US20240159248A1 - Ceiling fan and blade - Google Patents
Ceiling fan and blade Download PDFInfo
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- US20240159248A1 US20240159248A1 US18/416,193 US202418416193A US2024159248A1 US 20240159248 A1 US20240159248 A1 US 20240159248A1 US 202418416193 A US202418416193 A US 202418416193A US 2024159248 A1 US2024159248 A1 US 2024159248A1
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- blade
- ceiling fan
- pulp
- fan assembly
- mount
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Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/60—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling
- F04D29/64—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling of axial pumps
- F04D29/644—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling of axial pumps especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
- F04D29/646—Mounting or removal of fans
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D19/00—Axial-flow pumps
- F04D19/002—Axial flow fans
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D25/00—Pumping installations or systems
- F04D25/02—Units comprising pumps and their driving means
- F04D25/08—Units comprising pumps and their driving means the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation
- F04D25/088—Ceiling fans
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/02—Selection of particular materials
- F04D29/023—Selection of particular materials especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/26—Rotors specially for elastic fluids
- F04D29/32—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for axial flow pumps
- F04D29/34—Blade mountings
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/26—Rotors specially for elastic fluids
- F04D29/32—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for axial flow pumps
- F04D29/38—Blades
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/26—Rotors specially for elastic fluids
- F04D29/32—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for axial flow pumps
- F04D29/38—Blades
- F04D29/388—Blades characterised by construction
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/60—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling
- F04D29/62—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling of radial or helico-centrifugal pumps
- F04D29/624—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling of radial or helico-centrifugal pumps especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
- F04D29/626—Mounting or removal of fans
Definitions
- Ceiling fans traditionally include a set of blades rotatably coupled to a motor assembly to rotate the set of blades. Rotation of the set of blades drives a volume of fluid, typically ambient air within a room, space, or area.
- Ceiling fan blades include a traditional aesthetic, commonly having a flat bottom on the blade which provides consumers with a traditional ceiling fan style. However, the flat blades are somewhat aerodynamically inefficient in comparison to other aerodynamic blade shapes.
- the disclosure relates to a ceiling fan assembly comprising: a motor having a rotor; a mount coupling to a structure; a downrod coupling the motor to the mount; and a ceiling fan blade comprising a blade body operably coupled to the rotor, wherein the blade body is formed pulp.
- the disclosure relates to a ceiling fan assembly comprising: a motor having a rotor; a mount coupling to a structure; a downrod coupling the motor to the mount; and a ceiling fan blade comprising a blade body operably coupled to the rotor, wherein the blade body is a unit of pulp having a compressed volume of pulp.
- FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view of a ceiling fan having a set of blades suspended from a structure.
- FIG. 2 is a view of a blade of the set of blades of FIG. 1 , including an upper half separated from a lower half.
- FIG. 3 is a view of alternate arrangement for the blade of FIG. 2 , with the upper and lower halves connected by a hinge.
- FIG. 4 is a view of another alternate arrangement for a blade of the set of blades of FIG. 1 including a skeleton.
- FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the skeleton of FIG. 4 taken along section V-V of FIG. 4 , illustrating ribbing for the skeleton.
- FIG. 6 is a top view of a over molding provided on the skeleton of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the skeleton and over molding of FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 8 is an exploded view of yet another alternative arrangement of a blade of the set of blades of FIG. 1 including a topper coupled to a top surface of a blade base.
- FIG. 9 is an assembled view of the blade of FIG. 8 .
- FIG. 10 is a section view of the blade of FIG. 9 , showing a grommet design for the topper extending into the blade base.
- FIG. 11 is a view of another alternative blade for the set of blades of FIG. 1 , including a wire frame.
- FIG. 12 is a view of yet another alternative blade for the set of blades of FIG. 1 , having a blade mount, a foam core, and an overlay.
- FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating a method of forming a blade for a ceiling fan.
- a pulp ceiling fan blade can be a ceiling fan blade that is at least partially made from a pulp.
- a molded pulp ceiling fan blade can be any ceiling fan blade that is made from a pulp, where the pulp is formed and then molded into a desired ceiling fan blade shape, or component thereof.
- a molded pulp product must be formed by shaping or molding the pulp, as opposed to cutting a product from a volume of material formed from pulp.
- a molded pulp ceiling fan blade can be made from a slurry or unit of pulp, which is then compressed, stamped, molded, or otherwise formed into the desired ceiling fan blade shape, or portion thereof.
- a molded pulp product or a molded pulp ceiling fan blade is different than a product formed from combined fibers with binders to form a sheet or board, which is then cut to the desired dimension, shape, or size.
- the disclosure provided herein relates to blades, and more specifically, to blades for a ceiling fan or other air moving device for generating an airflow, often for local cooling, heating, or air conditioning.
- the blades provided herein relate to a blade formed at least partially with a volume of pulp, such that at least a portion of the blade is made from pulp, providing for decreased costs, weight, and environmental impact, among other benefits.
- other ceiling fan elements, components, or parts can be made from a pulp, including but not limited to, blades, blade irons, motor housings, switch housings, light kit fixtures or housings, motor adapters, downrods, canopies, or mounts. While the description herein is directed toward a ceiling fan blade specifically, it should be appreciated that the pulp ceiling fan element can be applied to any suitable ceiling fan component.
- Pulp as generally described herein can be defined as the material utilized in forming, making, or otherwise creating molded pulp products (MPPs).
- MPPs can include, but are not limited to, thermoformed molded pulp products, molded pulp products, impulse-dried pulp products, while other types of forming or molding, such as compression of the pulp are contemplated.
- Pulp can also include fiber which is formed to create the final product, often through wetting or dampening, forming, and then shaping and drying.
- Such pulp or molded pulp products can, but need not include, wood fibers or other cellulose, other plant-based fibers, or paper, in non-limiting examples. Additionally, it is contemplated that components such as chemical components can be added to the pulp or pulp mixture to impart performance characteristics, such as improved efficiency.
- MPPs can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 9,856,608, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- Most common known types of MPPs are drinker carriers, egg cartons, or other serving trays or food containers, while an increase in industrial packaging or disposable items formed by molded pulp is being seen. Particularly those involving the use of recycled paper products.
- alternative materials to pulp or a molded pulp product can include a foam, such as polystyrene in one non-limiting example, which can be utilized in place of pulp to form the products and fan blades as described herein, as well as other pulp alternatives including foams, plastics, or other suitable materials.
- the term “set” or a “set” of elements can be any number of elements, including only one.
- an exemplary ceiling fan 10 is mounted to a ceiling 12 of a structure 14 , such as in a residential home.
- the ceiling fan 10 can be mounted or suspended in a myriad of environments, such as on a ceiling or wall, in a residential space or home, outdoor or indoor, in an industrial setting, such as a manufacturing plant, or in an agricultural setting, in non-limiting examples.
- the ceiling fan 10 includes a mount 16 suspending the ceiling fan 10 from and coupling the ceiling fan 10 to the ceiling 12 .
- a canopy 18 covers the mount 16 .
- a downrod 20 is suspended from the mount 16 by a ball 22 .
- a motor adapter 24 secures the downrod 20 to a motor 26 via a motor shaft 28 extending from the motor 26 .
- the motor 26 can include a stator 30 mounted to the motor shaft 28 , as well as a rotor 32 rotatably driven about the stator 30 .
- the motor adapter 24 can further couple to a motor housing 34 at least partially encasing the motor 26 .
- a set of blade irons 36 couples a complementary set of blades 38 to the rotor 32 for rotating the blades 38 and driving a volume of fluid, such as air, about the structure 14 or a local room therein.
- a switch housing 48 can mount below the motor housing 34 and electrically couple to the motor 26 .
- a light kit 46 can electrically and mechanically couple to the switch housing 48 .
- ceiling fan 10 as depicted in FIG. 1 is by way of example only, and it should be understood that more or less components than those shown and described can be included with the ceiling fan 10 , and such variation among ceiling fan assemblies is within the scope of this description.
- the ceiling fan 10 can be coupled to a power supply 40 , such as a building electrical supply.
- the power supply 40 may be connected to one or more controllers 42 or switches 44 .
- the controllers 42 can be used to receive or send information related to the control and operation of the ceiling fan 10 , such as over a wired or wireless signal.
- the switches 44 can be operated to control the ceiling fan 10 , such as a wall-mounted switch, for example. While the controller 42 and the switch 44 are schematically shown exterior of the ceiling 12 , it should be appreciated that the controller 42 and the switch 44 may be optional, or may be provided in other positions, such as on the wall or ceiling, or within portions of the ceiling fan 10 itself.
- any suitable ceiling fan assembly is contemplated.
- any suitable mount can be used, such as a traditional mount, a ‘hugger’ mount which hugs up against the ceiling, also referred to as a low-profile ceiling fan.
- a ceiling fan can be used with or without a downrod suspending the motor assembly. It should be understood that the disclosure need not be limited by the particular components of a particular ceiling fan assembly.
- FIG. 1 While FIG. 1 and as described herein is a ‘standard mount’ including the mount 16 suspending the downrod 20 , and suspending the motor 26 therefrom, it should be understood that any suitable ceiling fan assembly is contemplated.
- any suitable mount can be used, such as a traditional mount, a ‘hugger’ mount which hugs up against the ceiling, also referred to as a low-profile ceiling fan.
- a ceiling fan can be used with or without a downrod suspending the motor assembly. It should be understood that the disclosure need not be limited by the particular components of a particular ceiling fan assembly.
- FIG. 1 While FIG
- blade irons 36 that extend external of the motor housing from the rotor to the blade
- other blade mounting methods or styles are also contemplated.
- blades that directly mount to the rotor are contemplated, along with various different types of blade irons or different material, including but not limited to aluminum, zinc, copper, cast iron, or plastic in non-limiting examples.
- the blade iron need not be a traditional blade iron that mounts to the rotor and extends exterior of the motor housing, but can be any suitable element or system thereof that effectively fastens the blade to the motor to rotatably drive the blades.
- a blade 50 which can be the blade 38 of FIG. 1 , can include a body 52 separable into a first, upper half 54 , and a second, lower half 56 . It should be understood that the upper half is shown upside-down, such that the interior of the first half 54 of the blade 50 is visible, and that the upper half 54 and the lower half 56 effectively form two disconnected halves of a clamshell which can couple together essentially by pivoting the first half 54 as shown to meet the second half 56 .
- the blade 50 is illustrated with the halves 54 , 56 separated showing the interior surfaces of both halves 54 , 56 .
- Both halves 54 , 56 of the blade 50 include a root 58 and a tip 60 , defining a span-wise direction therebetween, and include a first edge 62 and a second edge 64 , defining a chord-wise direction therebetween.
- the first edge 62 can be a leading edge and the second edge 64 can be a trailing edge, while the rotational direction of the ceiling fan to which the blade 50 attaches may define the leading and trailing edges.
- the blade 50 and the halves 54 , 56 thereof can include tapered edges 66 at the junction between the root 58 and the edges 62 , 64 , and the tip 60 and the edges 62 , 64 .
- any plan-view shape (top-down shape) of the blade 50 is contemplated, and that the shape as shown with the tapered edges 66 is by way of example only.
- the first half 54 includes a set of rib receptacles 70 and a set of stops 72 .
- the rib receptacles 70 are formed as a pair of spaced extensions, which can be arranged in a particular pattern along an interior surface 76 of the first half 54 .
- the rib receptacles 70 near the root 58 can have a shorter length, as compared to that of the rib receptacles further form the root 58 .
- the rib receptacles 70 near the root 58 can be curved or arcuate, and can angle away from the mount holes 82 .
- Some rib receptacles 70 at the mount hole 82 extend radially from the mount hole 82 , as is appreciable.
- some of the rib receptacles 70 can be arranged parallel to the leading or trailing edges 62 , 64 , while other are arranged perpendicular to the leading or trailing edges 62 , 64 .
- the particular arrangement, such as curved, parallel, or perpendicular can vary or be slightly offset, while any suitable arrangement is contemplated.
- the set of stops 72 can be arranged along the interior surface 76 in a predetermined pattern.
- the set of stops 72 can be formed as cylindrical extensions extending from the interior surface 76 , while alternate shapes are contemplated.
- the second half 56 includes a set of structural ribs 78 and stop receptacles 80 .
- the structural ribs 78 can form an interconnected lattice-like web of structures, while it is contemplated that each structural rib 78 is discrete, and separated from the other ribs 78 .
- the ribs 78 near the root 58 can be curved or arcuate, being complementary to the rib receptacles 70 for the first half 54 .
- the ribs 78 nearer to the root 58 can have a greater curvature, as compared to the ribs 78 further from the root 78 , while some of the ribs 78 can be arranged parallel or perpendicular to the edges 62 , 64 , similar to the rib receptacles. Additionally, some of the ribs 78 can extend radially from one or more of the mount receptacles 84 .
- the structural ribs 78 can be sized complementary to the spacing between each pair of rib receptacles 70 , and can be arranged complementary to the pattern of the set of rib receptacles 70 . In this way, attachment of the first half 54 to the second half 56 provides for both aligning the first half 54 with the second half 56 , but also securing the first half 54 to the second half 56 .
- the first half 54 can include an adhesive, such as glue or epoxy, which is provided between the rib receptacles 70 , such that the adhesive can secure the first half 54 to the second half 56 when the structural ribs 78 of the second half 56 are inserted between the rib receptacles 70 of the first half 54 .
- the adhesive can be applied to the edges of both halves 54 , 56 of the blade 50 to prevent separation of the halves 54 , 56 during operation of the fan.
- Alternative attachment methods are contemplated, such as a compression or interference fit between the ribs 78 and the rib receptacles 70 , while any suitable attachment means or method is contemplated.
- ends of the structural ribs 78 may be tapered to facilitate a varying thickness for the blade 50 extending between the first edge 62 and the second edge 64 . Such tapering of the structural ribs 78 can provide for an airfoil profile, for example, for the blade 50 .
- the stop receptacles 80 can be sized and arranged complementary to the stops 72 , such that the stops 72 abut the stop receptacles 80 when the first half 54 is connected to the second half 56 . In this way, the stops 72 can maintain the proper spacing between the first and second halves 54 , 56 , as well as the proper blade thickness.
- the stop receptacles 80 can be formed as a raised annular ridge on the inner surface 76 , which can receive the end of the stop 72 but resists or prevents movement of the stop 72 from the stop receptacle 80 when the first half 54 connects to the second half 56 .
- the first half 54 includes a set of mount holes 82 and the second half 56 includes a set of complementary mount receptacles 84 .
- the mount holes 82 can be configured to receive a fastener through the holes 82 and extending into the mount receptacles 84 .
- a blade iron such as the blade iron 36 of FIG. 1 , can be used to couple the blade 50 to the motor for rotating the blade via the mount holes 82 and the mount receptacles 84 .
- the mount receptacles 84 can be sized with a height similar to the thickness of the blade 50 in order to maintain uniform thickness for the blade 50 , as well as forming an aesthetically pleasing look and providing no aerodynamic disadvantage by being wholly contained within the interior of the blade 50 .
- the blade 50 as described herein can be made of pulp, or at least partially made from pulp. Forming the blade 50 from pulp provides for reduced costs of manufacture, which can be passed onto the consumer. Additionally, the pulp can provide for blades having a reduced weight, which can reduce energy requirements to operate the fan, which can reduce operational costs as well as improve operational efficiency. Furthermore, the pulp can be made from a recyclable material or a biodegradable material, such that the environmental impact from the fan is decreased, or that the environmental impact of the blades themselves is reduced or minimal.
- the features as described herein provide for forming the blade partially or fully from pulp. More specifically, the features provide for a structurally sound blade, which is subjected to operational stresses and bending moments.
- the rib receptacles 70 , the stops 72 , the structural ribs 78 , and the stop receptacles 80 provide for maintaining the shape and structural integrity of the blade 50 during operation. Forming the blades from a pulp can result in a blade 50 that is more susceptible to deformation or bending. Utilizing the stops and ribs as described herein provides for forming the blade from the pulp material, while still maintaining the structural integrity necessary during operation.
- the blade 50 can include an exterior coating 86 .
- the exterior coating 86 can be a waterproof material, for example, preventing water damage to the pulp blades. Additionally, the exterior coating 86 can be of a material that a reduced coefficient of friction, at least as compared to that of the pulp material of the blade 50 , such that aerodynamic efficiency is increased as compared to that of the blade 50 without the exterior coating 86 . Furthermore, the exterior coating 86 can also be used for coloring or other design aesthetics for the blade 50 . Further still, the exterior coating can be multiple exterior coatings, such as one to waterproof the pulp material, while another coating can be used to color the blade or to reduce aerodynamic drag. Thus, it should be understood that a myriad of coatings are contemplated for use with the blades as described herein.
- FIG. 3 depicts another blade 150 for a ceiling fan.
- the blade 150 can be substantially similar to the blade 50 of FIG. 2 , except that the blade of FIG. 3 includes a hinge 152 which couples a first half 154 to a second half 156 .
- the hinge 152 can be a living hinge, such that the first half 154 is integral with the second half 156 , and the first half 154 can be secured to the second half 156 by bending the blade 150 along the living hinge and attaching the halves 154 , 156 to one another.
- halves 154 , 156 as discussed herein can be mounted to one another in a variety of ways, including a living hinge where the two halves 154 , 156 are formed integrally or unitarily and assembled by folding along the living hinge 152 .
- a blade skeleton 200 for a ceiling fan blade extends between a root end 202 and a tip end 204 , and between a first edge 206 and a second edge 208 .
- the skeleton 200 can be made of stamped metal or molded plastic, in non-limiting examples, while any suitable material or manufacture method is contemplated.
- the skeleton 200 includes a series of perforations 210 extending along the length of the blade skeleton 200 .
- the perforations 210 are arranged in three rows 212 , with each row 212 separated by a rib 214 that extends between the root end 202 and the tip end 204 .
- Additional mount holes 216 can be provided at the root end 202 for securing a blade iron to the skeleton 200 , or securing the skeleton 200 to the motor for driving the fan blade. It should be understood that the arrangement with the ribs 214 and the perforations 210 are exemplary as shown, and can have any suitable configuration, as well as more or less elements including, but no limited to, ribs, perforations, bumps, extensions, openings, holes, grooves, channels, valleys, or any other suitable structure or lack thereof.
- FIG. 5 shows a section view of the blade skeleton 200 taken along section V-V of FIG. 4 , better depicting the shape of the ribs 214 .
- the ribs 214 can include two rounded portions of the skeleton 200 , which have a substantially rounded convex shape extending away from the remainder of the skeleton 200 .
- FIG. 6 includes the blade skeleton 200 having an over molding 220 forming a ceiling fan blade 222 .
- the over molding 220 can be made from a pulp, as discussed herein, while it is also contemplated that the over molding 220 be another material, such as a foam or high-density foam in one non-limiting example.
- the over molding 220 can be shaped in any top-down shape, such as that shown, or of any traditional ceiling fan blade.
- the over molding 220 can be shaped in any suitable geometry or 3D (three-dimensional) manner, such as including a performance edge profile with curved or otherwise shaped edges, or other profiles such as an airfoil profile.
- the profile as shown in FIG. 7 provides for improve blade performance due to the rounded edge profile, while maintaining the traditional bottom-view ceiling fan blade aesthetic with a flat bottom.
- the blade 222 provides for a structurally strong blade with the skeleton 200 , as well as a blade that is easy and inexpensive to produce.
- the skeleton 200 can be easily stamped or molded.
- the over molding 220 can be molded onto the skeleton 200 to form the final blade 222 .
- the perforations 210 in the skeleton 200 along with the ribs 214 , provide for improved adhesion of the over molding 220 to the skeleton 200 .
- the ribs 214 provide for improved attachment of the over molding 220 to the skeleton 200 over time, as the ribs 214 help to carry and drive the over molding 220 during operation of the ceiling fan.
- an exploded view of another exemplary blade 300 includes a blade base 302 and a topper 304 .
- the blade base 302 can be a standard ceiling fan blade, for example, such as those traditionally manufactured with a flat top and/or flat bottom.
- the blade base 302 can be any suitable blade structure for carrying the topper 304 or upon which a topper 304 can be mounted or coupled.
- the topper 304 can be made from a pulp, as described herein, while additional materials are contemplated such as a foam or high-density foam. Any suitable material can be used, while preferably being lightweight while having a high tensile strength to improve overall operational efficiency.
- the topper 304 can be coupled to a top surface 306 of the blade base 302 .
- the topper 304 can include or be shaped to form, upon attachment to the blade base 302 , an aerodynamic profile for the blade, such as having an airfoil profile or a rounded leading edge or trailing edge to improve efficiency of the blade, at least in comparison to a blade as the blade base alone 302 . Additionally, it is contemplated that the topper 304 can include a blade skeleton, such as that shown in described in relation to FIG. 4 , or a wire frame such as that shown and described in relation to FIG. 11 below.
- FIG. 9 illustrates a completed version of the blade 300 of FIG. 8 , having the topper 304 secured to the blade base 302 to form the complete blade 300 .
- the blade is shown as having a diverging-then-converging shape in the chord-wise direction extending from root to tip, it should be appreciated that any blade shape is contemplated and may or may not include the blade iron mount extending from the root of the blade base 302 . Additionally, it is contemplated that the topper 304 can also cover the iron portion of the blade base 302 . While the topper 304 is described herein as a ‘topper’, it should be understood that it need not be a topper in a traditional sense as limited to attachment to a top of a blade base 302 .
- a topper 304 can be any suitable pulp element attached to any portion of the blade base 302 to adapt the blade 300 to have an aerodynamic profile.
- An aerodynamic profile can be any suitable shape that improves aerodynamic performance of the blade 300 upon addition of the topper 304 .
- a ‘topper’ as described herein could be added to the bottom of the blade to improve aerodynamic efficiency, in one non-limiting example.
- a first system for mounting and securing a topper 404 to a blade base 402 to form a ceiling fan blade 400 can include forming a grommet portion 410 that is integral with the topper 404 and sized to accept a fastener 406 , such as a screw. While shown that the fastener 406 extends beyond the blade 400 at the bottom, it should be understood that the fastener 406 can be used to mount the blade 400 to the remainder of the ceiling fan, such as via a blade iron, to impart rotational movement to the blade 400 .
- the grommet portion 410 extends from the remainder of the topper 404 and can be shaped to insert into a hole formed in the blade base 402 , such as the mount holes 82 of FIG. 2 , for example.
- the integral grommet design reduces overall parts, removing the need for an additional grommet Additionally, utilizing the topper 404 with the grommet portion 410 mitigates any vibration generated by the blade 400 between the blade base 402 and the topper 404 . In this way, vibration or blade balance issues which can negatively impact performance are reduced, minimized, or otherwise mitigated.
- the blade base 402 can be shaped as being wider, longer, or both, relative to the topper 404 , defining an edge or boundary 412 , fully or partially defined around the blade 400 .
- the topper 404 can be formed thinner and shorter than the base blade 402 , which can provide for attaching the topper 404 onto an existing blade as the blade base 402 , without extending over the edges of the blade base 402 .
- the boundary 412 can provide for room for attaching the topper 404 to the blade base 402 .
- Utilizing the boundary 412 can provide for seeing the aerodynamic benefits of the topper, while reducing the occasion that the topper 404 extends beyond the blade base 402 , thereby reducing the instance of detachment of the topper or aerodynamic inefficiencies after installation. Additionally, the boundary 412 provides for preventing the topper 404 from creating a sharp zone on the blade edge.
- another exemplary blade 500 includes an interior wire frame 502 coupled to a plate 504 (the wire frame 502 and the plate 504 shown in broken line).
- the plate 504 can be welded to the wire frame 502 , while any suitable method of attachment is contemplated.
- the wire frame 502 and the plate 504 can be integral or formed as a unitary structure, such as with casting.
- the exterior of the blade 500 can include a pulp overlay 506 , utilizing the wire frame 502 and the plate 504 as a skeleton supporting the pulp overlay 506 .
- the pulp overlay 506 could be a foam or other material, covering, overlaying, or otherwise attached to and encasing the skeleton or wire frame 502 .
- a set of mount holes 508 can be provided in the plate 504 , providing for the attachment of a blade iron (not shown) to the blade 500 at the plate 504 .
- the plate 504 provides a durable attachment point for mounting of a blade iron, such as the blade iron 36 of FIG. 1 , for example.
- the wire frame 502 extends along the outer periphery of the blade 500 where the blade 500 experiences higher forces during rotational movement of the blades and ceiling fan operation.
- Forming the pulp overlay 506 onto the skeleton of the wire frame 502 and the plate 504 provides or a structurally supported blade 500 , that is light weight and can be formed to have aerodynamic features, such as an airfoil profile in one non-limiting example.
- the light blades with the aerodynamic features can provide for improved efficiency as well as reduced operational costs.
- a pulp overlay provides for a blade 500 that is largely recyclable or has a reduced or minimal environmental impact, or at least compared to ceiling fan blades formed without a pulp overlay.
- another blade 600 includes a blade mount structure 602 , such as a skeleton as described herein.
- the blade mount structure 602 can be a solid interior structure capable of supporting the blade 600 during rotating operation.
- the blade mount structure 602 can be made of stamped metal or formed plastic.
- the blade mount structure 602 can include a mount extension 604 including a set of mount holes 606 for attaching the blade 600 to a blade iron or rotor (not shown).
- a core 608 is provided around the blade mount structure 602 .
- the core 608 can be formed to have a three-dimensional blade shape, such as having an airfoil profile adapted to improve blade efficiency and airflow, as compared to a flat blade.
- the core 608 can be made of foam or other similar lightweight material, such as an open cell or closed cell foam.
- a pulp overlay 610 can be formed around and covering the core 608 .
- the pulp overlay 610 can provide for forming the blade shape based upon the core 608 , and then covering the core 608 with the pulp to provide for a structurally stable blade.
- the pulp overlay 610 be coated with a blade coating 612 or coloring to decorate the blade, or improve structural integrity or aerodynamic efficiency with a low-friction surface, for example.
- the blade coating 612 can also be multiple coatings, such as a waterproofing coating, a color coating, or another coating to reduce aerodynamic drag in non-limiting examples.
- a myriad of coatings are contemplated for use with the blades as described herein.
- the blades as discussed herein provide for decreased cost of manufacture, which results in a reduced cost to the consumer. Additionally, the blades can provide for increased aerodynamic efficiency, which provides for improved operational efficiency and reduced operational costs. Furthermore, the pulp used in forming the blades can be made from a biodegradable material, which can provide for a reduced environmental impact for the blades, as well as improved desirability for a consumer market that values environmental impacts and sustainability.
- a method 700 of forming a blade can include, at 702 , forming at least a portion of the blade utilizing a pulp.
- the method can further include where forming includes forming two halves of the blade from the pulp. One or both halves can be formed from the pulp.
- the method can further include attaching the two halves to one another.
- the two halves can be attached, for example, by the ribs 78 and the rib receptacles 70 of FIG. 2 . Additionally, it is contemplated that the halves are connected by an integral hinge, such as a living hinge, which can also be made of the pulp material.
- the method 700 can include discretely forming each half of the blade from the pulp, such as taking a pulp material, such as a fibrous pulp, and mixing the pulp with a binding agent. After mixing the two, the pulp material with the binding agent can be compressed, such as within a mold to form the blades or portions thereof as described herein. In one example, the blade may be heated to cure the binding agent. It is also contemplated that the formation of the molded blade can be cured by pressure curing, or may be dried after manufacture.
- the method 700 can further include where forming includes forming the pulp as a pulp overlay provided over a wire frame, such as the pulp overlay 506 over the wire frame 502 of FIG. 11 . Additionally, a plate can be affixed to the wire frame to provide for additional stability for the blade, as well as providing a portion for mounting a blade iron to the blade, or mounting the blade to a rotor.
- the method 700 can further include wherein forming the blade further includes forming an over molding with a pulp provided on a skeleton to form the blade.
- the over molding for example, can be the over molding 220 provided over the skeleton 200 of FIGS. 4 - 7 , for example.
- the skeleton may be the wire frame 502 of FIG. 11 with the over molding formed as the pulp overlay 506 .
- the method can further include where forming includes forming a core over a blade mount structure, and forming a pulp overlay over the blade mount structure.
- the blade mount structure can be the blade mount structure 602 of FIG. 12 .
- the core can be the core 608 of FIG. 12 , and can be made of foam or another sturdy but lightweight material.
- the pulp overlay 610 of FIG. 12 can be made from the pulp and covering the core 608 .
- a coating can be provided over the pulp overlay for sealing the blade, or for coloring or otherwise decorating the fan.
- the method 700 can further include attaching a topper formed as pulp to a blade base to form the blade.
- the base blade can be any blade, such as an existing blade having a flat top or flat bottom surface, or both.
- the topper can be the topper 404 of FIGS. 8 - 10 , for example, and the blade base can be the blade base 402 .
- the method 700 can include where the topper forms an aerodynamic shape for the blade that is more efficient than that of the blade base alone.
- the method 700 can further include where the topper includes a grommet portion, which can be inserted into a mount hole in the base blade, which helps to dampen vibrations between the blade base and the topper.
- the method as described herein should be considered as non-limiting in the order or arrangement as described. It should be understood that the aspects of the method can be mixed, reorganized, reordered, or that portions of one part of the method can be combined with other portions of the method.
- a ceiling fan comprising: a motor including a rotor; a blade coupled to the rotor and rotatably driven by the motor, the blade comprising; a first portion defining a first interior surface for the blade; and a second portion secured to the first portion to form a complete body for the blade, with the second portion defining a second interior surface for the blade; wherein the blade is at least partially formed of a pulp.
- the first portion includes a set of ribs extending from the first interior surface.
- the second portion includes a set of rib receptacles configured to receive the set of ribs to secure the first portion to the second portion.
- the first portion further includes a set of stops.
- the second portion further includes a set of stop receptacles configured to receive the set of stops to define a thickness for the blade via the set of stops.
- hinge is a living hinge formed from pulp.
- the second portion includes a set of mount receptacles arranged complementary to the set of mount holes when the first portion is joined to the second portion.
- a blade for a ceiling fan comprising: a skeleton; an over molding formed around the skeleton; wherein the over molding is formed from a pulp.
- the skeleton includes a set of perforations facilitating adhesion of the over molding to the skeleton.
- the blade of any preceding clause further comprising a set of ribs extending along the skeleton.
- the over molding surrounds the entirety of the skeleton except for a portion of a root of the skeleton, wherein the portion of the root of the skeleton includes a set of mount holes.
- the skeleton includes a wire frame extending around at least a portion of the periphery of the blade.
- the skeleton further includes a plate attached to the wire frame.
- the blade of any preceding clause further comprising a foam core provided on the skeleton, with the over molding provided on the foam core.
- a blade for a ceiling fan comprising: a blade base having an upper surface and a lower surface, and extending span-wise between a root and a tip, and extending chord-wise between a first edge and a second edge; a topper attached to the blade base to form the blade, with the topper at least partially formed from a pulp.
- the blade base further includes a mount hole and the grommet portion inserts into the mount hole.
- the topper includes a chord-wise width that is less than that of the blade base between the first edge and the second edge such that a peripheral edge is defined along the upper surface of the blade base not covered by the topper.
- a blade for a ceiling fan comprising: a blade mount structure; a core surrounding and affixed to the blade mount structure; and a pulp overlay provided on the core.
- a method of forming a blade for a ceiling fan comprising: forming at least a portion of the blade by utilizing a pulp.
- forming further comprises forming two halves of the blade from the pulp.
- forming further includes forming an over molding with the pulp on a skeleton to form the blade.
- forming further includes attaching a topper formed from the pulp to a base blade.
- forming further comprises forming the pulp as a pulp overlay provided on a wire frame.
- forming further comprises forming a pulp overlay about a core, which is formed around a blade mount structure.
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Abstract
A blade for a ceiling fan can include a blade body made from a pulp material. The pulp material can be a unit of pulp in the shape of the blade body. The unit of pulp can be compressed, thermoformed, or stamped. The blade body can be a single or multiple pieces, like an upper and lower half. A skeleton can be located between the upper and lower halves. A coating can be applied to the blade body to reduce friction and/or for waterproofing.
Description
- This application claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/162,648, filed Jan. 31, 2023, now allowed, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/540,620, filed Dec. 2, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,603,863, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/728,302, filed Dec. 27, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,215,198, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
- Ceiling fans traditionally include a set of blades rotatably coupled to a motor assembly to rotate the set of blades. Rotation of the set of blades drives a volume of fluid, typically ambient air within a room, space, or area.
- Ceiling fan blades include a traditional aesthetic, commonly having a flat bottom on the blade which provides consumers with a traditional ceiling fan style. However, the flat blades are somewhat aerodynamically inefficient in comparison to other aerodynamic blade shapes.
- In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a ceiling fan assembly comprising: a motor having a rotor; a mount coupling to a structure; a downrod coupling the motor to the mount; and a ceiling fan blade comprising a blade body operably coupled to the rotor, wherein the blade body is formed pulp.
- In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a ceiling fan assembly comprising: a motor having a rotor; a mount coupling to a structure; a downrod coupling the motor to the mount; and a ceiling fan blade comprising a blade body operably coupled to the rotor, wherein the blade body is a unit of pulp having a compressed volume of pulp.
- In the drawings:
-
FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view of a ceiling fan having a set of blades suspended from a structure. -
FIG. 2 is a view of a blade of the set of blades ofFIG. 1 , including an upper half separated from a lower half. -
FIG. 3 is a view of alternate arrangement for the blade ofFIG. 2 , with the upper and lower halves connected by a hinge. -
FIG. 4 is a view of another alternate arrangement for a blade of the set of blades ofFIG. 1 including a skeleton. -
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the skeleton ofFIG. 4 taken along section V-V ofFIG. 4 , illustrating ribbing for the skeleton. -
FIG. 6 is a top view of a over molding provided on the skeleton ofFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the skeleton and over molding ofFIG. 6 . -
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of yet another alternative arrangement of a blade of the set of blades ofFIG. 1 including a topper coupled to a top surface of a blade base. -
FIG. 9 is an assembled view of the blade ofFIG. 8 . -
FIG. 10 is a section view of the blade ofFIG. 9 , showing a grommet design for the topper extending into the blade base. -
FIG. 11 is a view of another alternative blade for the set of blades ofFIG. 1 , including a wire frame. -
FIG. 12 is a view of yet another alternative blade for the set of blades ofFIG. 1 , having a blade mount, a foam core, and an overlay. -
FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating a method of forming a blade for a ceiling fan. - The disclosure herein relates to a pulp ceiling fan blade and a molded pulp ceiling fan blade. A pulp ceiling fan blade can be a ceiling fan blade that is at least partially made from a pulp. A molded pulp ceiling fan blade can be any ceiling fan blade that is made from a pulp, where the pulp is formed and then molded into a desired ceiling fan blade shape, or component thereof. Thus, a molded pulp product must be formed by shaping or molding the pulp, as opposed to cutting a product from a volume of material formed from pulp. More specifically, a molded pulp ceiling fan blade can be made from a slurry or unit of pulp, which is then compressed, stamped, molded, or otherwise formed into the desired ceiling fan blade shape, or portion thereof. As such, it should be appreciated that a molded pulp product or a molded pulp ceiling fan blade is different than a product formed from combined fibers with binders to form a sheet or board, which is then cut to the desired dimension, shape, or size.
- The disclosure provided herein relates to blades, and more specifically, to blades for a ceiling fan or other air moving device for generating an airflow, often for local cooling, heating, or air conditioning. The blades provided herein relate to a blade formed at least partially with a volume of pulp, such that at least a portion of the blade is made from pulp, providing for decreased costs, weight, and environmental impact, among other benefits. It should be understood that it is contemplated that other ceiling fan elements, components, or parts can be made from a pulp, including but not limited to, blades, blade irons, motor housings, switch housings, light kit fixtures or housings, motor adapters, downrods, canopies, or mounts. While the description herein is directed toward a ceiling fan blade specifically, it should be appreciated that the pulp ceiling fan element can be applied to any suitable ceiling fan component.
- ‘Pulp’ as generally described herein can be defined as the material utilized in forming, making, or otherwise creating molded pulp products (MPPs). MPPs can include, but are not limited to, thermoformed molded pulp products, molded pulp products, impulse-dried pulp products, while other types of forming or molding, such as compression of the pulp are contemplated. Pulp can also include fiber which is formed to create the final product, often through wetting or dampening, forming, and then shaping and drying. Such pulp or molded pulp products can, but need not include, wood fibers or other cellulose, other plant-based fibers, or paper, in non-limiting examples. Additionally, it is contemplated that components such as chemical components can be added to the pulp or pulp mixture to impart performance characteristics, such as improved efficiency. Such examples of MPPs can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 9,856,608, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Most common known types of MPPs are drinker carriers, egg cartons, or other serving trays or food containers, while an increase in industrial packaging or disposable items formed by molded pulp is being seen. Particularly those involving the use of recycled paper products. Additionally, alternative materials to pulp or a molded pulp product can include a foam, such as polystyrene in one non-limiting example, which can be utilized in place of pulp to form the products and fan blades as described herein, as well as other pulp alternatives including foams, plastics, or other suitable materials.
- As used herein, the term “set” or a “set” of elements can be any number of elements, including only one.
- All directional references (e.g., radial, axial, proximal, distal, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, lateral, front, back, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, counterclockwise, upstream, downstream, forward, aft, etc.) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of aspects of the disclosure described herein. Connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and joined) are to be construed broadly and can include intermediate members between a collection of elements and relative movement between elements unless otherwise indicated. As such, connection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to one another. The exemplary drawings are for purposes of illustration only and the dimensions, positions, order and relative sizes reflected in the drawings attached hereto can vary.
- Referring to
FIG. 1 , anexemplary ceiling fan 10 is mounted to aceiling 12 of astructure 14, such as in a residential home. Alternatively, theceiling fan 10 can be mounted or suspended in a myriad of environments, such as on a ceiling or wall, in a residential space or home, outdoor or indoor, in an industrial setting, such as a manufacturing plant, or in an agricultural setting, in non-limiting examples. - The
ceiling fan 10 includes amount 16 suspending theceiling fan 10 from and coupling theceiling fan 10 to theceiling 12. Acanopy 18 covers themount 16. Adownrod 20 is suspended from themount 16 by aball 22. Amotor adapter 24 secures thedownrod 20 to amotor 26 via amotor shaft 28 extending from themotor 26. Themotor 26 can include astator 30 mounted to themotor shaft 28, as well as arotor 32 rotatably driven about thestator 30. Themotor adapter 24 can further couple to amotor housing 34 at least partially encasing themotor 26. A set ofblade irons 36 couples a complementary set ofblades 38 to therotor 32 for rotating theblades 38 and driving a volume of fluid, such as air, about thestructure 14 or a local room therein. Aswitch housing 48 can mount below themotor housing 34 and electrically couple to themotor 26. Alight kit 46 can electrically and mechanically couple to theswitch housing 48. - It should be understood that the
ceiling fan 10 as depicted inFIG. 1 is by way of example only, and it should be understood that more or less components than those shown and described can be included with theceiling fan 10, and such variation among ceiling fan assemblies is within the scope of this description. - The
ceiling fan 10 can be coupled to apower supply 40, such as a building electrical supply. Thepower supply 40 may be connected to one ormore controllers 42 or switches 44. Thecontrollers 42 can be used to receive or send information related to the control and operation of theceiling fan 10, such as over a wired or wireless signal. Theswitches 44, can be operated to control theceiling fan 10, such as a wall-mounted switch, for example. While thecontroller 42 and theswitch 44 are schematically shown exterior of theceiling 12, it should be appreciated that thecontroller 42 and theswitch 44 may be optional, or may be provided in other positions, such as on the wall or ceiling, or within portions of theceiling fan 10 itself. - While the ceiling fan as shown in
FIG. 1 and as described herein is a ‘standard mount’ including themount 16 suspending thedownrod 20, and suspending themotor 26 therefrom, it should be understood that any suitable ceiling fan assembly is contemplated. For example, any suitable mount can be used, such as a traditional mount, a ‘hugger’ mount which hugs up against the ceiling, also referred to as a low-profile ceiling fan. Additionally, it is contemplated that a ceiling fan can be used with or without a downrod suspending the motor assembly. It should be understood that the disclosure need not be limited by the particular components of a particular ceiling fan assembly. Similarly, whileFIG. 1 shows the use ofblade irons 36 that extend external of the motor housing from the rotor to the blade, it should be appreciated that other blade mounting methods or styles are also contemplated. For example, blades that directly mount to the rotor are contemplated, along with various different types of blade irons or different material, including but not limited to aluminum, zinc, copper, cast iron, or plastic in non-limiting examples. Furthermore, the blade iron need not be a traditional blade iron that mounts to the rotor and extends exterior of the motor housing, but can be any suitable element or system thereof that effectively fastens the blade to the motor to rotatably drive the blades. - Turning to
FIG. 2 , ablade 50, which can be theblade 38 ofFIG. 1 , can include abody 52 separable into a first,upper half 54, and a second,lower half 56. It should be understood that the upper half is shown upside-down, such that the interior of thefirst half 54 of theblade 50 is visible, and that theupper half 54 and thelower half 56 effectively form two disconnected halves of a clamshell which can couple together essentially by pivoting thefirst half 54 as shown to meet thesecond half 56. - The
blade 50 is illustrated with thehalves halves halves blade 50 include aroot 58 and atip 60, defining a span-wise direction therebetween, and include afirst edge 62 and asecond edge 64, defining a chord-wise direction therebetween. In one example, thefirst edge 62 can be a leading edge and thesecond edge 64 can be a trailing edge, while the rotational direction of the ceiling fan to which theblade 50 attaches may define the leading and trailing edges. Additionally, theblade 50 and thehalves edges 66 at the junction between theroot 58 and theedges tip 60 and theedges blade 50 is contemplated, and that the shape as shown with the tapered edges 66 is by way of example only. - The
first half 54 includes a set ofrib receptacles 70 and a set ofstops 72. The rib receptacles 70 are formed as a pair of spaced extensions, which can be arranged in a particular pattern along aninterior surface 76 of thefirst half 54. The rib receptacles 70 near theroot 58 can have a shorter length, as compared to that of the rib receptacles further form theroot 58. Additionally, therib receptacles 70 near theroot 58 can be curved or arcuate, and can angle away from the mount holes 82. Somerib receptacles 70 at themount hole 82 extend radially from themount hole 82, as is appreciable. Moving further from theroot 58, some of therib receptacles 70 can be arranged parallel to the leading or trailingedges edges stops 72 can be arranged along theinterior surface 76 in a predetermined pattern. The set ofstops 72 can be formed as cylindrical extensions extending from theinterior surface 76, while alternate shapes are contemplated. - The
second half 56 includes a set ofstructural ribs 78 and stopreceptacles 80. Thestructural ribs 78 can form an interconnected lattice-like web of structures, while it is contemplated that eachstructural rib 78 is discrete, and separated from theother ribs 78. Theribs 78 near theroot 58 can be curved or arcuate, being complementary to therib receptacles 70 for thefirst half 54. Theribs 78 nearer to theroot 58 can have a greater curvature, as compared to theribs 78 further from theroot 78, while some of theribs 78 can be arranged parallel or perpendicular to theedges ribs 78 can extend radially from one or more of themount receptacles 84. - The
structural ribs 78 can be sized complementary to the spacing between each pair ofrib receptacles 70, and can be arranged complementary to the pattern of the set ofrib receptacles 70. In this way, attachment of thefirst half 54 to thesecond half 56 provides for both aligning thefirst half 54 with thesecond half 56, but also securing thefirst half 54 to thesecond half 56. In one example, thefirst half 54 can include an adhesive, such as glue or epoxy, which is provided between therib receptacles 70, such that the adhesive can secure thefirst half 54 to thesecond half 56 when thestructural ribs 78 of thesecond half 56 are inserted between therib receptacles 70 of thefirst half 54. Additionally, it is contemplated that the adhesive can be applied to the edges of bothhalves blade 50 to prevent separation of thehalves ribs 78 and therib receptacles 70, while any suitable attachment means or method is contemplated. As is appreciable, ends of thestructural ribs 78 may be tapered to facilitate a varying thickness for theblade 50 extending between thefirst edge 62 and thesecond edge 64. Such tapering of thestructural ribs 78 can provide for an airfoil profile, for example, for theblade 50. - The stop receptacles 80 can be sized and arranged complementary to the
stops 72, such that thestops 72 abut thestop receptacles 80 when thefirst half 54 is connected to thesecond half 56. In this way, thestops 72 can maintain the proper spacing between the first andsecond halves stop receptacles 80 can be formed as a raised annular ridge on theinner surface 76, which can receive the end of thestop 72 but resists or prevents movement of thestop 72 from thestop receptacle 80 when thefirst half 54 connects to thesecond half 56. - Additionally, the
first half 54 includes a set of mount holes 82 and thesecond half 56 includes a set ofcomplementary mount receptacles 84. The mount holes 82 can be configured to receive a fastener through theholes 82 and extending into themount receptacles 84. When coupling theblade 50 to a ceiling fan motor, a blade iron, such as theblade iron 36 ofFIG. 1 , can be used to couple theblade 50 to the motor for rotating the blade via the mount holes 82 and themount receptacles 84. The mount receptacles 84 can be sized with a height similar to the thickness of theblade 50 in order to maintain uniform thickness for theblade 50, as well as forming an aesthetically pleasing look and providing no aerodynamic disadvantage by being wholly contained within the interior of theblade 50. - The
blade 50 as described herein can be made of pulp, or at least partially made from pulp. Forming theblade 50 from pulp provides for reduced costs of manufacture, which can be passed onto the consumer. Additionally, the pulp can provide for blades having a reduced weight, which can reduce energy requirements to operate the fan, which can reduce operational costs as well as improve operational efficiency. Furthermore, the pulp can be made from a recyclable material or a biodegradable material, such that the environmental impact from the fan is decreased, or that the environmental impact of the blades themselves is reduced or minimal. The features as described herein provide for forming the blade partially or fully from pulp. More specifically, the features provide for a structurally sound blade, which is subjected to operational stresses and bending moments. The rib receptacles 70, thestops 72, thestructural ribs 78, and the stop receptacles 80, for example, provide for maintaining the shape and structural integrity of theblade 50 during operation. Forming the blades from a pulp can result in ablade 50 that is more susceptible to deformation or bending. Utilizing the stops and ribs as described herein provides for forming the blade from the pulp material, while still maintaining the structural integrity necessary during operation. - Additionally, the
blade 50, as well as any other blade described herein, can include anexterior coating 86. Theexterior coating 86 can be a waterproof material, for example, preventing water damage to the pulp blades. Additionally, theexterior coating 86 can be of a material that a reduced coefficient of friction, at least as compared to that of the pulp material of theblade 50, such that aerodynamic efficiency is increased as compared to that of theblade 50 without theexterior coating 86. Furthermore, theexterior coating 86 can also be used for coloring or other design aesthetics for theblade 50. Further still, the exterior coating can be multiple exterior coatings, such as one to waterproof the pulp material, while another coating can be used to color the blade or to reduce aerodynamic drag. Thus, it should be understood that a myriad of coatings are contemplated for use with the blades as described herein. -
FIG. 3 depicts anotherblade 150 for a ceiling fan. Theblade 150 can be substantially similar to theblade 50 ofFIG. 2 , except that the blade ofFIG. 3 includes ahinge 152 which couples afirst half 154 to asecond half 156. In one example, thehinge 152 can be a living hinge, such that thefirst half 154 is integral with thesecond half 156, and thefirst half 154 can be secured to thesecond half 156 by bending theblade 150 along the living hinge and attaching thehalves halves halves hinge 152. - Referring now to
FIG. 4 , ablade skeleton 200 for a ceiling fan blade extends between aroot end 202 and atip end 204, and between afirst edge 206 and asecond edge 208. Theskeleton 200 can be made of stamped metal or molded plastic, in non-limiting examples, while any suitable material or manufacture method is contemplated. Theskeleton 200 includes a series ofperforations 210 extending along the length of theblade skeleton 200. Theperforations 210 are arranged in threerows 212, with eachrow 212 separated by arib 214 that extends between theroot end 202 and thetip end 204. Additional mount holes 216 can be provided at theroot end 202 for securing a blade iron to theskeleton 200, or securing theskeleton 200 to the motor for driving the fan blade. It should be understood that the arrangement with theribs 214 and theperforations 210 are exemplary as shown, and can have any suitable configuration, as well as more or less elements including, but no limited to, ribs, perforations, bumps, extensions, openings, holes, grooves, channels, valleys, or any other suitable structure or lack thereof. -
FIG. 5 shows a section view of theblade skeleton 200 taken along section V-V ofFIG. 4 , better depicting the shape of theribs 214. Theribs 214 can include two rounded portions of theskeleton 200, which have a substantially rounded convex shape extending away from the remainder of theskeleton 200. -
FIG. 6 includes theblade skeleton 200 having an overmolding 220 forming aceiling fan blade 222. The overmolding 220 can be made from a pulp, as discussed herein, while it is also contemplated that the overmolding 220 be another material, such as a foam or high-density foam in one non-limiting example. The overmolding 220 can be shaped in any top-down shape, such as that shown, or of any traditional ceiling fan blade. Additionally, looking briefly atFIG. 7 showing a section view ofFIG. 6 , the overmolding 220 can be shaped in any suitable geometry or 3D (three-dimensional) manner, such as including a performance edge profile with curved or otherwise shaped edges, or other profiles such as an airfoil profile. The profile as shown inFIG. 7 provides for improve blade performance due to the rounded edge profile, while maintaining the traditional bottom-view ceiling fan blade aesthetic with a flat bottom. - The
blade 222 provides for a structurally strong blade with theskeleton 200, as well as a blade that is easy and inexpensive to produce. For example, theskeleton 200 can be easily stamped or molded. Then the overmolding 220 can be molded onto theskeleton 200 to form thefinal blade 222. Theperforations 210 in theskeleton 200, along with theribs 214, provide for improved adhesion of the overmolding 220 to theskeleton 200. Additionally, theribs 214 provide for improved attachment of the overmolding 220 to theskeleton 200 over time, as theribs 214 help to carry and drive the overmolding 220 during operation of the ceiling fan. - Referring to
FIG. 8 , an exploded view of anotherexemplary blade 300 includes ablade base 302 and atopper 304. Theblade base 302 can be a standard ceiling fan blade, for example, such as those traditionally manufactured with a flat top and/or flat bottom. Alternatively, theblade base 302 can be any suitable blade structure for carrying thetopper 304 or upon which atopper 304 can be mounted or coupled. Thetopper 304 can be made from a pulp, as described herein, while additional materials are contemplated such as a foam or high-density foam. Any suitable material can be used, while preferably being lightweight while having a high tensile strength to improve overall operational efficiency. Thetopper 304 can be coupled to atop surface 306 of theblade base 302. Thetopper 304 can include or be shaped to form, upon attachment to theblade base 302, an aerodynamic profile for the blade, such as having an airfoil profile or a rounded leading edge or trailing edge to improve efficiency of the blade, at least in comparison to a blade as the blade base alone 302. Additionally, it is contemplated that thetopper 304 can include a blade skeleton, such as that shown in described in relation toFIG. 4 , or a wire frame such as that shown and described in relation toFIG. 11 below. -
FIG. 9 illustrates a completed version of theblade 300 ofFIG. 8 , having thetopper 304 secured to theblade base 302 to form thecomplete blade 300. While the blade is shown as having a diverging-then-converging shape in the chord-wise direction extending from root to tip, it should be appreciated that any blade shape is contemplated and may or may not include the blade iron mount extending from the root of theblade base 302. Additionally, it is contemplated that thetopper 304 can also cover the iron portion of theblade base 302. While thetopper 304 is described herein as a ‘topper’, it should be understood that it need not be a topper in a traditional sense as limited to attachment to a top of ablade base 302. It should be appreciated that atopper 304 can be any suitable pulp element attached to any portion of theblade base 302 to adapt theblade 300 to have an aerodynamic profile. An aerodynamic profile can be any suitable shape that improves aerodynamic performance of theblade 300 upon addition of thetopper 304. Thus, a ‘topper’ as described herein could be added to the bottom of the blade to improve aerodynamic efficiency, in one non-limiting example. - Referring to
FIG. 10 , a first system for mounting and securing atopper 404 to ablade base 402 to form aceiling fan blade 400 can include forming agrommet portion 410 that is integral with thetopper 404 and sized to accept afastener 406, such as a screw. While shown that thefastener 406 extends beyond theblade 400 at the bottom, it should be understood that thefastener 406 can be used to mount theblade 400 to the remainder of the ceiling fan, such as via a blade iron, to impart rotational movement to theblade 400. Thegrommet portion 410 extends from the remainder of thetopper 404 and can be shaped to insert into a hole formed in theblade base 402, such as the mount holes 82 ofFIG. 2 , for example. The integral grommet design reduces overall parts, removing the need for an additional grommet Additionally, utilizing thetopper 404 with thegrommet portion 410 mitigates any vibration generated by theblade 400 between theblade base 402 and thetopper 404. In this way, vibration or blade balance issues which can negatively impact performance are reduced, minimized, or otherwise mitigated. - Additionally, the
blade base 402 can be shaped as being wider, longer, or both, relative to thetopper 404, defining an edge orboundary 412, fully or partially defined around theblade 400. Similarly, thetopper 404 can be formed thinner and shorter than thebase blade 402, which can provide for attaching thetopper 404 onto an existing blade as theblade base 402, without extending over the edges of theblade base 402. Theboundary 412 can provide for room for attaching thetopper 404 to theblade base 402. Utilizing theboundary 412 can provide for seeing the aerodynamic benefits of the topper, while reducing the occasion that thetopper 404 extends beyond theblade base 402, thereby reducing the instance of detachment of the topper or aerodynamic inefficiencies after installation. Additionally, theboundary 412 provides for preventing thetopper 404 from creating a sharp zone on the blade edge. - Referring to
FIG. 11 , another exemplary blade 500 includes aninterior wire frame 502 coupled to a plate 504 (thewire frame 502 and theplate 504 shown in broken line). In one example, theplate 504 can be welded to thewire frame 502, while any suitable method of attachment is contemplated. In one additional example, thewire frame 502 and theplate 504 can be integral or formed as a unitary structure, such as with casting. - The exterior of the blade 500 can include a pulp overlay 506, utilizing the
wire frame 502 and theplate 504 as a skeleton supporting the pulp overlay 506. Alternatively, the pulp overlay 506 could be a foam or other material, covering, overlaying, or otherwise attached to and encasing the skeleton orwire frame 502. A set of mount holes 508 can be provided in theplate 504, providing for the attachment of a blade iron (not shown) to the blade 500 at theplate 504. Theplate 504 provides a durable attachment point for mounting of a blade iron, such as theblade iron 36 ofFIG. 1 , for example. Thewire frame 502 extends along the outer periphery of the blade 500 where the blade 500 experiences higher forces during rotational movement of the blades and ceiling fan operation. - Forming the pulp overlay 506 onto the skeleton of the
wire frame 502 and theplate 504 provides or a structurally supported blade 500, that is light weight and can be formed to have aerodynamic features, such as an airfoil profile in one non-limiting example. The light blades with the aerodynamic features can provide for improved efficiency as well as reduced operational costs. Additionally, a pulp overlay provides for a blade 500 that is largely recyclable or has a reduced or minimal environmental impact, or at least compared to ceiling fan blades formed without a pulp overlay. - Referring to
FIG. 12 , anotherblade 600 includes ablade mount structure 602, such as a skeleton as described herein. Theblade mount structure 602 can be a solid interior structure capable of supporting theblade 600 during rotating operation. In non-limiting examples, theblade mount structure 602 can be made of stamped metal or formed plastic. Additionally, theblade mount structure 602 can include amount extension 604 including a set of mount holes 606 for attaching theblade 600 to a blade iron or rotor (not shown). - A
core 608 is provided around theblade mount structure 602. Thecore 608 can be formed to have a three-dimensional blade shape, such as having an airfoil profile adapted to improve blade efficiency and airflow, as compared to a flat blade. In one example, thecore 608 can be made of foam or other similar lightweight material, such as an open cell or closed cell foam. - A
pulp overlay 610 can be formed around and covering thecore 608. Thepulp overlay 610 can provide for forming the blade shape based upon thecore 608, and then covering thecore 608 with the pulp to provide for a structurally stable blade. Additionally, it is contemplated that thepulp overlay 610 be coated with ablade coating 612 or coloring to decorate the blade, or improve structural integrity or aerodynamic efficiency with a low-friction surface, for example. Theblade coating 612 can also be multiple coatings, such as a waterproofing coating, a color coating, or another coating to reduce aerodynamic drag in non-limiting examples. Thus, it should be understood that a myriad of coatings are contemplated for use with the blades as described herein. - The blades as discussed herein provide for decreased cost of manufacture, which results in a reduced cost to the consumer. Additionally, the blades can provide for increased aerodynamic efficiency, which provides for improved operational efficiency and reduced operational costs. Furthermore, the pulp used in forming the blades can be made from a biodegradable material, which can provide for a reduced environmental impact for the blades, as well as improved desirability for a consumer market that values environmental impacts and sustainability.
- Referring to
FIG. 13 , amethod 700 of forming a blade can include, at 702, forming at least a portion of the blade utilizing a pulp. At 704, the method can further include where forming includes forming two halves of the blade from the pulp. One or both halves can be formed from the pulp. The method can further include attaching the two halves to one another. The two halves can be attached, for example, by theribs 78 and therib receptacles 70 ofFIG. 2 . Additionally, it is contemplated that the halves are connected by an integral hinge, such as a living hinge, which can also be made of the pulp material. Additionally, it is contemplated that themethod 700 can include discretely forming each half of the blade from the pulp, such as taking a pulp material, such as a fibrous pulp, and mixing the pulp with a binding agent. After mixing the two, the pulp material with the binding agent can be compressed, such as within a mold to form the blades or portions thereof as described herein. In one example, the blade may be heated to cure the binding agent. It is also contemplated that the formation of the molded blade can be cured by pressure curing, or may be dried after manufacture. - At 706, the
method 700 can further include where forming includes forming the pulp as a pulp overlay provided over a wire frame, such as the pulp overlay 506 over thewire frame 502 ofFIG. 11 . Additionally, a plate can be affixed to the wire frame to provide for additional stability for the blade, as well as providing a portion for mounting a blade iron to the blade, or mounting the blade to a rotor. - At 708, the
method 700 can further include wherein forming the blade further includes forming an over molding with a pulp provided on a skeleton to form the blade. The over molding, for example, can be the overmolding 220 provided over theskeleton 200 ofFIGS. 4-7 , for example. Alternatively, the skeleton may be thewire frame 502 ofFIG. 11 with the over molding formed as the pulp overlay 506. - At 710, the method can further include where forming includes forming a core over a blade mount structure, and forming a pulp overlay over the blade mount structure. For example, the blade mount structure can be the
blade mount structure 602 ofFIG. 12 . The core can be thecore 608 ofFIG. 12 , and can be made of foam or another sturdy but lightweight material. Additionally, thepulp overlay 610 ofFIG. 12 can be made from the pulp and covering thecore 608. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a coating can be provided over the pulp overlay for sealing the blade, or for coloring or otherwise decorating the fan. - At 712, the
method 700 can further include attaching a topper formed as pulp to a blade base to form the blade. For example, the base blade can be any blade, such as an existing blade having a flat top or flat bottom surface, or both. The topper can be thetopper 404 ofFIGS. 8-10 , for example, and the blade base can be theblade base 402. Additionally, themethod 700 can include where the topper forms an aerodynamic shape for the blade that is more efficient than that of the blade base alone. Themethod 700 can further include where the topper includes a grommet portion, which can be inserted into a mount hole in the base blade, which helps to dampen vibrations between the blade base and the topper. - The method as described herein should be considered as non-limiting in the order or arrangement as described. It should be understood that the aspects of the method can be mixed, reorganized, reordered, or that portions of one part of the method can be combined with other portions of the method.
- Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:
- A ceiling fan comprising: a motor including a rotor; a blade coupled to the rotor and rotatably driven by the motor, the blade comprising; a first portion defining a first interior surface for the blade; and a second portion secured to the first portion to form a complete body for the blade, with the second portion defining a second interior surface for the blade; wherein the blade is at least partially formed of a pulp.
- The ceiling fan of any preceding clause wherein both the first portion and the second portion are formed completely from pulp.
- The ceiling fan of any preceding clause wherein the first portion includes a set of ribs extending from the first interior surface.
- The ceiling fan of any preceding clause wherein the second portion includes a set of rib receptacles configured to receive the set of ribs to secure the first portion to the second portion.
- The ceiling fan of any preceding clause wherein the first portion further includes a set of stops.
- The ceiling fan of any preceding clause wherein the second portion further includes a set of stop receptacles configured to receive the set of stops to define a thickness for the blade via the set of stops.
- The ceiling fan of any preceding clause wherein the first portion and the second portion are connected by a hinge.
- The ceiling fan of any preceding clause wherein the hinge is a living hinge formed from pulp.
- The ceiling fan of any preceding clause wherein the first portion includes a set of mount holes.
- The ceiling fan of any preceding clause wherein the second portion includes a set of mount receptacles arranged complementary to the set of mount holes when the first portion is joined to the second portion.
- A blade for a ceiling fan, the blade comprising: a skeleton; an over molding formed around the skeleton; wherein the over molding is formed from a pulp.
- The blade of any preceding clause wherein the skeleton includes a set of perforations facilitating adhesion of the over molding to the skeleton.
- The blade of any preceding clause further comprising a set of ribs extending along the skeleton.
- The blade of any preceding clause wherein the ribs extend along the skeleton from a first end to a second end.
- The blade of any preceding clause wherein the over molding surrounds the entirety of the skeleton except for a portion of a root of the skeleton, wherein the portion of the root of the skeleton includes a set of mount holes.
- The blade of any preceding clause wherein the skeleton includes a wire frame extending around at least a portion of the periphery of the blade.
- The blade of any preceding clause wherein the skeleton further includes a plate attached to the wire frame.
- The blade of any preceding clause further comprising a foam core provided on the skeleton, with the over molding provided on the foam core.
- A blade for a ceiling fan comprising: a blade base having an upper surface and a lower surface, and extending span-wise between a root and a tip, and extending chord-wise between a first edge and a second edge; a topper attached to the blade base to form the blade, with the topper at least partially formed from a pulp.
- The blade of any preceding clause wherein the topper further includes a grommet portion.
- The blade of any preceding clause wherein the blade base further includes a mount hole and the grommet portion inserts into the mount hole.
- The blade of any preceding clause wherein the topper includes a chord-wise width that is less than that of the blade base between the first edge and the second edge such that a peripheral edge is defined along the upper surface of the blade base not covered by the topper.
- A blade for a ceiling fan comprising: a blade mount structure; a core surrounding and affixed to the blade mount structure; and a pulp overlay provided on the core.
- The blade of any preceding clause further comprising a coating provided on the pulp overlay.
- The blade of any preceding clause wherein core is made of an open cell foam.
- The blade of any preceding clause wherein a portion of the blade mount structure extends from the core and includes a set of mount holes.
- A method of forming a blade for a ceiling fan, the method comprising: forming at least a portion of the blade by utilizing a pulp.
- The method of any preceding clause wherein forming further comprises forming two halves of the blade from the pulp.
- The method of any preceding clause further comprising attaching the two halves to form the blade.
- The method of any preceding clause wherein the two halves are integral, attached by a common hinge.
- The method of any preceding clause wherein forming further includes forming an over molding with the pulp on a skeleton to form the blade.
- The method of any preceding clause wherein forming further includes attaching a topper formed from the pulp to a base blade.
- The method of any preceding clause wherein attaching the topper forms an aerodynamic shape for the blade that is more efficient than that of the base blade without the topper.
- The method of any preceding clause further comprising dampening vibrations with a grommet portion integral with the topper.
- The method of any preceding clause wherein forming further comprises forming the pulp as a pulp overlay provided on a wire frame.
- The method of any preceding clause further comprising stabilizing the pulp overlay on the wire frame with a plate coupled to the wire frame interior of the pulp overlay.
- The method of any preceding clause wherein forming further comprises forming a pulp overlay about a core, which is formed around a blade mount structure.
- To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various aspects can be used in combination, or in substitution with each other as desired.
- That one feature is not illustrated in all of the examples is not meant to be construed that it cannot be so illustrated, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the various features of the different aspects can be mixed and matched as desired to form new aspects, whether or not the new aspects are expressly described. All combinations or permutations of features described herein are covered by this disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that it is contemplated that features of one embodiment may be applied to another embodiment, and interchanged, added, or removed to form additional embodiments not explicitly shown, but still within the scope of the disclosure.
- Although the embodiment of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Claims (27)
1. A ceiling fan assembly comprising:
a motor having a rotor;
a mount coupling to a structure;
a downrod coupling the motor to the mount; and
a ceiling fan blade comprising a blade body operably coupled to the rotor, wherein the blade body is formed pulp.
2. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the molded, formed pulp comprises a unit of pulp.
3. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 2 wherein the unit of pulp is compressed.
4. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 2 wherein the unit of pulp is stamped.
5. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 2 wherein the unit of pulp is molded.
6. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the formed pulp is in the shape of the blade body.
7. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the formed pulp is different than combined fibers with binders that form a sheet from which the blade is cut.
8. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the unit of pulp is a volume of pulp.
9. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the formed pulp is a thermoformed pulp.
10. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the formed pulp is impulse-dried pulp.
11. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the formed pulp is compressed pulp.
12. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the formed pulp is biodegradable.
13. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the formed pulp is recyclable.
14. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the blade body comprises an exterior coating of waterproof material.
15. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the blade body comprises an exterior coating having a coefficient of friction less than the formed pulp.
16. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the blade body comprises a skeleton, and the formed pulp is formed about at least a portion of the skeleton.
17. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the blade body is formed of a first portion and a second portion, with each of the first portion and second portion including an interior surface, collectively defining an interior.
18. A ceiling fan assembly comprising:
a motor having a rotor;
a mount coupling to a structure;
a downrod coupling the motor to the mount; and
a ceiling fan blade comprising a blade body operably coupled to the rotor, wherein the blade body is a unit of pulp having a compressed volume of pulp.
19. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 18 wherein the blade body comprises an exterior coating of waterproof material.
20. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 18 wherein the blade body comprises an exterior coating having a coefficient of friction less than the formed pulp.
21. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 20 wherein the compressed volume of pulp is thermoformed.
22. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 21 wherein the formed pulp is biodegradable.
23. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 22 wherein the formed pulp is recyclable.
24. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 23 wherein the compressed volume of pulp is different than combined fibers with binders that form a sheet from which the blade is cut.
25. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 24 wherein the blade body further comprises a ceiling fan blade base and a topper, which attaches to the ceiling fan blade base.
26. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 15 wherein the topper further includes a grommet portion extending into a mount hole of the ceiling fan blade base.
27. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 26 wherein the topper is smaller than the ceiling fan blade base defining a peripheral edge along at least a portion of the ceiling fan blade base that is unoccupied by the topper.
Priority Applications (1)
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US18/416,193 US20240159248A1 (en) | 2019-12-27 | 2024-01-18 | Ceiling fan and blade |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
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US16/728,302 US11215198B2 (en) | 2019-12-27 | 2019-12-27 | Ceiling fan and blade |
US17/540,620 US11603863B2 (en) | 2019-12-27 | 2021-12-02 | Ceiling fan and blade |
US18/162,648 US11913475B2 (en) | 2019-12-27 | 2023-01-31 | Ceiling fan and blade |
US18/416,193 US20240159248A1 (en) | 2019-12-27 | 2024-01-18 | Ceiling fan and blade |
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US18/162,648 Continuation US11913475B2 (en) | 2019-12-27 | 2023-01-31 | Ceiling fan and blade |
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US17/540,620 Active US11603863B2 (en) | 2019-12-27 | 2021-12-02 | Ceiling fan and blade |
US18/162,648 Active US11913475B2 (en) | 2019-12-27 | 2023-01-31 | Ceiling fan and blade |
US18/416,193 Pending US20240159248A1 (en) | 2019-12-27 | 2024-01-18 | Ceiling fan and blade |
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US18/162,648 Active US11913475B2 (en) | 2019-12-27 | 2023-01-31 | Ceiling fan and blade |
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USD970711S1 (en) * | 2020-09-15 | 2022-11-22 | Hunter Fan Company | Ceiling fan |
USD965762S1 (en) * | 2020-09-29 | 2022-10-04 | Hunter Fan Company | Ceiling fan |
USD971397S1 (en) * | 2020-09-29 | 2022-11-29 | Hunter Fan Company | Ceiling fan |
USD966489S1 (en) * | 2020-10-05 | 2022-10-11 | Hunter Fan Company | Ceiling fan |
USD960346S1 (en) * | 2020-10-06 | 2022-08-09 | Hunter Fan Company | Ceiling fan |
USD961755S1 (en) * | 2020-10-14 | 2022-08-23 | Hunter Fan Company | Ceiling fan |
USD958318S1 (en) * | 2020-10-15 | 2022-07-19 | Hunter Fan Company | Ceiling fan |
USD970713S1 (en) * | 2020-10-20 | 2022-11-22 | Hunter Fan Company | Ceiling fan |
US11815101B2 (en) * | 2022-03-01 | 2023-11-14 | Hunter Fan Company | Ceiling fan blade |
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US2251887A (en) * | 1938-06-13 | 1941-08-05 | Master Electric Co | Flexible fan unit |
US3665625A (en) * | 1970-03-27 | 1972-05-30 | Jerome A Moss | Rotating advertising display |
CN1101107A (en) * | 1993-09-29 | 1995-04-05 | 林振耀 | Ancient ceiling fan blade and manufacturing method thereof |
US5601409A (en) * | 1996-01-16 | 1997-02-11 | Huang; Yung C. | Fan blade for ceiling fans |
US6019479A (en) * | 1996-09-26 | 2000-02-01 | Barker; Dale E. | Multi-fastening, one-piece, decorative fan blade cover and strobe light |
US6146097A (en) | 1998-09-14 | 2000-11-14 | Bradt; Gordon E. | Fan blade assembly for use with a ceiling fan drive unit |
US20020094273A1 (en) * | 2001-01-16 | 2002-07-18 | Yung-Chung Huang | Blade structure for ceiling fan |
US20030190233A1 (en) * | 2002-04-08 | 2003-10-09 | Yin-Yin Chiang | Blade for ceiling fans |
KR200290110Y1 (en) | 2002-06-26 | 2002-09-27 | 김창렬 | Propeller for Electric fan |
US6733239B2 (en) * | 2002-06-28 | 2004-05-11 | Tai-Ching Lee | Fan blade with an active carbon filter bed |
US20040187691A1 (en) * | 2002-08-30 | 2004-09-30 | Tai-Ching Lee | Fan blade |
US20090263254A1 (en) * | 2006-01-05 | 2009-10-22 | Bucher John C | Ceiling Fan With High Efficiency Ceiling Fan Blades |
US7665967B1 (en) | 2006-01-20 | 2010-02-23 | University Of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. | Efficient traditionally appearing ceiling fan blades with aerodynamical upper surfaces |
US8167574B2 (en) * | 2008-11-22 | 2012-05-01 | Ching-Yang Ko | Ceil fan blade assembly |
CN102900696A (en) | 2011-07-27 | 2013-01-30 | 洛森通风设备(上海)有限公司 | High-performance axial flow fan blade |
US20170021462A1 (en) * | 2014-01-30 | 2017-01-26 | Chun-Wei Chiang | Method for manufacturing ceiling fan blade |
US20190192719A1 (en) * | 2017-12-21 | 2019-06-27 | Ronald Drayton | Fan Mountable Air Freshening Device |
CN209724783U (en) * | 2019-04-02 | 2019-12-03 | 佛山市启正电气有限公司 | MULTILAYER COMPOSITE environmental protection flabellum and ceiling fan |
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US11215198B2 (en) | 2022-01-04 |
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