Abstract:
A fan blade assembly includes a mounting arm having a first end adapted to engage a fan rotor and a second end adapted to receive a fan blade. At least two mounting posts are disposed on the second end of the mounting arm and a fan blade has apertures for receive the mounting posts. A clamp plate has apertures with a receiving portion and a retaining portion. The receiving portion is adapted to receive the mounting posts and the clamp plate is movable to a securing position where the retaining portions engages with the mounting posts to secure the clamp plate and fan blade to the mounting arm.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to fan blade assemblies and to methods of assembling same. In particular, the invention relates to an assembly and method for connecting blades to ceiling fans. 
     The following discussion is particularly directed at fan blade assemblies for ceiling fans, however the invention will find application in other fan blade assemblies and such are considered within the scope of the invention. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     Decorative ceiling fans, which are popularly installed in homes and public places, have large market demand. This type of ceiling fan usually comprises motor, blades, blade brackets and light kit. Because the blade bracket and the blade are independent parts and a fan usually consists of 4-6 blades (and corresponding blade brackets) installation requires the use of professional tools together with screws and washers to manually attach the blades to the blade brackets. Assembling the blades and brackets constitutes a high percentage of the overall time and cost of installing a fan. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least ameliorate the above mentioned problem or at least to provide the public with a useful alternative. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fan blade assembly including: 
     a mounting arm adapted to engage a fan rotor at a first end and having mounting posts at a second end, 
     a fan blade having apertures to receive the mounting posts, and 
     a clamp plate having apertures to receive the mounting posts and being movable to a securing position to secure the clamp plate and fan blade to the mounting arm. 
     The second end of the mounting arm has mounting posts threadably engaged thereto, said posts having a head portion and a body portion of substantially the same diameter and a neck portion, of smaller diameter, connecting the head and body portions. The clamp plate has apertures, each aperture has a receiving portion and a retaining portion, the receiving portion is adapted to receive the mounting posts and the clamp plate is movable to a securing position where the retaining portion engages with the neck portion of the mounting posts to secure the clamp plate and fan blade to the mounting arm. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a fan blade assembly or ceiling fan assembly including: 
     a mounting arm comprising an elongate body having first and second ends, the first end adapted to engage a fan rotor and the second end adapted to receive a fan blade, 
     at least two mounting posts, each of said posts having a head portion and a body portion of substantially the same diameter and a smaller diameter neck portion connecting the head and body portions, the body portion being engagable with the second end of the mounting arm, 
     a fan blade having apertures adapted to receive the mounting posts, and 
     a clamp plate having at least two apertures, each aperture having a receiving portion and a retaining portion, the receiving portion adapted to receive the mounting posts, and the clamp plate being movable to a securing position where the retaining portion engages with the neck portion of the mounting posts to secure the clamp plate and fan blade to the mounting arm. 
     According to further aspect of the invention there is provided a kit-set for adaptation of a fan blade assembly or ceiling fan including: 
     at least two mounting posts, each of said posts having a head portion and a body portion of substantially the same diameter and a smaller diameter neck portion connecting the head and body portions, the body portion being engagable with a fan blade mounting arm, and 
     a clamp plate having at least two apertures, each aperture having a receiving portion and a retaining portion, the receiving portion adapted to receive the mounting posts, and the clamp plate being movable to a securing position where the retaining portion engages with the neck portion of the mounting posts to secure the clamp plate and fan blade to the mounting arm. 
     The kit-set may include a fan blade having apertures for receive the mounting posts. 
     In each aspect a lock can be provided on the clamp plate, the lock comprising a strip having an upwardly extending tab at one end, the lock being disposed on the clamp plate so that the one end is in communication with the receiving portion of one aperture in the clamp plate and being extendable upwards to allow the aperture to receive a mounting post. Preferably, the lock is made of flat spring steel or similar material. 
     Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example only. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a fan blade assembly according to the invention, 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a mounting arm according to the invention, 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the proximal end of a fan blade according to the invention, 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a clamp plate according to the invention, 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of the clamp plate, 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a mounting post according to the invention, 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the first step in mounting a fan blade from an assembly according to the invention, 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the second step in mounting the fan blade, 
     FIG. 9 illustrates the third step in mounting the fan blade, 
     FIG. 10 illustrates the first step in removing a fan blade from an assembly according to the invention, and 
     FIG. 11 illustrate the second step in removing the fan blade. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of invention includes a fan mounting arm  1 , a fan blade  2 , and a clamp plate  3  with a lock in the form of a retainer spring tab  4 . The components are illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2 to  4 . 
     The mounting arm  1  comprises a bracket  5  for securing the mounting arm  1  to a fan rotor (not shown) in known manner. The bracket  5  extends via an elongate body  6  to a fan mounting head  7 . The mounting head  7  is a substantially “C” shaped bracket having outer arm portions  8  and  9  enclosing a supporting web portion  10  there between. Again, mounting head  7  is substantially of known type. 
     Engaged with the mounting head  7  are three mounting posts  11 , which are illustrated in more detail in FIG.  6 . One mounting post  11  is located at the distal end of each arm  8  and  9  and the third mounting post  11  is located in the centre portion of the mounting head  7  proximate the elongate body  6 . 
     It is advantageous to turn now to the mounting post  11  illustrated in FIG.  6 . The post  11  comprise a head portion  12  and body portion  13  connected via a narrow neck portion  14 . For reasons that will become apparent later, the body portion  13  has a longitudinal length (A) substantially equal to, but no greater than, the thickness of fan blades  2 . 
     At the distal end of the body portion  13  there is a threaded portion  15  that facilitates engagement of the post  11  with the head  7  of the mounting arm  1 . Preferably, treaded portion  15  is of a standard thread configuration so as to be compatible with known mounting arms  1 . A screwdriver slot  16  is provided to allow the posts  11  to be secured to head  7 . 
     An additional recessed portion  18  is provided on body  13  adjacent threaded portion  15 . When threadably engaged the post  11  secures when surface  17  bears against the periphery of a threaded bore in head  7 . A rubber, or similar, washer ( 19  in FIG. 2) has an external diameter larger than body  13  and a central aperture corresponding to the diameter of portion  18 . The washer  19  locates about portion  18  when post  11  is engaged with head  7 . Washer  19  is not critical to the invention, however it helps prevent vibration noise from the fan blade in use as will become apparent latter. 
     Turning to FIG. 3, shown is the proximal end only of fan blade  2 . The blade  2  has three apertures  20  corresponding with the positions of posts  11  on head  7 . In known manner the blade  2  would be aligned with head  7  and conventional screws or bolts passed through apertures  20  and threadably engaged with threaded bores in head  7 . However in the preferred embodiment of the invention the posts  11 , with washers  19 , are threadably engaged within the threaded bores in head  7 . Blade  2  is then located against head  7  so that posts  11  extend through apertures  20  in the blade  2 . As body portion  13  of post  11  is substantially the same thickness as blade  2 , neck portion  14  and head  16  will be clear of aperture  20 . 
     Looking now at FIG. 4, the clamp plate  3  is a substantially “C” shaped flat plate having a central span portion  21  extending curvedly in each direction to outer arm portions  22  and  23 . Extending orthogonal to central portion  21  is an inner arm portion  24  that terminates in an upwardly presented tab  25 . FIG. 5 shows a plan view of clamp plate  3 . It is provide with three apertures  26 , one aperture at the distal end of each outer arm portion  22  and  23  and the third located centrally in the central span portion  21 . Each aperture  26  is a “keyhole” shape having a larger receiving portion  27  and an elongate retaining portion  28 . 
     On the longitudinal axis of inner arm  24  are two smaller “fixing” apertures  29  which are provided for attaching the retainer spring tab  4  via nuts and bolts  30  (see FIG.  3 ). 
     Retainer spring tab  4  is an elongate strip of flat spring steel with two apertures provided on its longitudinal axis corresponding to “fixing” apertures  29 . It extends centrally along the longitudinal axis of inner arm  24 . At its distal end  31  it extends upwardly to form a “lifting” tab  32 . 
     Retainer spring tab  4  is dimensioned and arranged so that distal end  31 , bearing tab  32 , covers (or closes) receiving portion  27  of the aperture  26  on central portion  21  of the clamp plate  3 . The spring tab  4  must not cover (or close) the retaining portion  28  of aperture  26 . Furthermore, the fixing apertures  29  and securing bolts  30  should be sufficiently remote from distal end  31  that end  31  can be raised clear of receiving portion  27 , using tab lifting  32 , without the aid of tools. 
     The embodiment will be more clearly illustrated by reference to the mode of use. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, to secure blade  2  to the mounting arm  1  the blade  2  is lowered into position on the head  7  letting the mounting posts  11  pass through the corresponding apertures  20  in the blade  2  and extend above the blade surface (see FIG.  8 ). The clamp plate  3  is lowered into position by letting the mounting posts  11  pass through the receiving portions  27  of apertures  26 . At this time the spring tab extends (springs) upwards (see FIG.  9 ). Using tab  25 , or by pushing on the plate  3  as illustrated, the clamp plate  3  is moved toward the distal end of the blade  22 , as shown in FIG. 9, until the retaining portions  28  of apertures  26  are completely coordinated with the neck portions  14  of the mounting posts  11 . At this time the spring tab  4  springs down, standing up against the head  12  of pin  11  securing and locking the plate  3  and blade  2  to the mounting arm  1 . Thus the blade assembly is finished. 
     Assembly of the blade  2  and the arm  1  can be performed without professional tools and numerous fasteners. By using this assembling method the blade  2  can be installed on the blade arm  1  not only easily and quickly but also simply and conveniently. 
     The fan blade can be removed just as easily. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, to remove the blade lifting tab end  32  of spring tab  4  is lifted clear of post head  12 . Holding spring tab  4  clear of the post  11 , clamp plate  3  is moved in the direction of the proximal end of the fan blade  2 . This releases neck portions  14  of posts  11  from retaining portions  28  (see FIG.  10 ). Once released the clamp plate  3  can be removed and then the blade  2  lifted off head  7  of mounting arm  1  (see FIG.  11 ). 
     It will be apparent to the skilled addressee that in one embodiment the invention will comprise a kit-set or after market accessory for modifying known fan blade assemblies in accordance with the invention. Mounting arm  1  (less the mounting post  11 ) shown in the drawings is substantially the same as those known in the art. A kit-set comprises three mounting posts  11  and washers  29 , and a clamp plate  3  with spring tab  4 . 
     To modify known fans the mounting posts  11  and washes  29  are threadably engaged with threaded bores on head  7  of mounting arm  1 . Depending on the configuration, apertures  20  in the blades might need enlarging to accommodate posts  11 . This can be achieved simply by use of an electric, or other, drill. 
     In an alternative embodiment blades will also be included in the kit-set, for example a vendor will make available after market decorative blades complete with mounting kit-set according to the invention. 
     It is appreciated that in kit-set form the invention requires tools, for example at least a screwdriver and possibly a drill and bit. However, the invention still has utility as once the mounting arms, and blades if required, have been modified according to the invention blades may be subsequently changed/removed without the use of tools. This has advantage for cleaning purposes or if blades are regularly changed for decorative reasons, for example a person might have Christmas blades, Easter blades, summer blades, winter blades, etc. 
     Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or elements have known equivalents then such are included as if individually set forth herein. 
     Embodiments of the invention have been described, however it is understood that variations, improvement or modifications can take place without departure from the sprite of the invention or scope of the appended claims.