Patents by Inventor Christian P. Stevens

Christian P. Stevens 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).

  • Patent number: 7168211
    Abstract: In a tubular skylight, an Aluminum sheet having corrugations that may be in a waffle pattern is formed with a hole that is pressed into a curb which is fastened over the turret of a roof-mounted skylight flashing. Roof tiles above the dome of the skylight are placed onto the sheet, while below the dome the sheet is placed over roof tiles and manually conformed thereto, owing to the corrugations. Any water that leaks past tiles above the dome will be directed by the sheet around the curb and down onto the tops of tiles that are below the dome, thereby providing a water seal for the skylight. Clips can be used to hold the lower edge of the sheet onto the tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Prenn, David W. Rillie, Christian P. Stevens
  • Patent number: 7082726
    Abstract: A valve for selectively blocking the light passageway of a skylight includes a cylindrical shroud and first and second semicircular butterfly valve elements that pivot on respective axles within the shroud to selectively block the skylight. The axles can ride on a common motor-driven cam between a horizontal orientation to block the skylight and a vertical orientation to allow light to pass. The motor can be powered by a universal power supply that can operate at anywhere from below 100 volts to above 270 volts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Prenn, Christian P. Stevens, Michael W. Muhlestein
  • Patent number: 7040061
    Abstract: In a tubular skylight, a corrugated Aluminum sheet is formed with a hole that is pressed into a curb which is fastened over the turret of a roof-mounted skylight flashing. Roof tiles above the dome of the skylight are placed onto the sheet, while below the dome the sheet is placed over roof tiles and manually conformed thereto, owing to the corrugations. Any water that leaks past tiles above the dome will be directed by the sheet around the curb and down onto the tops of tiles that are below the dome, thereby providing a water seal for the skylight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Rillie, Joseph W. Prenn, Michael W. Muhlestein, Christian P. Stevens
  • Patent number: 6438803
    Abstract: Various skylight connectors are disclosed. A sheet is integrally formed with tabs along opposed axial edges of the sheet, and the sheet can be bent into a tubular configuration with the tabs along one edge engaging tab holes along the other edge and vice-versa to hold the sheet in the tubular configuration. Also, a skylight dome fastener adaptor includes a hollow body, and ribs are formed on the outer surface to engage a hole in a skylight dome to impede rotation of the body in the hole when a fastener is disposed in the adaptor and threadably engaged with a dome flashing. Additionally, various quick connect zip ties and clips are disclosed for quickly and easily engaging components of a skylight assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Rillie, Joseph W. Prenn, Philip Edward Warren, Christian P. Stevens, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Patent number: 6415563
    Abstract: Various skylight connectors are disclosed. A sheet is integrally formed with tabs along opposed axial edges of the sheet, and the sheet can be bent into a tubular configuration with the tabs along one edge engaging tab holes along the other edge and vice-versa to hold the sheet in the tubular configuration. Also, a skylight dome fastener adaptor includes a hollow body, and ribs are formed on the outer surface to engage a hole in a skylight dome to impede rotation of the body in the hole when a fastener is disposed in the adaptor and threadably engaged with a dome flashing. Additionally, various quick connect zip ties and clips are disclosed for quickly and easily engaging components of a skylight assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Rillie, Joseph W. Prenn, Philip Edward Warren, Christian P. Stevens, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Patent number: 6412238
    Abstract: Various skylight connectors are disclosed. A sheet is integrally formed with tabs along opposed axial edges of the sheet, and the sheet can be bent into a tubular configuration with the tabs along one edge engaging tab holes along the other edge and vice-versa to hold the sheet in the tubular configuration. Also, a skylight dome fastener adaptor includes a hollow body, and ribs are formed on the outer surface to engage a hole in a skylight dome to impede rotation of the body in the hole when a fastener is disposed in the adaptor and threadably engaged with a dome flashing. Additionally, various quick connect zip ties and clips are disclosed for quickly and easily engaging components of a skylight assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Rillie, Joseph W. Prenn, Philip Edward Warren, Christian P. Stevens, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Patent number: 6363668
    Abstract: Various skylight connectors are disclosed. A sheet is integrally formed with tabs along opposed axial edges of the sheet, and the sheet can be bent into a tubular configuration with the tabs along one edge engaging tab holes along the other edge and vice-versa to hold the sheet in the tubular configuration. Also, a skylight dome fastener adaptor includes a hollow body, and ribs are formed on the outer surface to engage a hole in a skylight dome to impede rotation of the body in the hole when a fastener is disposed in the adaptor and threadably engaged with a dome flashing. Additionally, various quick connect zip ties and clips are disclosed for quickly and easily engaging components of a skylight assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Rillie, Joseph W. Prenn, Philip Edward Warren, Christian P. Stevens, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Publication number: 20010052209
    Abstract: Various skylight connectors are disclosed. A sheet is integrally formed with tabs along opposed axial edges of the sheet, and the sheet can be bent into a tubular configuration with the tabs along one edge engaging tab holes along the other edge and vice-versa to hold the sheet in the tubular configuration. Also, a skylight dome fastener adaptor includes a hollow body, and ribs are formed on the outer surface to engage a hole in a skylight dome to impede rotation of the body in the hole when a fastener is disposed in the adaptor and threadably engaged with a dome flashing. Additionally, various quick connect zip ties and clips are disclosed for quickly and easily engaging components of a skylight assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Rillie, Joseph W. Prenn, Philip Edward Warren, Christian P. Stevens, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Publication number: 20010052208
    Abstract: Various skylight connectors are disclosed. A sheet is integrally formed with tabs along opposed axial edges of the sheet, and the sheet can be bent into a tubular configuration with the tabs along one edge engaging tab holes along the other edge and vice-versa to hold the sheet in the tubular configuration. Also, a skylight dome fastener adaptor includes a hollow body, and ribs are formed on the outer surface to engage a hole in a skylight dome to impede rotation of the body in the hole when a fastener is disposed in the adaptor and threadably engaged with a dome flashing. Additionally, various quick connect zip ties and clips are disclosed for quickly and easily engaging components of a skylight assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Rillie, Joseph W. Prenn, Philip Edward Warren, Christian P. Stevens, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Publication number: 20010049916
    Abstract: Various skylight connectors are disclosed. A sheet is integrally formed with tabs along opposed axial edges of the sheet, and the sheet can be bent into a tubular configuration with the tabs along one edge engaging tab holes along the other edge and vice-versa to hold the sheet in the tubular configuration. Also, a skylight dome fastener adaptor includes a hollow body, and ribs are formed on the outer surface to engage a hole in a skylight dome to impede rotation of the body in the hole when a fastener is disposed in the adaptor and threadably engaged with a dome flashing. Additionally, various quick connect zip ties and clips are disclosed for quickly and easily engaging components of a skylight assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Applicant: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Rillie, Joseph W. Prenn, Philip Edward Warren, Christian P. Stevens, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Publication number: 20010049915
    Abstract: Various skylight connectors are disclosed. A sheet is integrally formed with tabs along opposed axial edges of the sheet, and the sheet can be bent into a tubular configuration with the tabs along one edge engaging tab holes along the other edge and vice-versa to hold the sheet in the tubular configuration. Also, a skylight dome fastener adaptor includes a hollow body, and ribs are formed on the outer surface to engage a hole in a skylight dome to impede rotation of the body in the hole when a fastener is disposed in the adaptor and threadably engaged with a dome flashing. Additionally, various quick connect zip ties and clips are disclosed for quickly and easily engaging components of a skylight assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Applicant: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Rillie, Joseph W. Prenn, Philip Edward Warren, Christian P. Stevens, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Publication number: 20010049914
    Abstract: Various skylight connectors are disclosed. A sheet is integrally formed with tabs along opposed axial edges of the sheet, and the sheet can be bent into a tubular configuration with the tabs along one edge engaging tab holes along the other edge and vice-versa to hold the sheet in the tubular configuration. Also, a skylight dome fastener adaptor includes a hollow body, and ribs are formed on the outer surface to engage a hole in a skylight dome to impede rotation of the body in the hole when a fastener is disposed in the adaptor and threadably engaged with a dome flashing. Additionally, various quick connect zip ties and clips are disclosed for quickly and easily engaging components of a skylight assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventors: David W. Rillie, Joseph W. Prenn, Philip Edward Warren, Christian P. Stevens, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Patent number: 6321493
    Abstract: Various skylight connectors are disclosed. A sheet is integrally formed with tabs along opposed axial edges of the sheet, and the sheet can be bent into a tubular configuration with the tabs along one edge engaging tab holes along the other edge and vice-versa to hold the sheet in the tubular configuration. Also, a skylight dome fastener adaptor includes a hollow body, and ribs are formed on the outer surface to engage a hole in a skylight dome to impede rotation of the body in the hole when a fastener is disposed in the adaptor and threadably engaged with a dome flashing. Additionally, various quick connect zip ties and clips are disclosed for quickly and easily engaging components of a skylight assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Solatube International Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Rillie, Joseph W. Prenn, Philip Edward Warren, Christian P. Stevens, Bing-Ling Chao
  • Patent number: 6219977
    Abstract: A tubular skylight is coupled to rectangular opening of a ceiling support grid by an adaptor. The adaptor includes a ring-shaped tube segment, a rectangular-shaped ceiling segment, and a frustum-shaped intermediate segment connecting the upper segment and ceiling segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, Christian P. Stevens, Joseph W. Prenn
  • Patent number: 6035593
    Abstract: A tube assembly of a tubular skylight is formed with upper and lower notches for respectively snappingly engaging tabs of upper and lower support rings to promote ease of installation. The upper support ring has a flange that overlaps the edge of a roof-mounted flashing such that the upper support ring rests on the flashing with the tube assembly suspended from the upper support ring. A transparent cover covers the tube assembly, and an upper seal is sandwiched between the top edge of the flashing, the cover, and the upper support ring to keep moisture and dust from entering the upper end of the skylight. Screws secure the flashing to the upper support ring, with spacers being disposed around the shanks of the screws between the heads of the screws and the flashing such that thermal expansion can be absorbed. On the lower end of the tube assembly, a dress ring supports a light diffuser, and the dress ring includes spring clips that snappingly engage receptacles on the lower support ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, David W. Rillie, Joseph W. Prenn, Christian P. Stevens
  • Patent number: 5896713
    Abstract: A tubular skylight is supported in a building between the ceiling and the roof of the building by a support ring that is connected to the ceiling joists or to the ceiling dry wall. Specifically, a tube ring is engaged with the tube of the skylight to in turn engage the support ring and thereby support the tube. Also, the skylight includes a cover seal that establishes a seal between the roof dome of the skylight and the tube, and that also spaces the flashing of the skylight from the tube to prevent galvanic corrosion and to inhibit heat transfer between the flashing and the tube. The tube includes an upper segment that receives a lower segment, and an expansion seal is positioned between the segments such that the segments can move relative to each other to absorb thermal stresses, with the expansion seal maintaining a seal between the segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Solatube International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing-Ling Chao, David W. Rillie, Joseph W. Prenn, Christian P. Stevens