U.S. patent application number 11/333898 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-19 for ventilation register system.
Invention is credited to Jeffrey P. Popowitz.
Application Number | 20070167128 11/333898 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38263842 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070167128 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Popowitz; Jeffrey P. |
July 19, 2007 |
Ventilation register system
Abstract
The present invention relates to ventilation register system,
the invention comprises a frame and a grate. The frame defines an
opening and the grate is sized and shaped for complementary
releasable engagement within the opening.
Inventors: |
Popowitz; Jeffrey P.;
(Duluth, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NEEDLE & ROSENBERG, P.C.
SUITE 1000
999 PEACHTREE STREET
ATLANTA
GA
30309-3915
US
|
Family ID: |
38263842 |
Appl. No.: |
11/333898 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/284 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 11/56 20180101;
F24F 13/084 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/284 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/06 20060101
F24F013/06 |
Claims
1. A ventilation register system, comprising: a frame comprising an
interior sidewall, the frame defining an opening; a grate
comprising a circumferential edge, wherein the grate is sized and
shaped for complementary seating within the opening of the frame
such that a portion of the circumferential edge overlies at least a
portion of the interior sidewall of the frame, the grate further
comprising at least one depression therein the circumferential
edge; and a plurality of engagement members positioned within at
least a portion of the interior sidewall, wherein a distal portion
of each of the engagement members is movable from a first position
in which the distal portion of the engagement member protrudes
therefrom the interior sidewall and is engageable with a portion of
the at least one depression complimentarily positioned in the
circumferential edge of the grate, and a second position in which
the distal portion is substantially coplanar with the interior
sidewall.
2. The ventilation register system of claim 1, wherein each
engagement member comprises; a body member defining an interior
cavity, the body member having an opening therein a wall at a first
end of the body member, wherein the opening is substantially
coplanar with the interior sidewall; a piston member at least
partially disposed within the interior cavity, wherein the piston
member forms the distal portion of the engagement member; and a
bias element within the interior cavity supported by a second end
of the body member, wherein the bias element engages the piston
member to move the piston member between a first position whereby
an engagement end of the piston member protrudes therefrom the
opening, and a second position in which the engagement end of the
piston member is substantially coplanar with the opening.
3. The ventilation register system of claim 2, wherein the bias
element is a spring.
4. The ventilation register system of claim 2, wherein the piston
member is substantially spherical.
5. The ventilation register system of claim 2, wherein the body of
the engagement member is substantially cylindrical.
6. A ventilation register system, comprising: a frame comprising at
least one interior sidewall defining an opening, the frame further
comprising at least one depression therein the interior sidewall; a
grate comprising a circumferential edge, wherein the grate is
positionable within the opening of the frame; and a plurality of
engagement members positioned within at least a portion of the
circumferential edge, wherein a distal portion of each of the
engagement members is movable from a first position in which the
distal portion of the engagement member protrudes therefrom the
circumferential edge and is engageable with a portion of the at
least one depression complimentarily positioned in the interior
wall of the frame, and a second position in which the distal
portion is substantially coplanar with the circumferential
edge.
7. The ventilation register system of claim 6, wherein each
engagement member comprises; a body member defining an interior
cavity, the body member having an opening therein a wall at a first
end of the body member, wherein the opening is substantially
coplanar with the circumferential edge; a piston member at least
partially disposed within the interior cavity, wherein the piston
member forms the distal portion of the engagement member; and a
bias element within the interior cavity supported by a second end
of the body member, wherein the bias element engages the piston
member to move the piston member between a first position whereby
an engagement end of the piston member protrudes therefrom the
opening, and a second position in which the engagement end of the
piston member is substantially coplanar with the opening.
8. The ventilation register system of claim 7, wherein the bias
element is a spring.
9. The ventilation register system of claim 7, wherein the piston
member is substantially spherical.
10. The ventilation register system of claim 7, wherein the body of
the engagement member is substantially cylindrical.
11. A ventilation register system, comprising: a frame comprising
at least one interior sidewall defining an opening; a grate
comprising a circumferential edge, wherein the grate is
positionable within the opening of the frame; and a means for
engaging at least a portion of the circumferential edge with at
least a portion of the interior sidewall of the frame.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a ventilation register
system. More specifically, the invention is a register system for
HVAC applications having interchangeable decorative frame
inserts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC)
industry, registers are commonly covered by decorative faceplates.
Depending upon the application, the faceplates are commonly made of
brass, aluminum, wood, or steel. In order to change the appearance
of the faceplate, a complete replacement must be purchased, which
is expensive.
[0003] Changing the appearance of the faceplate can be
aesthetically pleasing, which allows a homeowner to change the look
in a room and match the faceplate to the decor. Therefore, what is
needed is a decorative faceplate that is easy and inexpensive to
replace.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present invention relates to ventilation register
system, the invention comprises a frame and a grate. The frame
defines an opening and the grate is sized and shaped for
complementary engagement within the opening.
[0005] In one aspect of the invention, the invention further
comprises a plurality of engagement members. The engagement members
enable complimentary engagement of the circumferential edge of the
grate with the interior sidewall of the opening of the frame.
[0006] In one aspect of the invention, each engagement member
comprises a body member, a piston member, and a bias element. In
this aspect, the body member defines an interior cavity and has an
opening in one end of the body member. In this aspect, the piston
member is disposed within the interior cavity of the body member
and forms the distal portion of the engagement member. The bias
element is disposed within the interior cavity and is supported by
the second, opposed end of the body member. In use, the bias
element engages the piston member to move the piston member between
a first position and a second position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] These and other features of the preferred embodiments of the
present invention will become more apparent in the detailed
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ventilation register
system of the present invention showing an assembled view of the
frame and grate assembly.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the
ventilation register system of FIG. 1, showing the frame, the
grate, and a plurality of engagement members.
[0010] FIG. 3 is front cut-away view of the ventilation register
system of FIG. 1, cut along the line 3-3.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a partial cut-away perspective view of an
engagement member of one aspect of the ventilation register system
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention is more particularly described in the
following exemplary embodiments that are intended as illustrative
only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. As used herein, "a," "an," or
"the" can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it
is used. The preferred embodiments are now described with reference
to the figures, in which like reference characters indicate like
parts throughout the several views.
[0013] Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one
particular value, and/or to "about" another particular value. When
such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one
particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly,
when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the
antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value
forms another embodiment.
[0014] In one aspect of the present invention for a ventilation
register system 10, the invention comprises a frame 20 and a grate
40. The frame 20 defines an opening 22 and can comprise almost any
substantially rigid material. The frame can comprise, for example,
aluminum, steel, wood, plastic, and the like. The frame may
comprise a variety of colors and shapes. In one aspect, the frame
is rectangular.
[0015] The grate 40 is configured for complementary engagement
within the opening 22 of the frame and may be vented to enable air
to pass therethrough. The grate 40 may also comprise any
substantially rigid material, such as, but not limited to,
aluminum, brass, steel, iron, copper and the like.
[0016] In one aspect, where the interior sidewall of the frame is
metallic, at least a portion of the circumferential edge 42 of the
frame 20 comprises a magnetic material with which to releasably
engage the interior sidewall 24. Similarly, where the
circumferential edge of the frame comprises a metallic material, at
least a portion of the interior sidewall may comprise a magnetic
material with which to releasably engage the circumferential
edge.
[0017] In another aspect, the grate 40 is substantially weighted
such that gravity alone is enough to releasably engage at least a
portion of the interior sidewall 24 with the circumferential edge
42 of the grate. In yet another aspect, the circumferential edge of
the grate comprises at least one tab (not shown). In this aspect,
the interior sidewall comprises a complimentary receptacle (not
shown) with which to engage the at least one tab of the grate.
[0018] In still another aspect, the present invention also
comprises and a plurality of engagement members 60. The engagement
members 60 enable complimentary and selectively releasable
engagement of the circumferential edge 42 of the grate 40 with the
interior sidewall 24 of the opening 22 of the frame. In one aspect,
the engagement members 60 are positioned within at least a portion
of the interior sidewall. A distal portion 62 of each of the
engagement members is moveable from a first position in which the
distal portion of the engagement member protrudes outwardly
therefrom the interior sidewall 24, to a second position in which
the distal portion of the engagement member is substantially
coplanar with the interior sidewall. When the distal portion 62 of
the engagement member 60 is in the first position, it is engageable
with a portion of one of a plurality of complimentarily positioned
cavities 44 defined within the circumferential edge 42 of the grate
40.
[0019] In another aspect, the engagement members 60 are disposed
within at least a portion the circumferential edge 42 of the grate
40 instead of the interior sidewall 24 of the frame 20. In this
aspect, the cavities are complimentarily positioned within the
interior sidewall of the frame. As such, the distal portion of each
of the engagement members is moveable from a first position in
which the distal portion of the engagement member protrudes
outwardly therefrom the circumferential edge of the grate, to a
second position in which the distal portion is substantially
coplanar with the circumferential edge.
[0020] In one aspect of the invention, each engagement member 60
comprises a body member 64, a piston member 68, and a bias element
70. In this aspect, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the body member 64
defines an interior cavity 65 and has an opening 66 in one of end
of the body member which is substantially coplanar with either the
interior sidewall 24, or the circumferential edge 42, depending
upon whether the engagement member is located in the interior
sidewall of the frame or the circumferential edge of the grate. In
this aspect, the piston member 68 is disposed within the interior
cavity 65 of the body member 64 and forms the distal portion 62 of
the engagement member. The bias element 70 is disposed within the
interior cavity 65 and is supported by the second, opposed end 61
of the body member. In use, the bias element 70 engages the piston
member 68 to move the piston member between a first position and a
second position. In the first position, an engagement end 63 of the
piston member 68 protrudes from the opening 66. In the second
position, the engagement end 63 of the piston member is
substantially coplanar with the opening 66. The bias element 70 may
be, for example, a spring.
[0021] In another aspect, the piston member 68 is substantially
spherical. It may be, for example, a ball bearing. In yet another
aspect, the body member 64 may be substantially cylindrical,
although many other shapes are contemplated.
[0022] Although several embodiments of the invention have been
disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those
skilled in the art that many modifications and other embodiments of
the invention will come to mind to which the invention pertains,
having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing
description and associated drawings. It is thus understood that the
invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed
herein above, and that many modifications and other embodiments are
intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as
in the claims which follow, they are used only in a generic and
descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the
described invention, nor the claims which follow.
* * * * *