Abstract:
An asymmetrically bladed ceiling fan including a fan motor, a shaft rotatably connected to the motor and defining a vertical axis, a motor housing substantially enclosing the motor, a first fan blade extending from the housing, a second fan blade extending from the housing, and a first non-blade stabilizer extending from the housing for stabilizing the rotating weight of the fan blades upon actuation of the motor. The stabilizer is non-coincident with the first and second fan blades. The first and second fan blades are asymmetrically positioned relative the vertical axis.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/041375, filed Jan. 8, 2002, now U.S. patent application Ser. No. 6,726,451. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a ceiling fan and a ceiling fan blade mounting arrangement that produces a center of rotational gravity that lies outside the vertical axis of the rotating fan. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   There are two methods of mounting blades to a ceiling fan so that the rotating weight of the fan is stabilized and the fan&#39;s center of rotational gravity lies within its vertical axis: (1) An even number of blades are mounted directly across from each other so the rotating weight of one blade is stabilized and matched by its complement; and (2) an even or odd number of blades may be “offset” so the sum of the blades&#39; rotating weight is balanced. In each case, prior ceiling fans have more than one blade arranged in the circle of rotation so that the center of rotational gravity of the fan lies within the vertical axis. Thus, upon rotation, a single bladed ceiling fan generates a center of rotational gravity that lies outside the fan&#39;s vertical axis. Such an arrangement is perceived as non-functional and unconventional. 
   Likewise, a ceiling fan blade mounting arrangement where the blades are not spaced equally around the fan&#39;s housing so as to produce a center of rotational gravity that lies outside the vertical axis of the rotating fan is unconventional as well. The present invention addresses this need. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a ceiling fan blade mounting arrangement that produces a center of rotational gravity that lies outside the vertical axis of the rotating fan compensated by a stabilizing member. One object of the present invention is to provide an improved ceiling fan. Related objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a single bladed ceiling fan of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is another view of the single bladed ceiling fan of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an elevated perspective view of another single bladed ceiling fan of the invention showing the arcuate body of the fan blade. 
       FIG. 4  is an elevated perspective view of still another single bladed ceiling fan of the invention showing the stabilizing member. 
       FIG. 5  is another view of the single bladed fan of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the upper and lower casings of the housing showing the bore, light bulb socket and light bulb contained in the housing. 
       FIG. 7  is an elevated perspective view showing a ceiling fan blade mounting arrangement of the invention. 
       FIG. 8  is an elevated perspective view showing another fan blade mounting arrangement of the invention showing the stabilizing member and cover. 
       FIG. 9  is an elevated perspective view showing another blade mounting arrangement illustrating the arcuate body of the fan blade, the stabilizing member and cover. 
       FIG. 10  is an elevated perspective view showing another blade mounting arrangement illustrating the stabilizing members arranged about and between the multiple blades. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
   Ceiling fan blade arrangements according to the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 1–9 , wherein like elements are identified by like numerals. With reference to  FIGS. 1–3 , one preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a fan  10  including a single blade  40  extending radially from a central motor housing  50 . Blade  40  may be connected to the fan directly or indirectly with extension hardware known in the art. Blade  40  can be formed from wood, wicker, plastic or organic matter, such as palm leaves, for example, which materials are known in the art. Of course, materials that have mechanical and physical properties rendering them better suited for the ceiling fans of the invention are preferred. Plastic, wood, metal and such rigid materials are more preferred. 
   In one embodiment, blade  40  has an elongated arcuate body  41  that tapers from a proximal end  42  to its opposing distal end  44 . In an embodiment, blade  40  has a cross-section that progressively tapers from a leading edge  46  to a trailing edge  48 . Such a fan would experience out-of-concentric rotation if not provided with some element to equal the balance of the fan or if the fan was not securely anchored in the ceiling at  500  via down rod  35 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   In another preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4–6 , a stabilizing member  70  is provided adjacent to the motor housing  50  opposite the single blade  40 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , stabilizing member or stabilizer  70  has a thickness considerably greater than that of the opposing blade  40 . Stabalizing member  70  is preferably configured as a non-blade stabilizer. In other words, the stabilizer preferably does not have the shape of a blade and/or perform the function of a blade. Stabilizing member  70  preferably performs two functions: (1) it stabilizes the rotating weight of the fan such that its center of rotational gravity lies within the vertical axis  90  of the fan; and (2) it equalizes the air or wind resistance or “drag” of blade  40 . The greater thickness of stabilizing member  70  addresses the first concern, while opening  75  provides drag that approximates that generated by opposing blade  40 . If desired, opening  75  may be enlarged or modified to form a partial air tunnel or “scoop” (not shown) in stabilizing member  70  to catch and direct air to and through the motor housing  50  to assist in cooling the electric drive motor during operation. Cover  80  is provided to cover opening  75 , which provides the options of engaging other aeronautic variables that may be desirable. 
   Motor housing  50  can be provided with air ducts  53  in its upper casing  52  and/or lower casing  54 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Air ducts  53  help cool motor  20 , which contributes to prolonged life of the fan motor. With reference to  FIG. 6 , upper casing  52  includes bores  51  for accommodating light bulb socket  55  in which resides light bulb  58 . Light bulb(s)  58  provide illumination upwardly through bore  51 . 
   With respect to  FIGS. 7–9 , in yet a further embodiment, fan  10  includes at least two fan blades  40  connected for rotation, arranged adjacent to each other in one semicircle of rotation  100 . Stabilizing member  70  extends from fan  10  in a second semicircle of rotation  110  so that stabilizing member  70  stabilizes the rotating weight of the blades  40  on rotation so that the center of rotational gravity of the fan lies on longitudinal axis  90 . 
   Yet another contemplated embodiment includes two or more blades  40  spaced at various asymmetric and/or non-opposing positions in a radial fashion about the motor housing  50  and relative to the vertical axis  90 . The blades  40  may be identical in shape and mass, or may each have a different shape and/or mass. Accordingly, such a fan might include one or more stabilizing members  70  arranged about and/or between or among the multiple blades so long as the center of rotational gravity lies on the vertical axis  90  of fan  10 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
   Alternatively, if the multi-bladed fan of this invention is sufficiently anchored at the ceiling portion  500  and the downrod  35  is of sufficient strength, fan  10  need not have stabilizing member  70  and should withstand the torque and out-of-concentric forces generated by the rotation of a single blade  40  or two or more non-opposing blades. 
   Although the ceiling fan and mounting arrangement provided by the present invention have been described with a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will understand that modifications, variations and combinations may be made without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims. Such modifications, variations, and combinations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended Claims. For example, the fan blade arrangement of  FIG. 4  could be modified to include cover  80  for covering opening  75 , and bores  51  that accommodate light bulbs  58  could be omitted. Likewise, stabilizing member(s)  70  can be altered or omitted accordingly. The blade arrangements of  FIGS. 4 ,  8 , and  9  may differ from each other so long as the rotating weight of fan  10  is stabilized and the fan&#39;s center of rotational gravity lies within the fan&#39;s vertical axis  90 . As noted however, alternatively, if the fan of this invention is sufficiently anchored at the ceiling portion  500  and the downrod  35  is of sufficient strength, fan  10  need not have stabilizing member  70  and should withstand the torque and out-of-concentric forces generated by the rotation of a single blade  40  or two or more non-opposing blades, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  6  and  7 . 
   While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.