Patent Publication Number: US-6213617-B1

Title: Fan blade illumination apparatus

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/936,417 filed Sep. 25, 1997. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to ceiling fans and means for illuminating the fan blades associated therewith and, more particularly, to a flashing strobe light arrangement which is synchronized to the rotational speed of the fan to illuminate and display designs, signage, and other indicia associated with one or more of the fan blades. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Associating signage, designs and/or other indicia with one or more of the fan blades associated with a typical ceiling fan can result in a great marketing tool for advertising a wide variety of different types of goods and services if such indicia can be easily viewed when the fan blades are in motion. Typically, such indicia, which can be imprinted directly onto any plurality of fan blades or onto fan blade covers associated with a particular ceiling fan, is not clearly visible when the fan blades are in motion due to the rotational speed of the ceiling fan. As a result, optimum display of any such fan blade indicia is not achieved. 
     It is therefore desirable to have an apparatus associated with a ceiling fan to allow the indicia associated with the fan blades to be viewed statically when the fan blades are in motion regardless of the rotational speed of the fan. It is also desirable to have an apparatus associated with a ceiling fan which will allow the indicia associated with a plurality of fan blades to be observed in a flow type pattern. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, one or more strobe light units are provided for synchronized operation with an operable ceiling fan having at least one rotating fan blade with indicia imprinted thereon or otherwise associated therewith, the synchronized operation of the strobe light units being based upon the rotational speed of the fan and allowing convenient static observation of the indicia associated with the fan blades. Any conventionally constructed light unit capable of pulsed illumination with a desired visual effect may be used in association with the present invention. The light units can be mounted directly onto the fan, or such light units can be mount separate from the fan so long as such light units are operable in cooperation with the operation of the fan. In this regard, the strobe light flashes are coordinated with the speed of the fan in order to illuminate a particular fan blade at a particular predetermined location while the fan is in operation in order to project a still image. Alternatively, the strobing light flashes can likewise be coordinated with the speed of the fan in order to illuminate a running flow pattern of the indicia associated with the respective fan blades. The speed of the fan may be determined by any electro-mechanical sensor usable therefor, such as an electronic eye whose light beam is interrupted by the rotational movement of the fan blades, or by a magnetic sensor capable of sensing each pass of the respective fan blades whereby the number of sensor interruptions may be counted over a specific time interval and the speed of the fan may be calculated therefrom. The strobing of the light units can therefore be coordinated with the speed of the fan to achieve the desired visual effect. Alternatively, the strobing of the lights may be triggered directly by the passing of the fan blades when sensed by the sensor as described above. 
     Other modifications to the present invention are also contemplated, such as multiple flashing of the fan blades in a single fan blade revolution whereby multiple static images, or multiple flow patterns, can be viewed. One skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous such modifications and improvisations are possible without departing from the sprit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide one or more strobing lights which can be synchronized in cooperation with the speed of a fan in order to illuminate and project any design, signage or other indicia associated with a rotating fan blade into one or more static images, or into one or more flow patterns. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple and cost effective method and apparatus to illuminate and project a visually distinguishable static image or a visually distinguishable flow pattern based upon indicia associated with one or more rotating fan blades. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed specification of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a ceiling fan having lights and an emitter sensor associated therewith for illuminating indicia imprinted on the fan blades constructed in accordance with the teachings of one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the ceiling fan construction of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a fan blade illumination apparatus  10  constructed in accordance with the teachings of one embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  10  includes a ceiling fan  12  which fan may be an ordinary ceiling fan having one or more fan blades  14 . Indicia may be imprinted directly upon the lower surface of one or more of the fan blades  14  or such indicia may be imprinted onto a wide variety of different types of fan blade covers which are selectively and removably positionable over each respective blade  14 . The use of fan blade covers can be advantageous in that the indicia to be advertised through the present illumination apparatus can be repeatedly changed to promote different products and services thereby offering the user greater flexibility in its advertising and marketing campaigns. 
     As best illustrated in FIG. 1, fixedly connected to fan  12  and extending downwardly therefrom is an illuminating unit  16  having a central body portion  20  and one or more strobe light units  18  attached thereto. Strobe light units  18  are preferably positioned at substantially equal, spaced apart, intervals around the central body portion  20  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each strobe light unit  18  being preferably angularly positioned upwardly to project light emitted therefrom directly upon the fan blades  14 . The illumination unit  16  preferably has at least as many strobe light units  18  as fan blades  14 , although it is recognized that a single strobe light unit or any plurality can be used depending upon the particular application and the visual effect so desired. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the illumination unit  16  also includes some type of means for detecting the operation of the fan  12 , namely, the rotational speed of the fan blades  14 . This means may include an electric-eye emitter  22  and an electric-eye sensor  24  fixedly connected to the central body portion  20  as illustrated in FIG. 1. A reflector  26  positioned on a particular fan blade  14  in registration and/or alignment with emitter  22  and sensor  24  will reflect a beam of light emitted by emitter  22  substantially towards sensor  24  thereby triggering sensor  24  when that particular fan blade is in a particular angular position. When fan  12  is operational, reflector  26  will trigger sensor  24  once, and only once, during each revolution of the fan blades  14 . Accordingly, the rotational speed of the fan can be easily determined since the number of times sensor  24  is triggered in a given time interval will yield the speed of fan. 
     Preferably, an electronic control module (ECM) or other processor or controller means  28  positioned in or otherwise associated with central body portion  20  is coupled to sensor  24  and continuously performs the desired calculations to determine the speed of fan  12 . Electronic controllers or modules such as controller  28  are commonly used in association with apparatus for controlling and accomplishing various tasks including monitoring and controlling a wide variety of electro-mechanical functions similar to those disclosed in the present application. Such controllers are typically utilized for delivering current control signals to devices such as lights and motors for controlling the performance thereof. Those skilled in the art are familiar with implementing programs and methods in electronic control modules such as controller  28  to accomplish particular tasks such as those discussed herein. In this regard, controller  28  may include processing means such as a microcontroller or microprocessor, associated electronic circuitry such as input/output circuitry, analog circuits or programmed logic arrays, as well as associated memory. Controller or ECM  28  can therefore be programmed to sense and recognize a signal from sensor  24  indicative of one complete 360° rotation of fan  12  and, based upon such sensed number of rotations in a predetermined time interval, controller or ECM  28  can easily and quickly determine the speed of fan  12 . 
     Based upon the calculated speed of fan  12 , controller  28  can control and synchronize the operation of the strobe lights  18  based upon the rotational speed of fan blades  14 . Preferably, strobe light units  18  are coupled directly to controller  28  for controlling the operation thereof, however, it is likewise recognized and anticipated that controller  28  can also generate an appropriate signal whereby the operation of strobe light units  18  may be controlled in any one of numerous other ways known in the art such as by microcontrollers, transformers, logic arrays, electronic switching devices, motors, and so forth. In one embodiment, each strobe light  18  is programmed to flash once during every complete rotation of fan  12  when a corresponding fan blade  14  is in the same particular angular orientation relative to a particular strobe light unit  18 . Each strobe light unit  18  associated with fan  12  will be associated with a different fan blade  14  such that the repetitious illumination of each fan blade  14  in the same angular position during each revolution of the blade results in the illusion of the fan blades  14  being statically still whereby indicia imprinted thereon is clearly visible in the same spot by virtue of the light projected thereupon by strobe light units  18 . Thus, despite the angular velocity of fan blades  14 , the indicia thereupon appears static to the human eye in a particular angular position of the fan, and is conveniently observable without distortion. Further, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the period of each strobe flash from strobe lights  18  must be controlled in accordance with the angular velocity of fan  12 . The faster fan  12  rotates, the shorter the duration of the flash must be, and vice versa. Furthermore, it is preferable that the angular velocity of fan  12  be as high as possible because a higher fan speed will translate into a higher frequency of flashing of the respective strobe light units  18  onto the respective fan blades  14  thereby resulting in better illumination of the indicia imprinted thereon and the appearance of a continuous illumination thereof to the human eye. 
     Although it is preferred that the number of strobe lights  18  be equal to the number of fan blades  14  whereby each fan blade  14  may be illuminated at mutually exclusive angular position during each rotation of fan  12 , it is also recognized that any number of strobe light units  18  may be utilized including the use of only one strobe light unit  18  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Particularly in an embodiment of the present invention wherein illumination results in a flow pattern, as discussed below, one strobe light unit  18  may suffice irrespective of the number of fan blades  14 . 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, indicia imprinted onto or otherwise associated with the fan blades  14  may collectively form a so-called flow pattern. In a flow pattern, the indicia on each fan blade differs slightly, and proper sequential flashing thereof results in an illusion of an animated sequence similar to the concepts utilized in projecting cinema film or in the creation of animated cartoons. To accomplish a flow pattern illusion, the strobe flashing of each fan blade  14  is done sequentially, that is, one fan blade  14  is flashed in one rotation of fan  12 , another fan blade  14  is flashed in the next rotation of fan  12 , and so on, wherein all fan blades  14  are flashed in substantially the same position by the same strobe light  18 . This results in an animated image at a particular angular position of the fan, which sequence may be repeated as many times as desired at scheduled time intervals if desired, and the synchronized flashing of the strobe light unit  18  may be programmed into the controller  28 . One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the greater the number of fan blades  14 , the greater the length and resolution of the flow pattern. It is also recognized and anticipated that illumination of a flow pattern my likewise be achieved by using a plurality of strobe lights  18  and that more than one fan blade may be illuminated on any particular revolution of the fan  12 . 
     It is contemplated and anticipated that various other arrangements and embodiments of the electric-eye emitter  22  and sensor  24  are likewise possible. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, sensor  24  may be positioned on the fan  12  so as to be located behind the fan blades  14  in line with the beam of light emitted by emitter  22 , and reflector  26  may be eliminated from the apparatus. In such an arrangement, the constant beam of light between emitter  22  and sensor  24  will be interrupted each time a fan blade  14  passes therebetween, each fan blade thereby triggering sensor  24  when the fan  12  is in operation. The speed of fan  12  may then be determined by controller  28  as similarly discussed above taking into account the total number of fan blades  14  associated with fan  12 . 
     In yet another embodiment, reflector  26  may be positioned on the fan  12  so as to be located behind fan blades  14  at an appropriate location and/or angular orientation, and the emitter  22  and sensor  24  may be positioned slightly offset from each other so as to produce two separate light beams, one beam emitted from emitter  22  to reflector  26 , and, because of the angular orientation of reflector  26 , a second beam extending from reflector  26  to sensor  24 . As a result, the emitted light beam from emitter  22  is interrupted twice by each fan blade  14 , and the distance and time interval between each pair of interruptions will yield the instantaneous angular velocity of fan  12 . Alternatively, other types of sensors may be utilized such as a magnetic sensor or a Halifax emitter, which sensors can trigger an appropriate signal to controller  28  in response to the rotation speed of fan  12 . Accordingly, numerous such implementations are possible, and all such implementations are considered equivalent to the disclosure herein. 
     In still another embodiment of the present invention, the determination of the speed of fan  12  may not be necessary. In this regard, the strobe lights  18  may be implemented to flash directly due to the triggering of sensor  24 . In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 1 wherein the reflector  26  is associated with a particular fan blade  14 , this would result in the desired flashing of the strobe light units  18  when fan  12  is in the precise same angular position each time. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the actuation of the strobe lights  18  could be sequenced to a set of multiple activations of the sensor  24  such as every two or every four triggerings of the sensor  24 . Other combinations are likewise possible. Thus the overall design of the present invention may be simplified. 
     It is also contemplated and anticipated that other types of strobe flashing sequences will produce a variety of predetermined visual effects. For example, if the number of strobe light units  18  is twice the number of fan blades  14 , the indicia imprinted on each fan blade  14  may be strobed twice at mutually exclusive angular positions, and would therefore appear statically frozen to the human eye at two different locations. This would result in twice the number of frozen images as the number of fan blades  14 . Alternatively, in an embodiment where illumination of the fan blades results in a flow pattern, the flow pattern may appear animated in two different locations simultaneously if there are twice the number of strobe light units  18  as compared to the number of fan blades  14 . Similarly, utilizing three times the number of strobe light units  18  as compared to the number of fan blades  14  can result in the illustration of three times the number of static images, and so forth. Such variations are contemplated and anticipated, and all such variations are considered equivalent to the disclosure herein. 
     As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited to the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is accordingly intended that the claims shall cover all such modifications and applications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.