Duct supported booster fan
First Claim
1. A booster fan assembly suitable for use in a forced air heating and air conditioning system, the system including a duct having distal end including a boot and a register situated on the boot at a distal end of the duct, the assembly comprising:
- a fan, an electric motor coupled to the fan, an electric cord coupled to the motor and adapted to be coupled to a source of electric power, and a support coupled to the motor and adapted to be inserted in said duct through the boot from said distal end, the support having an outer surface selectively engageable with an interior surface of said duct near the boot at said distal end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A booster fan assembly includes a fan, an electric motor coupled to the fan, an electric cord coupled to the motor and adapted to be coupled to a source of electric power through a pair of thermostats and voltage reducing transformer, and a support coupled to the motor and adapted to be inserted in a heating/air conditioning duct from a distal end. The support has a flexible perimeter portion for contacting the interior surface of the duct and a central portion extending inward from the perimeter portion that is coupled to the motor. An outer surface of the support is selectively engageable with an interior surface of the duct at any selected location. The support is an incomplete ring that is collapsible from a first diameter to a second smaller diameter to permit insertion of the assembly into the duct. The support includes two inwardly directed handle portions normally spaced from each other, the handle portions being compressible toward each other to cause contraction of the perimeter portion. The support includes an outer surface formed of a conformable material for gripping the interior surface of the duct. The assembly is intended to be installed in a duct behind a register so that it is substantially invisible.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A booster fan assembly suitable for use in a forced air heating and air conditioning system, the system including a duct having distal end including a boot and a register situated on the boot at a distal end of the duct, the assembly comprising:
a fan, an electric motor coupled to the fan, an electric cord coupled to the motor and adapted to be coupled to a source of electric power, and a support coupled to the motor and adapted to be inserted in said duct through the boot from said distal end, the support having an outer surface selectively engageable with an interior surface of said duct near the boot at said distal end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A booster fan assembly suitable for use in a forced air heating and air conditioning system, the system including a duct having distal end and a register situated at a distal end of the duct, the assembly comprising:
a fan, an electric motor coupled to the fan, an electric cord coupled to the motor and adapted to be coupled to a source of electric power, and a support coupled to the motor, the support comprising a flexible perimeter portion including an outer surface for contacting the interior surface of the duct, a central portion extending inward from the perimeter portion and coupled to the motor, and two inwardly directed handle portions normally spaced from each other, the handle portions being movable relative to each other to cause contraction of the perimeter portion of the support to permit insertion of the assembly into the duct from the distal end. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for installing a booster fan assembly into a forced air heating and air conditioning system, the system including a duct having distal end and a register situated at a distal end of the duct, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a booster fan assembly comprising a fan, an electric motor coupled to the fan, an electric cord coupled to the motor and adapted to be coupled to a source of electric power, and a support including a flexible perimeter portion for contacting the interior surface of the duct and a central portion extending inward from the perimeter portion and coupled to the motor;
removing the register from the distal end of the duct;
deflecting the flexible perimeter portion of the support toward the center of the duct while inserting the booster fan assembly into the duct;
allowing the flexible perimeter portion to expand outwardly into contact with a inner surface of the duct at a selected position adjacent to the distal end of the duct; and
replacing the register onto the distal end of the duct so that the booster fan assembly becomes substantially invisible. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
passing an end portion of the electric cord out through the distal end of the duct; - and
connecting the end portion of the electric cord to a source of electric power.
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17. The method of claim 15 wherein the deflecting step comprises the steps of
grasping two inwardly directed handle portions connected to the flexible perimeter portion of the support, and moving the handle portions toward each other to cause contraction of the perimeter portion of the support while positioning the support at said selected position.
Specification