Patents by Inventor Andrew R. Fox

Andrew R. Fox has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230372854
    Abstract: A conformable, unframed pleated air filter, comprising a plurality of bridging filaments on at least one face of the pleated air filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Changwen Li, Andrew R. Fox, Bryan L. Gerhardt
  • Publication number: 20230330584
    Abstract: A room air purifier including upper and lower portions. The upper and lower portions may include integrated resilient upper and lower gaskets configured so that with an air filter removably installed in the room air purifier and with the upper and lower portions attached to each other, the upper and lower portions apply pressure to the air filter through the upper and lower gaskets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Brian D. Gale, Alonso M. Hernandez, Nicolas A. Echeverri
  • Publication number: 20230330579
    Abstract: A room air purifier including upper and lower portions with the lower portion including a detachable floor panel. The upper portion and the floor panel may respectively include integrated resilient upper and lower gaskets configured so that with an air filter removably installed in the room air purifier and with the floor panel attached to a lower housing piece of the lower portion of the room air purifier, the upper portion of the room air purifier, and the floor panel, apply pressure to the air filter through the upper and lower gaskets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Brian D. Gale, Alonso M. Hernandez, Andrew R. Fox
  • Patent number: 11642617
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to air filters. More particularly, it relates to air filters including pleated filter media that can be uniformly expanded and contracted. In some embodiments, the air filters are adjustably sized air filter systems. In some embodiments, the air filters can be used in a window opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Glen O. Gregerson, Bryan L. Gerhardt
  • Publication number: 20230065961
    Abstract: A room air purifier including first and second portions. The first portion includes a locking ring and the second portion includes a mandrel configured to receive an unframed air filter. The locking ring can be secured to the mandrel to join the first and second portions to each other to form the room air purifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Brian D. Gale, Andrew R. Fox
  • Publication number: 20220404054
    Abstract: A powered room air purifier with a visual indicator of air quality, the visual indicator including: a reflector that defines a forwardly-open-ended reflecting cavity and that comprises at least one through-opening in a floor or ceiling of the reflector; at least one diffuser layer that covers the forward opening of the forward-open-ended reflecting cavity; and, at least one LED light source that is positioned within the at least one through-opening, the LED light source and the reflector being configured so that the LED light source is shielded from line-of-sight view along a forward-rearward axis of the powered room air purifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Brian D. Gale, Andrew R. Fox, Alonso M. Hernandez, Gregory G. Jager, Abby R. Lemon, Nicolas W. Tremain
  • Patent number: 11529580
    Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for estimating a replacement status of an HVAC air filter. Outdoor weather data (e.g., outdoor temperature information), is obtained. A Total Runtime Value of the HVAC system is determined based upon the obtained outdoor weather data. Finally, a replacement status of the air filter is estimated as a function of a comparison of the Total Runtime Value with a Baseline Value. By correlating air filter replacement status with an estimated runtime of the HVAC system, a credible predictor of air filter usage is provided. By estimating fan runtime based on easily-obtained outdoor weather data, the methods are readily implemented with any existing HVAC system and do not require installation of sensors or other mechanical or electrical components to the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Eric C. Lobner, Theresa M. Meyer, Brian J. Stankiewicz
  • Publication number: 20220381461
    Abstract: A powered room air purifier including a non-movable air filter holder. The room air purifier may include at least one guide ramp located at an upper end of the air filter holder. An air filter may be installed into the air filter holder by a combination of translational and rotational movement of the air filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Brian D. Gale, Andrew R. Fox, Alonso M. Hernandez, Nicolas W. Tremain
  • Publication number: 20220314152
    Abstract: Filter assemblies are described. In particular, a filter securement assembly for receiving and retaining a filter media in an exhaust hood is disclosed, the filter securement assembly being releasably securable to the exhaust hood, includes a filter frame, a cover and a face forming a portion of the cover, the face defining a plurality of apertures therethrough, the apertures forming at least 50% of a face surface area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: John B. Stender, Matthew W. Gorrell, Christine L. McCool, Chad E. Nordling, Andrew R. Fox, Byron E. Trotter, Del R. Lawson
  • Publication number: 20220266180
    Abstract: A single-layer spunbonded air-filtration web including meltspun autogenously bonded electret fibers with an Actual Fiber Diameter of from 3.0 microns to 15 microns. The air-filtration web exhibits a ratio of mean flow pore size to pore size range of from 0.55 to 2.5. Also disclosed are methods of making such webs, and methods of using such webs to perform air filtration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: John D. Stelter, Zachary J. Becker, Michael R. Berrigan, Alexander P. Flage, Andrew R. Fox, Bryan L. Gerhardt, Himanshu Jasuja, William J. Kopecky, Patrick J. Sager, Samatha D Smith, Jacob J. Thelen, Kent B. Willgohs
  • Publication number: 20220266181
    Abstract: A single-layer spunbonded air-filtration web including meltspun autogenously bonded electret fibers with an Actual Fiber Diameter of from 3.0 microns to 9.0 microns. The air-filtration web exhibits a mean flow pore size of from 8.0 to 19 microns and exhibits a ratio of mean flow pore size to pore size range of from 0.55 to 2.5. Also disclosed are methods of making such webs, and methods of using such webs to perform air filtration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Himanshu Jasuja, Kent B. Willgohs, Jacob J. Thelen, John D. Stelter, Samatha D. Smith, Patrick J. Sager, William J. Kopecky, Bryan L Gerhardt, Andrew R. Fox, Alexander P. Flage, Michael R. Berrigan, Zachary J. Becker
  • Patent number: 11305224
    Abstract: An air filter media (10) including a pleated fibrous filtration web (8) with a first major side (2) that includes at least one sorbent-loaded area (26) in which sorbent particles (14) are present on a first major surface (25) of the pleated fibrous filtration web (8), at least some of the sorbent particles (14) being post-pleat-deposited sorbent particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Himanshu Jasuja, Mikhail A. Belkin, Bryan L. Gerhardt, Glen O. Gregerson, Gerry A. Hoffdahl, Jonathan M. Lise, Tien T. Wu
  • Publication number: 20220088524
    Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for estimating a replacement status of an HVAC air filter. Outdoor weather data (e.g., outdoor temperature information), is obtained. A Total Runtime Value of the HVAC system is determined based upon the obtained outdoor weather data. Finally, a replacement status of the air filter is estimated as a function of a comparison of the Total Runtime Value with a Baseline Value. By correlating air filter replacement status with an estimated runtime of the HVAC system, a credible predictor of air filter usage is provided. By estimating fan runtime based on easily-obtained outdoor weather data, the methods are readily implemented with any existing HVAC system and do not require installation of sensors or other mechanical or electrical components to the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Eric C. Lobner, Theresa M. Meyer, Brian J. Stankiewicz
  • Publication number: 20220054968
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to air filters. More particularly, it relates to air filters including pleated filter media that can be uniformly expanded and contracted. In some embodiments, the air filters are adjustably sized air filter systems. In some embodiments, the air filters can be used in a window opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Glen O. Gregerson, Bryan L. Gerhardt
  • Patent number: 11241646
    Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for estimating a replacement status of an HVAC air filter. Outdoor weather data (e.g., outdoor temperature information), is obtained. A Total Runtime Value of the HVAC system is determined based upon the obtained outdoor weather data. Finally, a replacement status of the air filter is estimated as a function of a comparison of the Total Runtime Value with a Baseline Value. By correlating air filter replacement status with an estimated runtime of the HVAC system, a credible predictor of air filter usage is provided. By estimating fan runtime based on easily-obtained outdoor weather data, the methods are readily implemented with any existing HVAC system and do not require installation of sensors or other mechanical or electrical components to the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Eric C. Lobner, Theresa M. Meyer, Brian J. Stankiewicz
  • Patent number: 11213780
    Abstract: An air filter including a visually uniform filter life indicator (30), the air filter (1) comprising: a conformable, unframed air filter media (10) that is installable on at least a portion of an upstream face (11) of a filter-support layer of an air-handling system, wherein the conformable, unframed air filter media comprises at least one passivated area (20) that provides a visually uniform filter life indicator of the air filter. Filter life indicators are used in order that aspects of the filtration performance of an air filter can be monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Liang Cheng, Andrew R. Fox
  • Patent number: 11192059
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to air filters. More particularly, it relates to air filters including pleated filter media that can be uniformly expanded and contracted. In some embodiments, the air filters are adjustably sized air filter systems. In some embodiments, the air filters can be used in a window opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Glen O. Gregerson, Bryan L. Gerhardt
  • Patent number: 11179665
    Abstract: A nestable framed pleated air filter, including a non-self-supporting, compressible, pleated air filter media with a plurality of oppositely-facing pleats and with a plurality of upstream pleat tips and downstream pleat tips and downstream pleat valleys, the pleated air filter media further including a plurality of bridging filaments that are bonded to at least some of the upstream pleat tips. The filter includes a frame with sidewalls that are angled so that the framed pleated air filter is nestable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovation Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Jonathan M. Lise, John J. Rogers, Stephen M. Sanocki, Kannan Seshadri
  • Patent number: 11168907
    Abstract: A room air purifier including an RFID reader and a wireless communication unit, and methods of using such a room air purifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Liang Cheng, Weilai Jiang, Yinghua Yang, Zhijun Yang, Jie Zhou, Yixiong Chen, Xiaodan Chen, Pan Liu, Ling Chen, Wenqian Tang, Liliang Liu
  • Publication number: 20210268420
    Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for estimating a replacement status of an HVAC air filter. Outdoor weather data (e.g., outdoor temperature information), is obtained. A Total Runtime Value of the HVAC system is determined based upon the obtained outdoor weather data. Finally, a replacement status of the air filter is estimated as a function of a comparison of the Total Runtime Value with a Baseline Value. By correlating air filter replacement status with an estimated runtime of the HVAC system, a credible predictor of air filter usage is provided. By estimating fan runtime based on easily-obtained outdoor weather data, the methods are readily implemented with any existing HVAC system and do not require installation of sensors or other mechanical or electrical components to the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Eric C. Lobner, Theresa M. Meyer, Brian J. Stankiewicz