IP Library Granted Patent US 11,913,475
Granted Patent B2
US 11,913,475 · App. 18/162,648 · Granted Feb 27, 2024

Ceiling fan and blade

Inventors: Charles William Botkin (Cordova, TN); Bobby Neal Norwood (Oakland, TN); James Walter Longmire (Humboldt, TN); Douglas Troy Mason (Horn Lake, MS); Seth Aaron Wood (Bartlett, TN)
Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
F04D29/646F04D19/002F04D25/088F04D29/38F04D29/388
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,913,475
App. No.
18/162,648
Granted
Feb 27, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A blade for a ceiling fan can include a first half and a second half formed from a pulp material. The first half is attachable to the second half to form the blade. Additionally, a blade can include a skeleton with an over molding made from a pulp forming the blade. Furthermore, a blade can be formed using a blade base with a pulp topper added to the blade to form an aerodynamic shape for the blade.

Claims (28)

1. A ceiling fan assembly comprising:

a motor having a rotor with a blade mount;

a mount for coupling to a structure and for suspending the motor; and

a ceiling fan blade comprising a molded pulp blade body made of a compressed molded pulp slurry.

2. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the molded pulp slurry is made from one of a recycled material or biodegradable material.

3. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the ceiling fan blade further comprises a ceiling fan blade base and a topper, which attaches to the ceiling fan blade base, with the topper at least partially formed from the molded pulp slurry.

4. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 3 wherein the topper further includes a grommet portion extending into a mount hole of the ceiling fan blade base.

5. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 3 wherein the topper is smaller than the ceiling fan blade base defining a peripheral edge along at least a portion of the ceiling fan blade base that is unoccupied by the topper.

6. A ceiling fan assembly comprising:

a motor;

a mount for coupling to a structure and for suspending the motor;

a ceiling fan blade comprising a blade body for coupling to the motor, wherein the ceiling fan blade is a molded pulp formed from a compressed molded pulp slurry, and includes a foam core, and the molded pulp is formed about at least a portion of the foam core.

7. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 6 wherein the molded pulp comprises at least one of paper fibers, plant fibers, or wood fibers.

8. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 6 wherein the molded pulp is compressed.

9. A ceiling fan assembly comprising:

a motor;

a mount for coupling to a structure and for suspending the motor;

a ceiling fan blade comprising a blade body for coupling to the motor, wherein the ceiling fan blade is formed from a molded pulp and includes a skeleton, and the molded pulp is formed about at least a portion of the skeleton;

wherein the ceiling fan blade is formed of a first portion and a second portion, with each of the first portion and second portion including an interior surface, collectively defining an interior for the ceiling fan blade and the skeleton is located within the interior;

wherein the first portion comprises an upper half and the second portion comprises a lower half; and

wherein the upper half and lower half are connected by a hinge.

10. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 9 wherein the molded pulp comprises at least one of paper fibers, plant fibers, or wood fibers.

11. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 9 wherein the skeleton includes a set of perforations to facilitate adhesion of the molded pulp to the skeleton.

12. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 9 wherein the molded pulp is compressed.

13. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 9 wherein one of the first portion or the second portion further includes a set of stops.

14. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 13 wherein the first portion or the second portion that does not include the set of stops, includes a set of stop receptacles, with the set of stop receptacles adapted to receive the set of stops.

15. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 9 wherein the skeleton comprises a wire frame.

16. The ceiling fan assembly of claim 15 wherein the wire frame extends around a periphery of at least a portion of the blade.

Assignments (2)
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RIGHTS Recorded Aug 1, 2023
From: CLOPAY CORPORATION; THE AMES COMPANIES, INC.; HUNTER FAN COMPANY; CORNELLCOOKSON, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064458/0709 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: BOTKIN, CHARLES WILLIAM; NORWOOD, BOBBY NEAL; MASON, DOUGLAS TROY; LONGMIRE, JAMES WALTER; WOOD, SETH AARON
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 062553/0990 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17540620 · Dec 2, 2021
Continuation 16728302 · Dec 27, 2019
Related Publication 20230175528A1 · Jun 8, 2023