bottom open-end of said bowl-shaped section.
5. The hanging rod of claim 1, wherein said tubular section further
has a bottom open-end, and a bottom engaging part tapering
downwardly to said bottom open-end, said hanging rod further
comprising an extension rod that has an upper engaging part fitted
into said bottom engaging part and that extends downwardly and
outwardly from said bottom open-end of said tubular section.
6. The hanging rod of claim 5, wherein said tubular section further
has a projection projecting from an inner surface of said bottom
engaging part toward said axial hole and tapering upwardly from
said bottom open-end of said tubular section, said extension rod
further having an indentation indenting from an outer surface of
said upper engaging part and receiving fittingly said
projection.
7. The hanging rod of claim 6, wherein said extension rod further
has a lower fixing portion disposed below said upper engaging part
and externally of said tubular section and adapted to be connected
with the ceiling fan.
8. A hollow hanging rod of a hanger assembly for a ceiling fan,
comprising: a tubular section having a top open-end and an axial
hole extending through said top open-end; and a bowl-shaped section
extending upwardly, curvedly, and expandedly from said top open-end
of said tubular section and having a top open-end distal from said
top open-end of said tubular section, a bottom open-end connected
to said top open-end of said tubular section, and a surrounding
wall connected between said top and bottom open-ends of said
bowl-shaped section and defining an interior space with a width
that gradually increases from said bottom open-end of said
bowl-shaped section to said top open-end of said bowl-shaped
section; said top open-end of said bowl-shaped section defining a
single top opening having a width larger than that of said axial
hole; said interior space opening at said single top opening; said
tubular section and said bowl-shaped section being made of metal
and being formed integrally as a one-piece body; and said hanging
rod being made by a method which includes the steps of: (a)
preparing a metal tube; and (b) partially expanding said metal tube
to form said bowl-shaped section.
9. The hanging rod of claim 8, wherein step (b) includes: inserting
a middle part of said metal tube into a ball-shaped cavity of a
mold with two opposite end portions thereof being disposed
externally of the mold; expanding said middle part by introducing a
high-pressure hydraulic fluid into said middle part to form a
ball-shaped middle part; cutting said ball-shaped middle part into
halves to obtain two said bowl-shaped sections, each of which is
integral with one of said end portions.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application
No. 097209545, filed on May 30, 2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a hanging rod, more particularly
to a hollow hanging rod of a hanger assembly for a ceiling fan.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional hanging rod 100
suitable for connection with a ceiling fan usually cooperates with
a fixed seat 101 and a canopy 102. The hanging rod 100 includes a
bowl-shaped section 11, a tubular section 12 extending into the
center of the bowl-shaped section 11, a supporting rod 13 extending
through the bowl-shaped section 11 and the tubular section 12, and
a bolt 14 engaged threadedly to the bowl-shaped section 11 and the
tubular section 12. The supporting rod 13 strengthens the
supporting force of the bowl-shaped section 11 on the tubular
section 12. The bolt 14 is used to connect fixedly the bowl-shaped
section 11 and the tubular section 12. However, in actual practice,
the conventional hanging rod 100 has the following drawbacks:
[0006] 1. Since the conventional hanging rod 100 makes use of the
supporting rod 13 and the bolt 14 to connect fixedly the
bowl-shaped section 11 and the tubular section 12, if the bolt 14
is not screwed tightly or if the bolt 14 becomes structurally weak
after a long period of use, the ceiling fan is likely to shake
unsteadily and violently during operation, even to the extent that
it might fall off from the ceiling.
[0007] 2. Since the bowl-shaped section 11 and the tubular section
12 are made separately, these two elements must be made precisely
so that they fit together snugly. Hence, the making of the
conventional hanging rod 100 is complicated, and the manufacturing
cost thereof is increased.
[0008] 3. Since the conventional hanging rod 100 has many
components, assembly of the same is time-consuming. Also, mistakes
are frequently made during assembly due to the many components.
[0009] 4. The color and pattern of the bowl-shaped section 11 and
the tubular section 12 cannot be made continuously uniform, thereby
affecting the aesthetic appearance of the ceiling fan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a hollow hanging rod that is capable of overcoming the
aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.
[0011] According to one aspect of this invention, a hollow hanging
rod of a hanger assembly for a ceiling fan comprises a tubular
section having a top open-end and an axial hole extending through
the top open-end, and a bowl-shaped section extending upwardly,
curvedly, and expandedly from the top open-end of the tubular
section and having a top open-end distal from the top open-end of
the tubular section, a bottom open-end connected to the top
open-end of the tubular section, and a surrounding wall connected
between the top and bottom open-ends of the bowl-shaped section and
defining an interior space with a width that gradually increases
from the bottom open-end of the bowl-shaped section to the top
open-end of the bowl-shaped section. The top open-end of the
bowl-shaped section defines a single top opening having a width
larger than that of the axial hole. The interior space opens at the
single top opening. The tubular section and the bowl-shaped section
are made of metal, and are formed integrally as a one-piece
body.
[0012] According to another aspect of this invention, a hollow
hanging rod of a hanger assembly for a ceiling fan comprises a
tubular section having a top open-end and an axial hole extending
through the top open-end, and a bowl-shaped section extending
upwardly, curvedly, and expandedly from the top open-end of the
tubular section and having a top open-end distal from the top
open-end of the tubular section, a bottom open-end connected to the
top open-end of the tubular section, and a surrounding wall
connected between the top and bottom open-ends of the bowl-shaped
section and defining an interior space with a width that gradually
increases from the bottom open-end of the bowl-shaped section to
the top open-end of the bowl-shaped section. The top open-end of
the bowl-shaped section defines a single top opening having a width
larger than that of the axial hole. The interior space opens at the
single top opening. The tubular section and the bowl-shaped section
are made of metal, and are formed integrally as a one-piece body.
The hanging rod is made by a method which includes the steps of:
(a) preparing a metal tube; and (b) partially expanding the metal
tube to form the bowl-shaped section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional hanging rod,
a fixed seat, and a canopy;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top schematic view of the conventional hanging
rod;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a hollow hanging
rod according to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective of a hollow hanging rod
according to the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the second preferred
embodiment in an assembled state; and
[0020] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the second preferred
embodiment taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that the same reference numerals have been used
to denote like elements throughout the specification.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a hollow hanging rod 200
according to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention is shown to comprise a bowl-shaped section 20 and a
tubular section 30.
[0023] The bowl-shaped section 20 has a top open-end 21 defining a
single top opening 210 having a width (W1), a bottom open-end 25,
and a surrounding wall 26 connected between the top and bottom
open-ends 21, 25. The surrounding wall 26 defines an interior space
261 with a width that gradually increases from the bottom open-end
25 to the top open-end 21, and has inner and outer surfaces. The
interior space 261 opens at the single top opening 210. In this
embodiment, a positioning slot 22 extends through the inner and
outer surfaces of the surrounding wall 26, and extends curvedly and
downwardly from the top open-end 21 to the bottom open-end 25. The
positioning slot 22 is used for receiving and positioning a
protrusion 90 of a fixed seat 900. When the bowl-shaped section 20
has a substantial thickness, the positioning slot 22 may be
replaced by a positioning groove that opens at the outer surface of
the surrounding wall 26.
[0024] The tubular section 30 has a top open-end 33 distal from the
top open-end 21 and connected to the bottom open-end 25 of the
bowl-shaped section 20, a bottom open-end (not shown), and an axial
hole 40 extending through the top open-end 33 and communicating
with the interior space 261. The axial hole 40 has a width (W2)
smaller than the width (W1) of the single top opening 210. The
bowl-shaped section 20 extends upwardly, curvedly, and expandedly
from the top open-end 33 of the tubular section 20. The tubular
section 30 and the bowl-shaped section 20 are made of metal, and
are formed integrally as a one-piece body. The tubular section 30
may have a width that converges downwardly from the top open-end 33
thereof in an alternative embodiment.
[0025] The hanging rod 200 is made by a method which includes the
steps of: (a) preparing a metal tube; and (b) partially expanding
the metal tube to form the bowl-shaped section 20. The metal tube
may be expanded by a cold-working process. In this embodiment, the
metal tube is expanded by inserting a middle part thereof into a
ball-shaped cavity of a mold (not shown) with two opposite end
portions thereof being disposed externally of the mold. A
high-pressure hydraulic fluid, such as oil, is introduced into the
middle part of the metal tube so as to expand the middle part of
the metal tube, thereby forming a ball-shaped middle part.
Afterwards, the ball-shaped middle part of the metal tube is
removed from the mold, and is cut into halves to obtain two
bowl-shaped sections 20, each of which is integral with one of the
end portions of the metal tube. The end portions of the metal tube
form the tubular sections 30 of the hanging rod 200. Hence, two
hanging rods 200 can be obtained from this process.
[0026] Since the bowl-shaped section 20 and the tubular section 30
are integrally formed into one body, the manufacturing cost is
reduced to a great extent because it is not necessary to purchase
separately the supporting rod 13 and the bolt 14 (see FIGS. 1 and
2). An aesthetic appearance of the hanging rod 200 is also
improved. Further, since it is not necessary to assemble components
during use of the hanging rod 200, there is no possibility that
mistakes will be made during assembly of the hanging rod 200 and
the ceiling fan. Hence, the hanging rod 200 of the present
invention is safe and convenient to use, has a manufacturing cost
that is minimized, and has an enhanced appearance.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, a hanging rod 200' according to
the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown
to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this
embodiment, the surrounding wall 26' of the bowl-shaped section 20'
has a corrugated structure, and includes a plurality of alternating
protrusions 24 and indentations 24' formed around the surrounding
wall 26 and extending from the top open-end 21' to the bottom
open-end 25'. The surrounding wall 26' is formed with a positioning
groove 23 instead of the positioning slot 22 (see FIG. 3). The
positioning groove 23 opens at the outer surface of the surrounding
wall 26', and extends curvedly and downwardly from the top open-end
21' to the bottom open-end 25'.
[0028] The tubular section 30' in this embodiment includes a bottom
engaging part 31 tapering downwardly to the bottom open-end 34',
and a projection 32 projecting from an inner surface of the bottom
engaging part 31 toward the axial hole 40 and tapering upwardly
from the bottom open-end 34'.
[0029] The hanging rod 200' further comprises an extension rod 50
having an upper engaging part 51 fitted into the bottom engaging
part 31 and extending downwardly and outwardly from the bottom
open-end 34', an indentation 52 indenting from an outer surface of
the upper engaging part 51 and receiving fittingly the projection
32, and a lower fixing portion 53 disposed below the upper engaging
part 51 and externally of the tubular section 30' and adapted to be
connected with the ceiling fan. When the projection 32 and the
indentation 52 are engaged with each other, the extension rod 50
cannot rotate relative to the tubular section 30'. Further, through
the tapering structure of the upper and bottom engaging parts 51,
31, the extension rod 50 is prevented from separating from the
tubular section 30'. The lower fixing portion 53, in this
embodiment, is formed with an external thread. Alternatively, the
lower fixing portion 53 may be formed with an insert hole to
receive an insert pin.
[0030] The positioning groove 23, the protrusions 24, and the
indentations 24' may be formed by employing the above-mentioned
method in combination with a suitable mold. The bottom engaging
part 31, the projection 32, the upper engaging part 51, and the
indentation 52 may be formed by a cold-working process. On the
other hand, while the tubular section 30' is tapered only at the
bottom engaging part 31 in this embodiment, the tapering structure
of the tubular section 30' may be elongated to extend from the top
open-end 33' to the bottom open-end 34' thereof. Similarly, while
the extension rod 50 is tapered only at the upper engaging part 51,
the tapering structure of the extension rod 50 may be elongated to
extend from a top end to a bottom end thereof.
[0031] Through the presence of the extension rod 50, the length of
the tubular section 30' may be increased during installation. In
this embodiment, the extension rod 50 has a fixed length. In actual
application, the length of the extension rod 50 may be varied
depending on installation requirements.
[0032] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretations and equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *