US20100150722A1

US20100150722A1 - Fixture Device of Blade and Blade Frame of a Ceiling Fan

Info

Publication number: US20100150722A1
Application number: US12/334,472
Authority: US
Inventors: Teng-san Tseng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-14
Filing date: 2008-12-14
Publication date: 2010-06-17

Abstract

A fixture of blade and blade frame in a ceiling fan is disclosed. The blade frame has an inserting part to go through the through hole on the blade. The stopping part of the inserting part is blocked by the limiting parts of the positioning element, thereby restricting and positioning the blade and the blade frame. At least one of the several limiting parts is movable and can retract and extend relative to the positioning element, thereby blocking and leaving the corresponding stopping part. Along with fixed limiting parts, the blade and the blade frame can be controlled to be positioned or departed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a ceiling fan structure and, in particular, to a fixture device of its blade and blade frame.
2. Related Art
A ceiling fan has several blade frames outside the central motor. Each blade frame is mounted with a blade. The invention relates to the technique of combining the blade and the blade frame.
In the early days, the blades of a ceiling fan are fixed on blade frames using simply screws. For example, the blade frame is protruded with a screw rod to go through the blade. A bolt is then used to lock the blade and the blade frame. However, this structure is somewhat inconvenient because all the parts have to be taken apart before the assembly. Therefore, structures more convenient in assembly have been introduced.
FIGS. 13 to 15 show three conventional structures of blades and blade frames.
As shown in FIG. 13, the blade 50 has a through hole 501. The blade frame 51 has a hook 511 protruding from it and forming a groove 52 in between. The blade 50 is mounted on the blade frame 51, followed by adjusting their relative position so that the blade 50 is embedded in the groove 52. Afterwards, a positioning element 53 is inserted for positioning.
Please refer to FIG. 14. The blade 60 has a through hole 601. The blade frame 61 has a clip 611. Inserting the clip 611 through the through hole 601 and adjusting the relative position between the blade and the blade frame, the clip fixes and positions the blade 60 on the blade frame 61.
Finally, please refer to FIG. 15. The blade 70 has several through holes 701 in the shape of the number 8, formed by two holes of different diameters. An inserting part 711 on the blade frame 71 goes through the larger hole. Afterwards, the stopping part 712 on the inserting part 711 falls into the smaller hole by moving the relative position between the blade 70 and the blade frame 71, thereby fixing them.
Although the above-mentioned three structures of blade and blade frame are more convenient than the conventional structure using screws, the hook, clip or inserting part is positioned on the blade after going through the corresponding through hole. Taking FIGS. 13 to 15 as examples, they have to satisfy a certain precision in order to achieve a firm connection, so that no serious wiggles happen when the ceiling fan operates. Taking the structure in FIG. 14 as an example, the blade may fall off as the blade moves toward the motor because the clip can depart from the blade.
Therefore, it is the goal of the invention to provide a structure of blade and blade frame that can be readily combined and firmly fixed without the need for a high precision as in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems by providing a fixture device of ceiling fan blade and blade frame so that their assembly is simpler.
To achieve the above objective, the invention includes:
a blade, whose one end has at least two through holes;
a blade frame, which has an inserting part for each of the through holes on the blade, the end of each of the inserting parts exposed from the through hole having a stopping part; and
at least one positioning element, which has a limiting part for each of the inserting parts;
wherein each of the stopping parts goes through the corresponding through hole and is restricted by the corresponding limiting part to position the blade and the blade frame, at least one of the limiting parts is movable to retract or extend relative to the positioning element, the positioning element further has a fixed limiting parts so that the movable limiting element blocks or leaves the corresponding stopping part as it extends and retracts, and the movable and fixed limiting parts are disposed along different limiting directions to position the blade and the blade frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below illustration only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional perspective of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the positioning element;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the combination of the blade and the blade frame,

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the inserting part and the limiting part block in the horizontal direction;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the inserting part and the limiting part block in the vertical direction;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the positioning element in the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the combination of the blade and the blade frame in the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the combination of the blade and the blade frame in the third embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the combination of the blade and the blade frame in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows the structure of the blade and blade frame used in a first conventional ceiling fan;

FIG. 14 shows the structure of the blade and blade frame used in a second conventional ceiling fan; and

FIG. 15 shows the structure of the blade and blade frame used in a third conventional ceiling fan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements.
A first embodiment of the invention provides a fixture device of ceiling fan blade and blade frame. It includes: a blade 1, a blade frame 2, and at least one positioning element 3.
The blade 1 has at least two through holes 11 on its one end. As shown in the drawing, the blade 1 in this embodiment has three through holes 11 arranged in a triangle.
The blade frame 2 has an inserting part 21 for each of the through holes 11 on the blade 1. A stopping part 211 is formed on the end of each of the inserting parts 21 exposed from the corresponding through hole 11. In this embodiment, the inserting parts 21 are independent elements and fixed on the blade frame 2 by screwing. Of course, they can be formed integrally with the blade frame 2.
The positioning element 3 has a limiting part 31 for each of the inserting part 21. Each of the stopping parts 211 goes through the corresponding through hole 11 and is restricted by the corresponding limiting part 31 to position the blade 1 and the blade frame 2. At least one of the limiting parts 31 is movable and can retract and extend with respect to the positioning element 3. When the movable limiting element 311 extends and retracts, it blocks and leaves the corresponding stopping part 211, respectively, thereby controlling the positioning and departing of the blade frame 2 and the blade 1.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, each of the stopping parts 211 in this embodiment includes a first stopping part 211 a. The positioning element 3 protrudes from the blade 1 by each of the first stopping parts 211 a for restricting the horizontal motion of the corresponding limiting part 31 relative to the blade 1. Each of the stopping parts 211 also includes a second stopping part 211 b. When the inserting part 21 goes through the corresponding through hole 11, it is disposed between the second stopping part 211 b and the blade 1. It is blocked by the limiting part 21 of the blade 1. The neighboring limiting parts 21 block the corresponding stopping parts 21 in opposite directions.
The number of positioning element 3 used in this embodiment is 1. Of course, the number thereof can be determined by the combination relation between the blade 1 and the blade frame 2.
In this embodiment, the movable limiting part 311 is at the central position of the positioning element 3. The positioning element 3 further has fixed limiting parts 312 on both ends. The movable and fixed limiting parts 311, 312 are disposed along different limiting directions. For example, in this embodiment, the fixed limiting parts 312 are embedded in the inserting part 21 in the direction opposite to that of the movable limiting part 311. Therefore, the limiting parts 311, 312 and the inserting part 21 can restrict each other when positioning.
The movable limiting part 311 of the positioning element 3 has a rod 311 a accommodated inside an accommodating space 32 of the positioning element 3 to extend and retract. As the rod 311 a extends and positions at the blocking position of the stopping part 211, it positions the blade 1 and the blade frame 2 with the fixed limiting parts 312.
The width of the stopping part 211 is larger than the outer diameter of the through hole 11. The fixed limiting part 312 of the positioning element 3 is embedded between the stopping part 211 and the blade 1. An embedding part 311 b is pivotally disposed on the end of the rod 311 a outside the accommodating space 32 to be embedded between the stopping part 211 and the blade 1.
The fixed limiting parts 312 recess toward the positioning element and have an arc shape. The embedding part 311 a also has a recessed and arc-shaped structure. The first limiting parts 312 and the embedding part 311 a are embedded into the corresponding first stopping part 211 a between the second stopping part 211 b and the blade 1.
A pushing rod 311 c is disposed on the rod 311 a of the movable positioning part 311. The positioning element 3 has a long groove 33 corresponding to the shifting direction of the pushing rod 311 c. One side of the long groove 33 is formed with a connected limiting groove 34 that restricts the pushing rod 311 c. The limiting groove 34 is formed at the place where the embedding part 311 b embeds into the pushing rod 311 c of the stopping part 211.
Please refer to FIGS. 4 to 6. In this embodiment, the inserting part 21 of the blade frame 2 goes through the through hole 11 of the blade 1, so that the end of the inserting part 21 is exposed from the stopping part 211. The positioning elements are disposed between the inserting parts 21. The fixed limiting parts 312 are embedded in the corresponding inserting parts 21 and positioned between the stopping part 211 and the blade 1. Afterwards, the rod 311 a with the embedding part 311 b on its end is driven by the pushing rod 311 c toward the inserting part 21, positioning the embedding part 311 b between the stopping part 211 and the blade 1. The pushing rod 311 c is flipped into the limiting groove 34 at the corresponding position, restricting the rod 311 a at that position. Therefore, when the limiting part 31 of the positioning element 3 is positioned between the inserting part 21 and the blade 1, the limiting parts 31 do not fall off because of the positioning element 3 even if one carelessly pushes the limiting parts 31 of the positioning element 3. As shown in the drawing, the limiting parts 311 and the two limiting parts 312 provide opposites blocks, restricting the inserting parts 21.
Take the structure of this embodiment as an example. When the blade 1 is drawn outwards relative to the blade frame 2, it is blocked by the two limiting parts 312. When the blade 1 is pushed inwards relative to the blade frame 2, it is blocked by the limiting part 311. Therefore, there is no problem of the blade falling off because the blade and the blade frame have blocking in the same direction as in the prior art.
The advantage of the invention, as seen from the above description, is a simple combination structure between the blade and the blade frame. Moreover, it prevents the blade from carelessly falling off the blade frame.
Of course, there are other embodiments that differ from the current one in details. Please refer to FIGS. 7 and 8 for a second embodiment of the invention. The positioning element 3 is also formed with a long groove 33 along the pushing direction of the pushing rod 311 c. An elastic urging element 4 is disposed in the accommodating space 32 to urge against the end of the rod 311 a towards the inserting part 21.
According to the above-mentioned structure, when the rod 311 a of the embodiment extends outwards, the elastic urging element 4 between it and the accommodating space 32 exerts a force towards the inserting part 21. Therefore, before use, one only needs to push the pushing rod 311 c to retract the rod 311 a. The pushing rod 311 c is released when the positioning element 3 is at an appropriate position. In that case, the rod 311 a extends out so that the embedding part 311 b is embedded between the stopping part 211 and the blade 1. This achieves the same effects as the first embodiment.
Please refer to FIGS. 9 and 10 for a third embodiment of the invention. The stopping part 211 is a hole. Each of the fixed limiting parts 312 is protruded with a pillar 312 a toward the stopping part 211 for inserting into the stopping part 211 (hole). The moving limiting part 311 has a pillar 311 d on the rod 311 a extending outwards relative to the accommodating space 32 and going into the stopping part 211 (hole).
As in the first embodiment, this embodiment also uses a pushing rod 311 c along with a limiting groove 34 are provided between the limiting part 311 and the positioning element 3 to position the rod 311 a in the accommodating space. The use of the limiting parts 311 d, 312 a in this embodiment can achieve the same effects as the previous two embodiments.
Please refer to FIGS. 11 and 12 for a fourth embodiment of the invention. It also uses the limiting parts 311 d, 312 a and the stopping part 211 (hole) as in the third embodiment, Moreover, the elastic element 4 in the second embodiment is disposed in the accommodating space 32 to urge against the rod 311 a, achieving the same effects as the previous embodiments.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to people skilled in the art. Therefore, it is contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A fixture device of blade and blade frame of a ceiling fan, comprising:

a blade, which has at least two through holes;

a blade frame, which has an inserting part for each of the through hole of the blade, each of the inserting parts having a stopping part on the end exposed from the through hole; and

at least one positioning element, which has a limiting part for each of the inserting parts;

wherein each of the stopping parts goes through the corresponding through hole and is restricted by the corresponding limiting part to position the blade and the blade frame, at least one of the limiting parts is movable to retract or extend relative to the positioning element, the positioning element further has a fixed limiting parts so that the movable limiting element blocks or leaves the corresponding stopping part as it extends and retracts, and the movable and fixed limiting parts are disposed along different limiting directions to position the blade and the blade frame.

2. The fixture device of blade and blade frame of a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the movable limiting part of the positioning element has a rod accommodated in an accommodating space of the positioning element to extend and retract, and the rod extends and positions at the blocking position of the stopping part to position the blade and the blade frame along with the fixed limiting parts.

3. The fixture device of blade and blade frame of a ceiling fan as in claim 2, wherein the width of the stopping part is greater than the outer diameter of the through hole, the fixed limiting parts of the positioning element are embedded between the stopping part and the blade, and the movable limiting part is pivotally disposed with an embedding part at one end of the rod outside the accommodating space for being embedded between the stopping part and the blade.

4. The fixture device of blade and blade frame of a ceiling fan as in claim 3 with each of the stopping parts having a first stopping part and a second stopping part, wherein the inserting part exposes form the blade by its first stopping part for stopping the corresponding limiting part from moving horizontally with respect to the blades the inserting part goes through the through hole and positions between the second stopping part and the blade, the fixed limiting parts are recessed in an arc shape towards the positioning element due to the blocking of the limiting parts on the blade, the embedding part also has a recessed and arc-shaped structure, and the fixed limiting parts and the embedding part are embedded in the corresponding first stopping part between the second stopping part and the blade.

5. The fixture device of blade and blade frame of a ceiling fan as in claim 3, wherein the movable limiting part has a pushing rod on the rod, the positioning element has a long groove along the moving direction of the pushing rod, and an elastic urging element is disposed in the accommodating space for urging an end of the rod towards the inserting part.

6. The fixture device of blade and blade frame of a ceiling fan as in claim 3, wherein the movable limiting part has a pushing rod on the rod, the positioning element has a long groove along the moving direction of the pushing rod, a limiting groove is formed on one side of and in communication with the long groove to block the pushing rod, and the limiting groove is formed at the position where the embedding part embeds into the pushing rod of the stopping part.

7. The fixture device of blade and blade frame of a ceiling fan as in claim 2, wherein each of the stopping parts has a hole, each of the fixed limiting parts is formed with a pillar protruding towards the stopping part to be inserted into the hole, and the rod of the movable limiting part extends outwards from the accommodating space and goes into the hole.

8. The fixture device of blade and blade frame of a ceiling fan as in claim 7, wherein the movable limiting part has a pushing rod on the rod, the positioning element has a long groove along the moving direction of the pushing rod, and an elastic urging element is disposed in the accommodating space to urge against and end of the rod towards the inserting part.

9. The fixture device of blade and blade frame of a ceiling fan as in claim 7, wherein the movable limiting part has a pushing rod on the rod, the positioning element has a long groove along the moving direction of the pushing rod, a limiting groove is formed on one side of and in communication with the long groove to block the pushing rod, and the limiting groove is formed at the position where the embedding part embeds into the pushing rod of the stopping part.

10. The fixture device of blade and blade frame of a ceiling fan as in claim 1, wherein the limiting parts block the corresponding stopping parts in opposite directions.