Fan blade heating unit

Abstract

A fan blade heating unit including a fan blade designed to be operatively mounted in an electrical ceiling fan for normal rotation with the fan. The fan blade includes a heating element positioned therein for connection to the power source driving the ceiling fan.

1 . A fan blade heating unit comprising:
 a fan blade designed to be operatively mounted in an electrical fan for normal rotation with the fan; and   the fan blade including a heating element positioned therein.   
   
   
       2 . A fan blade heating unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the heating element is an electrical resistance element. 
   
   
       3 . A fan blade heating unit as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the heating element is a single element positioned in a serpentine path extending from an inboard end of the fan blade adjacent the fan to adjacent an outboard end of the fan blade. 
   
   
       4 . A fan blade heating unit as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the electrical fan has a power source and the electrical resistance element is electrically connected to the power source for the fan. 
   
   
       5 . A fan blade heating unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the electrical fan is a ceiling fan. 
   
   
       6 . A fan blade heating unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fan blade includes upper and lower sections cooperating to form an internal cavity and the heating element is positioned in the cavity. 
   
   
       7 . A fan blade heating unit as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the fan blade further includes a heat exchanger in the internal cavity with the heating element. 
   
   
       8 . A fan blade heating unit as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the heat exchanger in the internal cavity includes oil. 
   
   
       9 . A fan blade heating unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fan blade is removably attached to the fan. 
   
   
       10 . A fan blade heating unit comprising:
 an electrical ceiling fan constructed to have a power source connected thereto;   a fan blade operatively mounted in the electrical ceiling fan for normal rotation with the ceiling fan;   the fan blade including a heating element positioned therein, the heating element being adapted to be electrically connected to the power source for the fan.   
   
   
       11 . A fan blade heating unit as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the fan blade includes upper and lower sections cooperating to form an internal cavity and the heating element is positioned in the cavity. 
   
   
       12 . A fan blade heating unit as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the fan blade further includes a heat exchanger in the internal cavity with the heating element. 
   
   
       13 . A fan blade heating unit as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the heat exchanger in the internal cavity includes oil. 
   
   
       14 . A fan blade heating unit as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the fan blade is removably attached to the fan. 
   
   
       15 . A method of heating an area comprising the steps of:
 providing an electrical ceiling fan having a power source connection for connecting a power source thereto;   designing a fan blade to be operatively mounted in the electrical ceiling fan for normal rotation with the ceiling fan; and   positioning in the fan blade an electrical heating element, and electrically connecting the electrical heating element to the power source connection for the fan.   
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the step of designing the fan blade includes forming upper and lower sections cooperating to form an internal cavity and positioning the heating element in the cavity. 
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the step of designing the fan blade further includes positioning a heat exchanger in the internal cavity with the heating element. 
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the step of positioning the heat exchanger in the internal cavity includes introducing oil into the cavity.