US20090053059A1

US20090053059A1 - Ceiling fan and manufacturing method thereof

Info

Publication number: US20090053059A1
Application number: US11/892,104
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsieh Lung-Fa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-20
Filing date: 2007-08-20
Publication date: 2009-02-26

Abstract

A ceiling fan and a fabrication method thereof have been disclosed in the invention. The ceiling fan comprises a canopy, a pipe, and a housing. The canopy is secured to an external surface for installation; an end of the pipe is connected to the canopy; the housing is connected to another end of the pipe and includes a stationary portion and a swivel portion. The stationary portion is connected to a stator, which has a corresponding rotor that is connected to the swivel portion; the swivel portion comprises a blade stand for connecting at least a fan blade and a first circuit, so as to drive the stator and the rotor. The ceiling fan of the invention is characterized in that: at least a fan blade has light guiding means, and a plurality of lighting elements are disposed on the blade stand of the swivel portion, which are electrically connected to a first circuit via the second circuit. Accordingly, when the fan blade starts to rotate, the plurality of lighting elements emit light because of the electrical connection, so that light is guided and emitted via the light guiding means of the fan blade. At least a fan blade has the light guiding means, and the plurality of lighting elements are circularly disposed in the stationary portion of the housing inside of the fan stand; when the fan blade starts to rotate, the plurality of lighting elements emit light because of the electrical connection, and light from the lighting elements at the inside of the fan blade is guided via the light guiding means of the fan blade and emitted. At least one fan blade has light guiding means, an optic fiber for receiving light transmitted from a light generator and is circularly disposed in the stationary portion of the housing at the inside of the fan stand. The optic fiber has a suitable number of notches disposed thereon for achieving the effect of translucence. When the fan blade starts to rotate, light from the optic fiber is guided via the light guiding means of the fan blade and emitted.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a ceiling fan for suspending from ceiling or roof, and more particularly to a ceiling fan having light-emitting and translucent fan blades.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

In the conventional ceiling fans, wind is generated from the rotation of fan blades, which in turn facilitates airflow in the surrounding environment. In addition, the longer the fan blades, the larger the area covered under the rotation of the fan blades, and the stronger the resultant wind. However, the fan blades that cover larger area do not achieve any other functions.
A ceiling fan with additional functions was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,824, in which a ceiling fan having sterilizing lamps, a canopy, a base, and a housing was proposed. The canopy is secured to an external surface for installation; an end of the base is connected to the canopy; the housing is connected to another end of the base and includes a stationary portion and a swivel portion; the swivel portion includes a fan stand for connecting to fan blades, and the fan blades have sterilizing lamps disposed thereon. The fan blades may rotate and generate wind, and achieve sterilization via the sterilizing lamps thereon.
As the demand for higher quality in living standard and living environment intensifies, the manufacturers of ceiling fans may increase its competitive edge by adding extra functions into the ceiling fans and making the fans multi-purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the aforesaid problems, a ceiling fan with fan blades that may guide lights is disclosed in the invention; the fan blades are combined with lighting elements disposed thereon to create adequate environmental atmosphere for changing the feelings of users.
Therefore, a ceiling fan and a fabrication method thereof has been disclosed in the invention, wherein the ceiling fan comprises a canopy for being secured to an external surface for installation, a pipe for connecting to the canopy at one end thereof and to a housing at another end thereof, the housing includes a stationary portion and a swivel portion; the stationary portion is connected to a stator, which has a corresponding rotor that is connected to the swivel portion; the swivel portion comprises a blade stand for connecting at least a fan blade; at least one fan blade has light guiding means, and a plurality of lighting elements or optic fibers are disposed in the housing. When the fan blade starts to rotate, the plurality of lighting elements emit light due to electrical connection, so that light is guided and emitted via the light guiding means of the fan blade.
Therefore, a primary objective of the invention is to propose a ceiling fan having light-emitting and translucent fan blades.
Another objective of the invention is to propose a ceiling fan in which light sources thereof may rotate along with the fan blades.
A further objective of the invention is to propose a ceiling fan in which light sources thereof do not rotate along with the fan blades, but still impart effects of dynamic light-emitting and translucence to the fan blades.
A still further objective of the invention is to propose a method for fabricating a ceiling fan having light-emitting and translucent fan blades.
A still further objective of the invention is to propose a method for fabricating a ceiling fan in which light sources thereof may rotate along with the fan blades.
A still further objective of the invention is to propose a method for fabricating a ceiling fan in which light sources thereof do not rotate along with the fan blades, but still impart effects of dynamic light-emitting and translucence to the fan blades.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objectives can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying diagrams, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view that shows a ceiling fan in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B is an exploded view that shows a ceiling fan in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view that shows a ceiling fan in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is an exploded view that shows a ceiling fan in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view that shows a ceiling fan in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is an exploded view that shows a ceiling fan in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A ceiling fan is disclosed in the invention, wherein the principles for making the ceiling fan are well-known by those of ordinary skill in the art, thus the following description will omit the description of the principles. Moreover, the diagrams included in the following are not completely drawn according to the real size and are only used to demonstrate features related to the present invention.
Refer to FIGS. 1A and 1B, which show a ceiling fan in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the invention. A ceiling fan 1 comprises a canopy 10, a pipe 11, and a housing 12. The canopy 10 secures the ceiling fan 1 to an external surface for installation, so that the whole ceiling fan 1 is securely fixed on the surface for installation. An end of the pipe 11 is connected to the canopy 10, and a length thereof may be increased or decreased according to different locations where the ceiling fan 1 is installed. The housing 12 is connected to another end of the pipe 11, which comprises a stationary portion 121 and a swivel portion 122. The stationary portion 121 is connected to a stator 123, which has a corresponding rotor 124 connected to the swivel portion 122. The stator 123 and the corresponding rotor 124 are the main components that make up a motor, and are powered by an electromagnetic force. When a first circuit (not shown) of the stationary portion 121 is turned on, the rotor 124 drives and allows the swivel portion 122 to rotate.
The swivel portion 122 comprises a fan stand 1221 for connecting to at least one fan blade 15, wherein the at least one fan blade 15 has light guiding means 152 formed thereon; a plurality of lighting elements 16 are disposed on the fan stand 1221 of the swivel portion 122 and connected to a second circuit (not shown). When the fan blade 15 starts to rotate, the plurality of lighting elements 16 emit light due to the electrical connection between the first circuit and the second circuit. Therefore, the light is guided and emitted via the light guiding means 152 of the fan blade 15. The lighting element 16 is preferably a light-emitting diode (LED), but may also be selected from a LED, a light bulb, or a combination thereof; the LED may be a red-light LED, a green-light LED, a blue-light LED, a white-light LED, or a combination thereof. The light guiding means 152 of the fan blade 15 further comprise a first configuration 151, so as to make the light guided via the fan blade 15 appear dynamically during the operation of the ceiling fan 1. The first configuration 151 is a plurality of arc-shaped structures which may be a protruding rib, a groove, or a combination thereof distributed on an upper side of the fan blade 15. The arc-shaped structures are preferably centered on an axis of the swivel portion 122. The fan blade 15 may further include a cover portion (not shown) that is not translucent, so as to prevent light from scattering into other needless directions and enhance the intensity of the emitted light. The stationary portion 121 may further comprise a plurality of upper lighting elements 161 on an upper side of the fan blade 15, and a plurality of lower lighting elements 162 on a lower side of the fan blade 15. The upper lighting element 161 and the lower lighting element 162 are preferably LEDs, but may also be LEDs, light bulbs, or a combination thereof. The LED may be a red-light LED, a green-light LED, a blue-light LED, a white-light LED, or a combination thereof. An external side of the upper lighting element 161 may further include an upper translucent cover 126, and an external side of the lower lighting element 162 may further include a lower translucent cover 127, so that light may be passed through the upper lighting element 161 and the lower lighting element 162.
The combinational design of a stator 123 and a rotor 124 can be divided into two types, inner rotor design and outer rotor design. In the combinational design in which inner rotor design is adopted, the rotor 124 is located inside the stator 123, and the stator 123 remains stationary while the rotor 124 is connected to a spinning axis during operation. In the combinational design in which outer rotor design is adopted, the rotor 124 is located outside the stator 123, and the stator 123 remains stationary while the rotor 124 rotates about a stationary axis 1231 during operation. In this preferred embodiment of the invention, a combinational design with outer rotor design is preferably employed, in which the rotor 124 is located outside the stator 123, and the stator 123 is disposed on the stationary axis 1231 and connected to the stationary portion 121 of the housing 12, while the rotor 124 is connected to the fan stand 1221 so as to allow the fan blade 15 to rotate. However, the combinational design with inner rotor design may also be employed if required, in which the rotor 124 is disposed inside the stator 123 and connected to a spinning axis, and further connected to the swivel portion 122 and the fan stand 1221 of the housing 12.
Refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B, which show a ceiling fan in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the invention. A ceiling fan 2 comprises a canopy 20 (not shown), a pipe 21, and a housing 22. The canopy 20 (not shown) secures the ceiling fan 2 to an external surface for installation, so that the whole ceiling fan 2 is securely fixed on the surface for installation. An end of the pipe 21 is connected to the canopy 20 (not shown), and a length thereof may be increased or decreased according to different locations where the ceiling fan 2 is installed. The housing 22 is connected to another end of the pipe 21, which comprises a stationary portion 221 and a swivel portion 222. The stationary portion 221 is connected to a stator 223, which has a corresponding rotor 224 connected to the swivel portion 222. The stator 223 and the corresponding rotor 224 are the main components that make up a motor, and are powered by an electromagnetic force. When a first circuit (not shown) of the stationary portion 221 is switched on, the rotor 224 drives and allows the swivel portion 222 to rotate.
The swivel portion 222 comprises a fan stand 2221 for connecting to at least one fan blade 25, wherein the at least one fan blade 25 has light guiding means 252 formed thereon; a plurality of lighting elements 26 are circularly disposed on the stationary portion 221 of the housing 22 at the inside of the fan stand 2221 and connected to the first circuit. When the fan blade 25 starts to rotate, the plurality of lighting elements 26 located inside the fan blade 25 emit light due to electric connections of the first circuit, and thus light is guided and emitted via the light guiding means 252 of the fan blade 25.
Cover portions 2225 are disposed outside of where the fan blade 25 is connected to the fan stand 2221, so as to prevent light from scattering into needless directions, elevate the contrasting effects of light, and enhance the intensity of the emitted light. Moreover, the lighting element 26 is preferably a LED, but may also be selected from a LED, a light bulb, or a combination thereof; the LED may be a red-light LED, a green-light LED, a blue-light LED, a white-light LED, or a combination thereof. The light guiding means 252 of the fan blade 25 further comprise a first configuration 251, so as to make the light guided via the fan blade 25 appear dynamically during the operation of the ceiling fan 2. The first configuration 251 is a plurality of arc-shaped structures which may be a protruding rib, a groove, or a combination thereof distributed on an upper side of the fan blade 25; the arc-shaped structures are preferably centered on an axis of the swivel portion 222. The stationary portion 221 may further comprise a plurality of upper lighting elements 261 on an upper side of the fan blade 25, and a plurality of lower lighting elements 262 on a lower side of the fan blade 25. The upper lighting element 261 and the lower lighting element 262 are preferably LEDs, but may also be LEDs, light bulbs, or a combination thereof. The LED may be a red-light LED, a green-light LED, a blue-light LED, a white-light LED, or a combination thereof. An external side of the upper lighting element 261 may further include an upper translucent cover 226, and an external side of the lower lighting element 262 may further include a lower translucent cover 227, so that light may be passed through the upper lighting element 261 and the lower lighting element 262.
The combinational design of a stator 223 and a rotor 224 can be divided into two types, inner rotor design and outer rotor design. In the combinational design in which inner rotor design is adopted, the rotor 224 is located inside the stator 223, and the stator 223 remains stationary while the rotor 224 is connected to a spinning axis during operation. In the combinational design in which outer rotor design is adopted, the rotor 224 is located outside the stator 223, and the stator 223 remains stationary while the rotor 224 rotates about a stationary axis 2231 during operation. In this preferred embodiment of the invention, a combinational design with outer rotor design is preferably employed, in which the rotor 224 is located outside the stator 223, and the stator 223 is disposed on the stationary axis 2231 and connected to the stationary portion 221 of the housing 22, while the rotor 224 is connected to the fan stand 2221 so as to allow the fan blade 25 to rotate. However, the combinational design with inner rotor design may also be employed if required, in which the rotor 224 is disposed inside the stator 223 and connected to a spinning axis, and further connected to the swivel portion 222 and the fan stand 2221 of the housing 22.
Refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B, which show a ceiling fan in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the invention. A ceiling fan 3 comprises a canopy 30 (not shown), a pipe 31, and a housing 32. The canopy 30 (not shown) secures the ceiling fan 3 to an external surface for installation, so that the whole ceiling fan 3 is securely fixed on the surface for installation. An end of the pipe 31 is connected to the canopy 30 (not shown), and a length thereof may be increased or decreased according to different locations where the ceiling fan 3 is installed. The housing 32 is connected to another end of the pipe 31, which comprises a stationary portion 321 and a swivel portion 322. Wherein the stationary portion 321 is connected to a stator 323, which has a corresponding rotor 324 connected to the swivel portion 322. The stator 323 and the corresponding rotor 324 are the main components that make up a motor, and are powered by an electromagnetic force. When a first circuit (not shown) of the stationary portion 321 is switched on, the rotor 324 drives and allows the swivel portion 322 to rotate.
The swivel portion 322 comprises a fan stand 3221 for connecting to at least one fan blade 35, wherein the at least one fan blade 35 has light guiding means 352 formed thereon; an optic fiber 36 for receiving light transmitted from a light generator (not shown) is circularly disposed in the stationary portion 321 of the housing 32 at the inside of the fan stand 3221; the optic fiber 36 has a suitable number of notches disposed thereon for allowing light to pass through. When the fan blade 35 starts to rotate, light generated from the optic fiber 36 is guided and emitted via the light guiding means 352 of the fan blade 35. Cover portions 3225 are disposed outside of where the fan blade 35 is connected to the fan stand 3221, so as to prevent light from scattering into needless directions, elevate the contrasting effects of light, and enhance the intensity of the emitted light. Moreover, the light generator (not shown) is preferably disposed in the stationary portion 321 of the housing 32, but the light generator (not shown) may also be disposed at an external side of the ceiling fan 3 if only one light generator (not shown) is used to provide light for the optic fibers 36 of multiple ceiling fans 3, or if it is desirable to prevent the light generator (not shown) from instability due to the operation of the ceiling fan 3. The light guiding means 352 of the fan blade 35 further comprise a first configuration 351, so as to make the light guided via the fan blade 35 appear dynamically during the operation of the ceiling fan 3. The first configuration 351 is a plurality of arc-shaped structures which may be a protruding rib, a groove, or a combination thereof distributed on an upper side of the fan blade 35; The arc-shaped structures are preferably centered on an axis of the swivel portion 322. The stationary portion 321 may further comprise a plurality of upper lighting elements 361 on an upper side of the fan blade 35, and a plurality of lower lighting elements 362 on a lower side of the fan blade 35. The upper lighting element 361 and the lower lighting element 362 may be optic fibers, LEDs, light bulbs, or a combination thereof. The LED may be a red-light LED, a green-light LED, a blue-light LED, a white-light LED, or a combination thereof. An external side of the upper lighting element 361 may further include an upper translucent cover 326, and an external side of the lower lighting element 362 may further include a lower translucent cover 327, so that light may be passed through the upper lighting element 361 and the lower lighting element 362.
The combinational design of a stator 323 and a rotor 324 can be divided into two types, inner rotor design and outer rotor design. In the combinational design in which inner rotor design is adopted, the rotor 324 is located inside the stator 323, and the stator 323 remains stationary while the rotor 324 is connected to a spinning axis during operation. In the combinational design in which outer rotor design is adopted, the rotor 324 is located outside the stator 323, and the stator 323 remains stationary while the rotor 324 rotates about a stationary axis 3231 during operation. In this preferred embodiment of the invention, a combinational design with outer rotor design is preferably employed, in which the rotor 324 is located outside the stator 323, and the stator 323 is disposed on the stationary axis 3231 and connected to the stationary portion 321 of the housing 32, while the rotor 324 is connected to the fan stand 3221 so as to allow the fan blade 35 to rotate. However, the combinational design with inner rotor design may also be employed if required, in which the rotor 324 is disposed inside the stator 323 and connected to a spinning axis, and further connected to the swivel portion 322 and the fan stand 3221 of the housing 32.

Claims

1. A ceiling fan, comprising:

a canopy for being secured to an external surface for installation;

a pipe having one end connected to the canopy;

a housing being connected to another end of the pipe, including a stationary portion and a swivel portion, the stationary portion being connected to a stator, which has a corresponding rotor being connected to the swivel portion; the swivel portion comprises a blade stand for connecting at least a fan blade; and

a first circuit for driving the stator and the rotor;

the ceiling fan being characterized in that:

at least one fan blade has light guiding means; a plurality of lighting elements are disposed on the fan stand of the swivel portion and electrically connected to the first circuit via a second circuit; a lighting element is chose from a combinational group of light-emitting diodes and light bulbs; therefore, when the fan blade starts to rotate, the plurality of lighting elements emit light due to the electrical connection, so that light is guided and emitted via the light guiding means of the fan blade.

2. The ceiling fan of claim 1, wherein the light guiding means of the fan blade further comprise a first configuration, so as to make the light guided via the fan blade appear dynamically during the operation of the ceiling fan.

3. The ceiling fan of claim 2, wherein the first configuration being a plurality of arc-shaped structures which are chose from a combinational group of ribs and grooves distributed on an upper side of the fan blade.

4. A ceiling fan, comprising:

a canopy for being secured to an external surface for installation;

a pipe having one end connected to the canopy;

a first circuit for driving the stator and the rotor;

the ceiling fan being characterized in that:

at least one fan blade has light guiding means; a plurality of lighting elements are circularly disposed in the stationary portion of the housing inside of the fan stand and electrically connected to the first circuit; the lighting element is chose from a combinational group of light-emitting diodes and light bulbs; cover portions are disposed outside of where the fan blade is connected to the fan stand, when the fan blade starts to rotate, the plurality of lighting elements emit light due to the electrical connection, so that light generated from the lighting elements at the inside of the fan blade is guided and emitted via the light guiding means of the fan blade.

5. The ceiling fan of claim 4, wherein the light guiding means of the fan blade further comprise a first configuration, so as to make the light guided via the fan blade appear dynamically during the operation of the ceiling fan.

6. The ceiling fan of claim 5, wherein the first configuration being a plurality of arc-shaped structures which are a combination group of ribs and grooves distributed on an upper side of the fan blade.

7. A ceiling fan, comprising:

a canopy for being secured to an external surface for installation;

a pipe having one end connected to the canopy;

a first circuit for driving the stator and the rotor;

the ceiling fan being characterized in that:

at least one fan blade has light guiding means; an optic fiber for receiving light transmitted from a light generator being circularly disposed in the stationary portion of the housing at the inside of the fan stand; the surface of the optic fiber has a suitable number of notches disposed thereon for allowing light to pass through; Cover portions are disposed outside of where the fan blade is connected to the fan stand when the fan blade starts to rotate; light generated from the optic fiber is guided and emitted via the light guiding means of the fan blade.

8. The ceiling fan of claim 7, wherein the light guiding means of the fan blade further comprise a first configuration, so as to make the light guided via the fan blade appear dynamically during the operation of the ceiling fan.

9. The ceiling fan of claim 8, wherein the first configuration being a plurality of arc-shaped structures which are a combinational group of ribs and grooves distributed on an upper side of the fan blade.