IP Library Granted Patent US 7,527,478
Granted Patent B2
US 7,527,478 · App. 11/437,442 · Granted May 5, 2009

Fan blade mounting system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,527,478
App. No.
11/437,442
Granted
May 5, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A ceiling fan blade iron includes a blade mounting portion 23 with a top surface 26 facing the ceiling, a movable blade fastener 24 , and two fixed or stationary mounting catches 27 coupled to and extending from the top surface 26 . The blade iron is configured to mate with a blade 15 having two catch mounting holes 17 and a fastener mounting hole 18 . Each catch 27 has an upright wall portion 31 and a horizontal top portion 32 . The moveable blade fastener 24 has a hand gripping portion 35 , a mid-member 36 having an elongated slot 37 therein, an upright abutment portion 38 , and a horizontal, outboard extending stop portion 39 extending from the abutment portion. A mounting screw 40 extends through the slot and is threadably received within a threaded mounting hole within the blade iron to allow sliding movement of the fastener relative to the blade iron.

Claims (25)

1. A ceiling fan comprising,

an electric motor;

an annular array of blade irons mounted to said motor, and

a ceiling fan blade associated with each said blade iron of said annular array of blade irons, each said blade having at least one fixed catch mounting hole and at least one moveable fastener mounting hole;

each said blade iron having at least one fixed catch having a wall portion and a top portion extending from said wall portion in a first direction along the longitudinal axis of said blade iron, each said blade iron also having a moveable fastener having a wall portion and a top portion extending from said wall portion in a second direction along the longitudinal axis of said blade iron and with said second direction being generally in the opposite direction from said first direction, said moveable fastener wall portion and top portion being slidable along the longitudinal axis in a longitudinal direction between a locked position locking one said blade to said blade iron and an unlocked position unlocking said one blade from said blade iron;

whereby each respective blade may be mounted to each respective blade iron by passing the fixed catch through the fan blade catch mounting hole and the moveable fastener through the fan blade fastener mounting hole and then moving the moveable fastener from its unlocked position to its locked position.

2. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein said moveable fastener includes a push bar configured to be contacted by an installer for movement of said moveable fastener.

3. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein said first direction extends towards said electric motor and said second direction extends away from said electric motor.

4. A ceiling fan comprising,

an electric motor;

an annular array of blade irons mounted to said motor;

at least one catch coupled to each said blade iron;

a ceiling fan blade associated with each said blade iron of said annular array of blade irons, each said blade having at least one catch mounting hole and at least one fastener mounting hole; and

a moveable fastener coupled to each said blade iron, said fastener being adapted to extend through said blade fastener mounting hole to releasably lock each said ceiling fan blade to one said blade iron, said moveable fastener having an outboard flange extending stop portion configured to abut a fan blade surface opposite said blade iron, and an abutment portion configured to extend through said blade fastener mounting hole, said moveable fastener outboard flange and abutment portion being slidable along a longitudinal track between a locked position locking said blade to said blade iron and an unlocked position unlocking said blade from said blade iron

whereby each respective blade may be mounted to each respective blade iron by passing the catch through the fan blade catch mounting hole and the fastener through the fan blade fastener mounting hole and then moving the moveable fastener to its locked position.

5. The ceiling fan of claim 4 wherein said moveable fastener includes a push bar configured to be manually contacted by an installer for movement of said moveable fastener.

6. The ceiling fan of claim 4 wherein said catch has an inboard extending flange portion.

7. The ceiling fan of claim 6 wherein said catch flange portion extends inwardly towards said electric motor.

8. The ceiling fan of claim 7 wherein said fastener is moveable in a longitudinal direction.

9. A ceiling fan comprising,

an electric motor;

an annular array of blade irons mounted to said motor, each said blade iron having at least one catch having an upright portion and an inwardly extending flange extending from said upright portion;

a ceiling fan blade associated with each said blade iron of said annular array of blade irons, each said blade having at least one catch mounting hole and a fastener mounting hole therethrough, and

a fastener associated with each said blade iron, each fastener having an upright portion coupled to said blade iron and an outwardly extending flange portion extending from said upright portion, said fastener upright portion and flange portion being moveable along a longitudinal path of travel.

10. The ceiling fan of claim 9 wherein said moveable fastener includes a push bar configured to be manually contacted by an installer for movement of said moveable fastener.

Assignments (10)
PATENT RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 21, 2017
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP (SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION)
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 042310/0462 →
PATENT RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 21, 2017
From: GUGGENHEIM CORPORATE FUNDING, LLC
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 042312/0285 →
ASSIGNMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Aug 25, 2015
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP
Reel/Frame 036463/0407 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Feb 12, 2013
From: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029795/0222 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Feb 12, 2013
From: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
To: GUGGENHEIM CORPORATE FUNDING, LLC
Reel/Frame 029795/0405 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Feb 4, 2013
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 029751/0271 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Feb 4, 2013
From: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 029751/0322 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2007
From: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
To: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P., AS SECOND LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 019204/0836 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 25, 2007
From: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 019204/0566 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2006
From: PEARCE, RICHARD A.
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 017904/0109 →