Patents Assigned to Broan-Nutone LLC
  • Patent number: 11168916
    Abstract: A ventilation system with automatic flow balancing derived from a neural network to consistently achieve a desired flow rate for inlet flow and/or outlet flow in various operating environments to optimize system performance. The system includes a ventilation device that includes an exhaust blower assembly with a blower motor and a control circuit having a mathematical equation that determines an estimated exhaust blower flow based upon select inputs. The ventilation device also includes a supply blower assembly with a blower motor and control circuit having a mathematical equation that determines an estimated supply blower flow based upon select inputs. When the estimated exhaust blower flow is different than an exhaust flow set point, the exhaust control circuit selectively alters power supplied to the exhaust motor. When the estimated supply blower flow is different than a supply flow set point, the supply control circuit selectively alters power supplied to the supply motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventor: Simon Blanchard
  • Patent number: 11143432
    Abstract: A combined ventilation and illumination system includes a ventilation assembly, a light fixture assembly, and a connector assembly. In an installed position, the system is installed above a ceiling of a room of building structure (e.g., a residence or workplace) to provide ventilation for the room. The system couples a light fixture to ventilation assembly below the ceiling. In the installed position, an air flow cavity is defined between the light fixture and the ceiling, where the cavity allows for air flow around the light fixture and into the ventilation assembly for eventual exhaust beyond the room in which the system is installed. The cavity includes a first critical distance that is sized according to operating parameters of a blower of the ventilation assembly to provide an adequate flow rate of intake air and to provide acceptable sound levels during operation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Ryan A. Revers
  • Patent number: 11054145
    Abstract: A downdraft ventilation system includes a vertically movable chimney with two ventilation inlets and a baffle arranged within the chimney between the inlets. The combination of upper and lower ventilation inlets and internal baffle can function to increase the amount of cooking emission captured and exhausted by the downdraft system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Kurt Limberg, Brent Lillesand, Richard R. Sinur, Marjorie Schwanke
  • Patent number: 10928022
    Abstract: According to an aspect of this disclosure, a ventilation and lighting system including a main housing having an inlet opening and a discharge opening, a blower and motor assembly disposed within a housing and operable to move air through the inlet and outlet, a grille configured to be located at the inlet opening, the grille having a cavity and a plate defining a plurality of apertures through which air may move, and one or more lighting elements arranged within the cavity and an optical component covering the cavity. The system is arranged such that light developed by the one or more lighting elements mixes within the cavity and transmits through the optical component covering the cavity, and the system further includes a controller that coordinates operation of the blower and motor assembly and the one or more lighting elements from a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Puffer, Bernard Krauska, Colin Norton, Jason Asmus, Julie Stange, Lauren Weigel
  • Patent number: 10921766
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for monitoring and reporting the energy consumption of an appliance or fixture installed within a building structure. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for monitoring usage of a ventilation unit, such as an installed bathroom exhaust fan or cooktop/range ventilation hood. The system and method captures usage data of the ventilation unit, and transfers the usage data to a connected electronic device for determining the energy consumed by the ventilation unit and reporting the same to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Seddik Rougab, Bernard Krauska
  • Patent number: 10907843
    Abstract: A ventilating system including a housing, a ventilating assembly and a mounting assembly coupled to the housing. The mounting assembly can include two support members, two first mounting brackets, two second mounting brackets, and two third mounting brackets. The third mounting brackets include a first and second flange, and the second mounting brackets include bendable tabs to secure the mounting assembly to a structure. The first mounting brackets each include lead in features comprising an alignment plate and a pair of guiding plates. The first mounting brackets include a portion between the lead in features that is spaced from the lead in features to provide housing clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Penlesky, Mirko Zakula, Daniel L. Karst, Corey S. Jacak
  • Patent number: 10845085
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Mirko Zakula, Kenneth J. Jonas, Corey Scott Jacak
  • Patent number: 10830465
    Abstract: An integrated ventilation and illumination system includes a ventilation assembly, a light fixture assembly, and an adaptor. In an installed position, the ventilation assembly is installed in a ceiling of a room of building structure to provide ventilation for the room and the light fixture assembly is mounted in a low-profile configuration relative to the ceiling. The adaptor spans and obscures an inlet opening of the ventilation assembly and includes at least one opening that allows for the passage of air through both the adaptor and into the inlet opening. A mounting bracket is coupled to both the adaptor and the light fixture assembly in the installed position, where the fixture is offset a first critical distance from the adaptor to define an air flow gap that allows for air flow around the light fixture assembly, through the opening in the adaptor and into the internal region of the main housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Eshank Singh, Bernard J. Krauska, Lauren Weigel
  • Patent number: 10801735
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a downdraft assembly capable of ventilating a cooktop including housing with a frame, a fluid box, and a movement assembly with a belt-lift. In some embodiments, the movement assembly can include a vertically moveable chimney. Some embodiments include a chimney with a horizontal member coupled to a first vertical region and a second vertical region and including a fluid inlet. In some embodiments, a first control panel can be coupled to the housing to activate at least one function of the downdraft assembly while remaining substantially stationary as the chimney moves. Some embodiments include a second control panel coupled chimney. Some embodiments include a visor and at least one illumination source configured and arranged to at least partially illuminate the cooktop. In some embodiments, the visor can articulate to control illumination or the flow of a cooking effluent into a fluid inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Jay F. Perkins, Sean Montag
  • Patent number: 10801743
    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: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Mirko Zakula, Corey Scott Jacak
  • Patent number: D895783
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Puffer
  • Patent number: D897521
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Thorpe Puffer
  • Patent number: D898896
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Kwame Appiahene-Agyei, David Jennings Lucas
  • Patent number: D899576
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Puffer
  • Patent number: D899582
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Kwame Appiahene-Agyei, David Jennings Lucas
  • Patent number: D902372
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Puffer, Anup Nikam, Kwame Appiahene-Agyei, David Jennings Lucas
  • Patent number: D904594
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth John Jonas, Corey Scott Jacak, Benjamin Thorpe Puffer, Michael J. Aleven
  • Patent number: D908200
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth John Jonas, Corey Scott Jacak, Benjamin Thorpe Puffer, Michael J. Aleven
  • Patent number: D908861
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Kwame Appiahene-Agyei, David Jennings Lucas
  • Patent number: D909560
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Puffer, Anup Nikam, Kwame Appiahene-Agyei, David Jennings Lucas