Foil fan blade and ceiling fan

Abstract

A rotary foil fan blade includes an elongated support member and at least one foil member mounted on the support member. The foil member is substantially shorter in length than the elongated support member. A ceiling fan includes a central blade hub and an array of foil fan blades mounted on the central hub.

1 . A rotary fan blade comprising:
 an elongated support member; and   at least one foil member mounted on said support member;   wherein said foil member is substantially shorter in length than said elongated support member.   
   
   
       2 . The rotary fan blade of  claim 1  wherein said foil member is mounted on the end of said support member. 
   
   
       3 . The rotary fan blade of  claim 1  including a plurality of foil members mounted on said support member at different locations along the length of said support member. 
   
   
       4 . The rotary fan blade of  claim 1  wherein said support member is a hollow rod having one of a square, circular, triangular, or air foil cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       5 . The rotary fan blade of  claim 1  wherein said support member is a solid rod having one of a square, circular, triangular, or air foil cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       6 . The rotary fan blade of  claim 1  wherein said support member is made of one or more of metal, plastic, wood, graphite, or composites. 
   
   
       7 . The rotary fan blade of  claim 1  wherein said foil member has an air foil shape. 
   
   
       8 . The rotary fan blade of  claim 1  wherein said foil member is tilted at an angle to the horizontal. 
   
   
       9 . The rotary fan blade of  claim 1  wherein said support member includes a first partially hollow segment, a second telescoping segment partially slidably mounted in said first segment, and fasteners for joining the blade arm sections at joint in apertures in said first segment for holding said first and second segments together. 
   
   
       10 . The rotary fan blade of  claim 1  wherein said support member includes a first partially hollow segment, a second telescoping segment partially slidably mounted in said first segment, a ball mounted near the end of said second segment, a series of apertures in said first segment, and a spring mounted on said second segment for biasing said ball into one of said apertures to hold said first and second segments together. 
   
   
       11 . The rotary fan blade of  claim 1  wherein said support member includes a first hollow segment, a second telescoping segment partially slidably mounted in said first segment, a centrifugal force tension spring connecting said first and second segments together, opposing slots in said first segment, and stabilization tabs on said second segment which project through said slots on said first segment; wherein when said rotary fan blade is rotated rapidly, said second segment extends outwardly by centrifugal force against the tension force of said spring, and said tabs ride in said slots. 
   
   
       12 . A ceiling fan comprising:
 a central blade hub; and   a circumferential array of fan blades mounted on said central blade hub;   wherein each of said fan blades includes an elongated support member, and at least one foil member mounted on said support member, wherein said foil member is substantially shorter in length than said elongated support member.   
   
   
       13 . The ceiling fan of  claim 12  wherein said elongated support members are sinuous in shape. 
   
   
       14 . The ceiling fan of  claim 13  wherein said foil members are sinuous in shape. 
   
   
       15 . The ceiling fan of  claim 12  wherein said fan blades are fixedly mounted to said central blade hub. 
   
   
       16 . The ceiling fan of  claim 12  wherein said fan blades are adjustably mounted to said central blade hub. 
   
   
       17 . The ceiling fan of  claim 12  wherein said fan blades are mounted for axial rotation to said central blade hub and including a mechanism for rotating said fan blades in order to change the pitch of said foil members. 
   
   
       18 . The ceiling fan of  claim 12  wherein said support members each comprise two or more segments, each of the segments supporting one or more of said foils. 
   
   
       19 . A ceiling fan comprising:
 a central blade hub;   a circumferential array of foil blades spaced from said central blade hub; and   an assembly for mounting said circumferential array of foil blades on said central blade hub.   
   
   
       20 . The ceiling fan of  claim 19  wherein said assembly includes inner and outer blade support rings for supporting said foil blades and a plurality of support members radially extending between said central blade hub and said inner blade support ring.