Two-piece safety mechanism for ceiling fans
A two-piece safety mechanism for ceiling-mounted fans comprises a first and second cable. The first cable has a first fastener extending from a first end and a first connector extending from a second end. The first fastener is for operable association with a first fastening mechanism for securing the first cable to a fan. The second cable has a second fastener extending from a first end. The second fastener is for operable association with a second fastening mechanism for securing the second cable to a ceiling support. The second cable also has a second connector extending from a second end, which is releaseably attachable to the first connector to form a continuous cable. The claimed invention also provides for a ceiling fan having the two-piece safety mechanism for retaining the fan in close proximity to the ceiling support if its normal mounting apparatus should fail.
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/187,832, filed Jul. 3, 2002, for John C. Marshall, titled “Two-Piece Safety Mechanism for Ceiling Fans,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference and to which priority is claimed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a two-piece safety mechanism for use with ceiling fans. A first cable attaches to a ceiling fan, and a second cable attaches to a ceiling support. The first and second cables have first and second connectors, respectively, which releaseably attach to form a continuous cable that retains the ceiling fan in close proximity to a ceiling support if the fan's normal mounting apparatus should fail.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional ceiling fan consists of a motor suspended from a ceiling with radially extending fan blades operably associated with the motor. A cylindrical body, or downrod, is secured to the motor on one end. On the opposing end, the downrod includes a hanger ball. The hanger ball is generally secured to a mounting bracket, and the mounting bracket is secured to a support from a ceiling support. Therefore, the downrod, hanger ball, and mounting bracket work in conjunction to hang the fan from the ceiling support. Electrical wiring from the fan is generally attached to an electrical box in the ceiling. It is known in the art that such ceiling mounted fans may be subject to falling for various reasons.
A ceiling fan may fall if it is installed improperly. The mounting bracket must be properly secured to the ceiling support. Furthermore, the support must be capable of holding the fan. If not, the fan may fall, damaging the fan or other property, or even causing personal injury. Even if the ceiling support can hold the weight of the fan, the mounting bracket may fail.
In addition, many fans are manufactured with metric bolts, screws or corresponding threads. However, some electrical boxes, especially those manufactured in the United States, have standard threads. When a metric component is fastened to a standard component, a proper fit is not achieved and the attachment may pull free.
Ceiling fans may also fall if faulty or defective materials are used in the fan components. Many mounting brackets manufactured today are largely composed of zinc. When casting zinc brackets, the zinc must not contain impurities. Impurities in a cast zinc mounting bracket may cause brittleness over time and break. Although zinc brackets today may be cast properly, faulty mounting brackets are always a possibility so long as zinc is used in their manufacture.
In addition, ceiling fans are sometimes unbalanced. An unbalanced fan continuously rocks back and forth. The constant, repetitive rocking motion can loosen electrical or mounting connections, cause metal fatigue, and ultimately cause the fan to fall.
To curb the installation of faulty ceiling fans that are prone to falling, and the installation of poorly secured electrical boxes, the National Electrical Code (NEC) Organization has approved only certain fan and electrical box designs, and mandated that only the approved designs be used on new fan installations. Although this mandate is helpful, it does not entirely prevent the above noted problems. Therefore, there is a need for safety mechanisms that will prevent the fan from falling, and potentially causing personal or property damage.
Various designs in the prior art attempt to solve the above noted problems with ceiling fans, and thereby reduce the possibility that the fan will fall. Some designs require that the mounting bracket be attached to the ceiling support using additional bolts or screws. However, such designs do not allow for easy installation or removal, given additional fasteners must be secured to the ceiling support. Likewise, removal of the fan after it is initially secured is difficult, requiring the removal of the additional fasteners.
Other designs include a single safety cable, which is connected to the fan by one end and to the ceiling support by the opposing end. This design may prevent the fan from falling if the fan mounting should fail, but complicates installation. In order to properly secure a single safety cable to the ceiling support, the fan and mounting bracket must be out of the way. The single cable must first be attached to the fan, and then attached to the ceiling support before the mounting bracket has been secured to the ceiling support (if the mounting bracket is attached beforehand, the single cable may not be properly secured). In the alternative, the single cable could first be attached to the ceiling support. However, the same problems arise. Specifically, the fan would first need to be attached to the mounting bracket, and then the single cable attached to the fan. Thereafter, the fan and mounting bracket would be secured to the ceiling support. Installation of the single safety cable mechanism is therefore inconvenient and difficult.
In addition, many conventional fan designs require partial un-assembly when attaching such a single safety cable mechanism. Thus, installation is further complicated given such un-assembly and subsequent re-assembly would be required when hanging the fan, instead of when the fan is on the floor. Therefore, the single safety cable is not a practical solution. Subsequent removal of the fan, for cleaning, maintenance, replacement, etc., is also complicated when using a single safety cable for similar reasons.
As such, a safety cable mechanism is needed which prevents a ceiling fan from falling, while maintaining simple and efficient installation and subsequent removal procedures. The present invention provides for a two-piece safety mechanism for ceiling mounted fans, which is easy to install and prevents the fan from falling more than a few inches should its normal mounting apparatus fail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA two-piece safety mechanism for ceiling-mounted fans comprises first and second cables. The first cable has a first fastener extending from a first end and a first connector extending from a second end. The first fastener is for operable association with a first fastening mechanism for securing the first cable to a fan. The second cable has a second fastener extending from a first end. The second fastener is for operable association with a second fastening mechanism for securing the second cable to a ceiling support. The second cable also has a second connector extending from a second end. The second connector is releaseably attachable to the first connector, so that the first and second cables may form a continuous cable.
The present invention also relates to a ceiling fan including a two-piece safety mechanism. The ceiling fan with a two-piece safety mechanism comprises a mounting bracket for securing to a ceiling support, a ceiling fan for securing to the mounting bracket, and the two-piece safety mechanism described above. The ceiling fan comprises a motor, a motor housing having a plurality of radially extending fan blades operably associated with the motor, a downrod having a hanger ball for hanging the ceiling fan from the mounting bracket, and electrical wires associated with the motor. The first fastener of the first cable is secured to the fan, and the second fastener from the second cable is secured to the ceiling support. The first and second connectors from the first and second cables may be releaseably attached to form a continuous cable. The continuous cable retains the fan in close proximity to the ceiling support if the mounting bracket fails.
A method of securing a ceiling fan to a ceiling support comprises the following steps: securing a first end of a first cable to a ceiling fan; securing a first end of a second cable to a ceiling support; securing a mounting bracket to the ceiling support; hanging the ceiling fan from the mounting bracket; and connecting a second end of the first cable to a second end of the second cable so that the first and second cables attach to form a continuous cable.
The claimed invention also provides for a mounted ceiling fan comprising a mounting bracket secured to a ceiling support, a downrod having a hanger ball secured to the mounting bracket, a fan secured to the downrod, a first cable secured to the downrod, and a second cable secured to the ceiling support. The first and second cables further include first and second connectors, respectively, which are releaseably attached forming a continuous cable for retaining the fan in close proximity to the ceiling support should the mounting bracket fail.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, a safety mechanism for ceiling-mounted fans is provided, comprising a cable having a fastener extending from a first end and a connector extending from a second end. The fastener is for operable association with a first fastening mechanism for securing the cable to a fan. A shaped body, preferably L-shaped, is also provided, having a first end and a second end. The first end has a first opening for operable association with a second fastening mechanism for securing the shaped body to a ceiling support. The second end of the shaped body has a second opening configured for receiving the connector for releasably securing the connector therein.
A hanger ball for hanging a ceiling fan from a support comprises a major portion for operable association with a mounting bracket of a ceiling fan. A first cable extends from the major portion. The first cable has a connector extending from a first end, and a second end integrally molded with the major portion. The connector is operably associated with a second cable having a fastener. The connector and fastener are releaseably attachable to form a continuous cable. Alternatively, the second end may include a fastener that is secured to the hanger ball using a fastening mechanism.
An electrical box for securing to a support comprises a wall defining an inner chamber for connecting electrical wires therein. A first cable extends from the wall. The first cable has a fastener extending from a first end, and a second end integrally molded with the wall. The fastener is operably associatable with a second cable having a connector. The fastener and connector are releaseably attachable to form a continuous cable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As best shown in
As best shown in
Side 26 of second connector 16 has a first end 32 and a second end 34, as best shown in
As best shown in
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two-piece safety mechanism 2 is operably associated with a ceiling fan. Mounting components for a ceiling fan with safety mechanism 2 are best shown in
First cable C1 may be secured to downrod 52 above hanger ball 54, as shown in
As best shown in
It should be understood, however, that first cable C1 may be also be secured to the ceiling support S. First fastener 4 may be secured to ceiling support S using second fastening mechanism 68. Likewise, second fastener 12 of second cable C2 may be secured in opening O of downrod 52 using first fastening mechanism 64. In this way, first cable C1 and second cable C2 are interchangeable.
In a preferred installation of a ceiling fan having two-piece safety mechanism 2, second fastener 12 is secured directly to ceiling support S using second fastening mechanism 68, as best shown in
First connector 8 and second connector 16 may be easily joined together to form a continuous cable. The continuous cable retains the fan in close proximity to ceiling support S if mounting bracket 56 should fail. First connector 8 and second connector 16 fit securely together, with ridges 36 securing first end 6 of first cable C1 within second slot 30, so that vibrations from operation of a fixture do not cause first and second connectors 8 and 16 to detach.
A second installation for the claimed invention is best shown in
A third method of installation of the claimed invention is best shown in
The two-piece safety mechanism of the present invention makes installation on ceiling fans very simple. First cable C1 is attached to the ceiling fan when it is being assembled on the floor. Second cable C2 is attached to the ceiling support (or electrical box) before the fan is hung from mounting bracket 56. After installing the fan, cables C1 and C2 may be easily joined together using the specially designed first and second connectors, 8 and 16. In addition, if the fan ever requires servicing, cleaning, replacing fan parts, etc., cables C1 and C2 may be easily detached. The two cables are simply disconnected after other disconnections have been made.
A second embodiment of the invention is best shown in
In a third embodiment, the first cable and hanger ball have been integrated into a single unit. As best shown in
First cable C1′ is not separately secured to downrod 52, because first end 6′ is secured directly to upper surface 82 of hanger ball 80. Preferably, first cable C1′ includes a portion 84 extending from first end 6′ that is molded within hanger ball 80. First cable C1′ also includes a first connector 8 extending from second end 10. As such, first connector 8 is operably associated with second connector 16 of second cable C2 for releaseably attaching first cable C1′ and second cable C2 to form a continuous cable, as described above.
Installation of the third embodiment of the present invention on ceiling fans is simplified given first cable C1′ need not be separately secured to downrod 52. Second cable C2 is attached to the ceiling support (or electrical box) before the fan is hung from mounting bracket 56. After installing the fan and securing hanger ball 80 to mounting bracket 56, cables C1′ and C2 are easily joined together as described above.
Alternatively, second cable C2 and electrical box E may be integrated into a single unit. As best shown in
Installation of the safety mechanism according to the fourth embodiment is streamlined because the user is not required to secure second cable C2′ to an electrical box, given it is already incorporated into electrical box 90. Second cable C2′ preferably includes a portion 94 extending from first end 14′ that is molded within electrical box 90. Second cable C2′ includes a second connector 16 extending from a second end 18. As such, second connector 16 is operably associated with first connector 8 of first cable C1 for releaseably attaching second cable C2′ and first cable C1 to form a continuous cable, as described above.
Preferably, electrical box 90 is provided with first cable C1, so that the installer has all of the necessary components for installation of the safety mechanism of the present invention when electrical box 90 is initially installed. Electrical box 90 may be secured to ceiling support S using a plurality of electrical box fasteners 72, as best shown in
In a fifth embodiment, cable C1 may be secured directly to a hanger ball 100 with a fastening mechanism 102, as best shown in
Second cable C2 may be secured to support S or electrical box E, as described above. Cables C1 and C2 are then releasably attached. Alternatively, cable C1 may be secured to second cable C2′ of electrical box 90.
It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in construction or configuration of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of the invention, provided they come within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A two-piece safety mechanism for ceiling-mounted fans, comprising:
- a first cable having a first fastener extending from a first end and a first connector extending from a second end, said first fastener for operable association with a first fastening mechanism for securing said first cable to a fan; and
- a second cable having a second fastener extending from a first end, said second fastener for operable association with a second fastening mechanism for securing said second cable to a ceiling support, and said second cable having a second connector extending from a second end, said second connector releaseably attachable to said first connector to form a continuous cable.
2-57. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 18, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 20, 2005
Inventor: John Marshall (Greenwell Springs, LA)
Application Number: 11/107,848