Abstract:
A ceiling fan includes a plurality of steel ropes; an attachment device secured to first ends of the steel ropes; and a fan and light assembly secured to second ends of the steel ropes. The steel rope has two enlargements at respective ends thereof. The enlargements are moveably disposed in the attachment device and the fan and light assembly so that both installation and detachment are made easy.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to ceiling fans and more particularly to a combination ceiling fan and a lamp with improved characteristics. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     There is a type of ceiling fan equipped with a light so that the purposes of ventilation and illumination can be achieved. It includes a light disposed under fan blades. However, the conventional ceiling fan with light has the following drawbacks: 
     First, the light may interfere with the airflow, thereby decreasing cooling efficiency. 
     Second, the airflow is directed downward and thus its cooling range is limited. 
     Third, light emitted by the light is directed downward and thus other spaces may be illuminated insufficiently. 
     Fourth, a steel pipe containing electric wire is attached to the ceiling. It is inconvenient of cleaning or repair because an individual has to use a ladder to clear or repair the ceiling fan. Further, it may cause danger. Furthermore, the ceiling fan is not allowed to dangle greatly due to the nature of the steel pipe. In addition, the steel pipe may be bent due to earthquake. The bent steel pipe can compromise equilibrium of the ceiling fan. 
     Thus, the need for improvement still exists. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a light fixture comprising a plurality of steel ropes; an attachment device secured to first ends of the steel ropes; and a fan and light assembly secured to second ends of the steel ropes. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ceiling fan according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the ceiling fan; 
         FIG. 2A  is a detailed view of the area in circle A in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is a detailed view of the area in circle B in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the ceiling fan; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 2B  showing movement of the enlargement; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged top view of a portion of the spreader; and 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged bottom view of the portion of the spreader shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 7 , a ceiling fan in accordance with the invention comprises a plurality of steel ropes  1 , an attachment device  2  attached to one ends of the steel ropes  1 , and a fan and light assembly  3  attached to the other ends of the steel ropes  1  as discussed in detail below. 
     The steel rope  1  includes an enlargement  11  in either end. The enlargement  11  can be a sphere, a cone, or the like. 
     The attachment device  2  includes an attachment  21  on a top, a plurality of hollow anchor members  22  through an annular vertical part  212  of the attachment  21 , a decoration member  23  on a bottom, and a fastening assembly  24  for fastening the attachment  21  and the decoration member  23  together. 
     The attachment  21  includes a ring shaped horizontal part  211  and the annular vertical part  212  depending downward from the horizontal part  211 . A plurality of thread holes  213  are formed through the horizontal part  211  and a central threaded hole  214  is formed through a center of the horizontal part  211 . A plurality of holes  215  are formed through the vertical part  212 . 
     The anchor members  22  are fastened at the holes  215 . In detail, the anchor member  22  includes a narrow part  221 , an enlarged part  223 , and a stepped-diameter passageway  222  through the narrow part  221  and the enlarged part  223 . The anchor member  22  is flexible and fastened at the hole  215  by urging a joining portion of the narrow part  221  and the enlarged part  223  against an edge of the hole  215 . The steel rope  1  passes through the passageway  222  to have its enlargement  11  moveably positioned in the enlarged part  223 . A plurality of threaded fasteners (not shown) are driven through the thread holes  213  into a ceiling (not shown) to fasten the attachment device  2  (i.e., the ceiling fan) and the ceiling together. 
     The decoration member  23  is slightly larger than the attachment  21  and has an open top. The decoration member  23  is disc shaped and includes a thread hole  231  through a center, an annular groove  232 , and a plurality of slits  233  through a raised edge. The thread hole  231  is aligned with the threaded hole  214 . The bottom of the vertical part  212  is complimentarily disposed in the groove  232 . The slits  233  correspond to the holes  215  respectively. Further, the steel ropes  1  pass through the slits  233  prior to positioning at the hollow members  22 . Alternatively, the decoration member  23  is eliminated in other embodiments. 
     The fastening assembly  24  includes an externally threaded pipe  241  disposed through the threaded hole  214  and the thread hole  231 , and an internally threaded sleeve  241  threadedly secured to a lower portion of the externally threaded pipe  241  and urging against an underside of the decoration member  23 . As a result, the attachment  21  and the decoration member  23  are secured together. 
     The fan and light assembly  3  includes a support  31 , a fan  32 , a light  33 , and a louver  34 . In detail, the support  31  includes a plurality of radially extending spreaders  311  each at its bent portion having a first cavity  312  and a second cavity  313  communicating with the first cavity  312 . Size of the first cavity  312  is greater than that of the enlargement  11  so that the enlargement  11  can be moveably disposed in the first cavity  312 . A well  314  is formed on an inner end of the second cavity  313  and shaped to complimentarily receive a portion of the enlargement  11 . 
     The fan  32  is provided on a center of the fan and light assembly  3  and electrically connected to the household power (not shown) by an electric wire (not shown) passing through the fastening assembly  24 . The light  33  includes a plurality of fastening members  331  secured to the spreaders  311 , and an annular light shade  332  secured to the fastening members  331 . The fan  32  is disposed in a space  333  defined by the light shade  332 . Illumination unit (e.g., fluorescent lamp, light bulb, or LEDs (light-emitting diodes) (not shown) is disposed in the light shade  332 . The light  33  and the fan  32  are electrically connected together. Alternatively, the light  33  is electrically connected to the household power by an electric wire passing through the fastening assembly  24 . The louver  34  is directly under the fan  32  and secured to the fastening members  331 . The lower portion of the space  333  is separated from the outside space by the louver  34 . Airflow created by the fan  32  is directed out of the ceiling fan to a greater space in a house via the louver  34 . 
     Assembly, operation, and advantages of the invention are discussed below. First, a plurality of threaded fasteners are used to secure the attachment  21  to the ceiling. Next, one end of the steel rope  1  is moveably positioned in the anchor member  22  which is fastened at the hole  215  of the attachment  21 . The steel rope  1  passes through the slit  233  to have its other end moveably positioned in the fan and light assembly  3 . In detail, as shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the steel rope  1  passes through the first cavity  312  so that the enlargement  11  at one end of the steel rope  1  is adapted to moveably position in the first cavity  312 . Further, the enlargement  11  moves from the first cavity  312  to the second cavity  313  to anchor in the well  314 . Thus, the steel rope  11  has one end moveably disposed in the spreader  31 . The fan and light assembly  3  is thus disposed under the attachment device  2  due to its own weight. 
     For repairing or cleaning the ceiling fan, an individual may detach the electric wire. Next, the individual may move the enlargement  11  from the second cavity  313  to the first cavity  312 . Thus, the enlargement  11  is free to disengage the fan and light assembly  3  from the attachment device  2 . Finally, the individual may begin his or her work. It can greatly decrease the danger of working in an elevated position and thus facilitates the work. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.