Abstract:
A combination assembly or apparatus of a ceiling fan and heater. The combination assembly or apparatus includes a ceiling fan, a heater, a fan to blow air across the heater, a translucent band, motor driven rotating reflective foils each having mounted therein a light source (e.g. an LED) to shine through the translucent band to give a motion effect like a flickering.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The disclosure relates to a combination assembly or apparatus of a ceiling fan and heater. The disclosure also relates to a combination assembly or apparatus of a ceiling fan, a heater, a fan to blow air across the heater, a translucent band, motor driven rotating reflective foils each having mounted therein a light source (e.g. an LED) to shine through the translucent band to give a motion effect like a flickering. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Ceiling fans are commonly utilized to assist in ventilation and circulation of air. Many different forms of ceiling fans with a plurality of blades driven by an electric motor suspended from the ceiling are commercially available on the market. The operation of the motor causes the blades to rotate about a vertical axis usually forcing air in a downward direction. Some ceiling fans have reversible motors so that the blades can rotate in a direction that forces air in an upward direction. 
         [0003]    Switches are used to control the ceiling fan. Also it is known to support housings for light bulbs on the housing associated with the ceiling fan. Light kits for ceiling fans are well known and typically include one to five incandescent or halogen light sources. Fluorescent light sources have also been disclosed for use with ceiling fans. Operation of ceiling fans is usually for the purpose of ventilation and/or circulation of air. The main function of a ceiling fan is to merely move air within a room without adding heat to the air which passes the fan. 
         [0004]    While ceiling fans are used almost exclusively under warm conditions, they are also of potential value in cool and cold weather, when enclosed spaces must be heated. Since hot air rises, rooms tend to be heated from the top down, lengthening the discomfort endured by their occupants from the cold, particularly when ceilings are high. This is also wasteful of energy, because the upper portion of a room is not occupied. As ceiling fans tend to bring air close to the ceiling of a room down towards the center of the room, ceiling fans can increase the comfort of occupants of cold rooms while they are being heated through their circulation of the room&#39;s air, and reduce energy costs. On the other hand, the slight draft they create, so pleasant on a sultry day, may have the opposite effect on a cold one. 
         [0005]    It is also known to have the fan air blown through a heater, so that the fan air is heated. The disclosure relates to an improved combination assembly of a ceiling fan and heater, which in some embodiments includes lighting effects. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0006]    An apparatus for distributing heated air to a room environment comprises: a ceiling fan assembly having a main housing composed of a ceiling mounting portion housing, an upper housing portion, a rotating housing portion from which a plurality of fan blades extend in a horizontal plane to create a downward air flow, and a lower housing portion, with the housing portions structurally interconnected internally of the main housing and electrical wires extending from the top of the ceiling mounting portion centrally through the main housing. The apparatus also includes a ceiling fan motor for rotating the rotating housing portion, a heater mounted at the bottom of the lower housing portion, a skirt enclosing at least a portion of the heater, and a heating fan driven by a heating fan motor mounted within the lower housing to pass air over the heater. The heated air output from the heater mixes with the downward air flow from the plurality of fan blades to distribute heat and air circulation in a room environment. 
         [0007]    The apparatus can include a translucent band surrounding the lower housing portion in a horizontal plane between the fan blades and the heater, a plurality of reflective foils mounted for rotation in the main housing in the lower housing portion in the horizontal plane, and lighting elements mounted with the reflective foils to shine light through the translucent band. A spin motor can be included for rotating the plurality of reflective foils. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of reflective foils radially extending from the spin motor on a corresponding one of a plurality of spokes. 
         [0008]    The apparatus can include a quick attachable-detachable device having a plug and mating socket, wherein the plug is secured to the ceiling mounting portion housing. Furthermore for coupling the heater to the lower housing portion, a second quick attachable-detachable device having a plug and mating socket can be included, with the plug secured to the heater and the mating socket secured to the bottom of the lower housing portion. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the lighting elements are LEDs. In some embodiments, the heater is a ceramic heater. In some embodiments, the plurality of blades are detachably connected to the rotating housing portion. In some embodiments, the heater and heating fan motor are only operable when the ceiling fan motor is operating. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view as seen looking slightly downwardly of one embodiment of the assembly or apparatus according to the disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view as seen looking slightly upwardly of the assembly or apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a larger perspective view as seen looking slightly upwardly of the assembly or apparatus of  FIG. 1  with no lighting effect. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a partially cutaway longitudinal view structure through its mid-axial plane showing schematically the components of the assembly or apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows a partially cutaway longitudinal section view structure through its mid-axial plane showing schematically the components of another embodiment of the assembly or apparatus according to the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    As required, embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and that the systems and methods described below can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present subject matter in virtually any appropriately detailed structure and function. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the concepts. 
         [0017]    The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as “connected,” although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. 
         [0018]    Referring now to the drawings, a specific embodiment of the assembly or apparatus  10  according to the disclosure is shown schematically in  FIGS. 1-4 . As seen in  FIGS. 1-3 , the assembly or apparatus  10  comprises a main housing  12  composed of a ceiling mounting portion housing  14 , an upper housing portion  16 , a rotating housing portion  18  from which a plurality of fan blades  20  extend radially outward, and a lower housing portion  22 . Although five fan blades  20  are shown, any suitable number of fan blades  20  can be used and the fan blades  20  can be integral to rotating housing portion  18  or attached to rotating housing portion  18  so as to be replaceable. Regardless of the number of fan blades  20 , the fan blades can extend substantially horizontally (i.e. parallel to a ceiling that has no angle relative to the floor) or be angled relative to the ceiling. 
         [0019]    The various housing portions  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  22  are structurally interconnected internally of the main housing  12  and for aesthetics electrical wires and cables preferably extend from the top of the ceiling mounting portion centrally through the main housing. As this structure can take many forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art how the interconnections are centrally made and how the wiring and cabling takes place, therefore these details are omitted for sake of clarity. 
         [0020]    A ceiling fan motor  24  is shown schematically in  FIG. 4  mounted in the main housing within the upper housing portion  16  and rotating housing portion  18  and its output shaft (not shown) is engaged, for example, via suitable gearing (not shown) with a ring gear (not shown) fixed to the rotating housing portion  18 , so that operation of ceiling fan motor  24  causes rotating housing portion  18  with fixed fan blades  20  to rotate, in turn causing a circular air flow to be directed downwardly. In embodiments in which ceiling fan motor  24  is reversible, the circular air flow can be directed upwardly. Rotating housing portion  18  is supported in a known manner by suitable bearing surfaces (not shown) provided by upper housing portion  16  and lower housing portion  22 . A grill  26 , having radial slots  28 , forms the top of the upper housing portion  16 . Upper housing  16  has longitudinal slots  27  peripherally spaced to enable air to enter the upper housing  16 . Radial slots  28  and longitudinal slots  27  enable air to enter the main housing above the ceiling fan motor  24  for cooling of the motor and then passage into the lower housing  22 . Any combination and configuration of radial slots  28  and longitudinal slots  27  that enable sufficient air entry is contemplated by the disclosure. 
         [0021]    The bottom of the lower housing portion  22  is closed off by a grill  30 , having radial slots  32 . Any suitable number of slots  32  in any suitable shape other than radial is contemplated by the disclosure. The central portion of grill  30  is cutout and a heating element such as a ceramic heater or heating coil  34  is fitted into the cutout. Wiring (not shown) extending from the top of the main housing  12  is connected to power the ceramic heater  34 . Skirt or circular structure  36 , of substantially the same diameter as or slightly larger than the ceramic heater  34  is mounted above the ceramic heater  34  to form an air tunnel. Within the circular structure  36  is mounted a heating fan  38  driven by a heating fan motor  40 , also powered by wiring (not shown) extending from the top of the main housing  12 . It should be noted that ceramic heater  34  and heating fan motor  40  can be electrically connected so that ceramic heater  34  and heating fan motor  40  can be switched on or off independent of ceiling fan motor  24 . Alternatively, ceramic heater  34  and heating fan motor  40  can be electrically connected so that ceramic heater  34  and heating fan motor  40  can be switched on (or off) only when ceiling fan motor  24  is running. 
         [0022]    In operation, the ceramic heater  34  heats air that enters the air tunnel and is blown over the ceramic heater  34  by the heating fan  38 . Like the air flow output of the blades  20 , the heated air flow output by the ceramic heater  34  is directed downwardly. When both the ceiling fan blades  20  and ceramic heater  34  are functioning, the heated air from the ceramic heater flows downwardly conically expanding outwardly due to diffusion and mixes with the flow of air from the ceiling fan blades  20 . When the mixed flow reached the floor of the room in which the ceiling fan is mounted, the air flow spreads outwardly until it encounters the walls whereupon it will rise upwardly toward the ceiling. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the lower housing portion  22  is spherically shaped at its upper part  42  and terminates at its lower part  44  in a cylindrical shape. A part of the cylindrical shape is composed of a translucent band  46  that can have axially colored striping  48  on its face, see  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The lower housing portion above the translucent band  46  is cutout with peripherally spaced, longitudinally extending (or other shaped) slots  60  to enable air to enter the lower housing portion  22  and supply the ceramic heater  34  via the air tunnel. Within the lower housing portion  22 , above the ceramic heater  34 , is mounted a series of spokes  50  connected together at one end  54  along the axis of the main housing  12  and extend radially (or transversely) toward the translucent band  46 . At the radial outer end  56  of each spoke is mounted a reflective foil  52  that acts as a reflector for a light source, which can be the light generated by the ceramic heater or another light such, such as LEDs  37  or other lighting element. The LEDs can be mounted on the end or any part of the spokes or foils or spaced a distance from the foils. The spokes are mounted for rotary motion, and the LEDs are powered by wiring extending from the top of the main housing in any known way. The rotary motion is achieved by a reflective foil spin motor  58  mounted above the spokes, so that the light shines through the translucent band  46  and is viewed on the exterior as a flame flickering due to the striping  48 . 
         [0024]    The main housing is intended to be mounted to a ceiling via a junction box using convention techniques or a quick attachable-detachable assembly as previously disclosed. This disclosure of the quick attachable-detachable assembly is found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,462,066 filed Mar. 20, 2007; U.S. Pat. No. 7,192,303 filed Dec. 2, 2004; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,498 filed Dec. 12, 2001 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20090280673 filed Dec. 2, 2005. The contents of all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0025]    The controls for the three motors  24 ,  40  and  58  can be manually controlled by switches (wall mounted or on assembly  10 ) or provided wirelessly via a controller and RF or other wireless setup in a known manner. 
         [0026]    Another specific embodiment of the assembly or apparatus  100  according to the disclosure is shown schematically in  FIG. 5 . The assembly or apparatus  100  comprises a ceiling mounting portion housing  114 , an upper housing portion  116 , a rotating housing portion  118  from which a plurality of fan blades  120  (only two blades partially shown) extend radially outward, and a lower housing portion  122 . Any suitable number of fan blades  120  can be used and the fan blades  120  can be integral to rotating housing portion  118  or attached to rotating housing portion  118  via connectors  119  so as to be replaceable. Regardless of the number of fan blades  120 , the fan blades can extend substantially horizontally (i.e. parallel to a ceiling that has no angle relative to the floor) or be angled relative to the ceiling. 
         [0027]    The various housing portions  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and  122  are structurally interconnected and for aesthetics electrical wires and cables preferably extend from the top of the ceiling mounting portion  114  centrally through the various housing portions  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and  122 . As this structure can take many forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art how the interconnections are centrally made and how the wiring and cabling takes place, therefore these details are omitted for sake of clarity. 
         [0028]    The ceiling mounting portion is intended to be mounted to a ceiling via a junction box using convention techniques or a quick attachable-detachable assembly as previously disclosed. This disclosure of the quick attachable-detachable assembly is found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,462,066 filed Mar. 20, 2007; U.S. Pat. No. 7,192,303 filed Dec. 2, 2004; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,498 filed Dec. 12, 2001 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20090280673 filed Dec. 2, 2005. The contents of all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , a quick attachable-detachable assembly  102  for installing assembly  100  comprises the combination of a plug  104  and mating socket  106 . The plug  104  and mating socket  106  of the quick attachable-detachable assembly  102  function to both establish an electrical connection between assembly  100  and electrical supply wiring, and mechanically support assembly  100  on a surface, typically a ceiling. Plug  104  is fixedly secured to assembly  100  such as with coupling  108 , while the socket  106  is secured to either the ceiling on which the assembly  100  is to be mounted, or to an electrical junction box. 
         [0030]    The quick detachment of plug  104  and socket  106  can be actuated by release  110 . This structure, function, and operation as well as the general structure, function, and operation of plug  104  and mating socket  106  have already been detailed in, for example, the patents and application incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0031]    A ceiling fan motor  124  is shown schematically in  FIG. 5  mounted to and partially within a lower part  112  of ceiling mounting portion housing  114 . Alternatively, ceiling fan motor  124  can be mounted completely within ceiling mounting portion housing  114  and/or upper housing portion  116 . Rotating housing portion  118  and output shaft  125  of ceiling fan motor  124  engage, for example, via suitable gearing  127  such as a ring gear fixed to the rotating housing portion  118 , so that operation of ceiling fan motor  124  causes rotating housing portion  118  with fixed fan blades  120  to rotate, in turn causing a circular air flow to be directed downwardly. In embodiments in which ceiling fan motor  124  is reversible, the circular air flow can be directed upwardly. Rotating housing portion  118  is supported in a known manner by suitable bearing surfaces (not shown) provided by upper housing portion  116  and lower housing portion  122 . A grill  126 , having radial slots  128 , forms the top of the upper housing portion  116 . Upper housing  116  has slots (not visible in  FIG. 5 ) peripherally spaced to enable air to enter the upper housing  116 . Radial slots  128  and other slots enable air to enter for cooling of the ceiling fan motor  124  and then passage into the lower housing  122 . Any combination and configuration of slots that enable sufficient air entry is contemplated by the disclosure. 
         [0032]    A heating element such as a ceramic heater or heating coil  134  is connected to the bottom of the lower housing portion  122 . Wiring  130  extending through assembly  100  is connected to power the ceramic heater  134 . The connection between ceramic heater  134  and lower housing portion  122  can be made in any number of known ways, but  FIG. 5  shows the connection using a quick attachable-detachable assembly  170 , which comprises the combination of a plug  174  and mating socket  172 . The plug  174  and mating socket  172  of the quick attachable-detachable assembly  170  function to both establish an electrical connection between ceramic heater  134  and electrical supply wiring, and mechanically couple ceramic heater  134  to lower housing portion  122 . Plug  174  is fixedly secured to ceramic heater  134 , while the socket  172  is secured to lower housing portion  122 . 
         [0033]    The quick detachment of plug  174  and socket  172  can be actuated by release  176 . This structure, function, and operation as well as the general structure, function, and operation of plug  174  and mating socket  172  have already been detailed in, for example, the patents and application incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , a heating fan  138  is driven by a heating fan motor  140 , also powered by wiring  130 . It should be noted that ceramic heater  134  and heating fan motor  140  can be electrically connected so that ceramic heater  134  and heating fan motor  140  can be switched on or off (which is controlled, for example by switch  178 ) independent of ceiling fan motor  124  (which is controlled, for example by switch  180 ). Alternatively, ceramic heater  134  and heating fan motor  140  can be electrically connected so that ceramic heater  134  and heating fan motor  140  can be switched on (or off) only when ceiling fan motor  124  is running. 
         [0035]    In operation, the ceramic heater  134  heats air and is blown over the ceramic heater  134  by the heating fan  138 . Like the air flow output of the blades  120 , the heated air flow output by the ceramic heater  134  is directed downwardly. When both the ceiling fan blades  120  and ceramic heater  134  are functioning, the heated air from the ceramic heater flows downwardly conically expanding outwardly due to diffusion and mixes with the flow of air from the ceiling fan blades  120 . When the mixed flow reached the floor of the room in which the ceiling fan is mounted, the air flow spreads outwardly until it encounters the walls whereupon it will rise upwardly toward the ceiling. 
         [0036]    The disclosure also contemplates that the assembly of  FIG. 5  can have the lighting effect discussed above with reference to  FIGS. 1-4 . The controls for motors  124 ,  140  and a reflective foil spin motor, if so provided, can be manually controlled by switches (wall mounted or on assembly  100 ) or provided wirelessly via a controller and RF or other wireless setup in a known manner. 
         [0037]    All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. There are many different features to the present disclosure and it is contemplated that these features may be used together or separately. Thus, the disclosure should not be limited to any particular combination of features or to a particular application of the disclosure. Further, it should be understood that variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure might occur to those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains. Accordingly, all expedient modifications readily attainable by one versed in the art from the disclosure set forth herein that are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure are to be included as further embodiments of the present disclosure.