Abstract:
An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan includes an outer housing member; and an inner housing member to move with respect to the outer housing member and to move the ceiling fan. The apparatus includes a limit switch to limit the movement of the inner housing member, and the apparatus includes a threaded bushing member. The apparatus includes a drive gear member, and the apparatus includes a hubbed gear member. The apparatus includes a trip bar member to engage the limit switch member and includes a cable reel member for electrical wires for the ceiling fan.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to ceiling fan, and in particular to a ceiling fan that can be raised and lowered. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Ceiling fans are commonly placed in residences and business establishments to facilitate air movement within rooms. As is known, a ceiling fan motor comprises a stator, a rotor, and blades connected to the rotor to be rotated by the motor. Often, in electrical motors, the rotor is inside the stator. However, many ceiling fans employ an inside-out motor in which the rotor is on the outside and surrounds the stator. 
         [0003]    As to the ceiling fan structure, a motor is used for driving the vanes to rotate and produce winds, so as to achieve the air cooling effect. However, the technology of the ceiling fans tends to have additional functions including a sleep mode, an air conditioning, an expedited air-conditioned circulation, a decoration, an illumination, a low power consumption, and a remote control function, in addition to providing wind and dissipating heat. 
         [0004]    Since the use of the ceiling fans is very popular in everyday life and users have high demands on stability, safety, comfortability, convenience for its functions, therefore finding a way for raising and lowering ceiling fan in order to clean the ceiling fan and to adjust the height of the ceiling fan for proper effectiveness becomes an important point for the design of a good ceiling fan system in the industry. 
         [0005]    Ceiling fans have been around for many years as a useful air circulator. The popular blade style over the years is a flat planar rectangular blade that can have a slight tilt, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 355,027 to Yound and Des. 382,636 to Yang. 
         [0006]    In today&#39;s modern homes and businesses, high ceilings have become a fact of life. However, when these high ceilings have a ceiling fan, these fans may not be reachable by ordinary means. The present invention lowers these high ceiling fans to a level that may be reached by standing on the floor. The present invention eliminates the need for a ladder or a cleaning rod. The present invention may be operated electronically by using a lower/raise switch on the wall or by remote control. 
         [0007]    The present invention provides for convenience, ergonomics and safety. 
         [0008]    An apparatus for raising and lowering a ceiling fan includes an outer housing member; and an inner housing member to move with respect to the outer housing member and to move the ceiling fan. 
         [0009]    The apparatus includes a limit switch to limit the movement of the inner housing member, and the apparatus includes a threaded bushing member. 
         [0010]    The apparatus includes a drive gear member, and the apparatus includes a hubbed gear member. 
         [0011]    The apparatus includes a trip bar member to engage the limit switch member and includes a cable reel member for electrical wires for the ceiling fan. 
         [0012]    The apparatus includes a rack for moving the ceiling fan and includes a pinion for cooperation with the rack. 
         [0013]    The apparatus includes a air cylinder member for moving the inner housing member, and the apparatus includes a guard ring member to maintain the position of the inner housing member with respect to the outer housing member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an apparatus to move a ceiling fan; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2   a  illustrates another embodiment of an apparatus to move a ceiling fan; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2   b  illustrates a side view of the rack and pinion; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2   c  illustrates a top view of the inner housing member; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates fan blades  10  and a fan blade motor  11  which is mounted at one end of the inner housing member  102  which raises and lowers the fan blades  10  and fan blade motor  11 . The inner housing member  102  moves within the outer housing member  100  which is shown as a cylinder and extends from the flange bearing member  104  to approximately the fan motor  11  when the fan motor  11  and fan blades  10  are retracted. The inner housing member  102  includes external threads  103  to cooperate with internal threads  107  of the threaded bushing member  106 . As the internal threads  107  are rotated in cooperation with the external threads  103 , the inner housing member  102  is raised and lowered. A drive gear member  108  which is driven by a motor  110  cooperates with a hubbed gear member  112  which cooperates and turns the internal threads  107  of the threaded bushing member  106 . The outer housing member  100  includes an upper and lower guide ring member  114  to maintain the relative position of the inner housing member  102  with respect to the outer housing member  100 .  FIG. 1  additionally illustrates two limit switch members  116  which are positioned to limit the movement of the inner housing member  102  by shutting off the motor member  110  when the inner housing member has reached the limit for upwards or downwards movement. The ceiling mount member  101  connects the outer housing member  100  to the ceiling  115 . Trip bar member  118  positioned on the inner housing member  102  cooperates with the limit switch member  116  to limit the travel of the inner housing member  102 . 
         [0022]    In operation, the motor  110  turns the drive gear member  108  which turns the hubbed gear member  112  which turns the internal threads  107  of the threaded bushing member  106 . The internal threads  107  raise and lower the inner housing member  102  by cooperating with the external threads  103  of the inner housing member  102 . The fan blades and fan motor  11  can be raised and lowered. The electrical wires for the fan motor  11  are extended and retracted by the cable reel member  120  so that the electrical wires are extended and are retracted as the inner housing member  102  is raised or lowered. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 2   a,    2   b,  and  2   c  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention and illustrate fan blades  10  and a fan blade motor  11  which are mounted at one end of the inner housing member  202  which raises and lowers the fan blades  10  and fan blade motor  11 . The inner housing member  202  moves within the outer housing member  200  which is shown as a cylinder and extends from approximately the ceiling  115  to approximately the fan motor  11  when the fan motor  11  and  10  are retracted. The inner housing member  202  includes a rack member  220  to cooperate with a pinion member  222  which is mounted on a motor  110 . The pinion member  222  is rotated by the motor  110  and cooperates with the rack member  220  which moves up and down, and as a consequence, the inner housing member  202  is raised and lowered to raise and lower the fan blades  10 . The outer housing member  200  includes the upper guide ring member  221  and lower guide ring member  223  which corresponds to the exterior shape of the inner housing member  202  to maintain the position of the inner housing member  202  with respect to the outer housing member  200 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2   a  additionally illustrates the limit switch member  116  which is positioned to limit the movement of the inner housing member  202  by shutting off the motor member  110  when the inner housing member has reached the limit for upwards or downwards movement. Trip bar member  118  positioned on the inner housing member  102  cooperates with the limit switch member  116  to limit the travel of the inner housing member  102 . 
         [0025]    In operation, the motor  110  turns the pinion  222  which drives the rack  220  either up or down in accordance with the direction of rotation of the pinion  222 . The fan blades  10  and fan motor  11  can be raised and lowered. The electrical wires for the fan motor  11  are extended and retracted by the cable reel member  120  so that the electrical wires are extended to correspond to the position of the fan motor  11 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2   b  illustrates a side view of the rack  220  cooperating with the pinion  222 , and  FIG. 2   c  illustrates a top view of the inner housing member  202  and guide ring member  221 . The top end of the inner housing has a closure plate  224 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates fan blades  10  and a fan blade motor  11  which is mounted at one end of the inner housing member  302  which raises and lowers the fan blades  10  and the fan blade motor  11 . The inner housing member  302  moves within the outer housing member  300  which is shown as a cylinder and extends from approximately the ceiling  115  to approximately the fan motor  11  when the fan motor  11  and fan blades  10  are retracted. The inner housing member  302  includes a hangar plate member  332  to cooperate with a flexible wire  334 . The inner housing member  302  is raised and lowered by capstan and wire member  330 . The capstan and wire member  330  is rotated by the motorized winch member  310  which is mounted on the winch support member  331 , The outer housing member  300  includes the upper guide ring member  117  and lower guide ring member  114  to maintain the relative position of the inner housing member  302  with respect to the outer housing member  300 .  FIG. 3  additionally illustrates the limit switch member  116  which is positioned to limit the movement of the inner housing member  302  by shutting off the motor member  310  when the inner housing member  302  has reached the limit for upwards or downwards movement. Trip bar member  118  positioned on the inner housing member  302  cooperates with the limit switch member  116  to limit the travel of the inner housing member  302 . 
         [0028]    In operation, the motorized winch member  310  rotates the capstan and wire member  330  which raises and lowers the inner housing member  302 . The fan blades and fan motor  11  can be raised and lowered. The electrical wires for the fan motor  11  are extended and retracted by the cable reel member  120  so that the electrical wires are extended one retracted as the inner housing member  302  is raised or lowered. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates the fan blades  10  and the fan blade motor  11  which are mounted at one end of the inner housing member  402  which raises and lowers the fan blades  10  and fan blade motor  11 . The inner housing member  402  moves within the outer housing member  400  which is shown as a cylinder and extends from approximately the ceiling  115  to approximately the fan motor  11  when the fan motor  11  and fan blades  10  are retracted. The inner housing member  402  includes a rod connector member  440  to connect to the air cylinder member  442 . The air cylinder member  442  lowers and raises the inner housing member  402  and is connected to a first support member  444  and a second support member  446  to provide support to the air cylinder member  442 . The inner housing member  402  and the outer housing member  400  include the upper guide ring  117  and lower guide ring members  114 , respectively, to maintain the relative position of the inner housing member  402  with respect to the outer housing member  400 .  FIG. 4  additionally illustrates the limit switch members  116  which are positioned to limit the movement of the inner housing member  402  by stopping the air cylinder member  442  when the inner housing member  402  has reached the limit for upwards or downwards movement. Trip bar member  118  positioned on the inner housing member  402  cooperates with the limit switch member  116  to limit the travel of the inner housing member  402 . 
         [0030]    In operation, the air cylinder member  442  raises and lowers the inner housing member  402 . The fan blades and fan motor  11  can be raised and lowered. The electrical wires for the fan motor  11  are extended and retracted by the cable reel member  120  so that the electrical wires are extended and retracted as the inner housing member  402  is raised or lowered. 
         [0031]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.