US5149299A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Room-air interceptor device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-02-27
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Granted: 1992-09-22
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Expires: 2012-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A stairwell, in a split or multi level home provides access to and air communication with lower-level, mid-level and upper-level rooms, resulting in a chimney effect of continuously drawing higher temperature and highest temperature room air from the lower-level room. Vertically directed downward axial fans of a room-air interceptor device, emplaced in the lower-level room at its ceiling and at its entrance to the stairwell, not only eliminates such chimney effect; but also intercepts and recirculates temperature-layered room air in the lower-level room, resulting from gravity circulation, to dissipate such temperature-layered room air to render the room air temperature in the lower-level room more uniform and, hence, more comfortable for human habitation and enjoyment.
Inventors
- 👤 James F. Sauer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:49
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A room-air interceptor device means in combination with a first room, at least a second room and a stairwell, with said stairwell providing access to and providing air communication with said first room and said second room, with said first room having a floor and ceiling and said second room having a floor and ceiling, with said floor and ceiling of said first room being spatially below said floor and ceiling of said second room, respectively, and with said first room and said stairwell having a common entrance, said room-air interceptor device means being mounted in proximal relationship to said ceiling of said first room and before said first room's entrance to said stairwell, said interceptor device means operating to dissipate the effects of convection or gravity circulation in said first room, resulting in and ranging from the lowest air temperature being at the floor of said room to the higher temperature air being in proximal relationship to the ceiling of the first room and the highest temperature air being at the ceiling of the first room, by intercepting and recirculating such higher and highest temperature room air, in the first room, within the first room to render the room air temperature in the first room more uniform and, hence, more comfortable for human habitation and enjoyment, and by said interceptor device means further functioning to eliminate the stairwell's chimney effect in continuously drawing such higher and highest temperature room air from the first room.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
A room-air interceptor device means in combination with a first room, at least a second room and a stairwell, with said stairwell providing access to and providing air communication with said first room and said second room, with said first room having a floor and ceiling and said second room having a floor and ceiling, with said floor and ceiling of said first room being spatially below said floor and ceiling of said second room, respectively, and with said first room and said stairwell having a common entrance, said room-air interceptor device means being mounted in proximal relationship to said ceiling of said first room and before said first room's entrance to said stairwell, said interceptor device means operating to dissipate the effects of convection or gravity circulation in said first room, resulting in and ranging from the lowest air temperature being at the floor of said room to the higher temperature air being in proximal relationship to the ceiling of the first room and the highest temperature air being at the ceiling of the first room, by intercepting and recirculating such higher and highest temperature room air, in the first room, within the first room to render the room air temperature in the first room more uniform and, hence, more comfortable for human habitation and enjoyment, and by said interceptor device means further functioning to eliminate the stairwell's chimney effect in continuously drawing such higher and highest temperature room air from the first room.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A room-air interceptor device means in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interceptor device means has a housing and wherein said housing mounts electrically powered axial fans directed vertically downward.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A room air interceptor device means in accordance with claim 2, wherein is further provided a power source, wired via circuitry, to electrically power said fans and wherein said circuitry has inline a temperature pre-settable thermostat to monitor the ceiling room air temperature in the immediate vicinity of the housing and to complete the circuit to the fans when such ceiling room air temperature has attained the pre-set temperature of the thermostat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A room-air interceptor device means in accordance with claim 3, wherein said circuitry has inline a fan speed control for adjusting the speed of operation of the fans for either maximum effectiveness or for a desired effectiveness of the fans.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-22 | 1996-03-23 | 1996-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-22 | 2000-03-23 | 2000-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-22 | 2004-03-23 | 2004-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |