Assembly platform system for ceiling fans

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6408499
  • Patent Number
    6,408,499
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, December 8, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 25, 2002
    22 years ago
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)
Number Name Date Kind
3688707 White Sep 1972 A
4099811 Barry Jul 1978 A
4186784 Stone Feb 1980 A
5267384 Teeslink Dec 1993 A
5427292 Rousch Jun 1995 A
5556084 Hodges Sep 1996 A
5592884 Gleck et al. Jan 1997 A
6012210 Stadjuhar et al. Jan 2000 A