U.S. patent application number 12/213604 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-25 for ventilation system diffuser and conduit.
Invention is credited to Camille Adib.
Application Number | 20080318513 12/213604 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40136977 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080318513 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Adib; Camille |
December 25, 2008 |
Ventilation system diffuser and conduit
Abstract
An improved diffuser connectable to a duct of a ventilation
system has a diffuser body, a collar extending outwardly away from
the diffuser body, and a conduit slideably mounted in the collar.
The conduit is slideably extendable from a retracted configuration,
wherein substantially all of the conduit is enclosed in the
diffuser body and the collar, into at least one extended position
wherein at least a portion of the conduit is extended out of the
retracted configuration away from the diffuser body and out of the
collar for connection to the duct. Thus, the diffuser may be
compactly stored for transport in the retracted position and then
extended for attachment to the duct in the extended configuration.
A retaining member on the conduit prevents the conduit from being
involuntarily retracted back into the retracted configuration. A
conduit for attachment to a diffuser is also provided.
Inventors: |
Adib; Camille; (Mont-Royal,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Franz BONSANG;c/o EQUINOX PROTECTION
410 - 1500, Du College
St-Laurent
QC
H4L 5G6
CA
|
Family ID: |
40136977 |
Appl. No.: |
12/213604 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60929366 |
Jun 25, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
454/319 ;
454/271 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 7/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/319 ;
454/271 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/06 20060101
F24F013/06; F24F 13/02 20060101 F24F013/02 |
Claims
1. A diffuser connectable to a duct of a ventilation system, said
diffuser comprising: a diffuser body; a collar extending outwardly
away from said diffuser body; and a conduit slideably mounted in
said collar, said conduit being slideably extendable from a
retracted configuration, wherein substantially all of said conduit
is enclosed in said diffuser body and said collar, into at least
one extended position wherein at least a portion of said conduit is
extended out of said retracted configuration away from said
diffuser body and out of said collar for connection to said
duct.
2. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein said conduit has first and
second ends, said first end being disposed outside of said collar
in said first retracted position and extended further away
therefrom when said conduit is extended into said extended
position, said conduit further comprising at least one retaining
member protruding outwardly away from said conduit towards said
collar and angled away from said first end, said retaining member,
when said conduit is in said extended configuration, abutting
against said collar when said conduit is in said extended
configuration to prevent sliding of said conduit therethrough back
towards said retracted configuration.
3. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein said collar and said conduit
are cylindrically shaped.
4. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein said portion comprises
substantially all of said conduit.
5. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein said conduit is made of a rigid
material.
6. The diffuser of claim 2, wherein said collar has a collar lip at
a free end thereof, said collar lip protruding inwardly towards
said conduit, said conduit being extendable into said extended
configuration by extension outwardly through said free end, said
retaining member extending over and abutting said collar lip when
said conduit is in said extended configuration.
7. The diffuser of claim 6, wherein said first end has a first end
lip and said second end has a second end lip, said first and second
end lips protruding outwardly towards said collar.
8. The diffuser of claim 7, wherein said collar lip is situated
between said first end lip and said second end lip and said first
and second end lips overlap with said collar lip to prevent
detachment of said conduit from said collar.
9. The diffuser of claim 7, wherein said conduit has an exterior
conduit surface extending between said end lips and which is in
slideable abutting contact with said collar lip.
10. The diffuser of claim 7, wherein said retaining member is
situated proximal said second end lip and is spaced apart therefrom
at a distance approximating a thickness of said collar lip, said
collar lip being snuggly retained in abutment with said second end
lip and said collar lip when said conduit is in said extended
configuration.
11. The diffuser of claim 2, wherein said at least one retaining
member comprises a plurality of retaining members forming at least
one retaining member set, said retaining members of each retaining
member set being substantially equally spaced apart relative one
another and positioned at a respective longitudinal position for
said retaining member set relative said second end.
12. The diffuser of claim 11, wherein said at least one extended
configuration comprises a plurality of extended configurations,
said conduit having, for each said extended configuration, a
respective retaining member set.
13. A conduit for connecting a diffuser to a duct of a ventilation
system, the diffuser having a diffuser body and a collar protruding
outwardly away therefrom, said conduit having at least one
retaining member protruding outwardly away therefrom, said conduit
being configured to be slideably mounted in the collar for
slideable extension therethrough from a retracted configuration,
wherein substantially all of the conduit is enclosed in the
diffuser and the collar, into at least one extended configuration
wherein at least a portion of said conduit is extended out of said
retracted configuration away from said diffuser body and out of
said collar for connection to said duct, the retaining member
protruding outwardly beyond the collar in the extended
configuration to prevent sliding of the conduit therethrough back
towards the retracted configuration.
14. The conduit of claim 13, wherein said conduit has first and
second ends, said first end being disposed outside of the collar in
said first retracted position and extended further away therefrom
when said conduit is extended into said extended position, said
retaining member protruding outwardly away from said conduit
towards said collar and angled away from said first end and towards
said second end.
15. The conduit of claim 13, wherein said portion comprises
substantially all of said conduit.
16. The conduit of claim 13, wherein said conduit is made of a
rigid material.
17. The conduit of claim 14, said first end having a first end lip
and said second end having a second end lip, said first and second
end lips protruding outwardly towards the collar and overlapping a
portion thereof to prevent detachment of said conduit from the
collar.
18. The conduit of claim 17, wherein said conduit has an exterior
conduit surface extending between said end lips and which is in
slideable abutting contact with said collar.
19. The conduit of claim 13, wherein said at least one retaining
member comprises a plurality of retaining members forming at least
one retaining member set, said retaining members of each retaining
member set being substantially equally spaced apart relative one
another and positioned at a respective longitudinal position for
said retaining member set relative said second end.
20. The conduit of claim 19, wherein said at least one extended
configuration comprises a plurality of extended configurations,
said conduit having, for each said extended configuration, a
respective retaining member set.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Benefit of U.S. Provisional application for patent Ser. No.
60/929,366, filed on Jun. 25, 2007, is hereby claimed.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to diffusers for air
ventilation systems and methods, and is particularly concerned with
a diffuser for connection to a ventilation system and a conduit
therefore.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Diffusers for ventilation systems are well known in the art.
Such diffusers are generally connected to ventilation ducts, in
suspension therefrom, of a ventilation system by connecting a
collar of the diffuser, which extends away from a diffuser body
thereof, to the ventilation duct using a connector such as a clamp
or the like. While diffusers may be directly connected in this
fashion to the ventilation ducts, typically, most diffusers are
connected by connecting a flexible duct to the collar and to the
ventilation duct, again using a connector such a clamp or the
like.
[0004] Unfortunately, the size of most collars for conventional
diffusers is such that the collar does not extend or protrude
sufficiently from the diffuser body to allow for easy connection of
the collar to the ventilation duct or flexible duct. This problem
may be addressed by simply making the collar longer or by
connecting a conduit thereto and then connecting the conduit to the
ventilation duct or the flexible duct. However, simply increasing
the length of the collar, including connecting a conduit thereto,
results in the diffuser, along with the conduit, to occupy
additional volume, which may reduce the number of diffusers that
may be stored in a container, increasing both storage and transport
costs.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved diffuser for
connection to a ventilation system and conduit therefor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore a general object of the present invention to
provide an improved diffuser for connection to a ventilation system
and conduit therefor.
[0007] An advantage of the present invention is that the diffuser
can be easily connected to the ventilation system by extending the
collar with the conduit.
[0008] Another advantage of the present invention is that the
conduit can be retracted within the diffuser collar and body to
facilitate storage thereof.
[0009] A further advantage of the present invention is that the
number of diffusers, including the conduit, storable in a space is
maximized.
[0010] Still another advantage of the present invention is that the
storage and transport costs of the diffuser with the conduit are
minimized.
[0011] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the
conduit can be connected to the collar, or conduit end portion, of
any other equipment.
[0012] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a diffuser connectable to a duct of a ventilation
system, the diffuser comprising: [0013] a diffuser body; [0014] a
collar extending outwardly away from the diffuser body; and [0015]
a conduit slideably mounted in the collar, the conduit being
slideably extendable from a retracted configuration, wherein
substantially all of the conduit is enclosed in the diffuser body
and the collar, into at least one extended position wherein at
least a portion of the conduit is extended out of the retracted
configuration away from the diffuser body and out of the collar for
connection to the duct.
[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a conduit for connecting a diffuser to a duct of a
ventilation system, the diffuser having a diffuser body and a
collar protruding outwardly away therefrom, the conduit having at
least one retaining member protruding outwardly away therefrom, the
conduit being configured to be slideably mounted in the collar for
slideable extension therethrough from a retracted configuration,
wherein substantially all of the conduit is enclosed in the
diffuser and the collar, into at least one extended configuration
wherein at least a portion of the conduit is extended out of the
retracted configuration away from the diffuser body and out of the
collar for connection to the duct, the retaining member protruding
outwardly beyond the collar in the extended configuration to
prevent sliding of the conduit therethrough back towards the
retracted configuration.
[0017] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description
provided herein, with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will
become better understood with reference to the description in
association with the following Figures, in which similar references
used in different Figures denote similar components, wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a diffuser having a
slideable conduit for attachment to a duct, in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a side-sectional view of the diffuser shown in
FIG. 1, showing the conduit in a retracted position;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side-sectional view of the diffuser shown in
FIG. 1, taken along line 3-3 thereof, showing the conduit in an
extended configuration; and
[0022] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of zone 4 of FIG. 1, showing a
retaining member of the conduit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred
embodiments of the present invention will be herein described for
indicative purpose and by no means as of limitation.
[0024] The invention is now described in general terms with regard
to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a diffuser, shown
generally as 10, for connection to a ventilation duct 12 of a
ventilation system, not shown, preferably with a flexible duct 14,
well known in the art, connected to the ventilation duct 12. The
flexible duct 14 is releasably connectable to a conduit 16
slideably mountable in a mouth 18 of a collar 20 of the diffuser
10, which protrude outwardly away from a diffuser body 22 of the
diffuser 10, with a clamp, not shown, or other means well known in
the art. Thus, the diffuser 10 is releasably connected to the
ventilation duct 12, and typically suspended therefrom, by the
flexible duct 14 connected to the conduit 16 which forms an
extension to the collar 20, as opposed to conventional diffusers
which are connected to the ventilation duct 12 by connection of the
flexible duct 14 to the collar 20 alone. Accordingly, the conduit
16, advantageously, provides a slideable extension to the collar 20
and thereby provides additional space for connecting the flexible
duct 14 to the diffuser 10, thus facilitating the connection. The
connection is particularly facilitated, and the extra space
particularly useful, in situations where the collar side of the
diffuser body 22 is covered with insulation prior to connection to
the flexible duct 14, in which case the collar 20 is not of
sufficient length to connect it easily to the flexible duct 14. The
diffuser body 22 is typically situated in a room or space for which
the ventilation system is deployed, with air flowing between the
space and the ventilation duct 12 via the diffuser body 22, collar
20, conduit 16, and flexible duct 14. If desired, however, the
conduit 16 could also be connected directly to the ventilation duct
12, again with a clamp or other ventilation duct connector known in
the art. In this case, there would be no need for the flexible duct
14.
[0025] To better explain the features of the conduit 16 and
diffuser 10, reference is now made to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4. As
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the conduit 16 is slideably mounted in the
diffuser collar 20, more specifically in the mouth 18 at the free
end 34. The conduit 16 has generally opposed longitudinal first end
24a and second end 24b, and each end 24 has a protruding end lip 30
which protrudes outwardly away from the exterior conduit surface 26
of the conduit 14. The collar 20 has a collar lip 32, defining the
mouth 18, at the free end 34 thereof and which protrudes inwardly
away from the exterior collar surface 36, i.e. towards the interior
collar surface 28 and the conduit 16 when mounted in the collar
20.
[0026] The conduit 16 is configured, i.e. sized and shaped, such
that when the conduit 16 is mounted in the collar 20, the conduit
16 is slideable therein with the exterior conduit surface 26 of the
conduit 16 proximally adjacent the interior collar surface 28 of
the collar 20 and, preferably, with the collar lip 32 in abutting
contact with the exterior conduit surface 26. At the same time, the
first end lip 30a and second end lip 30b are configured, i.e. sized
and shaped, to protrude beyond, i.e. to overlap, the collar lip 32
when the conduit 16 is mounted in the collar 20. This ensures that,
when first end 24a of conduit 16 is slid towards the mouth 18 and
the collar 20, the first end lip 30a on first end 24a cannot be
slid beyond the collar lip 32 into mouth 18 as the first end lip
30a will come into retaining abutting contact with the collar lip
32 when the conduit 16 is in a retracted configuration, shown
generally as 38 in FIG. 2, in which the first end 24a is abuttingly
proximally adjacent the collar lip 32. This abutting function can
be alternatively achieved by any other stop mechanism, e.g. the
second end lip 30b abutting against an internal part of the
diffuser 10. Similarly, when the first end 24a of conduit is 14 is
slid away from mouth 18 to extend the conduit 16 out of the collar
20 through the mouth 18 into an extended configuration, shown
generally as 40 in FIG. 3, in which the second end 24b is situated
proximal, and preferably abuttingly adjacent, the collar lip 32
compared to the first end 24a, the second end lip 30b cannot be
slid beyond collar lip 32 as second end lip 30b will be in
retaining abutting contact with the collar lip 32. Accordingly, the
conduit 16, collar lip 32 and end lips 30 advantageously inhibit
the conduit 16 from being accidentally disconnected, i.e. detached,
from the diffuser 10 once mounted in the collar 20.
[0027] To prevent the second end 24b from sliding back into the
collar 20, i.e. away from the collar lip 32, through the mouth 18
when the conduit is in the extended configuration 40, the conduit
10 has at least one retaining member 42. The retaining member 42 is
angled towards the second end 24b, i.e. away from the first end
24a, and protrudes outwardly away from the exterior conduit surface
26 at sufficient length to ensure that, if the second end 24b is
slid away from the mouth 18 when the conduit 16 is in the extended
configuration 40, the retaining member 42 will abut the collar lip
32 and prevent further movement of the conduit 16, and notably
second end 24b, into the collar 20 and the diffuser body 22, thus
retaining the conduit 16 in the extended configuration 40. Thus,
when the conduit 16 is slid into extended configuration 40, the
conduit 16 is retained therein by retaining member 42 while
advantageously providing additional space for connecting the
diffuser 10 to the flexible duct 14 or the ventilation duct 12.
[0028] There may be, and preferably are, multiple retaining members
42 on the conduit 16 and which form a retaining member set, shown
generally as 44, of retaining members 42 which are, preferably
equally, spaced apart relative one another at substantially the
same longitudinal position on the conduit 16 relative the second
end 24b thereof. For example, if the conduit 16, mouth 18, and
collar 20 are cylindrically shaped, as shown in FIG. 1, the
retaining members 42 would be preferably equally circumferentially
spaced apart relative one another on the conduit 16. Further, the
retaining member 42 is preferably situated proximally adjacent the
second end lip 30b and spaced apart at a distance equal to or
slightly greater than the thickness of the collar lip 32, such that
the collar lip 32 is snuggly retained between the second end lip
30b and the retaining member 42. Thus, preferably, when the conduit
16 is in the extended configuration 38, substantially all of the
conduit 16 extends outwardly away from the collar 20 through the
mouth 18. However, although not shown, there could also be multiple
retaining members 42, or multiple retaining members sets 44,
situated at different respective longitudinal positions relative
the second end 24b. In this case, the conduit could be slideable
into one of multiple extended configurations on the conduit 16,
each extended configuration corresponding to the respective
longitudinal position of the retaining member 44 therefor relative
the second end 24b.
[0029] Preferably, the conduit 16 is further configured, with
regard to the length thereof between first and second ends 24a, 24b
thereof, such that when the conduit 16 is in the retracted
configuration 42 with the first end 24a proximal the collar lip 32,
the second end 24b, and thus almost all of the conduit 16, is
enclosed by the collar 20 and the diffuser body 22. Accordingly,
the diffuser 10 with the conduit 14 mounted therein does not, when
the conduit is in retracted configuration 38, occupy more volume
than the diffuser 10 would occupy if the conduit 16 were not
installed therein. This facilitates storage of the diffuser 10 with
the conduit 16 mounted therein and, advantageously, maximizes the
amount of diffusers 10 with conduits 16 mounted therein that may
stored, for example by stacking the diffusers 10 one on top of the
other, in a given space. Advantageously, this also increases the
amount of diffusers 10 with the conduit 16 mounted therein that can
be transported at any one time within a container, not shown, which
may facilitate distribution and reduce transportation cost
thereof.
[0030] The diffuser 10 and conduit 16 are preferably made of a
rigid material, such as metal or the like. However, if desired the
conduit 16 could also be made of a resilient and/or flexible
material. Similarly, provided they provide enough resistance to
maintain the conduit 16 in the collar 20 and in the retracted and
extended configurations 38, 40, the lips 30, 32 could be made of a
resilient material. Additionally, the conduit 16 could, if desired,
be distributed or sold separately from the diffuser 10 and
subsequently slideably mounted therein, provided the conduit 10,
lips 30, 32, collar 20, and mouth 18 are configured as described
above.
[0031] Although the present diffuser 10 and conduit 16 have been
described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be
understood that the disclosure has been made by way of example only
and that the present invention is not limited to the features of
the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all
variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the
invention as hereinabove described.
* * * * *