Patents by Inventor E. Carl Sprengle

E. Carl Sprengle 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: 6692187
    Abstract: A flood gate is provided that includes a frame defining a fluid passageway, a door pivotally mounted in the frame for movement between a plurality of open positions to permit flow of fluid therethrough, and at least one latching mechanism for holding the door in the closed position. The latching mechanism can release the door when the fluid force meets a preset level, by floatation, or by flow actuation. In addition, the latching mechanism can reset the door to the closed position when the fluid force acting on the door drops below the preset level. The door can include a ventilation opening, an automatic louver assembly for controlling air flow through the ventilation opening and a screen covering the ventilation opening. The flood gate may include a retention mechanism for preventing the door from opening when the structure in which the flood gate is mounted, such as an overhead garage door is rotated or otherwise moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Smart Vent, Inc.
    Inventors: E. Carl Sprengle, Sr., E. Carl Sprengle, Jr., Michael Graham
  • Publication number: 20030082008
    Abstract: A flood gate is provided that includes a frame defining a fluid passageway, a door pivotally mounted in the frame for movement between a plurality of open positions to permit flow of fluid therethrough, and at least one latching mechanism for holding the door in the closed position. The latching mechanism can release the door when the fluid force meets a preset level, by floatation, or by flow actuation. In addition, the latching mechanism can reset the door to the closed position when the fluid force acting on the door drops below the preset level. The door can include a ventilation opening, an automatic louver assembly for controlling air flow through the ventilation opening and a screen covering the ventilation opening. The flood gate may include a retention mechanism for preventing the door from opening when the structure in which the flood gate is mounted, such as an overhead garage door is rotated or otherwise moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: E. Carl Sprengle, E. Carl Sprengle, Michael Graham
  • Patent number: 6485231
    Abstract: A flood gate is provided which includes a frame defining a fluid passageway therethrough, a door pivotally mounted in the frame for movement between a plurality of open positions to permit flow of fluid therethrough, and at least one latching mechanism for holding the door in the closed position. The latching mechanism can sense a fluid force acting on the door and can release the door when the fluid force meets a preset level. In addition, the latching mechanism can reset the door to the closed position when the fluid force acting on the door drops below the preset level. The door can include a ventilation opening, an automatic louver assembly for controlling air flow through the ventilation opening and a screen covering the ventilation opening. The automatic louver assembly can contain at least one louver, a temperature sensitive actuating device and a member connecting the louver to the temperature sensitive actuating device and can open and close in response to ambient temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Smart Vent, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin J. Montgomery, E. Carl Sprengle, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20020021941
    Abstract: A flood gate is provided which includes a frame defining a fluid passageway therethrough, a door pivotally mounted in the frame for movement between a plurality of open positions to permit flow of fluid therethrough, and at least one latching mechanism for holding the door in the closed position. The latching mechanism can sense a fluid force acting on the door and can release the door when the fluid force meets a preset level. In addition, the latching mechanism can reset the door to the closed position when the fluid force acting on the door drops below the preset level. The door can include a ventilation opening, an automatic louver assembly for controlling air flow through the ventilation opening and a screen covering the ventilation opening. The automatic louver assembly can contain at least one louver, a temperature sensitive actuating device and a member connecting the louver to the temperature sensitive actuating device and can open and close in response to ambient temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Martin J. Montgomery, E. Carl Sprengle,
  • Patent number: 6287050
    Abstract: A flood gate for use in a foundation crawl space and the like comprises a frame having side walls defining a fluid passageway therethrough, a door pivotally mounted in the frame for bidirectional rotation between two open positions and a closed position therebetween to permit tidal water flow therethrough, and at least one catching assembly for holding the door in the closed position against a minimum level of pressure of the tidal water flow. Tidal flood waters exceeding the minimum pressure level are automatically vented through the crawl space and the like reducing a risk of structural damage from the tidal flood waters. The flood gate can further comprise a door having a ventilation opening, an automatic louver assembly for controlling air flow through the opening, and a screen covering the opening. The automatic louver assembly opens and closes responsive to ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Smart Vent, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin J. Montgomery, E. Carl Sprengle