AU2004200587A1 - An air conditioner register and diffuser therefor - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: An air conditioner register and diffuser therefor The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 004427557 2 AN AIR-CONDITIONING REGISTER AND DIFFUSER THEREFOR Field of the invention This invention relates to air conditioners. In particular, it relates to registers including elongate diffusers, sometimes referred to as biscuits. The invention has particular application to ceiling mounted registers, but registers in accordance with the invention may also be mounted in floors or walls.

Background of the invention Air-conditioning registers for receiving a plurality of diffusers generally include a register frame having one or more locating partitions or bars spanning the air-flow opening of the register. The partitions or bars advantageously serve to define the respective apertures of the air-flow opening in which a plurality of diffusers are positioned and to support diffusers, biscuits and other air-flow regulators. The locating bars may also cover unsightly gaps between adjacently seated diffusers or biscuits in the apertures of the register frame.

Despite the benefits of locating partitions or bars, presently known registers fail to provide any facility which enables re-orientation of elongate diffusers or biscuits in a register other than in an orientation dictated by the arrangement of the locating partition or bar relative to the register.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved air-conditioner register which enables arrangement of diffusers in an air-conditioning register in more than one orientation.

It is further desirable to provide an improved diffuser for use with the improved air-conditioner register.

Summary of the invention It has been recognised that elongate diffusers or biscuits must be aligned parallel with a locating partition or bar. This prevents orientation of the diffusers or 004427557 3 biscuits perpendicular to the partition or bar where such an orientation may be desired and the register itself cannot be re-orientated. Moreover, installation of diffusers or biscuits within a register frame, once the register has been installed, will be made difficult by the restricted freedom of movement within the register frame caused by the locating partition or bar.

The invention therefore provides in a first aspect, an air-conditioner register frame including: a perimeter frame for mounting in a surface of a room, said frame having at least one seat for supporting a plurality of diffusers; means for retaining the perimeter frame in the surface of the room; and an aperture defined by the perimeter frame, wherein the aperture is configured to receive a plurality of said diffusers so as to enable the orientation of said diffusers relative to the perimeter framne and to facilitate re-orientation and/or installation of said diffusers subsequent to installation of the perimeter frame in a surface of a room.

In a second aspect, the invention provides an air-conditioning register apparatus including: the air-conditioner register frame according to the first aspect of the invention; and a plurality of diffusers for location within the aperture of the perimeter frame, each of said diffusers including a body and a plurality of diffuser blades mounted within the body for dispersing conditioned air flowing through the register.

In one embodiment, the plurality of diffusers are supported on at least one seat of the perimeter frame to enable dispersion of conditioned air flowing through the register.

004427557 4 Preferably, one or more of the plurality of diffusers is an elongate diffuser, and two or more of the diffusers are received in a single aperture of the perimeter frame.

It will be appreciated that providing a register frame with an aperture for receiving two or more elongate diffusers, rather than, for instance, two or more elongate apertures separated by at least one locating partition or bar, enables reorientation of the elongate diffusers or biscuits seated in the register to arrangements perpendicular to their original orientation. In contrast, prior art airconditioning registers with elongate diffusers or biscuits cannot provide biscuit orientations perpendicular to the locating partition or bar orientation. By providing a register frame without a locating partition or bar, the biscuits can be re-orientated within the register frame to provide a desired air flow pattern. The lack of an impeding separating partition or bar also facilitates re-orientation and even installation of diffusers into the register frame after the register frame has been installed in a surface of a room, such as a wall or ceiling.

The perimeter frame preferably includes guide means, which may be in the form of tapered ribs, for locating the diffusers on the seat of the perimeter frame.

The ribs may be positioned on the frame to engage corners and/or sides of each diffuser. The side engaging ribs may include means for releasably retaining a diffuser within the frame. The retaining means is preferably a lip spaced from the seat to enable slidable engagement and disengagement of the diffusers with the retaining means.

An inwardly directed flange forming part of the perimeter frame may comprise the seat and define the aperture. In one preferred embodiment, the aperture, seat and perimeter frame are all square, thereby allowing a pair of appropriately sized oblong rectangular diffusers or biscuits to snugly fit within the perimeter frame on the seat so that the aperture is covered. It will, however be appreciated that other shapes of frames and other numbers of elongate diffusers may be provided. For instance, an oblong rectangular frame may be provide which has a single aperture configured to receive three or more elongate diffusers or even a square diffuser and an elongate diffuser.

004427557 To improve the appearance of the adjacently seated biscuits in the perimeter frame, one of said diffusers of the second and third aspects preferably has a flange extending outwardly from the body and which flange is shaped to overlap or abut the body of an adjacent diffuser, when seated in the perimeter frame, to conceal a gap between side walls of adjacently seated diffusers.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a diffuser for an air-conditioning register, the diffuser including: a body; a plurality of vanes mounted within the body; and a flange extending outwardly-of the body; wherein said flange is shaped to overlap or abut an adjacent diffuser, when seated in an aperture of a register, thereby concealing a gap between the body and a body of the adjacent diffuser.

The invention also extends to a fourth aspect which provides an airconditioning register apparatus including: a register frame having a seat for supporting a plurality of diffusers; a plurality of diffusers for location on the seat of the register frame, each diffuser including a body and a plurality of vanes mounted within the body; wherein at least one of said diffusers is in accordance with the diffuser of the fourth aspect.

In one embodiment, the plurality of diffusers are supported on the seat of the register frame such that the flange conceals the gap between the adjacent diffuser bodies.

004427557 6 Brief description of the drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an air-conditioning register frame in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, along with a single elongate diffuser; Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pair of diffusers seated in the register frame of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a mounting clip, on the register frame, without a locking element; Figure 4 is an isometric perspective view of a locking element used with the mounting clip of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a top plan view of a diffuser body according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a plan view of an end of the diffuser body in Figure 6; Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of a diffuser body including an overlapping flange according to the fourth aspect of the invention; Figure 8 an elevational view of the end of the diffuser body in Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of an assembled air-conditioner register in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the third and sixth aspects of the invention.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a register frame with a pair of diffusers installed in the frame.

004427557 7 Description of a preferred embodiment An air-conditioning register 10, according to the preferred embodiment, includes a perimeter frame or register frame 20 in which is receivable a pair of elongate rectangular register diffusers 60 sometimes referred to as biscuits. For convenience, only one diffuser 60 is shown in Figure 1. The register frame includes mounting clips 30 for mounting the register frame 20 in the surface of a room, such as a ceiling. The register frame 20 further includes a single aperture 21, free of spanning members, and which forms the conduit between an airconditioning duct and a room for the flow of conditioned air.

The register frame 20 has interconnected upstanding walls 22 forming a square. The lower ends of the walls 22 have an outer peripheral flange 23 and an inner peripheral flange 24 comprises a seat on which the diffusers 60 are supported when located within the register frame As shown in Figure 9, the register frame 20 is adapted to be mounted in an opening in a ceiling by a plurality of mounting clips 28. Each mounting clip 28 comprises an expandable slide member 28 (Figure 4) and a locking element (Figure Each slide member 28 is received in a guide channel (not shown) of a guide member 33 provided on a pair of opposed walls 22 of the register frame The slide member is thus guided for vertical sliding movement relative to the wall 22. Each locking element 30 is moveable in a generally horizontal direction through a bore 46 in a respective expandable slide member 28 and through an aperture 34 in a wall 22 of the register frame 20. The locking element 30 has a wedge surface 42 to expand the slide member 28 as the locking element 30 is moved outwardly relative to the register frame 20. Opposed faces of each guide member 33 are provided with serrations 36 which are engaged by complementary serrations 38 on the respective sides of the slide member 28 when it is expanded by the locking element 30. The locking element 30 has a clamping surface which is adapted to engage with the internal surface of a ceiling around the opening in which the register frame 20 is fitted to clamp the register frame 20 in position when the locking element 30 expands the slide member 28 to lock the mounting clip arrangement. This type of mounting clip 26 arrangement is 004427557 8 described in greater detail in our Australian Patent Application No. 79430/91, filed on 15 October 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

When it is desired to mount the outlet in a ceiling, wall or floor opening, the register frame 20 is placed in position in the opening, and the slide member is moved relative to the guide channel and guide member 32 until the clamping surface 40 of the locking element 30 engages with the inner surface of the part of the ceiling 32, wall or floor surrounding the opening in which the register frame is to be mounted. Such arrangement assists to clamp the ceiling 32 between the locking element 30 and the outer flange 23 (Figure The locking element 30 is then moved relative to the guide member 32 so that the wedge surface expands the slide member 28, the serrations 38 engage with the serrations 36 on the guide member 33 as shown in Figure 3. When the locking element 30 has expanded the slide member 28, the wider and slightly thicker portion 44 of the locking element engages positively in a frictional engagement with the internal surface of the bore 46 in the slide member 28 so that the locking element is positively retained in its locking position. The mounting clip 26 is released by pulling on plate 48 to retrieve the locking element 30 from within the bore 46, thereby releasing the serrations 36, 38 from inter-engagement. The locking element 30 can then be moved away from the ceiling 32 to release the register frame The register frame 20 is sized and shaped to snugly receive a pair of diffusers 60 for support by the seat 24. Each diffuser 60 comprises an elongate rectangular body 90, 100 including opposed side walls 91, 101 and opposed end walls 92, 102 (Figures 5 and The two opposed end walls 92, 102 of each diffuser body 90, 100 are provided with a plurality of apertures 66 (Figures 6 and 8) for receiving studs 68 of link members 70 of a linkage mechanism for linking the blades 72 so that when one blade 72 is pivoted, the other blades 72 pivot to the same extent.

Referring to Figure 2, the blades 72 are curved and generally in the shape of an aero foil having mutually opposed convex and concave surfaces 74, 76.

Each blade 72 also has a side portion 78 extending from the concave surface 76.

004427557 9 A square-shaped aperture 80 is provided in the side portion 78 for receiving a complementary square-shaped end of a stud 68 of a respective link member Each link member 70 is formed as an oblong plate having curved ends.

The stud 68 is provided at one of the ends of the link member 70 for extension through a respective aperture 66 in the end walls 92, 102 of a respective diffuser body 90, 100 with the plate portion 61 located on the outside of the end wall 92, 102 between that end wall 92, 102 and the respective wall 22 of the register frame As shown in Figure 5, the apertures 66 are preferably star-shaped having slots extending radially outwardly from a circular portion to facilitate insertion of the studs 68 through the apertures 66. The square-shaped end 80 of each stud 68 is received in a complementary shaped aperture in the side portion 78 of a respective blade 72 and may be secured therein by an adhesive.

The ends of the link members 70 opposite to the stud 68 are bifurcated connected to a common linkage member 82 that is in the form on an elongate rectangular linkage bar. The linkage bar 82 includes projections 84 which snap-fit in the bifurcated end of the link members 70. The link member 70 is preferably formed from a moulded plastics material of sufficient resilience to allow the bifurcated end of the link member 70 to flex apart to allow insertion of the projection 84. The linkage bar 82 may also be conveniently formed from a moulded plastics material.

As seen in Figure 10, a pair of elongate rectangular diffuser bodies 90, 100 are seated within the register frame 20 in one particular orientation. Referring firstly to the diffuser body 90 (Figure the body is elongate and formed by interconnecting side and end walls 91, 92. A rim 94 extends outwardly from the walls 91, 92 and includes stepped corners 96. The stepped corners 96 define guide surfaces 98 which assist in accurately locating the diffuser body 90 on the seat 24 of the register frame Referring now to diffuser body 100 (Figure side walls 101, 103 and end walls 102 form the elongate body which includes a rim 104. Stepped corners 106 are incorporated into the rim again to assist with correct location of the diffuser 004427557 body 100 on the seat 24. Alignment of the body 100 is also assisted by guide surfaces 108 which are defined by the stepped corner 106. In place of the rim 104 on one elongate side wall 103 of the body 100, is a flange 110 extended outwardly from the side wall 103. The flange 110 includes stop ribs 112 located adjacent to end walls 62, 64 of the body 100. The stop ribs 112 serve to control the spacing between adjacently located diffusers 90, 100 when located in the register frame on the seat 24 by abutting the facing rim of the adjacent diffuser body The register frame 20 includes guide ribs 50 formed as wedges located in relative perpendicular orientation at the inner corners of the register frame 20 and guide ribs 51 in spaced pairs located intermediate the length of the walls 22 forming part of the register frame 20. The guide ribs 51 include a cut out section which defines a lip 52 spaced from the seat 24 of the register frame The wedge shape of the guide ribs 50, 51 assists to guide the diffuser bodies 90, 100 into their correct location on the seat 24. The lips 52 on the guide ribs 51 on opposing walls 22 of the register frame 20 are spaced apart by a distance marginally greater than the distance between opposing sides of the rim 94, 104 on the diffuser bodies 90, 100. This spacing enables the rim 94, 104 of the diffuser bodies 90, 100 to be located on the seat 24 by movement past the lip 52 on the guide ribs 51 to effect loose trapping of the rim 94, 104 to retain the diffuser body 90, 100 on the register frame The air-conditioning register 10 is assembled by lowering the diffuser body toward the seat 24 on the register frame 20 so that a side wall of the body 90 is located along a wall 22 of the register frame 20 so that the guide surfaces 98 abut the corner located guide ribs 50. The opposing side wall of the body 90 is then lowered toward the seat 24 past the lips 52 of the guide ribs 51 located intermediate walls 22 of the register frame 20, until the rim 94 of the body 90 is resting on the seat 24. Diffuser body 100 is located in the register frame 20 by arranging the body 100 with the flange 110 directed towards the body 90 and then lowered toward the seat 24 until the rim 104 contacts the seat 24 with the flange 110 passing through the aperture 21 of the register frame 20. The end walls 102 of the body 100 are then lowered toward the seat 24. This has the effect of 004427557 11 causing the flange 110 to slide toward the body 90 wherein the rim 104 slides underneath the lip 52 of the guide ribs 51. End walls 102 are continually lowered until the rim 104 opposite the flange 110 contacts the guide ribs 50. Further lowering of the wall 102 directs the guide surfaces 108 into abutment with the guide ribs 50 located at the internal corners of walls 22 when the rim 104 is located on the seat 24. In this process, the flange 110 slides underneath the facing rim 94 of the adjacent body 90 up to the point where the stop ribs 112 abut the rim 94. The portion of the flange 110 extending outwardly of the stop ribs overlaps an adjacent portion of the rim 94 of body 90. In this manner, a gap formed between the bodies 90, 100 is concealed from view and thus improves the appearance of the assembled air-conditioning register It will be appreciated that the absence of any member spanning the aperture allows the elongate rectangular diffuser bodies 90, 100 to be located in either of two perpendicular orientations, one of which is shown in Figure 10. Moreover, the absence of any member spanning the aperture 21 improves access to the diffuser bodies 90, 100, thereby enabling installation and re-orientation of the diffuser bodies 90, 100 after the register frame 20 has been installed in a ceiling, in addition to facilitating installation of the register frame in a ceiling.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims (19)

1. An air-conditioner register frame including: a perimeter frame for mounting in a surface of a room, said frame having at least one seat for supporting a plurality of diffusers; means for retaining the perimeter frame in the surface of the room; and an aperture defined by the perimeter frame, wherein the aperture is configured to receive a plurality of said diffusers so as to enable the orientation of said diffusers relative to the perimeter frame and to facilitate re-orientation and/or installation of said diffusers subsequent to installation of the perimeter frame in a surface of a room.

2. An air-conditioning register apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the perimeter frame includes guide means for locating the diffusers on the seat of the perimeter frame.

3. An air-conditioning register apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the guide means are in the form of tapered ribs.

4. An air-conditioning register apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the ribs are positioned on the frame to engage corners and/or sides of each diffuser.

Air air-conditioning register apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the side engaging ribs include means for releasably retaining a diffuser within the frame.

6. An air-conditioning register apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the retaining means is a lip spaced from the seat to enable slidable engagement and disengagement of the diffusers with the retaining means. 004427557 13

7. An air-conditioning register apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein an inwardly directed flange forms part of the perimeter frame, the inwardly directed flange comprising the seat and defining the aperture.

8. An air-conditioning register apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the aperture, seat and perimeter frame are all square, thereby allowing a pair of appropriately sized oblong rectangular diffusers or biscuits to snugly fit within the perimeter frame on the seat so that the aperture is covered.

9. An air-conditioning register apparatus, including: an air-conditioner register frame according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and a plurality of diffusers for location within the aperture of the perimeter frame, each of said diffusers including a body and a plurality of diffuser blades mounted within the body for dispersing conditioned air flowing through the register.

An air-conditioning register apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said plurality of diffusers are supported on at least one seat of the perimeter frame to enable dispersion of conditioned air flowing through the register.

11. An air-conditioning register apparatus according to claim 10 wherein one or more of the plurality of diffusers is an elongate diffuser, and two or more of the diffusers are received in a single aperture of the perimeter frame.

12. An air-conditioning register apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein one of said diffusers has a flange extending outwardly from the body.

13. An air-conditioning register apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the flange is shaped to overlap or abut the body of an adjacent diffuser.

14. A diffuser for an air-conditioning register, the diffuser including: a body; 004427557 14 a plurality of vanes mounted within the body; and a flange extending outwardly of the body; wherein said flange is shaped to overlap or abut an adjacent diffuser, when seated in an aperture of a register, thereby concealing a gap between the body and a body of the adjacent diffuser.

An air-conditioning register apparatus including: a register frame having a seat for supporting a plurality of diffusers; a plurality of diffusers for location on the seat of the register frame, each diffuser including a body and a plurality of vanes mounted within the body; wherein at least one of said diffusers is in accordance with claim 14.

16. An air-conditioning register apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of diffusers are supported on the seat of the register frame such that the flange conceals the gap between the adjacent diffuser bodies.

17. An air-conditioner register frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. An air-conditioning register apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A diffuser for an air-conditioning register substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. PALTECH CORPORATION PTY LTD By its Registered Patent Attorneys Freehills Carter Smith Beadle 13 February 2004