Abstract: An electrical appliance housing is disclosed having a housing with an open side portion and an open front portion adjacent and perpendicular to the open side portion. A removable end panel is provided to fit within the open side portion of the housing and may include an elastically deformable detent mechanism on the side edges of the end panel to temporarily lock it to the housing. An interchangeable modular component is provided within the housing for establishing the function of the electrical appliance housing. The electrical appliance housing function may include air conditioning, air moving, light emitting, infrared light emitting or any other function desirable in a ceiling or wall appliance. The modular components are interchangeable, such that the function of the electrical box may be changed at any time by interchanging the modular components within the housing to the desired set-up.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning air includes conditioning units that are removably attached together. The conditioning units may be separated from each other and individually perform conditioning functions, such as air moving, heating, humidifying or cooling.

Abstract: A portable air cleaner comprising a cylindrical filter element mounted on a circular base and encased by a cylindrical cover. A centrifugal fan mounted within the cover draws unpurified air into inlet openings disposed in the base and the side wall of the cover, and through the filter element. The resulting purified air is drawn into the centrifugal fan and forced radially outward therefrom. An air deflector dish redirects the purified air through the exhaust openings disposed on the top surface of the cylindrical cover. Such an exhaust flow which is perpendicular to and spaced from the inlet flow results in an improved efficiency in purifying the entire volume of air within a room.

Abstract: An appliance includes a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet facing opposite to the air inlet, an inlet detector for detecting objects in an inlet zone projecting away from the inlet and an outlet detector for detecting objects in an outlet zone projecting away from the outlet. Also included is a control for deactivating the appliance in response to detection of objects in either of the inlet or outlet zones.

Abstract: This invention relates to a filter change indicator that is operable in various orientations of the device incorporating it. For example, the filter change indicator is operable when the device is positioned in either the upright or sideways position. The device incorporating the filter change indicator can be any air moving device which incorporates a cleanable or replaceable filter. The filter change indicator includes a transparent viewing window and a tubulation. The viewing window displays a visible signal when the filter needs changing. The visible signal can be a float retained in the tubulation. The tubulation is a hollow transparent tube which forms an incline plane within the housing. The tubulation includes a first end, a second end and a step. The first end is in fluid communication with an air flow path through the tubulation, and this air flow path is exposed to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A centrifugal blower wheel having an indivisible prime number of peripherally spaced blades projecting upwardly from the top surface of a generally annular-shaped base plate. Each blade includes a tapered portion extending along an inside edge of the blade to approximately 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the blade. A hub is centrally located on the top surface of the base plate and surrounded by the inside edges of the blades, the hub curving upwardly from the top surface of the base plate to form a smoothly contoured curve.

Abstract: This invention relates to a filter change indicator that is operable in various orientations of the device incorporating it. For example, the filter change indicator is operable when the device is positioned in either the upright or sideways position. The device incorporating the filter change indicator can be any air moving device which incorporates a cleanable or replaceable filter. The filter change indicator includes a transparent viewing window and a tubulation. The viewing window displays a visible signal when the filter needs changing. The visible signal can be a float retained in the tubulation. The tubulation is a hollow transparent tube which forms an incline plane within the housing. The tubulation includes a first end, a second end and a step. The first end is in fluid communication with an air flow path through the tubulation, and this air flow path is exposed to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A portable electric heater including a housing having a bottom wall with front and back portions, a rear wall, a pair of side walls each having front and back portions, a top wall with front and back portions, a divider wall having a given area, and a front grill wall. The rear wall, divider wall and back portions of the bottom, side and top walls define a chamber while the divider wall, the front grill wall, and the front portions of the bottom, side and top walls define a cavity horizontally juxtaposed to the chamber. A plurality of elongated quartz heater elements and a temperature sensor are mounted in the cavity, and an electrically energizable fan is mounted in the chamber. Defined in the rear wall are a plurality of inlet openings, and in the divider wall are a plurality of discharge openings having a combined area equal to less than 2.5% of the given area.