AIR DIFFUSER

• US 20070259617A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Craig
• Original Assignee: Richard Craig
• Inventors: Craig, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,320,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/290
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/40 HVAC with raised floors
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/10 with air supply, or exhaust, through perforated wall, floor or ceiling outlet members for directing or distributing air into rooms or spaces, e.g. ceiling air-diffusers F24F13/06

Abstract

An improved air diffuser is provided, including a housing having a bottom and an upwardly extending side wall with air slots to receive air. The housing supports a grille, and a flow regulator fits within the housing. The diffuser is configured to be secured to a floor by a mounting assembly, including a trim ring and a plurality of retaining mechanisms. The trim ring defines a flange and brackets for receiving the retaining mechanisms. Each retaining mechanism defines an L-shaped mount having horizontal and vertical legs. A cantilevered latch extends from a back of the vertical leg so that, when the vertical leg is inserted into one of the brackets, the latch secures the retaining mechanism to the bracket. The horizontal leg and the flange of the trim ring define a space therebetween for engaging a floor and thereby securing the housing to the floor.

Claims

1. An air diffuser comprising:

a housing having a bottom and an upwardly extending side wall having air slots extending through said side wall to receive air;

a rotatable flow regulator fitting within and complementary to the sidewall of said housing and having air slots extending through side flow regulator sidewall;

a mounting assembly comprising a trim ring and a plurality of retaining mechanisms, the trim ring defining a flange and a plurality of brackets for receiving the retaining mechanisms, each retaining mechanism defining an L-shaped mount having a horizontal leg, a vertical leg, and a cantilevered latch attached to the vertical leg extending from a back of the vertical leg opposite the horizontal leg, the L-shaped mount being configured so that, when the vertical leg is inserted into one of the brackets, the cantilevered latch secures the retaining mechanism to the bracket and the horizontal leg and the flange of the trim ring define a space therebetween for engaging a floor and thereby securing the housing to the floor; and

a grille having air slots therein supported by and adapted to rotate with respect to said housing.

3. The air diffuser according to claim 1 wherein the horizontal leg of said retaining mechanism includes spring holding means and a spring for applying pressure to retain the housing against said floor when said mechanism is installed.

4. The air diffuser according to claim 1 wherein said flange of said trim ring extends outwardly, and said trim ring further comprises an upright circular ring, and an inwardly extending circular ledge.

5. The air diffuser according to claim 4 wherein said trim ring further includes a release port for each retaining mechanism.

2. (canceled)

6. An air diffuser configured to be retained to a hole in a floor, the air diffuser comprising:

a housing having a bottom and an upwardly extending side wall having air slots extending through said side wall to receive air;

a rotatable flow regulator fitting within and complementary to the sidewall of said housing and having air slots extending through side flow regulator sidewall;

a trim ring comprising;

an upright cylindrical ring configured to extend through the hole in the floor and sized to receive the housing;

a ledge extending inwardly from the upright cylindrical ring and configured to support the housing in the upright cylindrical ring; and

a flange extending outwardly from the top of upright ring, the flange being larger than the hole in the floor, wherein the outer surface of the upright ring defines a plurality circumferentially spaced brackets, each bracket defining a grooved slot;

a plurality of retaining mechanisms configured to be slidingly received by the grooved slots of the brackets of the trim ring, each retaining mechanism defining an L-shaped mount having a horizontal leg, a vertical leg, and a cantilevered latch attached to the vertical leg extending from a back of the vertical leg opposite the horizontal leg, the L-shaped mount being configured so that, when the vertical leg is inserted into one of the slots of the brackets, the cantilevered latch engages the bracket radially inward of the vertical leg to secure the retaining mechanism to the trim ring, with the horizontal leg extending radially outward from the vertical leg such that the horizontal leg and the flange of the trim ring define a space therebetween for engaging the floor and thereby securing the housing to the floor; and

a grille having air slots therein supported by and adapted to rotate with respect to said housing.

7. The air diffuser according to claim 6 wherein the horizontal leg of said retaining mechanism includes spring holding means and a spring for applying pressure to retain the housing against said floor when said mechanism is installed.

8. The air diffuser according to claim 6 wherein said trim ring further includes a release port for each retaining mechanism.