FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a ceiling fan. More specifically, the present invention is related to a ceiling fan that could be tilted to direct the flow of air to a particular direction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also correspond to implementations of the claimed technology.
Ceiling fans are in use for a very long time for circulating air in an environment. Ceiling fans having different sizes and multiple blades (three to four) are used based on size of rooms in which they are installed. Ceiling fans having bigger sized motors and more number of blades usually circulate large volume of air. Further, to regulate the amount of air circulated by a ceiling fan, the amount of power delivered to motor of the ceiling fan may be controlled. However, conventional design of ceiling fans have a common problem, i.e. directionality of the circulated air. Conventional ceiling fans circulate air equally in all directions. In situations when the circulation of air is required only in one particular direction where user(s) may be located, conventional fans fail to provide air circulation in the required direction.
Thus, there remains a need of an improved design of ceiling fans that can circulate air in a particular direction, as required by a user.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A general objective of the invention is to provide a ceiling fan that could be tilted.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a ceiling fan that could be tilted in a direction defined by a user.
Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a ceiling fan that has omnidirectional tilting capability.
Still another objective of the invention is to provide a ceiling fan that utilizes least number of components for tilting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a tilting assembly for a ceiling fan, and the aspects are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In one embodiment, the tilting assembly for a ceiling fan comprises a coupling element connecting a downrod with a motor shaft of the ceiling fan. The tilting assembly further comprises a ring motor mounted on the downrod and connected with a stepper motor. The ring motor rotates, based on a user instruction, to move the stepper motor to a position associated with a direction of tilt of the ceiling fan. The user instruction defines the direction of tilt of the ceiling fan. The tilting assembly further comprises a lead screw connecting the stepper motor and a bearing clamp fixed on the motor shaft. The lead screw is connected to an extended segment of the bearing clamp. After moving to the position associated with the direction of tilt, the stepper motor rotates the lead screw, to pull the extended segment of the

bearing clamp towards the stepper motor, thereby tilting the ceiling fan based on the user instruction.
In one embodiment, the coupling element may be a universal joint allowing bidirectional tilting of the ceiling fan. The coupling element may be a universal joint or a ball and socket joint allowing omnidirectional tilting of the ceiling fan.
In one embodiment, the user instruction may be obtained by a wireless receiver electrically connected with the ring motor and the stepper motor. The wireless receiver may be housed within a top canopy or a bottom canopy of the ceiling fan.
In one embodiment, the lead screw may be connected with the extended segment of the bearing clamp using a pivot joint allowing angular adjustment between the lead screw and the bearing clamp. Further, a number of threads present on the lead screw defines a degree of tilt of the ceiling fan.
In one embodiment, a power cord meant to provide power supply to a motor of the ceiling fan passes from inside of the downrod to inside of the motor shaft, through a hole developed in a center of the universal joint and the ball and socket joint.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings constitute a part of the description and are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention.
Figure la illustrates a front view of a tilting assembly utilizing a universal joint, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure lb illustrates a perspective view of a tilting assembly utilizing a universal joint, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2a illustrates a front view of a tilting assembly utilizing a ball and socket joint, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2b illustrates a perspective view of a tilting assembly utilizing a ball and socket joint, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration of the present invention, and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
Referring now to Figure la and Figure lb, a tilting assembly 100 utilizing a universal joint (U-joint) 106 is described, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The (U-joint) 106 is utilized as a coupling element for connecting a downrod 102 with a motor shaft 104 of the ceiling fan. The U-joint 106 may allow bidirectional tilting of the ceiling fan. Such bidirectional tilting may correspond to tilting of the ceiling fan on sideways or in front-back direction, depending on an orientation in which the U-joint 106 is installed. A detailed functioning of the tilting assembly 100 allowing such bidirectional tilting of the ceiling fan is described

successively, by making reference to other elements contributing to the tilting assembly 100.
A ring motor 108 may be mounted on the downrod 102. The ring motor 108 may also be connected with a stepper motor 110, through a motor clamp 112. A lead screw 114 may be used to connect the stepper motor 110 and a bearing clamp 116 fixed on the motor shaft 104. In one implementation, the lead screw may be connected with an extended segment of the bearing clamp 116. To supply power to a motor of the ceiling fan, a power cord may pass from inside of the downrod 102 to inside the motor shaft 104, through a hole developed in a center of the universal joint 106.
During operation, the ring motor 108 may rotate based on a user instruction defining a direction of tilt of the ceiling fan. The user instruction may be received wirelessly or through wires. To receive wireless signals and to perform operations based on the wireless signals, a wireless receiver may be connected with the ring motor 108 and the stepper motor 110. The wireless receiver may be housed within a top canopy or a bottom canopy of the ceiling fan. The wireless receiver may receive the wireless signals from a remote operated by a user. The wireless receiver may operate using Bluetooth, Infrared (IR), or microwave signals. Alternatively or additionally, smart elements may be connected with the ring motor 108 and the stepper motor 110. Such smart elements may connect with Internet routers so that user instructions for tilting the ceiling fan could be received over the Internet.
After being moved to the position associated with the direction of tilt, by the ring motor 108, the stepper motor 110 may rotate the lead screw 114. Rotation of the lead screw 114 may result in pulling of the extended segment of the bearing clamp 116 towards the stepper motor 110, and thus tilting of the ceiling fan. In one implementation, the lead screw 114 may be connected with the extended segment of the bearing clamp 116 by a pivot joint 118. The pivot joint 118 would allow angular adjustment between the lead screw 114 and the bearing clamp 116, during

tilting of the ceiling fan. Further, a number of threads present on the lead screw 114 may define a degree of tilt of the ceiling fan. The ceiling fan may remain tilted at a particular angle until another user instruction is received by the wireless receiver.
Movement of the different components of the tilting assembly 100 i.e. the ring motor 108, the lead screw 114, and the bearing clamp 116 could be easily understood from the directional arrows illustrated in perspective view of the tilting assembly 100 shown in Figure lb.
Referring now to Figure 2a and Figure 2b, a tilting assembly 200 utilizing a ball and socket joint 206 is described, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The ball and socket joint 206 is utilized as the coupling element for connecting a downrod 202 with a motor shaft 204 of the ceiling fan. The ball and socket joint 206 may allow omnidirectional tilting of the ceiling fan. Such omnidirectional tilting may correspond to tilting of the ceiling fan in any direction. A detailed functioning of the tilting assembly 200 allowing such bidirectional omnidirectional of the ceiling fan is described successively, by making reference to other elements contributing to the tilting assembly 200.
A ring motor 208 may be mounted on the downrod 202. The ring motor 208 may also be connected with a stepper motor 210, through a motor clamp 212. A lead screw 214 may be used to connect the stepper motor 210 and a bearing clamp 216 fixed on the motor shaft 204. In one implementation, the lead screw may be connected with an extended segment of the bearing clamp 216. To supply power to a motor of the ceiling fan, a power cord may pass from inside of the downrod 202 to inside the motor shaft 204, through a hole developed in a center of the ball and socket joint 206.
During operation, the ring motor 208 may rotate based on a user instruction defining a direction of tilt of the ceiling fan. The user instruction may be received wirelessly or through wires. To receive the wireless signals and perform operations based on

the wireless signals, a wireless receiver may be connected with the ring motor 208 and the stepper motor 210. The wireless receiver may be housed within a top canopy or a bottom canopy of the ceiling fan. The wireless receiver may receive the wireless signals from a remote operated by a user. The wireless receiver may operate using Bluetooth, Infrared (IR), or microwave signals. Alternatively or additionally, smart elements may be connected with the ring motor 208 and the stepper motor 210. Such smart elements may connect with Internet routers so that user instructions for tilting the ceiling fan could be received over the Internet.
After being moved to the position associated with the direction of tilt, by the ring motor 208, the stepper motor 210 may rotate the lead screw 214. Rotation of the lead screw 214 may result in pulling of the extended segment of the bearing clamp 216 towards the stepper motor 210, and thus tilting of the ceiling fan. In one implementation, the lead screw 214 may be connected with the extended segment of the bearing clamp 216 by a pivot joint 218. The pivot joint 218 would allow angular adjustment between the lead screw 214 and the bearing clamp 216, during tilting of the ceiling fan. Further, a number of threads present on the lead screw 214 may define a degree of tilt of the ceiling fan. The ceiling fan may remain tilted at a particular angle until another user instruction is received by the wireless receiver.
Movement of the different components of the tilting assembly 200 i.e. the ring motor 208, the lead screw 214, and the bearing clamp 216 could be easily understood from the directional arrows illustrated in perspective view of the tilting assembly 200 shown in the Figure 2b.
In view of the above provided embodiments and their explanations, it is evident that the present invention offers tilting assemblies for allowing tilting of ceiling fans in specific directions. The ceiling fans could be tilted to provide air circulation in specific directions, instead of providing air circulation equally in all directions.

Although implementations of tilting assemblies for ceiling fans have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of the tilting assemblies.

We Claim:
1. A tilting assembly (100, 200) for a ceiling fan, the tilting assembly (100, 200)
comprising:
a coupling element connecting a downrod (102, 202) with a motor shaft (104, 204) of the ceiling fan;
a ring motor (108,208) mounted on the downrod (102,202) and connected with a stepper motor (110, 210), wherein the ring motor (108, 208) rotates, based on a user instruction, to move the stepper motor (110, 210) to a position associated with a direction of tilt of the ceiling fan, and wherein the user instruction defines the direction of tilt of the ceiling fan; and
a lead screw (114, 214) connecting the stepper motor (110, 210) and a bearing clamp (116, 216) fixed on the motor shaft (104, 204), wherein the lead screw (114, 214) is connected to an extended segment of the bearing clamp (116,216),
wherein after moving to the position associated with the direction of tilt, the stepper motor (110, 210) rotates the lead screw (114, 214), to pull the extended segment of the bearing clamp (116, 216) towards the stepper motor (110, 210), thereby tilting the ceiling fan based on the user instruction.
2. The tilting assembly (100, 200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling element is one of a universal joint (106) and a ball and socket joint (206).
3. The tilting assembly (100, 200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the universal joint (106) allows bidirectional tilting of the ceiling fan.
4. The tilting assembly (100, 200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ball and socket joint (206) allows omnidirectional tilting of the ceiling fan.
5. The tilting assembly (100, 200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user instruction is obtained by a wireless receiver electrically connected with the ring motor (108, 208) and the stepper motor (110, 210).

6. The tilting assembly (100, 200) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the wireless receiver is housed within a top canopy or a bottom canopy of the ceiling fan.
7. The tilting assembly (100, 200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lead screw (114, 214) is connected with the extended segment of the bearing clamp (116, 216) using a pivot joint (118, 218) allowing angular adjustment between the lead screw (114, 214) and the bearing clamp (116, 216).
8. The tilting assembly (100, 200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a number of threads present on the lead screw (114,214) defines a degree of tilt of the ceiling fan.
9. The tilting assembly (100, 200) as claimed in claims 3 and 4, wherein a power cord meant to provide power supply to a motor of the ceiling fan passes from inside of the downrod (102,202) to inside of the motor shaft (104,204), through a hole developed in a center of the universal joint (106) and the ball and socket joint (206).