Patents by Inventor Robert S. VannRox

Robert S. VannRox 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: 6308939
    Abstract: A humidifier includes a housing, a wick, a fan, and a wick change indicator. The housing has a upper and bottom portions. The bottom portion is formed with an air inlet and a reservoir. The reservoir holds water while supporting the wick. The wick is seated in the reservoir so that it is partially submerged in the water. The upper portion is formed with an air outlet with the fan mounted therein generally above the top of the wick. The wick change indicator generally includes at least one hygrometer and a display. At least one hygrometer is positioned within the airflow for measuring the exit-relative humidity of the airflow. The display is coupled to the hygrometer for indicating when the wick requires replacement based upon the measured exit-relative humidity reaching a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: The Holmes Group
    Inventors: Yigal Offir, Neville R. Glenn, Paul Powers, Robert S. VannRox
  • Publication number: 20010006260
    Abstract: A humidifier includes a housing, a wick, a fan, and a wick change indicator. The housing has a upper and bottom portions. The bottom portion is formed with an air inlet and a reservoir. The reservoir holds water while supporting the wick. The wick is seated in the reservoir so that it is partially submerged in the water. The upper portion is formed with an air outlet with the fan mounted therein generally above the top of the wick. The wick change indicator generally includes at least one hygrometer and a display. At least one hygrometer is positioned within the airflow for measuring the exit-relative humidity of the airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Yigal Offir, Neville R. Glenn, Paul Powers, Robert S. VannRox
  • Patent number: 6237899
    Abstract: A humidifier includes a housing, a wick, a fan, and a wick change indicator. The housing has a upper and bottom portions. The bottom portion is formed with an air inlet and a reservoir. The reservoir holds water while supporting the wick. The wick is seated in the reservoir so that it is partially submerged in the water. The upper portion is formed with an air outlet with the fan mounted therein generally above the top of the wick. The wick change indicator generally includes at least one hygrometer and a display. At least one hygrometer is positioned within the airflow for measuring the exit-relative humidity of the airflow. The display is coupled to the hygrometer for indicating when the wick requires replacement based upon the measured exit-relative humidity reaching a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Holmes Products Corp.
    Inventors: Yigal Offir, Neville R. Glenn, Paul Powers, Robert S. VannRox
  • Patent number: 5694112
    Abstract: A completely solid state rotary beacon which produces a rotary beacon lighting effect without the use of mechanical components or rotating parts. The device of the present invention includes a plurality of light sources which are equicircumferentially spaced around the outer perimeter of the rotary beacon. These light sources are intermittently illuminated by an electronic controller in such a fashion that the illusion of a rotating light beacon is produced without the need for rotating mechanical components. The lighting sequence, in conjunction with the unique parabolic reflector arrangement of the present invention, create the illusion of a light source being rotated in a 360.degree. path. This effect is achieved by the present invention without the use of rotating mechanical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. VannRox, Bruce Scott Rigsby, Troy Lynn Roney