IP Library Granted Patent US 12,241,652
Granted Patent B2
US 12,241,652 · App. 17/341,734 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Negative pressure condensate drain system

Inventors: Han-Chuan Tsao (Madison, WI); Matthew Gehl (Madison, WI)
Assignee: Research Products Corporation
F24F13/222
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 12,241,652
App. No.
17/341,734
Filed
Jun 8, 2021
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Examiner
ZEC, FILIP
Art Unit
3763
USPC
62/291
Abstract

A drain pan system for receiving, routing, and draining condensate from a dehumidifying, heating, ventilating, or air conditioning system is disclosed. The system includes a drain pan body that contains one or more walls to mitigate air flow and enable smooth condensate flow into, through, and out of the drain pan system.

Claims (32)

1. A drain pan system, comprising:

a first wall;

a second wall;

wherein each of the first wall and the second wall is positioned substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface, and wherein each of the first wall and the second wall has a first height;

a first channel defined by the first wall and the second wall and having a first end and a second end;

a third wall having a second height, wherein the second height is greater than the first height;

a well fluidly coupled to each of the first wall, the second wall, and the first channel; and

an opening fluidly coupled to the well;

wherein each of the first wall, second wall, and third wall are substantially parallel.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first channel has a first depth, wherein the first depth corresponds to a distance between the bottom surface and a top edge of the first wall.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a second channel defined by the second wall and fourth wall, wherein the fourth wall is disposed between the second wall and third wall.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second channel has a second depth, wherein the second depth corresponds to a distance between a bottom surface and a top edge of the second wall.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the second channel depth is less than the first channel depth.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second wall is substantially equidistant from the first wall and the fourth wall.

7. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a third channel defined by the fourth wall and the third wall.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an insert component coupled between the well and the opening, wherein the insert component is configured to control a flow of condensate through a drain opening.

9. A system, comprising:

a condensate generating apparatus comprising:

an evaporator having a first location and a second location;

a condenser; and

a third location defined by a space between the evaporator and the condenser;

a drain pan comprising:

a first wall having a first position corresponding to the first location;

a second wall having a second position corresponding to the second location;

a channel defined by the first wall and the second wall;

a third wall having a third position corresponding to the third location;

a well fluidly coupled to each of the first wall, the second wall, and the channel; and;

an opening fluidly coupled to the well.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein each of the first wall and the second wall have a same first height.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the third wall has a second height, and wherein the second height is greater than the first height.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the drain pan further comprises an insert component positioned between the well and the opening.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the insert component comprises a handle, a horizontal portion connected to the handle, and an angled portion connecting the horizontal portion to a vertical portion, wherein the vertical portion is connected to a slanted portion of the insert component.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT, RECORDED ON OCTOBER 15, 2025 AT REEL/FRAME 73109/0707 Recorded Jul 16, 2026
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS EXISTING AGENT
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 075998/0444 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2025
From: RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATION; DRI-STEEM CORPORATION; EWC CONTROLS, LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073109/0707 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2025
From: RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATION; DRI-STEEM CORPORATION; EWC CONTROLS, LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 073007/0564 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2024
From: TSAO, HAN-CHUAN; GEHL, MATTHEW
To: RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069148/0931 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63056844 · Jul 27, 2020
Related Publication 20220026105A1 · Jan 27, 2022
References Cited (7)
US 4835984A · Vyavaharkar · 1989 [cited by examiner]
US 5152154A · Sullivan · 1992 [cited by examiner]
US 11105531B2 · Stewart · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20110016903A1 · Ballet · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20130276471A1 · Austin · 2013 [cited by examiner]
CN 103512180 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
Translation CN103512180 (Year: 2014). [cited by examiner]