Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Wall – ceiling – floor – or roof designed for ventilation or...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-03
2001-02-27
Callo, Laura A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Wall, ceiling, floor, or roof designed for ventilation or...
C052S098000, C052S198000, C052S302700, C052S473000, C052S507000, C052S656800, C454S270000, C454S271000, C454S275000, C454S277000, C454S331000, C220S003500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192640
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to improvements in mounting grilles and louvers in the air duct outlets of heating and cooling systems in a building structure.
In forced air heating, cooling and ventilating systems, commonly referred to as HVAC systems, the rooms of the building structure usually have one or more open end duct portions of such systems entering into such rooms. It is normal practice to mount to the outlet ends of such ducts a grille or louver facing interiorly of the rooms. Such ends may be in single, double or multiple locations, spaced together or apart, for mounting the grilles in walls or ceiling for optimum distribution and/or collection of room air. The duct outlets are frequently located between wall studs or ceiling joists and their outlet grilles or louvers must be durably connected thereto preferably in air-tight replaceable arrangement. Air leakage around the grilles will result in inefficient air delivery and circulation as well as streaking or discoloration on adjacent walls or ceiling over time. Improper or insecure mounting of the grilles to wall studs or ceiling joists, or ducts per se, by juxtaposed mounting screws often requires the grilles to be attached to the studs or joists, or ducts, at odd angles in a non-uniform and insecure manner such as when the grilles are first attached and subsequently temporarily removed for wall painting or cleaning or other purposes.
Further, the outlet ends when open after duct installation and final construction of the building frequently allow dirt and building debris to enter the ducts which dirt and debris must be removed prior to temporary or final mounting of the grilles and operation of heating and cooling systems. Connection of the grilles to the metal duct ends, studs or joists poses a problem for unskilled construction workers and is very time consuming. It is very desirable to maintain cleanliness in the ducts during final construction to eliminate duct cleaning prior to overall building cleaning, dry walling, painting, wallpapering and operation of heating and/or cooling systems. Temporary installation of the grilles containing transparent plastic film or filters has been found to be highly desirable to maintain duct cleanliness both prior to and during initial operation of heating and cooling systems. The film and/or filters are usually removed prior to system operation.
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a new and improved connector frame for mounting air-return grilles and louvers facing inwardly into the rooms of a building structure which frame serves to securely attach the grilles to the ducts and permit their ready removal and duplicatable replacement as necessary in precise uniform alignment.
Another object of the invention is to provide a double divisible connector frame having a pair of identical single smaller flanged frames which may be used as a double connector or, when separated, singly as two smaller frames for grille mounting.
Another object of the invention is to provide a double connector frame which may be used in combination with double side-by-side duct outlets or individually, when separated, with spaced-apart duct outlets in walls or ceiling for uniform durable retention of interiorly-facing grilles and louvers.
Another object of the invention is to provide a double separable connector frame formed of durable plastic material having a pair of identical smaller flanged frames contained therewithin with a medial line of severance in the form of a lineal recess therebetween for separating the smaller frames for individual use as connectors.
Another object of the invention is to provide a double readily-separable connector frame of durable polymeric plastic material for double or single use, when separated, for retaining standardized grilles and louvers in interior rooms of a building structure at the duct outlets of heating, cooling and ventilating systems in a uniform and standardized manner wherever located.
A further object of this invention is to provide a double air-return connector frame made of polymeric material which can be used doubly or singly, and which as formed, can be readily separated into two precisely-similar connector units for uniformly mounting standardized registers, grilles and louvers interiorly of a building structure.
With the above and other objects in mind, the invention consists of a double separable connector frame for uniformly connecting air grilles and louvers to the air ducts of a building structure.
The invention consists of a rectangular separable double connector frame having a pair of similar spaced-apart smaller rectangular flanged frames contained therewithin for double or single use, when separated, for economy of manufacture and use in joining metal duct outlets to interiorly-facing uniform grilles and louvers in a uniform manner wherever located. The double frame may be readily separated along a medial line of severance into two precisely-similar flanged rectangular smaller frames having juxtaposed apertures on their shorter sides for receiving mounting screws for attachment of grilles and louvers in a uniform manner.
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Callo Laura A.
Sand & Sebolt
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