Patents Examined by Derek S. Boles
  • Air outlet nozzle and method of making and using same
    Patent number: 6805624
    Abstract: An air outlet nozzle of a heating and/or air-conditioning system of a vehicle is provided. It has a displacer which is connected to a nozzle mouth element mounted displaceably in the nozzle housing. In order, with as little structural space as possible and as little flow losses as possible, to be able to control the diffusivity of the air jet emerging from the air outlet nozzle, the flow resistance and the axial position of the displacer can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Joachim Currle, Frank Fruehauf
  • Security cover for ventilation duct
    Patent number: 6805627
    Abstract: An apparatus for covering a vent that prevents material, either solid, liquid or gaseous from entering the vent. A plurality of baffles forms an annular space that provides a tortuous path for materials entering or leaving the vent. An alarm system may be added to the apparatus to alert/warn of tampering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: ARC3 Corporation
    Inventors: Steven T. Marts, Wayne A. Dykstra
  • Computer enclosure incorporating fixing structures for fans
    Patent number: 6805626
    Abstract: A computer enclosure, for replaceably securing a first standard sized fan (40) or a second standard sized fan (50) thereto, includes a front panel (10) and a drive bracket (20). The front panel comprising an array of vents (14), a first and a second set of fixing structures (11, 12, 13) corresponding to the first and second standard fans, the first and second set of fixing structures being arranged around the array of vents. The drive bracket is attached to the front panel, and comprises a U-shaped bracket (21) and a pair of opposite first and second side plates (22, 25), the first side plate having a bridge shaped platform (23) for supporting an end of either of the fans, the second side plate forming two pairs of projections (261, 262) engaging respectively in apertures (41, 51) defined in the first and second fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yun-Lung Chen
  • Ventilating exhaust fan
    Patent number: 6802770
    Abstract: An exhaust fan for use in bathrooms or similar areas has a generally rectangular fan housing formed from two independent structural members to reduce manufacturing waste and decrease production cost. The fan housing includes a receptacle panel that can be installed and removed from within the housing without additional tools. The fan housing includes two series of spaced view holes formed in its back wall such that during installation of the exhaust fan, the installer can view the ceiling joist to correctly position the fan housing relative to the bottom surface of the joist. The back wall of the fan housing also includes a pair of bend down tabs that can be placed in contact with the bottom surface of the joist to correctly position the bottom edge of the fan housing the required distance from the joist to accommodate the most common drywall thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Broan-Nutone LLC
    Inventors: David M. Larson, Robert G. Penlesky, Daniel L. Karst, Robert A. Chvosta, Alan G. Klug, Kevin P. Gahagan
  • Local exhausting and ventilating methods, and local exhausting device and local ventilating system
    Patent number: 6802767
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide exhaust air discharging and ventilating technologies capable of completing local ventilation without affecting the habitability and workability. The invention is a method for locally discharging the air around and near cooking equipment (1) in a kitchen in which cooking equipment (1) that causes air contamination is installed, wherein upward suction draft (16) going out of the room is produced from above the cooking equipment (1), while upward blowout draft (21) is produced from near the side of the cooking equipment (1), and due to the inductive action of the blowout draft (21), the contaminated air (30) around and near the cooking equipment (1) is forcibly caught and carried into the blowout draft (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kanaya
  • Inlet air control method for a vehicle HVAC system having an air quality sensor
    Patent number: 6800022
    Abstract: An improved HVAC control method immediately closes an air inlet valve to provide full cabin air recirculation when an outside air quality sensor detects polluted air, and thereafter progressively re-opens the air inlet valve at a determined rate when the air quality sensor detects unpolluted air. Preferably, the air quality sensor quantifies the pollution level of the outside air, and the opening rate of the air inlet valve is determined based on the detected pollution level. Following a high level of detected air pollution, the valve is re-opened at a relatively slow rate, and following a low level of detected air pollution, the valve is re-opened at a relatively fast rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Martin Urbank, Karma Vir Sangwan
  • Vent with presecured mechanical fasteners
    Patent number: 6793574
    Abstract: A vent which is attachable but not attached to a structure includes a body having openings for passage of air therethrough while resisting undesired entry of foreign matter. The body has a plurality of fastener receiving passageways. Passageways have an entry end and an exit end and fasteners extend into the passageways for retention therein prior to securement of the vent to the structure. The passageways are preferably composed of a resilient material and the passageway opening has at least portions of lesser opening size than the average diameter of the shank of the fasteners such as nails. In another embodiment, the passageways may be composed of a suitable metal. The passageway may have radially inwardly projecting portions which define a generally triangular segmented surface for retention of the fastener. The vent may be a roof ridge ventilator or other type of vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Solar Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Dwight Robinson
  • Automobile interior heat vent
    Patent number: 6793572
    Abstract: The invention described herein is a passive air ventilation system for automobile interior heat. The passenger compartment interfaces with short air ducts which open when the interior reaches a certain threshold temperature. The other end of the ducts interfaces with the exterior in places which are not susceptible to rainwater seepage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Inventor: James Allen Kodak
  • Heating system and process for influencing air flows in a heating system
    Patent number: 6793147
    Abstract: A heating system for heating air, especially for heating the interior of a motor vehicle, with a first heater (10), a second heater (12), and a flow path between the first heater (10) and the second heater (12), there being at least one auxiliary fan (50) with which a flow in the direction from the second heater (12) to the first heater (10) can be produced and a process for influencing the air flows in the heating system are designed to counteract overpressurization. Furthermore, an air heater and a process for detecting backflowing hot air through an air heater use a temperature sensor in an inlet area of the heater for that purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Webasto Thermosysteme International GmbH
    Inventors: Nils Elm, Andreas Ludwig, Andreas May, Nikolaus Gerhardt, Friedrich Widemann
  • Infrared heating assembly
    Patent number: 6786422
    Abstract: A heating assembly for variably heating ambient air within a building. The heating assembly includes an elongated heating conduit. There may also be a plurality of heating assemblies 20 interconnected to each other to form a heating system for the building. If a heating system is employed, then the plurality of heating conduits will be interconnected to each other in such a manner as to define a common exhaust. A burner is connected to the inlet of the heating conduit. A fuel regulator is connected to the burner for providing fuel to the burner at a low fuel pressure, which defines a low heating temperature, and a high fuel pressure, which defines a high heating temperature. A vacuum device is connected to the exhaust of the heating conduit or conduits for pulling the air into the inlet and through the heating conduit to provide a negative pressure within the heating conduit during the heating of the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Detroit Radiant Products Co.
    Inventors: Joseph B. Wortman, Donald Scott Fleet
  • Inside/outside air switching device for vehicular air conditioning unit
    Patent number: 6786816
    Abstract: In an inside/outside air switching device, a rotary door includes a rotation shaft, a periphery wall rotating about the rotation shaft, and side plates connecting between the ends of the periphery wall and the rotation shaft. The rotary door is supported in a case for opening and closing an inside air introduction port and an outside air introduction port of the case. When the door partially opens the inside air introduction port and mainly opens the outside air introduction port in an air mixing mode, the periphery wall projects toward the outside air introduction port by a predetermined distance. The projected portion of the periphery wall is covered with a cover member disposed on a cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Hironobu Murakami, Mitsuru Kosaka
  • Vehicle compartment and engine preheating system and method
    Patent number: 6779737
    Abstract: The present invention involves a system and method of preheating a vehicle engine during non-use of the vehicle. The method includes receiving a programming input defining a minimum engine coolant temperature of a preheating strategy, initializing the preheating strategy based on the programming input, and sensing an energy source of the vehicle to run the preheating strategy. The method further comprises sensing an engine coolant temperature of the vehicle at a first time period, activating the preheating strategy to heat the engine if the engine coolant temperature is lower than the minimum engine temperature. The method further includes receiving feedback indicating the engine coolant temperature at a subsequent time period and deactivating the preheating strategy if the engine coolant temperature is greater than the maximum temperature at the subsequent time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Raymond Murray, Cindy Marie Rutyna
  • Computer cabinet
    Patent number: 6776707
    Abstract: A cabinet adapted to house electronic and communication equipment therein. The cabinet includes modifiable top, bottom and side walls. Grommets with notches are provided to accommodate passage of wires and cables into and out of the cabinet. The notches function to receive the wires and/or cables and to mitigate passage of air through the grommet. A micro controller is provided for each individual cabinet to both monitor and control variants within the cabinet. The micro controller may be accessed on site with a local operator, or remotely through a memory addressable system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Engineering Equipment and Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward C. Koplin
  • Window-mounted air conditioner installation system
    Patent number: 6767278
    Abstract: A support bas assembly has a first bar and a second bar. Each bar has a outdoor face, a parallel indoor face, a horizontal planar upper face, a parallel lower face, a free end and a central end. The central end of the second bar is slidably received within the central end of the first bar. Secured to the outdoor face of the first bar adjacent to the central end is a locking assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventor: Andrew Peterson
  • Vehicle air conditioner
    Patent number: 6758740
    Abstract: In an initial stage of a cool down operation of a vehicle air conditioner, a rapid cooling operation is performed while cool air is directly blown to a passenger from direct air outlets. In a later stage of the cool down operation of the vehicle air conditioner, a temperature of an inner wall portion of a passenger compartment is reduced while cool air is indirectly supplied to the passenger of the passenger compartment from the indirect air outlet. Accordingly, cool air can be locally blown to the passenger in the initial stage, and cool air can be supplied to the entire passenger compartment while restricting an adverse effect due to heat radiation of the inner wall portion in the later stage. Thus, operation performance of the air conditioner can be improved while comfortable air conditioning feeling can be given to the passenger in the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazushi Shikata, Tomohiro Kamiya, Mak to Um bayashi, Tomohiro Inada
  • Building interior air pressure control system
    Patent number: 6758744
    Abstract: A method for controlling building interior air pressure that is different from external environment air pressure, wherein the internal and external air pressure difference can be significantly large. The internal and external air pressure difference is maintained through partitioning the internal airway using permeable porous walls. A method for building the permeable porous walls using unit permeable porous blocks including boxes of granular particulates is provided to ease not only the installation but also the repair and replacement of the permeable porous walls, and also to maximize the reusability of the materials used to build the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Inventor: Rongqing Dai
  • Fan filter unit control system and clean room provided with same
    Patent number: 6755734
    Abstract: Information from fan filter units and differential pressure gauges provided in a ceiling of a clean room is used to control directions and volumes of air flows blown from respective fan filter units. In order to improve a wind velocity distribution in the clean room, pressure in a ceiling chamber is made uniform and control of the FFU revolution speeds of fan filter units is made easy. In order to control directions of air flows in the clean room, damper adjusting mechanisms are provided under a grating floor of the clean room. Such arrangement enables optimizing an operating condition of the clean room and achieving energy saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yokoyama, Keiichi Ono, Fumiyuki Tamura
  • Motor housing for range hood
    Patent number: 6752711
    Abstract: A range hood with a motor housing having upper and lower sections joined together along their respective side edges. Cooperating projections with a gap therebetween extend from the side edge of one section of the motor housing. The side edge of the other section of the motor housing is adapted to be Inserted in the gap to be frictionally retained therein. Protrusions ensure proper joining of the upper and lower sections. Additional restraint in the form of a reinforcing assembly comprising a reinforcing strap plus fasteners ensures the upper and lower sections stay properly joined. The motor housing may be made of metal or plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventor: Peter Yeung
  • Slotted air distribution nozzle restrictor assembly
    Patent number: 6752712
    Abstract: A restrictor plate assembly (46) for an air distribution nozzle (16) of an aircraft (13) includes a restrictor plate (84) and a support structure (80). The restrictor plate (84) has an outer periphery (66) with multiple notches (68). The support structure (80) is coupled to and supports the restrictor plate (84).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing, Company
    Inventors: Sean E. Short, Russell S. Westover
  • Cover for register and register opening
    Patent number: 6749499
    Abstract: A register cover for a register opening in a floor includes a body with a pair of legs extending from and pivoted to the body. Each of the legs may pivot between extended and retracted positions. The legs are adapted to be inserted into the register opening when the legs are in the retracted position. Another register cover is wrapped around a rigid register vent to protect the vent during construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Snyder National Corporation
    Inventor: Darryl L. Snyder