Fan blade connector component with skeleton and method of manufacturing such

Abstract

A fan blade connector component having a moldable ornamental housing that encloses a skeleton which includes links which span between adjacent posts having a threaded bore therein. The links include opposing side walls, a top wall, and a land therebetween. A plurality of spaced-apart openings extend through the top wall for securing the skeleton within the moldable ornamental housing.

1 . A skeleton for a cast fan blade connector component, comprising:
 at least two posts having a threaded bore for receiving a fastener;   a link that interconnects adjacent said posts.   
     
     
         2 . The skeleton as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said skeleton includes three said posts interconnected by three said links. 
     
     
         3 . The skeleton as recited in  claim 2 , wherein two said links are of a first length and the third said links is of a second length less than said first length. 
     
     
         4 . The skeleton as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said link includes a plurality of openings therein. 
     
     
         5 . The skeleton as recited in  claim 1 , made of a cast metal. 
     
     
         6 . The skeleton as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said link includes a hub. 
     
     
         7 . A skeleton for a cast fan blade iron component, comprising:
 a hub;   a plurality of elongated links extending radially from the hub; and   a plurality of posts, each post being positioned at a distal end of a said link and having a threaded bore therein.   
     
     
         8 . The skeleton of  claim 7 , wherein said links include a plurality of spaced-apart openings therein. 
     
     
         9 . A cast fan blade connector component for attaching a fan blade to a fan motor, comprising:
 a skeleton having a plurality of elongated links and a plurality of posts interconnected to each other through said links, said posts having a threaded bore therein; and   an ornamental body mounted at least partially about said skeleton with said post bores exposed outside said ornamental body.   
     
     
         10 . The fan blade connector component as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said skeleton is made of a cast metal. 
     
     
         11 . The fan blade connector component as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the ornamental body is made of a resin. 
     
     
         12 . The fan blade connector component of  claim 9 , wherein said fan blade connector component is a fan blade connector. 
     
     
         13 . The fan blade connector component of  claim 9 , wherein said fan blade connector component is a fan blade connector medallion. 
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing a fan blade connector component, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a skeleton having at least two posts having a threaded bore for receiving a fastener and a link spanning the posts, and   (b) forming an ornamental housing about the skeleton so as to encase the link and at least a portion of the posts yet allowing the bore of each post to remain exposed from the housing.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the skeleton has three posts interconnected by three links. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein two of the links are of a first length and a third one of the links is of a second length less than the first length. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , the skeleton made of a cast metal.