Abstract:
Devices, systems and methods of using a single turning rotatable fastener, such as a screw, with two or three mounted posts to align and lock ceiling fan blades to a ceiling fan blade brackets/irons. One single rotatable fastener on each blade and arm can be turned clockwise to attach each blade to each arm. Rotating the fastener counter-clockwise can allow each blade to be removed from each arm.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/459,568 filed Apr. 30, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,985,959, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/603,072 filed Feb. 24, 2012. The entire disclosure of each application listed in this paragraph are incorporated herein by specific reference thereto. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates blade connecting devices, and in particular to devices, systems and methods of using blade arm brackets/irons using only a single screw fastener with two or three mounted posts to align and lock ceiling fan blades to a ceiling fan blade brackets/irons. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     It is common to attach ceiling fan blades to blade brackets and holders of ceiling fans by screwing fasteners, such as screws, to attach the blades to ceiling fan brackets, where the brackets are attached to motors. Ceiling fan blades are difficult and tedious to assemble. Several small screws and washers need to be screwed through the blade and into the blade holder using a screw driver while holding the blade and blade holder in place. 
     Most ceiling fans require time and effort to assemble a blade with a blade holder. Many extra parts are needed and a tool is usually required for assembly. The hardware can be easily dropped, misplaced or lost. 
     Various types of alternatives have been proposed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,626 to Tseng uses twistable knobs to attach blades in a ceiling fan. However, this device requires three twistable knobs, and that each of the knobs and their support posts must be oval shaped, and also requires keeping an air space between the blade and the arm in the locked position, which ends of with multiple parts and assembly time. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,576 to Bird shows and describes a connecting mechanism which uses one twisting knob. However, this device requires the installer to catch upwardly protruding inverted L shaped fasteners on a blade bracket to catch into holes in the blade. Next, a separated knob must be then inserted into another hole in the blade to be twisted. Having separated parts, such as the separate knob, can be easily lost and misplaced, similar to loose screws that are used to traditionally attach ceiling blades to ceiling fans. In addition, the catches can make it difficult for someone to angle the blade to assemble. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, systems and methods of using blade arm brackets/irons with a single screw fastener with two or three mounted posts to align and lock ceiling fan blades to a ceiling fan blade arm brackets/irons. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, systems and methods of soundly connecting a blade to a blade holder without using more than one screw type fastener. 
     The novel invention device, system and method requires no tools, loose parts, or hardware. The blade is simply aligned and placed over the locating pins in the blade holder and locked into place by rotating the fastener. 
     The claimed invention differs from what currently exists. Our invention requires only one screw type fastener. The entire assembly process takes seconds compared to several minutes for other systems. 
     A ceiling fan blade arm, can consist essential of a blade attachment end having only one single rotatable fastener and at least two alignment posts, wherein the single screw and at least two alignment posts are adapted to pass into at least three through-holes on a root end of a blade in order to attach the blade to the arm. 
     The single rotatable fastener can be positioned in the middle of three posts, and the blade includes four through-holes. The rotatable fastener can be a screw. 
     Two posts can be positioned outward facing from the middle rotatable fastener on the blade attachment end of the blade arm and one post is positioned inward facing from the middle rotatable fastener. 
     Two posts can be positioned inward facing from the middle rotatable fastener on the blade attachment end of the blade arm and one post is positioned outward facing from the middle rotatable fastener. 
     Two posts can be positioned inward facing from the blade attachment end and the rotatable fastener is positioned outward facing, wherein the two posts and rotatable fastener form a triangular arrangement. 
     Two posts can be positioned outward facing from the blade attachment end and the rotatable fastener is positioned inward facing, wherein the two posts and rotatable fastener form a triangular arrangement. 
     A ceiling fan blade attachment system can include a plurality of blade arm, each blade arm consisting essentially of a blade attachment end having only one single rotatable fastener and at least two alignment posts, wherein the single screw and at least two alignment posts, and a plurality of fan blades, each blade having at least three through-holes on a root end of the blade, wherein the single rotatable fastener and the at least two alignment posts are adapted to pass into at least three through-holes on the root ends of a blades. 
     The single rotatable fastener on each arm can be positioned in the middle of three posts on each arm, and each blade includes four through-holes. 
     Two posts can be positioned outward facing from the middle rotatable fastener on each blade attachment end of the blade arm and one post is positioned inward facing from the middle rotatable fastener on each blade attachment end of each blade arm. 
     Two posts can be positioned inward facing from the middle rotatable fastener on each blade attachment end of the blade arm and one post is positioned outward facing from the middle rotatable fastener on each blade attachment end of each blade arm. 
     Two posts can be positioned inward facing from each blade attachment end and the rotatable fastener is positioned outward facing, wherein the two posts and rotatable fastener form a triangular arrangement on each blade attachment end of each blade arm, and each blade has only three through-holes on the root end of the blade. 
     Two posts can be positioned outward facing from each blade attachment end and the rotatable fastener is positioned inward facing, wherein the two posts and rotatable fastener form a triangular arrangement on each blade attachment end of each blade arm, and each blade has only three through-holes on the root end of the blade. 
     A method of attaching a ceiling fan blade to a motor arm with a single rotatable fastener, can include the steps of providing a blade having a root end with at least three through holes arranged in a triangular pattern, providing a blade arm having a blade attachment end with a single rotatable fastener and at least two posts, removing the rotatable fastener from the blade arm, aligning the at least three through-holes on the root end of the blade over the at least three through-holes on the blade attachment end of the arm, rotating the single rotatable fastener through a single through-hole in the blade attachment end of the arm to attach the blade to the blade arm, and repeating the above steps for attaching additional blades to the blade attachment arms on a ceiling fan. 
     The method can include the step of providing a single screw as the rotatable fastener to attach each blade to each blade arm. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a single rotatable fastener blade arm having two outward facing posts and one inward post with fan blade. 
         FIG. 2  is a top right perspective view of the arm of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top left perspective view of the arm of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the arm of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the arm of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is an upside down side view the arm of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the arm of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a root end view of the arm of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a tip of the arm of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a top right perspective view of a single rotatable fastener blade arm with two inward facing posts and one outward post. 
         FIG. 11  is a top left perspective view of the arm of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the arm of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the arm of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 14  is an upside down side view the arm of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the arm of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 16  is a root end view of the arm of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 17  is a tip end view of the arm of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 18  is a top right perspective view of a single rotatable fastener blade arm with only two inward facing posts. 
         FIG. 19  is a top left perspective view of the arm of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 20  is a top view of the arm of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 21  is a bottom view of the arm of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 22  is an upside down side view of the arm of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 23  is a side view of the arm of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 24  is a root end view of the arm of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 25  is a tip end view of the arm of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 26  is a top right perspective view of a single rotatable fastener blade arm with only two outward facing posts. 
         FIG. 27  is a top left perspective view of the arm of  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 28  is a top view of the arm of  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 29  is a bottom view of the arm of  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 30  is an upside down side view of the arm of  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 31  is a side view of the arm of  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 32  is a root end view of the arm of  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 33  is a tip end view of the arm of  FIG. 26 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     A listing of components will now be described.
       1 . blade     5 . root/arm end of blade     10 . first fastening hole     20 . second fastening hole     30 . third fastening hole     40 . middle hole     100 . First Blade Iron with single screw in middle of three posts (two outward).     105 . Blade attachment end     110 . first post     120 . second post     130 . third post     150 . middle rotatable fastener     155 . base     190 . motor attachment end     200 . Second Blade Iron with single screw in middle of three posts (inward outward).     205 . Blade attachment end     210 . first post     220 . second post     230 . third post     250 . middle rotatable fastener     255 . base     290 . motor attachment end     300 . Third Blade Iron with single screw and two inward posts.     305 . blade attachment end     310 . first post     320 . second post     350 . single rotatable fastener (apex of triangle pattern)     355 . base     390 . motor attachment end     400 . Fourth Blade Iron with single screw and two outward posts.     405 . blade attachment end     410 . first post     420 . second post     450 . single rotatable fastener (apex of triangle pattern)     455 . base     490 . motor attachment end   

       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a single rotatable fastener blade arm  100  having two outward facing posts  110 ,  120  and one inward post  130  with fan blade  1 .  FIG. 2  is a top right perspective view of the arm  100  of  FIG. 1   FIG. 3  is a top left perspective view of the arm  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a top view of the arm  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the arm  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  is an upside down side view the arm  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7  is a side view of the arm  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 8  is a root end view of the arm  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 9  is a tip of the arm  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , the novel blade arm  100  can have a blade attachment end  105  for attaching the arm  100  to a ceiling fan blade  1 , and a motor attachment end  190  for attaching the arm  100  to a motor on a ceiling fan. The blade attachment end  105  can have three upwardly protruding posts  110 ,  120 ,  130  arranged in a triangular configuration with two outward facing posts  110 ,  120  and one inward facing post  130 . Each post  110 - 130  can have an enlarged base with a narrower upwardly extending tip portion. The blade attachment end  105  of the arm  100  can have middle raised base  155  generally located in the middle of the posts  110 ,  120  and  130  that can support a single rotatable fastener  150 , such as a screw and the like. The rotatable fastener  150  can threadably attach to a threaded opening in the top of the raised base  155 . 
     During installation, the user can remove the rotatable fastener  155  from the raised base  150 . The blade attachment end  5  of the ceiling fan blade  1  can be laid over the blade attachment end  105  of the blade arm  105  and lined up so that the top of each of the three posts  110 ,  120 ,  130  pass through the holes  10 ,  20 ,  30  of the blade  1 . The bottom of the arm attachment end  5  of the blade can generally rest on the upper edge portion of the base of each of the posts  110 ,  120 ,  130 , so that the tip ends of each post  110 , 120 ,  130  protrude upward from the top of the arm attachment end  5  of the blade  1 . The rotatable fastener can be screwed into the central opening  40  in the arm attachment end  5  of the blade  1  so that outer edges of the enlarged head portion of the rotatable fastener  150  abut against upper surface portion of the top of arm attachment end  5  of the blade  1  to hold the blade to the arm. Each other blade can be attached to respective blade arms in a similar manner until all the blades are attached to all of the arms of the ceiling fan. Each blade can be attached to each arm by only a single rotatable fastener for each blade. 
       FIG. 10  is a top right perspective view of a single rotatable fastener blade arm  200  with two inward facing posts  220 ,  230  and one outward post  210 .  FIG. 11  is a top left perspective view of the arm  200  of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 12  is a top view of the arm  200  of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the arm  200  of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 14  is an upside down side view the arm  200  of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 15  is a side view of the arm  200  of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 16  is a root end view of the arm  200  of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 17  is a tip end view of the arm  200  of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10-17 , the novel blade arm  200  can have a blade attachment end  205  for attaching the arm  200  to a ceiling fan blade  1 , and a motor attachment end  290  for attaching the arm  200  to a motor on a ceiling fan. The blade attachment end  205  can have three upwardly protruding posts  210 ,  220 ,  230  arranged in a triangular configuration with one outward facing post  210  and two inward facing posts  220 ,  230 . Each post  210 - 230  can have an enlarged base with a narrower upwardly extending tip portion. The blade attachment end  205  of the arm  200  can have middle raised base  255  generally located in the middle of the posts  210 ,  220  and  230  that can support a single rotatable fastener  250 , such as a screw and the like. The rotatable fastener  250  can threadably attach to a threaded opening in the top of the raised base  255 . 
     The blade arm  200  can be attached to a blade in a similar manner to the previous embodiment. Here, the blade  1  of the previous embodiment can have a different hole pattern having two inwardly facing through holes and one outwardly facing through hole and central hole for the rotatable fastener  250 . 
     During installation, the user can remove the rotatable fastener  255  from the raised base  250 . Similar to the previous embodiment, the blade attachment end of the ceiling fan blade can be laid over the blade attachment end  205  of the blade arm  205  and lined up so that the top of each of the three posts  210 ,  220 ,  230  pass through respective holes of the blade. The bottom of the arm attachment end of the blade can generally rest on the upper edge portion of the base of each of the posts  210 ,  220 ,  230 , so that the tip ends of each post  210 ,  220 ,  230  protrude upward from the top of the arm attachment end of the blade. 
     The rotatable fastener  250  can be screwed into the central opening in the arm attachment end of the blade so that outer edges of the enlarged head portion of the rotatable fastener  250  abut against upper surface portion of the top of arm attachment end of the blade to hold the blade to the arm. Each other blade can be attached to respective blade arms in a similar manner until all the blades are attached to all of the arms of the ceiling fan. Each blade can be attached to each arm by only a single rotatable fastener for each blade. 
       FIG. 18  is a top right perspective view of a single screw blade arm  300  with only two inward facing posts  310 ,  320  and one rotatable fastener (apex of triangle pattern).  FIG. 19  is a top left perspective view of the arm  300  of  FIG. 18 .  FIG. 20  is a top view of the arm  300  of  FIG. 18 .  FIG. 21  is a bottom view of the arm  300  of  FIG. 18 .  FIG. 22  is an upside down side view of the arm  300  of  FIG. 18 .  FIG. 23  is a side view of the arm of  FIG. 18 .  FIG. 24  is a root end view of the arm  300  of  FIG. 18 .  FIG. 25  is a tip end view of the arm  300  of  FIG. 18 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 18-25 , the novel blade arm  300  can have a blade attachment end  305  for attaching the arm  300  to a ceiling fan blade, and a motor attachment end  390  for attaching the arm  300  to a motor on a ceiling fan. The blade attachment end  305  can have two inward facing posts  310 ,  320  and one outward facing rotatable fastener  350  on a base  355  arranged in a triangular configuration. Each post  310 ,  320  can have an enlarged base with a narrower upwardly extending tip portion. The blade attachment end  305  of the arm  300  can have outward facing raised base  355  that can support a single rotatable fastener  350 , such as a screw and the like. The rotatable fastener  350  can threadably attach to a threaded opening in the top of the raised base  355 . 
     The blade arm  300  can be attached to a blade in a similar manner to the previous embodiment. Here, the blade  1  of the previous embodiment can have a different hole pattern having two outward through holes and one inwardly facing through hole (a total of only three holes). 
     During installation, the user can remove the rotatable fastener  355  from the raised base  350 . Similar to the previous embodiment, the blade attachment end of the ceiling fan blade can be laid over the blade attachment end  305  of the blade arm and lined up so that the top of each of the posts  310 ,  320  pass through respective holes of the blade. The bottom of the arm attachment end of the blade can generally rest on the upper edge portion of the base of each of the posts  310 ,  320 , so that the tip ends of each post  310 ,  320  protrude upward from the top of the arm attachment end of the blade. 
     The rotatable fastener  350  can be screwed into the central opening in the arm attachment end of the blade so that outer edges of the enlarged head portion of the rotatable fastener  350  can abut against upper surface portion of the top of arm attachment end of the blade. Each other blade can be attached to respective blade arms in a similar manner until all the blades are attached to all of the arms of the ceiling fan. Each blade can be attached to each arm by only a single rotatable fastener for each blade. 
       FIG. 26  is a top right perspective view of a single rotatable fastener blade arm  400  with only two outward facing posts  410 ,  420  and one inwardly facing single rotatable fastener  450 .  FIG. 27  is a top left perspective view of the arm  400  of  FIG. 26 .  FIG. 28  is a top view of the arm  400  of  FIG. 26 .  FIG. 29  is a bottom view of the arm  400  of  FIG. 26 .  FIG. 30  is an upside down side view of the arm  400  of  FIG. 26 .  FIG. 31  is a side view of the arm  400  of  FIG. 26 .  FIG. 32  is a root end view of the arm  400  of  FIG. 26 .  FIG. 33  is a tip end view of arm  400  of  FIG. 26 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 26-33 , the novel blade arm  400  can have a blade attachment end  405  for attaching the arm  400  to a ceiling fan blade, and a motor attachment end  490  for attaching the arm  400  to a motor on a ceiling fan. The blade attachment end  405  can have two outward facing posts  410 ,  420  and one inward facing rotatable fastener  450  on a base  455  arranged in a triangular configuration. Each post  410 ,  420  can have an enlarged base with a narrower upwardly extending tip portion. The blade attachment end  405  of the arm  400  can have inward facing raised base  455  that can support a single rotatable fastener  450 , such as a screw and the like. The rotatable fastener  450  can threadably attach to a threaded opening in the top of the raised base  455 . 
     The blade arm  400  can be attached to a blade in a similar manner to the previous embodiment. Here, the blade of the previous embodiment can have a different hole pattern having two inward through holes and one outward facing through hole (a total of only three holes). 
     During installation, the user can remove the rotatable fastener  455  from the raised base  450 . Similar to the previous embodiment, the blade attachment end of the ceiling fan blade can be laid over the blade attachment end  405  of the blade arm and lined up so that the top of each of the posts  410 ,  420  pass through respective holes of the blade. The bottom of the arm attachment end of the blade can generally rest on the upper edge portion of the base of each of the posts  410 ,  420 , so that the tip ends of each post  410 ,  420  protrude upward from the top of the arm attachment end of the blade. 
     The rotatable fastener  450  can be screwed into the central opening in the arm attachment end of the blade so that outer edges of the enlarged head portion of the rotatable fastener  450  can abut against upper surface portion of the top of arm attachment end of the blade. Each other blade can be attached to respective blade arms in a similar manner until all the blades are attached to all of the arms of the ceiling fan. Each blade can be attached to each arm by only a single rotatable fastener for each blade. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.