Abstract:
Controls, devices, systems, and methods for remotely reversing ceiling fan rotation directions based on seasonal appearing indicia controls, and remotely selecting ceiling fan turn off times when the user falls asleep. Cooler weather indicia for a remote control reverse switch can include snowflake symbol and/or the types of seasonal weather indicators such as for winter time use. Warmer weather indicia for a remote control reverse switch can include a sun symbol and/or other types of seasonal weather conditions, such as for summer time. Sleep timer controls, such as buttons for 2 hours, 4 hours and 8 hours, allows the user to preset when the fan is to be turned off after the user decides to go to sleep.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This invention claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/732,172 filed Nov. 30, 2012, and is a Continuation In Part of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/456,050 filed May 28, 2013. The entire disclosure of each of the applications listed in this paragraph are incorporated herein by specific reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to remote controls, and in particular to controls, devices, systems, and methods for remotely reversing fan rotation directions, such as those on ceiling fans, based on seasonal appearing indicia controls, and remotely selecting ceiling fan turn off times when the user falls asleep. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Many consumers do not realize that ceiling fans perform different functions depending on the season and actually turn off their ceiling fans during non warm weather conditions, such as during the winter time. Most consumers will operate their fans in warmer months such as during the summer to push air downward. However, most of these same consumers will actually turn off the fans entirely during the winter months, since they do not understand that ceiling fans generally have reverse controls for allowing the fan to rotate both clockwise or counterclockwise. 
     It is generally unclear to most consumers as to how and when to use the reverse function of the fan. Consumers generally do not understand why there is a reverse function at all and when to use it. Additionally, reverse controls are generally located on the fan motor, which makes it difficult for the user to operate, without using a ladder to reach the fan. 
     Most fans generally work based on an ON switch or an OFF switch. As such, there are generally no automatic shutoff controls that allow the consumer to automatically turn off their fans after they fall asleep. For example, if a consumer goes to sleep with the fan running when the weather is warm, and it becomes noticeably cooler at night, the consumer has to awake and manually turn off the fan during the night. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide controls, devices, systems, and methods for remotely reversing fan rotation direction based on seasonal controls. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide controls, devices, systems, and methods for providing visual references on a remote control to make the correct use of the reverse function control on a fan direction control intuitive to the user. 
     A third objective of the present invention is to provide controls, devices, systems, and methods for remotely selecting fan turn off times when the user falls asleep. 
     A remote control for fans, comprising a portable housing having a reverse motor control with a first position for rotating the fan in a first rotational direction to push airflow downward, and a second position for reversing operation of the fan to rotate the fan in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction to pull airflow upward, a first seasonal indicia indicator for on the reverse motor control for the first position, and a second seasonal indicia indicator on the reverse motor control for the second position, wherein the first seasonal indicia indicator and the second seasonal indicia indicator are not limited to a reverse indicia indicator. 
     The reverse motor control on the portable housing can include a slidable switch having a slightly raised roughened upper surface portion for being slid from the first position to the second position and back. 
     The first seasonal indicia can include a cooler weather indicating indicia symbol, and the second seasonal indicia includes a warmer weather indicating indicia symbol. 
     The cooler weather indicating indicia symbol can be selected from at least one of a snowflake, ski cap, scarf, ice, snowman, and thermometer with low temperature reading, and the warmer weather indicating indicia symbol is selected from at least one of sun, sunglasses, bathing suits, sweat, and thermometers with high temperatures 
     The cooler weather indicating indicia symbol, can include the snowflake, and the warmer weather indicating indicia symbol can include the sun. 
     The cooler weather indicating indicia symbol can include winter indicia, and the warmer weather indicating indicia symbol can include summer indicia. 
     The remote control can include a sleep timer control having at least two settings for turning off the fan at preselected times. The sleep timer can include three settings for turning off the fan at three preselected times. 
     The remote control can include push buttons for each of the settings. The three preselected settings can include 2 hours, 4 hours and 8 hours. The three preselected settings can includes indicia of 2 H, 4 H and 8 H, and/or can include clock indicating indicia with or without hour and minute hands, and the like. 
     The reverse motor control on the portable housing can include a slidable switch having a slightly raised roughened upper surface portion for being slid from the first position to the second position and back. 
     The portable housing can be used as a remote control for a ceiling fan. 
     The remote control can include a portable housing having a sleep timer control having at least two settings for turning off the fan at preselected times, and separate switches on the portable housing for activating the settings for turning off the fan at preselected times 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a novel portable remote control with seasonal sliding switch and push button switches for different sleep timer settings. 
         FIG. 1A  is an enlarged view of the seasonal switch of  FIG. 1  set to the warm weather conditions. 
         FIG. 1B  is an enlarged view of the seasonal switch of  FIG. 1  set to the cooler weather conditions. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the remote control of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the remote control of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of the remote control of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the remote control of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the remote control of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the remote control of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the portable remote control used with a ceiling fan. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. 
     In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments. 
     A list of components will now be described.
       10  Ceiling fan remote control with seasonal switch.     20  Seasonal selector slide switch.     30  Winter switch icon.     40  Summer switch icon.     50 . Speed control     54 . Fan On/Off     58 . Variable breeze control     60 . Random light control     70 . Light On/Off     80 . Delayed Light Off     90 . Battery compartment     100 . Sleep timer control switches     110 . 2 hour timer control button switch     120 . 4 hour timer control button switch     130 . 8 hour timer control button switch   

     The invention can use a remote control  20  to control various functions of a ceiling fan. On and off and reverse operations of ceiling fans with limited timer activation are shown and described in FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. FIG. 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,538 to Shih; U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,920 to Jacob; U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,825 to Hart et al.; FIG. 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,538 to Shih; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,644 to Hsieh, each of which is incorporated by reference, in their entirety. 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a novel portable remote control  10  with seasonal sliding switch  20  and push button switches  100  for different sleep timer settings. 
       FIG. 1A  is an enlarged view of the seasonal slide switch  20  of  FIG. 1  slid left and set to the warm weather conditions.  FIG. 1B  is an enlarged view of the seasonal slide switch  20  of  FIG. 1  slid right and set to the cooler weather conditions. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the remote control  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a back view of the remote control  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a left side view of the remote control  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5  is a right side view of the remote control  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  is a top view of the remote control  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the remote control  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the portable remote control  10  used with a ceiling fan  200 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , the remote control  10  can be used with controlling functions on a ceiling fan  200 . The remote control  10  can include speed control buttons  50  to remotely select fan speed between 1(low) and up to 6(high). Push button  54  can be used to turn fan off or turn fan on at most recently selected speed. Press and hold button  54  to turn off or on the sounds from the remote control  10 . Press button  58  is a variable breeze control when activated causes the fan to simulate a natural breeze, as if one were outside. Press any speed control button  50  can exit this mode. 
     Button  60  can be a random light mode. When pressed, a light on the fan  200  can blink twice to confirm the Random Light mode. The Lights on the fan  200  can cycle on for 5-20 minutes and off for 60 minutes simulating occupancy. The cycle can repeat continuously until any other button is pushed to discontinue Random Light mode. 
     Light On/Off button  70  can cycle lights on the fan  200  on and off. Button  80  can be a delayed off switch that turns off light 1 minute after being depressed so that the user can exit a room. 
     Battery compartment  90  can house removable batteries, such as a 12 volt battery to operate control  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , the seasonal slide switch  20  is a low profile sliding switch with a rough upper edge surface. Sliding switch  20  changes direction of blade rotation of the fan  200 . For warm weather, sliding the switch to the left, and for cool weather slide the switch  20  to the right. 
     The seasonal switch  20  makes it clear to consumers which direction the ceiling fan should run for each season. In the summertime, the fan should blow air down providing a wind chill effect on the skin. In the winter months, the ceiling fan should blow the air up to push the hot stagnant air from the ceiling and prevent cold spots in the room. 
     The invention differs from what currently exists. The seasonal switch  20  remote clearly shows the consumer how to run the fan in the appropriate direction. 
     Since the consumer does not understand the reverse switch on the fan, they do not use this switch in the winter months. 
     By making visual references on the remote control  20 , for example, a sun symbol  40  for summer and a snowflake symbol  30  for winter, the seasonal sliding switch  20  makes the correct use of the reverse function of the ceiling fan very intuitive. 
     The seasonal switch  20  works with the motor in the ceiling fan  200  to insure that the ceiling fan  200  is blowing in the correct direction for each season. 
     While the seasonal indicia shows a sun symbol  40  for warm weather conditions, such as but not limited to the summer, and a snowflake symbol  30  for cooler/cold weather conditions, such as but not limited to the winter, other symbols, can be used. For example, indicia symbols, such as but not limited to sunglasses, persons in bathing suits, sweating, thermometers with high temperatures, and the like can be used for warm weather conditions. For example, indicia symbols, such as but not limited to ski caps, scarfs, ice, snowman, thermometers with low temperatures, and the like can be used for cold weather conditions. In addition, terms such as “winter” and “summer”, can also be used with or without the seasonal indicia indicators. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , novel sleep timer switches  100  can be used. Push button switch  110  having a 2 H indicia symbol can be activated by the user to automatically turn off the fan  200  approximately 2 hours after the user goes to the sleep. Push button switch  120  can a 4 H indicia symbol can be activated by the user to automatically turn off the fan  200  approximately 4 hours after the user goes to sleep. Push button switch  130  can be activated by the user to automatically turn off the fan  200  approximately 8 hours after the user goes to sleep. 
     Other types of indicial symbols for the sleep timer can be used such as but not limited to clock symbols with hour hands, minute hands, and the like. 
     Although the remote controls are generally described for use with ceiling fans, the invention can be used as a remote control for other types of fans, such as but not limited to wall mounted fans, table fans, floor fans, air conditioning fans, and the like. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.