Spring plunger ceiling fan blade installation system

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods rapidly locking ceiling fan blades to motor housings by vertical spring biased plungers. An embodiment has dual posts, each with springs to bias the plunger down into a vertical slot in the blade locks the blade to the motor. A pull latch attached to the posts pulled upward disengages the plunger so the blade is removed. Another embodiment uses a torsion spring pushing the plunger into the slot in the blade locking the blade to the motor. A latch pulled upward disengages the plunger so the blade is removed. Another embodiment adds a magnet which attracts the metal plunger downward as a supplement to the spring. Another embodiment uses a single post with single spring pushing the plunger into the blade slot. and another embodiment uses a torsion spring with the single post pushing downward, with optional magnet to supplement the torsion spring.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63 / 781,615 filed Apr. 1, 2026. The entire disclosure of each of the applications listed in this paragraph are incorporated herein by specific reference thereto.FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to ceiling fans, and in particular to systems, devices, and methods for rapidly attaching root ends of blades with a vertical through-hole to a ceiling fan motor housing by vertical spring biased plungers, where coil springs and torsion springs snaps a single wide plunger into the through-hole on the blades.BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

[0003] Spring loaded vertical posts have been previously used for locking in root ends of ceiling fan blades to ceiling fan motor housings. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,192 to Hidalgo and U.S. Pat. No. 12,234,833 to Botkin et al. However, there are problems with these existing techniques.

[0004] Hidalgo '192 relies on a side-oriented single circular through-hole to pass the bottom end of a spring biased post to pass into, and has inherent problems.

[0005] The single through-hole toward the center of the blade root end does not provide sufficient stability to lock the blade to the motor housing. To disengage the spring-loaded post, Hidalgo '192 shows the user grab a ring-shaped tool connected by a wire type lead that hooks onto a L-shaped bracket to be pulled upward to disengage the spring-loaded post.

[0006] Botkin '833 requires a set of spring-loaded posts that must pass into a pair of side by side through-holes in the root end of the blade to lock the blade(s) to the motor housing.

[0007] Similar to Hidalgo '192, the through-holes are shown to small circular openings. The user may have difficulty when installing the root ends of the blades in order to match up and align the pair of spring-loaded posts to the pair of small through-holes. As such, one of the spring-loaded posts could get caught and not pass into the matching through-hole, which can cause problems when running the ceiling fan.

[0008] In addition, the costs of two spring-loaded posts and matching pair of through-holes could be up to twice the costs of the single spring-loaded post and single through-hole in Hidalgo '192, and become cost prohibitive to manufacture.

[0009] Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide systems, devices, and methods for spring biased quick install blades for ceiling fans, with a wide single spring biased plunger that easily and accurately aligns up with an opening in a root end of a ceiling fan blade to mount the blade to a ceiling fan motor housing.

[0011] A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide systems, devices, and methods for spring biased quick install blades for ceiling fans, without using a pair of spring biased posts that must align up with a matching pair of through-holes in a root end of a ceiling fan blade in order to mount the blade to a ceiling fan motor housing.

[0012] A third objective of the present invention is to provide systems, devices, and methods for spring biased quick install blades for ceiling fans, using a torsion mounted wide single plunger in order to mount the blade to a ceiling fan motor housing.

[0013] A first embodiment uses a pair of dual posts, each with springs which bias against a single wide plunger to push the plunger into a through-hole / slot on a root end of a ceiling fan blade to lock the blade to a ceiling fan motor housing. An exterior pull latch attached to the top of the dual posts, allows for the dual posts to be pulled upward which disengages the single wide plunger from the through-hole / slot in the root end of the blade, so that the blade can be removed.

[0014] A second embodiment uses single side-oriented torsion spring to push against a top of a plunger which pushes the plunger into a through-hole / slot on a root end of a ceiling fan blade to lock the blade to a ceiling fan motor housing. The single wide plunger can be attached to a housing by dual posts that have an exterior pull latch attached thereon. The exterior pull latch can be pulled upward which disengages the single wide plunger from the through-hole in the root end of the blade, so that the blade can be removed.

[0015] Another embodiment mounts a magnet under the housing as a supplement to attract a metal plunger downward. into a through-hole / slot on a root end of a ceiling fan blade to lock the blade to a ceiling fan motor housing

[0016] Another embodiment uses a single post with cylindrical / spiral spring to bias the post mounted on a plunger downward into a through-hole / slot on a root end of a ceiling fan blade to lock the blade to a ceiling fan motor housing.

[0017] The single wide plunger with single spring biased post can have an exterior pull latch attached thereon. The exterior pull latch can be pulled upward which disengages the single wide plunger from the through-hole in the root end of the blade, so that the blade can be removed.

[0018] A still another embodiment uses a single post with torsion spring to bias the post mounted on a plunger downward into a through-hole / slot on a root end of a ceiling fan blade to lock the blade to a ceiling fan motor housing.

[0019] The single wide plunger with torsion spring biased post can have an exterior pull latch attached thereon. The exterior pull latch can be pulled upward which disengages the single wide plunger from the through-hole in the root end of the blade, so that the blade can be removed.

[0020] Another embodiment mounts a magnet under the housing as a supplement to attract a metal plunger with torsion biased spring downward. into a through-hole / slot on a root end of a ceiling fan blade to lock the blade to a ceiling fan motor housing.

[0021] Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.First Embodiment

[0023] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a dual spring biased posts which support a single wide plunger to lock a ceiling fan blade to a ceiling fan motor housing bracket.

[0024] FIG. 2A is a side cross-sectional view of a blade about to be inserted into an assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 2B is another side view of FIG. 2A with the root end of the blade being inserted into the side opening of the assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment pushing up the spring biased single wide plunger.

[0026] FIG. 2C is another side view of the blade after being inserted into the assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment of FIG. 2A-2B, with the spring biased plunger locking the blade to the assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the ceiling fan blade mounted to the motor housing bracket which is mounted to a ceiling fan motor housing.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a lower perspective view of FIG. 4.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a front side perspective view of FIG. 4.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a left end view of FIG. 5.Second Embodiment

[0031] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a torsion spring embodiment with single torsion spring to bias posts which support a single wide plunger to lock a fan blade to a bracket attached to a ceiling fan motor housing (FIGS. 9-12).

[0032] FIG. 8A is a side view of a blade about to be inserted into an assembled torsion spring biased single wide plunger bracket of FIG. 7.

[0033] FIG. 8B is a side view of FIG. 8A with the root end of the blade being inserted into the side opening of an assembled torsion spring embodiment of FIG. 7.

[0034] FIG. 8C is a side view of the blade after being inserted into the side opening of an assembled torsion spring embodiment of FIG. 7.

[0035] FIG. 9 is an upper perspective view of the ceiling fan blade mounted to the motor housing bracket of FIGS. 7-8C mounted to a ceiling fan motor housing.

[0036] FIG. 10 is a lower perspective view of FIG. 9.

[0037] FIG. 11 is a front side perspective view of FIG. 9.

[0038] FIG. 12 is a left end view of FIG. 11.Third Embodiment

[0039] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of torsion spring embodiment of FIGS. 7-12 with a magnet within a magnet housing attached to attract the single wide plunger through the vertical opening in the root end of the ceiling fan blade.

[0040] FIG. 14A is a side view of a blade about to be inserted into an assembled torsion spring biased single wide plunger bracket with magnet of FIG. 13.

[0041] FIG. 14B is a side view of FIG. 14A with the root end of the blade being inserted into the side opening of an assembled torsion spring embodiment of FIG. 13.

[0042] FIG. 14C is a side view of the blade after being inserted into the side opening of an assembled torsion spring embodiment of FIG. 13.Fourth Embodiment

[0043] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a single spring biased post of the FOURTH EMBODIMENT which support a single wide plunger to lock a ceiling fan blade to a ceiling fan motor housing bracket.

[0044] FIG. 16A is a side cross-sectional view of a blade about to be inserted into an assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment of FIG. 15.

[0045] FIG. 16B is another side view of FIG. 16A with the root end of the blade being inserted into the side opening of the assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment pushing up the spring biased single wide plunger.

[0046] FIG. 16C is another side view of the blade after being inserted into the assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment of FIG. 16A-16B, with the spring biased plunger locking the blade.Fifth Embodiment

[0047] FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of another torsion spring embodiment with single torsion spring to bias a single post to a ceiling fan motor housing (FIGS. 9-12). with a magnet within a magnet housing attached to attract the single wide plunger through the vertical opening in the root end of the ceiling fan blade.

[0048] FIG. 18A is a side view of a blade about to be inserted into an assembled torsion spring biased single wide plunger bracket with magnet of FIG. 13.

[0049] FIG. 18B is a side view of FIG. 14A with the root end of the blade being inserted into the side opening of an assembled torsion spring embodiment of FIG. 13.

[0050] FIG. 18C is a side view of the blade after being inserted into the side opening of an assembled torsion spring embodiment of FIG. 13.DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0051] Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

[0052] In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification does not include all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and / or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

[0053] In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments.

[0054] Other technical advantages may become readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after review of the following figures and description.

[0055] It should be understood at the outset that, although exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the figures and described below, the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations and techniques illustrated in the drawings and described below.

[0056] Unless otherwise specifically noted, articles depicted in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. A list of components will now be described.

[0057] 1 DOUBLE SPRING EMBODIMENT

[0058] 10 pull latch

[0059] 15 screws / fasteners

[0060] 20 lock and spring barrel

[0061] 25 screws / fasteners

[0062] 30 right and left spring

[0063] 40 lock

[0064] 42 dual posts

[0065] 46 single wide plunger

[0066] 48 upper stop edge for plunger

[0067] 50 lock through hole

[0068] 60 base

[0069] 62 side opening under base

[0070] 65 threaded holes

[0071] 70 spring clip

[0072] 75 screws / fasteners

[0073] 80 blade clasp

[0074] 90 lock through hole

[0075] 100 fan blade

[0076] 110 bracket

[0077] 120 ceiling fan motor housing

[0078] 200 TORSION SPRING EMBODIMENT

[0079] 210 pull latch

[0080] 215 screws / fasteners

[0081] 220 housing

[0082] 222 forward side opening

[0083] 223 upper openings

[0084] 224 left and right side opening(s)

[0085] 227 side edge openings

[0086] 223 upper openings

[0087] 225 screws / fasteners

[0088] 227 side edge openings

[0089] 228 bottom opening in housing 220

[0090] 230 torsion spring

[0091] 232 upper arm

[0092] 238 lower arm

[0093] 240 spring pin

[0094] 248 mounting nut

[0095] 250 plunger

[0096] 252 dual posts

[0097] 253 flat face plunger 250

[0098] 256 single wide plunger

[0099] 260 plate

[0100] 267 threaded openings

[0101] 270 plunger through hole

[0102] 280 fan blade

[0103] 290 plunger opening / magnet through hole

[0104] 295 ceiling fan motor housing

[0105] 300 Torsion Spring With Magnet Embodiment

[0106] 310 magnet

[0107] 340 magnet housing

[0108] 345 screws / fasteners

[0109] 400 Fourth Embodiment Single Post and Single Spring

[0110] 412 screw hole

[0111] 415 screw / fastener

[0112] 430 single coil / cylindrical spring

[0113] 442 single post

[0114] 500 Fifth Embodiment Torsion Spring Single Post & Magnet1 Double Spring Embodiment (First Embodiment)

[0115] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a double spring embodiment of dual spring biased posts 42 which support a single wide plunger 46 to lock a ceiling fan blade 100 to a bracket on a ceiling fan motor housing.

[0116] FIG. 2A is a side cross-sectional view of a blade 100 about to be inserted into an assembled spring biased single wide plunger assembled embodiment 1 of FIG. 1.

[0117] FIG. 2B is another side view of FIG. 2A with the root end of the blade 100 being inserted into the side opening of the assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment 1 pushing up the spring biased single wide plunger.

[0118] FIG. 2C is another side view of the blade after being inserted into the assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment 1 of FIG. 2A-2B, with the spring biased plunger locking the blade to the assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment 1.

[0119] Referring to FIGS. 1-2C, the assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment 1 includes a spring clip 70 with outer tab edges 72 which attaches to a bottom post of a base 60 by screws / fasteners 75.

[0120] The base 60 has a generally central lock through hole 50. Mounted to the base 60 by screw / fasteners 25 attached to threaded holes 65 can be a lock and spring barrel 20.

[0121] A lock 40 can include upwardly extending parallel posts 42 with left and right cylindrical (coil) spring(s) 30 wrapped thereon. A pull latch 10 can be attached to the parallel posts 42 by screws / fasteners 15. Attached under the posts 42 can be upper stop edge, and lower facing single wide plunger 46.

[0122] Referring to FIGS. 1-2C, the root end of a ceiling fan blade has a lock through hole 90 that can be inserted into a side opening 62 under the base 60, and pushes the single wide plunger 46 upward against the dual biased springs 30 on posts 30, 42, until the lock through hole 90 in the blade allows for the single wide plunger 46 to move downward to lock the blade 100 to the bracket 110 on the ceiling fan motor housing 120.

[0123] FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the ceiling fan blade 100 mounted to the motor housing bracket 110 which is mounted to a ceiling fan motor housing 120. FIG. 4 is a lower perspective view of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a front side perspective view of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a left end view of FIG. 5.

[0124] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the exterior pull latch 10 attached to the top of the lock and spring barrel 20 attached to the dual posts 42, can allow for the dual posts 242 to be pulled upward which disengages the single wide plunger 46 from the through-hole 90 in the root end of the blade 100, so that the blade 100 can be removed.200 Torsion Spring Embodiment (Second Embodiment)

[0125] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a torsion spring embodiment 200 with a single torsion spring 230 to bias posts 252 which support a single wide plunger 256 to lock a ceiling fan blade 280 to a bracket 290 attached to a ceiling fan motor housing 295 (as shown in FIGS. 9-12).

[0126] FIG. 8A is a side view of a blade 280 about to be inserted into a side opening 222 of an assembled torsion spring embodiment 200 of FIG. 7. FIG. 8B is a side view of FIG. 8A with the root end of the blade 280 being inserted into the side opening 222 of an assembled torsion spring embodiment 200 of FIG. 7. FIG. 8C is a side view of the blade 280 after being inserted into the forward side opening 222 of an assembled torsion spring embodiment 200 of FIG, with single wide plunger 256 locking the blade 280 in place.

[0127] Referring to FIGS. 7-8C, the torsion spring embodiment 200 includes a housing 220 with a forward side opening 222 for receiving the torsion spring 230 that is held in place by a spring pin 240 passing through left and right side opening(s) 224 and held by a mounting nut 248.

[0128] Dual posts 252 each pass into upper openings 223 of the housing 220 with the plunger 250 underneath the housing 220. A pull latch 210 is attached to the top of dual posts 252 by screws / fasteners 215 that pass through side edge openings of the pull latch 210 into upper threaded openings of the dual posts 252. Side edges of the housing 220 are attached to plate 260 by screws / fasteners 225 that pass through side edge openings 227 of the housing and into threaded openings 267 of the plate 260.

[0129] When inside the forward side opening 222 of housing 220, the upper arm 232 of torsion spring 230 pushes up against a ceiling inside of the housing 220. The lower arm 238 pushes down on the top of single wide plunger 256 to push the single wide plunger 256 into bottom opening 228 in housing 220.

[0130] As shown in FIGS. 8B-8C, the side moving blade 280 pushes up single wide plunger 256 into bottom opening 228, and the lower arm 238 of torsion spring 230 pushes the single wide plunger 256 into the plunger through hole 270 locking the blade 280 to the torsion spring embodiment 200.

[0131] FIG. 9 is an upper perspective view of the ceiling fan blade 280 mounted to the bracket 290 of FIGS. 7-8C mounted to a fan motor housing 295. FIG. 10 is a lower perspective view of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a front side perspective view of FIG. 9. FIG. 12 is a left end view of FIG. 11.

[0132] As discussed, the single wide plunger 256 can be attached to a housing 220 by dual posts 252 that have an exterior pull latch 210 attached thereon. The exterior pull latch 210 can be pulled upward which disengages the single wide plunger 256 from the through-hole 270 in the root end of the blade 280, so that the blade 280 can be removed.300 Torsion Spring With Magnet (Third Embodiment)

[0133] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of torsion spring embodiment 300 of FIGS. 7-12 with a magnet 310 within a magnet housing 340 attached to attract the single wide plunger 250 through the vertical opening 270 in the root end of the ceiling fan blade 280.

[0134] FIG. 14A is a side view of a blade 280 about to be inserted into the side opening 222 of the assembled torsion spring biased single wide plunger bracket 300 with magnet 310 of FIG. 13. FIG. 14B is a side view of FIG. 14A with the root end of the blade 280 being inserted into the side opening 222 of an assembled torsion spring embodiment of FIG. 13. FIG. 14C is a side view of the blade 280 after being inserted into the side opening 222 of an assembled torsion spring embodiment 300 of FIG. 13.

[0135] Referring to FIGS. 13-14C, the components work similarly to those shown in FIGS. 8A-12, where torsion spring 232 is held in place by spring pin 240 with nut 248 in housing 220.

[0136] A magnet 310 has an upper top that fits within magnet through hole 290 so that the top of magnet 310 is generally flush with the upper surface of plate 260. The bottom of the magnet 310 is supported within a magnet housing 340 by screws / fastener 345 which attach side flanges of the magnet housing 340 to mounting openings 263.

[0137] The magnet 310 magnetically attracts metal plunger 250 to keep the metal plunger 250 in a generally downward position. The torsion spring 232 is the primary mechanism for keeping the plunger 250 in a pushed down position in place. The magnet 310 is a secondary option to push the plunger 250 downward, and it can only be disengaged if the user pulls up on pull latch 210, as previously described.400 Fourth Embodiment Single Post With Cylindrical Spring

[0138] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a single spring biased post of the FOURTH EMBODIMENT 400 which support a single wide plunger 46 to lock a ceiling fan blade 100 to a ceiling fan motor housing bracket 110 (shown in FIGS. 16A-16C. The components function similarly to those shown in FIGS. 1-2C.

[0139] Here, a single post 442 with a single coil / cylindrical spring 430 wrapped thereon. A screw / fastener 415 passes through screw hole 412 in latch 410 and hole 422 in lock and spring barrel (housing) 420, and screws into threaded opening in top of post 442. The hole 422 in the lock and spring barrel (housing) 420 is larger in diameter than the diameter of post 442. This allows for the post 442 to pass through the lock and spring barrel 420. The screw 415 passed through opening 412 and threads into top of post 442 which secures the pull latch 410 to the plunger 46.

[0140] FIG. 16A is a side cross-sectional view of a blade 100 about to be inserted into the side opening 62 of an assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment 400 of FIG. 15. FIG. 16B is another side view of FIG. 16A with the root end of the blade 100 being inserted into the side opening 62 of the assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment 400 pushing up the spring biased single wide plunger 46. FIG. 16C is another side view of the blade 100 after being inserted into the side opening 62 of assembled spring biased single wide plunger embodiment 400 of FIG. 16A-16B, with the spring biased plunger 46 locking the blade 100 to the bracket 110.

[0141] FIGS. 16A-16C function similarly to those shown and described in FIGS. 2A-2C previously described with the difference being a single post 442 with single coil / cylindrical spring 430.

[0142] FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of another torsion spring embodiment 500 with single torsion spring 232 to bias a single post 442 to a ceiling fan motor housing (FIGS. 9-12). with a magnet 310 within a magnet housing 340 attached to attract the single wide plunger 250 through the vertical opening 270 in the root end of the ceiling fan blade 280.

[0143] FIG. 18A is a side view of a blade 280 about to be inserted into a side opening 222 of an assembled torsion spring biased single wide plunger bracket 500 with magnet 310 of FIG. 13. FIG. 18B is a side view of FIG. 14A with the root end of the blade 280 being inserted into the side opening 222 of an assembled torsion spring embodiment 500 of FIG. 13. FIG. 18C is a side view of the blade after being inserted into the side opening 222 of an assembled torsion spring embodiment 500 of FIG. 13.

[0144] Referring to FIGS. 17-18C, the embodiment 500 works similarly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15-16C, with the substitution of a torsion spring 232 for the single coil / cylindrical spring 430, and the addition of the magnet 310 and magnet housing 340 shown and described in reference to FIGS. 13-14C.

[0145] Here, the plunger 250 can have a flat face 253 to interact with the top of magnet 310. The upper and lower legs of the torsion spring 232 can wrap around the post 442 so as not to interfere with the up and down movement of post 442.

[0146] The magnet 310 and plunger 250 can function similarly to the magnet 310 and plunger 250 shown and described in reference to FIGS. 13-14C.

[0147] While the plunger can be metal when used with the magnet as a supplement to the torsion spring, the plunger can be made from plastic when the magnet is not used.

[0148] While the embodiments show spring biased plungers attached to brackets underneath a fan motor housing, the brackets can be attached to upper portions of the fan motor housing.

[0149] While the spring biased plungers are mounted to external brackets about the fan motor housing, the spring biased plungers can also be mounted inside the fan motor housing.

[0150] Although specific advantages have been enumerated above, various embodiments may include some, none, or all of the enumerated advantages.

[0151] Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example, the components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations of the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or other components and the methods described may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order. As used in this document, “each” refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set.

[0152] To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

[0153] While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.

Claims

1. A spring biased plunger system for locking ceiling fan blades to a ceiling fan housing, the system comprising:a ceiling fan motor with a fan motor housing;a plurality of spring biased plungers about the motor housing, for securing fan blades to the motor housing, each spring biased plunger includes a single wide plunger, that passes into a vertical opening in a root end of a ceiling fan blade for securing the blade to the motor housing.

2. The spring biased plunger system of claim 1, wherein each spring biased plunger includes:a pair of posts each being having a coil spring mounted to the single wide plunger; to bias the plunger downward into each vertical opening in the root end of each blade.

3. The spring biased plunger system of claim 2, wherein each spring biased plunger further includes:a pull latch attached to the top of the posts for pulling up the posts to disengage the single wide plunger from the blade, allowing each blade to be removed.

4. The spring biased plunger system of claim 1, wherein each spring biased plunger includes:a pair of posts with a torsion spring mounted to the single wide plunger; to bias the plunger downward into each vertical opening in the root end of each blade.

5. The spring biased plunger system of claim 4, wherein each spring biased plunger includes:a pull latch attached to the top of the posts for pulling up the posts to disengage the single wide plunger from the blade, allowing each blade to be removed.

6. The spring biased plunger system of claim 4, wherein each spring biased plunger includes:a fixed magnet under the vertical opening of each blade as a supplement to push the plunger downward.

7. The spring biased plunger system of claim 5, wherein each spring biased plunger includes:a fixed magnet under the vertical opening of each blade as a supplement to push the plunger downward.

8. The spring biased plunger system of claim 1, wherein each spring biased plunger includes:a single post having a single coil spring mounted to the single wide plunger; to bias the plunger downward into each vertical opening in the root end of each blade.

9. The spring biased plunger system of claim 7, wherein each spring biased plunger further includes:a pull latch attached to the top of the post for pulling the post upward to disengage the single wide plunger from the blade, allowing each blade to be removed.

10. The spring biased plunger system of claim 1, wherein each spring biased plunger includes:a single post with a torsion spring mounted to the single wide plunger; to bias the plunger downward into each vertical opening in the root end of each blade.

11. The spring biased plunger system of claim 9, wherein each spring biased plunger includes:a pull latch attached to the top of the post for pulling up the post to disengage the single wide plunger from the blade, allowing each blade to be removed.

12. The spring biased plunger system of claim 10, wherein each spring biased plunger includes:a fixed magnet under the vertical opening of each blade as a supplement to bias the plunger downward.

13. The spring biased plunger system of claim 11, wherein each spring biased plunger includes:a fixed magnet under the vertical opening of each blade as a supplement to bias the plunger downward.

14. A method for locking fan blades to a ceiling fan motor comprising the steps of,providing a ceiling fan motor with a fan motor housing;mounting a plurality of spring biased plungers about the motor housing; andlocking the fan blades to the motor housing with spring biased plungers that each include single wide plungers, that passes into vertical openings in a root end of each ceiling fan blade.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the locking step further includes the step of:providing a pair of posts to each plunger, each having a coil spring to bias the plunger downward into each vertical opening in the root end of each blade.

16. The method of claim 15, further including the step of:attaching a pull latch to the top of the posts for pulling up the posts to disengage the single wide plunger from the blade, allowing each blade to be removed.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the locking step further includes the step of:providing a pair of posts to each plunger, and a torsion spring; to bias the plunger downward into each vertical opening in the root end of each blade.

18. The method of claim 16, further including the step of:attaching a pull latch to the top of the posts for pulling up the posts to disengage the single wide plunger from the blade, allowing each blade to be removed.

19. The method of claim 17, further includes the step of:mounting a magnet under the vertical opening of each blade as a supplement to push the plunger downward.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the locking step further includes the step of:mounting a single post to each plunger, and a torsion spring; to bias the plunger downward into each vertical opening in the root end of each blade.

21. The method of claim 20, further including the step of:attaching a pull latch to the top of the post for pulling up the post to disengage the single wide plunger from the blade, allowing each blade to be removed.

22. The method of claim 20, further includes the step of:mounting a magnet under the vertical opening of each blade as a supplement to bias the plunger downward.

23. The method of claim 21, further includes the step of:mounting a magnet under the vertical opening of each blade as a supplement to bias the plunger downward.

Images