IP Library Granted Patent US 10,741,345
Granted Patent B2
US 10,741,345 · App. 14/593,883 · Granted Aug 11, 2020

Humidity wall control

Inventors: Kenneth J. Jonas (Mequon, WI); Benjamin Thorpe Puffer (Hartford, WI)
Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
H01H23/12F24F11/30G01N19/10F24F2110/20H01H23/145
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,741,345
App. No.
14/593,883
Granted
Aug 11, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A humidity monitoring system mountable to a wall has a housing for receiving a humidity sensor. A face plate having an extended portion can be mounted over the housing such that the extend portion is positioned adjacent to the humidity sensor. The extended portion defining a secondary space within which humid air can be pass proximate to the humidity sensor to improve the monitoring of the ambient humid air.

Claims (52)

1. A humidity monitoring system mountable to a wall, comprising:

a housing comprising a housing wall defining an internal space and a front opening;

a face plate comprising a base portion and an extended portion extending outward from the base portion to define a secondary space, the extended portion comprising:

a primary face defining at least one inlet opening for receiving an inlet humid airflow into the secondary space, the primary face angled along a primary axis configured to be oriented transverse to a vertical axis when the face plate is mounted to the housing such that the primary face is oriented downward such that rising humid air enters the at least one inlet opening to create a humid airflow along the airflow path in the secondary space; and

a secondary face angled along a secondary axis transverse to the primary axis, the secondary face defining at least one outlet opening for passing an outlet humid airflow from the secondary space; and

a humidity sensor positioned within the internal space proximate the front opening,

the base portion of the face plate being mountable to the housing wall to obstruct at least a portion of the front opening and to arrange the secondary space outside of the internal space and adjacent the humidity sensor.

2. The humidity monitoring system of claim 1 , the housing comprising: a plate portion extending from the housing wall radially outward from the front opening.

3. The humidity monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the plate portion defines at least one fastener port for receiving at least one fastener for mounting the housing.

4. The humidity monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the secondary face is oriented along an axis transverse to the primary face when the face plate is mounted to the housing such that the humid airflow exits the secondary space through the at least one outlet opening.

5. The humidity monitory system of claim 1 , the extended portion comprising a secondary face defining at least one vent opening for receiving ambient humid air into the secondary space.

6. The humidity monitoring system of claim 1 , the face plate comprising:

a mirror extended portion comprising:

a mirror primary face angled to mirror the primary face; and

a mirror secondary face angled to mirror the secondary face.

7. The humidity monitoring system of claim 1 , the housing comprising a mounting bracket defining a slot; and wherein the face plate comprises a plate insertable into the slot to align the face plate with the front opening.

8. The humidity monitoring system of claim 1 , the housing comprising a lip portion adjacent the front opening; and wherein the face plate comprising an edge engagable to the lip portion.

9. The humidity monitoring system of claim 8 , the face plate comprising at least one latch positioned at the edge; wherein the latch is engagable to the lip portion to secure the face plate to the housing.

10. A light switch assembly mountable to a wall, comprising:

a switch plate defining at least two switch openings, the switch plate being mountable to the wall;

at least one toggle switch positioned within one of the switch openings;

a humidity sensor assembly positionable within one of the switch openings, the humidity sensor assembly comprising:

a housing comprising a housing wall defining an internal space and a front opening;

a face plate comprising a base portion and an extended portion extending outward from the base portion to define a secondary space, the extended portion comprising:

a primary face defining at least one inlet opening for receiving an inlet humid airflow into the secondary space, the primary face angled along a primary axis configured to be oriented transverse to a vertical axis when the face plate is mounted to the housing such that the primary face is oriented downward such that rising humid air enters the at least one inlet opening to create a humid airflow along the airflow path in the secondary space; and

a secondary face angled along a secondary axis transverse to the primary axis, the secondary face defining at least one outlet opening for passing an outlet humid airflow from the secondary space; and

a humidity sensor positioned within the internal space proximate the front opening, the base portion of the face plate being mountable to the housing wall to obstruct at least a portion of the front opening and to arrange the secondary space outside of the internal space and adjacent the humidity sensor.

11. The light switch assembly of claim 10 , the housing comprising: a plate portion extending from the housing wall radially outward from the front opening.

12. The light switch assembly of claim 11 , wherein the plate portion defines at least one fastener port for receiving at least one fastener for mounting the housing to the switch plate.

13. The light switch assembly of claim 10 , wherein the secondary face is oriented along an axis transverse to the primary face when the face plate is mounted to the housing such that the humid airflow exits the secondary space through the at least one outlet opening.

14. The light switch assembly of claim 10 , the extended portion comprising a secondary face defining at least one vent opening for receiving ambient humid air into the secondary space.

15. The light switch assembly of claim 10 , the face plate comprising:

a mirror extended portion comprising:

a mirror primary face angled to mirror the primary face; and

a mirror secondary face angled to mirror the secondary face,

wherein the mirror extended portion and extended portion cooperate to visually resemble the toggle switch.

16. The light switch assembly of claim 10 , the housing comprising a mounting bracket defining a slot; and wherein the face plate comprises a plate insertable into the slot to align the face plate with the front opening.

17. The light switch assembly of claim 10 , the housing comprising a lip portion adjacent the front opening; and wherein the face plate comprising an edge engagable to the lip portion.

18. The light switch assembly of claim 17 , the face plate comprising at least one latch positioned at the edge; wherein the latch is engagable to the lip portion to secure the face plate to the housing.

19. A monitoring system mountable to a wall, comprising:

a housing comprising a housing wall defining an internal space and a front opening;

a face plate comprising a base portion and an extended portion extending outward from the base portion to define a secondary space, the extended portion comprising:

a primary face defining at least one inlet opening for receiving an inlet airflow into the secondary space, the primary face angled along a primary axis configured to be oriented transverse to a vertical axis when the face plate is mounted to the housing such that the primary face is oriented downward such that air may enter the at least one inlet opening to create an airflow along the airflow path in the secondary space; and

a secondary face angled along a secondary axis transverse to the primary axis, the secondary face defining at least one outlet opening for facilitating an outlet airflow from the secondary space; and

a sensor positioned within the internal space proximate the front opening, the base portion of the face plate being mountable to the housing wall to obstruct at least a portion of the front opening and to arrange the secondary space outside of the internal space and adjacent the sensor.

20. The monitoring system of claim 19 , the sensor being a humidity sensor.

21. The monitoring system of claim 1 , the primary face defines more inlet openings than the secondary face defines outlet openings.

22. The monitoring system of claim 21 , the primary face defining three inlet openings and the secondary face defining one outlet opening.

23. The monitoring system of claim 10 , the primary face defines more inlet openings than the secondary face defines outlet openings.

24. The monitoring system of claim 23 , the primary face defining three inlet openings and the secondary face defining one outlet opening.

25. The monitoring system of claim 19 , the primary face defines more inlet openings than the secondary face defines outlet openings.

26. The monitoring system of claim 25 , the primary face defining three inlet openings and the secondary face defining one outlet opening.

Assignments (8)
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 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2015
From: 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
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035336/0923 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Mar 16, 2015
From: 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
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 035207/0697 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2015
From: JONAS, KENNETH JOHN; PUFFER, BENJAMIN THORPE
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC
Reel/Frame 034733/0347 →
Cited By (3)
US 1,060,274 US 1,065,107 US 1,113,490