IP Library Granted Patent US 8,485,696
Granted Patent B2
US 8,485,696 · App. 12/902,065 · Granted Jul 16, 2013

Lighting and ventilating system and method

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,485,696
App. No.
12/902,065
Granted
Jul 16, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a lighting and ventilating system including a main housing. The main housing can include an inlet through which air can be received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air can exit the main housing. A fan wheel can be supported in the main housing and it can be operable to generate a flow of air. A grille can be coupled to the main housing and the grille can include louvers. The system further can include a lamp housing coupled to the grille, the lamp housing can include a first set of illumination devices and a second set of illumination devices. The second set of illumination devices can be capable of emitting a dynamic illumination event.

Claims (34)

1. A lighting and ventilating system for illuminating and ventilating a space comprising:

a main housing including an inlet through which air is received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air exits the main housing;

a grille coupled to the main housing, the grille including louvers; and

a lamp housing coupled to the grille, the lamp housing including a first set of illumination devices and a second set of illumination devices, the second set of illumination devices capable of emitting a dynamic illumination event;

a fan wheel supported in the main housing,

the fan wheel configured and arranged to extract air from the space through the grille to an area substantially away from the space capable of being illuminated by at least one of the first set of illumination devices and a second set of illumination devices; and

wherein the air enters the main housing from the grille and exits the space through the outlet.

2. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the second set of illumination devices comprises light-emitting diodes.

3. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the illumination emitted by the second set of illumination devices comprises a generally blue hue.

4. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the illumination emitted by the second set of illumination devices comprises a generally green hue.

5. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the illumination emitted by the second set of illumination devices comprises a generally purple hue.

6. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the illumination emitted by the second set of illumination devices comprises a generally amber hue.

7. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the second set of illumination devices emit a lesser intensity of illumination relative to the second set of illumination device's full capacity when a space in which the system is installed substantially lacks illumination.

8. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second sets of illumination devices radiate different intensities of illumination.

9. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , and further comprising a microprocessor capable of substantially controlling the dynamic illumination event.

10. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic illumination event comprises a gradual increase in current to the second set of illumination devices, the general increase in current comprises one of a generally constant increase in current and a gradual onset increase in current.

11. A lighting and ventilating system for illuminating and ventilating a space comprising:

a main housing including an inlet through which air is received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air exits the main housing;

a grille coupled to the main housing, the grille includes a lighting aperture;

a lamp housing coupled to the grille substantially adjacent to the lighting aperture, the lamp housing including a first set of illumination devices and light-emitting diodes, the light-diodes capable of emitting a dynamic illumination event; and

a fan wheel supported in the main housing,

the fan wheel configured and arranged to extract air from the space through the grille to an area substantially away from the space capable of being illuminated by at least one of the first set of illumination devices and a second set of illumination devices; and

wherein the air enters the main housing from the grille and exits the space through the outlet; and

a microprocessor capable of substantially controlling the dynamic illumination event.

12. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11 , wherein the illumination emitted by the second set of illumination devices comprises a generally blue hue.

13. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11 , wherein the illumination emitted by the second set of illumination devices comprises a generally green hue.

14. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11 , wherein the illumination emitted by the second set of illumination devices comprises a generally purple hue.

15. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11 , wherein the illumination emitted by the second set of illumination devices comprises a generally amber hue.

16. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11 , wherein the dynamic illumination event comprises a gradual increase in current to the light-emitting diodes, the general increase in current comprises one of a generally constant increase in current and a gradual onset increase in current.

17. A method for lighting a space, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a main housing and a grille coupled to the main housing;

providing a lamp housing coupled to the grille, the lamp housing including a first set of illumination devices and a second set of illumination devices, the second set of illumination devices capable of emitting a dynamic illumination event; and

activating the second set of illumination devices so that the second set of illumination devices produces the dynamic illumination event;

operating a fan wheel supported in the main housing to draw air into the main housing generally from the space to be illuminated through an inlet defined in the main housing and through louvers, through the grille, and out of the main housing and substantially away from the space through a ventilation outlet defined in the main housing.

Assignments (8)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Jul 1, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: NORTEK, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NORDYNE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; VENMAR CES, INC.; VENMAR VENTILATION INC.
Reel/Frame 060560/0730 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2021
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC, LLC; THERMA-STOR LLC; ADDISON HVAC LLC; NOVELAIRE TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.; ROBERTS-GORDON LLC; STERIL-AIRE LLC; UNITED COOLAIR LLC; AIRXCHANGE, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056647/0868 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2021
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC, LLC; THERMA-STOR LLC; ADDISON HVAC LLC; NOVELAIRE TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.; ROBERTS-GORDON LLC; STERIL-AIRE LLC; UNITED COOLAIR LLC; AIRXCHANGE, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056650/0303 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 11, 2017
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: NORTEK, INC.; BARCOM ASIA HOLDINGS, LLC; BARCOM CHINA HOLDINGS, LLC; BNSS LP, INC.; BNSS GP, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CORE BRANDS, LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; GEFEN, LLC; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); HUNTAIR MIDDLE EAST HOLDINGS, INC.; LINEAR LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORDYNE LLC; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; REZNOR LLC; TV ONE BROADCAST SALES CORPORATION; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 041346/0048 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT APPL. NO. 12/870,546 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 026431 FRAME: 0986. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE . Recorded Aug 16, 2016
From: NORTEK, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 039743/0941 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 13, 2014
From: LINEAR LLC; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CORE BRANDS, LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); TV ONE BROADCAST SALES CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; CES GROUP, LLC; REZNOR LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032891/0753 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Jun 13, 2011
From: NORTEK, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 026431/0986 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 24, 2010
From: PRINGLE, DAVID L.; ZAKULA, MIRKO; EMMERICH, JEFF; SHERWIN, CHRIS; KOPP, KEVIN
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC
Reel/Frame 025421/0590 →