Ceiling Fan with Heating Assembly

Abstract

An apparatus for distributing heated air to an environment comprises a ceiling fan assembly secured to a heating assembly. The ceiling fan assembly comprises a plurality of rotatable blades arranged substantially in a horizontal plane to drive airflow in a desired direction when the blades are rotated. The heating assembly comprises a heating element and a power supply for energizing the heating element to produce heat, whereby air driven by the ceiling fan contacts the heating element and passes into the environment. A lighting assembly and a guard may be included.

1 . An apparatus for distributing heated air to an environment, said apparatus comprising:
 a ceiling fan assembly comprising a plurality of rotatable blades arranged substantially in a horizontal plane to drive airflow in a desired direction when the blades are rotated; and   a heating assembly secured to said ceiling fan assembly, said heating assembly comprising a heating element and a power supply for energizing said heating element to produce heat, whereby air driven by said ceiling fan contacts said heating element and passes into the environment.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said heating assembly is disposed below said rotatable blades. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said heating assembly is disposed above said rotatable blades. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said ceiling fan assembly defines a central axis and said fan blades extend outwardly from said axis by a distance greater than the extension of said heating element from said axis. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a cage comprising a plurality of members defines openings permeable to air flow in a substantially horizontal plane below said rotatable blades. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cage further comprises a plurality of insulators for mounting said heating element to said cage. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said insulators are formed of a heat resistant material. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said heating assembly further comprises a rheostat for controlling the power supplied to said heating element, whereby the quantity of heat output of said heating element can be adjusted to a desired level. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  and further comprising a light subassembly, said light subassembly comprising:
 a shell;   a plurality of elongated arms extending outwardly from said shell;   a plurality of light bulb sockets, each secured to the outboard end of one of said arms and containing a light bulb;   a plurality of light bulb shields located adjacent to each of said light bulbs; and   a power supply for energizing said light bulbs.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said light bulb shields are formed of a heat resistant noncombustible material. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said heating element is disposed below said rotatable blades. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said shell, said arms, said light bulb sockets, and said light bulb shields are disposed above said heating element and below said rotatable blades. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said shell, said arms, said light bulb sockets, and said light bulb shields are disposed below said heating element and said cage. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said heating element is disposed above said rotatable blades. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said ceiling fan assembly defines a central axis and said fan blades extend outwardly from said axis by a distance greater than the extension of said heating element from said axis. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said cage comprises a plurality of members which define openings permeable to air flow in a substantially horizontal plane below said rotatable blades. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said cage includes a plurality of insulators for mounting said heating element to said cage. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said heating assembly includes a rheostat for controlling the power supplied to said heating element, whereby the quantity of heat output of said heating element can be adjusted to a desired level.