Ceiling fan having lighted blades

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 62/921,343, entitled “Spinning Lights on Ceiling Fan,” and filed on Jun. 12, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Some implementations relate generally to ceiling fans, and more particularly, to ceiling fans having lighted blades.

It may be desirable to provide a ceiling fans having lighted blades for interior or exterior illumination or for decorative or entertainment purposes. Some implementations were conceived in light of the above-mentioned limitations, needs, or problems, among other things. The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example ceiling fan having lighted blades in accordance with some implementations.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example ceiling fan having lighted blades showing details of rotating contact plate in accordance with some implementations.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example ceiling fan 100 having lighted blades that includes a power supply 102 (e.g., a 120 VAC to 12 VDC 60 W transformer or power supply) constructed to supply direct current electrical power (e.g., 12 VDC) via a negative lead 106 and a positive lead 108 . The ceiling fan 100 having lighted blades also includes a conductive frame 110 , and where the negative lead 106 is connected to the conductive frame 110 .

The ceiling fan 100 having lighted blades also includes a conductive positive voltage plate 114 and a conductive positive voltage plate contact 118 connected to the positive lead 108 (optionally via a switch 120 ). The positive voltage plate contact 118 is stationary and mounted to a positive voltage plate contact mounting bracket 116 that may be nonconductive so as to electrically insulate the positive voltage plate contact 118 from any conductive portions of the conductive frame 110 . The positive voltage plate contact 118 contacts the positive voltage plate 114 while the positive voltage plate 114 rotates. As shown in FIG. 1 , the conductive frame 110 is connected to the down rod 111 .

The ceiling fan 100 having lighted blades also includes a rotating portion 115 having a conductive housing connected to down rod 111 , the rotating portion 115 being coupled to the positive voltage plate 114 (e.g., via insulated bolts) and one or more conductive fan blade brackets 130 electrically connected to the negative lead 106 via the conductive housing of the rotating portion 115 , wherein when the rotating portion 115 rotates, the positive voltage plates 114 rotates. The positive voltage plate 114 can be electrically insulated from the mounting bolts and the conductive housing of the rotating portion 115 . The ceiling fan 100 includes one or more lighted blades 131 each having one or more lights 132 (e.g., light emitting diodes or LEDs) disposed on a fan blade 134 , wherein each light 132 is connected to a respective conductive fan blade bracket 130 (via conductor 128 ) and to the positive voltage plate 114 (via positive conductor 126 ) such that a negative lead 106 of the direct current electrical power is supplied through the conductive fan blade bracket 130 and a positive side 108 of the direct current electrical power is supplied through the positive voltage plate 114 . The fan can also include a fan switch 122 and/or a main light 136 switch 124 .

The ceiling fan 100 having lighted blades can also include a control circuit 104 operable to control the one or more lights. For example, the control circuit 104 can include communications capabilities to communicate with a wireless device (e.g., to control the lights for on/off, brightness, color, blinking, etc.) or to respond to input such as music or sound to control lights in response to the input such as blinking the lights, changing brightness of the lights, or changing the color of the lights.

FIG. 2 shows the positive voltage plate 114 in greater detail. For example, FIG. 2 shows the positive voltage plate 114 and the positive voltage plate contact 118 that rides on and creates an electrical connection to the positive voltage plate 114 when the positive voltage plate 114 is moving or not moving. The positive voltage plate contact 118 is mounted via the positive voltage plate contact mounting bracket 116 . Details of one of the fan blades 202 are shown. The fan blade 202 includes one or more lights 132 that are connected to the negative side of the electrical power via a negative conductor 128 (wire, conductive trace, etc.) and to a positive side of the electrical power via a positive conductor 126 (wire, conductive trace, etc.) connected to the positive voltage plate 114 . One or more of the components shown in the detail of blade 202 can be replicated in whole or in part for the other blades ( 204 - 208 ).

It is, therefore, apparent that there is provided, in accordance with the various implementations disclosed herein, ceiling fans having lighted blades.

While the disclosed subject matter has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be, or are, apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, Applicant intends to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter.