Patents Assigned to Solatube International, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12168593
    Abstract: An L-shaped track has a vertical part configured to stand on the ground, a horizontal part configured to span over a roof, and a curved part in between. A motor-driven winch moves a carriage up and down the track. The carriage engages a skylight, which can be quickly and easily hoisted from the ground to the roof up the track to the roof to install the skylight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcelo Esposito, Kalen Eidenschink, John Calvanico
  • Patent number: 11774119
    Abstract: A bottom-mounted whole house fan assembly includes an intake plenum mounted over an opening in a ceiling of a building. The intake plenum is supported on the ceiling in the attic of the building. One end of a flexible duct is connected to the intake plenum and the other end of the duct is connected to a fan so that the fan draws air in the building through the intake plenum and duct and exhausts the air in the attic from whence the air is vented to atmosphere. The fan is supported by at least one vertical strut that is connected to the ceiling at the lower end of the strut and to a housing of the fan at the upper end of the strut. A sound dampener is interposed between the strut and the fan housing and/or the ceiling beam to which the strut is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Calvanico, David Winsor Rillie, Tyler Brinkman
  • Patent number: 11592197
    Abstract: A bottom-mounted whole house fan assembly includes an intake plenum mounted over an opening in a ceiling of a building. The intake plenum is supported on the ceiling in the attic of the building. One end of a flexible duct is connected to the intake plenum and the other end of the duct is connected to a fan so that the fan draws air in the building through the intake plenum and duct and exhausts the air in the attic from whence the air is vented to atmosphere. The fan is supported by at least one vertical strut that is connected to the ceiling at the lower end of the strut and to a housing of the fan at the upper end of the strut. A sound dampener is interposed between the strut and the fan housing and/or the ceiling beam to which the strut is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Calvanico, David Winsor Rillie, Tyler Brinkman
  • Patent number: 11585093
    Abstract: A dimmer mechanism is movable by a motor that is powered by solar-charged supercapacitors between a first configuration, in which the dimmer mechanism blocks little of the interior of a skylight tube to maximize light throughput into a room, and a second configuration, in which the dimmer mechanism blocks more of the interior of a skylight tube to reduce light throughput into the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Rillie, Joseph Prenn, Kalen Eidenschink
  • Patent number: 11168480
    Abstract: A dimmer mechanism is movable by a motor that is powered by solar-charged supercapacitors between a first configuration, in which the dimmer mechanism blocks little of the interior of a skylight tube to maximize light throughput into a room, and a second configuration, in which the dimmer mechanism blocks more of the interior of a skylight tube to reduce light throughput into the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: SOLATUBE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: David Rillie, Joseph Prenn, Kalen Eidenschink
  • Patent number: 9921397
    Abstract: Lighting devices and methods for providing daylight to the interior of a structure are disclosed. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a daylighting device including a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, a light collecting assembly, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. In some embodiments, the light collector is associated with one or more light-turning and/or light reflecting structures configured to increase the amount of light captured by the daylighting device. Optical elements may allow for the absorption and/or selective transmission of infrared light away from an interior of the daylighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SOLATUBE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Paul August Jaster
  • Patent number: 9816675
    Abstract: Lighting devices and methods for providing daylight to the interior of a structure are disclosed. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a daylighting device including a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, a light collecting structure, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. In some embodiments, the light collector is associated with one or more light-turning and/or light reflecting structures configured to increase the amount of light captured by the daylighting device. Optical elements may allow for the absorption and/or selective transmission of infrared light away from an interior of the daylighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SOLATUBE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Paul August Jaster
  • Patent number: 9816676
    Abstract: Lighting devices and methods for providing daylight to the interior of a structure are disclosed. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a daylighting device including a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, a light collecting structure, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. In some embodiments, the light collector is associated with one or more light-turning and/or light reflecting structures configured to increase the amount of light captured by the daylighting device. Optical elements may allow for the absorption and/or selective transmission of infrared light away from an interior of the daylighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SOLATUBE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Paul August Jaster
  • Patent number: 9291321
    Abstract: Lighting devices and methods for providing daylight to the interior of a structure are disclosed. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a daylighting device including a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, a light collecting structure, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. In some embodiments, the light collector is associated with one or more light-turning and/or light reflecting structures configured to increase the amount of light captured by the daylighting device. Optical elements may allow for the absorption and/or selective transmission of infrared light away from an interior of the daylighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SOLATUBE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Paul August Jaster
  • Patent number: 9127823
    Abstract: Lighting devices and methods for illuminating the interior of a building with natural daylight are disclosed. In some embodiments, a daylighting apparatus includes a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, an at least partially transparent light collector with one or more light turning elements, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. The one or more light turning elements can turn direct and indirect daylight into the tube so that it is available to illuminate the building. In some embodiments, the tube is disposed between the light collector and a diffuser positioned inside a target area of a building. In certain embodiments, the tube is configured to direct at least a portion of the daylight transmitted through the light collector towards the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul August Jaster
  • Patent number: 8982467
    Abstract: Lighting devices and methods for providing daylight to the interior of a structure are disclosed. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a daylighting device including a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, a light collecting structure, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. In some embodiments, the light collector is associated with one or more light-turning and/or light reflecting structures configured to increase the amount of light captured by the daylighting device. Optical elements may allow for the absorption and/or selective transmission of infrared light away from an interior of the daylighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul August Jaster
  • Patent number: 8955269
    Abstract: A skylight shaft is coated with a highly reflective film to maximize the amount of light transmitted from the top of the skylight to a room below the skylight. Surface irregularities are formed in the shaft or adhesive that holds the film onto the shaft to diffuse the light and thereby prevent the formation of focal “hot spots” in the room below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventor: David Windsor Rillie
  • Patent number: 8958157
    Abstract: Certain disclosed embodiments provide internally-reflective tube assemblies for use in a tubular daylighting device configured to direct daylight into an interior of a building when installed on a roof of the building. A tube assembly may include multiple tube segments including connection projections, such as hook-type structures, for weaving or otherwise connecting and/or securing tube segments together. In some embodiments, sidewalls of tube segments connected together are substantially parallel to one another at or near the connection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Windsor Rillie, Thomas P. Griego, Jeffrey S. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20140268347
    Abstract: Certain disclosed embodiments provide internally-reflective tube assemblies for use in a tubular daylighting device configured to direct daylight into an interior of a building when installed on a roof of the building. A tube assembly may include multiple tube segments including connection projections, such as hook-type structures, for weaving or otherwise connecting and/or securing tube segments together. In some embodiments, sidewalls of tube segments connected together are substantially parallel to one another at or near the connection region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Windsor Rillie, Thomas P. Griego, Jeffrey S. Robertson
  • Patent number: 8837048
    Abstract: Lighting devices and methods for illuminating the interior of a building with natural daylight are disclosed. In some embodiments, a daylighting apparatus includes a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, an at least partially transparent light collector with one or more light turning elements, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. The one or more light turning elements can turn direct and indirect daylight into the tube so that it is available to illuminate the building. In some embodiments, the tube is disposed between the light collector and a diffuser positioned inside a target area of a building. In certain embodiments, the tube is configured to direct at least a portion of the daylight transmitted through the light collector towards the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul August Jaster
  • Publication number: 20140160570
    Abstract: Lighting devices and methods for providing daylight to the interior of a structure are disclosed. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a daylighting device including a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, a light collecting structure, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. In some embodiments, the light collector is associated with one or more light-turning and/or light reflecting structures configured to increase the amount of light captured by the daylighting device. Optical elements may allow for the absorption and/or selective transmission of infrared light away from an interior of the daylighting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SOLATUBE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Paul August Jaster
  • Publication number: 20140160556
    Abstract: Lighting devices and methods for providing daylight to the interior of a structure are disclosed. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a daylighting device including a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, a light collecting assembly, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. In some embodiments, the light collector is associated with one or more light-turning and/or light reflecting structures configured to increase the amount of light captured by the daylighting device. Optical elements may allow for the absorption and/or selective transmission of infrared light away from an interior of the daylighting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SOLATUBE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Paul August Jaster
  • Patent number: 8601757
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a fenestration apparatus including at least one glazing pane capable of being installed in an opening of a building envelope and a tessellated structure disposed adjacent to the at least one glazing pane. The tessellated structure can include at least one partition having a first face and a second face. The at least one partition can define a plurality of spatially separated cells within a substantially contiguous region of the opening. Each of the plurality of spatially separated cells can have a cell width and a cell depth. Each of the plurality of spatially separated cells can be at least partially surrounded by the first face of the at least one partition, the second face of the at least one partition, or a combination of the first face and the second face of the at least one partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul August Jaster, Keith Robert Kopitzke, David James Wilson, David Windsor Rillie
  • Patent number: 8568011
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a daylighting apparatus comprising an internally reflective tube configured to direct daylight from a first end of the tube to a second end of the tube opposite the first end. A diffuser can be positioned at the second end of the tube. The diffuser can comprise a first optical structure configured such that, when the daylighting apparatus is installed with the first end positioned outside a room and the second end positioned to provide light to the room, a reflected portion of the daylight is directed towards at least one upper region (e.g., a ceiling or upper wall surface) of the room and a transmitted portion of the daylight is directed towards at least one lower region (e.g., a floor surface) of the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Windsor Rillie, Keith Robert Kopitzke, Ding Yao Shay, Paul August Jaster
  • Publication number: 20130135744
    Abstract: Lighting devices and methods for illuminating the interior of a building with natural daylight are disclosed. In some embodiments, a daylighting apparatus includes a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, an at least partially transparent light collector with one or more light turning elements, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. The one or more light turning elements can turn direct and indirect daylight into the tube so that it is available to illuminate the building. In some embodiments, the tube is disposed between the light collector and a diffuser positioned inside a target area of a building. In certain embodiments, the tube is configured to direct at least a portion of the daylight transmitted through the light collector towards the diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: SOLATUBE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Solalube International, Inc.