Patents by Inventor Brian R. Wellnitz

Brian R. Wellnitz 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: 20140034040
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a downdraft assembly capable of ventilating a cooktop including housing with a frame, a fluid box, and a movement assembly with a belt-lift. In some embodiments, the movement assembly can include a vertically moveable chimney. Some embodiments include a chimney with an upper and lower horizontal member and dual fluid inlets. In some embodiments, a first control panel can be coupled to the housing to activate at least one function of the downdraft assembly while remaining substantially stationary as the chimney moves. Some embodiments include a second control panel coupled chimney. Some embodiments include a visor and at least one illumination source configured and arranged to at least partially illuminate the cooktop. In some embodiments, the visor can articulate to control illumination or the flow of a cooking effluent into at least one of the dual inlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Jay F. Perkins, Sean Montag
  • Publication number: 20130337732
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a ventilation system comprising a housing that includes a plurality of panels. At least one socket can be defined through at least one of the panels and the socket can be coupled to an electricity source. In some embodiments, the ventilation system can include at least one illumination system that can include a socket interface, an extension member, and at least one illumination device. The socket interface can be configured to engage the socket and the extension member can be capable of moving in a plurality of directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Eric Williams, Jesse Allen Hollingsworth, Richard R. Simur, Brian R. Wellnitz
  • Publication number: 20120282853
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system capable of reducing negative pressure. The system includes a make-up air system that can be configured and arranged to be installed within a structure, such as a building. The system can also include a pressure switch that is configured and arranged to sense a pressure within an exhaust duct coupled to an exhaust device. The pressure switch can also be configured to communicate an activation signal and a deactivation signal to the make-up air system. In some embodiments, communication of the activation and deactivation signals can be at least partially dependent on the pressure within the exhaust duct. Moreover, the pressure switch can be configured and arranged to be retroactively coupled to at least one of the exhaust duct and the exhaust device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Tom P. Haidel, Brian R. Wellnitz
  • Publication number: 20120083198
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a fluid cleaning system. The system can include a housing capable of being coupled to a building structure. At least one first intake, at least one second intake, and at least one outlet are disposed through a portion of the housing. A ventilating assembly is supported within the housing and is capable of generating a fluid flow. In some embodiments, at least one detection apparatus is in communication with the ventilating assembly. At least one shutter is operatively coupled to the housing. The shutter is configured and arranged to move between at least a first position and a second position. At least one filter can he supported within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Broan-NuTone Company , LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Stephen Swenerton
  • Publication number: 20120052792
    Abstract: A ventilation unit for installation in a ventilation system. The ventilation unit can include a motor coupled to a fan element and a power source. The ventilation unit can also include a calibration module having one of a voltage and current regulator for adjusting the performance of the ventilation unit based on at least one characteristic of the ventilation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Broan-Nutone LLC.
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Steven A. Johnson, Brian R. Wellnitz, Mirko Zakula
  • Patent number: 7823580
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for a range hood. The apparatus can include a housing and a lighting and control unit moveably coupled to the housing. The lighting and control unit can include a user interface and one or more lights. The lighting and control unit can be coupled to a motor that can move a first face of the lighting and control unit outward during use and can move the first face of the lighting and control unit inward when not in use. Some embodiments of the invention provide a fan mounted within the housing and a louver assembly coupled to the housing. The louver assembly can include one or more rotating louvers. In some embodiments, the louver assembly can be rotated downward to access at least one of a filter, a motor, and user interface electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Broan-Nutone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Paul E. Hsu, Jay F. Perkins
  • Patent number: D521622
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Danny W. Bothe, Brian R. Wellnitz, David H. Roland, Brett Vladika
  • Patent number: D535009
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Gregg M. Davis, Jeffrey T. DeBord, Paul E. Hsu, Diana W. Juratovac, Jay F. Perkins, Sean D. Montag, Doug S. Rubel
  • Patent number: D473297
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Danny W. Bothe, Brian R. Wellnitz, David H. Roland, Brett Vladika
  • Patent number: D557397
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Brent L. Burchfield, Gregg M. Davis, Jeffrey T. DeBord, Paul E. Hsu, Diana W. Juratovac, Jay F. Perkins, Sean D. Montag
  • Patent number: D563539
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Gregg M. Davis, Jeffrey T. DeBord, Paul E. Hsu, Diana W. Juratovac, Jay F. Perkins
  • Patent number: D482769
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Danny W. Bothe, Brian R. Wellnitz, David H. Roland, Brett Vladika
  • Patent number: D676542
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Broan NuTone, LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Kiyoshi Hoshino, Brian R. Wellnitz
  • Patent number: D694386
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Jeffrey T. DeBord, Igor Zemskov, Jay F. Perkins
  • Patent number: D694387
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Jeffrey T. DeBord, Igor Zemskov, Jay F. Perkins
  • Patent number: D694388
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Jeffrey T. DeBord, Igor Zemskov, Jay F. Perkins
  • Patent number: D694389
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Jeffrey T. DeBord, Igor Zemskov, Jay F. Perkins
  • Patent number: D694390
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Jeffrey T. DeBord, Igor Zemskov, Jay F. Perkins
  • Patent number: D694391
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Jeffrey T. DeBord, Igor Zemskov, Jay F. Perkins
  • Patent number: D694392
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz, Jeffrey T. DeBord, Igor Zemskov, Jay F. Perkins