Patents Assigned to Floratech Industries
  • Patent number: 6128912
    Abstract: A refrigerated open display case has receptacles or holders for directly receiving wet-pack shipping containers, so that flowers do not need to be repacked into vases. A laminar flow of chilled air over the flowers establishes a laminar flow boundary layer with the warmer ambient air. An array of perforations serve as chilled air supply openings on the vertical riser walls, and chilled air is discharged in a laminar flow. A return air intake grille extends across the cabinet below the front of the lowermost shelf, in an undercut transverse recess. The front part of each shelf member has a chamfer or downward slope. The receptacles for the wet-pack containers can include cutouts that extend onto the chamfered front parts of the shelves. The forward wall of the container is exposed above the chamfer, which facilitates insertion and removal. Inside the cabinet, the coldest air leaving the evaporator coil passes in contact with the underside of the shelf members and with the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Floratech Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Wetzel
  • Patent number: 6117202
    Abstract: A filter and frame arrangement, e.g., a HEPA type filter/blower unit, has an arrangement for sealing the filter in place to prevent contaminants from leaking around the filter. A secondary seal, e.g., in the form of a gasket, both holds the filter in place in the unit and also seals the space between the primary seal (e.g., gel seal) and the clean space. An extruded gasket seats into a peripheral recess in the frame. This can be removed when the filter needs to be changed out so the filter can be taken out from below and replaced. Then a replacement seal is installed after the new HEPA filter is in position. The gasket seal is as close as possible to the bottom of the frame, i.e., as close to the clean space, so that possible contaminants are prevented from falling into the space below. Instead of an elastomeric gasket, a spring metal gasket can be used, with caulking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Floratech Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence E. Wetzel
  • Patent number: 5987908
    Abstract: A ceiling or overhead air conditioner unit is configured to fit into a standard space, e.g., two-foot by four-foot, in a dropped ceiling. The unit can be a self-contained air conditioning unit with HEPA filter, or an air conditioner attachment adapted to fit onto a blower and filter assembly. The positions of the condenser air intake and outlet can be field-selected at either the end, the top, or the side, e.g., using a movable plate. The evaporator return inlet can similarly be field-selected at the top, side, or end. The return bypass inlet can be field-selected at the side or top. The room air intake can be connected by a duct either to outside air or to an intake air grille in the ceiling. The air conditioning attachment unit that fits an existing or available ceiling mounted filter and blower assembly has its condenser section on one side of the unit, and its evaporator section at the other side, guiding conditioned air into a centrally situated cool air plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Floratech Industries
    Inventor: Lawrence E. Wetzel
  • Patent number: 5884500
    Abstract: A ceiling or overhead air conditioner unit is configured to fit into a standard space, e.g., two-foot by four-foot, in a dropped ceiling. The unit can be a self-contained air conditioning unit with HEPA filter, or an air conditioner attachment adapted to fit onto a blower and filter assembly. The positions of the condenser air intake and outlet can be field-selected at either the end, the top, or the side, e.g., using a movable plate. The evaporator return inlet can similarly be field-selected at the top, side, or end. The return bypass inlet can be field-selected at the side or top. The room air intake can be connected by a duct either to outside air or to an intake air grille in the ceiling. The air conditioning attachment unit that fits an existing or available ceiling mounted filter and blower assembly has its condenser section on one side of the unit, and its evaporator section at the other side, guiding conditioned air into a centrally situated cool air plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Floratech Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence E. Wetzel
  • Patent number: 5860289
    Abstract: A refrigerated open display case achieves a laminar flow of chilled air over flowers or produce displayed therein, and establishes a laminar flow boundary layer with the warmer ambient air. There is an array of perforations serving as chilled air supply openings on each of the vertical riser walls, so that the chilled air is discharged in a laminar flow. A return air intake grille extends across the cabinet below the front of the lowermost shelf, in an undercut transverse recess. The front part of the lowermost shelf member can have a chamfer or downward slope, so that debris that falls on it drops to the floor in the front of the cabinet, where it can be routinely swept up. The recess below this chamfer can likewise have a slanting lower wall. Inside the cabinet, the coldest air leaving the evaporator coil passes in contact with the underside of the shelf members, so these shelf members are also kept chilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Floratech Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Wetzel
  • Patent number: D479060
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Floratech Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Wetzel
  • Patent number: D315260
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Floratech Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James B. Kelly
  • Patent number: D400030
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Floratech Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Wetzel