Fan blade mounting system
View Patent ↗A ceiling fan ( 10 ) has an electric motor ( 13 ) which rotatably drives an annular array of blade irons ( 14 ) coupled to blades ( 15 ). Each blade has a fastener mounting hole ( 18 ) and an end notch ( 19 ). Each blade iron ( 14 ) has a blade mounting portion ( 23 ) with a blade fastener ( 24 ) configured to pass through the fastener mounting hole, and a releasable spring biased catch ( 27 ). The fastener has main post ( 30 ) and stops ( 25 ) configured to overlay the top surface of the blade once the blade is coupled to the blade iron. The catch has a moveable flat spring ( 28 ) straddled by two L-shaped guides ( 29 ) having an upright wall portion ( 31 ) and a horizontal top portion ( 32 ). The horizontal top portion is spaced a select distance from the blade iron top surface ( 26 ) through the height of the vertical wall portion so as to catch the blade therebetween. The flat spring has a hand gripping portion ( 34 ) extending above the top surface of the blade.
1. A ceiling fan comprising:
an electric motor;
an annular array of blade irons counted 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 a top surface, a peripheral edge, a pivot mounting hole therethrough and a notch extending inwardly from said peripheral edge,
each said blade iron having a releasable catch and a pivot pin configured to be received within said blade pivot mounting hole to allow pivotal movement of said blade relative to said blade iron, said pivot pin includes a member adapted to overlay said blade top surface to restrict said blade from moving away from said blade iron, said catch being adapted for movement between an unlocked position positioned externally of said blade notch and a locked position positioned within said blade notch, and with said catch in its locked position said catch prevents the pivotal movement of said blade about said pivot pin relative to said blade iron.
2. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein said catch is spring biased.
3. The ceiling fan of claim 2 wherein said pivot pin is a post and wherein said post member is a pair of wings extending from said post, and wherein said blade pivot hole is configured to allow the passage of said post and pair of wings with the blade in said unlocked position and configured so that said wings overlie said blade top surface with said blade in said locked position.
4. The ceiling fan of claim 3 wherein said catch is spring biased.
5. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein each said blade iron further includes a guide positioned to be directly adjacent an end of said blade proximal said motor and configured to overhang said blade so that a portion of said guide abuts said blade top surface.
6. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein said catch includes a gripping portion extending above said blade top surface.
7. A ceiling fan comprising:
an electric motor;
an annular array of blade irons mounted to said motor, each said blade iron having pivot pin with a main post and at least one stop extending from said main post, each said blade iron also having a releasable catch, 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 pivot pin mounting hole configured to allow the passage of said pivot pin stop and at least a portion of said main post with said blade in an unlocked position and being configured to prevent the passage of said pivot pin stop with said blade in a locked position longitudinally aligned along a radial extending from said electric motor, each said blade also having a peripheral edge with an inwardly extending notch configured to receive said catch with said blade in said locked position.
8. The ceiling fan of claim 7 wherein said catch is spring biased.
9. The ceiling fan of claim 8 wherein said pivot pin is a post and wherein said post member is a pair of wings extending from said post, and wherein said blade pivot hole is configured to allow the passage of said post and pair of wings with the blade in said unlocked position and configures so that said wings overlie said blade top surface with said blade in said locked position.
10. The ceiling fan of claim 9 wherein said catch is spring biased.
11. The ceiling fan of claim 7 wherein each said blade iron further includes a guide positioned to be directly adjacent an end of said blade proximal said motor and configured to overhang said blade so that a portion of said guide abuts said blade top surface.
12. The ceiling fan of claim 7 wherein said catch includes a gripping portion extending above said blade top surface.