Floor Type Patents (Class 454/289)
  • Patent number: 6558248
    Abstract: An openable screened floor vent cover for use in preventing debris from entering a floor vent during construction is comprised of a board having a length and width larger than the vent to be covered. The board is provided with a cut substantially in the shape and size of the vent to be covered. A screen is attached to the periphery of a first surface of the board. The portion of the board within the cut is removable to enable air flow from the vent as desired during construction, and may be replaced when air flow from the vent is no longer needed. The board is nailed to the subflooring surrounding the vent. The cover may be removed after construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Comfort Creators, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred D. Moore, Jr., Debra Reilly
  • Patent number: 6461235
    Abstract: A temporary vent opening cover is disclosed which is securable over a vent opening in a floor or other surface during building construction to prevent debris from entering the vent opening and accumulating in duct work associated therewith. The cover includes a generally flat cover plate which is sized and shaped to cover the vent opening. The cover plate is spaced outwardly from the surface when the vent opening cover is secured over the vent opening. A plurality of air passages allow air to flow past the cover plate between the duct work and the workspace. A layer of air filter material covers the air passages and prevents debris from passing therethrough. A portion of cover plate may be dedicated to the display of promotional indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Rutland, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay B. Rutler, Spencer B. Hawerlander, Tony Robert Plunkett
  • Patent number: 6422935
    Abstract: An air vent covering assembly is provided which is adapted to be mounted to a floor, in the peripheral region of an air vent opening therethrough. The air vent covering assembly comprises a cover plate, abase, at least one damper plate, and first and second brackets. The cover plate and base have a plurality of spaced-apart and substantially parallel louvers formed therein, and each of the plurality of louvers defines an edge of a space. Each of the at least one damper plate includes a plurality of spaced-apart and substantially parallel damper bars, and the number of damper bars is equal to the number of louvers provided. When the damper plate is in an open position, flow of air through the spaces defined by the plurality of louvers is allowed, and when the damper plate is in a closed position, flow of air through the spaces is precluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventor: Yuri Yampolski
  • Publication number: 20020077059
    Abstract: A temporary vent opening cover is disclosed which is securable over a vent opening in a floor or other surface during building construction to prevent debris from entering the vent opening and accumulating in duct work associated therewith. The cover includes a generally flat cover plate which is sized and shaped to cover the vent opening. The cover plate is spaced outwardly from the surface when the vent opening cover is secured over the vent opening. A plurality of air passages allow air to flow past the cover plate between the duct work and the workspace. A layer of air filter material covers the air passages and prevents debris from passing therethrough. A portion of cover plate may be dedicated to the display of promotional indicia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Jay B. Rutler, Spencer B. Hawerlander, Tony Robert Plunkett
  • Patent number: 6302784
    Abstract: A modular air vent assembly kit can be used to cover duct openings that supply a flow of heated or cooled air to a room in addition to covering duct openings that receive return air from a room. The modular air vent assembly kit is comprised of a base, a damper mechanism, and two different faceplates where the damper mechanism can be selectively assembled into the base depending on whether control through the air vent by operation of a damper is needed in the particular duct opening and where either of the two faceplates may be selectively connected with the base where one faceplate has a lattice and is used in combination with the damping mechanism and the other faceplate has a series of louvers and is used when the damping mechanism is not used in the vent assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Innovative Vent Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian K. Berger
  • Patent number: 6290596
    Abstract: An air diffuser for underfloor air and electrical distribution systems, which can be rapidly converted to a cable grommet assembly, is provided with a diffuser grille having generally helical slots that produce a swirling air flow pattern with low impulse, low turbulence and high induction of room air. The helical air slots allow the grille to be rotated or spun off a mold, which allows the grilles to be molded more rapidly and economically. The grille sits on a housing which contains a flow regulator. Both the housing and the flow regulator have side walls with air slots. The regulator is connected to the grille and can be rotated by rotating the grille to regulate that air flow through the diffuser. The air diffusers and cable grommet assemblies are supported by common mounting systems that can be installed through the floors overlying an air distribution and/or electrical cable plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Tomkins Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Birdsong, Kennon B. Porter
  • Patent number: 6234893
    Abstract: A vent device (10) for communicating air from the duct of an air supply system into an environment, such as a room of a building, includes a body (12) having a passageway (18) therethrough for receiving air from the air supply system, with the body (12) defining a first opening (20) for placing the passageway in fluid communication with the air supply system. Also included is a filter housing defining a filter slot (46), the filter housing having an inner wall (50) provided with a plurality of first vent openings (54) for being selectively placed in communication with the passageway of the body. Further, the filter housing has an outer wall provided with a plurality of second vent openings communicating with the filter slot and the room in the building so as to communicate air from the filter slot into the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Inventor: Jerry R. Meredith
  • Patent number: 6227962
    Abstract: A vent coupler has first and second leg portions and a latch element extending between the leg portions. The coupler may be formed from a single piece of wire and be detachably coupled to a vent damper. The latch element is inserted into a respective air flow slot of a vent cover to engage the vent cover and couple the vent cover to the damper. The coupler may be constructed to permit flexing of the coupler during the insertion process, with the coupler being biased to engage the vent cover when no longer flexed. The vent coupler may snap onto and grip upper and lower edges of an end wall of the damper housing to mount the coupler to the damper. A filter housing may be detachably coupled to the damper housing to support a filter on the opposite side of the damper housing from the vent cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Classic Manufacturing NW, LLC
    Inventor: Gary R. Orendorff
  • Patent number: 6050892
    Abstract: An air outlet vent (1) adapted to be mounted in a floor (6) and connected to a heating, ventilating and air-conditioning air supply duct (30) includes a cylindrical housing (2) and a cover plate (4) that covers the top open end of the housing (2). The plate (4) includes a first group of air outlet openings in the form of concentric circular arcuate slits (11) extending over a first sector of the plate (4), and a second group of air outlet openings in the form of radially extending slits (12) in a second sector of the plate (4). The plate (4) is rotatably adjustable in the housing (2). With this arrangement, the direction of the main air flow axis of the air flow pattern generated by the vent can be infinitely rotationally adjusted around an imaginary inverted cone, to direct the air flow where desired and avoid undesirable drafts, while still providing a highly turbulent twisting or spiraling air flow characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Krantz-TKT GmbH
    Inventor: Franc Sodec
  • Patent number: 6019677
    Abstract: Modular terminals for supplying conditioned air to spaces within buildings can be mounted and configured to provide improved heating, cooling, ventilation, and mixing of the supplied air with the space air. The flexibility in arranging the modular terminal components, such as air inlets, outlet grilles, dampers, and induction sleeves, permits for selectively altering the flow pattern, quality, volume, and velocity of air introduced into a space. The modular terminals can selectively draw air from a plenum, duct, or both. The terminals accommodate electrical wiring for office equipment, and also may accept flexible ducting to deliver conditioned air from a desktop or other furniture. The modular terminals also are part of a system and method for conditioning building spaces whereby a number of terminals are controlled in response to selected sensor readings. Various air handling units combine with the terminals to cycle the air and supply a source of filtered and conditioned air to the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventor: Stanley J. Demster
  • Patent number: 5947815
    Abstract: An air register filtering system for mounting to an existing air register thereby removing particles of dust, pollen and other debris that do not get trapped by a furnace filter before being blown into the room providing cleaner air for the user and reducing the need for dusting. The system includes an air register a filter retaining structure engaging the existing air register, and a filter secured within the filter retaining structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Doug A. Danforth
  • Patent number: 5829210
    Abstract: A method of preparing an installation of channel using units in several rooms on the one and same floor so as to allow a subsequent completion of units with multiple channel elements. Onto a flooring support between a distributing central unit and the rooms on the floor, the flexible channel elements which are enclosed in an exterior casing, are enclosed. These channel elements are a) a separate channel or conduit for the flow of a hot or cold brine to and from radiators in the rooms, b) channels for supplying electricity and/or for communicating with the units; and c) a channel space for fresh air between the elements. The floor is then finished to cover the multiple channel elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventor: Goran Bernhardsson
  • Patent number: 5733191
    Abstract: A directional vent register having a primary grill in a generally conventional position in a top plate which pivots to expose and open a secondary grill which directs the air in a forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventors: Peter K. F. Lam, Nigel B. Chivers
  • Patent number: 5720660
    Abstract: A protective cover for heat registers, heating ducts, cooling vents or the like, including a main panel having an open grid pattern for covering the surface of a register, duct or vent; four side walls connected to the main panel for overlapping the sides of the register, duct or vent; and four gripping members connected to the four side walls respectively for inserting behind the register, duct, or vent to hold the protective cover in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Inventors: Geri Benedetto, Rich Jones
  • Patent number: 5697841
    Abstract: An air flow register comprises a housing which is open at upper and lower ends and comprises a peripheral outwardly projecting flange at the upper end and a skirt portion which depends from the flange, the register further comprising a cowl which is pivotally mounted in the housing and which carries a plurality of spaced inclined air deflection vanes, the cowl being pivotable between a first position in which the cowl is raised to direct air from the register across a surface in which the register is located and a second position in which upper edges of the air deflector vanes extend substantially flush with the flange and in which the cowl abuts the housing skirt portion to close air flow through the cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Inventor: Carl Samuel Di Giovine
  • Patent number: 5674124
    Abstract: This is an air register having a grille member pivotally attached to the register housing. A spring is disposed between the grille member and the register housing which biases the grille member in an upward, diagonal extended position from the central passageway formed inside the register housing. During use, the grille member is automatically disposed in an upward, diagonal extended position which deflects the exiting air at an angle into the room. When a downward force is applied to the top surface of the grille member, say by a person's foot, the grille member is able to pivot downward around one edge into a retracted position inside the central passageway. The air register also includes a pair of overlapping plates controlled by a control knob which control the amount of air exiting from the air register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Inventor: Reed A. Davis
  • Patent number: 5569077
    Abstract: A directional vent register having a primary grill in a generally conventional position in a top plate which pivots to expose and open a secondary grill which directs the air in a forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Inventors: Peter K. F. Lam, Nigel B. Chivers
  • Patent number: 5556330
    Abstract: A floor mountable air outlet adapted to distribute a generally vertical or a generally horizontal air stream is disclosed. The outlet includes an uppermost plate having an inner and an outer series of openings inclined relative to the plane of the plate. The plate forms the upper surface of a cylinder and there is mounted within the cylinder a disk shiftable toward and away from the plate. In the uppermost position of the disk the inner series of openings is blocked resulting in a generally vertical air flow, whereas in the lowered position of the disk a generally horizontal flow is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: H. Krantz-TKT GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schweikert
  • Patent number: 5542223
    Abstract: An air duct boot useful for connecting a heating and air conditioning duct to an air register grate to permit air to be circulated into a space to be heated or cooled. The air duct boot includes a housing of right parallelepiped configuration constructed of a synthetic resin and having an internal support for preventing excessive deflection of opposed walls of the housing when concrete is poured therearound. Reinforcing ribs are molded into the opposed walls. The housing also includes an integrally molded top or upper portion which can be quickly and easily removed after the boot is installed in a concrete pad or other foundation structure. A protuberant, generally cylindrical neck portion extends from one side of the housing near its lower end for connection to the duct. The entire air duct boot is molded as an integral unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: General Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Inda, Joseph J. Inda
  • Patent number: 5498203
    Abstract: A manually adjustable forced air-flow deflector for use on a register of a forced air heating system. The forced air-flow deflector comprises a back plate having a first end and a second end, with the first and second end plates secured to the respective first and second end of the back plate so as to project forwardly in generally transverse relation with respect to the back plate. The forced air-flow deflector further comprises a movable air-flow guiding plate and retaining means therefor. The movable air-flow guiding plate is retained in selectively movable relation by a retaining means comprising a first, second and third pairs of directly opposed grooves disposed one in each of the end plates. The first pair of grooves retains the air-flow guiding plate in generally upstanding relation at the front of the end plates. The second pair of grooves retains the air-flow guiding plate at a central portion of the end plates in angled relation, upwardly directed away from the back plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Gottfried Reichert
  • Patent number: 5479984
    Abstract: A register of a forced air system is sealed by placing a heavy flexible magnetic panel over the register and adhering the entire panel to the entire register for preventing escape of forced air from the register. The flexible magnetic panel is used on wall registers, on floor registers and on ceiling registers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Eastorac Corporation
    Inventors: David Easterbrook, Michael Butorac
  • Patent number: 5275405
    Abstract: A floor air vent cover includes a centrally located closed bottom depression the size of a putting cup for receiving and retaining a putted golf ball. The opposite ends of the cover contain air passage openings having tapered sides for directing the air flow away from said depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Club Pro Products, Inc.
    Inventor: William Ridge
  • Patent number: 5266091
    Abstract: An air filter for use in combination with a climate control system having a register with an outwardly extending perimeter flange and an exposed surface, the outwardly extending perimeter flange supporting the register when the register is installed over an aperture formed in a support surface. The air filter includes porous material for filtering air emanating from the system with limited restriction of air flow caused by the porous material covering the register which, when not covered, would allow air to flow from the system unrestricted. The air filter slips over the register with excess material extending beyond the perimeter flange of the register and folded under the perimeter flange for securing the porous material to the register by interposing the porous material between the perimeter flange and the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Inventor: Craig J. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5236476
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air circulation and filtration system for use with an indoor ice-skating arena. The air circulation and filtration system consists of intake and return air panels which replace and simulate in substantially all respects the boundary "boards" commonly used in indoor ice-skating facilities. The circulation and filtration system remains designed to remove undesirable gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and exhaust gases emanating from ice resurfacing machinery, from the ice-skating areas used by skaters. The return air panels contain a plurality of angularly offset air passage apertures which direct an air circulation course within an indoor ice-skating arena. The angularly offset air passage apertures promote a circular air course proximal to the ice-skating surface. The location of the intake air panels also promotes a circular air flow course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Inventor: Ronald C. Klick
  • Patent number: 5232403
    Abstract: In an air register comprising a register frame defining an air outlet, a deflector is rested in retracted position and extensible from the frame to a preselected position over the air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Inventor: Joseph Marotta
  • Patent number: 5230657
    Abstract: A collapsible lightweight cover device (10) for floor registers (100) including a cover member (20) pivotally secured to the register (100) and having accordion folded panel members (30) operatively attached to both the cover member (20) and the register (100); wherein, forced air flowing through the register (100) will force the cover member (20) to pivot upwardly relative to the front of the register (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Inventor: Larry D. Opoka
  • Patent number: 5163871
    Abstract: An air register grill includes a plurality of air directing vanes. Each air directing vane includes an air directing curve which meets one side of the grill at a substantially 90.degree. angle. Opposing each air directing side is a relief side which generally mirrors the shape of the air directing side. This configuration provides an air stream which exits the grill at a generally 90.degree. angle with the grill. Furthermore, air flow is not seriously impeded and the resultant grill structure provides an aesthetically pleasing design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Inventors: Robert Huibregtse, Lawrence C. Shaw