Patents Examined by Harold Joyce
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Patent number: 6981916Abstract: A ridge vent, roof ridge vent installation, and method of installing a ridge vent is provided. Preferably, the ridge vent includes a ventilation material that has opposite longitudinally-extending side edges that are covered with an air permeable filter material. A longitudinally-extending central section of the vent is not covered by the air permeable filter material, is transparent, and enables a ventilating air flow to pass through the vent in a manner requiring only a single pass through the air permeable material. This permits greater air flow through the vent, and the transparent central section simplifies and enables accurate placement of the vent on the roof ridge.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2003Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: Benjamin Obdyke, Inc.Inventor: Michael S. Coulton
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Patent number: 6981915Abstract: A control system for controlling airflow through a vent. The system includes a vent assembly having a frame. The frame includes an opening to allow air to flow through the frame. The vent assembly also includes a movable damper for variably restricting the fluid flow through the opening in the vent assembly, a motor for controlling movement of the damper, and a sensor for determining the position of the damper. In addition, a controller is provided to control the motor to vary the position of the damper to thereby vary the airflow through the opening in the vent assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2004Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: David Allen Moore, Abdlmonem H. Beitelmal, Cullen E. Bash
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Patent number: 6981914Abstract: A removably insertable rear cabin air vent for installation between the rear side flap and the rear wall of the soft top of an off road or utility vehicle. The vent is inserted and held in place between the rear sidewall flap and the rear of the soft top by any known means such as by sewing and adhesives. Certain soft have a zipper attaching the sidewall flap to the soft top and, have an overlapping flap outside the zipper which is held in place by mutually engaging strips of hook and loop material. The preferred means of attaching the vent is by placing hook and loop material along the outer surfaces of the vent which match with the existing strips in the sidewall flap and soft top, allowing for the removable insertion of the vent between the existing strips of hook and loop material in a desired location.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2003Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Inventor: Roger L. Veenstra
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Patent number: 6979257Abstract: A pressure control system including an inflow unit for admitting pressurized air into a cabin, an outflow unit including a motor for operating a valve to discharge air from the cabin at a predetermined rate based on an motor control signal that sets the motor speed, a control unit, and an air pressure sensor within the cabin for determining a pressure signal. The control unit receives the pressure signal and computes a pressure rate of change error signal to set the motor control signal. The outflow unit, control unit, and air pressure sensor form a feedback control loop independent of motor speed, valve speed, or valve position feedback.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2004Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.Inventors: Darrell W. Horner, Gerard L. McCoy, Kenneth M. Gallagher, Timothy C. Biss
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Patent number: 6979260Abstract: A device to prevent indoor release of carbon monoxide and smoke from indoor combustors (stoves, furnaces, fireplaces, etc.). The device is based on a discovery that safe operation of indoor burners requires the air pressure in the room housing the burner to be relatively high in order to prevent generation of reverse chimney flow and indoor release of exhaust gas (smoke and carbon monoxide), which are dangerous to building occupants. This device solves the problem by increasing the building internal pressure.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2003Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Freight Pipeline CompanyInventor: Henry Liu
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Patent number: 6976340Abstract: A universal access port includes a specific size opening that is formed through a wall of a conditioning enclosure and located at a specific distance from a floor or mounting surface. The opening is preferably rectangular in shape, but other shapes may also be used. When not in use, the universal access port is covered with a sealing panel. Insertable devices may be efficiently inserted and removed from the universal access port. A perimeter of the insertable device is sized to be sealable inserted into the universal access port. Each insertable device preferably seals with an exterior and interior wall of the conditioning enclosure. Some insertable devices include fixturing devices, windows, manual manipulation devices, junction devices, hinged access doors, wire access devices, temperature modifying devices or air circulation devices.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2002Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Venturedyne Ltd.Inventors: James M. Schulze, Kevin D. Ewing, Clinton A. Peterson, Richard L. Walker, Robert K. Hayes
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Patent number: 6974378Abstract: A ventilator includes: a plurality of louvers arranged in parallel from one end to the other end of one direction at a supply opening formed in a case; shaft pins respectively formed on both ends at one ends of the louvers and inserted into a plurality of shaft holes; the operation pins being inserted into a plurality of operation holes formed along a longitudinal direction of a link with predetermined intervals; and a standard louver being opened and closed with the shaft pins serving as a center of opening and closing, wherein, gaps (A) between the operation holes on the link are set so as to be larger than gap (B) between a line connecting the shaft pins of the standard louver and the operation pin.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2003Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidehiko Osada, Mitsuaki Fujita
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Patent number: 6974383Abstract: A cabinet for air handling equipment includes a door assembly having features such as inner and outer door panels being held together and sealed by double-sided tape, which acts as a thermal break, a latch that prevents a door gasket from being crushed due to positive or negative air pressure within the cabinet, and a doorframe that is easy to assemble and install for either right-hand or left-hand swinging doors. To assemble adjacent pieces of the doorframe, sheet metal tabs of one piece are inserted into slits of the other piece. The tabs are then twisted to hold the adjacent pieces of the doorframe together.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2003Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: American Standard International Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Lewis, Jeffrey D. Dehning, Thomas A. Ley, Denzil Devon Ratliff, Floyd Stanley, Lloyd Christopher Felty
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Patent number: 6974442Abstract: Methods and devices for extracting thermal energy from the core body of a mammal are provided. In practicing the subject methods, a portion of the mammal, e.g. a limb or portion thereof, is placed in a sealed enclosure to produce an enclosed portion of the mammal. A surface of the enclosed portion of the mammal is then contacted with a low temperature medium under negative pressure conditions for a period of time sufficient to provide for the desired core body thermal energy extraction. The subject methods and devices find use in a variety of applications, e.g. providing relief from temperature sensitive disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, and the treatment of hyperthermia, among other treatments. The subject methods and devices are particularly suited for use in enhancing the physical ability of a mammal.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2003Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Dennis A. Grahn, H. Craig Heller
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Patent number: 6974376Abstract: A flow straightening grid 30 is provided at an area where the air flow turns about 180 degrees in an air path 23, or in the vicinity thereof. Because of this, the air flow can be prevented from being disturbed in the air path 23 and, therefore, noise caused by the disturbance of the air flow can be reduced effectively.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2004Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Hidehiko Yamaguchi, Kazuaki Murashima, Hiroshi Kanda
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Patent number: 6974381Abstract: An air flow producer of non-rectangular shape is adapted for installation in a rectangular opening of a drop ceiling. In preferred form, the producer has a circular housing with an open bottom covered with a grill. A fan with a rotary blade assembly is mounted in the housing to produce a downward air flow, and a circular metal band surrounding the rotary blade assembly defines an air discharge zone centered in the grill and an annular air intake zone surrounding the discharge zone. Flow rates are optimized by positioning the band close to the grill. The grill is preferably integrally molded with a rectangular flange that seats in the drop ceiling opening. The flange supports the housing from the framework and closes the opening to prevent the producer from drawing air from the plenum above the drop ceiling.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2004Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Inventors: Keith Lloyd Walker, Alan Richard Monro, Christopher Henry Kozlowski
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Patent number: 6971474Abstract: An air conduction element (1), particularly an air conduction channel for a motor vehicle, having a reverberant channel body (2) manufactured from plastic, which has at least one wall region replaced by a sound-absorbing component (10, 11), the sound-absorbing component having an at least partially exposed outer side. An edge region of the sound-absorbing component (10, 11) be extrusion-coated with the plastic of the channel body (2) in such a way that the sound-absorbing component (10, 11) is connected in a form-fitting way to the channel body (2) along at least a section of its circumference.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2003Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Carcoustics Tech Center GmbHInventors: Werner Prosser, Horst Lederer
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Patent number: 6969314Abstract: A pressure relief valve provided for installation in an opening in a motor vehicle body. In particular, the valve is configured to allow a volume of air to flow therethrough substantially equivalent to the volume of air permitted to flow through the opening if the valve was not installed therein. Furthermore, the valve is formed of flexible material for ease of installation into an opening that is smaller than the interior portion of pressure relief valve.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2002Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Cadillac Automotive Products CompangInventor: Howard R. Misner
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Patent number: 6966829Abstract: An air delivery system (10) for a vehicle (12) includes an air plenum (42) and a coupling joint (14) that is coupled to the air plenum (42). The coupling joint (14) is configured to reside between and is hidden by overlapping sections (34,36) of a vehicle housing (16). An air transfer device (50) passes air through the air plenum (42) and the coupling joint (14).Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2004Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Michael J. Hier, Glenn A. Cowelchuk
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Patent number: 6963484Abstract: An airflow blocker component of an apparatus in one example is coupled with a support component. The airflow blocker component comprises a flexible flap portion that is bendable away from the support component into a position that directs one or more airflow portions to promote an increased cooling of one or more thermal components.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2003Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Michael Alan Brooks, Jeremy Wilson
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Patent number: 6960129Abstract: A conditioned vestibule for a cold storage doorway is disclosed. The vestibule includes a frame that supports inner and outer moveable door-forming members. The vestibule also includes a heater that circulates air between the inner and outer door-forming members and a variable-speed fan that varies flow of the air between the inner and outer door-forming members. In one embodiment, the airflow from the fan increases upon the opening of the door-forming members and decreases upon the closing of the door-forming members.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2004Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignee: HCR IncorporatedInventors: Paul Ashley, Colin D. Johnstone, Peter R. Smith
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Patent number: 6960126Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a fume hood. A containment condition, i.e., a condition that may affect containment of potentially harmful substances in the hood, may be detected, and information regarding the detected condition sent by wireless signal. A fume hood controller may control at least airflow in the hood base on the information contained in the wireless signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2002Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Mehul Desai
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Patent number: 6960130Abstract: A fabric air duct of an HVAC system includes a discharge air register with an air deflector that extends along the length of the duct. Rotating or twisting the deflector adjusts the volume and/or direction of the air being discharged from the register. Even though the deflector is disposed inside the duct, the deflector can be twisted or rotated by manipulating the exterior fabric wall of the duct.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2003Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding CorporationInventors: Kevin J. Gebke, Robert J. Harter, Matthew C. McNeill
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Patent number: 6960128Abstract: In an air shower apparatus, an inlet duct guides the air so that the air is directed along a first flow axis of the air, and a variable condition area communicates fluidly with the air flowing out from the inlet duct at at least one side in a direction perpendicular to the first flow axis, to generate a fluctuation at the variable condition area in at least one of a pressure to be applied to the air flowing out from the inlet duct at the variable condition area and a mass flow rate of a supplemental air to be applied from the variable condition area onto the air flowing out of the inlet duct in a fluctuating direction oblique to the first flow axis so that a second flow axis of the air passing the variable condition area is frequently deflected from the first flow axis by the fluctuation.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2003Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Honda, Yoko Shimizu, Hiroshi Matsuda, Hiroshi Mukai
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Patent number: 6958010Abstract: A fan unit centrally located within a crawl space includes a fan, a fan motor, an inlet grill, and an outlet grill. A timer connected in the power supply activates the fan motor at periodic predetermined time intervals to move the crawl space air through the fan unit. The fan unit is located and orientated to create a negative pressure to pull air into the crawl space through wall inlet vents and to also create a positive pressure to force air out of the crawl space through wall outlet vents. An outside humidity sensor can be used to insure the outside air has a lower percent humidity than that desired in the crawl space and an inside humidity sensor is used to turn the fan unit off if the crawl space humidity is below an acceptable limit. A temperature sensor is used to turn the fan unit off when the crawl space air temperature gets too low.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2004Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: TB&B PartnersInventor: Timothy A. Reese