Fluid reaction surfaces (i.e. – impellers) – Support mounting – carrier or fairing structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-21
2003-05-06
Verdier, Christopher (Department: 3745)
Fluid reaction surfaces (i.e., impellers)
Support mounting, carrier or fairing structure
C416S005000, C416S1700HM, C417S360000, C417S423150, C246S343000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06558124
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to ceiling fans. More particularly, this invention relates to a tightening device with easy alignment adapted for securing a ceiling fan to a fitting which is used to mount the ceiling fan onto a flat ceiling wall.
2. Description of the Background Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a first conventional ceiling fan
1
is shown to include a motor casing
13
having an upper major wall
132
with a plurality of screw holes
131
(typically 6 holes
131
equally spaced angularly) and an upright coupling member
16
including threaded holes
162
(typically 6 holes
162
equally spaced angularly) that are in alignment with holes
131
for coupling together by screws
161
(typically 6 screws
161
). A fitting
10
includes a mounting bracket
11
which has an abutment wall
111
to be fixed on and to abut against a flat ceiling wall, and, for alternative use with a downrod
15
such as shown in
FIG. 3
, a pair of retaining halves
112
that are suspended from the abutment wall
111
and that are spaced apart from each other radially to define a retaining bore or socket for receiving the downrod
15
. The fitting
10
further includes a protective canopy covering member
12
which has an upper annular secured portion
124
surrounding and secured to the abutment wall
111
of the mounting bracket
11
so as to shield the abutment wall
111
radially, and a skirt portion
125
circumferentially extending from the annular secured portion
124
about the axis and downwardly to form a lower annular wall
121
. The lower annular wall
121
extends inwardly and radially to define an opening
123
for passage of the upright coupling member
16
, and has a plurality of through holes
122
(typically 3 equally spaced in alignment with 3 of the holes
162
) such that 3 of the screws
161
may be utilized to fasten the protective covering
12
to the motor casing
13
.
Referring to
FIGS. 3 and 4
, for holding a second ceiling fan
2
with a supporting rod
15
which extends upwardly about the axis from the upright coupling member
16
and which has an enlarged upper portion that passes through the opening
123
and that is retained by the retaining halves
112
of the mounting bracket
11
, the fitting
10
incorporates a plurality of cap members
17
to cover the through holes
122
in the protective covering member
12
, thereby improving the outer appearance of the ceiling fan. A more complete disclosure of cap members
17
can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,436, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvement which overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the prior art devices and provides an improvement which is a significant contribution to the advancement of the ceiling fan art.
Another object of this invention is to provide a tightening device with easy alignment adapted for securing a ceiling fan to a fitting so as to conveniently assemble the ceiling fan onto the fitting.
The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
For the purpose of summarizing this invention, this invention comprises a tightening device which includes an annular flange member adapted to extend inwardly and radially from a lower annular wall of a protective covering member in the form of a canopy, and an anchored flat sheet adapted to be formed with an upper major wall of a motor casing. The anchored flat sheet has upper and lower anchored walls opposite to each other in an axial direction, and an inner peripheral wall extending from the upper anchored wall to communicate with the lower anchored wall to define a central hole. The upper anchored wall defines a plurality of first fastening positions proximate to the inner peripheral wall and angularly spaced apart from one another. An upper annular clamping member preferably in the form of a clamping ring has an outer circumferential portion and an inner circumferential portion extending inwardly and radially from the outer circumferential portion to define an inserting hole. A similarly configured lower annular gasket member, preferably composed of a vibration damping material such as rubber, is provided. When the upper annular clamping member and the gasket member are respectively placed on and beneath the annular flange member, the outer circumferential portions will sandwich the annular flange member therebetween, while the inner circumferential portions face each other in an axial direction parallel to the axis. The inner circumferential portions respectively define second fastening positions and third fastening positions which respectively correspond to the first fastening positions in terms of number and relative position. As such, a plurality of fastening members can fasten the anchored flat sheet and the inner circumferential portions together along the first, second and third fastening positions when the annular flange member is sandwiched between the outer circumferential portions, and when each of the first fastening positions is aligned with two corresponding ones of the second and third fastening positions in the axial direction.
The present invention eliminates the need for holes in the protective canopy covering member that otherwise may be covered by the aesthetically pleasing cap members described hereinabove.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5613832 (1997-03-01), Su
patent: 5947436 (1999-09-01), Bucher et al.
patent: 6171062 (2001-01-01), Bucher et al.
Bucher Charles E.
Bucher John C.
Holland & Knight LLP
King of Fans Inc.
Verdier Christopher
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