Abstract:
Devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for the quick installation of ceiling fan blades for ceiling fans. The invention uses a blade with three slots running in a linear direction from the mounting end of the blade, and three pre-attached fasteners upwardly projecting from the outer end of a blade arm. One of the fasteners is springably bendable with inwardly extending clip edge, another fastener that forms an upright post, and a third fastener having a top end with an outwardly extending lip edge. Another embodiment can include four slots per blade and four pre-attached upwardly protruding fasteners per blade arm. A novel method of installing each blade can include angling the blade to the mounting ends of the blade arm so that the outwardly extending lip edge catches on the third slot in from the mounting end of the blade. Next, the blade is laid down so that the other two slot openings pass over the other pre-attached fasteners while moving the mounting end of the blade toward the motor mounting end of the blade arm. This causes the springably bendable fastener to bend back and snapably spring back catching onto the first slot locking the blade to the blade arm.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/204,310 filed Sep. 30, 2010, now allowed as U.S. Pat. No. 8,845,293 issued Sep. 30, 2014, which is incorporated by reference in its&#39; entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to ceiling fans, in particular to devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for the quick installation of ceiling fan blades for ceiling fans. 
       BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
       [0003]    Many ceiling fans primarily require the blades must be attached to the motor housing bracket arms by tightening multiple screws and the like. With most ceiling fans having up to five blades and each blade requiring three or more screws, the number of screw tightening operations can result in the installer having to separately screw approximately 15 screws or more per ceiling fan installation. Installing more than one fan in a home or building further compounds this installation problem. 
         [0004]    Often these screws can become lost during the assembly operation. Rotating screws into the blades and blade arms of a ceiling mounted motor is not only difficult to accomplish, but results in most ceiling fans in the market place having visible screws that are unsightly. Furthermore, the underside location of these fastener screws detract from the appearance of the ceiling fan itself. 
         [0005]    Installing more than one fan in a home or building further compounds this installation problem. 
         [0006]    Another problem with using multiple loose screws occurs from the ceiling fans being run under continuous vibration conditions where the screws can loosen causing the blades to be accidentally released and result in damage to surrounding property and people in the vicinity. 
         [0007]    An additional problem comes from ceiling fan blades needing to be cleaned to remove dirt and dust buildup. Current techniques have relied on manually holding brushes to the blades themselves which inherently tires the muscles in the cleaner&#39;s neck, shoulders, arms and hands. This messy cleaning with brushes causes the dirt to fall on both the cleaner and furniture and flooring below the fan. Having to remove blades by unscrewing multiple screws over one&#39;s head would also not be practical. 
         [0008]    Attempts have been made at changing the attachment methods for the blades but still fail to overcome all the problems presented above. U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,947 to Rezek describes a cover for covering the blade to motor connections but still uses screw fasteners that have the problems described above. U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,284 to Monrose III et al. is entitled a “Detachable Blades for Ceiling Fans” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,585 to Yan has a removable pin connection for ceiling fan blades, but each of these patents still requires screw on brackets for both the motor housing and the blades. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,396,352 to Pearce and U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,515 to Bailey et al. describe pitch adjustment attachments for ceiling fans but also still require screw on brackets between both the motor housing and the attached blades. A still further problem of many of these detachable ceiling fan type blades is that natural centrifugal forces of the spinning fans increase the chances of dislodging the blades. 
         [0010]    The assignee of this invention created the popular QUICK CONNECT (R) ceiling fan blade systems, where the installer used blades and blade arms, or blade arms and rotors where enlarged headed fasteners fit into wide portions of key hole type slots where the enlarged headed fasteners and keyhole slots were slid together so that the fasteners would be locked in place; and other types of fast assembly ceiling fan systems. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,010,306; 6,171,059; 6,336,792; 6,352,411; 6,666,652; 6,802,694; 6,872,053; 7,281,899; 7,396,210; 7,766,622; 7,857,592; and 7,927,076. 
         [0011]    However, the subject inventors have now discovered other techniques for the quick installation of ceiling fans that also do not require multiple loose screws and the like, to attach the blades to the ceiling fan arms. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    A primary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for the quick installation of detachable blades for ceiling fans that are easy and quick to install. 
         [0013]    A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for the quick installation of detachable blades for ceiling fans that allow each blade to be locked in place to a blade arm. 
         [0014]    A third objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for the quick installation of detachable blades for ceiling fans that allow each blade to be locked in place to a motor housing. 
         [0015]    A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for the quick installation of detachable blades for ceiling fans that are adaptable to standard ceiling fan blades. 
         [0016]    A fifth objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for the quick installation of detachable blades for ceiling fans wherein the centrifugal force of the fans actually locks the blades in place. 
         [0017]    A sixth objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for the quick installation of detachable blades for ceiling fans where the blade arm connection does not show screw heads from beneath the fan. 
         [0018]    A seventh objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for the quick installation of detachable blades for ceiling fans wherein no removable fasteners such as screws are used to hold the blade to the fan. 
         [0019]    An eighth objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for the quick installation of detachable blades for ceiling fans having spring fastener to snapably lock the blades in place. 
         [0020]    A quick installation ceiling fan can include a plurality of blades each of the blades having a plurality of slots adjacent to one end, and a plurality of blade arms, each of the blade arms having at least one upwardly extending pre-fixed fastener and a movably bendable fastener, wherein the blades are mounted to the blade arms by overlaying the slots over the pre-fixed fastener and the movably bendable fastener until the at least one upwardly extending pre-fixed fastener hooks onto one of the slots, and the moveably bendable fastener snaps onto another one of the slots. 
         [0021]    The plurality of slots in each of the blades can include three slots per blade. The at least one upwardly extending pre-fixed fastener can include a first pre-fixed fastener has an enlarged head for clipping about an edge of the one of the slots, and a second pre-fixed fastener is a mounting post. 
         [0022]    The moveably bendable fastener can include an enlarged head with a sloped upper surface on top of shaft wherein pushing down on the sloped top allows the fastener to bend until the enlarged head passes through the another of the slots and snaps back in place locking the moveable fastener to the another of the slots. The moveably bendable fastener can include an inwardly directed overhanging clip edge protruding in the direction of the motor mount end of the blade arm. The first pre-fixed fastener with the enlarged head can include an outwardly protruding clip ledge which extends to an outer end of the blade. The enlarged head can include a gripable surface 
         [0023]    Each blade arm can include at least one grommet adjacent to the plurality of slots for reducing vibration and undesirable noise from the blades being attached to the blade arms. 
         [0024]    The plurality of slots in the each of the blade can include four slots per blade. The at least one upwardly extending pre-fixed fastener can include a pre-fixed fastener has an enlarged head for clipping about an edge of the one of the slots, and two pre-fixed fasteners which function as a mounting posts for two of the four slots. The moveably bendable fastener can include an enlarged head with a sloped upper surface on top of shaft wherein pushing down on the sloped top allows the fastener to bend until the enlarged head passes through the another of the slots and snaps back in place locking the moveable fastener to the another of the slots. The moveably bendable fastener can include an inwardly directed overhanging clip edge. The enlarged head on the pre-fixed fastener can include an outwardly protruding clip ledge which extends to an outer end of the blade. 
         [0025]    A method of installing ceiling fan blades on a ceiling fan can include the steps of providing a plurality of blades each having mounting ends with a plurality of slots, providing a plurality of ceiling fan blade arms each having motor mounting ends and blade mounting ends with a plurality of upwardly protruding fasteners, with one of the fasteners being bendable, angling the blades to the mounting ends of the blade arms so that at least one of the fasteners passes through one of the slots, laying down the mounting ends of the blades over fasteners while moving the mounting ends of the blades toward the motor mounting ends of the blade arms while bending the bendable fastener, and locking the blades to the blade arms when the bendable fastener is bent back to snap in place into one of the slots. 
         [0026]    The plurality of slots on each blade can include three slots per blade, and the plurality of upwardly protruding fasteners on each blade arm can include three pre-attached fasteners for each blade arm. 
         [0027]    The plurality of slots on each blade can include four slots per blade, and the plurality of upwardly protruding fasteners on each blade arm can include four pre-attached fasteners for each blade arm. 
         [0028]    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 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of a first embodiment of the quick installation ceiling fan blade spaced apart from a ceiling fan blade arm. 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the ceiling fan blade and blade arm of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the novel blade about to be installed on the blade arm with the blade in an initial tilted position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is another side cross-sectional view of the blade of  FIG. 3  being moved inward and starting to be lowered downward to abut against the mounting end of the blade arm as the next step in the installation process. 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is another side cross-sectional view of the blade and arm of  FIG. 3  in a final installation position. 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the installed blade and blade arm of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the installed blade and blade arm of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the installed blade and blade arm of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is an outer blade end view of the installed blade and blade arm of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  is a blade arm end view of the installed blade and blade arm of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of a second embodiment of the quick installation ceiling fan blade spaced apart from a ceiling fan blade arm. 
           [0040]      FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the ceiling fan blade and blade arm of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the installed blade and blade arm of  FIGS. 11-12 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the installed blade and blade arm of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 15  is a bottom view of the installed blade and blade arm of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 16  is an outer blade end view of the installed blade and blade arm of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 17  is a blade arm end view of the installed blade and blade arm of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 18  shows a bottom view of a ceiling fan using the multiple installed blade and blade arms used in the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0047]    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. 
         [0048]    A list of components will now be described. 
         [0049]      1 . Three slot attachment embodiment 
         [0050]      2 . blade 
         [0051]      4 . mounting end of blade 
         [0052]      6 . top of blade 
         [0053]      8 . bottom of blade 
         [0054]      10 . spring catch slot 
         [0055]      20 . central slot 
         [0056]      30 . hook catch slot 
         [0057]      40 . blade arm 
         [0058]      42 . motor mounting end 
         [0059]      44 . blade mounting end 
         [0060]      46 . top of blade arm 
         [0061]      48 . bottom of blade arm 
         [0062]      50 . spring clip fastener 
         [0063]      51 . elongated base  51   
         [0064]      52 . inner end  52   
         [0065]      53 . pre-attached fixed fasteners such as screws 
         [0066]      54 . upwardly protruding bendable portion 
         [0067]      55 . generally sloped top with gripable(patterned, roughened) surface 
         [0068]      56 . inwardly extending overhanging clip edge 
         [0069]      57 . distal end 
         [0070]      58 . through-hole 
         [0071]      59 . pre-attached fixed enlarged headed fastener 
         [0072]      60 . central fastener 
         [0073]      62 . enlarged headed 
         [0074]      64 . one or more cylindrical washers 
         [0075]      66 . raised enlarged cylindrical base 
         [0076]      70 . hook fastener 
         [0077]      72 . a fastener  72   
         [0078]      74 . outwardly protruding clip ledge  74   
         [0079]      76 . shaft  76   
         [0080]      77 . outwardly sloping lower sides 
         [0081]      78 . enlarged base 
         [0082]      100 . Four slot attachment embodiment 
         [0083]      20 A. first central slot 
         [0084]      20 B. second central slot 
         [0085]      60 A. first central fastener 
         [0086]      62 A. first enlarged headed 
         [0087]      64 A. first set of one or more cylindrical washers 
         [0088]      66 B. second raised enlarged cylindrical base 
         [0089]      60 B. second central fastener 
         [0090]      62 B. second enlarged headed 
         [0091]      64 B. second set of one or more cylindrical washers 
         [0092]      66 B. second raised enlarged cylindrical base 
       Three Slot Attachment 
       [0093]      FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of the quick installation three slot embodiment  1  with a bottom  8  of a ceiling fan blade  2  spaced apart from a ceiling fan blade arm  40 .  FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the top of a ceiling fan blade  2  and blade arm  40  of  FIG. 1 . The blade  2  can be a standard type ceiling fan blade of any size having a mounting end  4  that is attached to a blade arm  40 . The blade  2  can have three slots  10 ,  20  and  30  to allow for the quick attachment of the blade  2  to the outer end of the blade arm  40 . The first slot  10  can have a rectangular configuration that passes through the blade  2 . The second slot  20  can have a circular configuration that passes through the blade  2 . The third slot  30  can have an oval configuration that passes through the blade  2 . 
         [0094]    The blade arm  40  can be any type of blade arm that can be used with a ceiling fan. This blade arm  40  can have an inner end  42  that attaches the blade arm  40  to a standard ceiling fan motor housing(not shown) and an outer end  44  on which a mounting end  4  of a blade  2  can attach thereto. The bottom  48  of the blade arm  40  can have a design that is visible from beneath a hung ceiling fan. The top  46  of the blade arm  40  has the pre-attached fasteners  50 ,  60 ,  70  thereon. 
         [0095]    The first pre-attached fastener  50  can be a spring clip fastener  50  that can include an elongated base  51  with one end  52  pre-attached to a midportion of the blade arm  40  by fasteners  53  such as but not limited to screws, and the like, with an upwardly protruding bendable portion  54  having a generally sloped top  55  with gripable (roughened and/or patterned type surface that is not slippery) and an inwardly directed overhanging clip edge  56 . The distal end  57  of base  51  can have a through-hole  58  that allows the distal end  57  to move up and down on the shaft  59 .S of an enlarged headed fastener  59  that is pre-attached to the top of the blade mounting end  46  of the blade arm  40 . The upwardly protruding portion  54  and/or tab base  51  and/or shaft  59 .S of the fastener  59  can have grommet surface, such as but not limited to being formed of elastomeric, rubber, plastic, and the like, so as to minimize and/or isolate vibrations from the blade  2  being attached at that location to the blade arm  40 . 
         [0096]    The second pre-attached fastener  60  can have an enlarged headed fastener  62  such as but not limited to a screw and the like, that has one or more cylindrical washers  64  and a raised enlarged cylindrical base  66 , where the cylindrical base  66  can have a larger diameter than the washer(s)  64 . The washer(s)  64  and/or base  66  can also have a grommet surface such as but not limited to being formed of elastomeric, rubber, plastic, and the like, so as to minimize and/or isolate vibrations that can occur from the blade  2  being attached at that location to the blade arm  40 . 
         [0097]    The third pre-attached fastener  70  can have a fastener  72 , such as but not limited to a screw, and the like, that holds an outwardly protruding clip ledge  74  over a shaft  76  having outwardly sloping lower sides  77  with an enlarged base  78  that has a larger diameter than the shaft  76 . The clip ledge  74  and/or the shaft  76  and/or the enlarged base  78  can also have a grommet surface such as but not limited to being formed of elastomeric, rubber, plastic, and the like, so as to minimize and/or isolate vibrations that can occur from the blade  2  being attached at that location to the blade arm  40 . 
         [0098]      FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  show the three step attachment process of the three slot attachment embodiment 1. 
         [0099]      FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the novel blade  2  about to be installed on the blade arm  40 . The mounting end  4  of the blade  2  can be tilted upward and laid over the top mounting end  46  of the blade arm  40  so that the third slot  30  passes over the top of the clip ledge  74  until the bottom of the slot  30  rests on the outwardly sloping lower sides  77  of the shaft  76 . As shown the top of the clip edge  74  is sized slightly larger than the slot  30 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rearwardly extending clip edge  74  overhangs the edge of the third slot  30  so that the third fastener  70  clips onto the third slot  30 . 
         [0100]    Next, the tilted blade  2  is moved in the direction of arrow Y toward the motor attached end  42  of the blade arm  40  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . This is followed by the inner end  40  of the blade  4  being moved downward in the direction of arrow X, which causes a front lower edge  12  of the first slot to push down on the sloped top  55  of the upwardly protruding bendable portion  54  causing a midportion of the elongated base  51  to bend down slightly, while the through-hole  58  in the distal end  57  of the elongated base slides downward over the shaft  59 .S of the pre-attached fastener  59 . 
         [0101]      FIG. 5  is another side cross-sectional view of the blade  2  and arm  40  of  FIG. 3  in a final installation position. Here the inwardly extending overhanging clip edge  56  clips over a front edge of the first slot  10  with the bottom  8  of the blade  2  resting on the elongated tab base  51 . As shown, the cylindrical washer(s)  64  can have a similar diameter to allow the washer(s)  64  to be snugly positioned within the second slot  20  with the bottom  8  of the blade  2  resting on top of the enlarged base  66 . The second fastener  60  functions as a mounting post for the second slot  20 . In  FIG. 5 , the third fastener  70  remains clipped to the third slot  30 . 
         [0102]    For a ceiling fan having multiple blades, each blade can be installed in a similar manner to that shown and described relative to  FIGS. 1-5 . 
         [0103]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the installed blade  2  and blade arm  40  of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 7  is a side view of the installed blade  2  and blade arm  40  of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the installed blade  2  and blade arm  40  of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 9  is an outer blade end view of the installed blade  2  and blade arm  40  of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 10  is a blade arm end  42  view of the installed blade  2  and blade arm  40  of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0104]    The blade  2  can be removed by having the installer push their finger or fingers on the gripping surface  55  of the upwardly protruding portion and pushing the first fastener backward in the direction of arrow R as shown in  FIG. 6 . Next, the steps shown and described in relation to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5  are reversed until the blade  2  is removed from the blade arm  40 . All the blades in a ceiling fan can be removed in a similar manner. 
       Four Slot Attachment 
       [0105]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of a second embodiment  100  of the quick installation ceiling fan blade  2  spaced apart from a ceiling fan blade arm  40 .  FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the ceiling fan blade  2  and blade arm  40  of  FIG. 11 . 
         [0106]    The four slot embodiment can be similar to the first three slot embodiment, with the difference being there are two central slots  20 A and  20 B between the first slot  10  and the third slot  30 . And there are two central posts  60 A and  60 B that are similar to the central pre-attached fastener  60  previously described. 
         [0107]    The first central pre-attached fastener  60 A can have an enlarged headed fastener  62 A such as but not limited to a screw and the like, that has one or more cylindrical washers  64 A and a raised enlarged cylindrical base  66 A, where the cylindrical base  66 A can have a larger diameter than the washer(s)  64 A. The washer(s)  64 A and/or base  66 A can also have a grommet surface such as but not limited to being formed of elastomeric, rubber, plastic, and the like, so as to minimize and/or isolate vibrations that can occur from the blade  2  being attached at that location to the blade arm  40 . 
         [0108]    The second central pre-attached fastener  60 B can have an enlarged headed fastener  62 B such as but not limited to a screw and the like, that has one or more cylindrical washers  64 B and a raised enlarged cylindrical base  66 B, where the cylindrical base  66 B can have a larger diameter than the washer(s)  64 B. The washer(s)  64 B and/or base  66 B can also have a grommet surface such as but not limited to being formed of elastomeric, rubber, plastic, and the like, so as to minimize and/or isolate vibrations that can occur from the blade  2  being attached at that location to the blade arm  40 . 
         [0109]    The steps for installing the blade  2  of the second embodiment  100  onto the blade arm  40  of the second embodiment can be done similar to that described in the first embodiment 1. During installation, both central slots  20 A and  20 B are lined up to pass over the upwardly protruding pre-attached fasteners  60 A and  60 B. 
         [0110]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the installed blade  2  and blade arm  40  of  FIGS. 11-12 .  FIG. 14  is a side view of the installed blade  2  and blade arm  40  of  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 15  is a bottom view of the installed blade  2  and blade arm  40  of  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 16  is an outer blade end view of the installed blade  2  and blade arm  40  of  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 17  is a blade arm end  42  view of the installed blade  2  and blade arm  40  of  FIG. 13 . 
         [0111]      FIG. 18  shows a bottom view of a ceiling fan using the multiple installed blade and blade arms  1 / 100  used in the invention. 
         [0112]    While the springably bendable pre-attached fastener has clip edge facing inward toward the motor mounting end of the blade arm, the clip edge can be faced in a different direction such as but not limited to one side, both sides, toward the outer end of the blade, and the like. While the outer pre-attached fastener is shown with a outer lip edge rearwardly facing out to the outer end of the blade, the outer lip edge can be faced in a different direction such as but not limited to one side, both sides, toward the outer end of the blade, and the like. 
         [0113]    Although the slots are shown with shapes such as rectangular, circular and oval, the slots can other types of geometrical shapes and other types of combinations of geometrical shapes that still allow for the quick installation of the blades to the fan. 
         [0114]    While the three slot embodiment shows the slots in a generally straight line, the slots can be other shapes such as but not limited to triangular, and/or off-axis to one another. While the slots are shown generally in a straight line down the center of the blade, the slots can be arranged in other directions, such as but not limited to being across the blade from one side to another. 
         [0115]    While the four slot embodiment shows the slots in a trapezoidal pattern, the slots can be arranged in other patterns such as but not limited to a straight line, a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, and the like. 
         [0116]    Although the embodiments show the quick installation fasteners located on the distal (adjacent the motor) end of the blade arm, these fasteners can be located on the blade with their respective attachment slots located on the blade arm. Additionally, the quick installation fasteners can be located on the motor mount with the slots on the inner (motor mounting) end of the blade arm. Alternatively, the fasteners can be on the inner end of the blade arm, with the respective slots adjacent to the underside of the motor. 
         [0117]    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.