Ceiling fan with integrated fan blades and housing

• US 7,481,626 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minka Lighting Incorporated (Ferguson Plc)
• Original Assignee: Minka Lighting Incorporated (Ferguson Plc)
• Inventors: Gajewski, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion; Thomas E
• Assistant Examiner(s): White; Dwayne J
• Application Number:
  US11/272,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20070104583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 416/5, 416/214.R, 416/234, 416/220.A, 416/204.R, 416/205, 416/207
• US Class Current: 416/220.00A
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/088 Ceiling fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/005 Decorative aspects, i.e. features which have no effect on the functioning of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/34 Blade mountings for axial flow compressors F04D29/322
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/384 characterised by form

Abstract

The invention relates generally to fans, and in particular to ceiling fans. A ceiling fan is suspended by a down rod and a motor that rotates relative to the down rod. The motor also has a connector mechanism. The fan has a fan blade with an attachment member, capable of being interconnected to the connector mechanism. A mechanism secures the attachment member to the connector mechanism.

Claims

1. A ceiling fan suspended by a down rod, the fan comprising:

a motor that rotates relative to the down rod, the motor having a substantially tubular connector mechanism;

a fan blade, wherein the fan blade comprises an attachment member, wherein the attachment member is capable of being interconnected to the connector mechanism; and

a mechanism for securing the attachment member to the connector mechanism, wherein the attachment member comprises a substantially horizontal flange contiguous with the fan blade and is not separable from the fan blade.

2. The fan of claim 1, wherein the connector mechanism comprises a plurality of studs that facilitate proper positioning of the attachment member.

3. The fan of claim 2, wherein the plurality of studs is located on an upper portion of the motor.

4. The fan of claim 2, wherein the plurality of studs is located on a lower portion of the motor.

5. The fan of claim 2, wherein the plurality of studs is located on both an upper portion of the motor and a lower portion of the motor.

6. The fan of claim 1, wherein the attachment member comprises a plurality of apertures.

7. The fan of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for securing the attachment member to the connector mechanism comprises one or more screws.

8. The fan of claim 7, wherein the one or more screws are inserted through apertures present in the connector mechanism.

9. The ceiling fan of claim 1, further comprising a light source.

10. A fan comprising:

a motor having a motor shaft and a motor body that rotates relative to the motor shaft;

a connector member connected to the motor body, wherein the connector member comprises a plurality of substantially tubular studs;

a fan blade having a substantially horizontal flange contiguous with the fan blade and is not separable from the fan blade, the flange having a plurality of apertures sized and positioned to interlock with the studs; and

a mechanism for securing the fan blade to the motor body.

11. The fan of claim 10, wherein the mechanism for securing the fan blade comprises one or more screws.

12. The fan of claim 11, wherein the one or more screws are inserted through apertures present in the connector member.

13. A method of installing a fan blade, the method comprising:

providing a fan blade having an attachment member comprising a substantially horizontal flange continuous with the fan blade;

providing a fan motor having a substantially tubular connector mechanism;

interlocking the attachment member and the connector mechanism; and

securing the fan blade to the motor by an attachment mechanism, wherein the attachment member is not separable from the fan blade.