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.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was not federally sponsored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

It is another object of the invention that the invention be customizable with respect to channel air in one or more specific directions.

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.

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.

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device as attached to a ceiling.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device showing how the two main portions are connected together.

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.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the device showing the flow of air when sponge members are placed on all four sides.

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.

FIG. 6 shows side views of two iterations of the panel as a means to block air flow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

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.

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.

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).

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).

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.

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).

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.