DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0015] FIG. 1a depicts an exemplary embodiment of a ceiling fan blade cover 10. More specifically, the ceiling fan blade cover 10 comprises a cover member 20, the cover member 20 defining a first open end 25 and a second closed end 30. The cover member 20 may be constructed of any durable, flexible and cleanable material such as cloth or plastic. For the purposes of illustration throughout this and the other various figures used to depict preferred embodiments, a cloth material will be used as an example.

[0016] The cover member 20 includes a drawstring channel 35 integral to the cover member 20 along substantially the entire length of the cover member 20. The length of the cover member 20 is defined as the linear length between the open first end 25 and the closed second end 30. The drawstring channel 35 may be integrally incorporated into the cover member 20 in any variety of ways well known to those skilled in the art of sewing. One such method of integral incorporation is accomplished when the cover member 20 is a two-ply material—that is to say that there are actually two cover members situated one inside of the other. In such a configuration, the drawstring channel is created by sewing parallel stitches 37 along a desired path along substantially the entire length of the cover member 20, the distance between the parallel stitches 37 being sufficient to receive and detain a sizing member such as a drawstring 40. In such a configuration, distal ends of the drawstring 40 extend beyond the beginning and terminating points of the drawstring channel 35 to allow force to be exerted on the distal ends of the drawstring 40, thereby reducing the size of the cover member 20 to afford a secure fit about an object such as a ceiling fan blade.

[0017] In an embodiment in which only one-ply material is used in construction of the cover member 20, a second piece of cloth material (not shown) may be placed flush with the surface of the cover member 20 and in the desired shape of the drawstring channel 35. Thereafter, the second piece of cloth material is attached by executing the parallel stitches 37 defining the drawstring channel 35.

[0018] The drawstring 40 may be cinched in a well-known manner by pulling on the distal ends of the drawstring 40 in much the same manner as shoelaces are used to tighten shoes. When desired tightness is achieved, the distal ends of the drawstring may be tied or, optionally, secured by a closure member 45. A wide variety of closure members 45 are available and suitable for the intended purpose of preventing the drawstring 40 from moving from the desired, tightened position. One such detente is a plastic member having an opening therethrough which allows the ends of the drawstring to pass through the opening. Generally perpendicular to the opening is a spring-biased clamp, the clamp being hand-released to allow movement of the drawstring ends through the opening and, subsequent to suitable positioning of the drawstring, hand-active to clamp the drawstring. As stated previously, such devices are well known and readily available to one skilled in the art of garment design.

[0019] FIG. 1b depicts the ceiling fan blade cover 10 deployed onto a ceiling fan blade 50. Installation of the ceiling fan blade cover 10 is accomplished by inserting the first end of the ceiling fan blade 55 into the first open end 25 of the cover member 20 and pulling the cover member 20 over the ceiling fan blade 50 until the first end 55 contacts the closed second end 30 of the cover member 20. Sized appropriately, the cover member 20 should cover the entire ceiling fan blade 50, as demonstrated by the open first end 25 of the cover member extending beyond the second end 60 of the ceiling fan blade.

[0020] Once the cover member 20 has been placed completely over the ceiling fan blade 50, the drawstring 40 and detente 45 are used to tighten the cover member 20 about the ceiling fan blade 50 as previously described. The only limitation of the tightening of the cover member 20 about the ceiling fan blade 50 is that the blade bracket 65 which connects the ceiling fan blade 50 to the ceiling fan (not shown) must not be interfered with.

[0021] Optionally, the ceiling fan blade cover 10 may include a secondary closure device such as a snap closure 20 at the open first end 25 of the cover member. If this optional feature is included, it remains disconnected prior to insertion of the ceiling fan blade 50 into the cover member 20. Once the ceiling fan blade 50 is inserted into the cover member 20, and once the drawstring 40 has secured the cover member 20 about the ceiling fan blade 50, the snap closure can be used in a well known manner to further secure the ceiling fan blade cover 10 about the ceiling fan blade 50.

[0022] Removal of the ceiling fan blade cover 10 is a simple task. If the optional snap closure 70 is implemented, it is unsnapped. Thereafter, the détente 45 is released, allowing movement of the drawstring 40 therethrough in such a manner as to loosen the cover member 20 from about the ceiling fan blade 50. Once loosened sufficiently, the ceiling fan blade cover 10 is removed for cleaning, replacement, etc.

[0023] Turning now to FIGS. 2a and 2b, another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. More specifically, FIG. 2a depicts a ceiling fan blade cover 110 comprising a cover member 120, a first open end 125 and a second closed end 130. Importantly, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2a, an elastic member 140 is integrally interconnected with the cover member 120 and disposed in lengthwise orientations between open first end 125 and closed second end 130.

[0024] Referring to the elastic member 140, it may consist of a simple elastic band or a series of elastic-type fibers, which band or fibers possess the well-known characteristics of elastic. Namely, the band or fibers can be stretched to a length greater than their original length, then—upon release of the stretching tension—resume their original shape. The elastic member 140 is sewn or otherwise attached to the cover member 120 in the position described and shown in such a manner as to allow the elastic member 140 to expand and contract upon exertion and release of force thereupon. Sewing techniques that accomplish this end are well known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the elastic member 140 is attached to the cover member 120 such that the cover member 120 is biased to a smaller length than without the elastic member 140 incorporated. For the purposes of this description, length is defined as the linear distance between the open first end 125 and the closed second end 130.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2b, the utility of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2a is easily seen. The ceiling fan blade cover 110 is placed onto a ceiling fan blade 150 by inserting the first end 155 of the ceiling fan blade 150 into the open first end 125 of the cover member 120 until the first end 155 contacts the inside of the cover member 120 at the closed second end 130 of the cover member 120. In the depicted embodiment, the open first end 125 is pulled to tension—and thereby stretch—the elastic member 140. When the open first end 125 has been pulled to sufficiently cover the second end 160 of the ceiling fan blade 150, a closure member such as a snap closure 70 is actuated to serve as a detente to prevent the cover member 20 from sliding off the ceiling fan blade 150 during rotation about an axis interconnected to the ceiling fan blade 150 via blade bracket 165.

[0026] It will be understood and appreciated that the foregoing preferred embodiments are offered as examples of how the inventive aspects of the present invention might be implemented. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention—rather, the scope of the invention should only be limited by the claims below.