IP Library Granted Patent US 9,797,404
Granted Patent B2
US 9,797,404 · App. 14/533,430 · Granted Oct 24, 2017

Speaker fan 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 9,797,404
App. No.
14/533,430
Granted
Oct 24, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A ventilation assembly having a main housing that can be pre-installed in a wall or ceiling aperture. A fan assembly can be inserted through the aperture and releasably mounted within the main housing. The fan assembly can be removed from the main housing and replaced without removing the main housing from the wall or ceiling. An accessory component can be releasably mounted to the fan assembly either through the aperture when the fan assembly is mounted or prior to installation of the fan assembly.

Claims (79)

1. A method of mounting a ventilation assembly, comprising:

providing a main housing having a housing wall defining an interior space and an inlet opening;

providing a fan assembly including a fan and a motor mount plate;

positioning the main housing within an aperture of a building structure such that the inlet opening faces the aperture;

inserting the fan assembly through the inlet opening such that the motor mount plate engages the housing wall;

providing an accessory component having an accessory mount, the motor mount plate including a positioning mount; and

releasably engaging the accessory mount to the positioning mount to position the accessory component against the motor mount plate,

wherein the accessory mount includes a hook element insertable into a receptacle defined by the positioning mount to releasably engage the accessory component to the motor mount plate.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

inserting at least one fastener through a releasable mount of the motor mount plate to secure the fan assembly within the interior space.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

removing each fastener inserted through the releasable mount; and

withdrawing the fan assembly from the interior space through the inlet opening.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

providing a second fan assembly including a second fan and a second motor mount plate;

inserting the second fan assembly through the inlet opening such that the second motor mount plate engages the housing wall; and

inserting at least one fastener through a second releasable mount of the second motor mount plate to secure the second fan assembly within the interior space.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

inserting at least one fastener through the accessory mount to secure the accessory component to the motor mount plate.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

removing each fastener inserted through the accessory mount; and

disengaging the accessory mount from the motor mount plate.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a second accessory component having a second accessory mount;

releasably engaging the second accessory mount to the positioning mount to position the second accessory component against the motor mount plate; and

inserting at least one fastener through the second accessory mount to secure the second accessory component to the motor mount plate.

8. A ventilation assembly, comprising:

a main housing having a housing wall defining an interior space and an inlet opening, wherein the inlet opening corresponds to the cross-sectional area of the interior space defined by the housing wall;

a fan assembly including a fan and a motor mount plate having a releasable mount; and

an accessory component having an accessory mount;

wherein the fan assembly is insertable through the inlet opening such that the motor mount plate engages the housing wall, the releasable mount being configured to receive at least one fastener to engage the fan assembly to the main housing,

wherein the motor mount plate includes a positioning mount engagable to the accessory mount to retain the accessory component proximate the motor mount plate, and

wherein the accessory mount includes a hook element insertable into a corresponding receptacle of the motor mount plate to position the accessory component proximate the motor mount plate.

9. The ventilation assembly of claim 8 , wherein the releasable mount is positioned on the motor mount plate such that the releasable mount and each corresponding fastener is accessible through the inlet opening when the fan assembly is fixed within the main housing.

10. The ventilation assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:

a second fan assembly including a second fan and a second motor mount plate having a second releasable mount;

wherein the fasteners fixing the fan assembly are removable such that the second fan assembly is removable from the main housing through the inlet opening and the second fan assembly is insertable into the main housing through the inlet opening.

11. The ventilation assembly of claim 8 , wherein the accessory component is configured to receive at least one fastener to mount the accessory component to the motor mount plate;

wherein the engagement of the accessory mount and the positioning mount maintain the position of the accessory component during insertion of the fastener.

12. The ventilation assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:

a second accessory component having a second accessory mount;

wherein each fastener is removable from the accessory mount to disengage the accessory mount from the positioning mount such that the second accessory mount can be engaged to the motor mount plate.

13. A ventilation assembly kit, comprising:

a main housing having a housing wall defining an interior space and an inlet opening, wherein the inlet opening corresponds to the cross-sectional area of the interior space defined by the housing wall;

a fan assembly including a fan and a motor mount plate having a releasable mount and a positioning mount, wherein the releasable mount is configured to receive at least one fastener to mount the fan assembly to the main housing; and

an accessory component having an accessory mount engagable to the positioning mount,

wherein the accessory mount includes a hook element insertable into a corresponding receptacle of the motor mount plate to position the accessory component proximate the motor mount plate.

14. The ventilation assembly kit of claim 13 , wherein the accessory mount is configured to receive at least one fastener to mount the accessory component to the motor mount plate.

15. A method of mounting a ventilation assembly, comprising:

providing a main housing having a housing wall defining an interior space and an inlet opening;

providing a fan assembly including a fan and a motor mount plate, wherein the motor mount plate includes a positioning mount;

providing an accessory component having an accessory mount;

inserting the fan assembly through the inlet opening such that the motor mount plate engages the housing wall;

positioning the main housing within an aperture of a building structure such that the inlet opening faces the aperture;

inserting the accessory component through the inlet opening; and

releasably engaging the accessory mount to the positioning mount to position the accessory component against the motor mount plate,

wherein the accessory mount includes a hook element insertable into a receptacle defined by the positioning mount to releasably engage the accessory component to the motor mount plate.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

inserting at least one fastener through a releasable mount of the motor mount plate to secure the fan assembly within the interior space.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

inserting at least one fastener through the accessory mount to secure the accessory component to the motor mount plate.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

removing each fastener inserted through the accessory mount; and

disengaging the accessory mount from the motor mount plate.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

providing a second accessory component having a second accessory mount;

releasably engaging the second accessory mount to the positioning mount to position the second accessory component against the motor mount plate; and

inserting at least one fastener through the second accessory mount to secure the second accessory component to the motor mount plate.

20. A ventilation assembly, comprising:

a main housing having a housing wall defining an interior space and an inlet opening, wherein the inlet opening corresponds to the cross-sectional area of the interior space defined by the housing wall; and

a fan assembly including a fan and a motor mount plate having a releasable mount and a positioning mount, wherein the fan assembly is insertable through the inlet opening such that the motor mount plate engages the housing wall, the releasable mount being configured to receive at least one fastener to engage the fan assembly to the main housing; and

an accessory component having an accessory mount engagable to the positioning mount to retain the accessory component proximate the motor mount plate,

wherein the accessory mount includes a hook element insertable into a corresponding receptacle of the motor mount plate to position the accessory component proximate the motor mount plate.

21. The ventilation assembly of claim 20 , wherein the releasable mount is positioned on the motor mount plate such that the releasable mount and each corresponding fastener is accessible through the inlet opening when the fan assembly is fixed within the main housing.

22. The ventilation assembly of claim 20 , wherein the accessory component is configured to receive at least one fastener to mount the accessory component to the motor mount plate;

wherein the engagement of the accessory mount and the positioning mount maintain the position of the accessory component during insertion of the fastener.

23. The ventilation assembly of claim 20 , further comprising:

a second accessory component having a second accessory mount;

wherein each fastener is removable from the accessory mount to disengage the accessory mount from the positioning mount such that the second accessory mount can be engaged to the motor mount plate.

Assignments (5)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Sep 28, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: NORTEK, INC.; ERGOTRON, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CORE BRANDS, LLC; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC LLC; NORTEK SECURITY & CONTROL LLC; REZNOR LLC
Reel/Frame 057640/0777 →
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC LLC; NORTEK, INC.; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS CANADA, INC.; REZNOR LLC; VENMAR VENTILATION INC.
Reel/Frame 056613/0575 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 11, 2017
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: NORTEK, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CORE BRANDS, LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC LLC; NORTEK SECURITY & CONTROL LLC; REZNOR LLC
Reel/Frame 041344/0514 →