Abstract:
A fan assembly includes a column arranged substantially vertically, and a base, the column is connected to the base to be supported and restrained in its vertical orientation. An arm has a base end connected to the column and extends from the base end horizontally to a distal end. A fan adapter plate is connected to the distal end and has a fastener hole pattern compatible with commercially available overhead fans. A weather shield can be carried by the arm and is adapted to protect a motor of the overhead fan. Alternate embodiments include a permanently attached column/base embodiment, a portable, self standing column/base embodiment, a clamp base embodiment for clamping the base to a deck, weighted base embodiments, and a horizontal wall-mounted fixture. A method of abating mosquitoes includes the use of the overhead fan in an outdoor environment.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/148,788, filed Aug. 13, 1999 and entitled “Hanger for Ceiling Fan Or The Like”. 
     1. Technical Field of the Invention 
    
    
     The present invention relates to fan support assemblies which support fans which ventilate areas. The invention particularly relates to fans which have their rotary axes oriented vertically, and are to be located above an area to be ventilated. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Fans which have their rotary axes in a vertical orientation, and which are located above an indoor living area, are known. Such fans are commonly referred to as “ceiling fans”. When used indoors, ceiling fans are effective to circulate air which has become stratified within an enclosed room to deliver air to an elevation which is sensed by the person occupying the room. Such ceiling fans are typically useful in rooms having high ceilings. 
     Indoor ceiling fans provide exemplary comfort by circulating air within a room. However, ceiling fans are necessarily permanently mounted to the ceiling, including need for behind-the-ceiling electrical connections. Not all pre-existing indoor rooms are equipped with a centrally located ceiling electrical outlet to which an overhead ceiling fan can be connected. The installation of an overhead ceiling fan in a room without a pre-existing centrally located ceiling electrical outlet would be a relatively expensive and complicated installation. The present inventor has recognized that it would be advantageous to provide a mechanism for supporting an overhead fan which did not require pre-existing ceiling electrical and structural attachment elements. 
     Fans have also been used outdoors. Fans used outdoors are typically rotary fans having their rotary axes arranged in a horizontal orientation. In this way, the fans blow air directly at a person, creating a cooling air breeze. Such fans can be table supported or can be mounted on a stand to be held at a desired height for blowing air onto the person. 
     In an outdoor environment, mosquitos and other flying insects can be a nuisance to people, particularly where people are sitting for a prolonged period of time or within an area where food is being prepared or served. Attempts have been made to reduce the problem of mosquitos and other flying insects in outdoor areas which include: insecticide sprays, insect repellant lotions and sprays applied to a person&#39;s skin, insect repellant candles and torches, and electrical insect killers. The present inventor has recognized the need to more effectively reduce the number of mosquitos and other flying insects within an outdoor area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides support and mounting arrangements for overhead fans having vertical rotation axes. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, support and mounting assemblies are provided for overhead fans which do not require a permanent ceiling installation and which can effectively make the overhead fan portable. The fan can be electrically connected via a conventional electrical cord and plug, and can be plugged into a conventional wall outlet. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, an overhead, vertical axis rotary fan is provided for use outdoors. The fan conditions the air of the outside occupied area for comfort, and helps to reduce the number of flying insects, such as mosquitos, within the occupied area. 
     According to a additional aspects of the present invention, a plurality of different support arrangements or structures are provided, each holding an overhead fan above an occupied area. Each support structure can include a cantilever beam or arm which holds the fan above the area. The support structure can be bolted to an existing vertical wall adjacent the occupied area or can be supported on a column. The fan can be supported from a column that is supported vertically, and restrained horizontally, by a concrete foundation or can be supported by a column which is fastened to an external structure, such as the wall or floor of a building, a deck, a foundation or footing, slab, or a patio. The fan can be supported from a column that is supported vertically, and restrained horizontally, by a base that is held flat by its own weight, or by being fastened to an external structure. The base can be a flat plate, or a case that can be filled with water, sand or concrete. 
     Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a first embodiment fan assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a substantially similar fan assembly as shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the fan assembly shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the fan assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of an adaptor plate shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a elevational view of a weather shroud of the fan assembly shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the weather shroud shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a second embodiment fan assembly according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a third embodiment fan assembly according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a fourth embodiment fan assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is sectional view of a fifth embodiment fan assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view of a portion of the fan assembly shown in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternate base which would be useful in the embodiment of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of a second alternate base which wold be useful in the embodiment of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 15 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment, portable fan assembly, useful both indoors and outdoors; 
     FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken generally along line  16 — 16  of FIG. 15; and 
     FIG. 17 is a fragmentary, enlarged elevational view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG.  15 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment fan assembly  20  of the present invention. The fan assembly  20  is mounted on an support surface  24  in an outside area. The support surface  24  can be provided by a concrete slab  25 , for example. The fan assembly  20  includes a support column or post  30  and a laterally extending arch-shaped arm  31 . The arm  31  is connected at a base end thereof to the column  30  to support the arm vertically, in cantilever fashion. A fan subassembly  36  is mounted to a distal end of the arm  31 . The subassembly  36  includes a weather shield  38 , a fan motor  42 , a fan blade or blades  46 , and a light  52 . The fan motor  42  is actuated by a first pull string  56  and the light  52  is actuated by a second pull string  60 . Alternatively or additionally, the fan motor  42  and the light  52  can be actuated by a wall switch located near the fan assembly or inside an adjacent dwelling or building. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a substantially similar fan assembly  21  in more detail. This embodiment is substantially identical to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, except a differently shaped arm  32  is used. In this embodiment, the arm  32  has an asymmetrical, flattened arch shape. Beneath a base cover  68 , a base plate  70  is fastened to the slab  25  by use of anchor bolts  72 . The post  30  extends through the base cover  68  and is welded to the base plate  70 . A rain tight service cover  74  is located at a position slightly elevated from the base plate  70 . An incoming electrical feed line or conductor carrying conduit  78  delivers wires  82  into the post  30 . Splice connections are made behind the service cover  74 . 
     The post  30  and the arm  32  are preferably hollow. The arm  32  is connected to the post  30  by being telescopically received therein approximately six inches. In this regard, the arm  32  includes a reduced diameter, swaged end region  32 a which tightly fits within an open end of the post  30 . A retaining screw  88  penetrates through both the post  30  and the arm  32  to fixedly hold the two pieces in their telescopic relationship. At a distal end of the arm  32  the fan subassembly  36  is connected to the arm  32  by a connection assembly  90  described in more detail in FIGS. 3-7. Wiring for transmitting electrical power from the incoming feed line  78  to the light  52  and to the fan motor  42  is accomplished by the wires  82  which are carried within the post  30  and the arm  32  to the fan motor  42  and to the light  52 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the connection of the fan subassembly  36  in more detail. The connection assembly  90  includes an adapter plate  92  which is welded to the arm  32 . A contoured mounting bracket  96  is arranged within the weather shield  38 . The contoured mounting bracket  96  has a flange  98  pressed against a bottom surface  102  of the weather shield  38 . The bracket  96  includes a dished area  106  extending downwardly from the flange  98 . A fan retaining-and-pivot ball joint  110  is held within a concave region  111  of the bracket  96  and permits some movement therebetween. A support conduit  114  is connected to the ball joint  110  and the fan motor  42 . The fan motor  42  includes a vertical output shaft (not shown) connected to the blades  46 . The light  52  is connected to the fan motor  42  through a stationary support conduit  120 . Thus, the fan motor  42  and the fan blades  46  and the light  52  are all supported through the support conduit  114  and the ball joint  110 . Electric wires  82  which pass through the arm  32  are connected by wire nuts to connection wires (not shown) which pass through the ball joint  110  and the support conduit  114 , and are connected to and pass through the fan motor  42 , to the light  52 , to make the necessary electrical power connections. A decorative cover  130  surrounds the mounting bracket  96  and is fastened to the connection assembly  90 . A gasket  140  for weather sealing between the shield  38  and the arm  32  is fit between the adapter plate  92  and a top surface  136  of the shield  138 . Fasteners  142  clamp together the adapter plate  92 , the gasket  140 , the top surface  136  of the shield  138 , and the flange  98  of the bracket. 
     All of the elements ( 42 ,  46 ,  52 ,  96 , 110 ,  114 ) below the weather shield  38  together constitute a typical, commercially available overhead ceiling fan. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the connection of the adapter plate  92  to the arm  32 . The adapter plate  92  is welded to the arm  32 , either partially or completely around the as end of the arm  32 . The arm  32  is illustrated having the asymmetrical, flattened arch shape. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the adapter plate  92 . The adapter plate  92  includes a central hole  144  for passing the wires  82 , and a plurality of fastener holes  148  for receiving fasteners to clamp the adapter plate to the remaining components. Illustrated are eight bolt holes  148 . The holes  148  are arranged at angular positions which are most compatible with the currently available commercial fans. In that regard, holes are located at 0 degrees, 30 degrees, 90 degrees, 150 degrees, 180 degrees, 210 degrees, 270 degrees, and 330 degrees. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the weather shield  38 , including a central hole  150  for pass-through of the wires  82 , and a plurality of fastener holes  154  which correspond in location to at least some of the fastener holes  148  of the adapter plate  92 , preferably corresponding to at least three or four evenly spaced holes. The bolt hole pattern of the flange  98  of the retaining bracket  96  is also correspondingly fashioned. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a second embodiment fan assembly  200  which is substantially identical to the previous embodiment assembly  21  except for the base mounting details, and the arch-shaped arm  31  of FIG. 1 is employed. The assembly  200  is shown mounted on an outdoor wooden deck  202 . In the assembly  200 , the base cover is not shown for simplicity, or not used, as desired. The rain tight service cover  74  is typically a service hand hole two inches by four inches with a gasket for making the cover  74  rain tight. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 8 a base plate  206  is welded at a bottom  208  of the post  30 . An underlying clamp plate  210  can be arranged beneath external structure, such as flooring  211  of the deck  202 . A plurality of fasteners  212  can be positioned to pass through corresponding fastener holes arranged in both the base plate  206  and the clamping plate  210 . When the fasteners are tightened by use of nuts or by use of bolt head and nut combinations, the base plate  206  is drawn tight to the clamping plate  210 , and the post is held upright on the deck  202 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a third embodiment of the fan assembly  300 . In the fan assembly  300 , the post  30  is substantially replaced with a wall mounting fixture  304  which can be fixedly secured to a vertical external structure, such as a wall  308 . The mounting structure  304  can be placed over a recessed electrical box (not shown) or can have an enclosed volume  304   a  that functions as a electrical box. Electric power can be fed into the volume  304   a  either from within the wall or externally to the wall. Sufficient wall anchors, studs, bolts, etc. can be used to fixedly attach an appropriate mounting bracket (not shown) of the fixture  304  to the wall  308 . 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a fourth embodiment fan assembly  400  similar to the first embodiment assembly  21  except that the post  30  extends downwardly into a cylindrical concrete foundation or footing  404 . Also, a modified shape arm  33  is used. The post  30  can be seamed above grade at a point  408  to create an above grade post  30   a  and a below grade post  30   b , so that the above grade post  30  can be removed as desired. The above grade post  30   a  can have a swaged end which can be telescopically inserted approximately six inches into the below grade post  30   b . A retaining screw  412  can penetrate through the below grade post  30   b  and the above grade post  30   a  to connect the two pieces. A tab  416  is welded to the below grade post  30   b  before the concrete footing  404  is poured to rotationally fix the post  30  with respect to the footing  404 . 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a fifth embodiment fan assembly  500  wherein a post stub  30   c  is welded to a large portable base  504  which sets flushly on a support surface  24  such as a concrete slab, without being fixed thereto, i.e., being simply supported. The post stub  30   c  includes a swaged, reduced diameter region. The post  20 , telescopically fits down over the reduced diameter region and is secured by a fastener  505  penetrating through the post  30  and stub  30   c . In the embodiment, the base  504  is a flat plate. The flat plate could be a circular steel plate 32 inches in diameter and 0.375 inches thick. The wires  82  from the subassembly  36  extend through the arm  31 , downwardly through the post  30 , and exit the post  30  at a weather tight fitting  508  as an appliance cord  514  having a standard wall outlet plug  516 . The alternate fan assembly  500  can be plugged into a wall outlet in conventional fashion. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates the detail of the wire exit from the post  30  at the fitting  508 . The weather tight fitting  508  comprises a housing  509  welded to the post  30 , and a weather proof grommet  511  threaded into the housing sealing the cord  514  to the housing  509 . 
     FIG. 13 illustrates an alternate base  550  which could be used in lieu of the base plate  514  shown in FIG.  11 . The base  550  comprises an outer case  556  composed of plastic or metal or other suitable material. A concrete core  560  fills the case  556 . A relatively small anchor plate  566  can be welded to the post  30  and can either be within the case  556  or can form a central portion of a bottom wall  570  of the case  556 . The anchor plate  556  prevents the post  30  from being vertically pulled out of the case  556 . The case  556  can have the concrete core  560  pre-hardened in place with a preformed central hole  578  for receiving the post  30 . The concrete filled base  556 , as a separate component, can then be placed onto the post  30 , the base constituting a removable part. The concrete filled case  556 , by nature of its own weight, holds down the anchor plate  556 , to retain the post  30  upright. In this manner, the post and base are more easily disassembled for moving and storing the fan assembly. The fan assembly can be sold as separate, easily packaged pieces, with the user providing the concrete to fill the case  556 . A heavy concrete part is thus not needed to be shipped by the manufacturer and handled by the retailer. 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a second embodiment base  650  for use with the portable fan as shown, for example in FIG.  11 . The second alternate base  650  includes a case  656  that has a taller central dimension for an increased volume, and is intended to be filled with ballast material  660 , such as sand or water, to provide the anchor plate-retaining weight to function as described with regard to FIG. 13, to hold down an anchor plate  666 , but with sand or water in lieu of concrete. The remaining description of FIG. 13 is equally applicable to the embodiment of FIG.  14 . However, because the ballast material  660  is fluid, the case  650  must have a lined central hole  678  for insertion of the pole during assembly. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates a further embodiment of a portable fan assembly  700 . A motorized fan  710  having a vertical axis of rotation is supported from a portable stand which includes the vertical post  30 , a straight cantilever arm  35  and a base  704 . The post  30  and the arm  35  can be hollow and telescopically interconnected as described in previous embodiments. The fan adapter plate  92  supports the motorized fan  710  which, as stated before, is a commercially available overhead fan. FIG. 15 illustrates the fan being located in a weather protected area having a ceiling  720 , and a floor  724 . Given the presence of the ceiling, the motorized fan  710  need not be protected from rain, and as such, the weather shield shown in previous embodiments is optional. 
     The base  704  of the fan  700  is especially designed to be lightweight yet provide effective support to prevent overturning of the fan  700 . As shown in FIG. 16, the base  704  includes four leg portions, two long leg portions  730 ,  732 , and two short leg portions  734 ,  736 . The long leg portions  730 ,  732  extend in a direction toward the fan  710  to balance the overturning moment created by the overhanging weight of the fan. The short leg portions  734 ,  736  extend in an opposite direction. A circular tie plate  740  is used to rigidify the relative positions of the four leg portions  730 ,  732 ,  734 ,  736  by being connected to the leg portions at base ends thereof, such as by welding. The leg portions can be formed of tubular elements each having a square, round or other shape cross-section. The use of elongated members as the base  704  allows for the fan to be more easily arranged in and around furniture within an occupied space. Additionally, with the effective use of fasteners, the base  704 , when unassembled, can be contained within a smaller package for effective shipping and retailing. 
     FIG. 17 illustrates the fan  710  supported from the cantilever arm  35  via the adapter plate  92  (shown in FIG.  5 ). As with the previous embodiments, electrical conductors are threaded through the hollow arm  35 , and then through the column  30 . The adapter plate  92  is welded to a downwardly directed portion  35   a  of the arm  35 . 
     In the embodiments described above, various shapes for the arms  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  35  are employed. The shapes can be selected to optimize strength for long horizontal reaches, or to optimize overhead clearance for compact designs. Other shapes are possible and are encompassed by the invention. Also, the support structures, including the post  30  and the arms  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  35 , are preferably hollow or tubular elements composed of steel, plastic or other suitable material. The hollow elements can have various cross-sectional shapes such as circular, square, rectangular, or other shapes. 
     The use of any of the above described fans outdoors can be effective above barbeque cooking areas to help dissipate smoke and fumes from the cooking areas. In this regard, the fan is effectively set to draw air upwardly. 
     The present inventor has discovered another advantageous application of the above described fan assemblies, particularly in an outdoor environment. When the fans are used overhead, the number of mosquitoes in the area beneath the fan is diminished. This is particularly true when the fan is set to deliver air downwardly. The decrease in mosquitoes may be due to the disturbance in the air around the fan, the disturbance acting to repel mosquitoes. 
     From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.