Patents by Inventor Michael A. Jacobson

Michael A. Jacobson 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: 12164220
    Abstract: Fabric drop-down diffusers are disclosed. An example drop-down diffuser includes a hoop to be supported adjacent an end of an air duct, and a first fabric sheet to hang downward from the hoop. The first fabric sheet to define a first wall of an air chamber adjacent the hoop on a side of the hoop opposite the air duct. The first fabric sheet to completely surround the air chamber along a circumferential path corresponding to the hoop. The hoop to be transverse to the air duct and positioned so that air delivered by the air duct is to pass through the hoop and into the air chamber. The drop-down diffuser also includes a second fabric sheet to be coupled to the first fabric sheet. The second fabric sheet to define a second wall of the air chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Blaine Schmidt, Kevin J. Gebke, Michael A. Jacobson, Nicholas L. Kaufmann, William A. Niehaus
  • Publication number: 20220146141
    Abstract: Fabric drop-down diffusers are disclosed. An example drop-down diffuser includes a hoop to be supported adjacent an end of an air duct, and a first fabric sheet to hang downward from the hoop. The first fabric sheet to define a first wall of an air chamber adjacent the hoop on a side of the hoop opposite the air duct. The first fabric sheet to completely surround the air chamber along a circumferential path corresponding to the hoop. The hoop to be transverse to the air duct and positioned so that air delivered by the air duct is to pass through the hoop and into the air chamber. The drop-down diffuser also includes a second fabric sheet to be coupled to the first fabric sheet. The second fabric sheet to define a second wall of the air chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Blaine Schmidt, Kevin J. Gebke, Michael A. Jacobson, Nicholas L. Kaufmann, William A. Niehaus
  • Patent number: 11231202
    Abstract: Fabric drop-down diffusers are disclosed. An example drop-down diffuser includes an upper panel including an upper fabric sheet to be held in radial tension by an upper hoop. The upper panel defines a supply air inlet. The example drop-down diffuser further includes a lower panel to be underneath and spaced apart from the upper panel. The example drop-down diffuser also includes a circumferential fabric sheet to encircle the upper panel and the lower panel. The circumferential fabric sheet is to extend downward from the upper panel to the lower panel to define an air chamber bordered by the upper panel, the lower panel and the circumferential fabric sheet. The air chamber is connected in fluid communication with the supply air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Blaine Schmidt, Kevin J. Gebke, Michael A. Jacobson, Nicholas L. Kaufmann, William A. Niehaus
  • Publication number: 20180209685
    Abstract: Fabric drop-down diffusers are disclosed. An example drop-down diffuser includes an upper panel including an upper fabric sheet to be held in radial tension by an upper hoop. The upper panel defines a supply air inlet. The example drop-down diffuser further includes a lower panel to be underneath and spaced apart from the upper panel. The example drop-down diffuser also includes a circumferential fabric sheet to encircle the upper panel and the lower panel. The circumferential fabric sheet is to extend downward from the upper panel to the lower panel to define an air chamber bordered by the upper panel, the lower panel and the circumferential fabric sheet. The air chamber is connected in fluid communication with the supply air inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Blaine Schmidt, Kevin J. Gebke, Michael A. Jacobson, Nicholas L. Kaufmann, William A. Niehaus
  • Patent number: 9784469
    Abstract: Fabric silencers for air ducts are disclosed. An example air duct silencer system includes an inner tube being of a first pliable material, the inner tube defining an airway extending along the inner tube. The example air duct silencer system further includes an outer tube being of a second pliable material, the outer tube to encircle the inner tube to define an annular space between the outer tube and the inner tube. The example air duct silencer system also includes a sound absorbing material to be disposed within the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jake Ramos, James Partain, Kevin J. Gebke, Michael A. Jacobson, Nicholas L. Kaufmann, William A. Niehaus
  • Publication number: 20170003049
    Abstract: In some example pliable air duct systems, inflatable ducts of various diameters and lengths are created by selectively assembling pre-existing stock pieces in different combinations. In some examples, the stock pieces include disconnectable longitudinal joints and disconnectable circumferential joints, wherein the longitudinal joints enable interconnecting multiple stock pieces to achieve a desired tube diameter, and the circumferential joints allow connecting multiple tube segments end-to-end to produce an air duct assembly of a desired length. To control the volume and/or the direction of air discharged from the duct, the duct assembly, in some examples, includes an adjustable register comprising a movable pliable sheet that overlies a discharge opening in a pliable sidewall of the duct. In some examples, the inflatable duct includes one or more cutout patterns on the duct's sidewall to provide guidance in creating a sidewall discharge opening of a proper size and location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Cary Pinkalla, Frank Heim, Irene E. Stephan, Kevin J. Gebke, Michael A. Jacobson, Nicholas L. Kaufmann, William A. Niehaus
  • Patent number: 9518756
    Abstract: An external suspension system for supporting an inflatable air duct includes a series of external hangers that help hold the duct open while the duct is deflated. In some embodiments, the suspension system supports the duct at a series of points that are broadly distributed in a staggered pattern across the duct, yet the entire duct can be suspended from a single overhead cable, even if the duct is a stepped tube with multiple diameters. The system includes novel ways of locking the hangers to the duct and to the overhead cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Brown, Kevin J. Gebke, Frank Heim, Michael A. Jacobson, Nicolas B. Paschke, Cary Pinkalla
  • Publication number: 20160341443
    Abstract: Fabric silencers for air ducts are disclosed. An example air duct silencer system includes an inner tube being of a first pliable material, the inner tube defining an airway extending along the inner tube. The example air duct silencer system further includes an outer tube being of a second pliable material, the outer tube to encircle the inner tube to define an annular space between the outer tube and the inner tube. The example air duct silencer system also includes a sound absorbing material to be disposed within the annular space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Jake Ramos, James Partain, Kevin J. Gebke, Michael A. Jacobson, Nicholas L. Kaufmann, William A. Niehaus
  • Patent number: 9494336
    Abstract: In some example pliable air duct systems, inflatable ducts of various diameters and lengths are created by selectively assembling pre-existing stock pieces in different combinations. In some examples, the stock pieces include disconnectable longitudinal joints and disconnectable circumferential joints, wherein the longitudinal joints enable interconnecting multiple stock pieces to achieve a desired tube diameter, and the circumferential joints allow connecting multiple tube segments end-to-end to produce an air duct assembly of a desired length. To control the volume and/or the direction of air discharged from the duct, the duct assembly, in some examples, includes an adjustable register comprising a movable pliable sheet that overlies a discharge opening in a pliable sidewall of the duct. In some examples, the inflatable duct includes one or more cutout patterns on the duct's sidewall to provide guidance in creating a sidewall discharge opening of a proper size and location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Cary Pinkalla, Frank Heim, Irene E. Stephan, Kevin J. Gebke, Michael A. Jacobson, Nicholas L. Kaufmann, William A. Niehaus
  • Patent number: 9303892
    Abstract: Inflatable air ducts with low height-to-width ratios are disclosed. An example air duct system includes a top sheet, a bottom sheet, a first side sheet, and a second side sheet spaced apart from the first side sheet and extending between the top sheet and the bottom sheet. The top, bottom, first side, and second side sheets provide an inflatable air duct having an inflated state and a deflated state. The inflatable air duct has an inflated length greater than an inflated width. The inflated width is more than twice as great as an inflated height. The interior of the inflatable air duct defining an air passageway having a first airway, a second airway, and an intermediate airway. The intermediate airway is adjacent the first airway at a first transition area. The example air duct system also includes a second transition area between the intermediate airway and the second airway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank Heim, Kevin J. Gebke, Michael A. Jacobson
  • Publication number: 20150192318
    Abstract: Inflatable air ducts with low height-to-width ratios are disclosed. An example air duct system includes a top sheet, a bottom sheet, a first side sheet, and a second side sheet spaced apart from the first side sheet and extending between the top sheet and the bottom sheet. The top, bottom, first side, and second side sheets provide an inflatable air duct having an inflated state and a deflated state. The inflatable air duct has an inflated length greater than an inflated width. The inflated width is more than twice as great as an inflated height. The interior of the inflatable air duct defining an air passageway having a first airway, a second airway, and an intermediate airway. The intermediate airway is adjacent the first airway at a first transition area. The example air duct system also includes a second transition area between the intermediate airway and the second airway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Frank Heim, Kevin J. Gebke, Michael A. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 8808075
    Abstract: In some example pliable air duct systems, inflatable ducts of various diameters and lengths are created by selectively assembling pre-existing stock pieces in different combinations. In some examples, the stock pieces include disconnectable longitudinal joints and disconnectable circumferential joints, wherein the longitudinal joints enable interconnecting multiple stock pieces to achieve a desired tube diameter, and the circumferential joints allow connecting multiple tube segments end-to-end to produce an air duct assembly of a desired length. To control the volume and/or the direction of air discharged from the duct, the duct assembly, in some examples, includes an adjustable register comprising a movable pliable sheet that overlies a discharge opening in a pliable sidewall of the duct. In some examples, the inflatable duct includes one or more cutout patterns on the duct's sidewall to provide guidance in creating a sidewall discharge opening of a proper size and location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Gebke, Frank Heim, Michael Hermes, Michael A. Jacobson, Nicholas L. Kaufmann, William A. Niehaus
  • Publication number: 20120006442
    Abstract: In some example pliable air duct systems, inflatable ducts of various diameters and lengths are created by selectively assembling pre-existing stock pieces in different combinations. In some examples, the stock pieces include disconnectable longitudinal joints and disconnectable circumferential joints, wherein the longitudinal joints enable interconnecting multiple stock pieces to achieve a desired tube diameter, and the circumferential joints allow connecting multiple tube segments end-to-end to produce an air duct assembly of a desired length. To control the volume and/or the direction of air discharged from the duct, the duct assembly, in some examples, includes an adjustable register comprising a movable pliable sheet that overlies a discharge opening in a pliable sidewall of the duct. In some examples, the inflatable duct includes one or more cutout patterns on the duct's sidewall to provide guidance in creating a sidewall discharge opening of a proper size and location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin J. Gebke, Frank Heim, Michael Hermes, Michael A. Jacobson, Nicholas L. Kaufman, William A. Niehaus
  • Publication number: 20110269390
    Abstract: In some example pliable air duct systems, inflatable ducts of various diameters and lengths are created by selectively assembling pre-existing stock pieces in different combinations. In some examples, the stock pieces include disconnectable longitudinal joints and disconnectable circumferential joints, wherein the longitudinal joints enable interconnecting multiple stock pieces to achieve a desired tube diameter, and the circumferential joints allow connecting multiple tube segments end-to-end to produce an air duct assembly of a desired length. To control the volume and/or the direction of air discharged from the duct, the duct assembly, in some examples, includes an adjustable register comprising a movable pliable sheet that overlies a discharge opening in a pliable sidewall of the duct. In some examples, the inflatable duct includes one or more cutout patterns on the duct's sidewall to provide guidance in creating a sidewall discharge opening of a proper size and location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Cary Pinkalla, Frank Heim, Irene E. Stephan, Kevin J. Gebke, Michael A. Jacobson, Nicholas L. Kaufman, William A. Niehaus
  • Patent number: 6560810
    Abstract: A collapsible toothbrush includes a body member that has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is pivotally coupled to the second portion such that the first portion is selectively positionable adjacent the second portion facilitating compact storage of the body member. The first portion has a plurality of bristles. The bristles are adapted to be rubbed against teeth of the user for cleaning the teeth of the user. The bristles are positioned opposite the second portion of the body member such that the body member is adapted for is held in a hand of the user when the bristles are used to clean the teeth of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: Michael A. Jacobson