Ceiling fan with easy installation features

• US 6,146,191 A
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Angelo Fan Brace Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: Angelo Fan Brace Licensing LLC
• Inventors: Kerr, Jack Russell Jr., Winn, Cullyn B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US09/360,268
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 439/537, 439/333, 439/334, 439/140, 439/141, 439/313, 439/314, 439/318, 439/286, 439/316
• US Class Current: 439/537
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/088 Ceiling fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/34 Blade mountings for axial flow compressors F04D29/322
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/005 requiring successive relative motions to complete the coupling, e.g. bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/123 in thin walls
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/20 Ceiling roses or other lighting sets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/602 by separate spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/604 Radially sliding catch

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of ceiling fans and includes a first plate (16) attached to a ceiling junction box and a plug plate (42) to be rotatably joined to the first plate and fixed in a final position by locking screws (70) that pass through apertures (64, 66) in one plate and into bores (38, 40) in the other plate. The locking screws (70) are usable to fix a fan bell to the plug plate. The plug plate (42) includes slidably engageable flat contact strips (204a, 204b). The plates include an initial orientation key (206) for fitting into an oval opening (214) and the first plate may include a spring biased shock protector for blocking access to live contacts (204a) when the plates are not connected. The plates (300, FIGS. 16, 17) may be formed in slidably adjustable sections for use with different size fan bells.

Claims

1. A ceiling fan having a quick connect device, the device comprising:

a first plate attachable to an electrical junction box and containing a first electrical contact; and

a second plate attachable to a fan and containing a second electrical contact;

the first plate rotatably coupled to the second plate;

wherein the first electrical contact is an electrical contact strip generally in a plane of a face of the first plate adjacent to the second plate and the second electrical contact is an electrical contact strip generally in a plane of a face of the second plate adjacent to the first plate;

wherein the second plate comprises a key, the key including a stem extending from the face and an oval head attached to the stem and the first plate comprises an opening having a shaped corresponding to the head to rotatably couple the first plate to the second plate.

2. A ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the quick connect device further comprises a lock fixing the relative position of the first plate to the second plate.

3. A ceiling fan as in claim 2, wherein the lock comprises a receiving hole in the first plate, a through hole in the second plate and a locking rod insertable into the through hole and the receiving hole.

4. A ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the first plate has a flange extending from each opposite end thereof, and the second plate has a latch slot at each opposite end thereof configured to receive a flange of the first plate.

5. A ceiling fan as in claim 4, wherein the quick connect device further comprises a lock fixing the relative position of the first plate to the second plate.

6. A ceiling fan as in claim 5, wherein the lock comprises a receiving hole in the first plate, a through hole in the second plate and a locking rod insertable into the through hole and the receiving hole.

7. An electrical quick connect apparatus comprising:

a first plate attachable to an electrical junction box and containing a first electrical contact; and

a second plate attachable to a fan and containing a second electrical contact;

the first plate rotatably coupled to the second plate;

wherein the first electrical contact is an electrical contact strip generally in a plane of a face of the first plate adjacent to the second plate and the second electrical contact is an electrical contact strip generally in a plane of a face of the second plate adjacent to the first plate;

wherein the second plate comprises a key, the key including a stem extending from the face and an oval head attached to the stem and the first plate comprises an opening having a shaped corresponding to the head to rotatably couple the first plate to the second plate.

8. An electrical quick connect apparatus as in claim 7, wherein the first plate has a flange extending from each opposite end thereof, and the second plate has a latch slot at each opposite end thereof configured to receive a flange of the first plate.