DESCRIPTION
CEILING FAN
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a ceiling fan used either indoors or
outdoors especially by mounting it to a ceiling surface.
BACKGROUND ART
A ceiling fan of a type hitherto known has fan blades sandwiched and fixed
between a supporting frame and a rotor as disclosed, for instance, in Patent
Literature 1.
Referring to Fig. 15A and Fig. 15B description is provided hereinafter of a
conventional ceiling fan. Fig. 15A is a cross sectional view showing a main part
of the conventional ceiling fan and Fig. 15B is a plan view showing a part of a
fan blade of the ceiling fan.
As shown in these figures, the conventional ceiling fan comprises disc-like
stator 103 provided with shaft 104 inserted in and fixed to the center thereof,
and annular rotor 105 disposed in close proximity to the periphery of stator 103.
The conventional ceiling fan also comprises cap-shaped upper supporting frame
101 and lower supporting frame 102 fixed to the top and bottom of rotor 105 and
rotatably supported by shaft 104, and a plurality of fan blades 115 disposed
radially by having their one ends inserted into a plurality of slots provided
around the periphery of upper supporting frame 101.
Fan blades 115 are inserted between upper supporting frame 101 and rotor
105 when they are fixed to rotor 105. This structure helps retain fan blades
115 temporarily and facilitate the fixing work more conveniently. The

structure can also hold fan blades 115 robustly against a load in the vertical
direction since fixed portions of fan blades 115 have many areas of contact in
their upper and lower surfaces after they are fixed to rotor 105.
As described, the conventional ceiling fan has the structure designed to fix
fan blades 115 directly to rotor 105 such that it does not require any special
member for mounting fan blades 115 to rotor 105.
When using fan blades 115 made specifically of a metallic material, however,
it becomes necessary to lighten a weight of metallic fan blades 115 by reducing
their thickness, and this consequently weakens their rigidity and strength.
This gives rise to a possibility that fan blades 115 become damaged due to metal
fatigue resulting from repeated imposition of the load during a long term of use
since stresses concentrate on root portions of fan blades 115 as a reaction of the
air being thrust downward.
It is therefore necessary for the conventional ceiling fan of the above kind to
have fan blades 115 of such a shape that is not easily damaged in the root
portions, and a structure for preventing fan blades 115 from coming off rotor 105
even if they are broken at the root portions.
On the other hand, there is another type of conventional ceiling fan
disclosed in Patent Literature 2, which is designed to ensure safety even when
fan blades are broken in the proximity of their root portions.
Description is provided hereinafter of the ceiling fan with reference to Fig.
16. Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing a fan blade portion and a
retaining member of the conventional ceiling fan as they are being assembled.
As shown in Fig. 16, the conventional ceiling fan comprises cowling 120,
which is rotatable with a rotor (not shown), and fan blades 121 attached to
cowling 120 by means of retaining members 123. Retaining members 123 and
fan blades 121 are mounted to cowling 120 with screws while one ends 123a of

retaining members 123 are held in alignment with mounting portions 121a of
fan blades 121. Each of retaining members 123 is formed of a long strip of
metal plate extending from one end 123a to other end 123b in a direction of the
distal end of fan blade 121, and the other end 123b is fastened to the surface of
fan blade 121 at a point of a given distance away from the one end 123a. While
an area adjacent to mounting portion 121a of fan blade 121 is liable to gradual
deterioration due to fatigue with time, a separated piece of fan blade 121 is kept
connected to cowling 120 with retaining member 123 even when any of fan
blades 121 is broken near its one end 123a. This structure can thus prevent
fan blades 121 from separating from the main unit and falling below, thereby
ensuring safety in the surrounding area.
The conventional ceiling fan of this kind has a comparatively small load
exerted on retaining members 123 when a synthetic resin is used for the
material of fan blades 121. A problem exists, however, in the case of using fan
blade assemblies, each consisting of a metallic blade frame and a metallic
fan-blade plate. That is, the metallic fan blade assemblies are generally
composed of fan-blade plates of a small thickness and blade frames of a
thickness larger than the fan-blade plates in order to reduce their weight. As
the thickness of the blade frames is decreased in an attempt to reduce the
material and the weight, however, the blade frames lose their physical strength.
This may lead to breakage of the fan blades due to metal fatigue caused by
repeated imposition of load during a long term of use since stresses developed by
the blade surfaces to downwardly thrust the air act upon the blade frames via
the fan-blade plates and concentrate on their root portions. It therefore
becomes necessary to provide some measures for preventing broken pieces of the
fan blade assemblies from coming off the main unit even when using the fan
blade assemblies consisting of the blade frames and the fan-blade plates.

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication, No.
1990-188693
Patent Literature 2- Japanese Patent, No. 3,803,475
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is to provide a ceiling fan comprising any of a
fan-blade plate and a fan-blade frame made especially of a metal and mounted
to a rotor of a motor, wherein any of the fan-blade plate and the fan-blade frame
is formed into a shape not easily damaged even when subjected to repeated
impression of a load, and capable of retaining the fan-blade plate connected to
the rotor side in a manner not to separate even if any of the fan-blade plate and
the fan-blade frame is broken, thereby ensuring the safety.
The ceiling fan of the present invention comprises a disc-like stator provided
with a fixed shaft at the center thereof, an annular rotor disposed to the
periphery of the stator, a supporting frame fixed to the rotor and rotatably
supported by the fixed shaft, a fan blade fixed to the supporting frame, and a
retaining member having one end fixed to the supporting frame together with
the fan blade and the other end coupled to the fan blade, wherein the fan blade
includes a root portion fixed to the supporting frame, a blade portion coupled to
the retaining member and an offset portion formed between the root portion and
the blade portion.
It becomes possible by virtue of this structure to prevent any of the
fan-blade plate and the fan-blade frame made of metals or the like materials
composing the fan blade mounted to the rotor of the motor from being damaged
easily even when any of them is subjected to repeated impression of a load
during operation of the ceiling fan. The structure can also ensure the safety
even if the fan blade is broken at an area adjacent to the root portion or the

offset portion by retaining a broken piece of the fan blade with the retaining
member and preventing it from falling below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view showing a main part of a ceiling fan
according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a general perspective view showing a fan-blade plate and a
retaining member when assembled for the same ceiling fan!
Fig. 3 is a general perspective view showing a fan-blade plate and a
retaining member when assembled for a ceiling fan according to a second
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4A is a general perspective view showing a fan-blade plate and a
retaining member when assembled for a ceiling fan according to a third
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4B is a cross sectional view of the fan-blade plate!
Fig. 5 is a general perspective view showing a fan-blade plate and a
retaining member when assembled for a ceiling fan according to a fourth
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a general perspective view showing a fan-blade plate and a
retaining member when assembled for a ceiling fan according to a fifth
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 7A is a general perspective view showing a fan-blade plate and a
retaining member when assembled for a ceiling fan according to a sixth
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 7B is a cross sectional view showing a main part of the fan-blade plate
assembled to a supporting frame of the ceiling fan according to the sixth
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view showing a main part of a ceiling fan
according to a seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a fan blade and a retaining member
of the same ceiling fan;
Fig. 10A is a general perspective view showing the fan blade and the
retaining member when assembled for the same ceiling fan;
Fig. 10B is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a relation
between a protruding lug and the retaining member of the same ceiling fan;
Fig. 11 is a plan view showing the fan blade and the retaining member after
assembled;
Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a main part showing a relation between the
protruding lug and the retaining member,'
Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a relation between a
fan-blade plate and a retaining member according to an eighth exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 14A is a plan view of a retaining member according to a ninth
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 14B is a plan view of another retaining member of the same exemplary
embodiment;
Fig. 15A is a cross sectional view of a conventional ceiling fan;
Fig. 15B is a plan view showing a main part of a fan blade of the ceiling fan;
and
Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing a fan-blade plate and a
retaining member when assembled for the conventional ceiling fan.
REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS
1 Fixed shaft

2 Stator
3 Rotor
4 Supporting frame
4a Hole
5 Fan blade
6 Fan-blade plate
7a Root portion
6b Blade portion
6c, 7b Offset portion
6d, 6e Reinforcing rib
6f Flat portion
6g Reinforced end
6h Projection
6r Curbed portion
7 Fan-blade frame
7c Fixing portion
8 Protruding lug
8a Lobe portion
8b Narrow neck portion
9, 9A, 9B Retaining member
9a Engaging slot
10 Large portion
11 Small portion
12 Flexible wire
12a Looped terminal
13 Rivet
14 Lug terminal

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Description is provided hereinafter of the preferred embodiments of the
present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIRST EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view showing a main part of a ceiling fan
according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is
a general perspective view showing a fan-blade plate and a retaining member
when assembled for the same ceiling fan. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a
motor of the ceiling fan in this exemplary embodiment comprises disc-like stator
2 provided with fixed shaft 1 at the center thereof, and annular rotor 3 disposed
in close proximity to the periphery of stator 2. In addition, the ceiling fan has
supporting frame 4 fixed to the perimeter of rotor 3, and a plurality of metallic
fan-blade plates 6 fixed to supporting frame 4 either permanently or in a
removable manner.
In this exemplary embodiment, fan blade 5 comprises fan-blade plate 6 of a
unitary structure. In other words, fan-blade plate 6 has root portion 6a to be
fixed to supporting frame 4 and blade portion 6b extending from root portion 6a,
as shown in Fig. 2, and retaining member 9 is mounted to it for connecting root
portion 6a and blade portion 6b. Fan-blade plate 6 has inclined offset portion
6c between root portion 6a and blade portion 6b.
Offset portion 6c has a gradational inclination to form blade portion 6b of
such a shape that trailing edge T lies in a lower position than leading edge F
with respect to a horizontal plane for providing fan-blade plate 6 with the
function of producing airflow when it rotates about fixed shaft 1 in the direction
of the arrow. In other words, offset portion 6c is provided with a gradual
difference in the vertical height to make blade portion 6b so inclined that the

trailing edge T at the exiting side of the airflow lies lower than the leading edge
F at the entering side into the airflow as blade portion 6b rotates in the direction
of the arrow. Accordingly, Fig. 2 shows that offset portion 6c is inclined
downward from root portion 6a toward blade portion 6b. Since the trailing
edge T of blade portion 6b is located lower than the leading edge F, offset portion
6c in Fig. 2 has larger offset height 6T at the trailing edge T side than offset
height 6F at the leading edge F side.
In addition, offset portion 6c includes two curbed portions 6r that are bent
to opposite directions to form obtuse angles, or bent angles larger than 90
degrees as shown partially in Fig. 7B.
Fan-blade plate 6 has reinforcing ribs 6d of a stripe form extending from
root portion 6a to blade portion 6b at the side near offset portion 6c.
Retaining member 9 has one end fixed to supporting frame 4 together with
root portion 6a and the other end coupled to blade portion 6b across offset
portion 6c.
In the above structure, a reactive force is exerted upon blade portion 6b of
fan-blade plate 6 when the ceiling fan is operated to generate airflow in a
direction from the ceiling to the floor, and it causes concentration of repeated
stress on a proximal area of root portion 6a of fan-blade plate 6. This gives rise
to a possibility that the area near root portion 6a of fan-blade plate 6 breaks due
to metal fatigue when used for an extended period. In the case of this
exemplary embodiment, however, fan-blade plate 6 is held connected to
supporting frame 4 of rotor 3 with retaining member 9 even if fan-blade plate 6
is broken, thereby preventing it from falling below.
Fan-blade plate 6 having offset portion 6c with the inclination for
supporting blade portion 6b can improve performance of the ceiling fan such as
an amount and velocity of the airflow. This enhances the repeated stress

exerted on offset portion 6c of fan-blade plate 6 due to the reactive force of blade
portion 6b against the airflow, which makes offset portion 6c the area most
susceptible to break. In this exemplary embodiment, however, retaining
member 9 mounted across offset portion 6c can prevent fan-blade plate 6 from
falling below even if it is broken by holding it to supporting frame 4 of rotor 3 by
retaining member 9.
It is also obvious that the stress produced by blade portion 6b concentrates
on the curbed portions of offset portion 6c. Since curbed portions 6r in this
exemplary embodiment are formed into obtuse angles larger that 90 degrees,
the stress is distributed over the entire area of root portion 6a in fan-blade plate
6 to alleviate concentration of the stress to offset portion 6c. This structure can
hence make fan-blade plate 6 not easily breakable and improve durability of the
fan blade.
SECOND EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
Fig. 3 is a general perspective view showing a fan-blade plate and a
retaining member when assembled for a ceiling fan according to the second
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 3, this
exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment in respect
of that fan-blade plate 6 used as fan blade 5 is provided with reinforcing ribs 6d
of a stripe form extending from root portion 6a to either the center area or near
the distal end of blade portion 6b.
According to this structure, stripe-formed reinforcing ribs 6d can reduce to a
large extent warpage of metallic fan-blade plate 6 attributable to its own weight.
This structure can also reduce a degree of deformation of fan-blade plate 6 due
to repeated impression of a load during the operation and alleviate
concentration of the stress to offset portion 6c and the like areas. The structure

can hence make fan-blade plate 6 not easily breakable.
THIRD EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
Fig. 4A is a general perspective view showing a fan-blade plate and a
retaining member when assembled for a ceiling fan according to the third
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4B is a cross sectional
view of the fan-blade plate taken along a line 4B - 4B in Fig. 4A. As shown in
Fig. 4A, fan-blade plate 6 constituting fan blade 5 of this exemplary embodiment
is provided with reinforcing rib 6e extending continuously from root portion 6a
to the center area or near the distal end of blade portion 6b in a manner similar
to that of the second exemplary embodiment. However, reinforcing rib 6e of
this exemplary embodiment has an arc shape of a large radial curvature in cross
section extending substantially in the widthwise direction of blade portion 6b as
shown in Fig. 4B. In addition, blade portion 6b has flat areas 6f formed at both
sides adjoining leading edge F and trailing edge T in a manner that they are
flush with each other as shown in Fig. 4B. Here, Fig. 4B illustrates that the
trailing edge T is kept to he in a lower position than the leading edge F by
means of the inclination of offset portion 6c shown in Fig. 4A.
The structure illustrated above can prevent fan-blade plate 6 from warping
and deforming, reduce the areas where the stress concentrates, and improve
rigidity of fan-blade plate 6 entirely. This structure also improves flatness of
the front and back surfaces of fan-blade plate 6 to help the air to flow smoothly
along the surfaces.
Furthermore, flat areas 6f provided at both sides adjoining the leading edge
F (i.e., entering side of the airflow) and the trailing edge T (i.e., exiting side of
the airflow) of blade portion 6b improves the rigidity substantially as compared
with any such fan-blade plate as formed entirely into an arc shape in cross

section. In addition, the above structure can help ensure maintenance and
control of the dimensions and the shape of fan-blade plate 6 stably in the metal
work during the manufacturing process, and it thereby improves efficiency of
the production as well as quality control.
FOURTH EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
Fig. 5 is a general perspective view showing a fan-blade plate and a
retaining member when assembled for a ceiling fan according to the fourth
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 5, fan-blade
plate 6 used as fan blade 5 of this exemplary embodiment is formed into
generally the equal dimension in width from root portion 6a to the proximity of a
distal end of blade portion 6b. In other words, root portion 6a of this exemplary
embodiment has an area larger than any fan blade 5 in the first through third
exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, this structure can increase the
mounting strength of root portion 6a by having fan-blade plate 6 of the width
generally the same dimension throughout from root portion 6a to the proximity
of the distal end of blade portion 6b and increasing the area of root portion 6a.
Since fan-blade plate 6 has the width of generally the same dimension from
root portion 6a to blade portion 6b, material layout and use of it become easier
and more efficient. Moreover, fan-blade plate 6 can be made robustly to avoid
cracking in the mounting area even when it receives repeated impression of a
load because this exemplary embodiment has a larger area ratio of root portion
6a to blade portion 6b as compared to those of the first through the third
exemplary embodiments, in which fan-blade plates 6 have root portions 6a of
narrower width than blade portions 6b.
In addition, this structure can increase an overall area of root portion 6a
being secured because of root portion 6a having the surface area enlarged by

making the width of root portion 6a generally the same as the width of blade
portion 6b. It can thus prevent the stress from concentrating on the mounting
area of fan-blade plate 6.
FIFTH EXEMPLAEY EMBODIMENT
Fig. 6 is a general perspective view showing a fan-blade plate and a
retaining member when assembled for a ceiling fan according to the fifth
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 6, fan-blade
plate 6 used as fan blade 5 of this exemplary embodiment is provided with
reinforced end 6g at the edge of root portion 6a formed by a process such as
beading and folding.
Reinforced end 6g provided by the process of beading or folding the edge of
root portion 6a increases the rigidity of root portion 6a and prevent fan-blade
plate 6 from being broken at root portion 6a. This structure can also maintain
an adequate strength even when the width of root portion 6a is reduced smaller
than that of blade portion 6b. It can thus allow root portion 6a of a slim shape
in designing and increase the commercial value of the ceiling fan when the
width of root portion 6a is formed smaller than blade portion 6b.
SIXTH EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
Fig. 7A is a general perspective view showing a fan-blade plate and a
retaining member when assembled for a ceiling fan according to the sixth
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 7B is a cross sectional
view showing a main part of the fan-blade plate assembled to a supporting
frame of the ceiling fan. In this exemplary embodiment, root portion 6a is
provided with a plurality of projections 6h as shown in Fig. 7A, and supporting
frame 4 is provided with a plurality of holes 4a for projections 6h to fit therein as

shown in Fig. 7B.
This structure can alleviate the stress exerted on root portion 6a since root
portion 6a is supported by projections 6h at the plurality of positions. In
addition, the structure helps ease the work of mounting fan-blade plate 6 to
supporting frame 4 since fan-blade plate 6 can be retained temporarily by
insert-fitting projections 6h into holes 4a in supporting frame 4 in the process of
assembling.
SEVENTH EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view showing a main part of a ceiling fan
according to the seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig.
9 is an exploded perspective view of a fan blade and a retaining member of the
same ceiling fan. Fig. 10A is a general perspective view showing the fan blade
and the retaining member when assembled, and Fig. 10B is an enlarged
perspective view of the main part showing a relation between a protruding lug
and the retaining member. Fig. 11 is a plan view showing the fan blade and the
retaining member after assembled, and Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the main
part showing a relation between the protruding lug and the retaining member.
According to this exemplary embodiment, a main unit of the ceiling fan
comprises disc-like stator 2 provided with fixed shaft 1 at the center thereof, and
annular rotor 3 disposed in close proximity to the periphery of stator 2. In
addition, the ceiling fan of this exemplary embodiment has supporting frame 4
fixed to rotor 3 and axially supported by fixed shaft 1 in a rotatable manner, and
metallic fan blades 5 fixed to the perimeter of supporting frame 4 either
permanently or in a removable manner, as shown in Fig. 8 to Fig. 12.
Fan blade 5 comprises fan-blade frame 7 having one end fixed to supporting
frame 4, and fan-blade plate 6 fixed to the other end of fan-blade frame 7, as

shown in Fig. 9. That is, fan blade 5 has fan-blade plate 6 made of a metal
plate processed to form blade portion 6b, and metallic fan-blade frame 7
attached to the rotational center side of fan-blade plate 6. Fan-blade frame 7
has root portion 7a to be fixed to supporting frame 4, offset portion 7b formed by
bending, and fixing portion 7c whereto fan-blade plate 6 is fixed. Retaining
member 9 is mounted to the surface of fan-blade frame 7. One end of retaining
member 9 is fixed to supporting frame 4 by a screw together with root portion 7a
of fan-blade frame 7, and the other end of retaining member 9 is extended across
offset portion 7b and coupled to protruding lug 8 provided on fixing portion 7c of
fan-blade frame 7 at fan-blade plate 6 side.
That is, protruding lug 8 has narrow portion ("neck-side portion") 8b
coupled with fan-blade frame 7 and lobe portion ("tip-end portion") 8a linked
with narrow portion 8b, wherein lobe portion 8a is formed larger in size than
narrow portion 8b, as shown in Fig. 10B. There is engaging slot 9a formed near
the end of retaining member 9 of a size to make engagement loosely with
protruding lug 8. Engaging slot 9a in retaining member 9 has a shape
resembling a keyhole consisting of large portion ("first hole") 10 and small
portion ("second hole") 11 connected to each other. Lobe portion 8a of
protruding lug 8 has a size smaller than large portion 10 of engaging slot 9a but
larger than small portion 11. Lobe portion 8a can be engaged with a certain
clearance to engaging slot 9a at the end of retaining member 9.
Protruding lug 8 is formed by press-lifting a part of fan-blade frame 7 into a
bendable hook. Lobe portion 8a of protruding lug 8 has a size insertable into
large portion 10 of engaging slot 9a provided in retaining member 9, and narrow
portion 8b of protruding lug 8 is formed in a position to fit into small portion 11
in retaining member 9. In the case of this exemplary embodiment, lobe portion
8a and narrow portion 8b of protruding lug 8 are set to 5.5mm and 3mm in

widths respectively. Wide portion 10 and small portion 11 of engaging slot 9a
are set to 6.3mm and 4mm in widths respectively.
The inclined offset portion 7b is provided in fan-blade frame 7 to have
fan-blade plate 6 fixed with an inclination so maintained that trading edge T at
the exiting side of airflow tilts downward from leading edge F at the entering
side of the airflow with respect to a horizontal plane when fan-blade plate 6
rotates about fixed shaft 1. Accordingly, offset portion 7c has a larger offset
height at 7T side than 7F side. In addition, offset portion 7b is bent to an
obtuse angle larger than 90 degrees, and retaining member 9 is disposed in a
position to cross one side of offset portion 7b having the smaller offset height, in
the like manner as offset portion 6c discussed in the first exemplary
embodiment with reference to Fig. 7B.
In the above structure, a reactive force of the airflow is exerted in the
vertical direction upon fan-blade plate 6 when the ceiling fan of this exemplary
embodiment is operated, and this gives rise to a possibility that the area around
offset portion 7b or the mounting portion of fan-blade frame 7 breaks due to
metal fatigue resulting from concentration of internal stress. By virtue of this
structure, however, fan-blade frame 7 and fan-blade plate 6 can be held
connected to supporting frame 4 by retaining member 9 without separating from
the main unit even if fan-blade frame 7 is broken due to the metal fatigue
attributable to an extended period of use.
This structure can also make connection of retaining member 9 to
protruding lug 8 without producing a tensile stress in retaining member 9 by
loosely engaging protruding lug 8 in engaging slot 9a of retaining member 9.
Protruding lug 8 is formed at the side facing fan-blade plate 6 and away from
offset portion 7b of fan-blade frame 7 that is liable to become damaged. This
also helps maintain reliable engagement of protruding lug 8 with engaging slot

9a of retaining member 9 to ensure the connection of fan-blade frame 7 and
fan-blade plate 6 to supporting frame 4 in an event that fan-blade frame 7 is
broken.
The structure also ensure reliably the engagement of lobe portion 8a of
protruding lug 8 with small portion 11 of engaging slot 9a in retaining member 9
because fan-blade plate 6 shifts outward by a distance of the clearance when
fan-blade frame 7 is damaged. The broken fan-blade frame 7 and fan-blade
plate 6 can therefore be kept retained by retaining member 9 in a manner to
hang from supporting frame 4.
Lobe portion 8a of press-lifted protruding lug 8 is inserted through large
portion 10 of engaging slot 9a provided in retaining member 9, and neck portion
8b of protruding lug 8 is fitted inside small portion 11 in retaining member 9.
Retaining member 9 can be thus engaged easily to protruding lug 8 while
maintaining their dimensional relationship having the clearance, and it can be
fixed temporarily by bending protruding lug 8 to the direction of a dotted arrow
shown in Fig. 10B. At the final assembly, fan-blade plate 6 is fixed to
supporting frame 4 together with retaining member 9 by using a screw or the
like fastening means.
Since fan-blade frame 7 is securely fixed to rotor 3, a pressure exerted on
fan-blade plate 6 as a reactive force of the airflow concentrates on offset portion
7b that holds fan-blade plate 6 with an inclination. However, the stress is
distributed over the entire area of fan-blade frame 7 to alleviate concentration of
the stress onto offset portion 7b because offset portion 7b is formed by bending it
into obtuse angles larger that 90 degrees and this structure can hence improve
durability of offset portion 7b.
As discussed, offset portion 7b is provided with a gradual difference in the
vertical height in the widthwise direction of fan-blade frame 7 and retaining

member 9 is disposed to cross one side of offset portion 7b having the smaller
offset height. This structure allows retaining member 9 formed into a plain
shape of flat plate to help simplify the overall shape and reduce the
manufacturing cost of retaining member 9.
EIGHTH EXEMPLAEY EMBODIMENT
Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a relation between a fan
blade and a retaining member of a ceiling fan according to the eighth exemplary
embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the seventh exemplary
embodiment, fan blade 5 of this exemplary embodiment comprises fan-blade
frame 7 and fan-blade plate 6, and that fan-blade frame 7 comprises root portion
7a, offset portion 7b and fixing portion 7c.
In this exemplary embodiment, retaining member 9 is provided with bent
portion 9b of a shape formed to fit along offset portion 7b of fan-blade frame 7 as
shown in Fig. 13. There is engaging slot 9c formed in bent portion 9b, which is
connected to protruding lug 8c formed on fixing portion 7c. One of the ends of
retaining member 9 is fixed to supporting frame 4 together with root portion 7a
by using a screw or the like fastening means.
Retaining member 9 of this structure provided with bent portion 9b of the
shape to fit along offset portion 7b can reduce an air resistance during rotation
and prevent retaining member 9 from being separated or deformed even when
equipped with fan-blade frame 7 having offset portion 7b of a large vertical
height.
According to this exemplary embodiment as discussed, bent portion 9b
formed in retaining member 9 to fit along offset portion 7b ensures mounting of
retaining member 9 without leaving a risk of coming off fan-blade frame 7 while
also reducing the air resistance when the fan blade rotates. Retaining member

9 of this shape can also prevent deformation and ensure the safety even when
fan-blade frame 7 is damaged.
NINTH EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
Fig. 14A is a plan view of a retaining member of a ceiling fan, and Fig. 14B
is a plan view of another retaining member according to the ninth exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in Fig. 14A, retaining member 9A has lug terminals 14 at both
ends of flexible wire 12, which is less susceptible to concentration of bending
stress, and one of lug terminals 14 is formed connectible to protruding lug 8 of
fan-blade frame 7.
Similarly, retaining member 9B comprises flexible wire 12, and it is
provided with lug terminal 14 at one end and looped terminal 12a formed by
circularly curving the other end of flexible wire 12, as shown in Fig. 14B. This
looped terminal 12a is formed connectible to protruding lug 8 of fan-blade frame
7.
Retaining member 9B can be attached easily to protruding lug 8 of
fan-blade frame 7 by hooking looped terminal 12a at the end of flexible wire 12.
In addition, retaining member 9B makes one of lug terminals 14 unnecessary
for the connection of flexible wire 12 as compared to retaining member 9A,
thereby reducing the number of parts.
Both retaining members 9A and 9B can be used for any of ceiling fans in the
first through the eighth exemplary embodiments.
As discussed above, retaining members 9A and 9B comprised of flexible wire
12 have a high degree of flexibility in the manner they are installed so that they
are adaptable to a wide variety of applications without any restriction on the
shape of fan-blade frame 7. Since flexible wire 12 is composed of a stranded

wire having flexibility, it can alleviate the stress even when it is used in such a
location as to cross offset portion 7b where repeated deformation is likely to
occur. By virtue of having flexible wire 12, any of retaining members 9A and
9B is capable of keeping fan-blade frame 7 connected to supporting frame 4 even
if fan-blade frame 7 is broken.
According to this exemplary embodiment, it becomes possible to standardize
the retaining members for ceiling fans since retaining members 9A and 9B are
comprised of flexible wire 12 and their applications are not restricted by the
height and shape of offset portion 7b of fan-blade frame 7. Retaining members
9A and 9B can also demonstrate satisfactorily their function as the retaining
means when fan-blade frame 7 is broken since they are not easily damaged by
the stress attributable to repeated deformation. Furthermore, retaining
member 9B improves the efficiency of assembling since looped terminal 12a at
the end of flexible wire 12 facilitates the mounting, while also reducing the
number of parts.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention is applicable to large electric fans and ventilating
fans used indoors and outdoors, and particularly to air-blowing apparatuses of
which fan blades or fan-blade frames receive large loads, since the invented
structure reduces the stress exerted on the fan blades during operation,
prevents the fan blades from being damaged due to aging fatigue attributed to
repeated impression of the load, and avoid the fan blades from falling below
even if they are broken.

We Claim:
1. A ceiling fan comprising:
a disc-like stator provided with a fixed shaft at the center thereof;
an annular rotor disposed to the periphery of the stator,'
a supporting frame fixed to the rotor and rotatably supported by the fixed
shaft;
a fan blade fixed to the supporting frame; and
a retaining member having one end fixed to the supporting frame together
with the fan blade and the other end coupled to the fan blade, wherein the fan
blade comprises:
a root portion fixed to the supporting frame;
a blade portion coupled to the retaining member,* and
an offset portion formed between the root portion and the blade portion.
2. The ceiling fan of claim 1, wherein the offset portion between the root
portion and the blade portion has a vertical offset to make a trailing edge of the
fan blade He at a lower position with respect to a leading edge of the fan blade,
and the retaining member is disposed in a manner to cross the offset portion.
3. The ceiling fan of claim 1, wherein the offset portion includes two curved
portions that are bent in directions opposite to each other into obtuse bent
angles.
4. The ceiling fan of claim 1, wherein the fan blade is provided with a
reinforcing rib extending continuously from the root portion to the center area of
the blade portion.

5. The ceiling fan of claim 4, wherein the reinforcing rib of the fan blade has
an arc shape in cross section extending substantially in a widthwise direction of
the blade portion.
6. The ceiling fan of claim 4, wherein the blade portion of the fan blade has
flat areas formed at both sides adjoining a leading edge and a trailing edge in a
manner that they are flush with each other.
7. The ceiling fan of claim 1, wherein the fan blade is formed to generally
have an even dimension in width from the root portion to a distal end of the
blade portion
8. The ceiling fan of claim 1, wherein the fan blade is provided with a
reinforced end at the edge of the root portion formed by any of beading process
and folding process.
9. The ceiling fan of claim 1, wherein the fan blade is provided with a
plurality of projections in the root portion, and the supporting frame is provided
with a plurality of holes for the projections to fit therein.
10. The ceiling fan of claim 1, wherein:
the fan blade comprises a fan-blade frame having one end fixed to the
supporting frame, and a fan-blade plate fixed to the other end of the fan-blade
frame;
the fan-blade frame has the offset portion between the one end fixed to the
supporting frame and the other end fixed to the fan-blade plate; and
one end of the retaining member is fixed to the supporting frame together

with the one end of the fan-blade frame, and the other end is extended across
the offset portion and coupled to the other end of the fan-blade frame.
11. The ceiling fan of claim 10, wherein the other end of the fan-blade frame
where the fan-blade plate is fixed is provided with a protruding lug comprising a
neck-side portion continuous with the other end of the fan-blade frame and a
tip-end portion continuous with the neck-side portion, the tip-end portion is
formed larger in size than the neck-side portion, and one end of the retaining
member has an engaging slot of a size to make engagement loosely with the
neck-side portion of the protruding lug.
12. The ceiling fan of claim 11, wherein the engaging slot has a shape
comprising a first hole and a second hole connected with the first hole and of a
size smaller than the first hole, and the tip-end portion of the protruding lug has
a size smaller than the first hole but larger than the second hole of the engaging
slot so that the end of the retaining member is connectible to the protruding lug
with a clearance.
13. The ceiling fan of claim 12, wherein the protruding lug of the fan-blade
frame is formed into a press-lifted shape having the tip-end portion insertable
into the first hole of the engaging slot provided in the retaining member and the
neck-side portion fittable into the second hole in the retaining member.
14. The ceiling fan of claim 10, wherein the offset portion of the fan-blade
frame is bent to an obtuse angle.
15. The ceiling fan of claim 10, wherein the offset portion of the fan-blade

frame has two offsets of different heights, and the retaining member is disposed
in a position to cross one of the offsets having a smaller height.
16. The ceiling fan of claim 10, wherein the retaining member has a bent
portion of a shape fitting along the offset portion of the fan-blade frame.
17. The ceiling fan of claim 1, wherein the retaining member comprises a
flexible wire.
18. The ceiling fan of claim 17, wherein the retaining member has a looped
terminal formed by circularly curving one end of the flexible wire, and the
looped terminal is connected to the fan blade.

A ceiling fan comprising a disc-like stator provided with a fixed shaft at the
center, an annular rotor disposed in proximity to the periphery of the stator, a
supporting frame fixed to the rotor and rotatably supported by the fixed shaft; a
fan blade fixed to the supporting frame; and a retaining member having one end
fixed to the supporting frame together with the fan blade and the other end
coupled to the fan blade, wherein the fan blade comprises a root portion fixed to
the supporting frame, a blade portion coupled with the retaining member, and
an offset portion formed by bending between the root portion and the blade
portion, thereby preventing the fan blade from being damaged easily even when
it is impressed with a load and ensuring the safety even if the fan blade is
broken since the blade portion is held coupled to the rotor side.