U.S. patent application number 11/728555 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-02 for vent system.
Invention is credited to Elaine Cao Yee Sung.
Application Number | 20080242214 11/728555 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39795265 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080242214 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sung; Elaine Cao Yee |
October 2, 2008 |
Vent system
Abstract
This invention is directed toward a vent system comprising a
base unit which attaches to a vent, a vent unit which is attached
to the base unit by a plurality of adjustable screws, and,
optionally, one or more removable sponge members or solid panels
which are used to control and direct the air flow. The vent system
can be removably attached to any vent from which air emanates,
including fan outlets, heating outlets, and air conditioning vents.
There are two basic mechanisms by which the invention controls and
directs air flow: first, the adjustment screws allow for the space
between the base unit and vent unit to be adjusted; second, the
sponge members can be used to direct air flow. Because the vent
unit is readily removable, different vent units, with variations in
color, vent size, scent and other aspects can be changed at
will.
Inventors: |
Sung; Elaine Cao Yee; (Hong
Kong, HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ERIC HANSCOM
7395 PORTAGE WAY
CARLSBAD
CA
92011
US
|
Family ID: |
39795265 |
Appl. No.: |
11/728555 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/284 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/284 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/08 20060101
F24F013/08 |
Claims
1. A vent system comprising a base unit, where the base unit is
designed to be attached over an open air duct, and where there is a
hole in the middle of the base unit, and where there is a lip
around the hole, and a vent unit, where the vent unit is designed
to be attached to, though not necessarily the same size as, the
base unit, where the vent unit is designed to be attached to the
base unit by means of screws, and bottom deflectors, where the
bottom deflectors are in the middle of the vent unit, where the
bottom deflectors are designed to divert air in various directions
when air flows from the open air duct and through the base unit,
and side deflectors, where the deflectors are attached to the vent
unit, where the side deflectors are designed to divert or block air
when air flows from the open air duct through the base unit and out
the sides between the vent unit and the base unit.
2. The vent system of claim 1, where the side deflectors are
permanently attached to the vent unit in a fixed position, and
where the side deflectors are designed to divert air away from the
vent system and parallel to the surface that the base unit is
attached to.
3. The vent system of claim 1, where the side deflectors can be
adjusted after the vent system is attached over an open air duct,
where the side deflectors have a range of movement, where the range
of movement ranges from a position where the side deflectors lay
flat against the surface of the vent unit to a position where the
non fixed ends of the side deflectors come in contact with the lip
around the hole of the base unit.
4. The vent system of claim 3, where the side deflectors are
attached to the vent unit by means of a pin-joint.
5. The vent system of claim 1, further comprising one or more
sponge members, where the sponge members are placed between the
vent unit and the base unit to block the flow of air in a specific
direction.
6. The vent system of claim 5, where the sponge members are
manufactured to disperse a particular scent.
7. The vent system of claim 1, further comprising one or more panel
members, where the panel members are placed between the vent unit
and the base unit to block the flow of air in a specific
direction.
8. The vent system of claim 1, where the vent unit is manufactured
to be a specific color or transparency.
9. The vent system of claim 1, where the vent unit is manufactured
to disperse a particular scent.
10. The vent system of claim 1, where there is a variable distance
between the vent unit and base unit, where the distance is adjusted
by screwing the screws connecting the vent unit to the base unit in
or out.
11. The vent system of claim 1, where the bottom deflectors are
designed to block the flow of air therefore forcing the air out the
side of the vent between the vent unit and the base unit.
12. A vent system comprising a base unit, where the base unit is
designed to be attached over an open air duct, where there is a
hole in the middle of the base unit, and where there is a lip
around the hole, and where the base unit has base unit screw holes,
and a vent unit, where the vent unit has screw casings, where
screws can slide through the screw casings, where the screw casings
are designed to line up with the base unit screw holes, and where
the vent unit can be attached to, though not necessarily the same
size as, the base unit, and where the vent unit is attached to the
base unit by means of screws that are slid through the screw
casings and through the base unit screw holes, and where the vent
unit and base unit can be attached over an open air duct by means
of the screws, and bottom deflectors, where the bottom deflectors
are in the middle of the vent unit, where the bottom deflectors are
designed to divert air in various directions when air flows from
the open air duct and through the base unit, and side deflectors,
where the deflectors are attached to the vent unit, where the side
deflectors are designed to divert or block air when air flows from
the open air duct through the base unit and out the sides between
the vent unit and the base unit.
13. The vent system of claim 12, where the side deflectors are
permanently attached to the vent unit in a fixed position, and
where the side deflectors are designed to divert air away from the
vent system and parallel to the surface that the base unit is
attached to.
14. The vent system of claim 12, where the side deflectors can be
adjusted after the vent system is attached over an open air duct,
where the side deflectors have a range of movement, where the range
of movement ranges from a position where the side deflectors lay
flat against the surface of the vent unit to a position where the
non fixed ends of the side deflectors come in contact with the lip
around the hole of the base unit.
15. The vent system of claim 14, where the side deflectors are
attached to the vent unit by means of a pin-joint.
16. The vent system of claim 12, further comprising one or more
sponge members, where the sponge members are placed between the
vent unit and the base unit to block the flow of air in a specific
direction.
17. The vent system of claim 12, further comprising one or more
panel members, where the panel members are placed between the vent
unit and the base unit to block the flow of air in a specific
direction.
18. The vent system of claim 12, where the vent unit is
manufactured to be a specific color or transparency.
19. The vent system of claim 12, where the vent unit is
manufactured to disperse a particular scent.
20. The vent system of claim 12, where the sponge members are
manufactured to disperse a particular scent.
21. The vent system of claim 12, where there is a set distance
between the vent unit and base unit, where the distance is
determined by the length of the screw casings.
22. The vent system of claim 12, where the bottom deflectors are
designed to block the flow of air therefore forcing the air out the
side of the vent between the vent unit and the base unit.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] This invention was not federally sponsored.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to the general field of air
diverters, and more specifically, toward a vent system comprising a
base unit which attaches to a vent, a vent unit which is attached
to the base unit by a plurality of adjustable screws, and,
optionally, one or more removable sponge members or solid panels
which are used to control and direct the air flow. The vent system
can be removably attached to any vent from which air emanates,
including fan outlets, heating outlets, and air conditioning vents.
There are two basic mechanisms by which the invention controls and
directs air flow: first, the adjustment screws allow for the space
between the base unit and vent unit to be adjusted; second, the
sponge members can be used to direct air flow. Because the vent
unit is readily removable, different vent units, with variations in
color, vent size, scent and other aspects can be changed at
will.
[0004] Directing the flow of air has been important to human beings
ever since the first fan was invented. As time progressed, humans
began warming and cooling their buildings with heating and air
conditioning units. Regardless of whether the air moving through a
building is hot, cold, or just room temperature air, it is
desirable to control the flow. If a fan is being used to pump room
temperature air into a room, it is often desirable to be able to
direct the moving air toward a location where people are often
sitting. In cases of heating and cooling a building or room, it is
desirable to be able to control whether the hot or cold air is
directed toward a particular part of a room or building, or whether
the rapid and complete dispersal of the hot or cold air into the
space is the goal.
[0005] No matter what the temperature of the forced air, humans
have endeavored to control and direct the flow. With portable fans,
the person merely changes the location, speed, direction of the
fan, or sets in on an auto-rotate mode where the fan slowly rotates
within a defined arc to force air across a wide area.
[0006] With central forced air heating and cooling systems, and
central forced air fans, the forced air emanates from holes cut in
the ceiling of a building or room. Traditionally, humans placed
flat vent panels over these holes, where the flat vents had two or
more series of cuts made in the metal or plastic making up the vent
panel, where the cut portions were then bent in an approximately 45
degree angle such that air rushing the openings would be diverted
to the sides of the opening.
[0007] This method has several shortcomings, however. First, the
degree of deflection of the air stream, whether is it hot, cold, or
room temperature air, is limited to the angle at which the cut
portions of the vent panel are bent. Second, there is no option of
diverting the air flow 90 degrees to any side as the cut panels
need to be bent at some sort of angle to the vent panel; otherwise
no air will flow through them. Third, there is no option to easily
replace the vent panel with another which may contain a different
scent, color, or vent hole arrangement.
[0008] Thus there has existed a long-felt need for a vent system
which can be adjusted not only in terms of having air pass out the
sides, at 90 degrees to the ceiling, but also having the capability
of diverting the air coming out of the vent at 90 degrees to the
ceiling in a single direction or multiple directions. There is also
a need for a vent-covering unit that can be replaced easily, and
can be manufactured from a variety of materials in number of
different configurations with many variables such that a user can
quickly and easily customize the vent covering.
[0009] The current invention provides just such a solution by
having a vent system comprising a base unit which attaches to a
vent, a vent unit which is attached to the base unit by a plurality
of adjustable screws, and, optionally, one or more removable sponge
members or solid panels which are used to control and direct the
air flow. The vent system can be removably attached to any vent
from which air emanates, including fan outlets, heating outlets,
and air conditioning vents. There are two basic mechanisms by which
the invention controls and directs air flow: first, the adjustment
screws allow for the space between the base unit and vent unit to
be adjusted; second, the sponge members can be used to direct air
flow. Because the vent unit is readily removable, different vent
units, with variations in color, vent size, scent and other aspects
can be changed at will.
[0010] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the
present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There
are additional features of the invention that will be described
hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims
appended hereto. The features listed herein and other features,
aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better
understood with reference to the following description and appended
claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is a principal object of the invention to provide a vent
cover which can deflect air out of its sides, at an angle of 90
degrees to the ceiling.
[0012] It is another principal object of the invention to provide a
vent cover which can provide a number of variables to the user, and
is easily replaced, such that a user can quickly customize the
appearance and function of a vent cover.
[0013] It is another object of the invention that the invention be
customizable with respect to channel air in one or more specific
directions.
[0014] It is an additional object of the invention that the
invention allows a user to save money by allowing superior mixing
of air in a room over conventional vent covers.
[0015] It is a final object of this invention to provide a vent
cover that can be used universally with any of the commercially
popular vent.
[0016] It should be understood the while the preferred embodiments
of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present
disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and
changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject
matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a
reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device as attached to a
ceiling.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device showing how the
two main portions are connected together.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a side view of the device showing the natural flow
of air when the device does not have deflectors or members
diverting air flow.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side view of the device showing the flow of air
when sponge members are placed on all four sides.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a variety of iterations of the invention with
sponge members and panels attached to the base unit and vent unit
such that air flow is diverted into specific directions.
[0022] FIG. 6 shows side views of two iterations of the panel as a
means to block air flow.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0023] FIG. 1 is a (copy from above section). The invention in this
iteration comprises a base unit (1), attached to the ceiling by
ceiling screws (2). The base unit (1) has a hole (8) in its center,
shown in this iteration as a rectangular hole, although circular,
square and elliptical holes, as well as holes of other shapes, are
contemplated. Surrounding the hole (8) is a lip (10). A vent unit
(3) is attached to the base unit (1) by vent screws (4). The vent
unit also has side deflector units (6) which can be rigid or
movable from a flat position to one or more upright positions, with
the upright position being shown here, and bottom deflectors (5)
which are ventilation channels in the center of the vent unit (3)
which have either been bent at certain angles during the
manufacture of the device and are fixed in place, or are
adjustable. Air (9), which can be heated air, cooled air, or room
temperature air, is forced through the hole (8). As the entire
volume of air forced through the hole (8) cannot easily pass
through the bottom deflectors (5), some of the air flows out the
sides of the device, shown as arrows (7). The amount of air that
flows laterally out of the device can be adjusted in several ways,
including adjusting the angle of the side defectors (6), the angle
of the bottom vents (5), and the amount of distance between the
base unit (1) and the vent unit (3), which can be adjusted by
screwing the vent screws (4) in or out.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device showing how the
two main portions can be connected together in a slightly different
manner. The base unit (1) is laid up against the ceiling, and screw
holes (24) in the base unit are aligned with pre-drilled holes in
the ceiling. Over the base unit (1), the vent unit (3) is laid,
with vent/base screws (21) which slide through casings (25) screwed
into the ceiling to attach both units to the ceiling. The length of
the casings (25) will determine the distance between the base unit
(1) and the vent unit (3), thereby making this distance adjustable.
This figure also shows an iteration of the invention where the
bottom vents (5) are spaced slots in the bottom of the vent unit
(3), thereby allowing a limited quantity of air to pass through
them, but not deflecting it to the sides.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a side view of the device showing the natural flow
of air when the device does not have deflectors or members
diverting air flow. In this version, the side deflectors (6 in
FIGS. 1 and 2) have been either laid in a closed position or the
vent unit (3) has been manufactured without side deflectors. The
base unit (1) is attached to the ceiling by ceiling screws (2). The
vent unit (3) is attached to the base unit (1) by vent screws (4)
inside casings (25). As the air (30) is forced through the hole
(not shown in this figure), part of the forced air is forced
through the bottom deflectors in a downward direction (31), which
the rest of the air is forced out of the device through the sides
(32).
[0026] FIG. 4 is a side view of the device showing the flow of air
when sponge members (40) are placed on all four sides. The
invention contemplates two main devices which can completely block
the escape of forced air from one or more sides: sponge members and
flat panels. Sponge members (40), as shown in this figure, are
long, rectangular pieces of spongy material which can be physically
inserted (and removed) from locations around the hole (not shown in
this figure). It is contemplated that the sponge members can be
held in place by the side deflectors (6) manufactured or placed in
an open, or upright, position, and the lip (10) of the base unit
(1) surrounding the hole. With sponge members (40) placed around
all four sides, the forced air (40) can only escape through the
bottom vents in a downward direction (41).
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a variety of iterations of the invention with
sponge members and panels attached to the base unit and vent unit
such that air flow is diverted into specific directions. FIGS. 5A
and 5B show how placing sponge members (40) and panels (50) on
three sides directs all forced air which cannot escape through the
bottom vents out one side (51). FIG. 5C shows how placing sponge
members (40) on opposing sides forces air out in opposite
directions. FIG. 5D shows how placing panels on two contiguous
sides forces air out the other two sides in an approximately 180
arc.
[0028] FIG. 6 shows side views of two iterations of the panel as a
means to block air flow. FIG. 6A shows a rotatable side deflector
(6) which can be laid down in a closed position (62) inside a
cavity (63) recessed into the vent unit (3), set in an open
position (60) for deflecting air passing over it, or set in a panel
or blocking position where it is laid up against the lip (10) to
block the exit of forced air in its direction. The side deflector
(6) is attached to the vent unit (3) by a pin (64) about which it
rotates, where the pin (64) extends from one end of the cavity (63)
to the other, and is secured into the vent unit (3) on either side
of the cavity (63).
* * * * *