ASSEMBLY, KIT AND METHOD FOR SECURING A COVERING TO AN AIR INTAKE INCLUDING CONNECTING INSERTS

• US 20170128869A1
• Filed: 01/19/2017
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Newway Company
• Original Assignee: The Newway Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Simmons, Randy
• Granted Patent: US 9,827,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/024 Mounting aids
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/029 Special screwing connections, threaded sections
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/50 for air conditioning air-conditioning systems comprising filters F24F8/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0005 Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames B01D46/2422 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/527 Mounting of screens to window or door
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/52 Devices affording protection against insects, e.g. fly screens; Mesh windows for other purposes screens A47G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 1/00 Devices for securing together, or preventing relative movement between, constructional elements or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 11/006 by gluing gluing of plastics material B29C65/48
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/83 Use of a magnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/16 Wing-nuts F16B37/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/082 Grilles, registers or guards
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/084 with mounting arrangements, e.g. snap fasteners for mounting to the wall or duct
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/108 using dry filter elements

Abstract

A fastening system for applying, over an opening and surrounding fascia of a structure, a covering material including either of a flexible or rigid outer reinforced extending perimeter within which is configured a plurality of receiving apertures. A plurality of rails are adapted to being secured to the fascia in extending fashion proximate the opening, each of the rails exhibiting a three dimensional cross sectional shape with a forwardly projecting support surface within which is configured an outwardly facing narrowed slot for receiving a plurality of fasteners for securing the edges of the covering. An insert secures together the elongated channels in perimeter defined fashion over the intake opening. The inserts each have compression fitting sides adapted to inter-engage within the interior channels of the rails. The compression fitting sides can also include any collection of ramps, dimples, protuberances or crush portions to facilitate frictional fitting of the inserts within the channel interior following an initial disassembly of an associated kit from the intake surface, additional and replacement inserts are provided for subsequent reassembly.

Claims

1. An assembly for installing a flexible material to a perimeter extending face surrounding an air intake opening, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of elongated supports arranged in extending fashion around the intake opening, each of said supports having a base surface adapted to being secured along the face the intake opening, each of said supports exhibiting a forwardly projecting support surface within which is configured a slot in communication with an interior channel defined in each of said supports;

a plurality of fasteners installable through an accessible end location of each support such that a base of each fastener is retained within and traversable along said interior channel defined in said support, a projecting portion of each fastener extending from said base and through said slot;

a plurality of inserts, each having extending and compression fitting sides adapted to inter-engage through the accessible end locations of opposing extending supports in order to engage within said interior channels; and

a plurality of perimeter defined apertures in the flexible material receiving said projecting portions of said fasteners to affix the material to the perimeter extending supports and to extend over the intake opening.

2. The assembly as described in claim 1, said plurality of inserts further comprising a plurality of corner “

L”

shaped connectors.

3. The assembly as described in claim 2, said plurality of inserts further comprising at least a further plurality of intermediate positioned “

T”

shaped connectors positioned between said “

L”

shaped connectors for securing an additional elongated support adapted to extend across the intake.

4. The assembly as described in claim 3, said plurality of inserts further comprising an “

X”

shaped insert positioned between said “

T”

shaped connectors and, in combination with an additional plurality of four elongated supports extending in crosswise fashion between said plurality of elongated supports.

5. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising at least one protuberance formed upon each of said sides of said inserts for enhancing frictional engagement within said channels.

6. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising a recessed pocket defined in each said extending sides for enhancing said compression fitting within said interior channels.

7. The assembly as described in claim 1, each of said inserts further comprising an enlarged central embossment portion configured along each of opposite outer and inner edge locations for establishing a seamless appearance with said opposing extending supports.

8. The assembly as described in claim 5, said protuberances further comprising at least one of dimples or ramped portions.

9. The assembly as described in claim 8, said protuberances further comprising least one of crush dimples or crush ridges configured upon said extending sides.

10. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer with a peel away strip secured to a central surface of said inserts adapted to engage the perimeter extending face surrounding the intake opening.

11. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising a fastener receiving aperture formed through a central extending width of said inserts and adapted to receive a fastener for mounting said inserts to the perimeter extending face surrounding the intake opening.

12. The assembly as described in claim 1, said inserts further comprising each of angled and linear interconnecting configurations for configuring the perimeter as any of a square or rectangular.

13. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising screws inserted through apertures defined in said elongated supports for engaging said sides of said inserts,

14. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising any of a two-sided adhesive tape, a magnet, a glue or screw/bolt for securing said base surface of each support to the intake face.

15. An assembly kit for installing a flexible ply material to a perimeter extending face surrounding an air intake opening, said kit comprising:

a plurality of elongated supports adapted to being arranged in extending fashion around the intake opening, each of said supports having a base surface adapted to being secured along the face the intake opening, each of said supports exhibiting a modified “

U”

shaped cross sectional shape with a forwardly projecting support surface within which is configured a slot;

a plurality of fasteners installable through an accessible end location of each support such that a base of each fastener is retained within and traversable along an interior channel defined in said support, a projecting portion of each fastener extending from said base and through said slot;

a plurality of inserts adapted to inter-engage said end locations of opposing extending supports to define a closed perimeter, said inserts further including each of angled and linear interconnecting configurations for configuring an extending perimeter of said elongated supports;

said inserts each having extending and compression fitting sides adapted to inter-engage through accessible end locations of opposing extending supports in order to engage within said interior channels; and

the flexible ply material having a plurality of perimeter defined apertures configured about the flexible material for receiving said fasteners to affix the material to the perimeter extending supports and to extend over the intake opening.

16. The kit as described in claim 15, said plurality of inserts further comprising a plurality of corner “

L”

shaped connectors.

17. The kit as described in claim 16, said plurality of inserts further comprising at least a further plurality of intermediate positioned “

T”

shaped connectors positioned between said “

L”

shaped connectors for securing an additional elongated support adapted to extend across the intake.

18. The kit as described in claim 17, said plurality of inserts further comprising an “

X”

shaped insert positioned between said “

T”

shaped connectors and, in combination with an additional plurality of four elongated supports extending in crosswise fashion between said plurality of elongated supports.

19. The kit as described in claim 18, said plurality of inserts further comprising at least a pair of intermediate positioned “

T”

shaped connectors for securing an additional elongated support adapted to extend across the intake.

70. The kit as described in claim 15, further comprising at least one of crush dimples or crush ridges configured upon said extending sides of said inserts such that, following an initial disassembly of said kit from the intake surface, additional said inserts are provided for subsequent reassembly.