US20090053059A1

Movatterモバイル変換

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 toFIGS. 1A and 1B, which show a ceiling fan in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the invention. Aceiling fan1 comprises a canopy10, apipe11, and ahousing12. The canopy10 secures theceiling fan1 to an external surface for installation, so that thewhole ceiling fan1 is securely fixed on the surface for installation. An end of thepipe11 is connected to the canopy10, and a length thereof may be increased or decreased according to different locations where theceiling fan1 is installed. Thehousing12 is connected to another end of thepipe11, which comprises astationary portion121 and aswivel portion122. Thestationary portion121 is connected to astator123, which has acorresponding rotor124 connected to theswivel portion122. Thestator123 and thecorresponding rotor124 are the main components that make up a motor, and are powered by an electromagnetic force. When a first circuit (not shown) of thestationary portion121 is turned on, therotor124 drives and allows theswivel portion122 to rotate.

Theswivel portion122 comprises afan stand1221 for connecting to at least onefan blade15, wherein the at least onefan blade15 has light guidingmeans152 formed thereon; a plurality oflighting elements16 are disposed on thefan stand1221 of theswivel portion122 and connected to a second circuit (not shown). When thefan blade15 starts to rotate, the plurality oflighting elements16 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 means152 of thefan blade15. Thelighting element16 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 means152 of thefan blade15 further comprise afirst configuration151, so as to make the light guided via thefan blade15 appear dynamically during the operation of theceiling fan1. Thefirst configuration151 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 thefan blade15. The arc-shaped structures are preferably centered on an axis of theswivel portion122. Thefan blade15 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. Thestationary portion121 may further comprise a plurality ofupper lighting elements161 on an upper side of thefan blade15, and a plurality oflower lighting elements162 on a lower side of thefan blade15. Theupper lighting element161 and thelower lighting element162 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 theupper lighting element161 may further include an uppertranslucent cover126, and an external side of thelower lighting element162 may further include a lowertranslucent cover127, so that light may be passed through theupper lighting element161 and thelower lighting element162.

The combinational design of astator123 and arotor124 can be divided into two types, inner rotor design and outer rotor design. In the combinational design in which inner rotor design is adopted, therotor124 is located inside thestator123, and thestator123 remains stationary while therotor124 is connected to a spinning axis during operation. In the combinational design in which outer rotor design is adopted, therotor124 is located outside thestator123, and thestator123 remains stationary while therotor124 rotates about astationary axis1231 during operation. In this preferred embodiment of the invention, a combinational design with outer rotor design is preferably employed, in which therotor124 is located outside thestator123, and thestator123 is disposed on thestationary axis1231 and connected to thestationary portion121 of thehousing12, while therotor124 is connected to thefan stand1221 so as to allow thefan blade15 to rotate. However, the combinational design with inner rotor design may also be employed if required, in which therotor124 is disposed inside thestator123 and connected to a spinning axis, and further connected to theswivel portion122 and the fan stand1221 of thehousing12.

Refer toFIGS. 2A and 2B, which show a ceiling fan in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the invention. Aceiling fan2 comprises a canopy20 (not shown), apipe21, and ahousing22. The canopy20 (not shown) secures theceiling fan2 to an external surface for installation, so that thewhole ceiling fan2 is securely fixed on the surface for installation. An end of thepipe21 is connected to the canopy20 (not shown), and a length thereof may be increased or decreased according to different locations where theceiling fan2 is installed. Thehousing22 is connected to another end of thepipe21, which comprises astationary portion221 and aswivel portion222. Thestationary portion221 is connected to astator223, which has acorresponding rotor224 connected to theswivel portion222. Thestator223 and thecorresponding rotor224 are the main components that make up a motor, and are powered by an electromagnetic force. When a first circuit (not shown) of thestationary portion221 is switched on, therotor224 drives and allows theswivel portion222 to rotate.

Theswivel portion222 comprises afan stand2221 for connecting to at least onefan blade25, wherein the at least onefan blade25 has light guiding means252 formed thereon; a plurality oflighting elements26 are circularly disposed on thestationary portion221 of thehousing22 at the inside of thefan stand2221 and connected to the first circuit. When thefan blade25 starts to rotate, the plurality oflighting elements26 located inside thefan blade25 emit light due to electric connections of the first circuit, and thus light is guided and emitted via the light guiding means252 of thefan blade25.

Cover portions

2225 are disposed outside of where thefan blade25 is connected to thefan stand2221, 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, thelighting element26 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 means252 of thefan blade25 further comprise afirst configuration251, so as to make the light guided via thefan blade25 appear dynamically during the operation of theceiling fan2. Thefirst configuration251 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 thefan blade25; the arc-shaped structures are preferably centered on an axis of theswivel portion222. Thestationary portion221 may further comprise a plurality ofupper lighting elements261 on an upper side of thefan blade25, and a plurality oflower lighting elements262 on a lower side of thefan blade25. Theupper lighting element261 and thelower lighting element262 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 theupper lighting element261 may further include an uppertranslucent cover226, and an external side of thelower lighting element262 may further include a lowertranslucent cover227, so that light may be passed through theupper lighting element261 and thelower lighting element262.

The combinational design of astator223 and arotor224 can be divided into two types, inner rotor design and outer rotor design. In the combinational design in which inner rotor design is adopted, therotor224 is located inside thestator223, and thestator223 remains stationary while therotor224 is connected to a spinning axis during operation. In the combinational design in which outer rotor design is adopted, therotor224 is located outside thestator223, and thestator223 remains stationary while therotor224 rotates about astationary axis2231 during operation. In this preferred embodiment of the invention, a combinational design with outer rotor design is preferably employed, in which therotor224 is located outside thestator223, and thestator223 is disposed on thestationary axis2231 and connected to thestationary portion221 of thehousing22, while therotor224 is connected to thefan stand2221 so as to allow thefan blade25 to rotate. However, the combinational design with inner rotor design may also be employed if required, in which therotor224 is disposed inside thestator223 and connected to a spinning axis, and further connected to theswivel portion222 and thefan stand2221 of thehousing22.

Refer toFIGS. 3A and 3B, which show a ceiling fan in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the invention. Aceiling fan3 comprises a canopy30 (not shown), apipe31, and ahousing32. The canopy30 (not shown) secures theceiling fan3 to an external surface for installation, so that thewhole ceiling fan3 is securely fixed on the surface for installation. An end of thepipe31 is connected to the canopy30 (not shown), and a length thereof may be increased or decreased according to different locations where theceiling fan3 is installed. Thehousing32 is connected to another end of thepipe31, which comprises astationary portion321 and aswivel portion322. Wherein thestationary portion321 is connected to astator323, which has acorresponding rotor324 connected to theswivel portion322. Thestator323 and thecorresponding rotor324 are the main components that make up a motor, and are powered by an electromagnetic force. When a first circuit (not shown) of thestationary portion321 is switched on, therotor324 drives and allows theswivel portion322 to rotate.

Theswivel portion322 comprises afan stand3221 for connecting to at least onefan blade35, wherein the at least onefan blade35 has light guiding means352 formed thereon; anoptic fiber36 for receiving light transmitted from a light generator (not shown) is circularly disposed in thestationary portion321 of thehousing32 at the inside of thefan stand3221; theoptic fiber36 has a suitable number of notches disposed thereon for allowing light to pass through. When thefan blade35 starts to rotate, light generated from theoptic fiber36 is guided and emitted via the light guiding means352 of thefan blade35.Cover portions3225 are disposed outside of where thefan blade35 is connected to thefan stand3221, 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 thestationary portion321 of thehousing32, but the light generator (not shown) may also be disposed at an external side of theceiling fan3 if only one light generator (not shown) is used to provide light for theoptic fibers36 ofmultiple ceiling fans3, or if it is desirable to prevent the light generator (not shown) from instability due to the operation of theceiling fan3. The light guiding means352 of thefan blade35 further comprise afirst configuration351, so as to make the light guided via thefan blade35 appear dynamically during the operation of theceiling fan3. Thefirst configuration351 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 thefan blade35; The arc-shaped structures are preferably centered on an axis of theswivel portion322. Thestationary portion321 may further comprise a plurality ofupper lighting elements361 on an upper side of thefan blade35, and a plurality oflower lighting elements362 on a lower side of thefan blade35. Theupper lighting element361 and thelower lighting element362 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 theupper lighting element361 may further include an uppertranslucent cover326, and an external side of thelower lighting element362 may further include a lowertranslucent cover327, so that light may be passed through theupper lighting element361 and thelower lighting element362.

The combinational design of astator323 and arotor324 can be divided into two types, inner rotor design and outer rotor design. In the combinational design in which inner rotor design is adopted, therotor324 is located inside thestator323, and thestator323 remains stationary while therotor324 is connected to a spinning axis during operation. In the combinational design in which outer rotor design is adopted, therotor324 is located outside thestator323, and thestator323 remains stationary while therotor324 rotates about astationary axis3231 during operation. In this preferred embodiment of the invention, a combinational design with outer rotor design is preferably employed, in which therotor324 is located outside thestator323, and thestator323 is disposed on thestationary axis3231 and connected to thestationary portion321 of thehousing32, while therotor324 is connected to thefan stand3221 so as to allow thefan blade35 to rotate. However, the combinational design with inner rotor design may also be employed if required, in which therotor324 is disposed inside thestator323 and connected to a spinning axis, and further connected to theswivel portion322 and thefan stand3221 of thehousing32.

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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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.