IP Library Granted Patent US 10,619,844
Granted Patent B1
US 10,619,844 · App. 16/174,415 · Granted Apr 14, 2020

Ventilation and illumination system

Inventors: Michael Schiltz (Hartford, WI); Kevin Fagan (Hartford, WI); Richard Sinur (Hartford, WI); Ryan Revers (Hartford, WI)
Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
F21V33/0096F21V7/0008F24F13/082F21Y2115/10F24F2221/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,619,844
App. No.
16/174,415
Granted
Apr 14, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

A grille assembly for a ventilation system, the grille comprising a first primary reflector, a second primary reflector configured and arranged to define an intake gap between the first primary reflector and the second primary reflector, and a secondary reflector located over the intake gap to conceal the intake gap from view; a light source on one of the first and second primary reflectors and configured and arranged to generate light wherein at least some of the light will be redirected by both the primary and secondary reflectors.

Claims (44)

1. A ventilating and illumination system comprising:

a main housing defining

a main housing internal volume,

a main housing inlet configured to receive air into the main housing, and

a main housing outlet configured to allow the air to exit the main housing;

a reflector system comprising

a first primary reflector,

a second primary reflector configured and arranged to define an intake gap between the first primary reflector and the second primary reflector, and

a secondary reflector located over the intake gap;

a light source configured and arranged to generate light wherein at least some of the light will be redirected by the reflector system; and

a blower configured and arranged to generate a flow of air through the intake gap and into the main housing internal volume.

2. The ventilating and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary reflector is configured and arranged to conceal the light source from a direct line of sight.

3. The ventilating and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary reflector is configured and arranged to conceal the intake gap from a direct line of sight.

4. The ventilating and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein air moved by the blower passes between the secondary reflector and at least one of the first and second primary reflectors before passing through the intake gap.

5. The ventilating and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein air moved by the blower encounters the light source before passing through the intake gap.

6. The ventilating and illumination system of claim 1 , the secondary reflector being curved convexly away from the main housing internal volume.

7. The ventilating and illumination system of claim 1 , the first primary reflector being curved concavely toward the main housing internal volume.

8. The ventilating and illumination system of claim 1 , the reflector system within the internal volume of the main housing.

9. The ventilating and illumination system of claim 1 , the light source on the first and primary reflector.

10. The ventilating and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the reflector system further comprises a first end cap extending across a first end of the first and second primary reflectors and a second end cap extending across a second end of the first and second primary reflectors.

11. The ventilating and illumination system of claim 10 , wherein the intake gap extends from the first end cap to the second end cap.

12. The ventilating and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

13. A grille assembly for a ventilation system, the grille assembly comprising:

a first primary reflector,

a second primary reflector configured and arranged to define an intake gap between the first primary reflector and the second primary reflector, and

a secondary reflector located over the intake gap;

a light source on one of the first and second primary reflectors and configured and arranged to generate light wherein at least some of the light will be redirected by both the primary and secondary reflectors.

14. The grille assembly claim 13 , further comprising an end cap extending across a first end of the first and second primary reflectors.

15. The grille assembly of claim 13 , the secondary reflector being translucent.

16. A grille assembly for a ventilation system, the grille assembly comprising:

a primary reflector defining an intake gap, and

a secondary reflector located over the intake gap;

a light source on one of the first and second primary reflectors and configured and arranged to generate light wherein at least some of the light will be redirected by both the primary and secondary reflectors.

17. The grille assembly of claim 16 wherein the intake gap is generally circular.

18. A ventilating system comprising:

a main housing defining an inlet configured to receive air into the main housing and an outlet configured to allow the air to exit the main housing;

a blower in the main housing and configured and arranged to generate a flow of air through the main housing inlet and through the main housing outlet, the blower comprising:

a scroll defining

a blower inlet configured to allow air to enter the scroll, and

a blower outlet adjacent to the main housing outlet and configured to allow air to exit the scroll,

a blower wheel in the scroll,

wherein the blower outlet consumes only a portion of the area of the main housing outlet.

19. The ventilating system of claim 18 , wherein the main housing outlet defines a height and the blower outlet defines a height less than the height of the main housing outlet.

20. The ventilating system of claim 19 , wherein the main housing outlet defines a width and the blower outlet defines a width consuming the substantial entirety of the width of the main housing outlet.

Assignments (3)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2019
From: SCHILTZ, MICHAEL; FAGAN, KEVIN; SINUR, RICHARD; REVERS, RYAN
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC
Reel/Frame 048802/0278 →
Cited By (1)
US 1,129,638