Telescopic Ceiling Fan
An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan includes an outer housing member; and an inner housing member to move with respect to the outer housing member and to move the ceiling fan. The apparatus includes a limit switch to limit the movement of the inner housing member, and the apparatus includes a threaded bushing member. The apparatus includes a drive gear member, and the apparatus includes a hubbed gear member. The apparatus includes a trip bar member to engage the limit switch member and includes a cable reel member for electrical wires for the ceiling fan.
This invention relates to ceiling fan, and in particular to a ceiling fan that can be raised and lowered.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCeiling fans are commonly placed in residences and business establishments to facilitate air movement within rooms. As is known, a ceiling fan motor comprises a stator, a rotor, and blades connected to the rotor to be rotated by the motor. Often, in electrical motors, the rotor is inside the stator. However, many ceiling fans employ an inside-out motor in which the rotor is on the outside and surrounds the stator.
As to the ceiling fan structure, a motor is used for driving the vanes to rotate and produce winds, so as to achieve the air cooling effect. However, the technology of the ceiling fans tends to have additional functions including a sleep mode, an air conditioning, an expedited air-conditioned circulation, a decoration, an illumination, a low power consumption, and a remote control function, in addition to providing wind and dissipating heat.
Since the use of the ceiling fans is very popular in everyday life and users have high demands on stability, safety, comfortability, convenience for its functions, therefore finding a way for raising and lowering ceiling fan in order to clean the ceiling fan and to adjust the height of the ceiling fan for proper effectiveness becomes an important point for the design of a good ceiling fan system in the industry.
Ceiling fans have been around for many years as a useful air circulator. The popular blade style over the years is a flat planar rectangular blade that can have a slight tilt, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 355,027 to Yound and Des. 382,636 to Yang.
In today's modern homes and businesses, high ceilings have become a fact of life. However, when these high ceilings have a ceiling fan, these fans may not be reachable by ordinary means. The present invention lowers these high ceiling fans to a level that may be reached by standing on the floor. The present invention eliminates the need for a ladder or a cleaning rod. The present invention may be operated electronically by using a lower/raise switch on the wall or by remote control.
The present invention provides for convenience, ergonomics and safety.
An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan includes an outer housing member; and an inner housing member to move with respect to the outer housing member and to move the ceiling fan.
The apparatus includes a limit switch to limit the movement of the inner housing member, and the apparatus includes a threaded bushing member.
The apparatus includes a drive gear member, and the apparatus includes a hubbed gear member.
The apparatus includes a trip bar member to engage the limit switch member and includes a cable reel member for electrical wires for the ceiling fan.
The apparatus includes a rack for moving the ceiling fan and includes a pinion for cooperation with the rack.
The apparatus includes a air cylinder member for moving the inner housing member, and the apparatus includes a guard ring member to maintain the position of the inner housing member with respect to the outer housing member.
The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
In operation, the motor 110 turns the drive gear member 108 which turns the hubbed gear member 112 which turns the internal threads 107 of the threaded bushing member 106. The internal threads 107 raise and lower the inner housing member 102 by cooperating with the external threads 103 of the inner housing member 102. The fan blades and fan motor 11 can be raised and lowered. The electrical wires for the fan motor 11 are extended and retracted by the cable reel member 120 so that the electrical wires are extended and are retracted as the inner housing member 102 is raised or lowered.
In operation, the motor 110 turns the pinion 222 which drives the rack 220 either up or down in accordance with the direction of rotation of the pinion 222. The fan blades 10 and fan motor 11 can be raised and lowered. The electrical wires for the fan motor 11 are extended and retracted by the cable reel member 120 so that the electrical wires are extended to correspond to the position of the fan motor 11.
In operation, the motorized winch member 310 rotates the capstan and wire member 330 which raises and lowers the inner housing member 302. The fan blades and fan motor 11 can be raised and lowered. The electrical wires for the fan motor 11 are extended and retracted by the cable reel member 120 so that the electrical wires are extended one retracted as the inner housing member 302 is raised or lowered.
In operation, the air cylinder member 442 raises and lowers the inner housing member 402. The fan blades and fan motor 11 can be raised and lowered. The electrical wires for the fan motor 11 are extended and retracted by the cable reel member 120 so that the electrical wires are extended and retracted as the inner housing member 402 is raised or lowered.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.
Claims
1) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan, comprising:
- an outer housing member; and
- an inner housing member to move with respect to the outer housing member and to move the ceiling fan.
2) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes a limit switch to limit the movement of the inner housing member.
3) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a threaded bushing member.
4) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a drive gear member.
5) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a hubbed gear member.
6) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 2, wherein the apparatus includes a trip bar member to engage the limit switch member.
7) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a cable reel member for electrical wires for the ceiling fan.
8) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a rack for moving the ceiling fan.
9) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 8, wherein the apparatus includes a pinion for cooperation with the rack.
10) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a air cylinder member for moving the inner housing member.
11) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a guard ring member to maintain the position of the inner housing member with respect to the outer housing member.
12) An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the inner housing member is moved with a winch.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 13, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 19, 2009
Inventor: Amalendu Goswami (Plano, TX)
Application Number: 11/854,856
International Classification: F01D 25/28 (20060101);