Information
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Patent Grant
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6408499
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Patent Number
6,408,499
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Date Filed
Wednesday, December 8, 199925 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, June 25, 200222 years ago
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CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 108 25
- 108 26
- 224 275
- 312 211
- 312 279
- 269 287
- 269 289 R
- 269 294
- 269 76
- 269 69
- 029 2815
- 029 2811
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International Classifications
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Abstract
An assembly platform for supporting the various parts and sub assemblies of a ceiling fan while other parts and sub-assemblies of the ceiling fan are attached prior to installing the ceiling fan. The assembly platform includes a round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, plastic support tube, a fan part support shelf, and a number of insert structures.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to assembly platforms for items that must be partially assembled on site before installation and more particularly to an assembly platform system for ceiling fans for supporting the elements of a ceiling fan assembly during partial assembly of the ceiling fan unit prior too installation of the ceiling fan; the assembly platform system for ceiling fans including a round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, plastic support tube, a fan part support shelf, and a number of insert structures; the round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, plastic support tube having an exterior cylinder diameter, three telescoping leg assemblies extending from an exterior cylinder bottom surface, a ring shaped shelf support flange extending around the circumference of the exterior side surface of the support tube and extending outward a first extension distance from the exterior side surface of the support tube, and a fan portion receiving cavity formed within the support tube and accessible through a round opening having an interior opening diameter; the fan part support shelf having a round cylinder passage opening having a shelf aperture diameter greater than the exterior cylinder diameter but less than the sum of the exterior cylinder diameter and twice the first extension distance such that the ring shaped shelf support supports the fan part support shelf when the support tube is inserted through the round cylinder passage opening; the number of insert structures each including an insertion flange sized to friction fit into the round opening of the support tube and a fan portion passage opening having a diameter less than the interior opening diameter of the round opening.
BACKGROUND ART
It is often necessary to assembly a ceiling fan before installing the ceiling fan. This assembly usually includes the attachment of the blades and in some case a down rod. It would be a benefit, therefore, to have an assembly platform system for ceiling fans that supported the various parts and sub assemblies of the ceiling fan while other parts are sub-assemblies of the ceiling fan are attached prior to installing the ceiling fan.
GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION
It is thus an object of the invention to provide an assembly platform system for ceiling fans for supporting the elements and sub-assemblies of a ceiling fan assembly during partial assembly of the ceiling fan unit prior too installation of the ceiling fan; the assembly platform system for ceiling fans including a round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, plastic support tube, a fan part support shelf, and a number of insert structures; the round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, plastic support tube having an exterior cylinder diameter, three telescoping leg assemblies extending from an exterior cylinder bottom surface, a ring shaped shelf support flange extending around the circumference of the exterior side surface of the support tube and extending outward a first extension distance from the exterior side surface of the support tube, and a fan portion receiving cavity formed within the support tube and accessible through a round opening having an interior opening diameter; the fan part support shelf having a round cylinder passage opening having a shelf aperture diameter greater than the exterior cylinder diameter but less than the sum of the exterior cylinder diameter and twice the first extension distance such that the ring shaped shelf support supports the fan part support shelf when the support tube is inserted through the round cylinder passage opening; the number of insert structures each including an insertion flange sized to friction fit into the round opening of the support tube and a fan portion passage opening having a diameter less than the interior opening diameter of the round opening.
Accordingly, than the interior opening diameter of the round opening. An assembly platform system for ceiling fans is provided. The assembly platform system for ceiling fans includes a round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, plastic support tube, a fan part support shelf, and a number of insert structures; the round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, plastic support tube having an exterior cylinder diameter, three telescoping leg assemblies extending from an exterior cylinder bottom surface, a ring shaped shelf support flange extending around the circumference of the exterior side surface of the support tube and extending outward a first extension distance from the exterior side surface of the support tube, and a fan portion receiving cavity formed within the support tube and accessible through a round opening having an interior opening diameter; the fan part support shelf having a round cylinder passage opening having a shelf aperture diameter greater than the exterior cylinder diameter but less than the sum of the exterior cylinder diameter and twice the first extension distance such that the ring shaped shelf support supports the fan part support shelf when the support tube is inserted through the round cylinder passage opening; the number of insert structures each including an insertion flange sized to friction fit into the round opening of the support tube and a fan portion passage opening having a diameter less
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are given the same or analogous reference numbers and wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the assembly platform system for ceiling fans showing the round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, plastic support tube having an exterior cylinder diameter, three telescoping leg assemblies extending from an exterior cylinder bottom surface, a ring shaped shelf support flange extending around the circumference of the exterior side surface of the support tube and extending outward a first extension distance from the exterior side surface of the support tube, and a fan portion receiving cavity formed within the support tube and accessible through a round opening having an interior opening diameter; a fan part support shelf having a round cylinder passage opening having a shelf aperture diameter greater than the exterior cylinder diameter but less than the sum of the exterior cylinder diameter and twice the first extension distance such that the ring shaped shelf support supports the fan part support shelf when the support tube is inserted through the round cylinder passage opening; and a number of insert structures each including an insertion flange sized to friction fit into the round opening of the support tube and a fan portion passage opening having a diameter less than the interior opening diameter of the round opening.
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the an assembled configuration of the assembly platform system for ceiling fans of
FIG. 1
showing the round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, plastic support tube the three telescoping leg assemblies extended downward from the exterior cylinder bottom surface; the fan part support shelf with the round cylinder passage opening positioned over the exterior surface of the support tube and supported on the ring shaped shelf support; and one of the insert structures with the insertion flange thereof friction fit into the round opening of the support tube.
EXEMPLARY MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
shows an exemplary embodiment of the assembly platform system for ceiling fans of the present invention generally designated
10
. Assembly platform system
10
includes a round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, plastic support tube, generally designated
12
; a fan part support shelf, generally designated
14
; and three insert structures, generally designated
16
a,
16
b,
16
c,
respectively.
Round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, plastic support tube
12
includes a twelve inch long plastic tube section
20
having an exterior cylinder diameter “A” of ten inches; three telescoping leg assemblies, each generally designated
22
extending from an exterior cylinder bottom surface
24
a distance of three feet; a ring shaped shelf support flange
26
extending around the circumference of a exterior side surface
28
of tube section
20
and extending outward a first extension distance “B” of one-half inch from exterior side surface
28
of tube section
20
; and a fan portion receiving cavity formed entirely through tube section
20
and accessible through a top round opening
32
having an interior opening diameter “C” of eight inches.
Fan part support shelf
14
is a rectangular plastic member having a round cylinder passage opening having a shelf aperture diameter “D” of ten and one-quarter inch which is greater than the exterior cylinder diameter “A” of ten inches but less than the sum of the than the exterior cylinder diameter “A” and twice the first extension distance “B” such that the ring shaped shelf support
26
supports the fan part support shelf
14
when tube section
20
is inserted through the round cylinder passage opening
38
.
The three insert structures
16
a-c
each include an insertion flange
40
having a diameter “E” substantially equal to diameter “C” sized to friction fit into round opening
32
of support tube
20
and a fan portion passage opening
42
a-c
each having a different sized diameter less than diameter “E”.
FIG. 2
shows an assembled configuration of assembly platform system for ceiling fans
10
of
FIG. 1
showing the round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, plastic support tube
12
, the three telescoping leg assemblies
22
extended downward from the exterior cylinder bottom surface
24
; the fan part support shelf
14
with the round cylinder passage opening
38
(see also
FIG. 1
) positioned over the exterior surface
28
of support tube
12
and supported on the ring shaped shelf support
26
(FIG.
1
); and one of the insert structures
16
a
with the insertion flange
40
(
FIG. 1
) thereof friction fit into the round opening
32
(
FIG. 1
) of the support tube
12
.
It can be seen from the preceding description that an assembly platform system for ceiling fans has been provided.
It is noted that the embodiment of the assembly platform system for ceiling fans described herein in detail for exemplary purposes is of course subject to many different variations in structure, design, application and methodology. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
- 1. An assembly platform system for ceiling fans comprising:a round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, support tube; a fan part support shelf; and a number of insert structures; said round, cylinder shaped, open-ended, support tube having an exterior cylinder diameter, three telescoping leg assemblies extending from an exterior cylinder bottom surface, a ring shaped shelf support flange extending around said circumference of said exterior side surface of said support tube and extending outward a first extension distance from an exterior side surface of said support tube, and a fan portion receiving cavity formed within said support tube and accessible through a round opening having an interior opening diameter; said fan part support shelf having a round cylinder passage opening having a shelf aperture diameter greater than said exterior cylinder diameter but less than the sum of said exterior cylinder diameter and twice said first extension distance such that said ring shaped shelf support supports said fan part support shelf when said support tube is inserted through said round cylinder passage opening; said number of insert structures each including an insertion flange sized to friction fit into said round opening of said support tube and a fan portion passage opening having a diameter less than said interior opening diameter of said round opening.
US Referenced Citations (8)