Patents by Inventor Christopher M. Paterson

Christopher M. Paterson 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: 20080034976
    Abstract: An air cleaner including touch points is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner includes a chassis and one or more visually coded touch points on the chassis. The one or more visually coded touch points include indicia of user-contactable components of the air cleaner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher M. Paterson, Dennis T. Lamb, Bruce Kiern, Owen T. Bourgeois, Paul Moshenrose, Shane Cohen
  • Publication number: 20080036411
    Abstract: An air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner includes a volatile memory including an air cleaner state memory element and a non-volatile memory including an air cleaner state backup memory element. The air cleaner is configured to store an air cleaner state to the air cleaner state memory element of the volatile memory and store the air cleaner state to the air cleaner state backup memory element of the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Bruce Kiern, Christopher M. Paterson
  • Publication number: 20080034963
    Abstract: An air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner includes a high voltage power supply configured to provide a high voltage to a collector cell and a shut-down circuit coupled to the high voltage power supply. The shut-down circuit is configured to monitor an electrical current supplied to the collector cell, remove electrical power to the collector cell if the electrical current exceeds a predetermined cell current threshold for a predetermined time period, and generate an indication if the electrical power is removed from the collector cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Bruce Kiern, Christopher M. Paterson, John Relman Bohlen
  • Publication number: 20080028733
    Abstract: An air cleaner base assembly is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The base assembly includes a base body including an at least partially hollow interior, one or more fastener apertures formed in the body and adapted to receive one or more corresponding base fasteners, one or more clearance depressions formed in the body, and an access port comprising an access hole and a plug that substantially seals the access hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher M. Paterson, Jadon Gutierrez, Paul A. Moshenrose
  • Publication number: 20080028937
    Abstract: An air cleaner conductor system is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner conductor system includes an electrostatic precipitator assembly, a chassis including an electrostatic precipitator receptacle and a power supply, and two or more electrical contacts located in the electrostatic precipitator receptacle and coupled to the power supply. The two or more electrical contacts extend at least partially into the electrostatic precipitator receptacle. The electrostatic precipitator assembly comes into contact with the two or more electrical contacts when the electrostatic precipitator assembly is substantially fully inserted into position in the electrostatic precipitator receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher M. Paterson, Dennis T. Lamb, Jadon Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 7325271
    Abstract: A clamp device for removably attaching a vacuum cleaner component to a structure according to an embodiment of the invention includes a clamp adapted to removably attach to the structure, a slot formed in the clamp, and a knob attached to the vacuum cleaner component. The knob slides into the slot of the clamp and the vacuum cleaner component is removably held in the clamp by the knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Oreck Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Paterson, Paul A. Moshenrose, Terrance Montgomery Roberts
  • Publication number: 20080023968
    Abstract: A door safety latch for air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The door safety latch includes a latch arm including a latch projection, with the latch arm configured to pivot with respect to a door of the air cleaner, and a slider that traps a portion of the latch arm. The slider is configured to hold the latch arm in a first, latched position and further configured to pivot the latch arm to a second, unlatched position. The door safety latch further includes a release button that includes a stop shoulder. The release button is biased to a normally extended position with the stop shoulder blocking movement of the slider and the latch arm to the second, unlatched position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher M. Paterson, John R. Bohlen, Steve Irby, Paul Moshenrose, Owen T. Bourgeois
  • Publication number: 20080017035
    Abstract: A frame for an electrostatic precipitator cell is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The frame in one embodiment includes a first frame portion adapted to at least partially receive the electrostatic precipitator cell and a second frame portion adapted to at least partially receive the electrostatic precipitator cell. The second frame portion assembles to the first frame portion to form the frame. The frame includes one or more side portions, an open top end, and an open bottom end. The frame receives and holds the electrostatic precipitator cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher M. Paterson, Dennis T. Lamb, Bruce M. Kiern, Owen T. Bourgeois
  • Publication number: 20080017027
    Abstract: An air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner includes a power supply, an electrostatic precipitator cell, and a door. The door closes the electrostatic precipitator cell inside the air cleaner. The air cleaner further includes a door switch that is actuated by the door when the door is substantially closed. The air cleaner further includes a cell presence switch. The electrostatic precipitator cell actuates the cell presence switch when the electrostatic precipitator cell is at least partially inserted into the air cleaner. The cell presence switch and the door switch enable electrical power to be supplied from the power source to one or more air cleaner components when the electrostatic precipitator cell is at least partially inserted into the air cleaner and when the door is substantially closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher M. Paterson, Bruce Kiern
  • Publication number: 20080006158
    Abstract: An air cleaner is provided according to the invention. The air cleaner includes a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to operate the air cleaner and a diagnostics circuit. The diagnostics circuit is configured to receive a predetermined diagnostic initiation sequence in the air cleaner, initiate a diagnostics process for one or more operational features of the air cleaner in response to the predetermined diagnostic initiation sequence, and generate a diagnostics determination as a result of the diagnostics process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Bruce Kiern, Christopher M. Paterson, John Relman Bohlen
  • Publication number: 20080006009
    Abstract: An air cleaner nightlight is provided according to the invention. The air cleaner nightlight includes an air cleaner including an external shell and a nightlight formed in the external shell. The nightlight includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Bruce Kiern, Christopher M. Paterson, John Relman Bohlen
  • Patent number: 7316729
    Abstract: An air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner includes an air duct including an inlet end and an outlet end, a pre-filter positioned at the inlet end, an electrostatic precipitator positioned in the air duct downstream of the pre-filter, a post-filter positioned in the air duct downstream of the electrostatic precipitator, and a fan unit positioned in the air duct downstream of the post-filter. Airflow travels from the inlet end to the outlet end. The airflow first encounters the pre-filter, encounters the electrostatic precipitator after encountering the pre-filter, encounters the post-filter after encountering the electrostatic precipitator, and encounters the fan unit after encountering the post-filter. Each of the pre-filter, the electrostatic precipitator, and the post-filter can be separately installed and removed from the air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Oreck Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Paterson, Charles W. Reynolds, Owen T. Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 7306655
    Abstract: A corona ground element for use in a pre-ionizer of an electrostatic precipitator is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The corona ground element includes a substantially elongate body including a proximate end and a distal end and first and second projections formed on the proximate end and the distal end. The first and second projections are adapted to retain the corona plate in the electrostatic precipitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Oreck Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce M. Kiern, Dennis T. Lamb, Charles W. Reynolds, Christopher M. Paterson
  • Patent number: 7306648
    Abstract: A retainer for use with a corona ground element of an electrostatic precipitator is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The retainer includes a body and a retainer aperture extending at least partially through the body and adapted to receive a projection extending from the corona ground element. The retainer aperture is configured to receive the projection as a press fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Oreck Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce M. Kiern, Dennis T. Lamb, Charles W. Reynolds, Christopher M. Paterson
  • Patent number: 7291206
    Abstract: A pre-ionizer for use with an electrostatic precipitator is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The pre-ionizer includes two or more corona ground elements arranged in a substantially parallel orientation. A corona ground element of the two or more corona ground elements includes a substantially elongate body including a proximate end and a distal end and first and second projections formed on the proximate end and the distal end. The first and second projections retain the corona ground element in the electrostatic precipitator. The pre-ionizer further includes one or more corona charge elements positioned between two adjacent corona ground elements of the two or more corona ground elements. When a high voltage electrical field is placed across the two or more corona ground elements and the one or more corona charge elements, the pre-ionizer at least partially ionizes airflow through the pre-ionizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Oreck Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce M. Kiern, Dennis T. Lamb, Charles W. Reynolds, Christopher M. Paterson
  • Patent number: 7276106
    Abstract: An electrode wire retaining member for an electrostatic precipitator is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The electrode wire retaining member includes one or more flexible arm portions extending from the body and formed of an at least partially flexible material. A flexible arm portion returns to a substantially normal configuration after being deformed. The electrode wire retaining member further includes a retaining portion formed on an outer end of a flexible arm portion and extending from the flexible arm portion. The electrode wire retaining member further includes a slot formed in the retaining portion and sized to accommodate an electrode wire. The retaining portion and the slot receive and hold a retaining body formed on an end of the electrode wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Oreck Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Bruce M. Kiern, Dennis T. Lamb, Charles W. Reynolds, Christopher M. Paterson
  • Patent number: 7258709
    Abstract: An improved bag docking assembly for aligning a vacuum bag for engagement with a dirty air outlet nozzle on a vacuum cleaner, and for retaining the vacuum bag in the position of engagement. The assembly incorporates an anchor member and a mounting member. The anchor member serves to attach the bag docking assembly to the vacuum cleaner. The anchor member can be a substantially flat piece of plastic having a central opening for closely receiving the dirty air outlet nozzle on the vacuum cleaner. The central opening can have a shoulder for engaging a rim or similar protrusion formed about the perimeter of the dirty air outlet nozzle. Additionally, protrusions are located on the anchor member that align with voids in the vacuum bag collar to ensure that correct alignment of the vacuum bag has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Oreck Holdings
    Inventors: Samuel Ponjican, Charles W. Reynolds, Christopher M. Paterson, Dennis T. Lamb, Paul A. Moshenrose
  • Patent number: 7048783
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner air/liquid separator is provided according to the invention. The separator includes an offset air/liquid airflow inlet for receiving an air/liquid airflow, with the offset air/liquid airflow inlet possessing a width and a height. The separator further includes a substantially cylindrical separator chamber communicating with the offset air/liquid airflow inlet, wherein the offset air/liquid airflow inlet is radially offset from the separator chamber. The separator further includes a lead-in track extending from the offset air/liquid airflow inlet and at least partially around the circumference of the separator chamber. The lead-in track tapers from substantially the width of the offset air/liquid airflow inlet into the separator chamber. The air/liquid airflow is entrained into a downward spiraling path in the separator chamber by the lead-in track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Oreck Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Ponjican, Charles W. Reynolds, Christopher M. Paterson, Dennis T. Lamb, Bruce M. Kiern
  • Patent number: 7024724
    Abstract: An improved bag docking assembly for aligning a vacuum bag for engagement with a dirty air outlet nozzle on a vacuum cleaner, and for retaining the vacuum bag in the position of engagement. The assembly incorporates an anchor member and a mounting member. The anchor member serves to attach the bag docking assembly to the vacuum cleaner. The anchor member can be a substantially flat piece of plastic having a central opening for closely receiving the dirty air outlet nozzle on the vacuum cleaner. The central opening can have a shoulder for engaging a rim or similar protrusion formed about the perimeter of the dirty air outlet nozzle. Additionally, protrusions are located on the anchor member that align with voids in the vacuum bag collar to ensure that correct alignment of the vacuum bag has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Ponjican, Charles W. Reynolds, Christopher M. Paterson, Dennis T. Lamb, Paul A. Moshenrose
  • Patent number: D551330
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Oreck Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Paterson, Shane Cohen, Javier Verdura