AU2006101097A4

AU2006101097A4 - Cover for a vent

Info

Publication number: AU2006101097A4
Application number: AU2006101097A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mariella Elizabeth Niveagh Rosso
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-09-21
Filing date: 2006-09-21
Publication date: 2010-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-21
Also published as: WO2007033423A1; NZ566881A

Description

WO 2007/033423 PCT/AU2006/001386 COVER FOR A VENT Technical Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a cover for a vent. Background of the Invention 10 Ducted heating systems are typically used to distribute warm air to the rooms of a house, for example. Such systems normally include a heating unit that pipes warm air to outlets located in the floor of each room by way of insulated ducts. The outlets are usually covered by vents that control airflow from the heating unit into each room, 15 A difficulty with the outlets being located in the floor is that they tend to collect particulate matter, such as dust and animal fur, when the system is not in use. Consequently, when the system is turned on, any dust, fur, etc. that has fallen into an outlet will be blown back into the room, Air borne dust particles, fur, etc, blown back into the room may create an unhygienic environment and/or cause health problems such as asthma. 20 The outlets tend to collect more dust, and other particulate matter, when they are not used for extended periods. The above difficulties may, therefore, be exaggerated when a heating system is turned on for the first time at the start of winter, for example, 25 It is generally desirable to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the above mentioned difficulties, or at least provide a useful alternative. 30 WO 2007/033423 PCT/AU2006/001386 Summary of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided, a cover for a vent of a ducted air system, including filter for inhibiting traffic of particulate matter through 5 said vent; and fastener for securing the cover around a portion of the vent shaped for insertion into a corresponding outlet of said ducted air system. Preferably, the cover defines a cavity with a depth dimension sufficient to accommodate a vent closure operable to move between open and closed conditions of use. 10 Preferably, the fastener secures the cover around said portion of the vent shaped for insertion into a corresponding outlet of said ducted air system by frictional engagement. Preferably, the fastener is resiliently expandable so as to extend around and resiliently bear 15 against the portion of the vent shaped for insertion into a corresponding outlet of said ducted air system Brief Description of the Drawings 20 Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described, by way of non limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cover for a vent of a ducted air system; Figure 2 is a plan view of a ducted air system; 25 Figure 3 is a side view of a vent of the ducted air system shown in Figure 2 arranged in a first condition of use; Figure 4 is a side view of the vent shown in Figure 3 arranged in a second of use; Figure 5 is a front view of the vent shown in Figure 3 arranged in the first condition of use; Figure 6 is a front view of the vent shown in Figure 3 arranged in the second condition of 30 use; Figure 7 is a top view of the vent shown in Figure 3; WO 2007/033423 PCT/AU2006/001386 -3 Figure 8 is a bottom view of the vent shown in Figure 3; Figure 9 is a side view of the cover shown in Figure 1 fitted to the vent shown in Figure 3 arranged in the first condition of use; Figure 10 is a side view of the cover and the vent shown in Figure 9 arranged in a second 5 of use; Figure 11 is a front view of the cover and the vent shown in Figure 9 arranged in the first condition of use; Figure 12 is a front view of the cover and the vent shown in Figure 9 arranged in the second condition of use; 10 Figure 13 is a bottom view of the cover and the vent shown in Figure 9 arranged in the first condition of use; and Figure 14 is a bottom view of the cover and the vent shown in Figure 9 arranged in the second condition of use, 15 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention The cover 10 shown in Figure 1 is used to inhibit traffic of particulate matter, such as dust and animal fur, through an air vent 12 of the ducted heating system 14 shown in Figure 2. The cover 10 includes filter 16 for inhibiting the passage of dust, for example, through the 20 vent 12 and fastener 18 for securing the cover 10 to the vent 12. The fastener 18 preferably secures the cover 10 around an outer peripheral section of the vent 12 that is seated in a corresponding outlet, The cover 10 is described by way of reference to the ducted heating system 14, However, 25 the cover 10 is equally applicable to any system that pipes air to outlets arranged in different locations in a commercial building or a family home, for example. The ducted heated system 14 could alternatively be a ducted air conditioning system, for example. The ducted heating system 14 is used to distribute warm air to a number of rooms 20 in a 30 house (not shown). The system 14 includes a heating unit 22 that pipes warm air to outlets 24 located on the floor surface 26 of each one of said rooms 20 by way of insulated ducts WO 2007/033423 PCT/AU2006/001386 -4 28. The outlets 24 are covered by vents 12 that control airflow from the ducts 28 into each room 20. The vent 12 shown in Figures 3 to 8 includes a cap 30 an outlet engaging portion 32 5 shaped for insertion into a corresponding outlet 24. The cap 30 completely covers the outlet 24 and sits generally flush with the floor surface 26. The outlet engaging section is seated in the outlet 24 when the cap 30 is arranged to cover the outlet 24 in the described manner, The cap 30 includes a grill 34 made up of a plurality of spaced apart ventilation fins 36 that permit air to flow from an outlet 24, through the vent 12, and into the room 20. 10 The grill 32 extends across an aperture defined by the outlet 24 in the floor surface 26 so that air passing through the opening 24 also passes directly through the grill 32. The outlet engaging portion 32 includes side walls 38 that are coupled to and, extend downwardly from, the cap 30 into the aperture defined by the outlet 24. The sidewalls 38 15 are arranged around the periphery of the grill 34 so that air blown from the duct 28 passes directly through the grill 32 and into the room 20. The vent 12 also includes a closure 40 for selectively opening and closing the vent 12. The closure 40 includes first and second shutters 42,46 that are arranged to slide across an 20 underside of the grill 34 between open and closed positions. The closure 40 inhibits airflow through the vent 12 when the shutters 42,46 are arranged in the closed position. Conversely, closure 40 permits airflow through the vent 12 when the shutters 42,46 are arranged in the open position. 25 One side of the first shutter 42 is coupled to opposed sidewalls 38a, 38b of the outlet engaging portion 32 by a hinge 44. The first shutter 42 is adapted to rotate about the hinge 44 towards, and away from, the underside of the grill 34. Another side of the first shutter 42 is hingedly connected the second shutter 46, which, in turn, is slidably coupled to the grill 34 by a lever 48. The second shutter 46 can move laterally across the grill 34 in 30 accordance with movement of the lever 48 so as to open and close the vent 12, WO 2007/033423 PCT/AU2006/001386 -5 The vent 12 can be changed from the open condition of use shown in Figure 3 to a closed condition of use shown in Figure 4 by sliding the lever 48 across the grill 34. In doing so, the shutters 42.,46 rotate about their respective hinges and a drawn closer to the under side of the grill 34, In the closed position, the shutter 42,46 inhibit airflow through the grill 34. 5 Conversely, as the second shutter 46 is drawn from the closed position shown Figure 4 towards the open position shown in Figure 3 by the lever 48, the first shutter 42 and the second shutter 46 rotate about their respective hinges and are drawn closer together. Airflow through the grill 34 is thereby less restricted. The shutters 42,46 extend beyond the sidewalls 38 of the outlet engaging portion 32 when the closure 40 is arranged in the 10 open position, as shown in Figure 3. The vent thereby controls airflow from the outlet 24. The filter 16 of the cover 10 is a hollow receptacle that is open at one end 50 and shaped to collect particulate matter that enters the vent 12 from a floor surface 26. Similarly, the filter 16 inhibits traffic of particulate matter from the ducts 28 into the room 20. The cover 15 is preferably a low cost disposable item that can be easily replaced before the start of winter, for example, when the ducted heating system 14 is turned on after a period of non use. The filter 16 is preferably made of any suitable material that permits airflow therethrough 20 and inhibits traffic of particulate matters such as dust, animal fur, etc. The open end 50 of the filter 16 is shaped to be fitted around the sidewalls 38 of the outlet engaging portion 32 of the vent 12, as shown in Figures 9 to 14. The filter 16 is generally rectangular in cross section and is shaped to receive the closure 40 in an opened or a closed condition of use. The filter 16 can, alternatively, be formed in any shape suitable for receiving the outlet 25 engaging portion 32 of the vent 12. The fastener 18 is a band of elastic material, for example, that can be resiliently stretched so as to expand the open end 50 of the filter 16 around the sidewalls 38 of the outlet engaging portion 32 of the vent 12. When so arranged, the band of elastic material 30 resiliently bears against the sidewalls 38 of the outlet engaging portion 32 and thereby secures the cover 10 to the vent 12. The cover 10 can be removed from the vent 12 by WO 2007/033423 PCT/AU2006/001386 -6 expanding the elastic band of the fastener IS and drawing the cover 10 away from the vent 12. Alternatively, the fastener 18 is a band of material that includes an adhesive for securing 5 the filter 16 to the sidewalls 38 of the outlet engaging portion 32 and thereby secures the cover 10 to the vent 12. Otherwise, the fastener 18 may be an adhesive for securing the filter 16 to the sidewalls 38 of the outlet engaging portion 32 and thereby secures the cover 10 to the vent 12. 10 As above described, the closure 40 of the vent extends beyond the sidewalls 38 of the outlet engaging portion 32 of the vent 12 when the vent is arranged in the open condition of use, as shown in Figure 3. The hollow receptacle of the filter 16 is shaped to encompass the outlet engaging portion 32 of the vent 12 when the vent 12 is arranged in either an open or a closed condition of use, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, for example. 15 In use, the cover 10 is fitted to the outlet engaging portion 32 of a vent 12 and the vent 12 is then fitted over a corresponding outlet 24. The cover 10 prevents traffic of particulate matter from the heating unit 22 or the ducts 28 into a corresponding room 20. Further, when so fitted, the cover 10 collects particulate matter from the floor surface 26 of the 20 room 20 that has fallen into the vent 12. The cover 10 can be replaced before the ducted heating system 14 is turned on, thereby preventing particulate matter caught by the cover 10 from being blown back into the room by the system 14. While we have shown and described specific embodiments of the present invention, further 25 modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. We desire it to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular forms shown and we intend in the append claims to cover all modifications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention. 30 Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the WO 2007/033423 PCT/AU2006/001386 -7 inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an 5 acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia, WO 2007/033423 PCT/AU2006/001386 -8 List of Parts Cover 10 Air Vent 12 5 Ducted Heating System 14 Filter 16 Fastener 18 Room 20 Heating Unit 22 10 Outlet 24 Floor Surface 26 Duct 28 Cap 30 Outlet Engaging Portion 32 15 Grill 34 Spaced Apart Ventilation Fins 36 Side Walls 38 Opposed Side Walls 38a,38b Closure 40 20 First Shutter 42 Hinge 44 Second Shutter 46 Lever 48 25

Claims

1. A cover for a vent of a ducted air system, including filter for inhibiting traffic of 5 particulate matter through said vent; and fastener for securing the cover around a portion of the vent shaped for insertion into a corresponding outlet of said ducted air system.

2. The vent claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover defines a cavity with a depth 10 dimension sufficient to accommodate a vent closure operable to move between open and closed conditions of use.

3. The cover claimed claim 2, wherein the fastener secures the cover around said portion of the vent shaped for insertion into a corresponding outlet of said ducted 15 air system by frictional engagement.

4. The cover claimed in claim 2, wherein the fastener is resiliently expandable so as to extend around and resiliently bear against the portion of the vent shaped for insertion into a corresponding outlet of said ducted air system 20

5. The cover claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover collects particulate matter that enters the vent from a floor surface.

6. The cover claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter is 25 disposable.

7. The cover claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter permits airflow through the vent. 30

8. The cover claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover is washable. WO 2007/033423 PCT/AU2006/001386 -10

9. A cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings,