Patents by Inventor Donald T. Torgerson

Donald T. Torgerson 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).

  • Air curtain system for an open-front refrigerated case with dual temperature zones
    Patent number: 8713954
    Abstract: An open-front refrigerated display case is provided having a medium temperature zone disposed above a low temperature zone in a generally vertically-stacked arrangement. A spillover airflow-diverting device is disposed between the medium temperature zone and the low temperature zone and is configured to direct spillover air from the medium temperature zone air curtain (and ambient air entrained therewith) in a direction away from the open front of the low temperature zone. The spillover airflow-diverting device may include louvers configured to direct a gravity-induced flow of the spillover air in an outward direction away from the open front of the low temperature zone, or may include fans to collect spillover air and forcibly direct it in an outward direction away from the open front of the low temperature zone. The outwardly directed spillover air may be discharged in the form of an ‘outer layer’ for an air curtain on the low temperature zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold M. Stephens, Donald T. Torgerson
  • AIR CURTAIN SYSTEM FOR AN OPEN-FRONT REFRIGERATED CASE WITH DUAL TEMPERATURE ZONES
    Publication number: 20120042675
    Abstract: An open-front refrigerated display case is provided having a medium temperature zone disposed above a low temperature zone in a generally vertically-stacked arrangement. A spillover airflow-diverting device is disposed between the medium temperature zone and the low temperature zone and is configured to direct spillover air from the medium temperature zone air curtain (and ambient air entrained therewith) in a direction away from the open front of the low temperature zone. The spillover airflow-diverting device may include louvers configured to direct a gravity-induced flow of the spillover air in an outward direction away from the open front of the low temperature zone, or may include fans to collect spillover air and forcibly direct it in an outward direction away from the open front of the low temperature zone. The outwardly directed spillover air may be discharged in the form of an ‘outer layer’ for an air curtain on the low temperature zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Arnold M. Stephens, Donald T. Torgerson