WO2005047708A1

WO2005047708A1 - Remotely controlled fan unit

Info

Publication number: WO2005047708A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/034966
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul F. Burns
Original assignee: Burns Paul F
Priority date: 2003-11-04
Filing date: 2003-11-04
Publication date: 2005-05-26
Also published as: AU2003291693A8; AU2003291693A1

Abstract

A fan (10) is remotely controlled using a control (150) that has special buttons (180-196) that can be identified and differentiated even without being seen. The buttons (180-196) can be located by touch and a user can adjust the fan in multiple degrees of freedom, including orientation, pan (188, 190, 192), tilt, (188, 194, 196) speed (182, 184, 186) and on/off (180) using the buttons (180-196) on a remote control element (150).

Description

REMOTELY CONTROLLED FAN UNIT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present mvention relates to the general art of fluid reaction devices, including fans, and to the particular field of fluid reaction devices with signaling means.

2. Discussion of the Related Art Many people live in environments that are too hot for their comfort. The heat may be caused by hot weather or a room that is too hot for comfort. Often, the discomfort can be alleviated by air conditioning or by simply opening a window. However, this is not always possible, especially if the person is in a building that has the temperature thereof controlled from a central location. In such situations, a room that receives direct sunlight may be too hot while the remainder of the building is maintained at a comfortable level. In some cases, opening a window is not an option because some windows cannot be opened or it is not desirable to open a window. The discomfort can then be alleviated by wearing proper clothing. Again, however, this may not be an option for many people. Accordingly, many people use fans in such situations. While fans are convenient and generally efficient, fans, also, have drawbacks. For example, a fan may not be properly oriented and the air circulation associated with the fan may not be directed most efficiently. Furthermore, the speed of the fan may not be the most efficient for a desired comfort level.

The air may be moved too fast or too slow for the person's comfort. Therefore, the art contains many examples of fans that can be adjusted for either or both direction and speed. However, many of these fans have drawbacks that make them difficult to use for many people. For example, many fans must be physically moved in order to properly orient the fan. This requires the fan to be picked up and moved as required. While this may not seem too difficult, it is difficult and, perhaps, impossible for a physically disabled person or a bedridden person. In such a case, the person must wait until someone can be summoned to move the fan for them. Therefore, there is a need for a fan that can be controlled remotely. While the art contains examples of remotely controlled fans, these fans are not easily used by a physically handicapped person or a person who may not be able to see the controls. In such a case, the remote control is not fully usable by the user. This may be because the user is sight disabled or because the user cannot move into a position to adequately see the remote or simply because there is not sufficient light to see the fan, such as at night, and the user cannot move the remote into a location to see the remote or to have enough light to see the remote control. For example, a bedridden patient who wakes up in the middle of the night may not be able to obtain light that is adequate to see the remote control, hi such an instance, the person may have to experiment with the remote control until the fan is adjusted to his or her hiding. This may not be efficient and may even result in the fan being turned off or oriented in a totally wrong direction. Therefore, there is a need for a fan that can be controlled remotely even by a physically handicapped person. There is still a further need for a fan that can be controlled remotely even if the user cannot see the remote control. Still further, the fans that are known to the inventor cannot be adjusted in as many degrees of freedom as possible. That is, the fans known to the inventor cannot be adjusted as to panning coverage as well as height as well as speed as well as orientation. Thus, even though the known fans have some adjustments available to the user, there are still several limitations that will inhibit the fan from being as effective as possible. Therefore, there is a need for a fan that can be fully adjusted in a plurality of degrees of freedom so the fan is as effective as possible.

PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is a main object of the present invention to provide a fan that can be controlled remotely. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fan that can be controlled remotely even by a physically handicapped person. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fan that can be controlled remotely even if the user cannot see the remote control. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fan that can be fully adjusted in a plurality of degrees of freedom so the fan is as effective as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These, and other, objects are achieved by a remotely controlled fan unit which comprises a fan unit which includes a base, a plurality of manual controls, a wireless control signal receiver; and a control signal generator electrically connected to the wireless control signal receiver, a neck unit that includes an outer section and an inner section, with the inner section telescopingly received in the outer section, the inner section being movably mounted on the outer section to move between an extended orientation and a retracted orientation; a motor housing rotatably mounted on the inner section of the neck unit; a fan motor located inside the motor housing, the fan motor being electrically connected to the control signal generator and to the manual controls; a height adjustment motor mounted on the motor housing, the height adjustment motor being electrically connected to the control signal generator and to the manual controls; gearing connecting the inner section of the neck unit to the height adjustment motor; a panning motor mounted on the motor housing, the panning motor being electrically connected to the control signal generator, gearing connecting the motor housing to the inner section of the neck section; and a remote control unit which includes a housing, a power source, a wireless signal generator circuit which generates wireless control signals that are received by the wireless control signal receiver in the fan unit, and a plurality of control buttons, each control button of the plurality of control buttons being sized, shaped and located differently from other control buttons so each control button can be located by touch, the plurality of control buttons including fan speed control buttons, height-adjusting buttons and panning buttons. The fan embodying the present invention can be easily adjusted even if the user cannot see the controls, and can be adjusted in a plurality of degrees of freedom so the user can most effectively use the fan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES Figure 1 is a perspective view of a remotely fan and a remote control embodying the present invention. Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the remotely controlled fan embodying the present invention. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a remote control unit that is included in the unit embodying the present mvention. Figure 4 shows a planetary gear unit that can be used to adjust the orientation of the remotely controlled fan unit embodying the present invention. Figure 5 shows a rack and pinion gear unit that can be used to adjust the height of the remotely controlled fan unit embodying the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a remotely controlled fan unit 10 that can be remotely adjusted for height and pan orientation as well as for speed and for tilt orientation even if the user cannot see the remote control unit. Fan unit 10 is thus fully adjustable even by a user who cannot see. Remotely controlled fan 10 comprises a fan unit which includes a base 12 which includes a first surface 14 that is a bottom surface when the fan unit 10 is in a use orientation and which rests on a suitable support surface, a second surface 16 that is a top surface when fan unit 10 is in the use orientation. Base 12 further includes first and second sides 20 and 22, a first end 24 that is a front end when the fan unit 10 is in the use orientation, and a second end 26 that is a rear end when the fan unit 10 is in the use orientation. A power cord connection 30 is located on the second end 26 of the base 12. An electrical signal receiver circuit 32 is located in the base 12. Electrical receiver circuit 32 has circuit elements 34 that receive wireless signals and generate control signals in response to received wireless signals. Electrical signal receiver circuit 32 is electrically connected to the power cord connection 30 on the second end 36 of the base 12 of the fan unit 10. A wireless signal receiver 36 is located on the first end 24 of the base 12 and is electrically connected to the electrical signal receiver circuit 32. A manually controlled electrical circuit 40 receives manually input signals and generates control signals in response to received manually received signals. The manually controlled electrical circuit 40 is electrically connected to the power cord connection 30 on the second end 26 of the base 12 of the fan unit 10. A manually operated switch unit 42 is located on the second surface 16 of the base 12. The manually operated switch unit 42 is electrically connected to the manually controlled electrical circuit 40 and is electrically connected to the power cord connection 30 on the second end 26 of the base 12 of the fan unit 10. Manually controlled electrical circuit 40 includes an on/off switch 44, a fan high speed switch 46, a fan low speed switch 48 and a fan medium speed switch 50. Switch 42 can be a dial if desired. A longitudinal axis 52 extends between the first end 24 of the base 12 and the second end 26 of the base 12, and a transverse axis 54 extends between the first and second sides 20, 22 of the base 12. A neck unit 60 is mounted on the base 12 and includes an outer tubular section 62 which has a proximal end 64 fixed to the second surface 16 of the base 12, a distal end 66 spaced apart from the second surface 16 of the base 12 and a longitudinal axis 68 which extends between the proximal end 64 of the outer tubular section 62 and the distal end 66 of the outer tubular section 62. An inner section 70 is received in the outer tubular section 62 and has a distal end 72 that is located outside the outer tubular section 62. Inner section 70 can be telescopingly and frictionally received in the outer tubular section 62 so the height of the fan can be adjusted as desired. A motor unit 80 is rotatably and tiltably mounted on the inner section 70 of the neck unit 60 and includes a housing 82 which is rotatably mounted on the inner section 70 of the neck unit to rotate about the longitudinal axis 68 of the outer section 62 in a plane that is parallel to a plane containing the first surface 14 of the base 12 of the fan unit 10 and to tilt between a tilt up orientation as shown by arrow 84 in Figure 2 and a tilt down orientation as shown by arrow 86 in Figure 2. Housing 82 has a first end 88 which is a front end in the use condition and a second end 90 which is a rear end in the use condition. Second end 90 is located beneath first end 88 of the housing 82 of the motor unit 80 with respect to the second surface 16 of the base 12 of the fan unit 10 when the housing 82 is in the tilt up orientation and is located above the first end 88 of the housing 82 of the motor unit 80 with respect to the second surface 16 of the base 12 of the fan unit 10 when the housing 82 is in the tilt down orientation. Housing 82 of motor unit 80 further includes a handle 92 so the fan unit 10 can be moved about, an inner chamber 94 and air vents 96 located near the second end 90 of the housing 82. A fan motor 100 is located in the inner chamber 94 of the housing 82 of the motor unit 80. The fan motor 100 has an output shaft 102 that extends through the first end

88 of the housing 82 of the motor unit 80. The fan will oscillate in one mode of operation, and the oscillation is effected using oscillating gears as are known to those skilled in the art of oscillating fans. The fan motor 100 is electrically connected to the electrical signal receiver circuit 32 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10 and is also electrically connected to the manually controlled electrical circuit 40 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10 by leads, such as lead 104. The fan motor 100 is electrically connected to the power cord connection 30 on the second end 26 of the base 12 of the fan unit 10 by similar leads and is operated in accordance with control signals received from the electrical signal receiver circuit 32 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10 and in accordance with control signals received from the manually controlled electrical circuit 40 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10. A tilt adjustment system 110 is located in the housing 82 of the motor unit 80 and includes a tilt adjusting motor 112 electrically connected to the electrical signal receiver circuit 32 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10 and is also electrically connected to the manually controlled electrical circuit 40 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10 via leads, such as lead 114, to be activated by control signals received from the electrical signal receiver circuit 32 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10 and by control signals received from the manually controlled electrical circuit 40 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10 and is operated in accordance with control signals received from the electrical signal receiver circuit 32 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10 and in accordance with control signals received from the manually controlled electrical circuit 40 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10. The tilt adjustment system 110 further includes a gear unit 116 connected to the tilt- adjusting motor 112 and to the housing 82 of the motor unit 80. The gear unit 116 moves the housing 82 of the motor unit 80 between the tilt up orientation and the tilt down orientation in response to operation of the til- adjusting motor 112. A suitable gear system is shown in

Figure 5 and includes a rack and pinion gear combination 117 with a rack 118 being connected to the housing 82 and a pinion 119 connected to the motor 112. The rack 118 can be oriented vertically with respect to the support surface. Other gear arrangements can also be used and will occur to those skilled in the art based on the teaching of this disclosure. A pan adjustment system 120 includes a pan-adjusting motor 122 which is electrically connected to the electrical signal receiver circuit 32 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10 and is also electrically connected to the manually controlled electrical circuit 40 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10 by leads, such as lead 124, to be activated by control signals received from the electrical signal receiver circuit 32 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10 and by control signals received from the manually controlled electrical circuit 40 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10. The pan-adjusting motor 122 is electrically connected to the power cord connection 30 on the second end 26 of the base 12 of the fan unit 10 and is operated in accordance with control signals received from the electrical signal receiver circuit 32 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10 and in accordance with control signals received from the manually controlled electrical circuit 40 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10. The pan control system 120 moves the fan rotatably as shown by arrows 130 in Figure 2 and limits the oscillation range of the fan. A gear unit 132 is connected to the pan-adjusting motor 122 and to the neck unit 60 mounted on the base 12 of the fan unit 10 and to the housing 82 of the motor unit 80. The gear unit 132 causes rotation of the housing 82 of the motor unit 80 about the longitudinal axis 68 of the inner section 70 of the neck unit 60 in response to operation of the pan- adjusting motor 122. A suitable gear unit system is shown as planetary gear system 136 in Figure 4. Gear system 136 can include a planetary gear 138 on the neck section and a sun gear 139 on the housing 82. Other gear arrangements can also be used and will occur to those skilled in the art based on the teaching of this disclosure. A power cord 140 is releasably attached to the power cord connection 30 on the second end 26 of the base 12 of the fan unit 10. The power cord 140 is adapted to be connected to a power source and to transfer power from the power source to the power cord connection 30 on the second end 26 of the base 12 of the fan unit 10. The power cord 140 is separable from the base 12 of the fan unit 10 so any suitable length of power cord 140 can be used without the need of extension cords. A fan blade unit 142 is mounted on the output shaft 102 of the fan motor 100 of the motor unit 80 and includes a plurality of fan blades, such as fan blade 144, mounted on the output shaft 102 of the fan motor 100 of the motor unit 80 for rotation therewith. The fan blades 144 can be plastic and can be removably mounted on a hub so they can be interchanged as desired. A grille unit 148 is mounted on the neck unit 60 and encloses the fan blades 144 of the fan blade unit 142. A remote control unit 150 includes a housing 152 which includes a first surface 154 which is the top surface when the remote control unit 150 is in use, a first end 156 which is a front end when the remote control unit 150 is in use, a second end 158 which is a rear end when the remote control unit 150 is in use. Housing 152 further includes a first side 160, a second side 162, a longitudinal axis 164 which extends between the first end 156 of the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 and the second end 158 of the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150, and a transverse axis 166 which extends between the first side 160 of the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 and the second side 162 of the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150. A power source 168, such as a battery or the like, is located in the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150. A wireless signal-generating circuit 170 is also located in the housing 152 and is electrically connected via a lead, such as lead 172, to the power source 168 in the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 and generates wireless control signals when activated. A wireless control signal transmitter 174 is located on the first end 156 of the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 and is electrically connected to the wireless signal generating circuit 170 of the remote control unit 150 by a suitable lead, such as the lead 172. The signal transmitter 174 transmits wireless control signals in response to operation of the wireless signal-generating circuit 170 in the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150. The wireless signals transmitted by the wireless control signal transmitter 174 of the remote control unit 150 are received by the electrical signal receiver circuit 32 in the base 12 of the fan unit 10. A plurality of control buttons are located on the first surface 154 of the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 and are each connected to the wireless signal-generating control circuit 170 by suitable leads to operate the wireless signal-generating control circuit 170 in accordance with operation of each control button of the plurality of control buttons.

The plurality of control buttons include an on/off button 180, a plurality of fan blade speed control buttons which include a high speed button 182, a medium speed button 184, and a low speed button 186. The fan blade speed control buttons are spaced apart from the on/off button 180 of the remote control unit 150 and are sized and shaped so that each fan blade speed control button has a size and shape that is different from the other fan blade speed control buttons and is different from the size and shape of the on/off button 180. The fan blade speed control buttons are arcuately spaced apart from each other and are arcuately oriented with respect to the first and second sides 160, 162 of the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150. As can be seen in Figure 3, the low speed button 186 is located closer to the first end 156 of the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 than the high speed button

182 and the low speed button 186 is located closely adjacent to the first side 160 of the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150. A plurality of pan control buttons are also located on the remote control unit 150. The pan control buttons include a pan/tilt activation button 188 which activates the pan/tilt control. If the pan/tilt control is not desired, a user can operate an oscillation activation button 189 which causes the fan to oscillate in a normal manner. Operation of either the pan/tilt activation button or the oscillation activation button 189 cancels out the other activation button. Also, upon activation of the fan, the fan will initially operate in the mode that it was in when the fan was last de-activated. The pan/tilt buttons include a right pan control button 190 and a left pan control button 192. The right pan control button 190 is sized and shaped to have a different size and shape from the left pan control button 192 and to have a size and shape that is different from the size and shape of the on/off button 180 and that is different in size and shape from each of the fan blade speed control buttons. As shown in Figure 3, the pan control buttons 190, 192 are concave toward each other so the buttons feel different to the touch. The left pan control button 192 is located closely adjacent to the first side 160 of the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 and the right pan control button 190 is located closely adjacent to the second side 162 of the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 to further distinguish these two buttons from each other by means of touch. The buttons further include a plurality of tilt control buttons. The pan buttons 190, 192 will direct the fan air flow in a desired direction. The fan will not oscillate when in the pan mode so the fan can be incrementally adjusted to suit the exact desires of the user. The tilt control buttons include a tilt up button 194 which causes the housing 82 of the motor unit 80 to tilt toward the tilt up orientation when activated and a tilt down button 196 which causes the housing 82 of the motor unit 80 to move toward the tilt down orientation when activated. As can be understood from Figure 3, the tilt up control button 194 is located closer to the first end 156 of the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 than the tilt down control button 196 and the tilt up control button 194 is sized and shaped to have a different size and shape from the tilt down control button 196 and to have a size and shape that is different from the size and shape of the on/off button 180 and that is different in size and shape from each of the fan blade speed control buttons. As discussed above, the concave shape of the tilt control buttons 194, 196 makes each of them different to the touch. It is noted that the manual buttons can be used in place of the buttons on the remote control unit. Thus, if the remote control unit 150 is lost, the fan unit 10 of the present invention can still be used. It is noted that suitable sensors can be used to properly orient the fan with respect to the neck unit 60 whereby the above-discussed gears will be properly meshed with respect to each other. A suitable sensor is indicated as sensors S and S' in Figure 4. Sensors S and S' can be magnetic and can be suitably coupled to a magnetic sensor. Those skilled in the art will understand what elements are required to sense the position of the fan elements relative to each other whereby the tilt, oscillate and pan features of fan unit 10 will be operational. An LED power indicator light 200 is located on the first surface 154 of the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 and is electrically connected to the wireless signal- generating control circuit 170 and to the power source 168 in the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 by suitable leads to be activated when power is supplied to the wireless signal-generating control circuit 170. An LED power source replacement light 202 is located on the first surface 154 of the remote control unit 150 and is electrically connected to the power source 168 in the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 and is activated when the power level of the power source

168 in the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 drops below a predetermined level. A support strap 204 is mounted on the housing 152 of the remote control unit 150 and can be used to attach the remote control unit 150 to the user's wrist or to a chair or to a bed, or the like. The strap 204 can be removed from the remote control unit 150 if desired. The remote control unit 150 can also include a light if desired so the control buttons can be lit. The buttons can also be individually lit if desired. The components of the fan unit 10 of the present invention can be manufactured from any suitable material, including plastic. To use the fan unit 10 embodying the present invention, a user sets the fan on a suitable support, such as a floor or counter, and operates the remote control unit 150 to operate the fan. The user turns the fan on with the on/off button. The fan begins in the mode in which it was last used. If the fan is in the pan/tilt mode, but the user prefers using the oscillation mode, the user simply presses the oscillate button, which cancels out the pan/tilt mode. If pan/tilt is desired, the user simply presses the oscillate off button, which cancels out the oscillate mode and activates the pan/tilt mode. The pan/tilt button has a joystick type confϊguration for "one finger" control. The pan/tilt button has left/right/up/down indicia such that the direction of the fan can be changed by the user simply placing his or her thumb on the pan/tilt button and pushing the top thereof in the desired direction as indicated by the indica. After use, the fan can be turned off with the remote control unit 150. The fan unit 10 of the present invention can be used in residential, industrial, commercial, restaurant, nursing home and hospital applications as well as in kitchens or the like, or in areas where air- conditioning is not available. It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.

Claims

CLAΓMS What is claimed and desired to be covered by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A remotely controlled fan unit comprising: a) a fan unit which includes (1) a base which includes (A) a first surface that is a bottom surface when said fan unit is in a use orientation, (B) a second surface that is a top surface when said fan unit is in the use orientation, (C) first and second sides, (D) a first end that is a front end when said fan unit is in the use orientation, (E) a second end that is a rear end when said fan unit is in the use orientation, (F) a power cord connection on the second end of the base, (G) an electrical signal receiver circuit in the base, the electrical receiver circuit having circuit elements that receive wireless signals and generate control signals in response to received wireless signals, the electrical signal receiver circuit being electrically connected to the power cord connection on the second end of the base of said fan unit, (H) a wireless signal receiver located on the first end of the base and which is electrically connected to the electrical signal receiver circuit, (I) a manually controlled electrical circuit that receives manually input signals and generates control signals in response to received manually input signals, the manually controlled electrical circuit being electrically connected to the power cord connection on the second end of the base of said fan unit, (J) a manually operated switch unit located on the second surface of the base, the manually operated switch unit being electrically connected to the manually controlled electrical circuit and being electrically connected to the power cord connection on the second end of the base of said fan unit and including (i) an on/off switch, (ii) a fan high speed switch, (iii) a fan low speed switch, and (iv) a fan medium speed switch, (K) a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of the base and the second end of the base, and (L) a transverse axis extending between the first and second sides of the base,

(2) a neck unit mounted on the base and including (A) an outer tubular section having a proximal end fixed to the second surface of the base, a distal end spaced apart from the second surface of the base and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end of the outer tubular section and the distal end of the outer tubular section, and (B) an inner section that is received in the outer tubular section and which has a distal end that is located outside the outer tubular section,

(3) a motor unit rotatably and tiltably mounted on the inner section of the neck unit and including (A) a housing being rotatably mounted on the inner section of the neck unit to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the outer section in a plane that is parallel to a plane containing the first surface of the base of said fan unit and to tilt between a tilt up orientation and a tilt down orientation , the housing having (i) a first end which is a front end in the use condition, (ii) a second end which is a rear end in the use condition, the second end being located beneath the first end of the housing of the motor unit with respect to the second surface of the base of said fan unit when the housing is in the tilt up orientation and being located above the first end of the housing of the motor unit with respect to the second surfae of the base of said fan unit when the housing is in the tilt down orientation, (iii) a handle, (iv) an inner chamber, and (v) air vents located near the second end of the housing, and (B) a fan motor located in the inner chamber of the housing of the motor unit, the fan motor having an output shaft that extends through the first end of the housing of the motor unit, the fan motor being electrically connected to the electrical signal receiver circuit in the base of said fan unit and electrically connected to the manually controlled electrical circuit in the base of said fan unit, the fan motor being electrically connected to the power cord connection on the second end of the base of said fan unit and operated in accordance with control signals received from the electrical signal receiver circuit in the base of said fan unit and in accordance with control signals received from the manually controlled electrical circuit in the base of said fan unit, (4) a tilt adjustment system in the housing of the motor unit and which includes (A) a tilt-adjusting motor electrically connected to the electrical signal receiver circuit in the base of said fan unit and electrically connected to the manually controlled electrical circuit in the base of said fan unit to be activated by control signals received from the electrical signal receiver circuit in the base of said fan unit and by control signals received from the manually controlled electrical circuit in the base of said fan unit and operated in accordance with control signals received from the electrical signal receiver circuit in the base of said fan unit and in accordance with control signals received from the manually controlled elecfrical circuit in the base of said fan unit, and (B) a gear unit [FIGURE 5]connected to the tilt-adjusting motor and to the housing of the motor unit, the gear unit moving the housing of the motor unit between the tilt up orientation and the tilt down orientation in response to operation of the tilt adjusting motor, (5) a pan adjustment system which includes (A) a pan-adjusting motor electrically connected to the electrical signal receiver circuit in the base of said fan unit and electrically connected to the manually controlled electrical circuit in the base of said fan unit to be activated by control signals received from the electrical signal receiver circuit in the base of said fan unit and by control signals received from the manually controlled electrical circuit in the base of said fan unit, the pan-adjusting motor being electrically connected to the power cord connection on the second end of the base of said fan unit and operated in accordance with control signals received from the electrical signal receiver circuit in the base of said fan unit and in accordance with control signals received from the manually controlled electrical circuit in the base of said fan unit, and (B) a gear unit [FIGURE 4]connected to the pan-adjusting motor and to the neck unit mounted on the base of said fan unit and to the housing of the motor unit, the gear unit rotating the housing of the motor unit about the longitudinal axis of the inner section of the neck unit in response to operation of the pan-adjusting motor, (6) a power cord releasably attached to the power cord connection on the second end of the base of said fan unit, the power cord being adapted to be connected to a power source and to transfer power from the power source to the power cord connection on the second end of the base of said fan unit, (7) a fan blade unit mounted on the output shaft of the fan motor of the motor unit and including a plurality of fan blades mounted on the output shaft of the fan motor of the motor unit for rotation therewith, and (8) a grille unit mounted on the neck unit and enclosing the fan blades of the fan blade unit; and b) a remote control unit which includes (1) a housing which includes (A) a first surface which is the top surface when said remote control unit is in use, (B) a first end which is a front end when said remote control unit is in use, (C) a second end which is a rear end when said remote control unit is in use, (D) a first side, (E) a second side, (F) a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of the housing of said remote control unit and the second end of the housing of said remote control unit, and (G) a transverse axis extending between the first side of the housing of said remote control unit and the second side of the housing of said remote control unit,

(2) a power source in the housing of said remote control unit,

(3) a wireless signal-generating circuit which is electrically connected to the power source in the housing of said remote control unit and which generates wireless control signals when activated,

(4) a wireless control signal transmitter located on the first end of the housing of said remote control unit and which is electrically connected to the wireless signal-generating circuit of said remote control unit and which transmits wireless control signals in response to operation of the wireless signal-generating circuit in the housing of said remote control unit, the wireless signals transmitted by the wireless control signal transmitter of said remote control housing being received by the electrical signal receiver circuit in the base of said fan unit,

(5) a plurality of control buttons on the first surface of the housing of said remote control unit and which are each connected to the wireless signal-generating control circuit to operate the wireless signal- generating control circuit in accordance with operation of each control button of the plurality of control buttons, the plurality of control buttons including (A) an on/off button, (B) a plurality of fan blade speed control buttons, the fan blade speed control buttons including a high speed button, a medium speed button and a low speed button, the fan blade speed control buttons being spaced apart from the on/off button of said remote confrol unit and being sized and shaped so that each fan blade speed control button has a size and shape that is different from the other fan blade speed control button and which is different from the size and shape of the on/off button, the fan blade speed confrol buttons arcuately spaced apart from each other and arcuately oriented with respect to the first and second sides of the housing of said remote control unit, the high speed button being located closer to the first end of the housing of said remote control unit than the low speed button and the low speed button being located closely adjacent to the first side of the housing of said remote control unit,

(C) a plurality of pan control buttons, the pan control buttons including a right pan control button, and a left pan control button, the right pan confrol button being sized and shaped to have a different size and shape from the left pan control button and to have a size and shape that is different from the size and shape of the on/off button and that is different in size and shape from each of the fan blade speed control buttons, the left pan control button being located closely adjacent to the first side of the housing of said remote control unit and the right pan confrol button being located closely adjacent to the second side of the housing of said remote confrol unit, and

(D) a plurality of tilt control buttons, the tilt control buttons including a tilt up button which causes the housing of the motor unit to tilt toward the tilt up orientation when activated and a tilt down button which causes the housing of the motor unit to move toward the tilt down orientation when activated, the tilt up control button being located closer to the first end of the housing of said remote control unit than the tilt down control button, the tilt up control button being sized and shaped to have a different size and shape from the tilt down confrol button and to have a size and shape that is different from the size and shape of the on/off button and that is different in size and shape from each of the fan blade speed control buttons, (6) an LED power indicator light on the first surface of the housing of said remote control unit and which is electrically connected to the wireless signal-generating control circuit and to the power source in the housing of said remote control unit to be activated when power is supplied to the wireless signal-generating control circuit, (7) an LED power source replacement light on the first surface of said remote control unit and which is electrically connected to the power source in the housing of said remote control unit and which is activated when the power level of the power source in the housing of said remote control unit drops below a predetermined level, and (8) a support strap mounted on the housing of said remote control unit.

2. A remotely controlled fan unit comprising: a) a fan unit which includes a base, a plurality of manual controls, a wireless control signal receiver; and a control signal generator electrically connected to the over-the-air control signal receiver, b) a neck unit that includes an outer section and an inner section, with the inner section being received in the outer section; c) a motor housing rotatably and tiltably mounted on the inner section of said neck unit; d) a fan motor located inside said motor housing, the fan motor being electrically connected to the control signal generator and to the manual controls; e) a tilt adjustment motor mounted on said motor housing, the tilt adjustment motor being electrically connected to the control signal generator and to the manual controls; f) gearing connecting the inner section of said neck unit to said height adjustment motor; g) a panning motor mounted on said motor housing, the panning motor being electrically connected to the control signal generator, h) gearing connecting said motor housing to the inner section of said neck section; and i) a remote control unit which includes (1) a housing, (2) a power source, (3) a wireless signal generator circuit which generates wireless control signals that are received by the wireless control signal receiver in said fan unit, and (4) a plurality of control buttons, each control button of the plurality of control buttons being sized, shaped and located differently from other control buttons so each control button can be located by touch, the plurality of control buttons including fan speed control buttons, tilt-adjusting buttons and panning buttons.