PROGRAMMABLE REMOTE-CONTROL MOTION VENT OUTLET

• US 20040137838A1
• Filed: 01/10/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: USA Nikota, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USA Nikota, Inc.
• Inventors: Naqui, Syed R., Linde, Kenneth J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,837,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/319
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/082 Grilles, registers or guards
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/1433 with electric motors

Abstract

A programmable remote-control motion vent outlet includes an air vent arrangement and a control device. The air vent arrangement includes a ventilating guide adapted for mounting at a ventilating air outlet, wherein the ventilating guide has a ventilating slot for guiding an airflow passing from the ventilating air outlet to outside, a plurality of vent blades rotatably mounted to the ventilating guide for selectively allowing the airflow passing through the ventilating slot. The control device is adapted for remotely switching the vent blades between an air passage position and an air blockage position. In which, at the air passage position, the vent blades are rotated to open the ventilating slot respectively for allowing the airflow passing therethrough, and at the air blockage position, the vent blades are rotated to close the ventilating slot respectively for blocking the airflow passing through.

Claims

1. A programmable remote-control motion vent outlet, comprising:

an air vent outlet arrangement, comprising;

a ventilating guide adapted for mounting at a ventilating air outlet, wherein said ventilating guide has a ventilating slot for an airflow passing from said ventilating air outlet to outside; and

an airflow baffle comprising a plurality of vent blades rotatably mounted to said ventilating guide for selectively allowing said airflow passing through said ventilating slot; and

a control device, which is electrically connected to a power source, comprising means for remotely switching said vent blades of the airflow baffle between an air passage position and an air blockage position, wherein at said air passage position, said vent blades are rotated to open said ventilating slot respectively for allowing said airflow passing therethrough, and at said air blockage position, said vent blades are rotated to close said ventilating slot respectively for blocking said airflow passing through.

2. A programmable remote-control motion vent outlet, as recited in claim 1, wherein said switching means comprises a signal receiver electrically connected to said air baffle and a hand held controller wirelessly communicating with said signal receiver to control rotational movements of said vent blades.

3. A programmable remote-control motion vent outlet, as recited in claim 2, wherein said hand held controller is a radio frequency transmitting device adapted to send a radio frequency to said signal receiver such that said switching means functions as a wireless communication link between said air vent arrangement and said control device.

4. A programmable remote-control motion vent outlet, as recited in claim 2, wherein said hand held controller is an infrared transmitting device adapted to send an infrared signal to said signal receiver such that said switching means functions as a wireless communication link between said air vent arrangement and said control device.

5. A programmable remote-control motion vent outlet, as recited in claim 2, wherein said control device further comprises a manual switch controlling said rotational movements of said vent blades manually, wherein said manual switch overrides said switching means in remote control manner.

6. A programmable remote-control motion vent outlet, as recited in claim 3, wherein said control device further comprises a manual switch controlling said rotational movements of said vent blades manually, wherein said manual switch overrides said switching means in remote control manner.

7. A programmable remote-control motion vent outlet, as recited in claim 4, wherein said control device further comprises a manual switch controlling said rotational movements of said vent blades manually, wherein said manual switch overrides said switching means in remote control manner.

8. A programmable remote-control motion vent outlet, as recited in claim 1, wherein said control device further comprises an electric circuit electrically connected with said switching means to control said air baffle, wherein said electric circuit comprises a timer circuit arranged for actuating said vent blades to rotate at a predetermined time setting.

9. A programmable remote-control motion vent outlet, as recited in claim 2, wherein said control device further comprises an electric circuit electrically connected with said switching means to control said air baffle, wherein said electric circuit comprises a timer circuit arranged for actuating said vent blades to rotate at a predetermined time setting.

10. A programmable remote-control motion vent outlet, as recited in claim 6, wherein said control device further comprises an electric circuit electrically connected with said switching means to control said air baffle, wherein said electric circuit comprises a timer circuit arranged for actuating said vent blades to rotate at a predetermined time setting.

11. A programmable remote-control motion vent outlet, as recited in claim 7, wherein said control device further comprises an electric circuit electrically connected with said switching means to control said air baffle, wherein said electric circuit comprises a timer circuit arranged for actuating said vent blades to rotate at a predetermined time setting.

12. A method of programmable remote-controlling motion vent outlet which comprises at least an air vent arrangement and a control device, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) communicatively connecting said air vent arrangement with said control device, wherein said air vent arrangement comprises a ventilating guide having a ventilating slot and a plurality of vent blades rotatably and spacedly mounted said ventilating guide for guiding an airflow passing through said ventilating slot to outside; and

(b) remote-controlling said vent blades between an air passage position and an air blockage position by said control device, wherein at said air passage position, said vent blades are rotated to open said ventilating slot for allowing said airflow passing therethrough, and at said air blockage position, said vent blades are rotated to close said ventilating slot for blocking said airflow passing through.

13. The method, as recited in claim 12, wherein said control device comprises a signal receiver electrically connected to said air baffle and a hand held controller which is communicating with said signal receiver through radio frequency signals to remotely control rotational movements of said vent blades.

14. The method, as recited in claim 13, wherein said hand held controller is a radio frequency transmitting device adapted to send said radio frequency to said signal receiver such that said switching means functions as a wireless communication link between said air vent arrangement and said control device.

15. The method, as recited in claim 13, wherein the step (a) further comprises the step of tuning said hand held controller at a predetermined radio frequency to communicate with said signal receiver to remotely control said air vent arrangement.

16. The method, as recited in claim 13, wherein the step (a) further comprises the step of automatically matching said radio frequency of said hand held controller to communicate with said signal receiver to remotely control said air vent arrangement.

17. The method, as recited in claim 12, wherein said control device comprises a signal receiver electrically connected to said air baffle and a hand held controller which is communicating with said signal receiver through infrared signals to remotely control rotational movements of said vent blades.

18. The method, as recited in claim 17, wherein said hand held controller is an infrared transmitting device adapted to send said infrared signals to said signal receiver such that said switching means functions as a wireless communication link between said air vent arrangement and said control device.

19. The method, as recited in claim 17, wherein the step (a) further comprises the step of tuning said hand held controller at a predetermined infrared signal to communicate with said signal receiver to remotely control said air vent arrangement.

20. The method, as recited in claim 17, wherein the step (a) further comprises the step of automatically matching said infrared signal of said hand held controller to communicate with said signal receiver to remotely control said air vent arrangement.

21. The method, as recited in claim 12, wherein said control device further comprises a timer circuit arranged for actuating said vent blades to rotate at a predetermined time setting.

22. The method, as recited in claim 14, wherein said control device further comprises a timer circuit arranged for actuating said vent blades to rotate at a predetermined time setting.

23. The method, as recited in claim 18, wherein said control device further comprises a timer circuit arranged for actuating said vent blades to rotate at a predetermined time setting.