Abstract: A combined ceiling fan and light fitting (fan/light) having folding fan blades is provided. The fan light has a blade support arranged to be rotated by an electric motor, with blades being secured to the blade support, a root end of each blade being pivotable between folded and operative positions about a blade pivot axis fixed in the blade support. In one aspect of the invention, an improved mechanism is provided for synchronizing movement of the blades. This uses a sun gear mounted to the blade support and arranged to mesh with planet gears that rotate about the blade pivot axes. In addition improvements are provided to blades and blade mounting arrangements that balance compact folding of the blades and good air moving effectiveness.

Abstract: A combined ceiling fan and light fitting (fan/light) (1) having folding fan blades (12) is provided. The fan light (1) has a blade support (13) arranged to be rotated by an electric motor (6), with blades (12) being secured to the blade support (13), a root end of each blade (12) being pivotable between folded and operative positions about a blade pivot axis-(14) fixed in the blade support (13). In one aspect of the invention, an improved mechanism is provided for synchronizing movement of the blades. This uses a sun gear (16) mounted to the blade support and arranged to mesh with planet gears (17) that rotate about the blade pivot axes (14). In addition improvements are provided to blades (12, 33, 60) and blade mounting arrangements that balance compact folding of the blades (12, 33, 60) and good air moving effectiveness.

Abstract: There is provided a combined ceiling fan and light fitting (10) having blades (1-4) that when the ceiling fan is not in use retract and are stowed above an enclosure (12) containing a light emitting device and that when the fan is in use are extended under centrifugal force. The blades are formed in such a way as to both stow compactly above the enclosure and provide reasonable aerodynamic performance. Each blade partially overlies a neighbouring blade when in its stowed position and the blades are so formed as to permit such stacking while limiting the overall height of the assemblage of stowed blades.