Ceiling fan and blade

Abstract

A blade for a ceiling fan can include a blade body made from a pulp material. The pulp material can be a unit of pulp in the shape of the blade body. The unit of pulp can be compressed, thermoformed, or stamped. The blade body can be a single or multiple pieces, like an upper and lower half. A skeleton can be located between the upper and lower halves. A coating can be applied to the blade body to reduce friction and/or for waterproofing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ceiling fan assembly comprising:
 a motor having a rotor;   a mount coupling to a structure;   a downrod coupling the motor to the mount; and   a ceiling fan blade comprising a blade body operably coupled to the rotor, wherein the blade body is formed pulp.   
     
     
         2 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the molded, formed pulp comprises a unit of pulp. 
     
     
         3 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 2  wherein the unit of pulp is compressed. 
     
     
         4 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 2  wherein the unit of pulp is stamped. 
     
     
         5 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 2  wherein the unit of pulp is molded. 
     
     
         6 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the formed pulp is in the shape of the blade body. 
     
     
         7 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the formed pulp is different than combined fibers with binders that form a sheet from which the blade is cut. 
     
     
         8 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the unit of pulp is a volume of pulp. 
     
     
         9 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the formed pulp is a thermoformed pulp. 
     
     
         10 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the formed pulp is impulse-dried pulp. 
     
     
         11 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the formed pulp is compressed pulp. 
     
     
         12 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the formed pulp is biodegradable. 
     
     
         13 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the formed pulp is recyclable. 
     
     
         14 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the blade body comprises an exterior coating of waterproof material. 
     
     
         15 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the blade body comprises an exterior coating having a coefficient of friction less than the formed pulp. 
     
     
         16 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the blade body comprises a skeleton, and the formed pulp is formed about at least a portion of the skeleton. 
     
     
         17 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the blade body is formed of a first portion and a second portion, with each of the first portion and second portion including an interior surface, collectively defining an interior. 
     
     
         18 . A ceiling fan assembly comprising:
 a motor having a rotor;   a mount coupling to a structure;   a downrod coupling the motor to the mount; and   a ceiling fan blade comprising a blade body operably coupled to the rotor, wherein the blade body is a unit of pulp having a compressed volume of pulp.   
     
     
         19 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 18  wherein the blade body comprises an exterior coating of waterproof material. 
     
     
         20 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 18  wherein the blade body comprises an exterior coating having a coefficient of friction less than the formed pulp. 
     
     
         21 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 20  wherein the compressed volume of pulp is thermoformed. 
     
     
         22 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 21  wherein the formed pulp is biodegradable. 
     
     
         23 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 22  wherein the formed pulp is recyclable. 
     
     
         24 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 23  wherein the compressed volume of pulp is different than combined fibers with binders that form a sheet from which the blade is cut. 
     
     
         25 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 24  wherein the blade body further comprises a ceiling fan blade base and a topper, which attaches to the ceiling fan blade base. 
     
     
         26 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 15  wherein the topper further includes a grommet portion extending into a mount hole of the ceiling fan blade base. 
     
     
         27 . The ceiling fan assembly of  claim 26  wherein the topper is smaller than the ceiling fan blade base defining a peripheral edge along at least a portion of the ceiling fan blade base that is unoccupied by the topper.