I can't imagine there'd ever actually be any NEED for something like this, as such, but ever since my childhood obsession with the ceiling fan and it's desktop cousins, I've dreamed about a ceiling fan I could fold up into my suitcase and affix to the ceiling of my Motel 6 room. It would add an air of... I don't know.. roadside diner? to any home-away-from-home. The blades would have to be removable, and the motor would have to be very thin. Additionally, there could be very little 'downrod' or vertical space between the motor and blade.

The trickiest part would be figuring out a way to get the fan to stick to the ceiling. The best way would be to use a lever-action suction cup, except that that wouldn't work on stucco ceilings. Other options include an extendable, chin-up style bar which wedges into opposite walls, and the fan hangs from. The problem with that is it wouldn't work in large rooms. Other than that (and, likely, a total vacuum of demand) I can't think of any hurdles for this product's widespread adoption.
-- oooga, Feb 12 2002

Ceiling Fans http://www.ceilingfan.com
Is there such a fan? Can someone provide a link to it? [kelly23, Oct 04 2004]

I like this.  I, too, am not at all sure how you could get this thing to stick to the ceiling..  Maybe 3 very thin blade-like prongs that you could stick into the ceiling drywall without leaving much mark would suspend it well enough (be crummy if it fell on you, though).  Is your intent that this is battery powered?
-- bristolz, Feb 12 2002


I was thinking extension cord.
-- oooga, Feb 12 2002


How about an unfolding/telescoping stand? Or maybe some way to attach it to the smoke detector without blocking it.

Some rooms have ceiling light fixtures. Rig an adapter that would screw into a bulb socket (after removing the light cover). A universal joint midway along the length of the adapter makes sure the unsocketed portion will always hang down. Mount the fan to the down-hanging portion of the adapter. You could draw power from the light socket. The fan would need to be light so as not to rip the fixture from the ceiling.
-- phoenix, Feb 12 2002


How about making it light or fast enough to support itself. Just have a small tripod to hold it away from the ceiling, and a small removeable telescoping rod for putting it up and down. Or just have it held down by the cord.
-- tolly3, Feb 12 2002


I've noticed that large wads of wet tissue paper stick to stucco ceilings -- and stay stuck. Problem solved.
-- reensure, Feb 12 2002


Or perhaps you could adapt a gas-powered radio-controlled model helicopter kit, and leave it in hover mode above your bed all night....Pretend the engine noise is just unusually loud mosquitoes. At least you wouldn't have to worry about the extension cord getting caught in the fan blades.
-- jurist, Feb 12 2002


You can buy fans which fit into a standard (UK) light socket. They have another socket on them so you can also fit a bulb. Ergo, baked.
-- angel, Feb 12 2002


Have it spin fast enough that it propels itself into ceiling and stays there.
-- waugsqueke, Feb 12 2002


[angel] Are U.K. light sockets different from U.S. light sockets? In either case, I'd like to see a link for your fan, please.
-- phoenix, Feb 12 2002


I have spotlights with *poncey* screw type bulbs, they are more common these days.
-- po, Jun 04 2003



random, halfbakery