Patents Examined by Frances F Hamilton
  • Exhaust structure for combustion apparatus
    Patent number: 10605454
    Abstract: An exhaust structure for combustion apparatus includes an exhaust tube connected to a water heater, an exhaust pipe through which the exhaust tube is introduced, and an exhaust tube fixing member for fixing a position of the exhaust tube relative to the exhaust pipe. The exhaust tube fixing member includes a first fixing portion having a cylindrical shape and fixed to the exhaust tube, and an attaching portion connected to the first fixing portion and attached to the exhaust pipe. The attaching portion have a first cylindrical portion having a first inner diameter D2, and a second cylindrical portion having a second inner diameter D3 smaller than the first inner diameter D2 of the first cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: NORITZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironao Matsunaga, Masaki Sugatani
  • Top vent assembly for kamado grill
    Patent number: 10602879
    Abstract: A vent assembly that increases air flow and temperature control for outdoor cooking/smoking appliances, which effectively controls the space/gap for air exit, so as to improve air flow through the chimney and to increase temperature ranges and control within the smoker/chimney. The vent may have a gasket to make the grill waterproof and prevent mold when the grill is not in use. The vent can pivot or slide in one direction to ensure it does not open completely, so as to lose the air flow setting when the grill cover is opened or tilted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Premier Specialty Brands, LLC
    Inventor: Robert A. Brennan
  • Connecting pipe linking a thermal device of a motor vehicle to a firewall of the vehicle
    Patent number: 10583708
    Abstract: A connecting pipe is made from polymer material and is shaped to link an opening of an air inlet pipe of a thermal device of a motor vehicle and an opening of a firewall of the vehicle. The connecting pipe has a cross section equal to or greater than a cross section of the air inlet pipe. The connecting pipe has two open ends. The two open ends include a first open end having a first interface which is shaped to be assembled and fixed to the air inlet pipe, and a second open end having a second interface which includes a bearing surface which is shaped to be applied against the firewall on the periphery of the firewall opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Olivier Pain, Herve Bousquet, Emmanuel Botte
  • Improvements introduced in rack door
    Patent number: 10582637
    Abstract: A rack door of a rack usable to store telecommunication equipment is provided. The rack door of the rack includes either a front door or a rear door of the rack and is equipped with at least two shutters of transparent injected polycarbonate with a front lens and an opening of 88% for air inlet or outlet. The rack includes an internal temperature indicator having an RGB LED ribbon configured to indicate, by changing colors, the temperature. Each shutter is attachable to at least one other shutter by a lower fitting and a top fitting, each shutter comprising a protective grid on a rear flat portion thereof, and side baffles to receive projection of light from the RGB LED ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Inventor: Flavio Albertini Diaferia
  • Indoor unit of air conditioner
    Patent number: 10571136
    Abstract: An indoor unit (1000) of an air conditioner includes a housing (100) having an upper base plate (110) provided with an air inlet (101), a lower base plate (120) detachably mounted to the upper base plate (110) and provided with an air outlet, and a front cover (130) detachably mounted to the upper base plate (110); a heat exchanger (140) mounted on the upper base plate (110); a fan (142) detachably mounted to the lower base plate (120); and a thrust structure (340) having a body (350) that is disposed to a rear portion of the indoor unit (1000) and has a thrust face (351) abutting against a mounting member to limit a degree of freedom of upward movement of the indoor unit (1000).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhicai Cai, Xing Liu, Xiaofeng Bai, Xinzhou Zhang
  • Vehicle cabin air management
    Patent number: 10543736
    Abstract: A vehicle cabin pressure relief device is provided having a base layer defining an aperture, a retainer layer disposed on the base layer; and a sealing member. The sealing member further includes a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion, wherein the second portion of the sealing member is sandwiched between the base layer and the retainer layer. The first portion is also displaceable relative to the base layer, and covers a portion of the aperture in a closed first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Freeman, Gavin Smith
  • Cooler, cooler platform assembly, and process of adjusting a cooler platform
    Patent number: 10495392
    Abstract: A cooler, a cooler platform assembly, and a process of adjusting a cooler platform are disclosed. The cooler includes a cooling region, a discharge region, and a cooler platform positioned in the discharge region and proximal to a sloped interior section of the cooler. The cooler platform assembly includes a cooler platform, a sloped interior section of a cooler proximal to a first end of the cooler platform, and a vertical wall proximal to a second end of the cooler platform. The process includes adjusting a cooler platform from a retracted position substantially parallel to a vertical wall of a cooler to a deployed position substantially perpendicular to the vertical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: E&C Finfan, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Garner, Jesse Hines, Charles Bowers, Ben Cole, Richard Kelsey, Michael Shroyer, Tracy Mabes
  • Vehicle configuration
    Patent number: 10486526
    Abstract: A vehicle configuration includes a motor, a battery, a cooling unit, an air conditioning unit and an air-blowing unit. The motor drives wheels of the vehicle. The battery supplies electric power to the motor. The cooling unit is equipped with a radiator that is disposed at a lower side of a floor panel of the vehicle. Heat from at least one of the motor or the battery is transferred to the radiator by circulation of a coolant. The air conditioning unit supplies cool air to an interior of a cabin of the vehicle. The air-blowing unit moves air in the cabin to the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Ajisaka
  • Method and system for eliminating air stratification via ductless devices
    Patent number: 10473348
    Abstract: A system and method for creating substantially continuous circulation within a volume to be managed comprising at least two ductless devices including three exit zones, and a method for designing a system for increasing internal air turns in a volume of air to be managed within a facility, comprising determining locations of existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system components, determining preferred locations of the at least two ductless devices, and continuously moving air through the at least two ductless devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNAL AIR FLOW DYNAMICS, LLC
    Inventors: Roy H. Price, Albert E. Fiorini, Mark A. Price
  • Exhaust tube holding member, exhaust structure for combustion apparatus, and method for installing exhaust structure for combustion apparatus
    Patent number: 10436442
    Abstract: An exhaust tube holding member for holding an exhaust tube inside an exhaust pipe includes a main body. The exhaust tube is connected to a combustion apparatus and introduced into the exhaust pipe. The main body includes a first surface and a second surface opposing each other, and a rim surrounding the periphery of the first surface and the second surface. The main body is provided with an exhaust tube holding hole and an exhaust tube inserting notch. The exhaust tube holding hole is configured to penetrate the main body from the first surface to the second surface. The exhaust tube inserting notch is configured to penetrate the main body from the first surface to the second surface and extend from the exhaust tube holding hole to the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: NORITZ CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironao Matsunaga
  • Vehicle air freshener module
    Patent number: 10427502
    Abstract: An air freshener module is installed in a compartment slot formed in the dashboard of a vehicle. The module includes a body having a front section and a rear section. The rear section has an air inlet port that is adapted for coupling to the vehicle AC tube. The front section defines a plenum or interior housing space configured to receive an air freshener receptacle or holder that is movable between an open state and a closed state. The front end of the interior housing space defines an air outlet port. An air passageway extends between the air inlet port and the air outlet port. During operation, air admitted through the air inlet port is vented into the interior housing spaced occupied by the air freshener holder, enabling air to pass through an air freshener element and thereby communicate odorized air into the cabin. An adjustable closure regulates the amount of air delivered into the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Inventor: Armando Izaguirre
  • Air-conditioning register
    Patent number: 10414246
    Abstract: An air-conditioning register includes a downstream fin, upstream fins, a coupling rod, a shut-off damper, an operation knob, a transmission shaft, an upstream universal joint, a downstream universal joint, and a transmission mechanism portion. The operation knob includes a rotation member. The upstream universal joint couples an upstream end of the transmission shaft to the shut-off damper. The downstream universal joint couples a downstream end of the transmission shaft to the rotation member. The transmission mechanism portion transmits swinging motion of the transmission shaft caused by sliding of the operation knob to the central upstream fins, and prevents swinging motion of the transmission shaft caused by operation of the operation knob to tilt the downstream fin from being transmitted to the central upstream fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Shibata, Nobuhiro Terai, Kenji Asano
  • Air deflection system
    Patent number: 10412855
    Abstract: An air deflection system includes a cabinet and an air deflection cabinet. The cabinet includes a cabinet first air vent on a lower part of a cabinet first side, a cabinet second air vent at a top of the cabinet, and a cabinet third air vent on a cabinet second side for cool air to enter. The air deflection cabinet includes an air deflection cabinet first air vent at a top of the air deflection cabinet and an air deflection cabinet second air vent on an air deflection cabinet first side that is proximate to the cabinet first side. The air deflection cabinet second air vent is in communication with the cabinet first air vent such that warm air exhausted through the cabinet first air vent enters the air deflection cabinet through the air deflection cabinet second air vent and is exhausted through the air deflection cabinet first air vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Li, Zhao Zhang, Jie Chen, Nan Wang
  • Laminar flow diffuser with integrated lighting
    Patent number: 10401049
    Abstract: A laminar flow diffuser with integrated lighting has a frame for supporting an air plenum and a lower housing. The air plenum receives conditioned air from a source of conditioned. The lower housing is attached to the bottom of the plenum. An aperture plate damper installed below the top plenum regulates the flow of air from the plenum through the laminar flow diffuser. A clear or translucent engineered, fire rated polymer perforated diffuser face forms the outlet from the lower housing to the room below. LED strips are positioned around the inside periphery of the lower housing. A light guide is installed adjacent the LED lighting strips to spread the light across the area of the perforated diffuser face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Price Industries Limited
    Inventors: David Mark Surminski, Dirk Arthur Kelsch, Jeffrey Shaun Ramirez, Nolan Gerald Hosking, Sylvia Bistrong, Gustavo F. Cardero
  • Return air blocking device for ventilation of the interior of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 10391838
    Abstract: A return air blocking device for ventilation of the interior of a motor vehicle, with a frame or housing with at least one sealing surface and with at least one flexible valve flap mounted on the frame or the housing, which in an idle position abuts on the sealing surface and prevents a flow of air through the return air blocking device, and which, when a sufficient pressure occurs, assumes an opening position lifted from the sealing surface in which it allows a flow of air through the return air blocking device, wherein the at least one valve flap comprises at least one slit on its end mounted on the frame or housing, wherein the frame or the housing comprises at least one holding projection which engages in the at least one slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Nikolaus Schwarzkopf, Marco Spanier
  • Air conditioner having an ion generation device
    Patent number: 10386080
    Abstract: Provided is an air conditioner having an ion generation device, the ion generation device including a main body including an electrode structure that includes a discharge electrode and a ground electrode, a coupling part disposed on at least one surface of the main body, the coupling part being coupled to the case, and an ion discharge part disposed on the main body to discharge the ions generated when a high voltage is applied to the electrode structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yanghwa Lee, Jieun Choi, Woojin Kim, Hyungho Park
  • Hair care device
    Patent number: 10383422
    Abstract: An air outlet grill for use on a hair care device comprises a plurality of concentric and tilted flow guide surfaces (2), a cross section of the flow guide surfaces (2) having a curved shape that diverges in an air flow direction. Preferably, tilt angles between the flow guide surfaces (2) are designed such that an air inlet area of the air outlet grill is larger than an air outlet area of the air outlet grill, so as to increase air speed. Preferably, a middle flow guide surface has a smaller height compared to at least one other flow guide surface, so as to increase an area for air to pass through at a middle part of the air outlet grill. Preferably, a leading edge of at least one of the flow guide surfaces (2) is tangent to the air flow direction while a trailing edge of the flow guide surfaces diverges from the air flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Chak Yuen Law, Cho Woo
  • Seat conditioning module and method
    Patent number: 10377276
    Abstract: A seat conditioning module for a seat conditioning assembly including an air mover, an intake port, outtake port, wherein at least one of the intake port, the outtake port, or both are in fluid communication with a seat surface. A valve assembly with at least two apertures movably disposed between the air mover and the at least one intake and at least one outtake ports. An actuation device for moving the valve assembly to control the passage of the fluid through the at least two apertures. An optional conditioning device in fluid communication with the air mover and the seat surface. A control device for at least controlling the position of the at least two apertures of the valve assembly, the activation of the optional conditioning device, the operation of the air mover, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: GENTHERM GMBH
    Inventors: Goran Bajic, Syed Rafat Iqbal, Dmitri Axakov, Matthew Zuzga
  • Air conditioning device
    Patent number: 10369862
    Abstract: An air conditioning device includes a casing that provides multiple air passages, a blower fan that suctions an air from the multiple air passages and blows out the air in the casing, a suction side partitioning member that is disposed on a suction side of the blower fan in the casing and separates air flows from the multiple air passages from each other, and a blowing side partitioning member that is disposed on a blowing side of the blower fan in the casing and separates the air flows from the multiple air passages from each other. The suction side partitioning member and the blowing side partitioning member are disposed so that a relative position of the blowing side partitioning member to the suction side partitioning member is deviated in a rotation direction of the blower fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Yamaoka, Shinya Kato, Yasuhiro Sekito, Kenichiro Maeda, Syunsuke Ishiguro
  • Air diffuser with manual and motorized plates
    Patent number: 10365006
    Abstract: A mechanism for opening and closing a damper valve of a diffuser mechanism is provided. Embodiments of the invention include a damper construction that selectively alters the amount of air flow through a diffuser grille using a three-plate damper valve. The three-plate damper valve includes a manual plate, a fixed plate, and a motorized plate. The manual plate is manually rotatable around a central axis, while the motorized plate is mechanically rotatable about the same axis. The motorized plate is mechanically and/or remotely controlled using a stepper motor coupled to the motorized plate. Further, the diffuser mechanism includes a sensor for determining the location of the motorized plate with respect to a starting position. As such, multiple configurations of the manual plate and the motorized plate may be used to alter the air flow through the resulting channels of the damper mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: AIRFIXTURE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. McQueeny, Jr., James E. Megerson, David S. Alstatt, Pedro J. Bermudez, J. Patrick McQueeny