Air vent inserts

• US 20060240764A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Air Turbine Technology Incorporated (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Original Assignee: Air Turbine Technology Incorporated (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Inventors: Elkins, Larry V., Pierce, Bernard W., Pierce, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US11/112,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20060240764A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/329
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0071 with means for purifying supplied air perfuming or deodorising means F24F1/008
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0073 characterised by the mounting or arrangement of filters
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0076 by electric means, e.g. ionisers or electrostatic separators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/76 by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/192 by electrical means, e.g. by applying electrostatic fields or high voltages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/22 using UV light
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/30 by ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

An air vent insert for boosting circulation and/or purifying the air in the room in a safe and cost effective manner is disclosed. The insert includes a housing configured to be inserted into an air duct and covered by a face plate. The housing has a flange portion that rests on the wall or floor surrounding the duct opening and a body portion recessed in the duct to achieve a low profile design. The body portion contains one or more fans and/or air purification units coupled to an electronic control unit. For increased safety, the entire unit operates on low voltage DC power supplied from an AC/DC converter plugged into a standard 3 prong wall outlet.

Claims

1. A device for circulating air in a room having an air duct opening in the floor or in a wall of the room, the device comprising:

a housing configured to be inserted into the air duct opening, the housing defining a flange portion and a body portion and defining at least one air passageway therethrough, the flange portion being configured to rest on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening and the body portion being sized to fit into the air duct when the flange portion is resting on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening;

the housing containing at least one DC powered fan and an electronic control unit therefore, the electronic control unit adapted to receive DC power from an external AC/DC converter; and

a face plate defining at least one grill covering the fan, the face plate further defining a power cord opening for connecting the electronic control unit to the external AC/DC converter.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the electronic control unit is wirelessly linked to a controller.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the controller includes a thermostat.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the air duct is one of a plurality of ducts from a central air heating or cooling unit and the controller is the controller of the central air heating or cooling unit.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the controller is a handheld remote control.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a motion sensor for activating the device.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing is unitary and the face plate further defines a recess to receive at least a portion of a cord from the external AC/DC converter.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising an air purification unit.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the air purification unit includes at least one of static electricity filter, ozone generator, UV generator, negative ion generator and photocatalytic oxidation.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the at least one fan is disposed between the air purification unit and the face plate.

11. A device for purifying air in a room having an air duct opening in the floor or in a wall of the room, the device comprising:

a housing configured to be inserted into the air duct opening, the housing defining a flange portion and a body portion and defining at least one air passageway therethrough, the flange portion being configured to rest on the wall or the floor surrounding the duct opening and the body portion being sized to fit into the air duct when the flange portion is resting on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening;

an air purification unit coupled to the body portion of the housing, the air purification unit including at least one of static electricity filter, ozone generator, UV generator, negative ion generator and photocatalytic oxidation;

an electronic control unit in the body portion of the housing; and

a face plate having at least one grill covering the housing, the face plate defining an outer face facing the interior of the room wherein, when the device is installed in the air duct opening, the outer face is not more than 1.5 inches from a plane defined by the wall or floor surrounding the opening.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the face plate includes first and second grills and a control panel positioned between the grills.

13. The device of claim 11 further comprising first and second fans mounted in the housing.

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising a control panel on the face plate, wherein the fans operate at one of at least three different speeds and the control panel includes a visual indicator for indicating which of the three different fan speeds have been selected.

15. The device of claim 11 further comprising a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of air being forced through the duct.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein the electronic control unit is wirelessly linked to a controller.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein the electronic control unit receives DC power from an external AC/DC converter.

18. A device for circulating air in a room having an air duct opening in the floor or in a wall of the room, the device comprising:

a unitary plastic housing configured to be inserted into the air duct opening, the housing defining a flange portion and a generally rectangular body portion configured to be recessed into the air duct opening when the flange portion is resting on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening;

first and second DC powered fans positioned in the housing for circulating air in the room;

an electronic control unit for activating the fans; and

a face plate coupled to the housing and defining first and second grills covering the fans

19. The device of claim 18 further comprising an air purification unit.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the air purification unit includes an ozone generator, a source of UV light, a static electricity filter or a source of negative ions.

21. The device of claim 18 further comprising a motion detector coupled to the electronic control unit.

22. The device of claim 18 wherein the fans are powered by a battery in the housing.

23. The device of claim 18 further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein the electronic control controls the fans based on a signal received from the temperature sensor.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the electronic control has a memory for storing temperature data and a processor for executing logic to control operation of the fans based on stored temperature data.

25. A system, comprising:

a housing configured to be inserted into an air duct opening, the housing defining a flange portion and a body portion and defining at least one air passageway therethrough, the flange portion being configured to rest on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening and the body portion being sized to fit into the air duct when the flange portion is resting on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening;

at least one of a fan and an electrically powered air purification device in the housing;

an electronic control unit in the housing for controlling at least one of a fan and an electrically powered air purification device;

a face plate having a grill; and

an AC/DC converter for supplying DC power to the electronic control unit from a wall outlet.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the housing is a unitary plastic housing.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the fact plate includes a control panel.

28. The system of claim 25 further comprising a motion sensor.

29. A device for insertion into an air duct opening in a room wherein the air duct conveys air from a central furnace or air conditioner to the room, the device comprising:

a unitary housing defining a flange portion and a body portion, the flange portion being configured to rest on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening and the body portion being sized to fit into the air duct when the flange portion is resting on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening;

the housing containing an electronic control unit and at least one fan for boosting the air flow from the central furnace or air conditioner into the room;

wherein the electronic control unit is electrically connected to the central furnace or air conditioner and receives electrical power directly therefrom.