Ventilation filter mechanism

• US 6,241,603 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2000
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald Watson
• Original Assignee: Ronald Watson
• Inventors: Watson, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Application Number:
  US09/503,684
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 454/284, 454/289, 454/290, 454/307, 454/313, 454/320, 454/309, 555/05, 55D/IG.37, 554/73
• US Class Current: 454/284
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/085 including an air filter
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/28 Arrangement or mounting of filters
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/194 by filtering using high voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

A filtering system which is secured to a traditional air register. The filter uses a flange adapted to encircle the outlet of the traditional air register. Connected to the flange is an air filtering material which collects the dust and pollen at the air register, before the air enters the room. In one embodiment of the invention, an electro-static charge is used by the filtering material to assist in the collection of the dust and pollen. To assist the user in determining when the filter system should be replaced, the air flow pushes a flag; hence as the air flow decreases as the filter becomes clogged, the location of the flag notifies the user that the air filter system should be replaced. While a hook-and-loop fastener is sometimes used to secure the filter to the air register, the preferred embodiment uses a releasable adhesive.

Claims

1. A filtering system comprising:

a frame having at least one opening therethrough and a flange, wherein the flange is adapted to be secured to an air register such that said flange encircles an outlet of said air register,

an air filtering material contained within said frame such that when said flange is secured to said air register, air flow from said air register must flow through said air filtering material to enter a room serviced by said air register; and

a register mechanism securable to an exterior surface of said frame, said register mechanism being manually manipulated by a user to direct a flow of air into said room.

2. The filtering system according to claim 1, further including a flag secured to an exterior surface of said frame such that air flow through said air filtering material causes said flag to rise.

3. The filtering system according to claim 2, wherein a first surface of said flag contains an indicia different than an indicia on a second surface of said flag.

4. The filter system according to claim 3, wherein said first surface is a different color than the second surface of said flag.

5. The filtering system according to claim 1, further including an adhesive placed on said flange for securing said flange to said air register.

6. The filtering system according to claim 5, wherein said adhesive is weak enough to allow manual removal of said flange from said air register.

7. The filtering system according to claim 1, further including:

a) a first unit of hook-and-loop fastener securable to said air register; and

,

b) a second unit of hook-and-loop fastener secured to said flange, said second unit of hook-and-loop fastener adapted to mate with said first unit of hook-and-loop fastener.

8. The filtering system according to claim 1, wherein said flange is configured to encircle a perimeter wall of said air register.

9. The filtering system according to claim 1, wherein said air filtering material includes:

a) a supporting substrate; and

,

b) a filter sheet secured to said supporting substrate.

10. The filtering system according to claim 9, wherein said supporting substrate includes a permanent electro-static charge.

11. The filtering system according to claim 9, wherein said filter sheet includes an electrostatic charge.

12. An air filter comprising:

a) a flange adapted to be secured to an air register such that said flange, when installed, encircles an outlet of said air register,

b) an air filtering material secured to said flange such that when said flange is secured to said air register, air flow from said air register must flow through said air filtering material to enter a room serviced by said air register; and

a flag secured to said flange, a first surface of said flag being predominantly a first color, a second surface of said flag being predominantly a second color.

13. The air filter according to claim 12, wherein said air filtering material includes:

a) a supporting substrate; and

b) a filter sheet secured to said supporting substrate.

14. The air filter according to claim 13, further including a releasable adhesive placed on said flange for securing said flange to said air register.

15. A filtering system comprising:

a) an air register communicating air via an outlet therein into a room;

b) a removable filter having;

1) a flange adapted to encircle the outlet of said air register,

2) an air filtering material secured to said flange,

3) a register mechanism secured to said flange, said register mechanism being manually manipulated by a user to direct a flow of air passing through said air filtering material into said room,

4) a flag secured to said register mechanism, said flag being responsive to air flow through said register mechanism, and,

5) a releasable adhesive placed on said flange for securing said flange to said air register.

16. The filtering system according to claim 15, wherein said air filtering material includes:

a) a supporting substrate; and

b) a filter sheet secured to said supporting substrate.

17. The filtering system according to claim 16, wherein said supporting substrate includes an electro-static charge.

18. The filtering system according to claim 16, wherein said filter sheet includes an electro-static charge.