IP Library Granted Patent US 7,748,861
Granted Patent B2
US 7,748,861 · App. 11/602,925 · Granted Jul 6, 2010

Light with heater

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,748,861
App. No.
11/602,925
Granted
Jul 6, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light fixture ( 10 ) is provided having a housing ( 11 ), a light diffusor ( 12 ), a light source ( 13 ), and a heating source ( 14 ). The housing includes a mounting plate ( 17 ) adapted to be mounted to the ceiling of a structure in conventional fashion. The mounting plate includes a radial array of mounting arms ( 18 ) which form air intake openings ( 19 ) therebetween. The mounting plate is coupled to a tubular flow channel ( 21 ) having a central passage ( 22 ) extending therethrough. The bottommost portion of the flow channel includes threaded neck ( 24 ). A threaded locking plate ( 28 ) rotatably mates with the threaded neck. The locking plate includes a radial array of exhaust openings ( 32 ) extending therethrough. The heat source includes a heating element ( 38 ) and a motorized fan ( 39 ).

Claims (41)

1. A light fixture comprising,

a tubular housing having an air inlet and an air channel therethrough, said housing also having a threaded end distal said air inlet defined by a peripherally threaded, annular neck through which said air channel extending;

a light diffusor having a central opening therein configured to receive said housing threaded end;

a light source coupled to said housing;

a heat source coupled to said housing to heat air passing through said housing air channel, and

a locking plate threadably coupled to said neck of said housing threaded end, said locking plate having at least one exhaust opening,

whereby an airstream passing through the housing is heated by the heat source and expelled from the exhaust opening within the locking plate.

2. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein said locking plate includes an annular array of exhaust openings.

3. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein said heat source is a positive temperature coefficient heater.

4. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a mounting plate having an annular array of air intake openings therein.

5. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein said housing threaded end has external threads.

6. The light fixture of claim 1 further comprising a fan coupled to said housing.

7. The light fixture of claim 6 wherein said fan is mounted within said tubular housing air channel.

8. A light fixture mountable to an overlying structure, the light fixture comprising,

a tubular housing having an air inlet and an air channel therethrough, said housing also having an air exit end distal said air inlet defined by a peripherally threaded, annular neck through which said air channel extending;

a mounting plate coupled to said tubular housing, said mounting plate spacing said tubular housing from the overlying structure;

a light diffusor having a central opening therein configured to receive said housing exit end;

a light source positioned between said housing and said light diffusor;

a heat source positioned to heat an airstream passing through said housing air channel, and

a locking plate coupled to said neck of said housing exit end, said locking plate having at least one exhaust opening,

whereby an airstream passing through the housing is heated by the heat source and expelled from the exhaust opening within the locking plate.

9. The light fixture of claim 8 wherein said locking plate includes an annular array of exhaust openings.

10. The light fixture of claim 8 wherein said heat source is a positive temperature coefficient heater.

11. The light fixture of claim 8 wherein said housing exit end is threaded and said locking plate is threaded to cooperate with said housing exit end.

12. The light fixture of claim 11 wherein said housing exit end has external threads and wherein said locking plate has internal threads.

13. The light fixture of claim 8 further comprising a fan coupled to said housing.

14. The light fixture of claim 13 wherein said fan is mounted within said tubular housing air channel.

15. A light fixture comprising,

a tubular housing having an air inlet and an air channel therethrough extending to and through an air outlet, said tubular housing air outlet including a peripherally threaded, annular neck;

a light source coupled to said housing;

a heat source coupled to said housing to heat air passing through said housing air channel;

a locking plate removably coupled to said neck of said housing air outlet, said locking plate having at least one exhaust opening therethrough, and

a light diffusor coupleable to said housing;

whereby an airstream passing through the housing is heated by the heat source and expelled from the exhaust opening within the locking plate.

16. The light fixture of claim 15 wherein said locking plate includes an annular array of exhaust openings.

17. The light fixture of claim 15 wherein said heat source is a positive temperature coefficient heater.

18. The light fixture of claim 15 wherein said housing includes a mounting plate having an annular array of air intake openings therein.

19. The light fixture of claim 15 wherein said housing is rotatably coupled to said locking plate.

20. The light fixture of claim 19 wherein said housing and said locking plate are rotatably coupled to each other through corresponding threads.

21. The light fixture of claim 15 further comprising a fan coupled to said housing.

22. The light fixture of claim 21 wherein said fan is mounted within said tubular housing air channel.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2022
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 058871/0271 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 24, 2022
From: CORNELLCOOKSON, LLC; TELEPHONICS CORPORATION; THE AMES COMPANIES, INC.; HUNTER FAN COMPANY
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058886/0438 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2021
From: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056198/0753 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 042302/FRAME 0599 Recorded May 10, 2021
From: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 056194/0819 →
PATENT RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 21, 2017
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP (SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION)
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 042310/0462 →
PATENT RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 21, 2017
From: GUGGENHEIM CORPORATE FUNDING, LLC
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 042312/0285 →
GRANT OF A SECURITY INTEREST -- PATENTS Recorded Apr 20, 2017
From: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042302/0599 →
ASSIGNMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Aug 25, 2015
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP
Reel/Frame 036463/0407 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Feb 12, 2013
From: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
To: GUGGENHEIM CORPORATE FUNDING, LLC
Reel/Frame 029795/0405 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Feb 12, 2013
From: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029795/0222 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Feb 4, 2013
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 029751/0271 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Feb 4, 2013
From: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 029751/0322 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2007
From: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
To: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P., AS SECOND LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 019204/0836 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 25, 2007
From: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 019204/0566 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2006
From: BYRNE, BRENDAN P.; KOEHLER, EDWIN T.
To: HUNTER FAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 018631/0209 →