IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,855,050
Granted Patent B2
US 6,855,050 · App. 10/158,492 · Granted Feb 15, 2005

Ventilation method and device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,855,050
App. No.
10/158,492
Granted
Feb 15, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A damper system for air handling systems the manipulation or control of air in an enclosure such as a building, a room of a structure such as a residence, and the like.

Claims (54)

1. A damper system comprising

a plurality of damper elements, each of said damper elements comprising a respective connector element, each of said dampers being displaceable from a respective first position to a respective second position and

a displacement component for displacing said damper elements from a respective first position to a respective second position

 said displacement component comprising

a flexible elongated damper interconnection element, and

a displacement element comprising an engagement component,

wherein said elongated damper interconnection element is connected to the engagement component of said displacement element and to the connector element of each of said dampers,

wherein said displacement component is configured and disposed such that said displacement component is reversibly displaceable between a first configuration wherein said dampers are each in respective first positions and a second configuration wherein said dampers are each in respective second positions, said displacement component being configured such that as said displacement component passes from said first configuration to said second configuration, said displacement component induces displacement of each of said dampers from a respective first position to a respective second position and

wherein said displacement component is configured such that as said displacement component passes from said first configuration to said second configuration so as to induce displacement of said dampers from a respective first position to a respective second position and one or more of said dampers trails one or more of the other dampers in respect of its displacement to its respective second position, the displacement component, once any leading damper has arrived at its second position, is able to continue its displacement and thereby induce any trailing damper to be displaced to its second position while any leading damper is maintained at its second position.

2. A damper system as defined in claim 1 wherein said displacement component comprises a bobbin element reversibly rotatable about an axis of rotation and wherein said bobbin element is rotatable around said axis for winding up and unwinding out said elongated damper interconnection element, said dampers being displaceable from a respective first position to a respective second position as said elongated damper interconnection element is wound up.

3. A damper system as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said dampers is associated with a respective spring bias member biasing a damper in its respective first position.

4. A damper system as defined in claim 2 comprising an electric motor component connected to said bobbin element such that when said motor component is energized said motor component is capable of rotating the bobbin element in a rotational direction for displacing the damper elements from a respective first position to a respective second position.

5. A damper displacement system as defined in claim 4 wherein said motor component is a reversible motor component.

6. A damper displacement system defined in claim 4 comprising an electric switch configured so as to be able to energize and de-energize said motor.

7. A damper system comprising

two damper elements, each of said damper elements comprising a respective connector element, each of said dampers being displaceable between a respective first position to a respective second position and

a displacement component for displacing said damper elements from a respective first position to a respective second position

 said displacement component comprising

a flexible elongated damper interconnection element, and

an intermediate bobbin element reversibly rotatable about an axis of rotation, said bobbin element comprising an engagement component engaging said elongated damper interconnection element,

wherein said elongated damper interconnection element is connected to the engagement component of said bobbin element and to the connector element of each of said dampers,

wherein said bobbin element is rotatable about said axis for winding up and unwinding out said elongated damper interconnection element, said dampers being displaceable from a respective first position to a respective second position as said elongated damper interconnection element is wound up,

said displacement component being configured such when said bobbin element is rotated about said axis so as to induce said elongated damper interconnection element to be taken up by said bobbin element and one of said damper elements trails the other damper in respect of its displacement to its respective second position, the bobbin element, once the leading damper element has arrived at its second position, is able to continue to rotate and thereby induce the trailing damper element to be displaced to its second position while the leading damper element is maintained at its second position.

8. A damper system as defined in claim 7 wherein said elongated damper interconnection element has a first side member and a second side member, wherein said first side member engages the connector of one of said dampers and said second side member engages the connector of the other of said dampers, wherein said bobbin element is rotatable around said axis for winding up and unwinding out said first and second side members, said dampers being displaceable from a respective first position to a respective second position as said first and second side members are wound up,

said displacement component being configured such when said bobbin element is rotated about said axis so as to induce said first and second side members to be taken up and one of said dampers trails the other damper in respect of its displacement to its respective second position, the bobbin element, once the leading damper has arrived at its second position, is able to continue to rotate and thereby induce the trailing damper to be displaced to its second position while the leading damper is maintained at its second position.

9. A damper system as defined in claim 7 wherein said damper interconnection element is a flexible loop shaped damper interconnection element having a first loop end and a second loop end and defining a first flight side and an opposed second flight side, said first and second flight sides each being connected respectively to said first and second ends,

wherein said bobbin element comprises a slippage engagement component for slippingly engaging said first and second flight sides, said bobbin element defining an aperture, said slippage engagement component comprising two take-up elements and said aperture, said aperture being disposed between said take-up elements, said first and second flight sides each being threaded through said aperture,

wherein each of said damper connector elements comprises a respective loop connector,

wherein said first end engages one of said loop connectors and said second end engages the other of said loop connectors,

wherein said bobbin element is rotatable around said axis for winding up and unwinding out said first and second flight sides, said dampers being displaceable from a respective first position to a respective second position as said first and second flight sides are wound up

said bobbin element being configured such that rotation thereof about said axis induces said first and second flight sides to be taken up by the take-up elements so as to wind the first and second flight sides about the bobbin element and thereby induce the damper elements to be displaced from said first to said second position

said displacement component being configured such when said bobbin element is rotated about said axis so as to induce first and second flight sides to be taken up and one of said dampers trails the other damper in respect of its displacement to its respective second position, the bobbin element, once the leading damper has arrived at its second position, is able to continue to rotate and thereby induce the trailing damper to be displaced to its second position while the leading damper is maintained at its second position.

10. A damper system as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said dampers is associated with a respective spring bias member biasing a damper in its respective first position.

11. A damper system as defined in claim 7 comprising an electric motor component connected to said bobbin element such that when said motor component is energized said motor component is capable of rotating the bobbin element in a predetermined rotational direction for displacing two damper elements from a respective first position to a respective second position.

12. A damper system as defined in claim 10 wherein said motor component is a reversible motor component.

13. A damper displacement system defined in claim 10 comprising an electric switch configured so as to be able to energize and de-energize said motor.

14. An air handling system comprising a damper system, said damper system comprising

a plurality of damper elements, each of said damper elements comprising a respective connector element, each of said dampers being displaceable from a respective first position to a respective second position and

a displacement component for displacing said damper elements from a respective first position to a respective second position

 said displacement component comprising

a flexible elongated damper interconnection element, and

a displacement element comprising an engagement component,

wherein said elongated damper interconnection element is connected to the engagement component of said displacement element and to the connector element of each of said dampers,

wherein said displacement component is configured and disposed such that said displacement component is reversibly displaceable between a first configuration wherein said dampers are each in respective first positions and a second configuration wherein said dampers are each in respective second positions, said displacement component being configured such that as said displacement component passes from said first configuration to said second configuration, said displacement component induces displacement of each of said dampers from a respective first position to a respective second position and

wherein said displacement component is configured such that as said displacement component passes from said first configuration to said second configuration so as to induce displacement of said dampers from a respective first position to a respective second position and one or more of said dampers trails one or more of the other dampers in respect of its displacement to its respective second position, the displacement component, once any leading damper has arrived at its second position, is able to continue its displacement and thereby induce any trailing damper to be displaced to its second position while any leading damper is maintained at its second position.

15. An air handling system comprising a damper system, said damper system comprising

two damper elements, each of said damper elements comprising a respective connector element, each of said dampers being displaceable between a respective first position to a respective second position and

a displacement component for displacing said damper elements from a respective first position to a respective second position

 said displacement component comprising

a flexible elongated damper interconnection element, and

an intermediate bobbin element reversibly rotatable about an axis of rotation, said bobbin element comprising an engagement component engaging said elongated damper interconnection element,

wherein said elongated damper interconnection element is connected to the engagement component of said bobbin element and to the connector element of each of said dampers,

wherein said bobbin element is rotatable about said axis for winding up and unwinding out said elongated damper interconnection element, said dampers being displaceable from a respective first position to a respective second position as said elongated damper interconnection element is wound up,

said displacement component being configured such when said bobbin element is rotated about said axis so as to induce said elongated damper interconnection element to be taken up by said bobbin element and one of said damper elements trails the other damper in respect of its displacement to its respective second position, the bobbin element, once the leading damper element has arrived at its second position, is able to continue to rotate and thereby induce the trailing damper element to be displaced to its second position while the leading damper element is maintained at its second position.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2021
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC LLC; NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GTO, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT; XANTECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056614/0709 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 10, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TEMTROL, INC.; WDS LLC; WEBCO, INC.; NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; AUBREY MANUFACTURING, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CES GROUP, INC.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; GTO, INC.; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; J.A.R. INDUSTRIES, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR H.K. LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITETOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE CHINA LLC; NORDYNE INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041326/0071 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 10, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: NORTEK, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; BROAN-MEXICO HOLDINGS, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, INC.; CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC; GEFEN, LLC; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH-WEBCO, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX LLC; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC; TEMTROL, INC.; XANTECH LLC; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 041327/0089 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 8, 2010
From: NORTEK, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; BROAN-MEXICO HOLDINGS, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, INC.; CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC; GEFEN, LLC; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH-WEBCO, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD INC.; PANAMAX LLC; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC; TEMTROL, INC.; XANTECH LLC; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 023750/0040 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 31, 2008
From: NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GTO, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE LP; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, INC.; TEMTROL, INC.; WEBCO, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 021316/0764 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2008
From: NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; AUBREY MANUFACTURING, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CES GROUP, INC.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; GTO, INC.; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; J.A.R. INDUSTRIES, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR H.K. LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITETOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE CHINA LLC; NORDYNE INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SEAKERCRAFT, INC.; TEMTROL, INC.; WDS LLC; WEBCO, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 021301/0927 →
RECORD TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY'S NAME, PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL 013238, FRAME 0225. Recorded Nov 5, 2004
From: GAGNON, MARTIN; CHARLEBOIS, ERIC; JULIEN, MICHEL; MARCOUX, DANIEL; PIAUD, JEAN-BERNARD
To: VENMAR VENTILATION INC.
Reel/Frame 015346/0908 →
RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Sep 28, 2004
From: FLEET CAPITAL CORPORATION; FLEET CAPITAL CANADA CORPORATION
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR LLC; MAMMOTH, INC.; MULTIPLEX TECHNOLOGY, INC.; NORDYNE INC.; NUTONE INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, INC.; VENNAR VENTILATION, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015908/0223 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2002
From: GAGNON, MARTIN; CHARLEBOIS, ERIC; JULIEN, MICHEL; MARCOUX, DANIEL; PIAUD, JEAN-BERNARD
To: VENMAR VENTIALTION INC.
Reel/Frame 013238/0225 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2002
From: NORTEK, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY - DELAWARE; NUTONE INC., CORPORATION - DELAWARE; LINEAR CORPORATION, CORPORATION - CALIFORNIA; NORDYNE INC., CORPORATION - DELAWARE; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION, CORPORATION - OKLAHOMA; MAMOTH, INC., CORPORATION - DELAWARE; TEMTROL, INC., CORPORATION - OKLAHOMA; WEBCO, INC., CORPORATION - MISSOURI; GREAT LAKES WINDOW, INC., CORPORATION - OHIO; KROY BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC., CORPORATION - DELAWARE; NAPCO, INC., CORPORATION - DELAWARE; NAPCO WINDOW SYSTEMS, INC., CORPORATION - DELAWARE; VARIFORM, INC., CORPORATION - MISSOURI; RANGAIRE LP, CORPORATION - DELAWARE; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC., CORPORATION - DELAWARE; MULTIPLEX TECHNOLOGY, INC., CORPORATION - CALIFORNIA; XANTECH CORPORATION, CORPORATION - CALIFORNIA; RICHWOOD BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC., CORPORATION - DELAWARE; THERMAL-GARD, INC., CORPORATION - PENNSYLVANIA; AUBREY MANUFACTURING, INC., CORPORATION - DELAWARE; RANGAIRE LP, INC., CORPORATION - DELAWARE; BROAN-NUTONE CANADA INC., CORPORATION - CANADA; VENMAR VENTILATION INC., CORPORATION CANADA; VENMAR CES, INC., CORPORATION - CANADA; VENMAR VENTILATION (H.D.H.) INC., CORPORATION - CANADA; VENTROL AIR HANDLING SYSTEMS INC., CORPORATION - CANADA
To: FLEET CAPITAL CORPORATION; FLEET CAPITAL CANADA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 013516/0374 →