IP Library Granted Patent US 8,845,118
Granted Patent B2
US 8,845,118 · App. 13/292,759 · Granted Sep 30, 2014

Illumination system and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,845,118
App. No.
13/292,759
Granted
Sep 30, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide an illumination system including an outer housing. The outer housing can include at least one inlet and at least one outlet. An inner housing can be coupled to the outer housing and can include fluid apertures and a chamber. An evaporator system can be disposed within the chamber so that the evaporator system is not visible from a position outside of the outer housing. The illumination system can also include an illumination device coupled to the outer housing.

Claims (52)

1. An illumination system comprising:

an outer housing including a central housing and at least one inlet and at least one outlet;

an inner housing being coupled to the outer housing, the inner housing including a first fluid aperture and a second fluid aperture and defining a chamber;

an evaporator system being disposed within the chamber so that the evaporator system is not visible from a position outside of the outer housing; and

a plurality of illumination devices distributed substantially around the evaporator system and being coupled to the outer housing between the inner housing and the central housing to emit illumination outside of the inner housing.

2. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the evaporator system comprises a reservoir, a wick, and an evaporator member.

3. An illumination system comprising:

an outer housing including at least one inlet and at least one outlet;

an inner housing being coupled to the outer housing, the inner housing including a first fluid aperture and a second fluid aperture and defining a chamber;

an evaporator system disposed within the chamber so that the evaporator system is not visible from a position outside of the outer housing;

at least one illumination device coupled to the outer housing and having at least a portion located outside of the inner housing to emit illumination outside of the inner housing;

wherein the evaporator system comprises a reservoir, a wick, and an evaporator member; and

wherein the reservoir contains at least one of a pest repellent or a pesticide.

4. The illumination system of claim 2 , wherein the evaporator member is coupled to one of the reservoir and the wick and is configured and arranged to output thermal energy.

5. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the illumination device comprises at least one of a light-emitting diode, an incandescent bulb, a compact fluorescent bulb, or a halogen bulb.

6. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the illumination device is configured and arranged to radiate multiple colors of light at different intensities over a predetermined time period.

7. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the inner housing comprises a reflective outer surface.

8. The illumination system of claim 1 , and further comprising an adaptor coupled to the outer housing.

9. The illumination system of claim 1 , and further comprising a fluid flow path defined by the inlet, the first fluid aperture, the second fluid aperture, and the outlet.

10. An illumination system comprising:

a central housing being coupled to a base and an upper housing;

a plurality of illumination devices being coupled to the base;

an inner housing being coupled to the base and the central housing, the inner housing being substantially opaque; and

an evaporator system being coupled to the base, the evaporator system including a reservoir and an evaporator member, and wherein the evaporator system is disposed within the inner housing; and

wherein the plurality of illumination devices are distributed substantially around the evaporator system and include at least a portion disposed outside of the inner housing between the inner housing and the central housing to emit illumination outside of the substantially opaque inner housing.

11. The illumination system of claim 10 , wherein the inner housing comprises a substantially reflective outer surface.

12. The illumination system of claim 11 , wherein the illumination device is configured and arranged to emit illumination and is coupled to the base so that at least a portion of the illumination is reflected by the substantially reflective outer surface of the inner housing.

13. An illumination system comprising:

a central housing being coupled to a base and an upper housing;

at least one illumination device being coupled to the base;

a substantially opaque inner housing coupled to the base and the central housing; and

an evaporator system coupled to the base, the evaporator system including a reservoir and an evaporator member, and wherein the evaporator system is disposed within the inner housing,

the at least one illumination device including at least a portion disposed outside of the inner housing to emit illumination outside of the substantially opaque inner housing; and

wherein the reservoir contains at least one of a pest repellent or a pesticide.

14. The illumination system of claim 10 , wherein the evaporator system comprises at least one wick.

15. The illumination system of claim 10 , wherein the upper housing includes at least one fluid outlet, the base includes at least one fluid inlet, and the inner housing includes a first fluid aperture and a second fluid aperture.

16. The illumination system of claim 15 , and further comprising a fluid flow path defined by the inlet, the first fluid aperture, the second fluid aperture, and the outlet.

17. The illumination system of claim 16 , wherein the fluid flow path passes immediately adjacent to the evaporator system.

18. The illumination system of claim 10 , and further comprising an adaptor coupled to at least one of the base or the central housing.

19. A method of assembling an illumination system, the method comprising:

providing an outer housing including a central housing and at least one inlet and at least one outlet;

coupling an inner housing to the outer housing, the inner housing including a first fluid aperture and a second fluid aperture;

disposing an evaporator system within the inner housing so that the evaporator system is not visible from a position outside of the outer housing; and

positioning a plurality of illumination devices distributed substantially around the evaporator system

the plurality of illumination devices having at least a portion located outside of the inner housing between the inner housing and the central housing to emit illumination outside of the inner housing.

20. A method of assembling an illumination system, the method comprising:

providing an outer housing including at least one inlet and at least one outlet;

coupling an inner housing to the outer housing, the inner housing including a first fluid aperture and a second fluid aperture;

disposing an evaporator system within the inner housing so that the evaporator system is not visible from a position outside of the outer housing; and

coupling at least one illumination device to the outer housing,

the at least one illumination device having at least a portion located outside of the inner housing to emit illumination outside of the inner housing; and

wherein the evaporator system comprises at least one reservoir containing at least one of a pest repellent or a pesticide.

Assignments (7)
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; NORDYNE LLC
Reel/Frame 033064/0894 →
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 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 29, 2012
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; NORDYNE LLC
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 028283/0706 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2011
From: FORMICO, KAREN; EMMERICH, JEFFERY CHARLES
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC
Reel/Frame 027242/0687 →