AU2021107249A4 - Vent cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of installing a vent cover (10) over a first side of a vent (12) includes providing attracting components in the form of one or more first portions (37) and one or more second portions (32). The one or more first (37) and second portions (32) exhibit a mutually attracting force. The method further includes installing the one or more first portions (37) on the other side of the vent (12). When it is desired to cover the vent, the method includes installing the vent cover (10) including one or more second portions (32) such that the vent cover (10) is held to the vent (12) by the mutually attracting force. 1003635550 1/3 FIGURES 37 37 12 37 16 10 37 44 14 Figure 1

Description

1/3

FIGURES

37 37

12 37 16 10

37

44

14

Figure 1

Vent cover

Field

[0001] The present specification relates to vent covers. In particular, although not exclusively, the present specification relates to vent covers for ceiling vents, particularly those associated with evaporative cooling systems.

Background

[0002] During periods of warm weather it is desirable to cool the inside of a building for the thermal comfort of the occupants. Roof mounted evaporative air conditioners are common devices for providing cooled air. Evaporative air conditioners cool warm air by transferring the heat energy of the warm air into a water reservoir and then move the cooled air into the space to be cooled via duct work. The cooled air will pass through the duct work, which is often installed in the roof cavity of a building, and exit the duct into a room via a ceiling mounted vent. These ducts form an open-ended air path between the inside of the room and the outside of the building.

[0003] Conversely, during periods of cold weather it is desirable to warm the inside of a building for the thermal comfort of the occupants. A heating system that is separate from the evaporative air conditioning system is often used to warm the air inside a building. Heating systems heat cold air by transferring energy from a fuel or power source to the cold air. This process is energy intensive and can have large fuel and environmental costs associated, therefore minimising the amount of air heated, and hence the costs, is desirable.

[0004] Warm air inside a room will rise to the ceiling and enter the vents and duct work of the evaporative air conditioning system. As the duct work of the evaporative air conditioning system creates an open-ended air passage between the inside of the room and the outside of the building, the warmed air will flow through the duct work and exit the building. This loss of warmed air will require more energy to maintain the temperature and the comfort of the occupants and moreover create drafts, further decreasing the thermal comfort of the occupants requiring more air to be warmed to maintain comfort. Warm air lost in this manner can equate to significant fuel and environmental cost.

[0005] Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgment or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be understood, regarded as relevant, and/or combined with other pieces of prior art by a skilled person in the art.

Summary

Method of installing vent cover with first portions on opposite side

[0006] In accordance with a first aspect, there is provided a method of installing a vent cover over a first side of a vent including: providing attracting components in the form of one or more first portions and one or more second portions, with said one or more first and second portions exhibiting a mutually attracting force; installing one or more first portions on the other side of the vent; and installing the vent cover including one or more second portions such that the vent cover is held to the vent by the mutually attracting force.

[0007] The first and second portions are preferably magnetic components which exhibit a mutually attracting force. This may require the magnetic poles to be arranged so as to attract. Alternatively, the first and second portions may comprise a magnetic and metal combination whereby one of them is a magnetic material and the other is a metal of the type which is attracted by the magnet.

[0008] Preferably the first and second portions are arranged in mutually attracting pairs or sets and as such are arranged with the first portion and the second portion in alignment. However, it is possible that the first and second portions are not arranged in mutually exclusive pairs/sets i.e. not necessarily a one to one ratio. For example, there may be a spaced array of first portions and an elongate second portion such that the spaced array of first portions are mutually attracted to the elongate second portion. In other words, the number of first portions and second portions may differ.

[0009] Suitably, the first side of the vent will be room-facing whereas the other side of the vent is opposite. The vent may be a ceiling vent. As such, it will be understood that the vent may be pre-existing in the ceiling of a home or commercial premises. Thus, the cover may be a retro-fit option for homeowners and the like. The installation of the first portions to the vents on the non-room facing side thereof may be undertaken in a manner of different ways. For example, the vent may be removed from within the room and the first portions applied thereto. Alternatively where there is a sufficient ceiling cavity then the first portions may be applied from within the ceiling cavity.

[0010] The vent cover is preferably commensurate in size with the vent. Preferably, the vent cover is slightly oversized to enshroud the vent. The vent cover may include a first substantially planar portion to cover the vent/vent openings and a second peripheral skirt portion to cover the side of the vent. The first substantially planar portion may be divided into two portions, firstly a peripheral frame portion and secondly a central portion which is within the peripheral frame and is stepped outwardly from the peripheral frame portion in the opposite direction to the skirt portion. The cover may be formed from moulded plastic. Preferably the cover is formed with one or more recesses or seats for respective second portions.

[0011] Reinforcing may also be provided, especially on the rear of the vent cover. As such, integrally moulded reinforcing bars may contribute towards creating a seat for the second portions. Seats may be created between the skirt portion and the reinforcing bars.

[0012] The first and second portions may be arranged along the periphery of the vent/cover. In a preferred form, the first and second portions are arranged in the corners. In a most preferred form, each corner of the vent contains a first portion and each corner of the vent cover contains a second portion.

[0013] It will be understood from what follows that a cover removal system may require additional mutually attracting portions. Thus it is preferred that the mutually attracting portions which hold the vent cover in place are spaced from the mutually attracting portions which form part of the cover removal system. Thus the mutually attracting portions which hold the vent cover in place may be at the periphery while the mutually attracting portions which form part of the cover removal system are centrally located.

[0014] The cover may be formed from moulded plastic. Preferably the cover is formed with one or more recesses for respective second portions.

[0015] Any of the features described below may have application to this aspect.

Vent Assembly

[0016] In accordance with a second aspect, there is provided a vent assembly including: a vent cover and a vent having a first side and a second side, with the vent cover configured to cover the first side of the vent; attracting components in the form of one or more first portions and one or more second portions with said one or more first and second portions exhibiting a mutually attracting force; wherein one or more of said first portions are provided on the second side of the vent, and wherein one or more of said second portions are provided on the vent cover with the vent cover being held to the vent by the mutually attracting force.

[0017] The vent assembly may be provided for new installations.

[0018] Any of the features described above in connection with the first aspect may have application to this aspect.

Kit for a vent assembly

[0019] In accordance with a third aspect, there is provided a kit for a vent assembly wherein the kit includes: a vent cover; a vent having a first side and a second side, with the vent cover configured to cover the first side of the vent; and attracting components in the form of one or more first portions and one or more second portions with said one or more first and second portions exhibiting a mutually attracting force; wherein one or more of said first portions are included with or provided for assembly with the second side of the vent, and wherein one or more of said second portions are included with or provided for assembly on the vent cover such that the vent cover is retainable to the vent by the mutually attracting force.

[0020] Any of the features described above in connection with the first aspect may have application to this aspect.

Kit for a vent cover

[0021] In accordance with a fourth aspect, there is provided a kit for a vent cover to cover a vent wherein the kit includes a vent cover, a removal or installation tool and attracting components in the form of one or more third portions and one or more fourth portions with said one or more third and fourth portions exhibiting a mutually attracting force, wherein the one or more third portions are included with or provided for assembly with the tool and the one or more fourth portions are included with or provided for assembly with the vent cover intermediate the edges of the vent cover such that the mutually attracting force facilitates installation or removal of the vent cover by the tool.

[0022] Preferably the fourth attracting portion(s) are disposed centrally on the vent cover.

[0023] Preferably the kit further includes attracting components in the form of one or more first portions and one or more second portions with said one or more first and second portions exhibiting a mutually attracting force, wherein one or more of said first portions are provided for assembly with the vent, and wherein one or more of said second portions are included with or provided for assembly with the vent cover such that the vent cover is retainable to the vent by the mutually attracting force of the first and second portions. Moreover, it is preferred that the mutually attracting force of the third and fourth portions exceeds the mutually attracting force of the first and second portions. In this way, the tool can be used to remove the vent, in view of the stronger mutually attracting force between the tool and the vent cover.

[0024] In addition, the central placement of the third and fourth portions allows the tool to easily manoeuvre the vent cover into position during installation. Furthermore, during installation, even though the mutually attracting force between the tool and the vent cover exceeds that of the mutually attracting force between the vent cover and the vent, the tool can still be removed by angling the tool to break the mutually attracting force with the vent cover. The central placement facilitates this action.

[0025] In another form, the kit may further include the vent and the first portions may be included with the vent or provided for assembly with the vent.

[0026] Preferably, the tool has an elongate handle and a platform upon which the third portion is included or may be assembled.

[0027] Any of the features described above in connection with the foregoing aspects may be applied to this aspect.

[0028] 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 above or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

[0029] As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps.

[0030] Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

[0031] In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the figures in which:

[0032] Figure 1 depicts a vent cover being installed on a ceiling vent using an installation and removal tool.

[0033] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a square vent cover for a ceiling vent of an evaporative air conditioning system.

[0034] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a rectangular vent cover for a ceiling vent of an evaporative air conditioning system.

[0035] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a vent cover installation and removal tool.

Detailed description of the embodiments

[0036] Figure 1 demonstrates a square cover 10 being installed or removed from a ceiling vent 12 using an installation and removal tool 14. The ceiling vent 12 has louvered openings 16 through which the cooled air from the evaporative cooler flows into the room via the duct work in the ceiling cavity of the building.

[0037] Shown in figure 2 and figure 3 are a square vent cover 10 and a rectangular vent cover 18 for a ceiling vent 12 of an evaporative air conditioning system. Ceiling vents 12 of this type are most commonly square or rectangular, with the rectangular vents having a larger area than the square vents to facilitate a higher airflow. The vent covers 10, 18 are preferably made from a rigid plastic but could be made from a metal such as steel or aluminium if desired.

[0038] Figure 2 is a preferred embodiment of a generally square vent cover 10 that is of slightly larger dimensions to a square ceiling vent 12 so as to completely cover and enshroud the square ceiling vent 12. Such a square vent cover is about 413mm wide and about 413 mm long. Figure 3 is another preferred embodiment wherein a generally rectangular vent cover 18 is of slightly larger dimensions to a rectangular ceiling vent so as to completely cover and enshroud the rectangular ceiling vent. To achieve this a rectangular vent cover is about 415mm wide and about 593mm long. As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, it may be desirable to vary the preferred dimensions to accommodate different vent sizes and styles.

[0039] The square vent cover 10 of figure 2 has a substantially planar portion 20 to cover the opening of the vent and a peripheral skirt portion 22 to cover the side of the vent. The substantially planar portion 20 is divided into a peripheral frame portion 24 and a central portion 26 which is within the frame portion. The plane of the central portion 26 is parallel to the frame portion but set back relative to the frame portion 24 by about 6 mm, and away from the vent 12 in use, to allow the louvered openings 16 of the vent to be covered by the central portion 26. Thus, the frame portion 24 is closer to the vent 12 in use than the central portion 26.

[0040] Additionally, the vent facing side 30 of the central portion 26 has a middle locating pocket 35 for receiving a magnetically attracting portion.

[0041] The peripheral edges of the cover 10 defined by the skirt 22 are of slightly larger dimensions than the vent 12. The skirt portion 22 is formed by a narrow projection, about 2 mm wide and 8 mm high, extending along the peripheral edge of the frame portion 24 and projecting toward the vent 12, in use. Thus, the skirt portion 22 extends beyond the planar face of the frame portion 24 to cover the sides of the vent and to be closer to the ceiling than the room facing side of the vent 12.

[0042] The square vent cover 10 has reinforcing ribs 28 on the vent facing side 30 to increase rigidity of the vent cover 10. Reinforcing ribs 28 run across the substantially planar portion 20 between the middle locating pocket 35 and the frame portion 24. One reinforcing rib 28 originates at and is perpendicular to each side of the middle locating pocket 35 resulting in four reinforcing ribs 28.The reinforcing ribs 28 are arranged so that they divide the planar portion 20 into four substantially equal sections. Additionally, reinforcing ribs 28 run on the frame portion 24 parallel to the long edges of the frame portion 24.

[0043] Preferably, magnetically attracting portions in the form of permanent magnets 32 will be secured by friction fit in respective peripheral locating pockets 33. The peripheral locating pockets 33 are formed on the frame portion 24 by a thin projection, about 2 mm wide and 6 mm high, away from the frame portion 24 to create a wall similar to the reinforcing ribs 28 and skirt portion 22. Preferably there are eight peripheral locating pockets 33 to receive up to eight permanent magnets 32 which are located at the corners and about midway between each corner. Therefore, the cover 10 will contact the vent 12 via the raised surface of the permanent magnets 32 and the peripheral locating pockets 33. Additionally, the frame portion 24 reinforcing ribs 28 may also be used to define part of the peripheral locating pockets 33. Alternatively, these permanent magnets 32 can be moulded into the vent cover 10 during the manufacturing process or affixed to the corners of the vent cover 10 using common methods such as an adhesive, screws, or rivets.

[0044] A magnetically attracting portion is centrally located via the middle locating pocket 35 on the vent facing side 30 of the vent cover 10. This is preferably a metallic plate 34 capable of being attracted by a magnet but could also be permanent magnet. The central metallic plate 34 (shown only in Figure 3) is attached to the inside of the cover 10 on the vent facing side 30 via a friction fit or using an adhesive. In an alternative embodiment, the metallic plate 34 may be affixed to the room facing side of the cover 10 using an adhesive and masked with adhesive sheet to improve the visual appeal of the cover 10.

[0045] The rectangular vent cover 18 of figure 3 is formed in a substantially similar way to the square vent cover 10 described above except; it has two long edges 36 and two short edges 38 forming the rectangular shape of the planar portion 20 and; the four reinforcing ribs 28 include two reinforcing ribs 28 running between the short edges 40 and a middle locating pocket 35, and two reinforcing ribs 28 that run between the long edges and across the planar portion. These are spaced one third and two thirds along the length of the long edges 36. The four reinforcing ribs 28 are arranged so as to divide the planar portion 20 into six substantially equal sections.

[0046] An installation and removal tool 14 is shown in figure 4. The tool 14 is about 1.2 meters long and includes a long handle 42 with a magnetically attracting portion 44 attached to a distal end. The tool 14 may be comprised of individual segments 46 or portions that are joined together via threaded connections to form the complete tool 14. This allows the tool 14 to be packed away in a smaller form for transportation and storage. Additionally, the length of handle 42 can be increased by connecting more handle segments 46. Alternatively, the handle 42 may be any conventional tool handle well known in the art.

[0047] Preferably, the magnetically attracting portion of the tool 14 is a permanent magnet 44 but it may also be a metallic portion capable of being attracted to a permanent magnet secured to the vent cover. The permanent magnet 44 on the end of the tool is used to retain a cover 10, 18 on the distal end of the tool by magnetic attraction between the permanent magnet 44 and the metallic plate 34 centrally located on the cover, as shown in Figure 1. An operator holding onto the opposite end of the tool 14 to the permanent magnet 44 is able to use the tool 14 to manoeuvre the cover towards or away from the vent 12 whilst the operator is standing on the floor.

[0048] Referring back to figure 1 which depicts a vent cover 10 being installed onto a vent 12 of an evaporative air conditioning system using an installation and removal tool 14. The vent 12 is fixed to the ceiling and has magnetically attracting portions 37 inserted behind the vent into the corners on the non-room facing side. These magnetically attracting portions 37 are preferably a metallic portion in an "L" shape arranged to correspond with the corners of the vent but may be spaced therefrom. The magnetically attracting portions 37 may alternatively be a permanent magnet. These metallic portions 37 are not visible from the room-facing side so as not to detract from the visual appeal of the vent 12. Further, these metallic portions 37 are not fixed to the room side of the vent and therefore cannot become detached during removal of the vent cover or due to failure of the fixing method.

[0049] As previously described, the vent cover 10 has permanent magnets 32 secured in the corners on the vent facing side 30. These permanent magnets 32 are positioned so that when the vent cover 10 is in contact with the vent 12 they will align with the metallic portions inserted into the corners on the non-room facing side of the vent. The magnetic attraction between the permanent magnets 32 and the metallic portions 37 will retain the vent cover 10 against the vent 12. The permanent magnets 32 of the cover 10 and the metallic portions 37 of the vent 12 will not come into contact as they are adjacent to opposite faces of the vent 12. Achieving the magnetic attraction using permanent magnets 32 on the cover and metallic portions 37 on the vent 12 removes the need to ensure that magnets of opposite polarities are installed in the cover 10 and vent 12. A similar result may be achieved if the permanent magnets were installed in the vent 12 and the metallic portions 37 in the cover 10.

[0050] The centrally located metallic portion 34 of the vent cover 10 is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet 44 of the installation and removal tool. This magnetic attraction urges the vent cover 10 to remain in contact with the distal end of the installation and removal tool 14 thereby enabling the vent cover 10 to be raised to the ceiling vent 12 whilst the operator remains standing on the floor.

[0051] The vent cover 10 is attached to the vent 12 by aligning the cover 10 over the vent 12 so that the permanent magnets 32 of the cover 10 are magnetically attracted to the metallic portions of the vent 12. The tool 14 can be disengaged from the vent cover by angling the tool 14 so that the centre of permanent magnet 44 of the tool is moved substantially away from the central metallic plate 34 of the vent cover 10 whilst one edge of the permanent magnet 44 remains in contact with the vent cover 10. This allows the magnetic attraction between the tool 14 and the vent cover 10 to be reduced whilst still applying support to the cover 10 to ensure that the cover 10 remains in contact with the ceiling vent 12.

[0052] To remove the cover 10, the permanent magnet 44 of the installation and removal tool 14 is brought into contact with the central metallic plate 34 of the vent cover 10. The cover 10 is urged into contact with the distal end of the installation and removal tool 14 by the magnetic attraction between the permanent magnet 44 and the metallic plate 34. The tool 14 is then moved away from the vent 12 with the cover 10 attached to the distal end. The magnetic attraction between the permanent magnet 44 of the tool and the central metallic plate 34 of the cover 10 is greater than the magnetic attraction between the permanent magnets 32 in the corner of the cover 10 and the metallic portions 37 of the vent. Therefore, the tool 14 is capable of removing the vent cover 10. That is to say, the pulling force of the tool 14 on the cover 10 is greater than the retaining force of the vent 12.

[0053] The foregoing describes only one embodiment and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the protection.

Claims (5)

1. A method of installing a vent cover over a first side of a vent including:

providing attracting components in the form of one or more first portions and one or more second portions, with said one or more first and second portions exhibiting a mutually attracting force;

installing one or more first portions on the other side of the vent; and

installing the vent cover including the one or more second portions such that the vent cover is held to the vent by the mutually attracting force.

2. A method of removing a vent cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein mutually attracting components are provided as one or more third portions and one or more fourth portions provided on the vent cover, such that the one or more fourth portions and said one or more third portions exhibit a mutually attracting force, the method including:

providing a tool including said one or more third portions;

positioning the tool such that the one or more third portions on the tool and the one or more fourth portions on the vent cover are mutually attracted; and

removing the vent cover with the tool.

3. A kit for a vent assembly wherein the kit includes: a vent cover; a vent having a first side and a second side, with the vent cover configured to cover the first side of the vent; and attracting components in the form of one or more first portions and one or more second portions with said one or more first and second portions exhibiting a mutually attracting force; wherein one or more of said first portions are included with or provided for assembly with the second side of the vent, and wherein one or more of said second portions are included with or provided for assembly on the vent cover such that the vent cover is retainable to the vent by the mutually attracting force.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, or the kit according to claim 3, wherein the first side of the vent is facing the interior of a room.

5. A kit for a vent cover to cover a vent wherein the kit includes a vent cover, a removal or installation tool and mutually attracting components in the form of one or more third portions and one or more fourth portions with said one or more third and fourth portions exhibiting a mutually attracting force, wherein the one or more third portions are included with or provided for assembly with the tool and the one or more fourth portions are included with or provided for assembly with the vent cover intermediate the edges of the vent cover such that the mutually attracting force facilitates installation or removal of the vent cover by the tool.