Abstract:
A removable ceiling fan blade cover comprises a cover member for covering a ceiling fan blade and a closure member. The cover member is sized to cover the ceiling fan blade and has an open end and a closed end. The ceiling fan blade is inserted into the open end until the cover member substantially covers the ceiling fan blade. Thereafter, the closure member, proximal to the open end, is closed to prevent the ceiling fan blade cover from disengaging from the ceiling fan blade during rotation of the blade. For cleaning or redecorating, the ceiling fan blade cover is removed from the ceiling fan blade by opening the closure member withdrawing the ceiling fan blade cover in the direction of the closed end.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to removable fabric covers for ceiling fan blades.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    In recent years, the ceiling fan has experienced explosive growth in its popularity as an effective means for assisting in the climate control of interior spaces. In warm weather, ceiling fans generate a gentle breeze, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for more expensive air conditioning. In cold weather, ceiling fans can be used to move warm air collected next to a ceiling downward toward the occupants of a room. So popular are ceiling fans that, in many parts of the country, new home construction features such devices in nearly every room of the house.  
           [0003]    Despite the popularity of ceiling fans, they can also be a nuisance. For instance, because of their proximity to the ceiling and the necessity that they be far removed from any objects which they could strike, they are inherently difficult to dust. Furthermore, as any owner of ceiling fans will attest, once the effort to dust a ceiling fan has commenced, the task is made difficult by the rotational nature of the blades about the fan shaft axis. Consequently, ceiling fans are rarely dusted, resulting in an unsightly and unhealthy condition.  
           [0004]    Yet another problem with ceiling fans is that they are manufactured in a limited number of styles and colors. Most commonly, the fan hub (which houses the fan motor and connection to a power source), the blades, and the blade brackets are colored one or more of a limited group of colors and finishes including white, brass, brown (wood tone), or black. Should an individual desire to change the color of the blades, for instance, the blades must be unscrewed from the blade brackets, painted, then re-attached to the blade brackets. Because this procedure involves significant amounts of time, effort and mess, the color of ceiling fan blades are rarely changed from their original color. This inflexibility in the selection of color is limiting to more accomplished decorators.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, a need exists for a device which makes ceiling fan blades easier to clean.  
           [0006]    Another need exists for a device which allows quick and easy deviation from standard ceiling fan color combinations.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    These and other shortcomings relating to the use of ceiling fans are satisfied by the present invention. More specifically, the present invention relates to a removable ceiling fan blade cover for covering a ceiling fan blade of a ceiling fan. The blade cover comprises a generally rectangular cover member having a length sufficient to substantially completely cover a ceiling fan blade. The blade cover is closed and one end and open at its other end. The opening in the open end is sufficiently large to allow the blade cover to be placed over the ceiling fan blade, substantially completely covering the blade.  
           [0008]    After the blade cover has covered the fan blade, a closure member, proximal to the open end of the blade cover, is used to “close” the open end around the fan blade bracket. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is accomplished by the closure member reducing the diameter of the open end to the point where the blade cover will not be unintentionally disengaged from the fan blade during rotation of the fan blade in operation of the ceiling fan.  
           [0009]    A variety of closure mechanisms may be utilized to accomplish the objective of the invention. For instance, drawstrings, Velcro, snaps, zippers, elastic, and many others are suitable for retaining the blade cover in its desired position.  
           [0010]    The blade cover may, of course, be manufactured of a nearly endless variety of materials including fabrics, which materials may be chosen or designed to accent nearby visual schemes. When it is desired for the blade covers to be removed and either replaced or cleaned, the closure member is opened and the blade cover removed from the fan blade.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 a  depicts an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 b  depicts the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 a  in a representative environment.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 a  depicts another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 b  depicts the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 a  in a representative environment.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 a  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a ceiling fan blade cover  10 . More specifically, the ceiling fan blade cover  10  comprises a cover member  20 , the cover member  20  defining a first open end  25  and a second closed end  30 . The cover member  20  may be constructed of any durable, flexible and cleanable material such as cloth or plastic. For the purposes of illustration throughout this and the other various figures used to depict preferred embodiments, a cloth material will be used as an example.  
         [0016]    The cover member  20  includes a drawstring channel  35  integral to the cover member  20  along substantially the entire length of the cover member  20 . The length of the cover member  20  is defined as the linear length between the open first end  25  and the closed second end  30 . The drawstring channel  35  may be integrally incorporated into the cover member  20  in any variety of ways well known to those skilled in the art of sewing. One such method of integral incorporation is accomplished when the cover member  20  is a two-ply material—that is to say that there are actually two cover members situated one inside of the other. In such a configuration, the drawstring channel is created by sewing parallel stitches  37  along a desired path along substantially the entire length of the cover member  20 , the distance between the parallel stitches  37  being sufficient to receive and detain a sizing member such as a drawstring  40 . In such a configuration, distal ends of the drawstring  40  extend beyond the beginning and terminating points of the drawstring channel  35  to allow force to be exerted on the distal ends of the drawstring  40 , thereby reducing the size of the cover member  20  to afford a secure fit about an object such as a ceiling fan blade.  
         [0017]    In an embodiment in which only one-ply material is used in construction of the cover member  20 , a second piece of cloth material (not shown) may be placed flush with the surface of the cover member  20  and in the desired shape of the drawstring channel  35 . Thereafter, the second piece of cloth material is attached by executing the parallel stitches  37  defining the drawstring channel  35 .  
         [0018]    The drawstring  40  may be cinched in a well-known manner by pulling on the distal ends of the drawstring  40  in much the same manner as shoelaces are used to tighten shoes. When desired tightness is achieved, the distal ends of the drawstring may be tied or, optionally, secured by a closure member  45 . A wide variety of closure members  45  are available and suitable for the intended purpose of preventing the drawstring  40  from moving from the desired, tightened position. One such detente is a plastic member having an opening therethrough which allows the ends of the drawstring to pass through the opening. Generally perpendicular to the opening is a spring-biased clamp, the clamp being hand-released to allow movement of the drawstring ends through the opening and, subsequent to suitable positioning of the drawstring, hand-active to clamp the drawstring. As stated previously, such devices are well known and readily available to one skilled in the art of garment design.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 b  depicts the ceiling fan blade cover  10  deployed onto a ceiling fan blade  50 . Installation of the ceiling fan blade cover  10  is accomplished by inserting the first end of the ceiling fan blade  55  into the first open end  25  of the cover member  20  and pulling the cover member  20  over the ceiling fan blade  50  until the first end  55  contacts the closed second end  30  of the cover member  20 . Sized appropriately, the cover member  20  should cover the entire ceiling fan blade  50 , as demonstrated by the open first end  25  of the cover member extending beyond the second end  60  of the ceiling fan blade.  
         [0020]    Once the cover member  20  has been placed completely over the ceiling fan blade  50 , the drawstring  40  and detente  45  are used to tighten the cover member  20  about the ceiling fan blade  50  as previously described. The only limitation of the tightening of the cover member  20  about the ceiling fan blade  50  is that the blade bracket  65  which connects the ceiling fan blade  50  to the ceiling fan (not shown) must not be interfered with.  
         [0021]    Optionally, the ceiling fan blade cover  10  may include a secondary closure device such as a snap closure  20  at the open first end  25  of the cover member. If this optional feature is included, it remains disconnected prior to insertion of the ceiling fan blade  50  into the cover member  20 . Once the ceiling fan blade  50  is inserted into the cover member  20 , and once the drawstring  40  has secured the cover member  20  about the ceiling fan blade  50 , the snap closure can be used in a well known manner to further secure the ceiling fan blade cover  10  about the ceiling fan blade  50 .  
         [0022]    Removal of the ceiling fan blade cover  10  is a simple task. If the optional snap closure  70  is implemented, it is unsnapped. Thereafter, the détente  45  is released, allowing movement of the drawstring  40  therethrough in such a manner as to loosen the cover member  20  from about the ceiling fan blade  50 . Once loosened sufficiently, the ceiling fan blade cover  10  is removed for cleaning, replacement, etc.  
         [0023]    Turning now to FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b , another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. More specifically, FIG. 2 a  depicts a ceiling fan blade cover  110  comprising a cover member  120 , a first open end  125  and a second closed end  130 . Importantly, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 a , an elastic member  140  is integrally interconnected with the cover member  120  and disposed in lengthwise orientations between open first end  125  and closed second end  130 .  
         [0024]    Referring to the elastic member  140 , it may consist of a simple elastic band or a series of elastic-type fibers, which band or fibers possess the well-known characteristics of elastic. Namely, the band or fibers can be stretched to a length greater than their original length, then—upon release of the stretching tension—resume their original shape. The elastic member  140  is sewn or otherwise attached to the cover member  120  in the position described and shown in such a manner as to allow the elastic member  140  to expand and contract upon exertion and release of force thereupon. Sewing techniques that accomplish this end are well known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the elastic member  140  is attached to the cover member  120  such that the cover member  120  is biased to a smaller length than without the elastic member  140  incorporated. For the purposes of this description, length is defined as the linear distance between the open first end  125  and the closed second end  130 .  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIG. 2 b , the utility of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2 a  is easily seen. The ceiling fan blade cover  110  is placed onto a ceiling fan blade  150  by inserting the first end  155  of the ceiling fan blade  150  into the open first end  125  of the cover member  120  until the first end  155  contacts the inside of the cover member  120  at the closed second end  130  of the cover member  120 . In the depicted embodiment, the open first end  125  is pulled to tension—and thereby stretch—the elastic member  140 . When the open first end  125  has been pulled to sufficiently cover the second end  160  of the ceiling fan blade  150 , a closure member such as a snap closure  70  is actuated to serve as a detente to prevent the cover member  20  from sliding off the ceiling fan blade  150  during rotation about an axis interconnected to the ceiling fan blade  150  via blade bracket  165 .  
         [0026]    It will be understood and appreciated that the foregoing preferred embodiments are offered as examples of how the inventive aspects of the present invention might be implemented. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention—rather, the scope of the invention should only be limited by the claims below.