Interchangeable fan blade system

Abstract

An interchangeable fan blade system for a ceiling fan, made up of a set of adapters having a plurality of elongated attachment apertures that allow the adapter to be threadably fitted to virtually any type of fan support arm, and a complimentary set of interchangeable fan blades. The adapters include one of a variety of connectors for attaching one end of the fan blades to the support arm. The one end of the fan blade is configured and adapted, or otherwise provided with mating connector elements adapted to engage the connectors of the adapters, thereby allowing the fan blades to be removably attached to the adapters. A second embodiment of the interchangeable fan blade system is a set of interchangeable fan blades having a plurality of elongated attachment apertures which allow the fan blades to be secured to virtually any type of fan arm, by threading a plurality of shoulder cap screws and a plurality of male-female connectors though the plurality of attachment apertures. A third embodiment of the interchangeable fan blade system is a set of support arms attached to the rotating portion of the fan and having one of a variety of connectors for removably attaching one end of the fan blades to the support arm.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An interchangeable fan blade system for a fan having at least one support arm, said system comprising: 
 at least one interchangeable fan blade having a proximal end and a distal end; and    at least one means for adapting the support arm of the fan to accept said proximal end of said at least one interchangeable fan blade.    
     
     
         2 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 1   , wherein said means for adapting the support arm of the fan to accept said at least one interchangeable fan blade comprises: 
 an adapter;    means for securing said adapter to the support arm; and    means for removably securing said interchangeable fan blade to said adapter.    
     
     
         3 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 2    wherein: 
 the support arm further comprises a threaded cavity;  
 said adapter has an elongated attachment aperture; and  
 said means for adapting the support arm to accept said adapter comprise a screw passing through said attachment aperture and threadably fitted into said threaded cavity of the support arm.  
 
     
     
         4 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 2    wherein said means for securing said interchangeable fan blade to said adapter comprise shoulder screw and keyhole connectors.  
     
     
         5 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 2    wherein said means for securing said interchangeable fan blade to said adapter comprise a hook and securing aperture.  
     
     
         6 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 2    wherein said means for securing said interchangeable fan blade to said adapter comprise a hold down, locator pin, and locator aperture.  
     
     
         7 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 2    wherein said means for securing said interchangeable fan blade to said adapter comprises a safety-belt-type buckle.  
     
     
         8 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 2    wherein said means for securing said interchangeable fan blade to said adapter comprise a hook arm and retaining bar.  
     
     
         9 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 2   , wherein said means for securing said interchangeable fan blade to said adapter comprise a spring clip and shoulder screw.  
     
     
         10 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 2    wherein said means for securing said interchangeable fan blade to said adapter comprise a cylinder and spring loaded locking pin.  
     
     
         11 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 2    wherein said means for securing said interchangeable fan blade to said adapter comprise a locking extension and corresponding mating recess.  
     
     
         12 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 2    wherein said means for securing said interchangeable fan blade to said adapter comprise hook-and-loop fasteners.  
     
     
         13 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 1    wherein said interchangeable fan blade is configured to receive means for adapting the support arm to accept said interchangeable fan blade.  
     
     
         14 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 13    wherein the fan arm has a threaded cavity and wherein said means for adapting the support arm to accept said interchangeable fan blade comprise a shoulder cap screw and male-female connector threadably fitted into said threaded cavity.  
     
     
         15 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 14    wherein said means for adapting the support arm to accept said interchangeable fan blade further comprises a male-female connector.  
     
     
         16 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to    claim 13    wherein said means for adapting the support arm to accept said interchangeable fan blade comprise a spring clamp mounted and male-female screw.  
     
     
         17 . An interchangeable fan blade system for a fan having a rotary portion, said system comprising: 
 at least one interchangeable fan blade having a proximal end and a distal end;    at least one support arm having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end removably attached to said rotary portion and said distal end adapted to accept said proximal end of said at least one interchangeable fan blade; and    means for removably attaching said proximal end of said at least one interchangeable fan blade to said distal end of of said support arm.    
     
     
         18 . The interchangeable fan blade system according to claim  19  wherein said means for securing said interchangeable fan blade to said distal end of said support arm comprise shoulder screw and keyhole connectors.