IP Library Granted Patent US 12,234,839
Granted Patent B2
US 12,234,839 · App. 18/307,117 · Granted Feb 25, 2025

Ceiling fan with blade hub

Inventors: Phillip Santolucito (Memphis, TN); Agustin Chacon (Memphis, TN)
Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
F04D29/646F04D25/06F04D25/0613F04D25/088F04D29/329F04D29/34F04D29/384F04D29/388F04D25/0693F05D2240/301
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,234,839
App. No.
18/307,117
Granted
Feb 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A ceiling fan having a motor assembly that can be secured to a structure, for example, by a downrod and a hanger bracket assembly. A light kit can optionally be carried by the motor assembly. The motor assembly can include a housing to which can be integrated or attached to a blade hub. Blades for the ceiling fan can be mounted to the blade hub.

Claims (33)

1. A ceiling fan comprising:

a motor assembly comprising:

a non-rotating motor shaft,

a rotor rotationally mounted to the non-rotating motor shaft,

a rotatable motor housing defining a shell at least partially enclosing the rotor, the shell having a portion overlying the rotor and defining an outer surface of the shell, and

a blade hub located on the portion overlying the rotor and having multiple blade mounts located on the outer surface, with the blade mounts each defining a receptacle;

multiple fan blades having blade holders received in a corresponding receptacle with the blade mount circumscribing the corresponding blade holder;

a downrod having an upper end configured to mount to a structure and a lower end mounted to the non-rotating motor shaft.

2. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein the blade hub is integrally formed with the motor housing.

3. The ceiling fan of claim 2 wherein the motor housing comprises an upper portion and a lower portion.

4. The ceiling fan of claim 3 wherein the blade hub is located on the upper portion.

5. The ceiling fan of claim 4 wherein the upper portion and lower portion collectively define a magnet seat, and the rotor comprises a plurality of magnets received within the magnet seat.

6. The ceiling fan of claim 5 wherein the upper portion defines the outer surface.

7. The ceiling fan of claim 6 wherein at least one receptacle defines a cavity for receiving the corresponding blade holder.

8. The ceiling fan of claim 7 wherein the at least one receptacle comprises a split sleeve forming the cavity.

9. The ceiling fan of claim 7 wherein the at least one receptacle comprises a saddle having a portion located within the cavity.

10. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein at least one receptacle defines a cavity for receiving the respective blade holder.

11. The ceiling fan of claim 1 further comprising a lock assembly securing at least one of the blade holders to the corresponding blade mount.

12. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein the blade hub comprises a hub defining a central opening through which passes the non-rotating motor shaft, and the multiple blade mounts extend radially from the central opening.

13. The ceiling fan of claim 1 further comprising a cable passing through the downrod and operably coupled to the non-rotating motor shaft.

14. The ceiling fan of claim 13 further comprising a pin located in the non-rotating motor shaft, and the cable is coupled to the pin.

15. The ceiling fan of claim 13 further comprising a plate located below a lower end of the non-rotating motor shaft, and the cable is coupled to the plate.

16. The ceiling fan of claim 1 wherein the shell defines an outer periphery and the blade mounts are located within the outer periphery.

17. The ceiling fan of claim 16 wherein the shell defines an axial end wall and a peripheral side wall extending from the axial end wall, with the peripheral side wall defining the outer periphery.

18. The ceiling fan of claim 17 wherein the blade mounts are located on the axial end wall.

19. The ceiling fan of claim 18 wherein the blade mounts are integrally formed with the axial end wall.

20. The ceiling fan of claim 12 further comprising a shaft coupler connecting the non-rotating motor shaft to the downrod.

21. The ceiling fan of claim 20 wherein the shaft coupler is at least partially received in the central opening.

22. A ceiling fan comprising:

a motor assembly having a non-rotating motor shaft and a rotor rotationally mounted to the non-rotating motor shaft;

a blade hub coupled to the rotor and rotating about the non-rotating shaft and having multiple blade mounts located on an outer surface of the blade hub, with the blade mounts defining a cavity, and a saddle having a portion located within at least one cavity;

multiple fan blades mounted to the rotating blade hub; and

a downrod having an upper end configured to mount to a structure and a lower end mounted to the non-rotating motor shaft.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2023
From: SANTOLUCITO, PHILLIP; CHACON, AGUSTIN
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 063445/0576 →
Continuity (11)
Continuation 17933573 · Sep 20, 2022
Continuation 17204056 · Mar 17, 2021
Continuation 16251453 · Jan 18, 2019
Continuation 15891746 · Feb 8, 2018
Continuation 15630255 · Jun 22, 2017
Continuation 15378806 · Dec 14, 2016
Provisional Application 62267033 · Dec 14, 2015
Provisional Application 62281860 · Jan 22, 2016
Provisional Application 62281866 · Jan 22, 2016
Provisional Application 62350799 · Jun 16, 2016
Related Publication 20240077086A1 · Mar 7, 2024
References Cited (153)
US 2259247A · Claude · 1941 [cited by applicant]
US 2276262A · Caldwell et al. · 1942 [cited by applicant]
US 2430854A · Berliner · 1947 [cited by applicant]
US 2765859A · Hartzell et al. · 1956 [cited by applicant]
US 2918977A · Fedan et al. · 1959 [cited by applicant]
US 4073598A · Mizutani et al. · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4275993A · Sprengling · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4594018A · Larsson et al. · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4611139A · Godkin et al. · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4637673A · Yang · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4657485A · Hartwig · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4808071A · Chau · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4878806A · Markwardt · 1989 [cited by examiner]
US 5085392A · Perna · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5224830A · Wang · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5246343A · Windsor et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5256037A · Chatelain · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5302083A · Bucher · 1994 [cited by examiner]
US 5435514A · Kerr · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5520515A · Bailey et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5613832A · Su · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5851107A · Wang · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5883449A · Mehta et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5899663A · Feder · 1999 [cited by examiner]
US 5980353A · Wu · 1999 [cited by examiner]
US 6039541A · Parker et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6059531A · Tai · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6247894B1 · Moody · 2001 [cited by examiner]
US 6250886B1 · Immell et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6309083B1 · Lathrop · 2001 [cited by examiner]
US 6382917B1 · Zuege · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6390777B1 · Kerr, Jr. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6528914B2 · Kloeppel et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6592328B1 · Cahill · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6630758B2 · Aoki et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6676376B2 · Kerr, Jr. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6726453B1 · Hsieh · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6817835B2 · Boyd et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6828705B1 · Choi et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6840739B2 · Cortez et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7210910B1 · Parker et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7284960B2 · Aynsley · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7402025B2 · Wang · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7615898B2 · Chang · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7625186B1 · Lueddecke · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7726945B2 · Grant et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7780418B2 · Wang · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7785077B2 · Richardson et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7955055B1 · Boyd et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8066480B2 · Madsen et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8314523B2 · Lin · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8523378B2 · Schulzman · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8579588B1 · Boyd · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8602725B2 · Itou et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8672649B2 · Smith · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8721305B2 · Oleson et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8827652B2 · Witt · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8827664B2 · McCloud et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8840379B2 · Wang · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8876468B2 · Aynsley et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8956124B2 · Boyd et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8985959B1 · Kuykendall et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9011099B2 · Wortman et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9102397B2 · Wood · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9523371B2 · Hollan et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9859773B2 · Yin et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10676954B1 · Oppenheim · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20020176781A1 · Kuang · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20060024165A1 · Gajewski · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060039809A1 · Fan · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060147310A1 · Steiner · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20080107527A1 · Gajewski · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080138205A1 · Cartwright · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080193294A1 · Grant et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080203837A1 · Tang · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080317616A1 · Yu · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090081045A1 · Scherer et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090180888A1 · Parker et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090208333A1 · Smith et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100109465A1 · Yang et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110020135A1 · Itou et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110052411A1 · Yamamoto et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110142655A1 · Chen et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20130009494A1 · Oguma · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130136632A1 · Stocks et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130189104A1 · Hollan et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130189109A1 · Noble · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130209293A1 · Kawano et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140328686A1 · Chen · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140348649A1 · Oleson · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150023802A1 · Oleson et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150037164A1 · Fizer et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150090858A1 · Broughman · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150207381A1 · Hauck et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150211532A1 · Whitley · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150240824A1 · Jones et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150260199A1 · Hollan · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150333592A1 · Yin et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20170159664A1 · Du · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180128277A1 · Chia · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CA 2299810A1 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
CN 2043806U · 1989 [cited by applicant]
CN 1307187A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
CN 1523234A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
CN 1574554A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
CN 2677672Y · 2005 [cited by applicant]
CN 201068875Y · 2008 [cited by applicant]
CN 201113613Y · 2008 [cited by applicant]
CN 101394124A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 201305128 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 102027240A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
CN 202145590U · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 102510137A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 102536864A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 202309389U · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 202520640 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 102868244A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
CN 103174465A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
CN 203574521U · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 203660757U · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 104214137A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 204025144U · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 204041489U · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 104350670A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 204304715U · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 105099080A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 105201893 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 204992877 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 205533349 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
DE 102004001942A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
EP 2397783A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 2397784A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
GB 258730A · 1926 [cited by applicant]
GB 505373A · 1939 [cited by applicant]
GB 911310A · 1962 [cited by applicant]
GB 2114818A · 1983 [cited by applicant]
GB 2235598A · 1991 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013217273A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2002081927A1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009111708A1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
Kuang Yufen, National Intellectual Property Administration, PRC, Notification of First Office Action re Application No. 2016800813964, Aug. 9, 2019, 11 pages, Beijing, China. [cited by applicant]
Kuang Yufen, National Intellectual Property Administration, PRC, Notification of First Office Action re Application No. 2016800816981, Aug. 5, 2019, 7 pages, Beijing, China. [cited by applicant]
Brazilian Patent Office, Office Action re Corresponding BR Application No. BR112018011909-1, Jun. 20, 2020, 4 pages, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. [cited by applicant]
Chinese Patent Office, Office Action re Corresponding Application No. 2021102695805.8, Feb. 5, 2023, 9 pages, China. [cited by applicant]
European Patent Office, Extended European Search Report re Corresponding Application No. 22213588.1-1004, Mar. 14, 2023, 8 pages, Munich, Germany. [cited by applicant]
Chinese Patent Office, Office Action re Corresponding Application No. 202110271868.5, Jul. 13, 2022, 8 pages, China. [cited by applicant]
Chinese Patent Office, Office Action re Corresponding Application No. 202110271910.3, Jul. 28, 2022, 8 pages, China. [cited by applicant]
European Patent Office, Extended Search Report re Corresponding Application No. 22161207.0-1004, Jun. 17, 2022, 8 pages, Munich, Germany. [cited by applicant]
European Patent Office, Extended Search Report re Corresponding Application No. 22161208.8-1004, Jun. 17, 2022, 10 pages, Munich, Germany. [cited by applicant]
European Patent Office, Extended Search Report re Corresponding Application No. 22161211.2-1104, Jun. 24, 2022, 9 pages, Munich, Germany. [cited by applicant]
European Patent Office, Extended Search Report re Corresponding Application No. 22161209.6-1004, Jun. 24, 2022, 9 pages, Munich, Germany. [cited by applicant]
Chinese Patent Office, Office Action re Corresponding Application No. 202110269505.8, Jul. 11, 2022, 9 pages, China. [cited by applicant]
Chinese Patent Office, Office Action re Corresponding Application No. 202110271711.2, Jun. 24, 2022, 7 pages, China. [cited by applicant]