GB2149013A

GB2149013A - Ceiling fans

Info

Publication number: GB2149013A
Application number: GB08325893A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yung Yau
Original assignee: Shell Electric Mfg Holdings Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shell Electric Mfg Holdings Co Ltd
Priority date: 1983-09-28
Filing date: 1983-09-28
Publication date: 1985-06-05
Also published as: GB8325893D0

Abstract

Apparatus for suspending a ceiling fan from a ceiling, comprises a first suspension bar 1 securable to the ceiling so as to extend substantially parallel thereto, and a second suspension bar 5 securable in lengthwise juxtaposition beneath said first bar and having the fan motor housing 16 suspended closely adjacent thereto and substantially centrally thereof, the bars being adapted to be secured together at locations 12, 13 sufficiently near their outer ends that, with the first bar secured to the ceiling and the bars juxtaposed, the fan motor housing will not obstruct access to the securing locations to secure the bars together. A casing for the fan is bolted to flanges 6. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ceiling fans This invention relates to ceiling fans and is particularly directed to the provision of improved suspension means therefor.

It has been customary to suspend a ceiling fan, with the fan motor housing at least about 1 2 inches below the ceiling, by means of a hollow rod which as well as supporting the weight of the fan also forms a conduit for the electrical wiring. With this amount of space available between the fan motor housing and the ceiling it has been a relatively simple matter to connect up the fan by securing the top end of the rod to the usual junction box on the ceiling at the same time as making the electrical connections into the junction box.

However, with a tendency for ceilings to be lower in modern buildings it is necessary to locate the fan motor housing much closer to the ceiling than has been the case in the past, so as to provide adequate headroom below the fan, and the resulting lack of space centrally of the fan between it and the ceiling has made it considerably more difficult for the user, particularly the ordinary domestic user, to effect the necessary connections to mount the fan to the ceiling.

Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides apparatus for suspending a ceiling fan from a ceiling, comprising a first suspension bar securable to the ceiling so as to extend substantially parallel thereto, and a second suspension bar securable in lengthwise juxtaposition beneath said first bar and having the fan motor housing suspended closely adjacent thereto and substantially centrally thereof, said bars being adapted to be secured together at locations sufficiently near their outer ends that, with the first bar secured to the ceiling and the bars juxtaposed, the fan motor housing will not obstruct substantially vertical access to the said securing locations to secure the bars together.

With such an arrangement the said first suspension bar alone may first be secured to the ceiling, usually through the aforementioned junction box, and the second suspension bar carrying the fan motor housing then secured to the first bar without any problem of access to the region immediately above the centre of the fan motor housing.

A further problem with known arrangements is that the installer has to support the quite substantial weight of the fan motor housing while securing it to the ceiling. This problem is avoided when, as in a preferred form of the present invention, the said suspension bars are adapted for the second bar to be hung directly on the first bar while the bars are being secured together.

Viewed from another aspect of the invention provides apparatus for suspending a ceiling fan from a ceiling, comprising a first suspension bar securable to the ceiling so as to extend substantially parallel thereto, and a second suspension bar securable in lengthwise juxtaposition beneath said first bar and adapted to have a fan motor housing suspended substantially centrally thereof, said bars being adapted to be secured together at locations at or near their outer ends and being adapted for the second bar to be hung directly on the first bar while the bars are being secured together.

Preferably the said bars are so configured that, when secured together as aforesaid, they are mutually spaced apart at their central regions to accommodate means securing the fan motor housing to the said second bar.

Preferably one of the said bars has terminal flanges adapted to have an outer casing of the fan suspended therefrom.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the elements of an apparatus according to the invention prior to assembly; and Figure 2 is a side elevation of the assembled apparatus, partly in cross-section.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a first suspension bar 1 for a ceiling fan comprises a metal strip formed with apertures 2 for the reception of screws to secure it to a junction box (not shown) on a ceiling so that the bar extends generally horizontally. The central region 3 of the bar 1 is raised relative to its end regions 4 for a purpose described below.

A second suspension bar 5 comprises a flat metal strip with downwardly turned end flanges 6 formed with apertures 7 to receive bolts 8 for mounting an outer casing 9 of the fan, shown in ghost lines in Fig. 2. The bar 5 is formed with upstanding hook portions 10 arranged to engage over the ends 11 of the first bar 1 when the bar 5 is presented to the bar 1 by a lateral movement as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. Holes 12 and 13 are formed in the bars 1 and 5 respectively for the reception of bolts 14 to secure the bars together once they are in their intended positions of lengthwise juxtaposition defined by the engagement of hooks 10 with shoulders 1 5 at the ends of bar 1.

The fan motor housing 16, to whose underside 1 7 the fan blades (not shown) will be secured in the usual way, is suspended centrally from the bar 5 together with its switchbox 22 (Fig. 2), and secured thereto by a nut 1 8 engaging a short hollow rod 1 9 which forms a conduit for the electrical wiring 20.

The nut 18, the top end of the rod 19, and the wiring 20, are all accommodated in the space 21 defined between the bars 1 and 5 by means of the raised central region 3 of the bar 1.

To install the fan, a user first secures the bar 1 to the ceiling. He then hangs the bar 5 (carrying the fan motor housing 16) on the bar 1 by means of the hooks 10, whereafter his hands are free to insert the bolts 14 to secure the bars together, and thereafter to make the electrical connections to the main supply, without having to support the weight of the fan motor housing at the same time.

Preferably plastic pads (not shown) are placed between the interengaging faces of the suspension bars to ensure quiet operation. The location of the bolts 14 near to the ends of the suspension bars permits ready vertical access to the securing locations without any obstruction by the motor housing 1 6. Lastly the user fits the outer casing 9 to the end flanges of the bar 5.

Claims

1. Apparatus for suspending a ceiling fan from a ceiling, comprising a first suspension bar securable to the ceiling so as to extend substantially parallel thereto, and a second suspension bar securable in lengthwise juxtaposition beneath said first bar and having the fan motor housing suspended closely adjacent thereto and substantially centrally thereof, said bars being adapted to be secured together at locations sufficiently near their outer ends that, with the first bar secured to the ceiling and the bars juxtaposed, the fan motor housing will not obstruct substantially vertical access to the said securing locations to secure the bars together.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said suspension bars are adapted for the second bar to be hung directly on the first bar while the bars are being secured together.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said second bar is formed with upstanding hooks adjacent its ends to engage over the ends of the first bar when the second bar is moved laterally into engagement with the first bar.

4. Apparatus for suspending a ceiling fan from a ceiling, comprising a first suspension bar securable to the ceiling so as to extend substantially parallel thereto, and a second suspension bar securable in lengthwise juxtaposition beneath said first bar and adapted to have a fan motor housing suspended substantially centrally thereof, said bars being adapted to be secured together at locations at or near their outer ends and being adapted for the second bar to be hung directly on the first bar while the bars are being secured together.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the said bars are so configured that, when secured together as aforesaid, they are mutually spaced apart at their central regions to accommodate means securing the fan motor housing to the said second bar.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein one of the said bars has terminal flanges adapted to have an outer casing of the fan suspended therefrom.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.