Ceiling Fan

Abstract

A fan blade comprising a mount supporting a plurality of superimposed fan blade segments arranged to slide relative to one another from a retracted storage configuration to an extended operative configuration.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A fan blade comprising a mount supporting a plurality of superimposed fan blade segments arranged to slide relative to one another from a retracted storage configuration to an extended operative configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The fan blade according to  claim 14  wherein the fan blade segments slide telescopically one within the other. 
     
     
         16 . The fan blade according to  claim 14  wherein the mount is adapted to be secured to a rotating plate whereby the fan blade in the operative configuration extends radially of the rotating plate. 
     
     
         17 . The fan blade according to  claim 14  wherein the mount supports three fan blade segments, the outer blade segment defining a tip of the blade. 
     
     
         18 . The fan blade according to  claim 14  wherein the fan blade segments are substantially flat. 
     
     
         19 . A ceiling fan comprising an electric motor adapted to drive a rotating plate that supports a plurality of equally spaced fan blades that extend radially of the plate, each fan blade comprising a root and a tip joined by leading and trailing edges, the root being adapted to be secured to the plate, wherein each blade comprises a plurality of fan blade segments arranged to slide telescopically one within the other whereby the fan blade segments can be located substantially within the periphery of the plate in a retracted configuration and can extend radially outwardly in an operative configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 19  wherein as the fan rotates the fan blade segments slide outwardly due to centrifugal forces. 
     
     
         21 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 20  wherein biasing means pulls the fan blade segments back into the retracted configuration against the centrifugal force as the fan slows down to a stop. 
     
     
         22 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 21  wherein opposed blades are interconnected by a chain driven by a sprocket including biasing means which rotates the chain to pull back the blade segments as the fan slows to a stop. 
     
     
         23 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 19  wherein each blade has an angle of incidence to the horizontal, preferably between 10 and 15 degrees. 
     
     
         24 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 19  wherein the rotating plate supports four equally spaced radially extending blades. 
     
     
         25 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 19  wherein each blade is secured to the plate by a mount. 
     
     
         26 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 25  wherein the mount includes a slot through which the blade slides.