Patents Examined by Derek Boles
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Patent number: 6960127Abstract: A discarded refrigerator is used to hold electronic music playing equipment. The refrigerator has a door which can be opened or closed and is adapted to allow air to enter the interior of the refrigerator under pressure so as to cool the electronic equipment within the refrigerator during the operation of such equipment.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2002Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Inventor: Christopher John Curen
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Patent number: 6821202Abstract: An air-managing system for a heat-generating, image-producing broadcast device mounted in a smoke laden or dust-laden environment, including a container including enclosed walls and an image broadcast aperture, to form an interior for containing the heat-generating, image-producing, broadcast device and further including inlet slots formed in the container walls, for receiving air into the container interior, a container exhaust opening, and a fan in communication with the exhaust opening for drawing air through the interior and pushing it out the container, a sealed enclosure comprising a top panel, bottom panel, opposed side panels and spaced-apart front and back panels in sealed engagement forming an interior therein large enough to house the container therein leaving space between the container walls and the enclosure panels, means in the sealed enclosure to align the image broadcast aperture with an image projection opening in one of the sealed enclosure panels, air-transfer means in communication with tType: GrantFiled: December 13, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Inventor: Robert Voorhies
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Patent number: 6805298Abstract: A hydronic thermal heating panel made of cementitious material. The panel is made of Portland cement or any other cement that cures to a stony like hardness. The cement may include sand and reinforcing fibers, such as glass, polymer, or wood fibers. Like other hydronic panels, one or more groves are deep enough to entirely receive a hydronic pipe. The panel has backing material to provide strength or sufficient thickness of cementitious material beneath each groove to give adequate strength. The panel may be adhered with mortar or other adhesive or with nails or screws. The panels may be covered with mortar and tile or with any other flooring material.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2002Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Warm Brothers, Inc.Inventor: A Hoyt Corbett
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Patent number: 6802768Abstract: A motorized valve assembly for use in a vehicle heating, ventilating, and air conditioning module comprises a valve having at least one flap and is pivotable about a pivot axis. A drive unit is affixed to the valve, and a drive interface is operably connected to the drive unit for inducing a pivoting force about the pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2002Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mark W. Stevenson, Gerald M. Goupil, Jr., Raoul Huberty
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Patent number: 6799727Abstract: Flame-effect heating apparatus comprises a housing with walls defining an air duct extending therethrough. Simulated fuel is supported by the housing, externally of the duct, and at least one flame-effect generator is disposed in the duct. A light source is provided in the housing to illuminate both the simulated fuel and the flame-effect generator. A mirror is supported by the housing so that light reflected by the flame-effect generator is incident thereon. A wall of the housing which defines the air duct, is formed as a viewing screen on which light reflected by the mirror falls, the viewing screen being positioned higher than the simulated fuel. An electric fan causes air to flow through the air duct, so causing operation of the flame-effect generator, and a heat exchanger disposed in the duct warms air passing thereover.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2001Date of Patent: October 5, 2004Assignee: Smith's Environmental Products LimitedInventors: Gary Stanton Webster, Jeremy James Stanley
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Patent number: 6796894Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle in which an engine room (14) and a passenger compartment (15) are separated by a dash panel (1), the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus having a conditioned air blowout opening (4) and a passenger compartment internal air suction opening (5) that are opened at a side of the passenger compartment (15), the passenger compartment internal air suction opening (5) being provided in an upper portion of an instrument panel (2).Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2002Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takayoshi Matsuno, Yoshinori Okuno, Yasushi Kato, Takuya Higashiura
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Patent number: 6776705Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a device and a method for supplying conditioned air for heating and/or cooling from a first environment to a second environment. More specifically, the present invention provides a hose in a container and a retractor. The retractor may have a drive unit with a belt. Protrusions on the hose may correspond with grooves on the belt. The belt of the drive unit may engage the hose and pull the hose from the container. In addition, the drive unit may also retract the hose into the container when the hose is not needed. Further, a linear actuator may release the retractor from the hose allowing the hose to be pulled manually from the container.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2002Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: Boom Air, L.L.C.Inventors: Harry G. Bombardi, Danny L. Lyons
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Patent number: 6776227Abstract: Apparatus and method for heating and preventing freeze-off of wellhead equipment utilize radiant heat from a flameless heater to heat fluid in a heat exchanger, such as a tank or finned radiator. A pump is used to circulate the heated fluid through a conduit loop deployed in thermal contact with the equipment to be heated, such that the heat from the fluid is transferred to the equipment, maintaining it at sufficient temperature to prevent freeze-off. The apparatus and method may also be used for other purposes, such as for circulating heated fluid through a liquid-cooled engine to facilitate cold weather starting.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2002Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Inventors: Rodney T. Beida, Darcy R. Zelman
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Patent number: 6773341Abstract: A ventilating device for ventilating through a ridge, preferably through a top ridge of a roof, includes a ridge member configured extending longitudinally along and beneath the ridge. The ridge member has a rigid part that includes two opposed panels and a number of cross pieces extending between the opposing panels. The ridge member also has passages extending from a lower part of the ridge member to an upper part of the ridge member. In a first embodiment, the cross pieces extend from the lower part to the upper part of the ridge member transverse to a longitudinal direction of the ridge member, and ventilating passages are formed in spaces between the two opposing panels and between the cross pieces. In a second embodiment, the cross pieces extend between the lower part of the ridge member to the upper part of the ridge member parallel to a longitudinal direction of the ridge member, and ventilating passages are formed as holes penetrating the cross pieces.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2002Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Inventors: Christian Cedergreen, Kenneth Olsen
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Control system and method for implementing fixed cabin pressure rate of change during aircraft climb
Patent number: 6761628Abstract: An aircraft cabin pressure control system that controls cabin altitude during aircraft ascent to a cruise altitude, such that, under most operational circumstances, the cabin altitude rate of change during the ascent is set to fixed value. The system uses a signal representative of the aircraft's expected cruise altitude. If, however, this signal is not available, the cabin pressure control system controls cabin altitude according to a schedule, and the cabin altitude rate of change may not be fixed during the aircraft's ascent.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.Inventor: Darrell W. Horner -
Patent number: 6758738Abstract: A damper for an air passageway comprises a rigid carrier plate having opposed faces defined by a periphery with a shape generally corresponding to but smaller than the shape of a cross-section of the air passageway and formed of a material having a melting point above an activation temperature range; a heat-expandable sealing material mounted to at least one of the opposed faces of the rigid carrier plate and which is adapted to expand at a temperature in the activation temperature range; the sealing material, when activated, is adapted to expand radially from the rigid carrier plate to form an integral seal with the carrier plate. The heat-expandable sealing material can be integrally molded to the outer periphery of the carrier plate. A process for making the damper with integral seal is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Noble Polymers, LLCInventor: Frederick P. Keller
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Patent number: 6752713Abstract: A system of mechanically moving cool air into the hot attic space within a building structure such as a residence, which reduces the heat load on the habitable portion of the building structure, and thus allowing efficient cooling. The cool air is drawn from a vented crawl space, from a cellar or a basement space through applicable ducts, and a vertical duct or air chase upward into the attic using a controlled fan/blower air handling apparatus. The cool air then flows into the attic through applicable ducts and forces the attic air outside through exterior attic vents. In this system the possible irritants and contaminated crawl space air, basement air, or attic air is not vented into the habitable living space of the building, thus providing a healthier living environment for the inhabitants. This system can be adapted to applicable existing and new building structures of one or multiple floors.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2003Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Inventor: Nils V. Johnson, Jr.
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Patent number: 6743092Abstract: A roof vent suitable for a conservatory roof of the type comprising glazing bars supporting glazing panels therebetween, the roof vent comprises a surround mountable between a pair of glazing bars and a cover for the surround and hingedly connected thereto.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Ultraframe (UK) LimitedInventor: Christopher Richardson
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Patent number: 6736329Abstract: A heating unit for heat-transfer fluid for a central heating installation including a tubular external wall, a first end wall and a second end wall forming a substantially cylindrical space; a first tubular internal partition located substantially concentrically within the tubular external wall and forming a first annular space between the tubular external wall and the first internal partition; a second internal partition having a diameter smaller than the first internal partition located substantially concentrically within the first internal partition and forming a second annular space between the first internal partition and the second internal partition; a central pipe located inside the second internal partition, the second annular space being in communication with the central pipe adjacent to the first end wall and in communication with the first annular space adjacent to the second end wall; an inlet orifice opening out of the first annular space adjacent to the first end wall; an outlet orifice in theType: GrantFiled: December 9, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Inventor: Ernest Doclo
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Patent number: 6732942Abstract: A heating, venting, and air conditioning system utilizes a reformer to provide supplemental heat to a passenger compartment and to improve start-up emissions of an engine of a vehicle or power system. A pump circulates a fluid through the engine and throughout the system. A radiator and heater core transfer heat from the fluid. A first circuit cools the fluid upon circulation through the radiator after circulation through the engine to cool the engine, and a second circuit heats the passenger compartment and cools the fluid upon circulation through the heater core after circulation through the engine to cool the engine. The reformer, which converts a hydrocarbon or alcohol fuel into a reformate, generates heat. A third circuit, defined between the reformer and the pump and interconnected with the heater core, provides the supplemental heat from the reformer to the passenger compartment through the heater core and also to the engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2002Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Karma Vir Sangwan, Thomas Martin Urbank, Malcolm James Grieve, John E. Kirwan, John F. O'Brien
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Patent number: 6732941Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment has an electric-powered hot water pump in addition to a mechanical hot water pump driven by an engine mounted on the vehicle. The electric-powered hot water pump is activated while the engine is stopped. However, the electric-powered hot water pump is kept in a non-activation state while an air mix door is positioned in a low temperature side as compared to a predetermined value and an elapsed time after the engine is stopped is within a predetermined time so that power consumption by the electric-powered hot water pump can be decreased suitable for a hybrid vehicle having a driving motor in addition to the engine.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2002Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Toshinobu Homan, Hiroki Nakamura, Tadashi Nakagawa
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Patent number: 6732940Abstract: A compact vehicle heating system and method is provided which includes mechanisms to selectively shut down heating systems. For example, when domestic hot water is required, space heating and engine preheating systems can be shut down in order to provide priority heating to the domestic hot water. When the demand for domestic hot water is lower, the space heating and engine preheat systems can be reactivated.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2003Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Vehicle Systems IncorporatedInventors: Harold R. Enander, Thomas A. Acree
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Patent number: 6729551Abstract: The need to maintain the quality of air in a home has become more of a problem in new high efficiency tight houses so that governmental regulations are being proposed for a minimum change of fresh air. If too much cold outside fresh air is introduced into such homes at a single source, the room with the fresh air is usually too cold and/or unbalanced. The present invention avoids cooling any one room while maintaining heat efficiency. When the home has a gas fireplace, the exhaust gases are preferably directed through an air-to-air cross flow heat exchanger which preheats the quality air passing into a forced air furnace system. In modified embodiments of the present invention, make-up quality air is mixed with the room air and heated in the heat exchanger of the fireplace. The preheated room air from the fireplace is preferably connected to the supply/return of a forced air furnace system and distributed to all rooms to provide uniform heating.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2003Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: HON Technology Inc.Inventors: David Charles Lyons, Richard Donald Berg, Robb Edward Bennett
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Patent number: 6726114Abstract: An evaporative burner includes an evaporative medium for feeding fuel vapor into a combustion chamber, a first heating device, having at least one ignition heating element projecting with at least its heating region into the combustion chamber for igniting fuel vapor present in the combustion chamber, and a second heating device, with at least one evaporating heating element associated with the evaporative medium for affecting its evaporation characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2002Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co., KGInventors: Walter Blaschke, Günter Eberspach, Bruno Lindl
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Patent number: RE39394Abstract: A seat apparatus includes a seat cushion, a seat back associated with the seat cushion, an air vent extending from the bottom side of the cushion towards the sitting side of the cushion, and an air producing device which blows air, preferably temperature controlled air, to the air vent and to a groove facing the sitting side of the cushion. The seat apparatus is thus able to distribute air, preferably temperature controlled air, to the seated individual.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2001Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Seiji Suzuki, Hidetoshi Nakane, Masato Itakura, Toshihiro Inayoshi