FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970)
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2005
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10 and rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Fastenerless retrofit remote control unit for a ceiling fan
INVENTOR
Name : Rao Guruprasad Kuppu
Nationality: Indian National Address : Crompton Greaves Ltd
Industrial Design Centre, Corporate R&D and Quality,
Kanjur Marg(E), Mumbai - 400042,
Maharashtra, India
APPLICANTS
Name : CROMPTON GREAVES LIMITED
Nationality: Indian Company
Address : CG House, Dr Annie Besant Road, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400025, Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit for a ceiling fan assembly.
This invention also relates to a ceiling fan assembly comprising the fastenerless retrofit remote control unit.
PRIOR ART
US Patent No 5340277 describes a ceiling fan controller for mounting in a ceiling mounted canopy of a fan assembly. The ceiling fan controller comprises an enclosure for enclosing a remote control circuit. The enclosure is generally rectangular parallelpiped shaped having rectangular top and bottom walls. The bottom wall of the enclosure provides means for resting the enclosure above a central support conduit of the fan assembly. The top wall of the enclosure provides means for positioning the enclosure below an overhead support mounting plate of the fan assembly. The end walls on both ends of the enclosure are curved to conform to the shape of the canopy. The enclosure is also provided with means to admit electrical conductors from the enclosure through the central support conduit. In order to locate the enclosure within the ceiling mounted canopy, the canopy along with the fan assembly is dismantled from the mounting plate and refitted to the mounting plate after the enclosure is located within the canopy. This is time consuming and cumbersome and may require the assistance of a skilled person. Due to the enclosure being rectangular parallelpiped shaped and the upper canopy being frusto-conical shaped, the enclosure may not be properly
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located or positioned within the canopy. Consequently there are chances of displacement or movement of the enclosure within the canopy and snapping of the lead wires connecting the remote control circuit and the fan assembly and the mains especially during rotation of the fan.
US Patent No 4548554 describes a control box for a ceiling fan assembly comprising a housing having front and rear faces. A chamber is provided within the housing for containing a remote control circuit and an antenna. The housing is U-shaped and has a base portion and two legs which define a slot in the base portion for disposing said housing around a support rod of the ceiling fan assembly descending from a support structure fitted at a ceiling. The said housing is mounted on the support structure with mounting means including O-rings disposed in the slot in the housing and fasteners like screws. The slot in the base portion of the housing is provided with a closure means comprising a curved gate having legs. Installation of such a control box on a ceiling fan mounted in the ceiling involves disengagement of the fan assembly from the support structure in the ceiling, fitting of the control box to the support structure in the ceiling using fasteners with or without O-rings and then refitting of the fan assembly to the support structure. This again is time consuming and cumbersome and may require the assistance of a skilled person. The mounting means also adds to the cost of the control box.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit for a ceiling fan assembly which is simple in construction and can be
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easily located against the upper canopy of a fan assembly already mounted in the ceiling without dismantling the fan assembly from the hanger or such other support in the ceiling and can be thus easily and conveniently used readily to convert a non-remote controlled ceiling fan assembly into a remote controlled fan assembly.
Another object of the invention is to provide a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit for a ceiling fan assembly which can be properly positioned and balanced against the upper canopy of a fan assembly mounted in the ceiling thereby preventing movement or displacement of the remote control unit about the upper canopy and snapping of the lead wires connecting the remote control unit and the fan assembly and the mains.
Another object of the invention is to provide a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit for a ceiling fan assembly which does not require any mounting means for retrofitting on a fan assembly already mounted in the ceiling and is economical.
Another object of the invention is to provide a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit for a ceiling fan assembly which does not spoil or adversely affect the aesthetic look of the ceiling fan assembly.
Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fan assembly comprising a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit which is simple in construction and can be easily located against the upper canopy of a fan assembly already mounted in the ceiling without dismantling the fan assembly from the hanger or such other support in the ceiling and can be
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thus easily and conveniently used readily to convert a non-remote controlled ceiling fan assembly into a remote controlled ceiling fan assembly.
Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fan assembly comprising a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit which can be properly positioned and balanced against the upper canopy of a fan assembly mounted in the ceiling thereby preventing movement or displacement of the remote control unit about the upper canopy and snapping of the lead wires connecting the remote control unit and the fan assembly and the mains.
Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fan assembly comprising a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit which does not require any mounting means for retrofitting on a fan assembly already mounted in the ceiling and is economical.
Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fan assembly comprising a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit which does not spoil or adversely affect the aesthetic look of the ceiling fan assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit for a ceiling fan assembly of the type comprising an upper canopy releasably fitted on the downrod of the fan assembly, the remote control unit comprising an inverted frusto-conical housing provided with a central opening at the base thereof and a collar extending upwardly from the periphery of the central opening at the base thereof, the central opening and the collar corresponding to the hanger supporting the down rod of the fan
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assembly, a notch provided in the collar for the lead wires of a remote control circuit, a cutout provided in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing extending through the collar, a detachable plug for the cutout in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing , a detachable cover for the frusto-conical housing and a pair of extension members provided at opposite sides of the collar to form a compartment for locating the remote control circuit, the lower end of the frusto-conical housing being adapted to fit at the upper end of the upper canopy of the fan assembly.
According to the invention there is also provided a ceiling fan assembly of the type comprising an upper canopy releasably fitted on the down rod of the fan assembly, the fan assembly comprising a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit comprising an inverted frusto-conical housing provided with a central opening at the base thereof and a collar extending upwardly from the periphery of the central opening at the base thereof, the central opening and the collar corresponding to the hanger supporting the down rod of the fan assembly, a notch provided in the collar for the lead wires of a remote control circuit, a cutout provided in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing extending through the collar, a detachable plug for the cutout in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing , a detachable cover for the frusto-conical housing and a pair of extension members provided at opposite sides of the collar to form a compartment for locating the remote control circuit, the lower end of the frusto-conical housing being adapted to fit at the upper end of the upper canopy of the fan assembly.
According to an embodiment of the invention the detachable plug comprises a pair of inwardly directed extensions each at either end thereof, the
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extensions each being provided with a rib adapted to fit into a correspondingly profiled slit in each of the endwalls of the cutout in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing and the cover is provided with a central slot and a side opening matching with the central opening and cutout in the frusto-conical housing, respectively, the inner face of the cover being provided with spaced projections adapted to fit into correspondingly profiled and spaced grooves provided at the upper end inner face of the housing and the lower end of the frusto-conical housing is provided with a step adapted to fit at the upper end of the upper canopy of the ceiling fan assembly.
The following is a detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig 1 is an exploded view of a ceiling fan assembly comprising a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit according to an embodiment of the invention;
Fig 2 is an isometric view of the fastenerless retrofit remote control unit of Figl;
Fig 2a is an enlarged view at the portion marked X in Fig 2;
Fig 3 is an exploded view of the fastenerless retrofit remote control unit of Fig 2; and
Fig 4 is a view of the detachable cover of the fastenerless retrofit remote control unit of Fig 2 from the inner face thereof.
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The ceiling fan assembly 1 as illustrated in Fig 1 of the accompanying drawings comprises a rotor 2 fitted with blades 3. The rotor with blades is rotatably mounted at the lower end of a down rod 4 whose upper end is suspended from a hook 5 fitted in a ceiling 6 by positioning the shackle 7 at the upper end of the downrod over the hook and running bolt 8 through the hole 7a in the shackle and through the hook. In order to conceal the hook and shackle at the upper end of the down rod and the lead wires (not shown) and capacitor (not shown) at the lower end of the down rod and improve the aesthetic look of the fan assembly, canopies 9 and 10 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the down rod, respectively. The upper canopy 9 and the lower canopy 10 are releasably fitted to the down rod by tightening grub screws 11 and 12 secured through the holes 9a and 10a in the hubs of the canopies 9 and 10, respectively. 13 is a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit comprising, as illustrated in Figs 2, 2a, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, an inverted frusto-conical housing 14 provided with a central opening 15 at the base thereof. 17 is a collar extending upwardly from the periphery of the central opening at the base of the housing. Both the central opening and collar correspond to the hook 5 and shackle 7 supporting the down rod 4 of the fan assembly. 18 is a notch provided in the collar for the lead wires ( not shown) of a remote control circuit 19. 20 is a cutout provided in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing and extending through the collar. The cutout corresponds to the hook and shackle 7 supporting the down rod and is provided with a detachable plug 21 comprising a pair of inwardly directed extensions 22, 22 each at either end of the plug. Each extension of the plug is provided with a
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rib 24 adapted to fit into a correspondingly profiled slit 25 provided in each endwall 26 of the cutout in the sidewall of the housing. 27 is a detachable cover for the frusto-conical housing. The detachable cover is provided with a central slot 28 and a side opening 29, both matching with the central opening and cut out in the frusto-conical housing, respectively. The inner face of the cover is provided with spaced projections 31 adapted to fit into correspondingly profiled and spaced grooves 32 provided at the upper end inner face of the housing (Figs 3 and 4). 33 is a step provided at the lower end of the frusto-conical housing (Fig 2a). A pair of extension members 35 are provided at opposite sides of the collar to form a compartment 36 for locating the remote control circuit (Fig 3). The remote control circuit includes visual indicators comprising LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) 37 mounted on the sidewall of the housing and an audio indicator comprising a buzzer 38 mounted on the sidewall of the housing at a location which is fitted with a mesh or is perforated marked 38a (Fig 3). The housing is made of a material which is non-transparent or opaque to the remote control signals and is provided with window 39 on the sidewall thereof for the sensor (not shown) of the remote control circuit (Fig 3). Alternatively, the housing is made of a material which is transparent to the remote control signals. The remote control circuit is of known construction and works in known manner. Instead of LEDs, LCDs (liquid crystal displays) may be used. There can be one or more visual indicators. Similarly there can be more than one audio indicator. The visual and/or audio indicators) is/are, however, optional. The visual and/or audio indicator indicates the on/off status of the remote control circuit. In case the housing is non-transparent or opaque, additional window(s) for the LED(s) or LCD(s) may be provided for visibility thereof. The leadwires of the remote control circuit connecting
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it to the mains through the leadwires of the ceiling fan running through the downrod are not shown as such are well understood.
According to the invention, the remote control unit can be easily retrofitted on the fan assembly already mounted at the ceiling simply by lowering the upper canopy 9 on the downrod by a distance corresponding to the height of the housing by loosening the grub screw 11. The housing is positioned around the hook 5 in the ceiling and the shackle supporting the downrod through the central opening 15 at the base thereof. The plug is positioned above the cutout 20 in the housing and moved down to engage the ribs 24 at the extensions 22 of the plug in correspondingly profiled slits 25 at the endwalls 26 of the cutout in the housing. The lower end of the housing is located at the upper end of the upper canopy with the step 33 abutting the upper end of the upper canopy. The cover is fitted to the housing by engaging the projections thereof in corresponding grooves at the upper end inner face of the housing. The upper canopy 9 is refitted to the down rod by tightening the grub screw 11 on the downrod.
According to the invention the remote control unit of the invention can be retrofitted on a fan assembly already mounted in the ceiling without dismantling the fan assembly from the hook or such other hanger or support simply by loosening the upper canopy mounting grub screw and then tightening it and can be thus easily and conveniently used readily to convert a non-remote controlled ceiling fan assembly into a remote controlled ceiling fan assembly. The remote control unit of the invention does not require any mounting means for retrofitting it on the ceiling fan. This makes installation of the remote control unit on the fan assembly easy and less
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time consuming and renders the remote control unit economical and convenient to use. Even an unskilled person can also retrofit the remote control unit of the invention on the fan assembly already mounted in the ceiling. Both the housing of the remote control unit and the upper canopy are frusto-conical shaped. Therefore, there is symmetry between the two. Besides, the remote control circuit is completely enclosed within the housing. Consequently the aesthetics of the fan assembly is not spoiled or adversely affected by the remote control unit. On the contrary, the fan assembly looks aesthetically good. Due to the frusto-conical shape of both the housing and upper canopy, the remote control unit is also properly positioned and balanced at the upper end of the upper canopy of the fan assembly mounted in the ceiling and movement or displacement of the remote control unit about the upper canopy and snapping of the lead wires connecting the remote control unit and the fan assembly and the mains especially during rotation of the fan is prevented .
The hook is essentially a hanger or support which may be of any other configuration. There may be variations / modifications in the invention without deviating from the scope thereof. Such variations / modifications of the invention are to be construed and understood to be within the scope of the invention.
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We Claim
1. A fastenerless retrofit remote control unit for a ceiling fan assembly of the type comprising an upper canopy releasably fitted on the downrod of the fan assembly, the remote control unit comprising an inverted frusto-conical housing provided with a central opening at the base thereof and a collar extending upwardly from the periphery of the central opening at the base thereof, the central opening and the collar corresponding to the hanger supporting the down rod of the fan assembly, a notch provided in the collar for the lead wires of a remote control circuit, a cutout provided in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing extending through the collar, a detachable plug for the cutout in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing , a detachable cover for the frusto-conical housing and a pair of extension members provided at opposite sides of the collar to form a compartment for locating the remote control circuit, the lower end of the frusto-conical housing being adapted to fit at the upper end of the upper canopy of the fan assembly.
2. A fastenerless retrofit remote control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detachable plug comprises a pair of inwardly directed extensions each at either end thereof, the extensions each being provided with a rib adapted to fit into a correspondingly profiled slit in each of the endwalls of the cutout in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing and the cover is provided with a central slot
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and a side opening matching with the central opening and cutout in the frusto-conical housing, respectively, the inner face of the cover being provided with spaced projections adapted to fit into correspondingly profiled and spaced grooves provided at the upper end inner face of the housing and the lower end of the frusto-conical housing is provided with a step adapted to fit at the upper end of the upper canopy of the ceiling fan assembly.
3. A fastenerless retrofit remote control unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the remote control circuit comprises at least one visual and/or audio indicator.
4. A fastenerless retrofit remote control unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the visual indicator comprises at least one LED (Light Emitting Diode) or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) mounted on the sidewall of the housing and the audio indicator comprises at least one buzzer mounted on the sidewall of the housing.
5. A fastenerless retrofit remote control unit as claimed in any one of claims lto 4, wherein the housing is made of a material which is non-transparent or opaque and is provided with at least one window.
6. A fastenerless retrofit remote control unit as claimed in any one of claims lto 4, wherein the housing is made of a material which is transparent.
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7. A ceiling fan assembly of the type comprising an upper canopy releasably fitted to the downrod of the fan assembly, the fan assembly comprising a fastenerless retrofit remote control unit comprising an inverted frusto-conical housing provided with a central opening at the base thereof and a collar extending upwardly from the periphery of the central opening at the base thereof, the central opening and the collar corresponding to the hanger supporting the down rod of the fan assembly, a notch provided in the collar for the lead wires of a remote control circuit, a cutout provided in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing extending through the collar, a detachable plug for the cutout in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing , a detachable cover for the frusto-conical housing and a pair of extension members provided at opposite sides of the collar to form a compartment for locating the remote control circuit, the lower end of the frusto-conical housing being adapted to fit at the upper end of the upper canopy of the fan assembly.
8. A ceiling fan assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the detachable plug comprises a pair of inwardly directed extensions each at either end thereof, the extensions each being provided with a rib adapted to fit into a correspondingly profiled slit in each of the endwalls of the cutout in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing and the cover is provided with a central slot and a side opening matching with the central opening and cutout in the frusto-conical housing, respectively, the inner face of the cover being provided with spaced projections
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adapted to fit into correspondingly profiled and spaced grooves provided at the upper end inner face of the housing and the lower end of the frusto-conical housing is provided with a step adapted to fit at the upper end of the upper canopy of the ceiling fan assembly.
9. A ceiling fan assembly as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the remote control circuit comprises at least one visual and/or audio indicator.
10.A ceiling fan assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the visual indicator comprises at least one LED (Light Emitting Diode) or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) mounted on the sidewall of the housing and the audio indicator comprises at least one buzzer mounted on the sidewall of the housing.
11. A ceiling fan assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the housing is made of a material which is non-transparent or opaque and is provided with at least one window.
12.A ceiling fan assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the housing is made of a material which is transparent.


Dated this 3rd day of May 2005

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ABSTRACT
A fastenerless retrofit remote control unit for readily converting a non-remote controlled ceiling fan assembly into a remote controlled one. The remote control unit (13) comprises an inverted frusto-conical housing (14) provided with a central opening (15) at the base thereof and a collar (17) extending upwardly from the periphery of the central opening at the base thereof. The central opening and the collar correspond to the hanger supporting the down rod of the fan assembly. A notch (18) is provided in the collar for the lead wires of a remote control circuit. A cutout (20) is provided in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing extending through the collar. A detachable plug (21) is provided for the cutout in the sidewall of the frusto-conical housing. A detachable cover (27) is provided for the frusto-conical housing. A pair of extension members (35, 35) are provided at opposite sides of the collar to form a compartment for locating the remote control circuit. The lower end of the frusto-conical housing is adapted to fit at the upper end of the upper canopy of the fan assembly by providing a step (33). The remote control unit can be easily readily positioned around the down rod and supported against the upper canopy. Also a ceiling fan assembly comprising the fastenerless retrofit remote control unit (Fig 3).