Abstract:
A fan blade is provided with a recess for mounting an air freshener insert therein. The air freshener insert, after being mounted in the recess provided in the blade, releases a fragrance which is dispersed in the air when the fan blade is in rotary motion due to airflow over the air freshener insert.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 10/858,813, filed Feb. 9, 2005 , and such specifically enumerated prior application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a ceiling fan assembly for dispensing scent and, more particularly, to an improved ceiling fan assembly having a fan blade provided with a recess for receiving an air freshener insert.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Rooms of a home can often take on strong odors. If a meal with strong-smelling food has recently been prepared in a kitchen, the cooking odors can often spread to different rooms of the home. Other odors from trash cans or toilets may also linger in bathrooms, bedrooms or kitchens.  
         [0004]     In order to eliminate these odors, there are various steps that can be taken. Air freshener sprays can be sprayed around a room or a window can be opened to allow fresh air to enter a room. Other methods of eliminating odors include thoroughly cleaning a room or using a solid or plug-in air freshener.  
         [0005]     A prior art ceiling fan blade assembly comprises a housing, an electric motor mounted in the housing, a plurality of fan blades secured to the shaft of the motor, and in a majority of fan blade assemblies on the market, a light bulb depends from the housing. Electric wires connect the motor and the light bulb to the home&#39;s electrical system. According to applicant&#39;s invention, the fan blade is provided with a recess and an air freshener insert is designed to snap into the recess and contains a scented oil, gel, or the like.  
       DESCRIPTION OF BACKGROUND ART  
       [0006]     Boubin U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. US2004/0247440, Keyes U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,686, and other prior art patents, attach an external air freshener dispenser to the outside or outer surface of a fan blade. Kuryliw U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,565, and other prior art patents, form a cavity or perforation through both surfaces of a fan blade for receiving a filter element that filters the air when the fan blade and filter are in rotary motion. However, the prior art does not suggest or teach that the filters receive, disperse, or dispense a solid, liquid or gaseous fragrance and the filters are not so designed. The blades and filters are incapable of dispersing or dispensing the fragrance as no reservoir is shown in the prior art patents. It would therefore be desirable to provide a fan blade with a built-in air freshener instead of attaching an external air freshener to the outside of the fan blade.  
         [0007]     In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ceiling fan blade assembly with a built-in air freshener insert in the blade.  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a ceiling fan blade assembly with an air freshener insert that is replaceable in a simple and facile manner.  
         [0009]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a ceiling fan blade assembly capable of storing and dispensing a fragrance, e.g., a liquid or gel, from the air freshener insert.  
         [0010]     Additional objects and advantages will become apparent to one skilled in the art and still other advantages will become apparent hereinafter.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0011]     In summary, to accomplish the foregoing and other objects of the present invention, there is provided a ceiling fan blade assembly comprising a fan blade provided with a recess in the ceiling fan blade adapted to receive an air freshener insert. The insert, when fixedly attached to the ceiling fan blade, is located in the blade. The air freshener insert contains a fragrance bearing gel which disperses fragrance in the surrounding air when the ceiling fan blade is in rotary motion. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     For a further understanding of the objects of the present invention, reference should be had to the detailed description given hereinbelow with the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a blade of a ceiling fan blade assembly (not shown) having a recess in the bottom surface of the blade and an air freshener insert adapted to be inserted into the recess;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view along a line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  further illustrating the recess located in the bottom surface of the blade; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a top view of another preferred embodiment of a blade of a ceiling fan blade assembly (not shown), the blade being provided with a recess, and an air freshener insert is mounted in the recess provided in the blade. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     In accord with the present invention,  FIG. 1  illustrates a blade  10  of a ceiling fan assembly (not shown) having a top surface  11  and a bottom surface  12  defining a thickness  13 . Bolts (not shown) are inserted into holes  14  provided in the inner portion of the blade  10  to secure the blade  10  to a hub (not shown) of the ceiling fan blade assembly preferably rotated by an electric pancake motor (not shown). The blade  10  according to the present invention is provided with a recess  15  in the bottom surface  12  of the blade  10 . The recess  15  has a depth  16 . An air freshener  20  being insertable into the recess  15 , also hereinafter referred to an air freshener insert  20 , is defined by a container  21  having a bottom wall  22  and side walls  23  for receiving a fragrance  24  containing a scent that is dispensed or dispersed into the air upon rotation of the blade  10  of a ceiling fan blade assembly.  
         [0017]     It is to be understood that the fragrance  24  as used in the present invention refers to a solid, liquid, or gaseous carrier vehicle containing the scent. It is also to be understood that the thickness of the sidewalls  23  of the air freshener insert  20  can be greater or less than the thickness  13  of the blade  10  or the depth  16  of the recess  15  in the blade  10 . Suitable means such as detents, resilient walls, and the like for fixedly securing the air freshener insert into the recess are well known in the art and will not be described in further detail herein.  
         [0018]     In accord with the present invention, another preferred embodiment illustrates a blade  30  shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings having a top surface  31  and a bottom surface  32  defining a thickness  33 . The blade  30  is provided with a recess  34  communicating with the top surface  31  for receiving an air freshener insert  35 . The configuration of the recess  34  is not critical, the only requirement being that the air freshener insert  35  be provided with a mating configuration and with suitable means well known in the art for fixedly and detachably securing the insert  35  in the recess  34  to prevent accidental release of the insert  35  during operation of the ceiling fan assembly (not shown) and rotation of the blade  30 . The air freshener insert  35  can be a plug of a solid fragrance dispensing material  36  that emits a scent or the fragrance material  36  can be deposited in a container  37  that is insertable into the recess  34 . Preferably, and in accord with the present invention, the insert  35  provided with an outer surface  38  is flushably mounted with one of the surfaces  31  or  32  of the blade  30  and the same surface of the blade  30  is substantially flush with the surface  39  of the fragrance material  36 . The insert  35  is provided with a periphery configured to the periphery of the recess  34 . The air freshener insert  35  preferably is of the same density as the blade  30  to prevent the ceiling fan blade assembly (not shown) from vibrating unless the inserts  35  are inserted into opposing fan blades  30  secured to a hub (not shown).  
         [0019]     To use the ceiling fan blade assembly, an owner installs the air freshener insert into the fan blade. When the fan blade assembly is in use, it creates a cool breeze, the light provides illumination and the breeze conveys the scent of the air freshener insert into a room or throughout the house. When the fan blade assembly is not in use, the air freshener insert continues to provide a pleasant scent in the room.  
         [0020]     While two preferred embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is to be understood that various changes in design can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.  
         [0021]     The present invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same can be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications are to be included within the scope of the claims.