GB2289089A

GB2289089A - Fan blade

Info

Publication number: GB2289089A
Application number: GB9408512A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yung-Chung Huang
Original assignee: TYGAR CO Ltd
Current assignee: TYGAR CO Ltd
Priority date: 1994-04-28
Filing date: 1994-04-28
Publication date: 1995-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-28
Also published as: GB2289089B; GB9408512D0

Abstract

A fan blade 20 for a ceiling fan 10 (figure 4) includes a body which has a first end 201, a second end 202 opposite to the first end 201, a longitudinal axis 203 that extends from the first end 201 to the second end 202, top and bottom surfaces 204, 205 that are confined respectively within a periphery of the body, and a reinforcing projection portion (21) that is formed integrally with the body on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces (204), 205. The reinforcing projection portion (21) includes a main rib 211 which is located at the longitudinal axis 203 of the body and which extends from a first position near the first end 201 toward a second position near the second end 202, and a plurality of secondary ribs 212 which extend from the main rib 211 in a direction toward the periphery of the body so as to reinforce the body of the fan blade 20. The ribs may perform a secondary function of providing ornamentation for the blade (figures 5 to 9), such as a floral pattern (figure 8). <IMAGE>

Description

FAN BLADE This invention relates to a fan blade, more particularly to a fan blade which is to be mounted on a ceiling fan and which has a reinforcing projection means that is formed integrally with the fan blade so as to reinforce the same.

This invention is an improvement of a conventional fan blade, as shown in Fig. 1, which includes an elongated flat plate (1) that is to be fixed to a rotary shaft unit of a ceiling fan (not shown) at one end thereof. The flat plate (1) has a longitudinal axis (11) which extends from one end to the other end thereof.

In order to prevent deformation of the flat plate (1) due to gravity and wind resistance, the longitudinal axis (11) of the flat plate (1) is made with a thickness larger than that of the peripheral edges of the flat plate (1). Accordingly, the longitudinal axis (11) of the flat plate (1) can function as a reinforcing rib so as to bear the effects of gravity and wind resistance.

Owing to the presence of only a thicknessincreased longitudinal axis (11) to reinforce the flat plate (1), the conventional fan blade has to be limited to a predetermined size so as to prevent deformation of the flat plate (1) as a result of the weight of the fan blade during a long-term use.

In addition, the conventional fan blade has a poor aesthetic effect when in use.

Therefore, the main objective of this invention is to provide a fan blade which is to be mounted on a ceiling fan and which has a reinforcing projection means that is formed integrally with the fan blade so as to prevent deformation of the fan blade due to gravity and wind resistance regardless of the size of the fan blade, and that can be made into different shapes so as to provide a fan blade with an improved aesthetic effect.

According to this invention, a fan blade is to be mounted on a ceiling fan and includes a body which has a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a longitudinal axis that extends from the first end to the second end, top and bottom surfaces that are confined respectively within a periphery of the body, and a reinforcing projection means that is formed integrally with the body on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces. The reinforcing projection means includes a main rib which is located at the longitudinal axis of the body and which extends from a first position near the first end toward a second position near the second end, and a plurality of secondary ribs which extend from the main rib in a direction toward the periphery of the body so as to reinforce the body of the fan blade.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional fan blade; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a fan blade according to the first preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the fan blade of the first preferred embodiment of this invention taken along the line III-III in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the fan blades of the first preferred embodiment of this invention when mounted on a rotary shaft unit of a ceiling fan; Fig. 5 is a bottom elevational view of Fig. 4 showing the appearance of the ceiling fan when in use;; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a fan blade of the second preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a fan blade according to the third preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a fan blade according to the fourth preferred embodiment of this invention; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a fan blade according to the fifth preferred embodiment of this invention.

Figs. 2 to 5 show a fan blade (20) of the first preferred embodiment of this invention which is to be mounted on a ceiling fan (10). The fan blade (20), as shown in Fig. 2, includes a body which is an elongated flat plate. The flat plate of the fan blade (20) has a first end (201) which is to be fixed to a rotary shaft unit (101) of the ceiling fan (10) (see Fig. 4), a second end (202) opposite to the first end (201), a longitudinal axis (203) which extends from the first end (201) to the second end (202), top and bottom surfaces (204, 205) (see Fig. 3) which are confined respectively within a periphery of the flat plate, and a reinforcing projection means (21) which is formed integrally with the flat plate on the bottom surface (205).

The reinforcing projection means (21) includes a main rib (211) which is located at the longitudinal axis (203) of the flat plate and which extends from the first end (201) to the second end (202), and a plurality of secondary ribs (212) which extend from the main rib (211) in a direction toward the periphery of the flat plate so as to reinforce the flat plate of the fan blade (20). Accordingly, the reinforcing projection means (21) can effectively prevent deformation of the flat plate of the fan blade (20) due to gravity and wind resistance even after long-term use. Because of the presence of the reinforcing projection means (21), the flat plate of the fan blade (20) can be formed to have different outlines, such as a leaflike outline, a petal-shaped outline, a feather-shaped outline, or a bottle-shaped outline etc..

In this embodiment, the flat plate of the fan blade (20) has a leaf like outline, and the reinforcing projection means (21) is arranged in a manner similar to that of veins of a leaf.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the ceiling fan (10) includes eight fan blades (20) (see Fig. 5) which are fixed to the rotary shaft unit (101) at first ends thereof in such a manner that the bottom surfaces (205) face downwardly, a bowl-like motor housing (30) which is sleeved on the rotary shaft unit (101) above the fan blades (20), and a flower-like decorative lamp shade (40) which is mounted securely on a bottom end of the rotary shaft unit (101) beneath the fan blades (20).

When viewed from the bottom side, the ceiling fan (10) looks like a flower. Accordingly, the ceiling fan (10) can provide the user with an aesthetic effect.

Fig. 6 shows the modified fan blade (50) of the second preferred embodiment of this invention. As shown, the fan blade (50) includes a body which has a petal-shaped outline, and a reinforcing projection means (51) which is similar in function to that of the first preferred embodiment of this invention. The secondary ribs (511) of the reinforcing projection means (51) are embossed on the bottom surface of the fan blade (50) in another form.

Fig. 7 shows the modified fan blade (60) of the third preferred embodiment of this invention. The fan blade (60) has a flat plate which is similar in construction to that of the first preferred embodiment.

The top and bottom surfaces (603, 604) of the flat plate of the fan blade (60) are provided respectively with a reinforcing projection means (61) that is similar in construction to that of the first preferred embodiment so as to further reinforce the flat plate of the fan blade (60).

Fig. 8 shows the modified reinforcing projection means (71) of the fourth preferred embodiment of this invention. As shown, the fan blade (70) has a flat plate which is similar in construction to that of the first preferred embodiment, and a reinforcing projection means (71) is formed integrally with the flat plate of the fan blade (70) on the bottom surface (701). The reinforcing projection means (71) includes a main rib (711) which extends from a first position near one end of the flat plate to a second position near the other end of the flat plate, and a plurality of secondary ribs (712) which extend from the main rib (711) in a direction toward the periphery of the flat plate so as to reinforce the flat plate. Each of the secondary ribs (712) is in the form of a flower-like embossment that can further enhance the aesthetic effect of the fan blade (70).

Fig. 9 shows the modified fan blade (80) of the fifth preferred embodiment of this invention. As shown, the fan blade (80) has a body which is an elongated twisted plate. The twisted plate has two opposite surfaces that are provided respectively with a reinforcing projection means (81) which is similar in construction to that of the third preferred embodiment.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A fan blade for a ceiling fan, comprising a body which has a first end, a second end opposite to said first end, a longitudinal axis that extends from said first end to said second end, top and bottom surfaces that are confined respectively within a periphery of said body, and a reinforcing projection means that is formed integrally with said body on at least one of said top and bottom surfaces, said reinforcing projection means including a main rib which is located at said longitudinal axis of said body and which extends from a first position near said first end toward a second position near said second end, and a plurality of secondary ribs which extend from said main rib in a direction toward said periphery of said body so as to reinforce said body of said fan blade.

2. A fan blade as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said main and secondary ribs are formed integrally on said top and bottom surfaces of said body.

3. A fan blade as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said body is an elongated flat plate.

4. A fan blade as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said body is an elongated twisted plate.

5. A fan blade as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said reinforcing projection means is in the form of a decorative embossment.

6. A fan blade as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said body has a leaflike outline, said reinforcing projection means being arranged in a manner similar to that of veins of a leaf.

7. A fan blade as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said body has a petal-shaped outline, said reinforcing projection means being in the form of a decorative embossment.

8. A fan blade substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to

9.