Quick assembly blades for ceiling fans

• US 6,336,792 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2000
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chien Luen Industries Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: King of Fans Incorporated (King)
• Inventors: Bucher, John C., Bucher, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): VERDIER, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US09/708,291
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 416/5, 416/204.R, 416/205, 416/206, 416/207, 416/210.R, 298/89, 298/891, 298/893, 403/288, 403/315, 403/316, 403/393
• US Class Current: 416/210.00R
• 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: F16B 21/09 Releasable fastening devices with a stud engaging a keyhole slot
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0642 the plates being arranged one on top of the other and in full close contact with each other
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/065 the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0664 at least one of the sheets or plates having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49318 Repairing or disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49327 Axial blower or fan
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/604 Radially sliding catch

Abstract

Easy to attach and detach blades for overhead ceiling fans. A first version has a ceiling fan blade with keyhole slots that fit over flat topped fasteners on a mounting arm. Pulling the blade away from the arm locks the slots to the fasteners. A second version is similar to the first and has a decorative bottom cover having snappable tapered protrusions which attach through the keyholes and into mateable through-holes in the mounting arm connection. The third version has a protruding end portion of the blade that fits into a slot in the mounting arm where spring loaded pistons press into grooves in the protrusion end portion of the blade. Latching handles allow users to manually move the pistons. A fourth version has a slot in the blade which fits about a mateable housing in the mounting arm where opposing spring loaded pistons press into interior wall grooves in the slot of the blade. A fifth version has the blade with slots fit over the end of the mounting arm so that pulling the blade from the mounting arm causes spring loaded piston to interlock into a interior wall groove in the slot of the blade.

Claims

1. A detachable blade and mounting arm assembly for ceiling fans, comprising in combination:

a first blade having a first end and a second end;

a ceiling fan motor having a first blade attachment portion; and

means for securing the second end of the first blade to the first blade attachment portion of the motor, the securing means includes a protruding member having a head that inserts into a slot, and at least one of the head and the slot is slid relative to one another causing a portion of the protruding member to abut against a side of the slot.

2. The detachable blade and mounting arm assembly of claim 1, wherein the first blade attachment portion includes:

a portion of a first mounting arm.

3. The detachable blade and mounting arm assembly of claim 1, wherein the slot includes:

a keyhole shape.

4. A method of attaching blades from ceiling fans, comprising the steps of:

positioning an end of a first blade over a first mounting member of a ceiling fan motor;

pulling the first blade away from the ceiling fan motor; and

locking the first blade to the first mounting member of the ceiling fan motor.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

inserting a protruding member into a slot.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

inserting a head on a protruding member into a slot.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

inserting a protruding member into a keyhole shaped slot.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of locking includes:

springably biasing an edge of the blade with a portion of the first mounting member.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of locking includes:

locking the first blade to the ceiling fan motor with centrifugal force formed from spinning the first blade about the ceiling fan motor.

10. A method of attaching blades from ceiling fans, comprising the steps of:

positioning an end of a first blade about a first mounting member of a ceiling fan motor;

pulling the first blade away from the ceiling fan motor; and

locking the first blade to the first mounting member of the ceiling fan motor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of locking includes:

locking the first blade to the ceiling fan motor with a centrifugal force formed from spinning the first blade about the ceiling fan motor.

12. A detachable blade and mounting arm assembly for ceiling fans, comprising in combination:

a first blade having a first end and a second end;

a ceiling fan motor having a first blade attachment portion; and

means for securing the second end of the first blade to the first blade attachment portion of the motor, the securing means includes a protruding member that inserts into a keyhole shaped slot, wherein the first blade attaches to the fan motor by the protruding member being inserted into the keyhole shaped slot.

13. The detachable blade and mounting arm assembly of claim 12, wherein the protruding member includes:

a head.