Patent Publication Number: US-6981678-B2

Title: Ceiling fan mounting ball

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a ceiling fan mounting ball (hereinafter “fan ball”). Fan balls provide the ball portion of a ball and socket type interaction, thereby allowing a ceiling fan to hang straight even when mounted on a variety of sloped surfaces. 
     In the past, fan balls mechanically transferred an appreciable degree of vibration from the fan&#39;s environment to the fan, thereby causing undesirable noise. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a fan ball having dampening means to prevent vibration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fan ball according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the fan ball. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the fan ball taken along the line  3 — 3  in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the fan ball. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial sectional bottom view of an alternative embodiment of a fan ball. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a fan ball with several conventional mounting components illustrated in phantom. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1–3 , a fan ball according to one embodiment of the present invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral  10 . The fan ball  10  comprises an outer surface  12 , a top edge  14 , and a bottom edge  16  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the outer surface  12  is generally curved, the diameter of the fan ball  10  increasing from the bottom edge  16  until reaching its maximum diameter at a point below the top edge  14 . The curvature of the outer surface  12  corresponds to the shape of a conventional mounting bracket, as will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . A bore  20  is formed radially through a portion of the fan ball  10  for reasons to be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     A damping ring  22 , which will be discussed in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 4 , is disposed on the fan ball  10  and extends partially circumferentially about the outer surface  12 . The damping ring  22  may be formed of rubber, polyethylene, or any material having a damping ability, such materials being well known to those skilled in the art. A slot  24  may further be formed in the damping ring  22  to correspond with the bore  20  formed through the fan ball  10 . 
     A channel  26  is formed along the outer surface  12 , extending between the top edge  14  and the bottom edge  16  for reasons to be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     Turning now to the interior of the fan ball  10 , a first interior bore  28  is disposed in the fan ball. A second interior bore  30  is disposed longitudinally through the fan ball  10  for receiving a conventional down rod assembly, as will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . A plurality of transverse slots  32   a–b  are disposed between the first interior bore  28  and the second interior bore  30 . A plurality of recesses  34   a–c  may further be formed in the fan ball  10  to reduce the materials necessary to form the fan ball. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the damping ring  22  is retained in a slot  36 . It is understood that the slot  36  may be formed in a variety of shapes so long as it is adapted to receive the damping ring  22 . 
     In one embodiment, the damping ring  22  may comprise a plurality of posts  38  for engaging a plurality of corresponding receptacles  39  formed in the slot  36  of the fan ball  10 . Thus, the damping ring  22  may be snap-fit onto the fan ball  10  by fitting the posts  38  to the corresponding receptacles  39 . 
     Alternatively, the damping ring  22  may be injection molded into the slot  36  and the receptacles  39 . 
     It can be appreciated that the damping ring  22  may be further secured into the slot  36  with any conventional adhesive. If adhesive is used, the posts  38  and the corresponding receptacles  39  may not be present. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in an alternative embodiment, a fan ball  40  comprises an outer surface  42  and a top edge  44 . 
     As with the previously described embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1–4 , the outer surface  42  is generally curved for corresponding to the shape of a conventional mounting bracket, as will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . A bore  46  is formed radially through a portion of the fan ball  10  for reasons to be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     A damping ring  48  is disposed on the fan ball  10  and extends partially circumferentially about the outer surface  42 . The damping ring  48  may be formed of rubber, polyethylene, or any material having a damping ability, such materials being well known to those skilled in the art. 
     The damping ring  48  is retained in a slot  49 . It is understood that the slot  49  may be formed in a variety of shapes so long as it is adapted to receive the damping ring  48 . 
     A channel  50  is formed along the outer surface  12 , extending from the top edge  44  for reasons to be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     Turning now to the interior of the fan ball  40 , an interior bore  52  is disposed longitudinally through the fan ball for receiving a conventional down rod assembly, as will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . A plurality of transverse slots  54   a–b  are disposed in the fan ball  40 . 
     A pair of bores  56   a–b  are formed through the fan ball  40  for receiving a portion of the damping ring  48 . The damping ring  48  may be injection molded, thus extruding a pair of connector portions  58   a–b  of the damping ring through the corresponding bores  56   a–b.    
     In operation, and referring to  FIG. 6 , either of the previously described embodiments may be used as part of a ceiling fan mounting assembly  60 . For sake of clarity, the operation is described with reference to the fan ball  10 . A conventional mounting bracket  62  (illustrated in phantom) is conventionally attached to a fixed surface (not depicted). The mounting bracket  60  comprises a seat  64  adapted to receive the fan ball  10  to form a ball and socket type interaction. It is understood that the fan ball  10  may pivot within the seat  64 . In one embodiment, a tab  66  extends from the seat  64  to engage the channel  26  formed in the fan ball  10 , thereby allowing the fan ball  10  to pivot only in an arc defined by the plane of the tab. 
     Before insertion into the mounting bracket  62 , the fan ball  10  is attached to a conventional down rod  68  (illustrated in phantom). It is understood that the down rod  68  is coupled to a conventional ceiling fan (not depicted). 
     The upper portion of the down rod  68  may be inserted into the fan ball  10  via the bore  30 . A hanging pin  70  is then inserted radially through a pair of corresponding bores  72   a–b  disposed through the down rod  68 . The fan ball  10  is then moved longitudinally toward the hanging pin  70  so that the hanging pin engages either of the slots  32   a–b , thereby preventing the hanging pin from exiting the down rod  68  and evenly distributing the weight of the down rod and ceiling fan across the fan ball. 
     A connector  74 , such as a screw, rod, or the like, can then be inserted through the bore  20  of the fan ball  10  to engage the down rod  68  and prevent longitudinal movement of the down rod with respect to the fan ball. In an alternative embodiment, the down rod  68  may have a radial bore  76  to correspond with the bore  20 , the connector  74  passing through both bores. 
     The fan ball  10 , now attached to the down rod  68  and the ceiling fan, is then inserted into the mounting bracket  62 , the outer surface  12  engaging the seat  64 . Once the ceiling fan (not depicted) is thus mounted, the damping ring  22  prevents the fan ball  10  from mechanically transferring any appreciable degree of vibration from the environment to the fan, thereby preventing undesirable noise. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is also understood that all spatial references, such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “outer,” “radially,” and “longitudinally” are for illustrative purposes only and can be varied within the scope of the invention. Therefore, the claims should be interpreted in a broad manner, consistent with the present invention.