Ceiling fan and method of installing a ceiling fan

Abstract

A ceiling fan hanging system ( 10 ) in disclosed which includes a motor ( 12 ), a downrod coupler ( 13 ), a hollow downrod ( 15 ), and a canopy assembly ( 16 ). The downrod includes an elongated shaft ( 22 ) defined by a cylindrical sidewall ( 23 ) having window or access port ( 24 ) therein. An access panel ( 27 ) is removably mounted to the downrod shaft. The fan electrical wires or leads ( 34 ) extend from the motor upwardly through the downrod coupler and into the bottom end of the downrod. The electrical wire leads are spliced to the bottom end of a length of extension electrical wires ( 36 ) at the location of the window. The extension electrical wires extend upwardly through the interior of the downrod ( 15 ) and are coupled to the structure or building electrical wires at the canopy assembly.

1 . A ceiling fan adapted to be coupled to a structure having electrical wiring, the ceiling fan comprising,
 an electric motor having electrical wiring leads,   a canopy assembly adapted to be mounted to the ceiling of a structure, an elongated, hollow downrod having a sidewall, an open bottom end coupled to the electric motor, and an open top end coupled to the canopy assembly, the hollow downrod having an access window extending through the sidewall, and   an access panel coupleable to the downrod and moveable between a first position covering the window and a second position exposing the window.   
     
     
         2 . The ceiling fan of  claim 1  wherein the electrical wiring leads of the electric motor terminate at a location within the downrod closely adjacent the window. 
     
     
         3 . The ceiling fan of  claim 2  further comprising extension electrical wires having a first end positioned within the downrod closely adjacent the window and electrically coupled to the electrical wiring leads of the electric motor and a second end extending from the top end of the downrod. 
     
     
         4 . The ceiling fan of  claim 1  wherein the window is positioned closely adjacent the downrod bottom end and distal the downrod top end. 
     
     
         5 . The ceiling fan of  claim 1  further comprising a gasket positioned between the access panel and the downrod. 
     
     
         6 . The ceiling fan of  claim 1  wherein the access panel is a tubular access panel journalled upon the downrod. 
     
     
         7 . The ceiling fan of  claim 1  wherein the access panel is a curved plate. 
     
     
         8 . A ceiling fan adapted to be coupled to a structure having electric wiring, the ceiling fan comprising:
 an electric motor having electrical wiring leads,   a canopy assembly adapted to be mounted to the ceiling of a structure,   an elongated, hollow downrod extending between the electric motor and the canopy assembly, the hollow downrod having a sidewall with an access window extending through the sidewall, the downrod housing the electric wiring leads within the interior of the downrod, and   an access panel configured to cover the window when mounted to the downrod and be moved distally from the window to allow access to the electrical wiring leads of the electric motor positioned within the interior of the downrod through the window.   
     
     
         9 . The ceiling fan of  claim 8  wherein the electrical wiring leads of the electric motor terminate at a location within the downrod closely adjacent the window. 
     
     
         10 . The ceiling fan of  claim 9  further comprising extension electrical wires having a first end positioned within the downrod closely adjacent the window and electrically coupled to the electrical wiring leads of the electric motor and a second end extending from the top end of the downrod. 
     
     
         11 . The ceiling fan of  claim 8  wherein the window is positioned closely adjacent the downrod bottom end and distal the downrod top end. 
     
     
         12 . The ceiling fan of  claim 8  further comprising a gasket positioned between the access panel and the downrod. 
     
     
         13 . The ceiling fan of  claim 8  wherein the access panel is a tubular access panel journalled upon the downrod. 
     
     
         14 . The ceiling fan of  claim 8  wherein the access panel is a curved plate. 
     
     
         15 . A method of installing a ceiling fan:
 having an electric motor having electrical wiring leads, a canopy assembly adapted to be mounted to a ceiling of a structure, an elongated, hollow downrod extending between the electric motor and the canopy assembly and having an access window extending therethrough, and an access panel coupleable to the downrod in a position covering the window, the method comprising:   moving the access panel from a position covering the window to a position uncovering the window,   positioning a length of extension electrical wires through the interior of the downrod to a position wherein a first end is located closely adjacent the downrod window,   pulling the electric motor electrical wiring leads and the first end of the length of extension electrical wires through the window to a position external of the downrod,   coupling the electric motor electrical wiring leads to the first end of the length of extension electrical wires,   moving the coupled electric motor electrical wiring leads and first end of the length of extension electrical wires back through the window and into the interior of the downrod,   moving the access panel back to a position covering the window, and   securing the access panel to the downrod in its window covering position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step (I) coupling a second end of the length of extension electrical wires to the electrical wires of a structure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the length of extension electrical wires is cut to a select length located generally in the area of the canopy assembly. 
     
     
         18 . A ceiling fan adapted to be coupled to a structure having electric wiring, the ceiling fan comprising:
 an electric motor having electrical wiring leads,   an elongated, hollow downrod having a sidewall, an open bottom end coupled to the electric motor, and an open top end, the hollow downrod having an access opening extending through the sidewall, and   an access panel coupled to the downrod and moveable between a first position, closing the window, and a second position, opening the window.   
     
     
         19 . The ceiling fan of  claim 18  wherein the access panel comprises a plate removably mounted to the downrod, wherein when the plate is mounted to the downrod, the access panel is in the first position, and when the plate is removed from the downrod, the access panel is in the second position. 
     
     
         20 . The ceiling fan of  claim 19  wherein the plate is curved. 
     
     
         21 . The ceiling fan of  claim 18  wherein the access panel comprises a tube slidably mounted to the downrod, wherein the tube slides relative to the downrod between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         22 . The ceiling fan of  claim 18  comprising a gasket between the access panel and the downrod when the access panel is in the first position. 
     
     
         23 . The ceiling fan of  claim 18  wherein the wiring leads are of a length to extend into the downrod at least up to the window when the downrod is mounted to the electric motor. 
     
     
         24 . The ceiling fan of  claim 18  further comprising a ceiling bracket configured to couple with the top end of the downrod. 
     
     
         25 . The ceiling fan of  claim 24  further comprising a trilobular ball coupling the top end of the downrod to the ceiling bracket. 
     
     
         26 . The ceiling fan of  claim 25  further comprising a canopy provided about the trilobular ball. 
     
     
         27 . The ceiling fan of  claim 18  wherein the access panel is slidably mounted to the downrod. 
     
     
         28 . The ceiling fan of  claim 18  wherein the access panel is mechanically mounted to the downrod. 
     
     
         29 . A ceiling fan kit comprising:
 an electric motor having electrical wiring leads,   fan blades,   an elongated, hollow downrod having a sidewall, an open bottom end, an open top end, and an access opening extending through the sidewall,   an access panel coupled to the downrod and moveable between a first position, closing the window, and a second position, opening the window, and   a ceiling bracket.   
     
     
         30 . The ceiling fan kit of  claim 29  further comprising extension electrical wires. 
     
     
         31 . The ceiling fan kit of  claim 29  further comprising a canopy. 
     
     
         32 . The ceiling fan kit of  claim 29  further comprising a trilobular ball. 
     
     
         33 . The ceiling fan kit of  claim 29  further comprising a gasket. 
     
     
         34 . A ceiling fan downrod kit comprising:
 an elongated, hollow downrod having a sidewall, an open bottom end, an open top end, and an access opening extending through the sidewall, and   an access panel coupled to the downrod and moveable between a first position, closing the window, and a second position, opening the window.   
     
     
         35 . The ceiling fan downrod kit of  claim 34  further comprising extension electrical wires. 
     
     
         36 . The ceiling fan downrod kit of  claim 34  further comprising a gasket. 
     
     
         37 . The ceiling fan downrod kit of  claim 34  wherein the access panel is a tube. 
     
     
         38 . The ceiling fan downrod kit of  claim 34  wherein the access panel is a plate.