Patent Publication Number: US-7717674-B2

Title: Ceiling fan

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to fans, and specifically to ceiling fans. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Fans, and especially ceiling fans, have become an increasingly popular supplementary means of conditioning air within both commercial and residential buildings. However, many people do not like or appreciate the appearance of a ceiling fan within a room and would prefer to have a ceiling fan that is unobtrusive or obscured from view. 
     Accordingly, it is seen that a need exists for a ceiling fan that does not have the outward appearance of a ceiling fan. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In a preferred form of the invention, a ceiling fan comprises a motor, a motor housing encasing the motor, a plurality of blades coupled to the motor, and a shroud positioned about the motor housing and plurality of blades. The shroud includes a lower plate and a screen extending upwardly from the lower plate. With this construction, the shroud obscures the motor housing and plurality of blades from view along a line of sight. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ceiling fan that embodies principles of the invention in its preferred form, shown in a position mounted to a ceiling. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the ceiling fan shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a ceiling fan shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the ceiling fan of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the shroud portion of a ceiling fan in another preferred form of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view, shown in partial cross-section, of a ceiling fan in another preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view, shown in partial cross-section, of a ceiling fan in yet another preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a ceiling fan  10  having a motor housing  11  suspended from a ceiling by a downrod  12 . An electric motor  13  is mounted within the housing  11  and connected to a source of electric power by electrical wires that extend through the downrod  12 . The motor rotatably drives an annular array of blades  15  oriented generally along an annular array of radial lines extending radially from the center or center axis of the motor. 
     The ceiling fan  10  also includes a tubular screen or shroud  20  positioned about the motor housing  11  and blades  15  so as to substantially conceal a large portion of these components from view. The shroud of the preferred embodiment includes an annular lower mounting plate  21 , having a bottom surface  22  oriented along a plane PL, and an annular side wall  23  extending upwardly from the lower plate  21 . The side wall  23  is formed of a series of imitation candles  24  having the appearance of flickering wicks  25  through incandescent bulbs of the type shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,550,363 and 4,551,794, the teachings of which are specifically incorporated herein. The lower plate  21  may include a series of down-lights  27  therein which are also coupled to the electrical wires that provide power. The lower plate  21  is coupled to the downrod  12  through a mounting plate or coupler  27  coupled to the bottom end of the downrod and from which a first series of struts or arms  28  extend to the lower plate  21 . The motor or motor housing is coupled to the lower plate  21  through a secondary downrod  29  aligned with the downrod  12 . The coupler  27  includes a top mounting plate  35  having an internally threaded downrod receiver  36  and a bottom mounting plate  38  from which the secondary downrod  29  depends. The top mounting plate  35  and bottom mounting plate  38  are configured to rotatably mate with each other. 
     In use, the downrod  12  is coupled to the ceiling with the top mounting plate  35  coupled to the opposite end of the downrod. The motor and shroud are coupled to the downrod  12  by rotatably mounting the bottom mounting plate  38  to the top mounting plate  35 . Once the motor  13  is electrically energized its rotation causes the blades to rotate generally about the center or central axis of the motor. 
     A large portion of the ceiling fan motor housing and blades is obscured from view by the shroud  20  along certain lines of sight, those lines of sight being generally to an angle towards the side of the ceiling fan as the ceiling fan may still be partially viewed from a position below it. As such, it is preferred that the lower plate bottom surface  22  be positioned below the level of the blades  15 . 
     It is believed that the shroud not only masks the appearance of a conventional ceiling fan, but that it also may aid in reducing noise associated with the ceiling fan, as the shroud acts to block noise produced by the motor and rotating blades. 
     With reference next to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a ceiling fan shroud  40  in another preferred form of the invention. Here, the ceiling fan shroud  30  is essentially the same as that previously described except for the number and spacing of the candles  41  which comprise the side wall. 
     With reference next to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a ceiling fan  30  in another preferred form of the invention. Here, the ceiling fan  30  is essentially the same as that previously described except for the form of the shroud  31 . The shroud  31  includes a series of elongated arms  32  terminating with plates  33  which hold a side wall  34  in the form of simulated candles  34 . Here again, the plates  33  and candles  35  form a barrier or screen which is intended to obscure the majority of the ceiling fan motor housing and blades from view. 
     With reference next to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a ceiling fan  40  in another preferred form of the invention. Here, the ceiling fan  40  is essentially the same as that previously described in reference to  FIG. 1  except for the form of the shroud  41 . The shroud  41  includes a series of elongated arms  42  extending from the bottom portion of the ceiling fan motor housing. This portion is typically coupled to a conventional ceiling fan light kit. The elongated arms  42  terminate at plates  43  which hold a side wall  44  in the form of simulated candles  45 . Here again, the plates  43  and candles  45  form a barrier or screen which is intended to obscure the majority of the ceiling fan motor housing and blades from view. 
     It thus is seen that an improved ceiling fan is now provided which obscures the working portions of a conventional ceiling fan. While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that many modifications, additions and deletions, in addition to those expressly recited, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as described by the following claims.