QUICK CONNECT ASSEMBLY FOR CEILING FAN

• US 20180058476A1
• Filed: 08/03/2017
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
• Original Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
• Inventors: Jones, Rickey Thomas, McMillen, James Caleb
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/0693 Details or arrangements of the wiring
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/088 Ceiling fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/601 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/03 Ceiling bases, e.g. ceiling roses F21V21/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0096 Fans, e.g. ceiling fans forced cooling of lighting devices characterised by the arrangement of fans F21V29/67
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6278 comprising a pin snapping into a recess
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/66 with pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/20 Ceiling roses or other lighting sets

Abstract

A quick connect mounting assembly for a ceiling fan. The quick connect mounting assembly includes two releasably attachable plates that are easily interconnected to mechanically couple elements of a ceiling fan. The quick connect mounting assembly can be used to mount a ceiling fan switch housing to a ceiling fan motor assembly.

Claims

1. A ceiling fan comprising:

a motor housing;

a motor at least partially located within the motor housing and having a rotor and a stator, with the rotor rotatable about a motor shaft;

at least one blade operably coupled to the rotor;

a switch housing; and

a quick connect assembly mounting the switch housing to the motor housing and comprising;

an upper mount secured to one of the motor shaft or the motor housing and including an upper plate, having a first outer wall extending from the upper plate,

a lower mount secured to the switch housing and including a lower plate, having a second outer wall extending from the lower plate, complementary with the first outer wall, and with at least one mount hole disposed in the second outer wall, and

a fastener insertable through the mount hole;

wherein the upper mount is insertable into the lower mount, and releasably attachable to the lower mount with the fastener.

2. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein the first outer wall extends from the upper plate substantially perpendicular to the upper plate.

3. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein second outer wall includes one or more lips extending from the second outer wall.

4. The ceiling fan of claim 3 wherein the first outer wall is rotatably receivable by the lips to mount the plates to one another.

5. The ceiling fan of claim 4 wherein the mount hole is aligned with at least one of the lips.

6. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein the second outer wall includes an insertion receptacle adapted to accept the fastener.

7. The ceiling fan of claim 6 wherein the insertion receptacle defines a keyed attachment for the upper and lower mount.

8. The ceiling fan of claim 6 wherein the fastener, the insertion receptacle, and the mount hole comprise a pin-lock assembly.

9. The ceiling fan of claim 8 wherein the fastener is a spring-type fastener being actuable for insertion at the insertion receptacle and to secure within the mount hole.

10. The ceiling fan of claim 9 wherein multiple fasteners are coupled to the first outer wall of the upper mount.

11. The ceiling fan of claim 1 further comprising a gasket disposed between the upper and lower mounts.

12. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein the upper plate includes a central aperture adapted to receive the motor shaft.

13. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein the upper plate is mountable to the motor housing and the lower plate is mountable to the switch housing.

14. A method of mounting a switch housing to a ceiling fan motor housing, the method comprising:

inserting an upper mount coupled to the ceiling fan motor housing into a lower mount coupled to the switch housing with keyed portions of the upper and lower mounts in registry; and

locking the upper mount to the lower mount when the keyed portions are in registry.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the locking comprises receiving a pin within an insertion receptacle.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein receiving the pin with the insertion receptacle comprises snapping the pin within a fastener hole.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the pin is automatically aligned with the insertion receptacle when the keyed portions are in registry.

18. A method of mounting a switch housing to a ceiling fan motor housing, the method comprising:

inserting an upper mount coupled to the ceiling fan motor housing into a lower mount coupled to the switch housing; and

rotating the upper or lower mount to lock the upper mount to the lower mount.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising aligning the upper mount and the lower mount based upon a keyed combination of the upper and lower mounts.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the rotating the upper and lower mounts moves a pin into an insertion receptacle to lock the upper and lower mounts.