Patents by Inventor Dale E. Fiene

Dale E. Fiene 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: 7467888
    Abstract: A power supply module for a lighting system is directly mountable onto a special cover plate for a standard electrical junction box. The power supply module is provided with a plug assembly that mates with a socket assembly incorporated within the special cover plate. The power supply circuit provides an electronically power limited output through multi-conductor connectors. The power supply output is used to connect to luminaires using a multi-conductor cable having multi-conductor connectors that mate with the multi-conductor connectors on the power supply and the luminaires. The luminaires use a circuit to interface between the power supply output and the lamp. The special cover plate is also suitable for receiving a plug assembly incorporated within the base of a lighting base module that can provide temporary incandescent or gas-discharge lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Inventor: Dale E. Fiene
  • Patent number: 7445353
    Abstract: A low cost under-cabinet and display case lighting system that permits the highest degree of flexibility in the installation and location of luminaires for under-cabinet and display case lighting. The system consists of a high-frequency power source, an interconnection cord, and one or more high-frequency luminaires. The high-frequency power source is powered from a source of 50 or 60 Hertz power. The interconnection cord is connected to the high-frequency output of high-frequency power source. The high-frequency luminaires are mounted in the desired locations under the cabinets or display case shelves. Any number of high-frequency luminaires (within the capacity of the high-frequency power source) may be added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Inventor: Dale E. Fiene
  • Patent number: 7270441
    Abstract: A luminaire has a ballasting circuit assembly for a gas discharge lamp, with an input power connector assembly suitable for receiving and connecting with a mating multi-conductor connector assembly. A ballasting circuit in the ballasting circuit assembly is suitable for powering a gas discharge lamp. Output leads suitable for connecting to a gas-discharge lamp socket with the wiring therefore are contained within the luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Inventor: Dale E. Fiene
  • Patent number: 7184251
    Abstract: A power supply assembly for a lighting system is directly mountable onto a standard electrical junction box. The power supply circuit provides an electronically power limited output through multi-conductor power connectors. The power supply assembly is used as part of a lighting system. The power supply output is used to connect to luminaires using a multi-conductor cable having multi-conductor power connectors which mate with the multi-conductor power connectors on the power supply and luminaire. The luminaires use a circuit to interface between the power supply output and the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Inventor: Dale E. Fiene
  • Patent number: 6860617
    Abstract: A luminaire for ceilings, which permits improved packing density for warehousing and shipping. The reflector of the luminaire is designed to permit it to be shipped in a flattened or nested state. This increases the packing density and eliminates shipping and warehousing boxes whose volume is 95% air. An assembled luminaire comprises three or four parts: the reflector, a ballasted-socket, a lamp, and an optional diffuser or lens. The reflector, ballasted-socket, lamp, and optional lens are either shipped separately in bulk packs or shipped in kits containing the one or more sets of components to build the luminaire. When the luminaires are installed at the job site, a ballasted-socket is inserted into a mounting aperture in the reflector; a lamp is inserted into the ballasted-socket; the ballasted-socket is connected to a power source, and the assembly is placed into the ceiling opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventor: Dale E. Fiene
  • Patent number: 6814462
    Abstract: A low cost under-cabinet and display case lighting system that permits the highest degree of flexibility in the installation and location of luminaires for under-cabinet and display case lighting. The system consists of a high-frequency power source, an interconnection cord, and one or more high-frequency luminaires. The high-frequency power source is powered from a source of 50 or 60 Hertz power. The interconnection cord is connected to the high-frequency output of high-frequency power source. The high-frequency luminaires are mounted in the desired locations under the cabinets or display case shelves. The interconnecting cord is then routed to each of the high-frequency luminaires and placed over the input terminals. The protective cover is then forced over the interconnecting cord in the area of the input terminals forcing the input terminals to pierce and displace the insulation of the cord and make contact with the conductors within the interconnecting cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Inventor: Dale E Fiene
  • Publication number: 20040174701
    Abstract: A low cost under-cabinet and display case lighting system that permits the highest degree of flexibility in the installation and location of luminaires for under-cabinet and display case lighting. The system consists of a high-frequency power source, an interconnection cord, and one or more high-frequency luminaires. The high-frequency power source is powered from a source of 50 or 60 Hertz power. The interconnection cord is connected to the high-frequency output of high-frequency power source. The high-frequency luminaires are mounted in the desired locations under the cabinets or display case shelves. Any number of high-frequency luminaires (within the capacity of the high-frequency power source) may be added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Dale E. Fiene
  • Patent number: 6508567
    Abstract: A cover used in conjunction with a lightweight luminaire for a suspended ceiling to increase the fire rating of the luminaire. The fire-rated cover being made of the same or similar material as the fire-rated ceiling tile used in the suspended ceiling; thus, providing a fire rating for the covered luminaire that is equal to that of the rest of the ceiling system. In its simplest embodiment, the cover itself acts as the reflector of the luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Inventor: Dale E. Fiene
  • Publication number: 20030002279
    Abstract: A luminaire for ceilings, which permits improved packing density for warehousing and shipping. The reflector of the luminaire is designed to permit it to be shipped in a flattened or nested state. This increases the packing density and eliminates shipping and warehousing boxes whose volume is 95% air. An assembled luminaire comprises three or four parts: the reflector, a ballasted-socket, a lamp, and an optional diffuser or lens. The reflector, ballasted-socket, lamp, and optional lens are either shipped separately in bulk packs or shipped in kits containing the one or more sets of components to build the luminaire. When the luminaires are installed at the job site, a ballasted-socket is inserted into a mounting aperture in the reflector; a lamp is inserted into the ballasted-socket; the ballasted-socket is connected to a power source, and the assembly is placed into the ceiling opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Dale E. Fiene
  • Patent number: 6439736
    Abstract: A luminaire for suspended ceilings, which permits improved packing density for warehousing and shipping. The reflector of the luminaire is designed to permit it to be shipped in a flattened state. This increases the packing density and eliminates shipping and warehousing boxes whose volume is 95% air. The reflector is typically a single sheet including a top plane with hinged side panels that snap together with interlocking tabs. An assembled luminaire comprises three or four parts: the reflector, a ballasted-socket, a lamp, and an optional diffuser or lens. The reflector, ballasted-socket, lamp, and optional diffuser or lens are either shipped separately in bulk packs or shipped in kits containing the one or more sets of components to build the luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Dale E. Fiene
  • Patent number: 6435693
    Abstract: A troffer which can be shipped to the retailer or job site in several pieces and assembled on site. The reflector portion of the troffer is shaped, such that, one reflector can be shipped within another. This allows any number of reflectors to be nested together to increase the packing density for shipping and warehousing. Thus, a dozen troffers can be packaged together in a volume only slightly greater than a. single conventional troffer. The assembly of the troffer is accomplished by merely clipping one or more ballasted-sockets into the troffer's reflector and the inserting lamps into the ballasted-socket. The assembly is then set into the ceiling grid and connected to the power source. If a diffuser or lens is desired, it is merely placed into the ceiling grid prior to the rest of the troffer's reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Dale E Fiene
  • Patent number: 6260981
    Abstract: A luminaire design for suspended ceilings, which permits improved packing density for the warehousing and shipping. The assembled luminaire comprises three or four parts: a reflector, a ballasted-socket, a lamp, and an optional diffuser or lens. The tapered design of the reflector allows the reflectors to be stored and transported with one reflector nested within another; therefore, a stack of a dozen luminaires take up only slightly more volume than one conventional luminaire. When the luminaires are installed at the job site, a ballasted-socket is clipped into a mounting hole in the reflector, a lamp is inserted into the socket of the ballasted-socket, this assembly is placed into the ceiling grid, and the ballasted-socket is connected to a power source. If a diffuser or lens is desired, it is merely placed in the ceiling grid before the rest of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventor: Dale E Fiene
  • Patent number: 6218962
    Abstract: An automatic garage door opener with an integral or add-on parking guide. The driver of the vehicle is provided with continuos visual feedback as to how far to drive forward into the garage by a narrow line or beam of light which appears at first on the front of the hood. The driver proceeds forward until the line or beam of light coincides with a reference position on the vehicle. The reference position can be an existing feature of the vehicle, such as, a corner of a speaker grill or it can be a target decal that is added to the vehicle at the time of installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Dale E Fiene
  • Patent number: 5041766
    Abstract: A self-oscillating half-bridge inverter is powered from a power-line-operated rectifier means providing a DC voltage with a relatively high ripple content. The inverter is loaded by way of a series-tuned high-Q LC cirucit connected across this DC voltage. A pair of fluorescenet lamps is series-connected across the tank-capacitor of the LC circuit. Also connected across the DC voltage is an arrangement of three energy-storing capacitors charged in series and discharged in parallel; which arrangement results in the current drawn from the power line being of relatively high power factor and low harmonic distortion. Charging current for the energy-storing capacitors is derived from the high frequency current flowing through the LC circuit; and charging occurs only during periods near the peak of the power line voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Ole K. Nilssen
    Inventors: Dale E. Fiene, Ole K. Nilssen
  • Patent number: 4972181
    Abstract: An A.C. powered smoke detector with supervision circuit for back-up battery. The circuit periodically and automatically, checks the power capacity of the back-up battery by momentarily disabling the D.C. power supply from applying D.C. voltage on a D.C. voltage bus while simultaneously applying a test load to the battery. If the test load voltage is too low, a low battery power capacity indication is provided. In one embodiment, the D.C. power supply is disabled by electrically disconnecting it from the battery. In another embodiment, a switch applies to effectively by pass the D.C. power supply and enable the application of the test load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Fyrnetics, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale E. Fiene