Abstract:
A ceiling fan anchoring bracket and housing assembly for quick and easy installation of the ceiling fan housing for either hugger or down-rod fans is disclosed. The assembly comprises of hook-up pins and stationary lock-up pin fastened on and protruding from the anchoring bracket. The stationary lock-up pin latchingly locks the housing of the fan by spring or urging mechanism. The bracket and housing assembly enables the user to install the ceiling fan housing to the anchoring bracket without having to resort to using tools. All a user needs to do is to align and engage one side of the housing to the hook-up pins on the bracket and push the opposite side of the housing onto the stationary lock-up pin on the bracket through a spring action to complete the installation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/659,196 filed Sep. 9, 2003 entitled “Quick Ceiling Fan Housing and Canopy Installation Assembly” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a ceiling fan anchoring bracket and housing assembly for quick and easy installation of the ceiling fan housing for either hugger and down-rod mounted fans. The bracket and housing assembly enables the user to install the ceiling fan housing to the anchoring bracket with relative ease. By employing the inventive design of the bracket and housing assembly, users are only required to align and engage one side of the housing to the hook-up pins on the bracket and push the opposite side of the housing onto the stationary lock-up pin on the bracket through spring or urging action to complete the installation.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Ceiling fans are very common household and commercial appliances. Conventional ceiling fan housings are difficult to install due to the installer having to perform a number of difficult manoeuvres. Installing a conventional ceiling fan housing usually requires the installer standing on a stool or scaffold trying to work overhead with aligning the holes on both the anchoring bracket and the housing and inserting screws into the holes and try to tighten the screws with screw drivers all at the same time. The relatively heavy motor housing and rotor components of the hugger mounted fans add to the installation difficulty. Moreover, the limited space for turning the screws below the ceiling makes the screw tightening extremely arduous. Such traditional ceiling fan housing installation method is evidently unsatisfactory. It requires the installer great dexterity, patience, efforts and time in order to securely install the motor housing to the anchoring bracket.  
         [0004]     It is therefore highly desirable to eliminate the need to screw the ceiling fan housing to the anchoring bracket so that a user only needs to simply push and snap the housing and secure the housing to the bracket for ready use.  
         [0005]     Attempts have been made to achieve this objective in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,099 (issued to Liao on Mar. 13, 2001) discloses a mounting mechanism without the need to use screws. It provides a frame for anchoring to the ceiling. Two pairs of base plates are used to secure the frame to the corresponding lugs on the upper circumference of the motor housing through a gap and slots and a resilient member. Even the Liao method avoids resorting to utilizing screws, it appears to be equally complicated in the assembly process, especially given the limited working space below the ceiling. U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,061 (issued to Hsu on Jan. 9, 2001) teaches a suspending bracket for receiving a ceiling fan housing without the need of screws. The Hsu system is somewhat simpler than the Liao system. It provides two diagonally opposed spring-biased steel balls partially embedded half way inside the blind holes of an anchoring frame. There are two corresponding holes located on the inwardly extending lugs positioned along the top rim of the fan housing. During installation, a user presses the housing against the anchoring frame and rotates the housing until the holes on the lugs engaged with the two steel balls, thereby locking the housing in position. However, the constant vibration of the motor housing will cause the ball-and-hole locking mechanism to degenerate and deteriorate over time and pose the hazardous danger of disengaging the fan housing from the anchor frame. Accordingly, it is beneficial to develop a mechanism which eliminates the need to use screws to fasten the fan housing to the anchoring bracket and, at the same time, promotes ease of installation and ensure permanent locking security.  
         [0006]     It is also advantageous to be able to disengage the housing from the anchor bracket with simple manoeuvres and without having the need to resort to special tools.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention provides a ceiling fan anchoring bracket and housing assembly for quick and easy installation of the ceiling fan housing to the bracket. The bracket and housing assembly enables the user to latchingly engage the housing to the ceiling anchoring bracket by simple actions with relative ease and without the need to use any tool.  
         [0008]     It is a principal object of the invention to provide an improvement in the mechanical structure of a ceiling fan anchoring bracket and housing assembly which can be readily coupled together securely. Such bracket and housing assembly can be used for both types of ceiling fans, namely hugger mounted and down-rod mounted fans. For hugger mounting, the present invention is used to install the motor housing onto the ceiling bracket. For down-rod mounting, the present invention is used to install the down-rod canopy onto the ceiling bracket.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, the present invention provides for a hugger ceiling fan anchoring bracket and fan housing assembly comprising (i) a fan anchoring bracket comprising a hook-up means, a stationary lock-up means and a stationary locking device housing engaging flange, wherein the stationary lock-up means comprises a locking plate mounted on the anchoring bracket and a pin protruding therefrom through a coil spring; whereby a spring biasing action exerted by the lock-up means is achieved by the coil spring cooperatively urging the pin against a corresponding hole on the fan housing and wherein the pin engages a hole in the stationary locking device housing engaging flange; (ii) the hook-up means and stationary lock-up means are mountably attached to the fan anchoring bracket and the stationary lock-up means capable of exerting spring biasing action to lock the fan housing in a secure position; and (iii) the fan housing equipped with corresponding means for engaging the hook-up means.  
         [0010]     The present invention also provides for a down-rod ceiling fan anchoring bracket and canopy assembly which comprises similar components as disclosed in the foregoing. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     Advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent with reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiment thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like references have been applied to like components, in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a user installing a hugger mounted ceiling fan motor housing to the anchoring bracket of the present invention with a simple push-up movement;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2   a  shows a side view of the anchoring bracket of a hugger mounted ceiling fan with the components of the locking device and hook-up pins of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2   b  shows a side view of the hugger mounted ceiling fan housing provided with stationary lock-up pin engaging hole and hook-up pin engaging hole;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3   a  shows a bottom perspective view of the anchoring bracket of a hugger mounted ceiling fan of the present invention with the locking device and hook-up pins mounted thereon;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3   b  shows a top plane view of the anchoring bracket of a hugger mounted ceiling fan of the present invention with the locking device and hook-up pins mounted thereon;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3   c  shows a side view of the anchoring bracket of a hugger mounted ceiling fan of the present invention with the locking device and hook-up pins mounted thereon;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3   d  shows a top perspective view of the anchoring bracket of a hugger mounted ceiling fan of the present invention without the locking device and hook-up pins;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4   a  shows an enlarged perspective view of the components of the locking device of the present invention for a hugger mounted ceiling fan;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4   b  shows an enlarged perspective view of the hook-up pin of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5   a  shows the housing of a hugger mounted ceiling fan engaging into the hook-up pins of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5   b  shows the housing of a hugger mounted ceiling fan latchingly engaging into the stationary lock-up pin of the present invention; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  shows the hugger mounted ceiling fan housing securely engaged into the anchoring bracket of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a down-rod ceiling canopy being installed onto the anchoring bracket of the present invention with a simple push-up movement;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8   a  shows a front and top perspective view of the anchoring bracket of a down-rod ceiling fan with the components of the locking device and hook-up pins of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 8   b  shows a perspective view of the down-rod ceiling canopy provided with one stationary lock-up pin engaging hole and two hook-up pin engaging hole;  
         [0027]      FIG. 9   a  shows a front and top perspective view of the anchoring bracket of a down-rod ceiling fan of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 9   b  shows a left side view of the anchoring bracket of a down-rod ceiling fan of the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 9   c  shows a right side view of the anchoring bracket of a down-rod ceiling fan of the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 9   d  shows a front view of the anchoring bracket of a down-rod ceiling fan of the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 9   e  shows a top view of the anchoring bracket of a down-rod ceiling fan of the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 10  shows an enlarged perspective view of the components of the locking device of the present invention for a down-rod mounted ceiling fan;  
         [0033]      FIG. 11   a  shows a perspective view of the down-rod ceiling fan canopy of the present invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 11   b  shows a front view of the down-rod ceiling fan canopy of the present invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 12  shows the L-shaped resilient C-wire mounted onto the side of the anchoring bracket of a down-rod ceiling fan and cooperatively urging the stationary lock-up pin against the bracket flange;  
         [0036]      FIG. 13   a  shows the first step in installing the canopy of the down-rod fan by aligning and hooking the canopy to the hook-up pins mounted on the anchoring bracket;  
         [0037]      FIG. 13   b  shows the second step in installing the canopy of the down-rod fan by pushing and locking the canopy to the stationary lock-up pin mounted on the anchoring bracket; and  
         [0038]      FIG. 13   c  shows the canopy of the down-rod fan securely engaged into the anchoring bracket of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]     The anchoring bracket and housing assembly of the present invention is comprised of three parts, namely a ceiling anchoring bracket, a housing locking device mounted on the anchoring bracket and a ceiling fan motor housing for hugger mounted fans or, in the case of down-rod mounted fans, a canopy for latchingly attaching to the anchoring bracket with the aid of the locking device.  
         [0040]     According to the present invention, a user can complete the housing installation of a hugger mounted fan by simply align and engage one side of the housing to the hook-up pins on the bracket and push the opposite side of the housing to securely latch onto the stationary lock-up pin on the bracket through a spring action (see  FIG. 1 ). In the case of a down-rod mounted fan, the user can install the canopy to the ceiling anchoring bracket with similar latching manoeuvres (see  FIG. 7 ). While the inventive concept for installing the motor housing (in the case of hugger mounted fans) and the canopy (in the case of down-rod mounted fans) is the same, for clarity of presentations, the two types of installations will be discussed separately below.  
         [0000]     Hugger Mounted Fans  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 2   a , an anchoring bracket  20  of the present invention is disclosed. The general shape of anchoring bracket  20  resembles a low-rise inverted “U” with the “wings” spreading out on both sides. The bracket has a ceiling anchoring plate  25  in the middle which is secured to the ceiling with conventional screws. There are a plurality of fan motor screws  27  provided on each side of ceiling anchoring plate  25 . Anchoring plate  25  has an arc welded J-hook  29  for convenient circuit connection. The foregoing components are well taught in the prior art.  
         [0042]     A slightly convexed flange is provided at each end of the “wings” of anchoring bracket  20 . Each of the two ends of the “wings” is designated as the hook-up end and locking end, respectively. On the hook-up end, there is the hook-up pins housing engaging flange  23 . Directly opposite to the hook-up end is the locking end and it provides the locking device housing engaging flange  22 . According to one embodiment of the invention, two hook-up pin receiving holes  26  are located on flange  23  to receive hook-up pins  28  (see  FIGS. 2   a  and  3   a ). Optionally, hook-up pins  28  (see  FIG. 4   b ) may be screwed into holes  26  (see  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   c ). The position of hook-up pins  28  corresponds to the hook-up pin engaging holes  36  on the motor housing  30  (see  FIG. 2   b ).  
         [0043]     On the locking device housing engaging flange  22 , a stationary lock-up pin receiving hole  24  is provided at around the middle of flange  22  (see  FIG. 3   d ). Hole  24  receives the head portion X of stationary lock-up pin  12 , which latchingly engages to the lock-up engaging hole  34  on motor housing  30  (see  FIG. 2   b ).  
         [0044]     The locking device  10  is now described with reference to  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 4   a . The locking device  10  is comprised of a stationary lock-up pin  12  with a head portion X, a body portion Y and a relatively short tail portion Z. The head portion X takes the shape of a round-headed cone in order to facilitate and ease the sliding and latchingly engaging action of the motor housing  30  when said housing is coupled to the stationary lock-up pin  12 . The base of the cone connects to body portion Y after passing a connector portion with larger diameter. The connector portion keeps the body portion Y inside the locking device housing engaging flange  22 . The body portion Y is inserted into coil spring  18  which has an approximate length as portion Y. Since the dimension of the base of the head portion X is larger than the diameter of coil spring  18 , the head portion X is exposed from spring  18  and protrudes outside the locking device housing engaging flange  22  through stationary lock-up pin receiving hole  24 . However, the tail portion Z of stationary lock-up pin  12  extends beyond spring  18  and abuts against the stationary lock-up pin recess  17  located on the vertical wedge of the L-shaped locking plate  14 . The L-shaped locking plate  14  is, in turn, mounted on the upper side of anchoring bracket  20  by locking plate screws  16  through locking plate screw holes  19  and unto bracket  20 , through locking plate receiving holes  21  from below.  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  3   c  illustrate the position of the locking device  10  relative to the other components on the anchoring bracket  20 .  
         [0045]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  illustrate the relatively easy installation of the ceiling fan motor housing  30  onto the anchoring bracket  20  by latchingly engaging the locking device  10  of the present invention. The user first aligns the two hook-up pin engaging holes  36  with the two hook-up pins  28  on ceiling anchoring plate  25  and moves the housing towards the plate (as in the direction indicated by arrow A in  FIG. 5   a ) until the pins  28  are engaged to the holes  36 . Once the hook up is completed, the user then proceeds to lock up the housing by pushing housing  30  upward (as in the direction indicated by arrow B in  FIG. 5   b ). With the upward pushing motion, the stationary lock-up pin  12  latchingly engages hole  34  on the motor housing when the latter comes into contact with head portion X of stationary lock-up pin  12  on the anchoring bracket  20 . Due to the round-headed cone shape of the head portion X of stationary lock-up pin  12 , the rim of housing  30  forces the head portion X of stationary lock-up pin  12  to retract (as housing  30  is pushed up) and then to urge outward and to lock into stationary lock-up pin engaging hole  34  via the coil spring biasing action.  
         [0046]      FIG. 6  shows the ceiling fan motor housing  30  securely installed onto the anchoring bracket  20 , with the hook-up pins  28  and head portion X of stationary lock-up pin  12  protruding outward from the hook-up pin engaging holes  36  and stationary lock-up pin engaging hole  34 , respectively.  
         [0000]     Down-Rod Mounted Fans  
         [0047]     Inventive features of the present invention directed to the down-rod mounted type of fans are now described with reference to FIGS.  7  to  13   c.    
         [0048]     In  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , an anchoring bracket  200  suitable for use with down-rod mounted fan canopy  300  according to the present invention is disclosed. The anchoring bracket  200  takes the shape of an “U” with two ceiling anchoring plates  205  spreading out like a pair of “wings” on each side. At the bottom of the “U-shaped” bracket there is an opening for convenient placement of the down-rod (not shown). The ceiling anchoring plates  205  are used to secure the bracket to the ceiling using conventional screws. One of the anchoring plates  205  has an arc welded J-hook  209  for convenient circuit connection. As in the case of the hugger mounted fans, these components are known in the prior art.  
         [0049]     A convexed flange is provided at the end of each of the “wings” of anchoring bracket  200 . Each of the two ends of the “wings” is designated as the hook-up end and locking end, respectively. On the hook-up end, there is the hook-up pins canopy engaging flange  203 . Directly opposite to the hook-up end is the locking end and it provides the stationary locking device canopy engaging flange  202 . According to a preferred embodiment , two hook-up pin receiving holes  206  are located on flange  203  to receive hook-up pins  208  (see  FIG. 8   a ). Optionally, hook-up pins  208  may be screwed into holes  206  (see  FIG. 8   a ). The position of hook-up pins  208  corresponds to the hook-up pin engaging holes  306  on the down-rod canopy  300  (see  FIG. 8   b ).  FIGS. 9   a ,  9   b ,  9   c ,  9   d  and  9   e  illustrate the perspective, left, right, front and top views of the anchoring bracket  200 .  
         [0050]     On the stationary locking device canopy engaging flange  202 , a stationary lock-up pin receiving hole  204  is provided at around the middle of flange  202  (see  FIG. 9   c ). Hole  204  receives the head portion X of stationary lock-up pin  102 , which latchingly engages to the lock-up engaging hole  304  on the down-rod canopy  300  (see  FIG. 8   b ).  
         [0051]     The stationary locking device  100  is now described with reference to  FIGS. 8   a ,  10  and  12 . The stationary locking device  100  is comprised of a stationary lock-up pin  102  with a head portion X, a body portion Y and a relatively short tail portion Z. The head portion X takes the shape of a round-headed cone. The base of the cone connects to body portion Y after passing a connector portion with larger diameter. The connector portion keeps the body portion Y inside the stationary locking device canopy engaging flange  202 . Since the dimension of the base of the head portion X is larger than the diameter of the stationary lock-up pin receiving hole  204 , the head portion X is protruded outside the stationary locking device canopy engaging flange  202  through stationary lock-up pin receiving hole  204 . The body portion Y is kept in place by the L-shaped locking plate  104 . The tail portion Z of stationary lock-up pin  102  emerges and extends beyond the stationary lock-up pin recess  107  located on the vertical wedge of the L-shaped locking plate  104 . The short tail portion Z has a shallow longitudinal slot in the middle to cooperatively and biasingly receive the urging end  112  of the L-shaped C-wire  108  (see  FIG. 12 ). The L-shaped locking plate  104  is mounted on the under side of anchoring bracket  200  by locking plate screw  106  through locking plate screw hole  109 .  FIG. 10  also depicts two views of the L-shaped resilient C-wire  108  having a loop end  110  for screw  106  to fasten the C-wire to anchoring hole  201  (see also  FIGS. 9   c  and  12 ) on anchoring bracket  200 . As can be seen from  FIG. 12 , the L-shaped resilient C-wire  108  exerts biasing force to urge locking pin  102  against the canopy flange  202 .  
         [0052]      FIGS. 13   a ,  13   b  and  13   c  illustrate the relatively easy installation of the down-rod canopy  300  onto the anchoring bracket  200  using the stationary locking device  100  of the present invention. The user first aligns the two hook-up pin engaging holes  306  with the two hook-up pins  208  on ceiling anchoring plate  205  and moves the canopy towards the plate (as in the direction indicated by arrow A in  FIG. 13   a ) until the pins  208  are engaged to the holes  306 . Once the hook up is completed, the user then proceeds to lock up the canopy by pushing canopy  300  upward (as in the direction indicated by arrow B in  FIG. 13   b ). With the upward pushing motion, the stationary lock-up pin  102  latchingly engages hole  304  on the canopy when the latter comes into contact with head portion X of stationary lock-up pin  102  on the anchoring bracket  200  and forces the head portion X of stationary lock-up pin  102  to retract (as canopy  300  is pushed up) and then to urge outward and to lock into stationary lock-up pin engaging hole  304  via the C-wire biasing action.  
         [0053]      FIG. 13   c  shows the down-rod canopy  300  securely installed onto the anchoring bracket  200 , with the hook-up pins  208  and head portion X of stationary lock-up pin  102  protruding outward from the hook-up pin engaging holes  306  and stationary lock-up pin engaging hole  304 , respectively.  
         [0054]     It is readily understood that the number of stationary lock-up pin and hook-up pin in either the hugger mounted fans or down-rod mounted fans is not limited to those disclosed herein. Likewise, any suitable biasing means able to urge the stationary lock-up pin against the stationary lock-up pin engaging hole on the housing or canopy is within contemplation of the present invention. The coil spring  18  and L-shaped resilient C-wire  108  are merely examples of preferred embodiments disclosed in this invention herein.  
         [0055]     Hence, although the present invention has been described with referenced to two preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications, alternations, variations, and substitutions of parts and components may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the present application is intended to cover such modifications, alternations, variations, and substitutions of parts and components.