Patents by Inventor Mark Kitterman

Mark Kitterman 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: 10731406
    Abstract: Embodiments of a panel-less shutter assembly comprise a series of parallel louvers mounted within a closed rectangular rail frame. Spring-loaded guides may be mounted between the rail frame and the window frame to self-center the assembly within the opening of the window frame. Carriers mounted on the ends of the louvers glide up and down within channels of the side rails to allow raising and lowering of the louvers. Spring-loaded channel slides may be coupled to the carriers. The channel slides have tabs that extend through slots in the side rails to maintain the positions of the louvers relative to the side rails. The tabs have a diagonal surface that engages the top edge of the slot to disengage the tab from the slot when a user raises the louvers. A method of using a panel-less shutter assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventors: Mark Kitterman, Aaron W. Kitterman
  • Patent number: 9267320
    Abstract: A panelless shutter is provided, the panelless shutter including a window frame and a plurality of louvers horizontally mounted within the window frame in a parallel configuration, each louver having a first end and a second end. The panelless shutter also includes a louver mechanism comprising a plurality of rotatable members slideably retained within a track and a gear shaft operably coupled to each rotatable member, wherein the rotatable members are coupled to the first end of each louver of the plurality of louvers and the gear shaft rotates each of the plurality of louvers substantially simultaneously. The shutter further includes a louver retainer rotatably securing the second end of each louver of the plurality of louvers, the louver retainer allowing the rotation and vertical sliding of each louver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Kitterman
  • Patent number: 9027628
    Abstract: A shutter-blind system for windows is provided. The system includes a frame and a plurality of rotatable parallel louvers coupled within the frame. Each louver of the plurality of louvers is operatively coupled to adjacent louvers with a collapsible linkage. The system may further comprise a biasing member coupled to a first louver located at a first end of the plurality of louvers and a resisting member coupled to a second louver located at a second end of the plurality of louvers. The biasing member pulls against the resisting member to maintain tension in the collapsible linkage. According to certain embodiments, the frame elements are coupled within a window opening and trim elements are coupled to cover gaps between the frame elements and the window opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Comfortex Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Watkins, Jason Vandervoort, John Corey, Mark Kitterman, Thomas Marusak
  • Publication number: 20140033610
    Abstract: A shutter-blind system for windows is provided. The system includes a frame and a plurality of rotatable parallel louvers coupled within the frame. Each louver of the plurality of louvers is operatively coupled to adjacent louvers with a collapsible linkage. The system may further comprise a biasing member coupled to a first louver located at a first end of the plurality of louvers and a resisting member coupled to a second louver located at a second end of the plurality of louvers. The biasing member pulls against the resisting member to maintain tension in the collapsible linkage. According to certain embodiments, the frame elements are coupled within a window opening and trim elements are coupled to cover gaps between the frame elements and the window opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: COMFORTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Watkins, Jason Vandervoort, John Corey, Mark Kitterman, Thomas Marusak
  • Publication number: 20120233924
    Abstract: A panelless shutter is provided, the panelless shutter including a window frame and a plurality of louvers horizontally mounted within the window frame in a parallel configuration, each louver having a first end and a second end. The panelless shutter also includes a louver mechanism comprising a plurality of rotatable members slideably retained within a track and a gear shaft operably coupled to each rotatable member, wherein the rotatable members are coupled to the first end of each louver of the plurality of louvers and the gear shaft rotates each of the plurality of louvers substantially simultaneously. The shutter further includes a louver retainer rotatably securing the second end of each louver of the plurality of louvers, the louver retainer allowing the rotation and vertical sliding of each louver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Mark Kitterman
  • Patent number: 8201609
    Abstract: A panelless shutter is provided, the panelless shutter including a window frame and a plurality of louvers horizontally mounted within the window frame in a parallel configuration, each louver having a first end and a second end. The panelless shutter also includes a louver mechanism comprising a plurality of rotatable members slideably retained within a track and a gear shaft operably coupled to each rotatable member, wherein the rotatable members are coupled to the first end of each louver of the plurality of louvers and the gear shaft rotates each of the plurality of louvers substantially simultaneously. The shutter further includes a louver retainer rotatably securing the second end of each louver of the plurality of louvers, the louver retainer allowing the rotation and vertical sliding of each louver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Inventor: Mark Kitterman
  • Patent number: D1016854
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Behrad Ghodsi, Leanne Fried, Paul Kitterman, Mark Lambach, Amy Cross