Cover for the motor housing of a ceiling fan

A cover for the motor housing of a ceiling fan includes a flexible wrap for covering the motor housing and a magnetic assemblage for attaching the wrap to the motor housing. The cover can be insulating, have an outer decorative surface for aesthetic effects, or both. A ship lap joint may be included to secure the ends of the cover together.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to ceiling fans and more particularly to a cover for the motor housing of a ceiling fan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ceiling fans are popular commercial and consumer items. They move air in a room to more evenly distribute the air and keep the room at a more constant temperature. Ceiling fans are often used to cool people by providing a stream of air over their bodies. The air stream enhances body cooling by evaporating any surface body moisture by removing heat from the surface of the skin.

Ceiling fans generally include a plurality of fan blades attached to and arrayed circumferentially around a blade hub. The blade hub is mounted to a motor contained in a motor housing that is supported by a down rod affixed to a ceiling. The motor and motor housing are generally cylindrical in shape and the motor housing is generally of a ferrous material such as iron, steel, or the like. Ceiling fans are commercially available in many shapes and configurations. Often, the motor housing is only painted. In many applications, it may be desirable to insulate the motor housing, decorate it to achieve an aesthetic effect, or both.

There is thus a need for a decorative and/or insulative cover that can be attached around the motor housing in a simple, efficient, and economical manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a solution to these needs.

According to a feature of the present invention there is provided a cover for the motor housing of a ceiling fan including a flexible wrap for covering a ceiling fan motor housing and a magnetic assemblage associated with said flexible wrap for attaching the wrap to the motor housing.

Particularly the invention comprises a cover for a motor housing of a ceiling fan. The cover includes a flexible wrap for covering a ceiling fan motor housing; and a magnetic assemblage associated with the flexible wrap for attaching the wrap to the motor housing. The magnetic assemblage may include at least one magnet assembled with said flexible wrap. Further, the magnetic assemblage includes a plurality of magnets and the wrap has a plurality of pockets for holding the magnets. Alternatively, the magnetic assemblage includes magnetic particles distributed about a region of the wrap. The magnets may be located proximate to the ends of the wrap, distributed along the length of the wrap, or both. The cover may include auxiliary means for holding two ends of the cover together, such as ship lap ends defined by the ends of the cover and means for connecting one ship lap end to the other. The auxiliary means alternatively comprises a convex ridge at one end and a receiver channel at the other end, the convex ridge and the receiver channel being sized relative to each other to secure the ends together. A pair of bias ridges may be disposed on the edges of the receiver channel in order to retain the convex ridge in the receiving channel.

An advantage of the present invention is that the ceiling fan motor housing cover can provide decorative effects, insulative effects, or both to the motor housing. A further advantage of the present invention is that the ceiling fan motor housing cover is simple, efficient, economical, and can be easily attached to the motor housing.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The examples set out herein illustrate several embodiments of the invention but should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now toFIG. 1, there is shown a ceiling fan incorporating an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, ceiling fan10includes a plurality of fan blades12circumferentially arrayed about and attached to a blade hub14. The blade hub14is mounted to a motor contained in a motor housing16supported by down rod18. Motor housing16is of a ferrous material such as iron or steel. According to the present invention, cover20is attached to motor housing16by means of a magnetic assemblage.

FIGS. 2-5show an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 2, motor housing30is of cylindrical shape and has a flexible cover32attached to it. Cover32includes a flexible wrap34of plastic, fabric, or the like, having a magnetic assemblage36for attaching wrap34to motor housing30. In certain embodiments, the wrap34comprises layers of material, such as a layer of flexible plastic and a layer of fabric, or two layers of plastic. The layers may include an insulation material, or an outer layer of decorative material for aesthetic effects.

Magnetic assemblage36is shown inFIG. 4as including a plurality of magnets38located in pockets40(FIG. 5) proximate to the ends42of the wrap34. Other arrays of magnets either greater or fewer in number, and in other configurations are also possible. Further, the magnets may be distributed along the length of the wrap34instead of at just the ends42. In addition, the wrap34can have a layer of material with magnetic particles distributed throughout at least a region of the material for magnetic attachment. If the motor housing is not magnetic, magnetic regions can be affixed to the motor housing to which the cover of the invention is magnetically attached.

In operation, the wrap34is wrapped around the motor housing16with the ends42coming together at a seam44. The magnets38secure the wrap34to the motor housing16.

While the above embodiment of the invention performs its intended function, it is possible that vibration of the motor housing may urge the ends42away form each other and expose portions of the motor housing. In order to overcome that possibility the invention provides a ship lapped connection on the ends of the cover. The ship lapped connection will hold the ends of the cover together to prevent the magnets from sliding apart while under the influence of vibration or other separating forces.

A second embodiment is shown inFIGS. 6-8. The cover100has a front surface110that faces away from the motor housing and a rear surface112that faces toward the motor housing. At end102the ship lap joint is a recess104that extends about half the thickness of the body100. On the opposite end103there is a mating recess105. Ship lap end102has a rounded, convex ridge136that extends along the height of the cover or a significant portion thereof. Ship lap end103has a receiver channel137with a concave surface that generally corresponds to the convex ridge136. Bias ridges138,139extend along the surface of the recess103on opposite sides of the channel137. The edges of the bias ridges adjacent the channel extend partially over the channel. When the cover100is wrapped around a motor housing, ship lap end102overlaps with the ship lap end103, and the convex ridge136presses against the bias ridges138,139and forces them away from the receiver channel137so that the convex ridge136fits into the receiver channel137. The body of the cover is resilient and the bias ridges bear against the edges of the convex ridge136to keep it in place. The lapped ends of the assembled cover form a narrow seam115.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be made with the above ship lapped ends or ridge/groove connections, or any other suitable connection for holding one ship lapped end on another ship lapped end. In operation, the magnets141in the pockets140support the cover on the fan motor housing and keep the cover on the surface of the housing. The ship lapped connections keep the ends of the cover closed.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof to adapt to particular situations without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.