Patents by Inventor Mirko Zakula

Mirko Zakula 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).

  • Patent number: 9303888
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a ventilation system comprising a housing. The housing includes an inlet through which air is received and the housing is capable of being installed within a structure. A ventilating assembly can be supported within an interior of the housing. The ventilating assembly can be operable to generate a flow of air and can be in fluid communication with the inlet. The system can include a thermal damper assembly comprising an aperture and a substantially non-metallic curtain. The damper assembly is capable of being coupled to the housing so that the aperture of the thermal damper assembly and the inlet of the housing are in fluid communication with each other. In some embodiments, the thermal damper assembly is configured and arranged to be uncoupled from the housing after the housing has been installed within the structure to provide access to the interior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Daniel L. Karst, John R. Adrian, Mirko Zakula, Robert G. Penlesky
  • Publication number: 20150226443
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a ventilation apparatus including a housing assembly with at least one fluid inlet, and at least one fluid outlet, and an exhaust fan assembly coupled to the housing assembly within an inner region. The exhaust fan assembly can include a scroll positioned within and coupled to the main housing, and a blower wheel positioned within the scroll and mechanically coupled to the motor. The ventilation assembly can include a configurable mounting panel including a main panel and at least one tab, and at least one configurable flange coupled to the main panel and extending outwardly from the main panel. The configurable mounting panel can include at least one bending region with at least one aperture. The ventilation apparatus can also include a muffler including an aperture, an electrical box enclosure including a lid, and a duct connector assembly each coupled with the housing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: BROAN-NUTONE LLC
    Inventors: Mirko Zakula, Robert G. Penlesky, Daniel L. Karst, Kenneth J. Jonas
  • Publication number: 20150219118
    Abstract: A ventilation assembly having a main housing and a removable cartridge assembly that can be positioned within the main assembly. The main housing can be mounted within an aperture in a wall or ceiling and, in certain examples, can be connected to ductwork and electrical wiring within the wall or ceiling. The cartridge assembly can include a retention feature that can be releasably engaged to the main housing to retain the cartridge assembly within the main housing. The cartridge assembly can include ventilation components such as the motor, fan wheel, capacitor, controller and various combinations thereof. The cartridge assembly can be removed from the main housing by disengaging the retention feature and replaced with a new cartridge assembly or modified elsewhere before being reinserted into the main housing, thereby permitting repairing or upgrading of the ventilation assembly without removing the main housing from the wall or ceiling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Mirko Zakula, Robert G. Penlesky, Daniel L. Karst, Kenneth John Jonas
  • Publication number: 20150211763
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a lighting and ventilating system including a main housing. The main housing can include an inlet through which air can be received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air can exit the main housing. A fan wheel can be supported in the main housing and it can be operable to generate a flow of air. A grille can be coupled to the main housing and the grille can comprise a plurality of apertures and a second set of illumination devices. The system further can include a lamp housing coupled to the grille, the lamp housing can include a first set of illumination devices. Also, a plate can be coupled to the grille so that the plate is adjacent to the second set of illumination devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Mirko Zakula, Corey Scott Jacak, Kiyoshi Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20150167990
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a lighting and ventilating system including a main housing. The main housing can include an inlet through which air can be received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air can exit the main housing. A fan wheel can be supported in the main housing and it can be operable to generate a flow of air. A grille can be coupled to the main housing and the grille can comprise at least one aperture. The system can include a plate coupled to the grille and the plate can include a recess. Also, a set of illumination devices can be at least partially disposed within the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Mirko Zakula, Corey Scott Jacak
  • Patent number: 9004723
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a lighting and ventilating system including a main housing. The main housing can include an inlet through which air can be received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air can exit the main housing. A fan wheel can be supported in the main housing and it can be operable to generate a flow of air. A grille can be coupled to the main housing and the grille can comprise a plurality of apertures and a second set of illumination devices. The system further can include a lamp housing coupled to the grille, the lamp housing can include a first set of illumination devices. Also, a plate can be coupled to the grille so that the plate is adjacent to the second set of illumination devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Mirko Zakula, Corey S. Jacak, Kiyoshi Hoshino
  • Patent number: 8967832
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a lighting and ventilating system including a main housing. The main housing can include an inlet through which air can be received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air can exit the main housing. A fan wheel can be supported in the main housing and it can be operable to generate a flow of air. A grille can be coupled to the main housing and the grille can comprise at least one aperture. The system can include a plate coupled to the grille and the plate can include a recess. Also, a set of illumination devices can be at least partially disposed within the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Mirko Zakula, Corey S. Jacak
  • Publication number: 20150038070
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a ventilation assembly including a scroll assembly that can include a blower assembly including a motor coupled to a blower wheel. Some embodiments include a discharge grid capable of being coupled to the scroll using a coupling pin or snap tabs. In some embodiments, the discharge grid includes a plurality of vertical and horizontal fins, and an outlet restriction. In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of horizontal fins extends from the outlet restriction to couple with at least one vertical fin to form an aperture. In other embodiments, at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of vertical and horizontal fins includes a flared surface. Some embodiments include a scroll assembly that includes a scroll crescent. In some embodiments, a scroll including a discharge grid and scroll crescent can at least partially guide a fluid within the ventilation assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Mirko Zakula, Robert G. Penlesky, Daninel L. Karst
  • Publication number: 20140065945
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a ventilation exhaust fan comprising a main housing adapted to interchangeably receive a upgrade cartridge assembly. The main housing can include a fluid inlet through which fluid is received within the main housing, and a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the main housing. The ventilation exhaust fan can be installed in a structure in place of an existing ventilation exhaust fan assembly. The main housing can provide support to a scroll and a blower wheel positioned within the scroll. A motor may be nestled within the scroll and coupled to the blower wheel. A capacitor including a motor harness and plug can be electrically coupled with the motor. Electrical power can be supplied to the capacitor and motor to cause the motor to rotate the blower wheel to generate a flow of fluid out of the fluid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Mirko Zakula, Robert G. Penlesky, Daniel L. Karst
  • Publication number: 20140065940
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a ventilation assembly comprising a main housing adapted for installation into standard 2?×4? wall or ceiling construction within a building or space. The main housing can include a fluid inlet through which fluid is received within the main housing, and a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the main housing. The ventilation assembly can be installed in place of an existing ventilation exhaust fan assembly, or can be installed in a space where no ventilation assembly has previously existed. The main housing can provide support to a blower assembly, including a scroll and a blower wheel positioned within the scroll. A motor may be nestled within the scroll and coupled to the blower wheel. Electrical power can be supplied to the motor to cause the motor to rotate the blower wheel to generate a flow of fluid out of the fluid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Robert G. Penlesky, Daniel L. Karst, Mirko Zakula, John R. Adrian
  • Publication number: 20140063796
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an illumination grille assembly comprising a frame and a ventilation grille coupled to the frame, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes coupled with the frame and at least partially covered with a light transparent cover. Some embodiments of the invention provide a lighting and ventilating system including a main housing including an inlet through which air can be received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air can exit the main housing. A blower assembly can be supported in the main housing and it can be operable to generate a flow of air. In some embodiments, an illumination grille assembly can be coupled to the main housing to allow fluid to flow through the illumination grill assembly to the main housing. In some embodiments, the set of illumination devices can be configured and arranged to emit light through the light transparent cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Mirko Zakula, Kenneth J. Jonas, Corey S. Jacak
  • Publication number: 20130203336
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a ventilation system comprising a housing. The housing includes an inlet through which air is received and the housing is capable of being installed within a structure. A ventilating assembly can be supported within an interior of the housing. The ventilating assembly can be operable to generate a flow of air and can be in fluid communication with the inlet. The system can include a thermal damper assembly comprising an aperture and a substantially non-metallic curtain. The damper assembly is capable of being coupled to the housing so that the aperture of the thermal damper assembly and the inlet of the housing are in fluid communication with each other. In some embodiments, the thermal damper assembly is configured and arranged to be uncoupled from the housing after the housing has been installed within the structure to provide access to the interior of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel L. Karst, John R. Adrian, Mirko Zakula, Robert G. Penlasky
  • Patent number: 8485696
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a lighting and ventilating system including a main housing. The main housing can include an inlet through which air can be received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air can exit the main housing. A fan wheel can be supported in the main housing and it can be operable to generate a flow of air. A grille can be coupled to the main housing and the grille can include louvers. The system further can include a lamp housing coupled to the grille, the lamp housing can include a first set of illumination devices and a second set of illumination devices. The second set of illumination devices can be capable of emitting a dynamic illumination event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Broan NuTone, LLC
    Inventors: David L. Pringle, Mirko Zakula, Jeff Emmerich, Chris Sherwin, Kevin Kopp
  • Publication number: 20130130612
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a ventilating system including a housing. The housing can include an inlet through which air can be received within the housing and an outlet through which the air can exit the housing. The housing can include an inner surface and an outer surface and an electrical aperture. A fan can be supported in the housing and it can be operable to generate a flow of air. A panel can be coupled to the housing adjacent to the electrical aperture. The panel can include a clamp aperture and can be coupled to either the inner surface or the outer surface. The panel can also be coupled to the housing so that the clamp aperture is oriented either substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Robert G. Penlesky, Mirko Zakula, Daniel L. Karst, Corey S. Jacak
  • Patent number: 8382332
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a lighting and ventilating system including a main housing. The main housing can include an inlet through which air can be received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air can exit the main housing. A fan wheel can be supported in the main housing and it can be operable to generate a flow of air. A grille can be coupled to the main housing and the grille can comprise a plurality of apertures and a second set of illumination devices. The system further can include a lamp housing coupled to the grille, the lamp housing can include a first set of illumination devices. Also, a plate can be coupled to the grille so that the plate is adjacent to the second set of illumination devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Broan NuTone, LLC
    Inventors: Mirko Zakula, Corey S. Jacak, Kiyoshi Hoshino
  • Patent number: D669571
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone, LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Penlesky, Mirko Zakula, Daniel L. Karst
  • Patent number: D678995
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Broan NuTone, LLC
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Hoshino, Mirko Zakula, Daniel L. Karst
  • Patent number: D706916
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Penlesky, Mirko Zakula, Kenneth J. Jonas, Corey S. Jacak
  • Patent number: D732156
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Penlesky, Daniel L. Karst, Mirko Zakula
  • Patent number: D742498
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Mirko Zakula, Robert G. Penlesky, Daniel L. Karst