Ventilation – Having inlet airway – Including specific air distributor
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-29
2001-02-06
Joyce, Harold (Department: 3744)
Ventilation
Having inlet airway
Including specific air distributor
C454S259000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183359
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to a flexible cover for covering heat or air registers in homes, mobile homes, modular homes and other structures in order to prevent the accumulation of dirt, debris and other contaminants in the heat register and the accompanying duct work.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most modern homes, office buildings and other structures use forced air heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems (HVAC systems) to provide heated air, cooled air or ventilation to the interior of the structure. In forced air HVAC systems, heated, cooled, or outside air is forced through a series of ducts and directed into the occupied spaces through a system of vents or registers. In most applications, the HVAC ducts are located beneath the floor of the structure, and thus the outlet vents or registers are usually located on the floor of the structure.
Although floor mounted heat registers provide an easy and cost effective method of providing conditioned air to the interior of structures, they do have a number of drawbacks. Typically, heat registers have a number of fins forming a grate which is intended to prevent large objects from falling through the register and into the duct work. However, in order to allow the free flow of air through the grate, the openings in the grate must be large enough so that air can flow through the register relatively unimpeded. Unfortunately, the register openings are large enough to also allow a wide variety of objects to fall through the grate and into the duct, such as dirt, coins, rings, dog and cat hair and other small objects. Consequently, many people, especially those with dust allergies, are forced to expend great sums of money on professional duct cleaning or on electrostatic filter systems in order to reduce the number of airborne contaminants in the dwelling.
Typically, the fins on the register are angled slightly in order to deflect some of the air in a predetermined direction in hopes of increasing the circulation of the conditioned air throughout the room or structure. Nevertheless, because the registers are usually located near the walls, in many homes the conditioned air gets trapped behind curtains, furniture and other obstructions. The obstructed air does not circulate and therefore does very little to heat or cool the living space. Accordingly, there exists a need for a cover plate for covering heat registers which prevents the accumulation of dirt and other objects in the ductwork and which helps to circulate air within the dwelling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The protective cover plate according to the present invention has a folding, flexible deflector that completely closes the opening in the heat register when the HVAC system is not in use. In the folded position, the deflector completely prevents dirt and other objects from falling through the grate and into the ductwork. When the HVAC system is operating, the deflector shifts to an open position and directs the air flowing through the register out into the room, thus stimulating the circulation of the air within the living space and thus making the dwelling more comfortable in all seasons.
The cover plate has a flexible base which has an opening that surrounds the lower portion of the heat register and holds the cover plate in place. The flexible deflector is connected to the base and overlies the openings in the heat register, and thus prevents dirt, debris and other objects from falling through the heat register and into the ductwork. The flexible deflector is shiftable between a closed position, in which the deflector completely covers the openings in the grate when the HVAC system is off, and an open position, in which air flows freely through the register when the HVAC system is on. When the deflector is closed, the deflector effectively blocks dirt, dust, small objects, etc. from entering the duct system. When the deflector is open, air flows freely through the register and into the room. When in the open position, the flexible deflector is oriented at an angle relative to the face of the heat register and thus deflects air flowing through the register towards the interior of the room.
The deflector of the present cover plate is flexible, and thus is much safer than rigid prior art deflectors. In the event a child or pet runs into or falls against the open deflector, the deflector simply yields and the child or pet is unhurt. Also, because the deflector is very resilient, the deflector will immediately spring back to its original shape.
Another advantage provided by the present invention is specially evident in homes built on slabs, modular homes and homes built over crawl spaces. Due to the fact that the crawl spaces or slabs under such houses are typically unheated and uninsulated, such houses are very susceptible to a number of heating and cooling problems. For example, during the heating season cold air in the ductwork tends to cool the air along the floor of the structure. The heavy cold air is likely to sink back into the duct system, frequently pulling heated air with it which quickly cools in the unheated space. Consequently, when the furnace turns on, the occupants of the structure are greeted with a blast of cold air. In the summertime, warm air from the uninsulated crawl space or slab gradually creeps into the cooled living area, which causes the air conditioner to run longer and more frequently.
The resilient deflector of the present cover plate prevents both of the problems outlined above. In cold weather the deflector completely covers the opening in the heat register when the furnace is not running, which prevents cool air along the floor of the building from gradually creeping back into the duct system. In the summertime, the resilient deflector prevents warm, moist air in the ductwork from gradually creeping into the cool house. Furthermore, in all seasons the resilient deflector promotes the efficient circulation of air within the dwelling, which saves energy and cuts heating and/or cooling bills.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a cover plate for HVAC registers.
It is another object of this invention to provide a cover plate for HVAC registers that prevents dirt, debris and other small objects from falling through the register grate and into the ductwork.
A further object of this invention is provide a cover plate that promotes the circulation of air within a structure by deflecting heated or cooled air into the interior of the room.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a cover plate for HVAC registers which prevents dirt and dust from accumulating in the ductwork and eliminates the need for expensive duct cleaning.
Another object of this invention is to provide a resilient deflector which directs and circulates air throughout the dwelling, yet which does not prevent a safety hazard to children and pets.
These and other objects of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4457215 (1984-07-01), Vogt
patent: 4711347 (1987-12-01), Drexler et al.
patent: 5230657 (1993-07-01), Opoka
patent: 1287771 (1920-08-01), None
Bennett Emma J.
Klein Larry R.
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