Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/639,779, filed Aug. 16, 2000, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/360,268, filed Jul. 26, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,191. This application also claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/299,635, filed Jun. 20, 2001. All of those applications are herein incorporated in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed to the general field of ceiling fixtures, and to the more specific field of ceiling fans with features that make easier the tasks of hanging and electrically connecting the fan.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The installation of a ceiling fan is a difficult task for a single installer. To install a conventional ceiling fan, the fan is lifted to just below the electrical junction box and held there while connecting the fan wires to the electrical supply wires. After the electrical connection is finished, the fan is lifted further to place the fan bell over the junction box and held in that position while the fan is attached to the box or a ceiling hanger in some manner, typically with screws or bolts. The combined operation takes several minutes and usually requires two persons, one to lift and hold the fan and the other to make the wire and screw connections.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention provides an easily installed ceiling fan or other electrically-powered ceiling fixture. The fan includes a quick connect device for electrically and physically mounting the fan to a ceiling.  
         [0005]     A quick connect device of the present invention includes a plate that is attachable to an electrical junction box and carries a first electrical contact. A canopy is attachable to the rim of the plate by rotation and is adapted to carry a ceiling fixture. A second electrical contact is mounted inside the canopy for connection with the first electrical contact. The first and second contacts are so positioned that they can be engaged before the rotational connection of the canopy to the plate. One of the electrical contacts is so mounted that it can rotate relative to the plate or the canopy, in order to allow for the rotational connection.  
         [0006]     In a preferred embodiment, the plate is a receptacle plate that mounts onto an electrical junction box, and the first electrical contact is an electrical receptacle that can be connected to supply wires in the electrical junction box. The second electrical contact is an electrical plug of the type that mates with the receptacle, such as a three- or four-prong plug. The plug is rotatably mounted in the canopy and is connected to electrical conductors for supplying electricity to the electrically-powered components of the fixture, such as a fan motor, a light, and any fan accessories. The rim of the canopy is provided with L-shaped slots for a “bayonet” connection with studs or screws projecting from the rim of the plate. The quick connect device is so dimensioned that as the fan is raised, first the pins of the plug engage in their respective sockets in the receptacle. At this stage, the studs or screws on the plate need not be aligned with the L-shaped slots in the canopy. Then the rim of the canopy engages with the studs or screws on the plate. At this stage, the canopy can be rotated, while the pins of the plug remain engaged in the receptacle, so that the studs or screws can be brought into alignment with the mouths of the L-shaped slots. Then the fixture is raised further, the studs or screws enter the L-shaped slots, and the plug engages fully with the receptacle. The canopy is then rotated, so that the studs or screws enter the horizontal inner ends of the L-shaped slots. The studs or screws can then support the weight of the fixture, leaving the installer with both hands free to tighten those screws and/or insert other screws or fastenings to secure the canopy to the plate.  
         [0007]     The plug need not be rotatably mounted, as long as the necessary freedom of rotation is provided somewhere. For practical reasons, the plate is preferably rigidly mounted to the ceiling box. However, the receptacle may be mounted for rotation on the plate. Instead, the plug may be non-rotatably mounted on the support, and the canopy may be rotatably mounted.  
         [0008]     It is not necessary for every pin of the plug to engage in the receptacle before the screws or studs engage in the L-shaped slots. Secure engagement by one pin of the plug may be sufficient to maintain alignment between the plug and the receptacle. It is usually preferred for a ground or neutral pin to be the first pin to engage. Instead, a formation other than one of the pins and its socket may engage first. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     For purposes of illustrating the invention, the drawings show one or more forms in which the invention can be embodied. The invention is not, however, limited to the precise forms shown unless such limitation is expressly made in a claim.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a ceiling fan according to the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective, partial section view of the quick connect device of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a receptacle plate of the quick connect device of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a exploded view of the quick connect device of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the quick connect device of  FIG. 2  after initial engagement between the receptacle and plug.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a quick connect device of the present invention attached to a ceiling fan bell.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the plug plate of the quick connect device.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is another bottom plan view of the plug plate of the quick connect device.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the plug plate of the quick connect device of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the receptacle plate of the quick connect device of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a bottom plan view of the receptacle plate of the quick connect device of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a first and a second plate of another embodiment of a quick connect device of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the second plate of the embodiment of  FIG. 12 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the first plate of the embodiment of  FIG. 12 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  is a side view of another embodiment of a quick connect device of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 16  is a side cross-section through a further embodiment of a quick connect device.  
         [0026]      FIG. 17  is a side view of another embodiment of a quick connect device of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 18  is a bottom view of a connector plate of a further form of quick connect device mounted to an electrical box.  
         [0028]      FIG. 19  is a top perspective picture of the bell of the quick connect device of  FIG. 18 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view from above of the plug plate and bell of an alternate embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]     Referring to the drawings, where like numerals indicate like elements, and initially to  FIG. 1 , a ceiling fan is generally indicated by the numeral  2 . Many of the fan elements are conventional, the particular type or design of these conventional elements not being material to the invention. These conventional elements include a drive housing  4  that encloses a drive motor (not shown), a down rod connecting shaft  6  which provides a conduit for electrical wires, a drive shaft  7 , a switch housing  9 , and fan blades  82 . In the interests of simplicity, the fans shown in the drawings are described as being mounted on the underside of a horizontal ceiling, with the connecting shaft  6  extending vertically downwards and the fan blades  82  rotating in a horizontal plane. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to that orientation.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an electrical junction box  10  is recessed in a ceiling  8 . The junction box  10  is of the type that supports a ceiling fan and houses the electrical wires. A general characteristic of a ceiling fan junction box is that it has some type of reinforced screw receptacles, such as threaded metal blocks or threaded shoulder rivets, to receive screws attaching the fan to the box, and transmitting the weight of the fan to the box. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,762,223 and 5,860,548, both to J. Russell Kerr, Jr., describe exemplary boxes of this type, and a box sold by Angelo Fan Brace, LLC. under the trade name SAF-T-BOX Model 1050 is an example of an electrical junction box that can be used with the present invention. The junction box  10  may be fastened directly to a ceiling joist, or may be mounted between joists on a hanger. A quick connect device indicated generally by the reference numeral  12  is used to connect the fan mechanically to the electrical box  10 , and to connect the electrical supply wires to the fan, as described below.  
         [0032]     Referring to FIGS.  2  to  11 , one form of the quick connect device  12  includes a receptacle plate  16  that will attach to the electrical box  10 . The receptacle plate  16  has two through holes  18 ,  20  to pass through two threaded screws  22 ,  24  that are received by internally threaded shoulder rivets  26 ,  28  fixed to the box  10  to attach the plate to the box. The screws  22 ,  24  and rivets  26 ,  28  secure the receptacle plate to the electrical box and provide adequate support and rigidity to sustain the weight and torque of a ceiling fan.  
         [0033]     In an alternate embodiment, not shown but easily understood from the previous paragraph, the receptacle plate  16  has a pair of keyhole slots in place of the through holes. The screws  22 ,  24  are initially threaded part way into the rivets  26 ,  28 , and the wide parts of the keyhole slots of the receptacle plate are aligned with the screws and passed over the heads of the screws. Thereafter, the receptacle plate  16  is rotated to move the screws into the narrow parts of the keyhole slots and the screws are tightened to secure the plate  16  to the box  10 . Any configuration of the receptacle plate that provides the same function is contemplated as another possible alternative embodiment.  
         [0034]     The receptacle plate  16  holds an electrical receptacle; as shown in FIGS.  1  to  11 , it is a conventional three-prong receptacle  30 . Electrical wires  11  within the ceiling are connected to the terminals of the receptacle  30  to supply electricity to the fan. The wires  11  form part of the ordinary wiring of the building in which the fan is installed: in the interests of conciseness, that wiring will not be further discussed.  
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the receptacle plate has two opposite ends that are formed as arcs of a circle. The upwardly facing side of the receptacle plate  16  is cut back at each end of the plate to form a flange  34 ,  36  flush with the downwardly facing side of each end of the plate. A bore  38 ,  40  is drilled in the top surface of each of the flanges  34 ,  36  and extends into the main body of the receptacle plate, forming a cut-out in the flange and hollow cylindrical cavity in the main body, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The purpose of the bores is explained below.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIGS. 4, 8  and  9 , the quick connect device  12  also includes a plug plate  42  that will attach to the down rod connecting shaft  6 , or to a bell or canopy  14  (see  FIG. 2 ) that covers the connection between the down rod connecting shaft  6  and the ceiling box  12 . The plug plate  42  holds a conventional cylindrical three-prong plug  44  that matches the receptacle  30 . The plug  44  is secured to the plate  42  in a fashion that enables the plate to rotate around the plug (or the plug to rotate inside the plate). As shown in FIGS.  1  to  11 , the plug plate  42  has a central chamber  43  to hold the cylindrical body of the plug. Most of the central chamber has a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the plug, which enables the plug to rotate within the chamber. At the upwardly facing side of the plug plate  42 , however, the chamber  43  is defined by a ridge. The ridge has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the plug, and abuts the face of the plug and prevents the plug from being pulled out of the chamber from the upwardly facing side of the plug plate.  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a retaining ring  46  is attached to the downwardly facing side of the plug plate  42 . The retaining ring  46  has a central opening through which electrical wires from the fan pass. The retaining ring  46  is fixed to the plug plate  42 , in this embodiment by a pair of screws  48 ,  50 . This configuration enables the plug plate to rotate relative to the plug about a vertical axis. The axis of rotation of the plug coincides with the central axis of the arcuate ends of the receptacle plate  16 .  
         [0038]     The ends of the plug plate are circular arcs, and at each end there is a latch slot  52 ,  54  defined by the end walls  56 ,  58  of the plate extending upwardly (as illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) and reflecting back over the plate top walls  60 ,  62  extending inwardly from the end walls  56 ,  58 . The latch slots  52 ,  54 , are shaped and sized to receive the flanges  34 ,  36  of the receptacle plate. The flanges  34 ,  36  and the latch slots  52 ,  54  have coincident circular arcuate shapes so that the plug plate  42  and the receptacle plate  16  can rotate relative to one another with the flanges engaged in the latch slots. The flanges  34 ,  36  and the latch slots  52 ,  54  have circumferential extents substantially less than 90°, so that there is an orientation in which the flanges  34 ,  36  do not engage the top walls  60 ,  62 . The axis of rotation of the plug plate  42  relative to the receptacle plate  16  coincides with the axis of rotation of the plug  44  relative to the plug plate  42 .  
         [0039]     The plug plate  42  has two pairs of screw holes  64 ,  66  to fasten the plug plate to the fan bell  14 . Each pair of screw holes  64 ,  66  has one of the holes formed in each wall  56 ,  58 . The individual holes of each pair of screw holes are positioned on opposite sides of the plug. The screw holes  66  continue as semi-cylindrical bores in the underside of the top walls  60 ,  62 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the fan bell  14  also has two pairs of screw holes  65 ,  67  that align with the screw holes  64 ,  66 , respectively, of the plug plate  42  when the plug plate is properly positioned in the bell. A first pair of screw holes  65  receive screws  68  which extend through the fan bell and into the plug plate screw holes  64  and secure the plug plate in the fan bell, but do not project inwards from the plug plate  42 . These screws are used to attach the bell  14  to the plug plate  42  before the fan is installed.  
         [0040]     When the receptacle plate and the plug plate are rotated into their latched position (as shown in  FIG. 6  and described below) the second set of plug plate screw holes  66  align with the bores  38 ,  40  in the receptacle plate  16 . Once the two plates are aligned, the second set of screw holes  66  in the plug plate and the corresponding second set of screw holes  67  in the bell receive screws  70  which extend through the bell, through the end wall, into the receiving slot where they are received by the semi-cylindrical bores, and into the receptacle plate cylindrical cavities.  
         [0041]     The plug plate may, and preferably will, include a stop  72  along one side of the receptacle plate to facilitate alignment of the plug plate and the receptacle plate, as described below.  
         [0042]     The ceiling fan shown in FIGS.  1  to  11  is installed by the following steps. In a preferred embodiment the fan is expected to be sold with the plug plate  42  installed in the fan bell  14 , and with the fan&#39;s electrical supply wires already connected to the proper terminals of the plug  44 . The receptacle plate  16  will be included with the fan, but as an unattached item.  
         [0043]     The first step is to connect the wires  11  from the electrical supply to the corresponding terminals of the receptacle  30  in the receptacle plate  16 . The receptacle plate  16  is then attached to the electrical box  10  by the screws  22 ,  24 .  
         [0044]     Next, the fan is lifted to the junction box and the plug  44  is rotated to a position as in  FIG. 5 , where the plug can be inserted into the receptacle  30 , while the plug plate  42  is across the receptacle plate  16  at a sufficient angle that the flanges  34 ,  36  of the receptacle plate do not contact the top wall  60 ,  62  of the plug plate. The fan is then raised to push the plug prongs fully into the receptacle. The fan is then rotated (as shown by arrow A in  FIG. 5 ) to align and interlock the two plates, that is, to a position where the flanges  34 ,  36  on the receptacle plate are in the latch slots  52 ,  54  of the plug plate. If the plug plate has a stop  72 , the fan is rotated until the receptacle plate contacts the stop, at which position the respective screw holes should be aligned. The screws  70  are then tightened to fix the receptacle plate to the plug plate. The screws  70  hold the plates securely together and prevent the plates from separating regardless of the direction of rotation of the fan blades.  
         [0045]     Thus, the required time and difficulty of hanging and electrically connecting the fan is greatly reduced, and the operation can be easily done by one person.  
         [0046]     The fan can be removed from the ceiling by reversing the sequence of installation described above. It will be appreciated that, as long as the fan removed is to be returned to its place, or is to be replaced by another fan having a similar plug  44  and plug plate  42 , the receptacle plate  16  may be left in position. It is then not necessary to engage in any electrical wiring work. Further, because the plug and receptacle are automatically disconnected as the fan is removed from the ceiling, there is very little danger of electric shock even if the power supply to the wires  11  is not switched off. The fan should, of course, be switched off at the switch housing  9  before any attempt to remove or reinstall it.  
         [0047]     Alternative embodiments of the quick connect device may be made by reversing some of the parts. For example, the plug  44  may be fixed relative to the plug plate  42  and the receptacle  30  may be rotatable in the receptacle plate  16 . Any operable permutation of the plates and the rotatable plug/receptacle is considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, the preferred embodiment of the invention discloses a plug plate and a receptacle plate having a generally rectangular main body with curved ends, as illustrated, but the invention is not intended to be limited to that configuration.  
         [0048]      FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate how the embodiment of  FIGS. 2-11  may be enhanced so that a single quick connect device can accommodate more than one size of fan bell. This feature would typically be used in quick connect devices that are retrofitted to existing ceiling fans. As illustrated, the second or plug plate  300  includes a bottom section  302  and a top section  304 . A plurality of tabs  306  are attached to and extend from opposing sides of the bottom section  302 . The bottom section  302  includes a cut out section  308  of reduced height. The top section  304  has a height that snugly fits into the cut-out section  308  as guided by the tabs  306 .  
         [0049]     This embodiment includes a plug  310  that has a collar  312  and a lip  311  positioned about the body of the plug. Both the bottom section  302  and the top section  304  include a central opening  314 ,  316 , which may be rectangular or oblong. The central opening  314  of the bottom section  302  has a width generally equal to the diameter of the body of the plug  310 , while the central opening  316  of the top section  304  has a width equal to the diameter of the lip  311 . In this manner, the plug  310  resides within the central openings  314 ,  316  with the lip  311  resting on the bottom section  302  and the collar  312  resting on the top section  304 .  
         [0050]     Depending upon the size of the fan bell, the top and bottom sections  302 ,  304  may be pulled apart or pushed together. As the second plate  300  is fit into the fan bell, the first set of screws  68  may be inserted through the fan bell and into the receiving holes  64  to fix the second plate to the fan bell, as described above. Once the second plate  300  is fixed to the fan bell, the plug  310  can be adjusted to the center of the second plate, as allowed by the central openings  314 ,  316  and thereafter the collar  312  fixed to the top section  304  by a set of screws  307 . The collar  312  is attached to the plug  310  in a manner that permits the second plate  300  to rotate about the plug  310 .  
         [0051]     The first or receptacle plate  320  includes a top section  322  and a bottom section  324 . Each section  322 ,  324  includes a cut-out. When fully engaged, the two sections form a unit equivalent to the receptacle plate described above. This embodiment includes a receptacle  326  having a collar  328  thereabout. The receptacle  326  resides in an opening  330 ,  332  in each section  322 ,  324 , respectively, with the collar  328  resting on the top section  324 . Each receptacle plate section  322 ,  324  includes a first set of slots  334  that receive screws  336  for fixing the two sections  322 ,  324  to each other once the sections have been sized to correspond to the size of the plug plate sections  302 ,  304 . Each receptacle plate section  322 ,  324  also includes a second set of slots  338  that receive screws (not shown) for attaching the receptacle plate to the electrical junction box once the sections  322 ,  324  have been sized and fixed to each other.  
         [0052]     This embodiment is otherwise identical to the first embodiment described above with reference to FIGS.  2  to  11  in all material respects.  
         [0053]      FIG. 15  illustrates another alternate embodiment of the quick connect device. In this embodiment, the quick connect device includes a disk or “pancake box”  400  that is attachable to an electrical junction box  402  by screws  403  that engage in internally threaded shoulder rivets  26 ,  28  such as those shown in  FIG. 2 . The disk  400  carries a first electrical contact element  404 . The first contact element  404  is wired to the electrical supply  11  in the junction box  402 . The first contact element  404  may be either the plug or the receptacle of a plug/receptacle connection. Preferably, the first contact element  404  is the receptacle. Instead, the first contact element  404  may be a contact strip. The disk  400  has a flange  405  extending downwards from its rim. The flange  405  includes a pair of receiving slots  406  that are positioned on opposing sides of the disk  400 . The slots  406  have a generally “L” shaped configuration. The mouths of the slots extend vertically downwards, and open out through the bottom edges of the flange  405 . The closed ends of the slots extend horizontally.  
         [0054]     The quick connect device also includes a pair of locking pins  408  mounted on the inside of a fan bell  410 . The upper rim of the fan bell is formed by a vertical section  411  that is sized to fit over the flange  405  of the disk  400 , snugly but not so tightly that the fan bell cannot be slid on and off and turned. The locking pins  408  are mounted on opposing sides of the fan bell  410 , in positions corresponding to the receiving slots  406 . A second contact element  412  is also mounted inside the fan bell  410 . The second contact element  412  may be the other of the plug/receptacle connection or a second contact strip. The second contact element is positioned such that when the fan bell  410  is brought to the disk  400  bring the locking pins into the receiving slots  406  and the fan bell  410  is rotated to secure the locking pins  408  in the receiving slots  406 , the second contact element  412  engages the first contact element  404 . Once the fan bell  410  is mounted to the disk  400  a pair of set screws inserted into holes  414 ,  416  may be used to secure the fan bell  410  to the disk  400  to prevent rotational movement between the two.  
         [0055]      FIG. 16  illustrates a further alternate embodiment, which is similar to that shown in  FIG. 15 , except that the flange  405  on the pancake box  400  fits over the outside of the rim  411  of the bell  410 . Instead of the pins  408 , screws  420  are provided, which are threaded into holes  422  in the bell  410 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , the second contact element  412  is a plug and the first contact element  404  is a receptacle. The receptacle  404  is fixed to the disk  400 . The plug  412  is fixed to a disk  424 , which is attached by screws  426  to internally threaded columns  428 . The screws  426  pass through slots  430  in the disk  424 , and are loosely tightened in order to allow the disk  424  to rotate through an arc determined by the length of the slots  430 . The bottoms of the columns  428  are fixed to the bottom of the bell  410 , and to a bearing ring  432  on the bottom of the bell by screws  433 . The bearing ring  432  supports a ball  434 , which carries the down rod connecting shaft  6 . The ball  434  is keyed to the bearing ring  432 , so that the fan can tilt in any direction, to accommodate ceilings that are not perfectly horizontal, but cannot revolve about the axis of the connecting shaft  6 .  
         [0056]     In order to mount the fan, the screws  420  are left very loose in their holes  422 , so that a length of shank is exposed facing the flange  405  of the disk  400 . The fan is raised and aligned so that the ground pin  436  of the plug  412  engages in its respective socket in the receptacle  404 . The bell is then rotated, if necessary, until the screws  420  align with the mouths of the slots  406 . The slots  430  allow the bell  410  to rotate to the correct position while the plug  412  remains in register with the socket  404 . The fan is then raised, pushing the plug  412  into the receptacle  404 , and the screws  420  into the slots  406 . When the screws reach the angle of the slots  406 , the plug  412  and socket  404  are fully engaged. The bell  410  is then turned, moving the screws  406  into the closed ends of the slots  406 . The screws  420  then support the weight of the fan, and the installer can let the fan hang from those screws long enough to tighten them properly, and to insert additional screws into the holes  414 ,  416 . The latter screws not only share the weight of the fan but also make it impossible for the bell to rotate and disengage the screws  420 .  
         [0057]     It will be understood that the mounting of the plug  412  on the rotatable plate  430  may be used not only with the mounting shown in  FIG. 16 , but with any of the other embodiments for which a rotatable second contact is appropriate. On the other hand, merely by shortening the slots  430  to round holes, or tightening the screws  426 , the rotatable disk  424  and the plug  412  may be non-rotatably attached to the down rod connecting shaft  6 . The screws  433  are then screwed directly into the bearing ring  433 , with their heads inside the bell  410 , so that the bell is rotatable relative to the bearing ring, the down rod connecting shaft  6 , and the plug  412 .  
         [0058]      FIG. 17  illustrates an alternate embodiment for connecting a plug plate  500  to the fan. A bracket  502  couples the plug plate  500  to a ball  504 . The bracket  502  may be connected to the plug plate  500  or formed integrally therewith. The bracket  502  serves as a socket allowing the ball to rotate. A down rod  506  is connected to the ball  504 . The down rod  506  connects to a motor housing (not shown). Once the ball  504  has been secured in the bracket  502 , a fan bell  508  may be installed. The fan bell  508  may be attached to the plug plate  500 , the electrical junction box or the ceiling. The bracket may also be used in conjunction with an embodiment incorporating contact strips.  
         [0059]     Referring now to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , in a further embodiment of the quick connect mounting a plug plate  600  is attached to the electrical box  10  by screws  22 ,  24  that pass through keyhole slots  602  in the plug plate. At each end of the plug plate  600  is a flange  604  that extends downwards (away from the electrical box  10 ). The flanges  604  form two opposite sectors of a cylinder, corresponding to the rim  405  of the mountings shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . A hole  606  is provided in the center of the plug plate  600 , in which a plug or socket could be mounted, similarly to the receptacles  30 ,  326 , and  404  shown in previously described embodiments. In this embodiment, a plug  608  is mounted on the plug plate  600 , away from the hole  606 . The plug  608  has a row of contact pins  610 , surrounded by an insulating or grounded shroud  612 . The plug  608  passes through an opening in the plate  600 , and the electrical wires  11  are connected to terminals on the part of the plug  608  above the plug plate  600 . Instead, wires extending from the plug  600  may be connected within the junction box  10  to the “hot” wires  11 .  
         [0060]     Referring now to  FIG. 19 , the bell  614  carries a carrier ring  432 , supporting a ball  434 , which supports the connecting rod  6 , as previously described. A mounting block  616  is fixed to one side of the carrier ring  432  by screws  618  screwed into posts  428 . The mounting block  616  has an arcuate slot  620 , centered on the axis of the bell  614 . A receptacle plate or slider  622  is captive in the slot, and carries a receptacle  624  that matches the plug  608 . It will be appreciated that the plug  608  and the receptacle  624  may be interchanged, or different sorts of plug and receptacle may be substituted. Wires  625  run from the receptacle  624  down the shaft  6  to the fan.  
         [0061]     A spring  626  urges the slider  622  to one end of the slot  620 . In this embodiment, the spring  626  is a coil spring in tension between the slider  622  and a screw  628  attached to the mounting block  616 . The spring  626  is guided round an upstanding post  630  to improve its angle of action. Other forms of spring may be used instead, and it will be understood that a functionally equivalent spring may be provided in any of the embodiments of the invention described above.  
         [0062]     Screws  632  are threaded into holes in the flanges  604 , and L-shaped slots  634  are provided in the rim of the bell  614 . As shown in  FIG. 18 , the screws  632  may not be diametrically opposite one another. This may be advantageous to remind the installer which way round to fit the bell onto the plug plate. It may be considered less esthetically pleasing to have the heads of the screws  632  asymmetrically positioned, but they should not be sufficiently conspicuous for that to be a problem. As shown in  FIG. 19 , more than two L-shaped slots  634  may be provided, for increased support or to allow a single design of bell  614  to fit different plates  600 , pancake boxes  400 , or the like.  
         [0063]     To mount the fan, the installer raises the fan bell  614  above his head and aligns the screws  632  with the L-shaped slots  634  on the bell  614 . An optional indicator on the fan bell  14  may also show the installer the proper fan bell alignment during installation. The spring  626  maintains the receptacle  624  in a position in which it is correctly aligned with the plug  608  when the screws  632  align with the slots  634 . Next, the installer pushes the screws  632  into the slots  634  and rotates the bell so that the screws engage in the horizontal parts of the slots  634 . When the bell is rotated, the receptacle plate  622  slides along the slot  620 , allowing the receptacle  624 , which is engaged with the plug  608 , to remain fixed in position.  
         [0064]     An alternate embodiment is shown in  FIG. 20 . This embodiment is substantially similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , except that instead of the mounting block  616 , a receptacle plate  650  extends across the bell  614 , and is secured in position by screws  652  at both sides. The receptacle  624  slides in a slot  620  in the receptacle plate  650 , and is biased to one end of the slot by a hairpin spring  654 . The middle of the spring is pivoted round a screw  656 , and the other end of the spring is held in a hole  658  in the receptacle plate. Installation is performed similarly to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 .  
         [0065]     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention. In particular, although the embodiments show specific combinations of features, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art how features from different embodiments may be combined and interchanged in various ways, only some of which have been specifically mentioned above.  
         [0066]     For example, any of the embodiments described may be modified so that either the plug or the receptacle is attached to the ceiling box  10  and connected to the power supply  11  although, unless the pins of the plug are shrouded, it will usually be preferred to have the receptacle connected to the power supply. Any of the embodiments shown may be modified so that either the upper of the plug and receptacle can rotate relative to the ceiling box or the bell can rotate relative to the lower of the plug and receptacle. If the bell rotates relative to the lower of the plug and receptacle, the down rod connecting shaft  6  may be non-rotatably connected to either the bell or the structure holding the plug or receptacle. The weight of the fan may be carried either by the bell or by a structure inside the bell, as shown in  FIG. 17 . If the bell is not load-bearing, it may be a separate component that is positioned after the load-bearing and electrical connections have been made, or it may be attached to the lower part of the load-bearing connection during assembly.  
         [0067]     Further, although the embodiments are described as mountings for a ceiling fan  2 , it will be understood that other forms of fixture requiring both mechanical support and an electrical supply may easily be substituted.

Technology Category: 5