Illumination – With fluid distributer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-08
2001-04-10
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With fluid distributer
C362S276000, C362S802000, C416S005000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213617
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to ceiling fans and means for illuminating the fan blades associated therewith and, more particularly, to a flashing strobe light arrangement which is synchronized to the rotational speed of the fan to illuminate and display designs, signage, and other indicia associated with one or more of the fan blades.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Associating signage, designs and/or other indicia with one or more of the fan blades associated with a typical ceiling fan can result in a great marketing tool for advertising a wide variety of different types of goods and services if such indicia can be easily viewed when the fan blades are in motion. Typically, such indicia, which can be imprinted directly onto any plurality of fan blades or onto fan blade covers associated with a particular ceiling fan, is not clearly visible when the fan blades are in motion due to the rotational speed of the ceiling fan. As a result, optimum display of any such fan blade indicia is not achieved.
It is therefore desirable to have an apparatus associated with a ceiling fan to allow the indicia associated with the fan blades to be viewed statically when the fan blades are in motion regardless of the rotational speed of the fan. It is also desirable to have an apparatus associated with a ceiling fan which will allow the indicia associated with a plurality of fan blades to be observed in a flow type pattern.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, one or more strobe light units are provided for synchronized operation with an operable ceiling fan having at least one rotating fan blade with indicia imprinted thereon or otherwise associated therewith, the synchronized operation of the strobe light units being based upon the rotational speed of the fan and allowing convenient static observation of the indicia associated with the fan blades. Any conventionally constructed light unit capable of pulsed illumination with a desired visual effect may be used in association with the present invention. The light units can be mounted directly onto the fan, or such light units can be mount separate from the fan so long as such light units are operable in cooperation with the operation of the fan. In this regard, the strobe light flashes are coordinated with the speed of the fan in order to illuminate a particular fan blade at a particular predetermined location while the fan is in operation in order to project a still image. Alternatively, the strobing light flashes can likewise be coordinated with the speed of the fan in order to illuminate a running flow pattern of the indicia associated with the respective fan blades. The speed of the fan may be determined by any electro-mechanical sensor usable therefor, such as an electronic eye whose light beam is interrupted by the rotational movement of the fan blades, or by a magnetic sensor capable of sensing each pass of the respective fan blades whereby the number of sensor interruptions may be counted over a specific time interval and the speed of the fan may be calculated therefrom. The strobing of the light units can therefore be coordinated with the speed of the fan to achieve the desired visual effect. Alternatively, the strobing of the lights may be triggered directly by the passing of the fan blades when sensed by the sensor as described above.
Other modifications to the present invention are also contemplated, such as multiple flashing of the fan blades in a single fan blade revolution whereby multiple static images, or multiple flow patterns, can be viewed. One skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous such modifications and improvisations are possible without departing from the sprit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide one or more strobing lights which can be synchronized in cooperation with the speed of a fan in order to illuminate and project any design, signage or other indicia associated with a rotating fan blade into one or more static images, or into one or more flow patterns.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple and cost effective method and apparatus to illuminate and project a visually distinguishable static image or a visually distinguishable flow pattern based upon indicia associated with one or more rotating fan blades.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed specification of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5082422 (1992-01-01), Wang
patent: 5110261 (1992-05-01), Junkin
patent: 5516264 (1996-05-01), Anetrini
patent: 5800049 (1998-09-01), Todd, Jr.
Blackwell Sanders Peper & Martin
Cariaso Alan
DelGizzi Ronald E.
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