Patent Application
20230025995
Ceiling fans are typically suspended from a structure for moving a volume of air about a space. The ceiling fan typically includes a motor, with a rotor and stator, downrod, canopy and blades, all secured to the structure by a mounting assembly that includes fasteners and brackets. The structure to which the ceiling fan is mounted is typically a ceiling where a canopy decoratively covers the mounting assembly.
In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a mounting system for supporting a ceiling fan assembly of the type having a motor, motor housing, a plurality of blades and a downrod to a support surface, the mounting system comprising a bracket configured to be mounted to the support surface, a canopy having a central opening, an inner surface, and a rim opposite the central opening, a variable height connector comprising at least one detent array, located on one of the bracket or canopy, the detent array having multiple detents in stacked arrangement, and at least one projection, extending from the other of the bracket or canopy, and receivable within any of the multiple detents.
In the drawings:
The disclosure is related to a ceiling fan mounting system, which can be used, for example, in residential, agricultural, industrial, and commercial applications. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a ceiling fan mounting system utilizing a variable height connector with a detent array and projection to accommodate the variable height. Such applications can be indoors, outdoors, or both. While this description is primarily directed toward a residential ceiling fan, it is also applicable to any environment utilizing fans or for cooling areas utilizing air movement.
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
At least one fan blade 50 can be carried by the rotor. For example, the at least one fan blade 50 can extend radially from the ceiling fan assembly 10, and can be rotatable to drive a volume of fluid such as air. That is, the at least one fan blade 50 can be operably coupled to the motor at the rotor, such as via the blade irons 40. The at least one fan blade 50 can include a set of blades 50, having any number of blades, including only one blade.
The structure 12 can be a ceiling, for example, from which the ceiling fan assembly 10 is suspended. It should be understood that the structure 12 is schematically shown and is by way of example only, and can include any suitable building, structure, home, business, or other environment wherein moving air with a ceiling fan is suitable or desirable. The structure 12 can also include an electrical supply (not shown) and can electrically couple to the ceiling fan assembly 10 to provide electrical power to the ceiling fan assembly 10 and motor. It is also contemplated that the electrical supply be sourced from somewhere other than the structure 12, such as a battery or generator in non-limiting examples.
The canopy 60 can couple to the ceiling fan mounting assembly 100. The canopy 60 can be a decorative cover to encase or hide at least a portion of the mounting assembly 100. The canopy 60 can slidably receive the downrod 16. When positioned, the canopy 60 can circumscribe the mounting assembly 100 and can fasten to at least the mounting plate 80 or the hanger bracket 70. The canopy 60 can secure to the mounting assembly 100 by means of a vertical height connector 110, defined among the canopy 60 and the mounting assembly 100.
Fasteners 72 couple the mounting plate 80 to the hanger bracket 70. Alternatively, the hanger bracket 70 can be integrally formed with the mounting plate. At least a portion of mounting plate 80 can abut the structure 12, therefore configuring the hanger bracket 70 to mount to the structure 12. The hanger bracket 70 can include a seat 76 formed in a collar 78. The collar 78 can receive the hanger ball 18 via a side opening 79 to locate the hanger ball 18 within the seat 76.
Referring now to
Overall the body 64 may be configured to substantially cover the mounting assembly 100 when assembled. The body 64 can further comprise a central opening 68. The central opening 68 slidably receives the downrod 16 during fan installation. The central opening 68 can be shaped to accommodate a trilobal hanger ball, while it is contemplated that the opening can be of any suitable shape to accommodate other common types of hanger ball or fan hanging assembly.
Turning to
To engage the variable height connector 110, canopy 60 and mounting plate 80 are pressed together in a linear motion as illustrated in
To disengage the variable height connector 110, the canopy 60 is rotated. During rotation, the tangs 116 slide along the ramp 94 and the curved inner surface of the detent 92. As the tangs 116 move to shallower ends 95 of detents 92, the projections 114 are deflected during the rotation. The tangs 116 are pressed outward by the ramps 94 and the curved surfaces at shallow ends 95. Thus the combined interactions of the ramps 94 and shallow ends 95 with tangs 116 cause the tangs 116 to leave the detent 92 at the ends 95, allowing the canopy 60 to be detached. Therefore, the canopy 60 may be disconnected by a rotational movement.
Additionally and alternatively, a single set of projection 114 and detent array 90 may be employed to connect the canopy 60 to the mounting assembly 100. The single set of projection 114 and detent array 90 may be used in combination with another securing mechanism. For example, a first portion of the canopy 60 may be pivotably connected to the mounting plate 80, such as by a hinge, e.g., a living hinge, between the mounting plate 80 and the canopy 60, where the single projection 114 and single detent array are located opposite the hinge. To engage the variable height connector 110 in this case, the canopy 60 can be pivoted about the living hinge such that projection 114 approaches detent array 90 and snaps in at any suitable detent 92.
Referring to
Referring now to
Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:
A mounting system for mounting a ceiling fan assembly to a mount surface, the mounting system comprising: a bracket configured to be mounted to the mount surface; a canopy having a rim; a variable height connector, coupling the canopy to the bracket, comprising: at least one detent array, located on one of the bracket or canopy, the detent array having multiple detents in stacked arrangement, and at least one projection, extending from the other of the bracket or canopy, and receivable within any of the multiple detents.
The mounting system of any preceding clause, wherein the at least one detent array comprises multiple detent arrays.
The mounting system of any preceding clause, wherein the multiple detent arrays are spaced circumferentially about one of the bracket or rim.
The mounting system of any preceding clause, wherein the multiple detent arrays are spaced circumferentially evenly about the one of the bracket or rim.
The mounting system of any preceding clause, wherein at least two of the multiple detent arrays are spaced diametrically about the one of the bracket or rim.
The mounting system of any preceding clause, wherein the number of detent arrays of the multiple detent arrays is greater than the number of projections of the at least one projection.
The mounting system of any preceding clause, wherein the bracket includes at least one stabilizer extending from one of the bracket or rim.
The mounting system of any preceding clause, wherein the at least one stabilizer abuts the other of the bracket or rim.
The mounting system of any preceding clause, wherein the at least one stabilizer comprises multiple spaced stabilizers.
The mounting system of any preceding clause, wherein the at least one stabilizer includes at least one gusset.
A canopy mounting system for mounting a ceiling fan comprising: a bracket assembly for mounting the ceiling fan to a mount surface; a canopy coupled to and covering the bracket; a variable height connector, coupling the canopy to the bracket, comprising: a detent array located on the canopy, and a projection extending from the bracket, received by the detent array.
The canopy mounting system of any preceding clause wherein the bracket assembly further comprises a mount plate and a hanger bracket.
The canopy mounting system of any preceding clause wherein the projection extends from the mount plate.
The canopy mounting system of any preceding clause wherein the detent array includes a set of three vertically stacked detents.
The canopy mounting system of any preceding clause wherein the canopy includes a rim defining a ledge.
The canopy mounting system of any preceding clause wherein the bracket assembly includes a stabilizer that rests on the ledge.
The canopy mounting system of any preceding clause wherein the stabilizer further includes a gusset.
A method of mounting a canopy to a mounting bracket, the method comprising: pushing a canopy to position about the periphery of the mounting bracket to secure the canopy to the mounting bracket; wherein the canopy includes a detent array, and the mounting bracket includes a projection received within one detent of the detent array when the canopy is pushed about the periphery of the mounting bracket.
The method of any preceding clause further comprising pushing the canopy further such that the projection is moved to a different detent within the detent array.
The method of any preceding clause, wherein the canopy further includes multiple detent arrays and the mounting bracket includes multiple projections, and wherein pushing the canopy further includes receiving one projection of the multiple projections in one detent array of the multiple detent arrays at a different height than another one projection of the multiple projections in another one detent array of the multiple detent arrays.
To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various features can be used in combination as desired. That one feature is not illustrated in all of the aspects of the disclosure is not meant to be construed that it cannot be, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the various features of the different aspects described herein can be mixed and matched as desired to form new features or aspects thereof, whether or not the new aspects or features are expressly described. All combinations or permutations of features described herein are covered by this disclosure.
This written description uses examples to detail the aspects described herein, including the best mode, and to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the aspects described herein, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the aspects described herein are defined by the claims, and can include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
