Patents by Inventor Andrew R. Fox

Andrew R. Fox has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20170246583
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to air filters. More particularly, it relates to adjustably sized air filter systems capable of use in a window opening. Some embodiments relate to a filter media assembly configured in a roll. In some embodiments, the filter media assembly includes a filter media having a leading end opposite a trailing end and first and second opposed side edges extending between the leading end and the trailing end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Glen O. Gregerson, Jonathan S. Langer, Jason S. Lind, Jonathan M. Lise, David J. Prince, Yu Wen Sun, Weilai Jiang
  • Publication number: 20170241192
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to air filters. More particularly, it relates to adjustably sized air filter systems useable in window opening. Some exemplary window air filter assemblies include two u-shaped frame members that can be coupled to form an adjustable frame assembly; and a filter media assembly that is attachable to the frame assembly and that includes an adjustable length media. The window filter assemblies are capable of moving between a collapsed state to an expanded state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Weilai Jiang, Bryan L. Gerhardt, Nicolas A. Echeverri
  • Publication number: 20170241656
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to powered window air filters. More particularly, it relates to air filter systems capable of use in a window opening. Some embodiments relate to an adjustably sized air filter. Some embodiments include a filter assembly including filter media and a fan and/or control unit that forces air through the filter media in the filter assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Jonathan S. Langer, Weilai Jiang, Yu Wen Sun, Nicolas A. Echeverri
  • Publication number: 20170241193
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to adjustably sized air filter systems capable of use in a window opening. The present disclosure also related to methods of making and using these adjustably sized air filter systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Nicolas A. Echeverri, Jonathan M. Lise, Changwen Li, Liang Cheng, Kannan Seshadri
  • Publication number: 20170241054
    Abstract: Spunbonded electret webs comprising polylactic acid fibers, in which at least some of the polylactic acid fibers are meltspun, drawn, charged fibers that include charging additive; and, methods of making such fibers and webs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Liming Song, Sachin Talwar, John D. Stelter, John M. Sebastian, Nathan E. Schultz, Eric M. Moore, Fuming B. Li, Andrew R. Fox, Michael R. Berrigan, Zackary J. Becker
  • Publication number: 20170216756
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to air filters. More particularly, it relates to air filters including pleated filter media that can be uniformly expanded and contracted. In some embodiments, the air filters are adjustably sized air filter systems. In some embodiments, the air filters can be used in a window opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Glen O. Gregerson, Bryan L. Gerhardt
  • Publication number: 20170182445
    Abstract: A frame assembly for releasably maintaining an air filter. In some embodiments, the frame assembly includes a thermoformed body integrally forming a base, opposing side walls, opposing end walls, and at least one closure sub-assembly. The frame assembly is configured to releasable retain an air filter relative to the base via the closure sub-assembly. In other embodiments, the frame assembly defines, in a flat state, foldable side and end panels at the perimeter edges of a central grid panel; the frame assembly can be transitioned to a final state for receiving an air filter by folding the panels. The frame assemblies of the present disclosure are re-usable, allowing a user to replace a “used” air filter with a “new” air filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Zhiqun Zhang, Andrew R. Fox, Nicolas A. Echeverri, Gary N. Eastlund
  • Publication number: 20170128873
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to air filter use indicators capable of indicating the degree of use of an air filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Glen O. Gregerson, Andrew R. Fox, Nicolas A. Echeverri
  • Publication number: 20170065923
    Abstract: A filtration medium including a polymeric netting of polymeric ribbons and polymeric strands. Each of the polymeric ribbons and strands has a length and width, with the length being the longest dimension and the width being the shortest dimension. The polymeric ribbons have a height-to-width aspect ratio of at least three to one or five to one a major surface that is intermittently bonded to a polymeric strand, and a height typically greater than the height of the one polymeric strand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Lori-Ann S. Prioleau, Ronald W. Ausen, Zhiqun Zhang, William J. Kopecky, Leigh E. Wood, Michelle L. Legatt
  • Publication number: 20170028338
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to improving or overcoming at least one problem in existing air filters by including at least one folding structure in or on the air filter. The folding structure is capable of being bent to enable the air filter to be wrapped around or secured to a, for example, washing net. The folding structure can also hold the air filter securely to the, for example, washing net.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Liming Xin, Andrew R. Fox, Liang Cheng, Changwen Li, Rui Chen
  • Patent number: 9539532
    Abstract: An air filter for use in a residential HVAC system includes filtration media including a base layer and a sorbent layer including adhesive fibers and sorbent particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Jonathan M. Lise
  • Publication number: 20160310884
    Abstract: An air quality indicator for indicating high fine particle levels in an environment of interest. The indicator includes a frame maintaining first and second air filter media. The first air filter medium differs from the second air filter medium at least in terms of a change in visual appearance (e.g., color) when subjected to air flow containing fine particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Liming Xin
  • Publication number: 20160263515
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to air filters expandable from a collapsed arrangement to an expanded, end-use arrangement and to methods of making, using, and installing such air filters. Some embodiments relate to an air filter having an expanded state and a collapsed state. The air filter includes a filter media assembly including (1) filter media including a plurality of pleats, (2) first and second opposing sides, and (3) first and second opposing ends. The air filter also includes a shape retention structure capable of being connected to at least a portion of the filter media assembly and capable of retention the filter media assembly in the expanded state. A spacing distance between adjacent pleats in the filter media is greater in the expanded state of the air filter than in the collapsed state of the air filter. In some embodiments, the air filter is an HVAC air filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Zhiqun Zhang, Andrew R. Fox, Matthew T. Scholz, Gene B. Portelli, Nicolas A. Echeverri, Amanda B. Dauphinais, Leonard M. Martinez, Stephen M. Sanocki, Kannan Seshadri
  • Publication number: 20160206984
    Abstract: High loft nonwoven webs including a population of substantially continuous mono-component melt-spun filaments, wherein the nonwoven web exhibits a Solidity of less than eight percent with a weight normalized cross direction (CD) tensile greater than 10 Newtons per 100 grams per square meter of web weight (10 N/100 gsm), and wherein the nonwoven web is substantially free of gap-formed fibers, crimped fibers, staple fibers, and bi-component fibers. High loft spun-bond nonwoven webs can be advantageously used in filtration articles. Methods of making high loft spun-bond nonwoven webs, and filtration articles including high loft spun-bond webs made according to the methods, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Michael R. Berrigan, Zackary J. Becker, John D. Stelter, Francis E. Porbeni, Liming Song, Andrew R. Fox
  • Publication number: 20160144312
    Abstract: A nestable framed pleated air filter, including a non-self-supporting, compressible, pleated air filter media with a plurality of oppositely-facing pleats and with a plurality of upstream pleat tips and downstream pleat tips and downstream pleat valleys, the pleated air filter media further including a plurality of bridging filaments that are bonded to at least some of the upstream pleat tips. The filter includes a frame with sidewalls that are angled so that the framed pleated air filter is nestable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Jonathan M. Lise, John J. Rogers, Stephen M. Sanocki, Kannan Seshadri
  • Patent number: 9278301
    Abstract: A nestable framed pleated air filter, including a non-self-supporting, compressible, pleated air filter media with a plurality of oppositely-facing pleats and with a plurality of upstream pleat tips and downstream pleat tips and downstream pleat valleys, the pleated air filter media further including a plurality of bridging filaments that are bonded to at least some of the upstream pleat tips. The filter includes a frame with sidewalls that are angled so that the framed pleated air filter is nestable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Fox, Jonathan M. Lise, John J. Rogers, Stephen M. Sanocki, Kannan Seshadri
  • Patent number: 9174159
    Abstract: A framed pleated air filter, including a non-self-supporting, compressible, pleated air filter media with a plurality of oppositely-facing pleats and with a plurality of upstream pleat tips and downstream pleat tips, the pleated air filter media further including a plurality of bridging filaments that are bonded to at least some of the upstream pleat tips. The framed pleated air filter does not include any support member on the downstream face of the pleated air filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen M. Sanocki, Andrew R. Fox, Jonathan M. Lise, John J. Rogers, Kannan Seshadri
  • Publication number: 20150267927
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to air filter systems and air filters. More particularly, it relates to air filter systems capable of transitioning from a collapsed arrangement to an expanded arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Zhiqun Zhang, Nicholas A. Echeverri, Andrew R. Fox
  • Publication number: 20150265957
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to air filter frames. In some embodiments, the air filter frames are nestable. Nestable air filter frames of the type described herein offer significantly reduced shipping volume, and thus shipping costs, while also providing cost-effective manufacturing. Some embodiments relate to an air filter frame including a single strip of framing material forming at least two of the four major frame segments and the frame corner between the two major frame segments. In some embodiments, a single strip of framing material forms at least three of the four major frame segments and two of the frame corners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventor: Andrew R. Fox
  • Patent number: 9139940
    Abstract: A method for making a bonded nonwoven fibrous web comprising 1) providing a nonwoven fibrous web that comprises oriented semicrystalline polymeric fibers, and 2) subjecting the web to a controlled heating and quenching operation that includes a) forcefully passing through the web a fluid heated to at least the onset melting temperature of said polymeric material for a time too short to wholly melt the fibers, and b) immediately quenching the web by forcefully passing through the web a fluid at a temperature at least 50° C. less than the Nominal Melting Point of the material of the fibers. The fibers of the treated web generally have i) an amorphous-characterized phase that exhibits repeatable softening (making the fibers softenable) and ii) a crystallite-characterized phase that reinforces the fiber structure during softening of the amorphous-characterized phase, whereby the fibers may be autogenously bonded while retaining orientation and fiber structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties company
    Inventors: Michael R. Berrigan, John D. Stelter, Pamela A. Percha, Andrew R. Fox, William T. Fay