Patents by Inventor Douglas Lim Hester

Douglas Lim Hester 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: 20090298412
    Abstract: An air duct outlet includes a housing having spaced-apart top and bottom walls, and spaced-apart first and second side walls extending between the top and bottom walls to define an air passageway having an inlet and outlet. The side walls diverge from the inlet to the outlet such that an air stream flowing through the air passageway oscillates in a sweeping motion as the air stream exits from the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas F.J. Gehring, Ireneusz Jankowski, Dejan Havidic, Jeffrey A. McKerrall, Douglas Lim Hester
  • Patent number: 7278912
    Abstract: An air duct outlet housing has spaced-apart top and bottom walls, and spaced-apart first and second side walls that define an air passageway with an inlet and outlet. First and second air deflection members include elongated first and second panels with respective proximal and distal end portions. A flange extends from each distal end portion of the respective first and second panels. The first and second panel proximal ends are pivotally secured to the housing and are movable between first and second positions. The first and second panels are in face-to-face relationship with the respective first and second side walls when in respective first positions. The first and second panels extend in respective directions that are transverse to the respective first and second side walls when in respective second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Products Co.
    Inventors: Thomas F. J. Gehring, Ireneusz Jankowski, Dejan Havidic, Jeffrey A. McKerrall, Douglas Lim Hester
  • Patent number: 7195555
    Abstract: An air duct outlet includes a housing having spaced-apart top and bottom walls, and spaced-apart first and second side walls extending between the top and bottom walls to define an air passageway having an inlet and outlet. A first air return passageway is located adjacent to the first side wall, and diverts a portion of an air stream flowing through the air passageway as the air stream adheres to the first side wall. A second air return passageway is located adjacent to the second side wall, and diverts a portion of an air stream flowing through the air passageway as the air stream adheres to the second side wall. The continuous diversion of portions of an air stream flowing through the air passageway by the first and second air return passageways causes an oscillating, sweeping motion of the air stream as it exits from the air passageway outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Products Co.
    Inventors: Thomas F. J. Gehring, Ireneusz Jankowski, Dejan Havidic, Jeffrey A. McKerrall, Douglas Lim Hester
  • Patent number: 6902474
    Abstract: An air duct outlet that allows a user to redirect an air stream within a wide range of directions includes a housing having a planar first wall and a convexly-curved second wall in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship and that define an air passageway having an inlet and a flared outlet. A vane is pivotally attached within the air passageway and is movable within a range of positions that are increasingly transverse to the first wall. An air stream flowing through the air passageway is deflected by an amount that increases with each position of the vane in the range such that the air stream adheres to a portion of the second wall by an amount that increases with each position of the vane in the range and such that the air stream exits from the outlet in a direction that is increasingly transverse to a direction normal to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Products Co.
    Inventors: Thomas F. J. Gehring, Ireneusz Jankowski, Dejan Havidic, Douglas Lim Hester, Peter Dominic Lewis
  • Patent number: 6840852
    Abstract: Air duct outlets provide automatic oscillation of air flow and also allow users to manually redirect air streams. An air duct outlet includes a housing having an air passageway that terminates at an air outlet. A drive source is operably connected to a reciprocating member and transmits reciprocating motion to the reciprocating member. An air-directing vane is pivotally attached within the air passageway and is movable within a range of positions to direct an air stream flowing through the air passageway and exiting from the outlet. An actuator extends from the housing and is movable between first, second and third positions. A user can manually pivot the air-directing vane via movement of the actuator between the first and second positions. When the actuator is moved to a third position, the reciprocating member operably engages the drive arm and causes the air-directing vane to oscillate automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Products Co.
    Inventors: Thomas F. J. Gehring, Ireneusz Jankowski, Dejan Havidic, Douglas Lim Hester, Peter Dominic Lewis
  • Publication number: 20040152412
    Abstract: Air duct outlets provide automatic oscillation of air flow and also allow users to manually redirect air streams. An air duct outlet includes a housing having an air passageway that terminates at an air outlet. A drive source is operably connected to a reciprocating member and transmits reciprocating motion to the reciprocating member. An air-directing vane is pivotally attached within the air passageway and is movable within a range of positions to direct an air stream flowing through the air passageway and exiting from the outlet. An actuator extends from the housing and is movable between first, second and third positions. A user can manually pivot the air-directing vane via movement of the actuator between the first and second positions. When the actuator is moved to a third position, the reciprocating member operably engages the drive arm and causes the air-directing vane to oscillate automatically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas F. J. Gehring, Ireneusz Jankowski, Dejan Havidic, Douglas Lim Hester, Peter Dominic Lewis
  • Publication number: 20040152411
    Abstract: An air duct outlet that allows a user to redirect an air stream within a wide range of directions includes a housing having a planar first wall and a convexly-curved second wall in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship and that define an air passageway having an inlet and a flared outlet. A vane is pivotally attached within the air passageway and is movable within a range of positions that are increasingly transverse to the first wall. An air stream flowing through the air passageway is deflected by an amount that increases with each position of the vane in the range such that the air stream adheres to a portion of the second wall by an amount that increases with each position of the vane in the range and such that the air stream exits from the outlet in a direction that is increasingly transverse to a direction normal to the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas F.J. Gehring, Ireneusz Jankowski, Dejan Havidic, Douglas Lim Hester, Peter Dominic Lewis