Vent control system

• US 6,338,677 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2000
• Issued: 01/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samuel J. White
• Original Assignee: Samuel J. White
• Inventors: White, Samuel J
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Jiping
• Application Number:
  US09/660,501
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 454/256, 454/292, 454/299, 454/313, 454/318, 454/319, 454/320, 454/335
• US Class Current: 454/335
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0002 for admittance of outside air

Abstract

A system for controlling the opening and closing of vents within a structure. The system includes a plurality of vents positioned around the structure and a control panel is centrally positioned in a readily accessible position within the structure. The vents each include a cover plate having a recess extending therethrough a plurality of louvers positioned in spaced parallel relationship within the recess and a device for automatically pivoting the plurality of louvers between an open position and closed position. The control panel includes a plurality of control buttons, each control button controlling pivoting a respective one of the plurality of louvers between the open and closed positions. A lever connects the plurality of louvers within each vent together causing the louvers to move together. The pivoting device for each vent includes first and second solenoids and a latch and spring device connected between both the first and second solenoids and the lever. The first and second solenoids are each controlled by a respective one of the control buttons to rotate causing the latch and spring device to exert a force on the lever such that the lever pivots the plurality of louvers into one of the open or closed positions. Each of the vents further includes a manually operated lever for moving the louvers between the open and closed positions.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the opening and closing of vents within a structure, said system comprising:

a) a plurality of vents positioned around the structure, said vents each including;

i) a cover plate having a recess extending therethrough;

ii) a plurality of louvers positioned in spaced parallel relationship within said recess, with a lever connecting said plurality of levers causing each of said louvers to move together; and

iii) means for pivoting said plurality of louvers between an open position and closed position comprising a latch and spring device;

b) a control panel including a plurality of control buttons, each control button directly controlling pivoting the louvers in a specific vent between said open and closed positions;

c) a pair of solenoids in each of said vents, one of said solenoids being activated to move said louvers into an open position and the second of said solenoids being activated to move the louvers in the vent into a closed position; and

d) each solenoid in each vent having an associated and identified button in said control panel for directly activating the associated solenoid so that in said control panel there is a first button and a second button for each vent wherein activation of said first button causes said latch and spring device to pivot said louvers into the open position and activation of said second button causes said latch and spring device to pivot the louvers into the closed position.

2. The vent control system as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for securing each of said vents to a wall of said structure covering a respective air duct.

3. The vent control system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of vents further includes a manually operated lever for moving said plurality of louvers between said open and closed positions.

4. The vent control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control panel is centrally positioned in a readily accessible position within the structure.