IP Library Granted Patent US 8,382,332
Granted Patent B2
US 8,382,332 · App. 12/902,077 · Granted Feb 26, 2013

Lighting and ventilating system and method

Inventors: Mirko Zakula (New Berlin, WI); Corey S. Jacak (West Bend, WI); Kiyoshi Hoshino (Pewaukee, WI)
Assignee: Broan NuTone, LLC
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 8,382,332
App. No.
12/902,077
Granted
Feb 26, 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 comprise a plurality of apertures and a second set of illumination devices. The system further can include a lamp housing coupled to the grille, the lamp housing can include a first set of illumination devices. Also, a plate can be coupled to the grille so that the plate is adjacent to the second set of illumination devices.

Claims (35)

1. A lighting and ventilating system 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 fan wheel supported in the main housing and operable to generate a flow of air;

a grille coupled to the main housing, the grille comprising a plurality of apertures and a second set of illumination devices;

a lamp housing coupled to the grille, the lamp housing including a first set of illumination devices; and

a plate coupled to the grille so that the plate is adjacent to the second set of illumination devices.

2. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , and further comprising a pilot light.

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

4. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the grille comprises a region, the region includes the second set of illumination devices and a lamp aperture, the lamp aperture adjacent to the lamp housing.

5. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the system is substantially controlled by a motion-sensing monitor.

6. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the second set of illumination devices are activated when a space in which the system is installed substantially lacks illumination.

7. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the plate includes a plate aperture, walls of the plate aperture include a textured surface.

8. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the second set of illumination devices substantially illuminate the plate.

9. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1 , wherein the plate includes a tint.

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

11. A lighting and ventilating system 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 fan wheel supported in the main housing and operable to generate a flow of air;

a grille coupled to the main housing, the grille includes a region, the region comprises a lamp aperture and light-emitting diodes;

a lamp housing coupled to the grille substantially adjacent to the lamp aperture, the lamp housing including a first set of illumination devices; and

a plate coupled to the system, the plate including a plate aperture.

12. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11 , and further comprising a pilot light.

13. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11 , wherein walls of the plate aperture are substantially adjacent to the light-emitting diodes.

14. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 13 , wherein the walls of the plate aperture include a textured surface.

15. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11 , and further comprising a lens coupled to the system adjacent to the plate.

16. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11 , wherein the light-emitting diodes are activated when a space in which the system is installed substantially lacks illumination.

17. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11 , wherein the system is substantially controlled by a motion-sensing monitor.

18. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11 , wherein the plate includes a tint.

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

providing a main housing and a grille coupled to the main housing, the grille comprising a second set of illumination devices;

providing a lamp housing coupled to the grille, the lamp housing including a first set of illumination devices;

providing a plate coupled to the grille so that the plate is adjacent to the second set of illumination devices;

activating the second set of illumination devices and deactivating the first set of illumination devices when the space is generally unoccupied by a user and generally lacks other illumination; and

activating the first set of illumination devices and deactivating the second set of illumination devices when the space is generally occupied by the user.

20. The method of claim 19 , and further comprising operating a fan wheel supported in the main housing to draw air into the main housing through an inlet defined in the main housing and through a plurality of apertures through the grille, and to direct the air out of the main housing 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: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056650/0303 →
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 →
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: ZAKULA, MIRKO; JACAK, COREY S.; HOSHINO, KIYOSHI
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC
Reel/Frame 025421/0578 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120087132A1 · Apr 12, 2012