Patent Publication Number: US-11035569-B2

Title: Ceiling fan having lighted blades

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 62/921,343, entitled “Spinning Lights on Ceiling Fan,” and filed on Jun. 12, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Some implementations relate generally to ceiling fans, and more particularly, to ceiling fans having lighted blades. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It may be desirable to provide a ceiling fans having lighted blades for interior or exterior illumination or for decorative or entertainment purposes. Some implementations were conceived in light of the above-mentioned limitations, needs, or problems, among other things. The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example ceiling fan having lighted blades in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of an example ceiling fan having lighted blades showing details of rotating contact plate in accordance with some implementations. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example ceiling fan  100  having lighted blades that includes a power supply  102  (e.g., a 120 VAC to 12 VDC 60 W transformer or power supply) constructed to supply direct current electrical power (e.g., 12 VDC) via a negative lead  106  and a positive lead  108 . The ceiling fan  100  having lighted blades also includes a conductive frame  110 , and where the negative lead  106  is connected to the conductive frame  110 . 
     The ceiling fan  100  having lighted blades also includes a conductive positive voltage plate  114  and a conductive positive voltage plate contact  118  connected to the positive lead  108  (optionally via a switch  120 ). The positive voltage plate contact  118  is stationary and mounted to a positive voltage plate contact mounting bracket  116  that may be nonconductive so as to electrically insulate the positive voltage plate contact  118  from any conductive portions of the conductive frame  110 . The positive voltage plate contact  118  contacts the positive voltage plate  114  while the positive voltage plate  114  rotates. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the conductive frame  110  is connected to the down rod  111 . 
     The ceiling fan  100  having lighted blades also includes a rotating portion  115  having a conductive housing connected to down rod  111 , the rotating portion  115  being coupled to the positive voltage plate  114  (e.g., via insulated bolts) and one or more conductive fan blade brackets  130  electrically connected to the negative lead  106  via the conductive housing of the rotating portion  115 , wherein when the rotating portion  115  rotates, the positive voltage plates  114  rotates. The positive voltage plate  114  can be electrically insulated from the mounting bolts and the conductive housing of the rotating portion  115 . The ceiling fan  100  includes one or more lighted blades  131  each having one or more lights  132  (e.g., light emitting diodes or LEDs) disposed on a fan blade  134 , wherein each light  132  is connected to a respective conductive fan blade bracket  130  (via conductor  128 ) and to the positive voltage plate  114  (via positive conductor  126 ) such that a negative lead  106  of the direct current electrical power is supplied through the conductive fan blade bracket  130  and a positive side  108  of the direct current electrical power is supplied through the positive voltage plate  114 . The fan can also include a fan switch  122  and/or a main light  136  switch  124 . 
     The ceiling fan  100  having lighted blades can also include a control circuit  104  operable to control the one or more lights. For example, the control circuit  104  can include communications capabilities to communicate with a wireless device (e.g., to control the lights for on/off, brightness, color, blinking, etc.) or to respond to input such as music or sound to control lights in response to the input such as blinking the lights, changing brightness of the lights, or changing the color of the lights. 
       FIG. 2  shows the positive voltage plate  114  in greater detail. For example,  FIG. 2  shows the positive voltage plate  114  and the positive voltage plate contact  118  that rides on and creates an electrical connection to the positive voltage plate  114  when the positive voltage plate  114  is moving or not moving. The positive voltage plate contact  118  is mounted via the positive voltage plate contact mounting bracket  116 . Details of one of the fan blades  202  are shown. The fan blade  202  includes one or more lights  132  that are connected to the negative side of the electrical power via a negative conductor  128  (wire, conductive trace, etc.) and to a positive side of the electrical power via a positive conductor  126  (wire, conductive trace, etc.) connected to the positive voltage plate  114 . One or more of the components shown in the detail of blade  202  can be replicated in whole or in part for the other blades ( 204 - 208 ). 
     It is, therefore, apparent that there is provided, in accordance with the various implementations disclosed herein, ceiling fans having lighted blades. 
     While the disclosed subject matter has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be, or are, apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, Applicant intends to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter.