AU663412B2

AU663412B2 - Improvements in and relating to air diffusers

Info

Publication number: AU663412B2
Application number: AU48652/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andrew Rogers
Original assignee: WILLOCHRA INVESTMENTS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: K-AIRE Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1992-09-28
Filing date: 1993-09-28
Publication date: 1995-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2013-09-28
Also published as: AU4865293A

Description

r -7 Regulation 3.2 63412 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: STEVEN -UE' B k~i L 0 Ck I Pt qo 5 P- 1 0 SActual Inventor: ANDREW ROGERS Address for Service: R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES, 345 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO AIR

DIFFUSERS"

Details of Associated Provisional Application No: PL 5049 filed 28th September 1992 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.

The present invention relates to an improved air diffuser for use in conjunction with air conditioning or ventilating equipment, the diffuser being arranged to be mounted in a ceiling for directing a supply of air from the air conditioning or ventilating equipment into a space or room.

In the air conditioning industry, air diffusers having removable modular core elements with adjustable blades are well known. These allow the direction and volume of air distribution to be altered, either by adjusting the positions of the blades of the modular core elements, or by altering othe orientation of the individual elements relative to one 0 n° another. The diffuser can thus be adjusted for optimum delivery of air into any particular room or other space.

o m'o 'u Generally, most prior art air diffuser devices of the o00 00. aforementioned type are constructed in a manner which 00 00 requires the core elements of the diffuser to be individually installed from above their housing (thereby necessitating access to the ceiling space above the diffuser). Thus, when 00°, it is desired to alter the distribution pattern of a 0000 delivered air current through the diffuser, one needs to individually lift the core elements from their seated 0 positions and then rotate same in order to rearrange their orientation. One well known diffuser assembly comprises an integrally moulded outer frame having a rectangular neck 0 o portion which joins at its lower edge to an outwardly o.0 0 projecting flange which is arranged to bear against the W. underside ceiling surface surrounding the opening in which the diffuser is fitted. A tubular adaptor is then fitted to the neck portion of the outer frame, with the upper end of the tubular adaptor being connected to an end of a duct ~-leading to the diffuser. The lower onen end of the outer frame is provided with a pair of cross members on which the individual core elements sit when in their installed positions.

There are a number of drawbacks associated with such a construction. Firstly, during installation of the diffuser, 2 hk i I _Y_ i: an installer is required to handle separate auaptor(s) used to couple the outlet end of an air delivery duct :to the upper open end of the outer frame, and of course ducts vary in diameter. Thus not only is there a cost disadvantage, but also the awkwardness of having to handle different component parts when installing the diffuser assembly.

Secondly, if one wants to adjust the outgoing air delivery pattern, one must lift the individual core elements from their seated positions within the diffuser outer frame and then replace same after having altered their orientation, o e.g. by rotating the core element through 900 or 1800. This is rather awkward in that it requires both hands to be o o0' 0 0 0 inserted upwardly into the interior of the housing, one hand 0 0 0 oG"1. supporting the core element above its seated position, whilst 00 the other is used to rotate it.

oa It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved air diffuser assembly which can be simply and readily installed in a ceiling of a room.

ao 0g 0 0 ooo It is another object of the present invention to provide an oo improved air diffuser assembly which permits the pattern of air being delivered through the diffuser to be quickly and Go o readily altered, and which will allow the core elements to be easily removed from underneath the diffuser to in turn permit o0o°° easy access to the interior of the diffuser for cleaning oo o purposes.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved connection means for releasably interconnecting the core elements and the outer frame of the diffuser.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved core element which can be quickly and easily releasably secured to an adjacent core element, and, when so secured, can be readily clipped into position within the diffuser outer frame from the underside thereof.

3 H 5 It is a still further object of the present invention 'o provide an improved outer frame for an air diffuser assembly which avoids the need to utilise a separate adaptor for connection to an air delivery duct, and which can be readily and simply releasably fixed into position within an opening in a ceiling.

According to one form of this invention therefore, an improved air diffuser assembly comprises a housing having an open lower end and which is designed to fit in an opening in a ceiling in which the diffuser assembly is to be installed, said housing having an inner end wall and two pairs of opposite side walls which extend upwardly from the open lower end and join to said end wall, said walls defining a downwardly opening recessed section, aperture means formed in the end wall for communication to an air delivery duct, a plurality of separate modular core elements each having a peripheral frame and a plurality of evenly spaced parallel air deflector blades supported within the peripheral frame, ,26, said core elements being provided with complementary securing means to enable the cores to be releasably secured together in side by side horizontally aligned relationship, and cooperable latch and latch engaging means on each of the core elements and said end wall of the housing for releasably connecting said core elements within said recessed section, said modular core elements being pre-assembled together to provide a selected air delivery pattern, and thereafter inserted upwardly as a sub-assembly into said open lower end of the housing and retained therein with the core elements 30 horizontally aligned.

Preferably, the core elements have complementary securing means comprising a dovetail projection having wedge-shaped sides on an outer face of one core element, and a complementary recess on an outer face of another core element. Preferably, each outer side of each core element may have both a dovetail projection and a complementary 4 ii '1 1~ i i, recess located thereon such that the orientation about a vertical axis of the core elements may be changed.

Preferably the complementary securing means also comprises a locking means which holds each of the core elements in horizontal alignment. Preferably the locking means comprises a plurality of detent-type catches between adjacent core element sides wherein one core element has a detent projection, and the adjacent core element has a hole within which the detent projection engages. Each side of each core element may be provided with both a detent projection and S hole, which will allow the orientation, about a vertical 00 axis, of each said core element to be changed. In addition, each side of the core elements may be resilient so as to o allow releasable engagement of the detent-type catches.

1-5 allow releasable engagement of the detent-type catches.

0 00 0 0

O

0 00 O0 0 0 00 0000 00 0 0 00 0 Preferably the latch means and latch engaging means comprise ar upwardly directed latch arm extending upwardly from the upper edge of a side wall of the core element and a latch arm engaging surface provided on the inner end wall of the housing adjacent an outer peripheral edge thereof. The latch arms are resiliently deflectable so as to allow disengagement from their respective engagement surfaces when demounting the sub-assembly from the housing.

Preferably each modular core element has a latching arm o00 extending upwardly from the upper edge of each of its four S side walls centrally thereof. Each latching arm is designed to extend upwardly through an opening in the inner end wall of the housing adjacent its peripheral edge, whereby it can be lockingly retained by a marginal edge portion of the opening.

Preferably the rectangular or square housing for receiving the sub-assembly of core elements has integrally formed therewith an air delivery duct engaging tubular neck portion for cons ction to an end of an air delivery duct. This provides the advantage of not having to provide an outer 1 r V frame and a separate neck adaptor for connection to that Kframe.

The side walls may define either a square or rectangular recessed section, and any required number of core elements may be assembled for location within the housing. In addition, each of the side walls may terminate at its lower end in a laterally out-turned flanag which extends peripherally around the housing.

Preferably the neck portion of the integrally moulded housing is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending locking tabs, each of which can be bent so that a portion thereof extends radially outward from the wall of the neck so as to frictionally grip or lock the inner surface of the duct which is thereby retained on the neck of the housing.

Preferably the neck portion comprises a plurality of S 20 concentric cylindrical portions of different diameter so as to enable the neck to be attached to different sized diameter ducts.

Preferably, the integrally formed housings are designed to be stackable for ease of transportation.

In another form of this invention, there is provided improved connection means for detachably mounting an air diffuser housing within an opening in a ceiling, wherein said housing comprises two pairs of opposite upwardly extending side walls and an inner end wall which together define a downwardly opening recessed section for receiving a plurality of modular core elements therein, the improved connection means comprising a plurality of approximately U-shaped resilient spring clips each comprising resiliently deflectable opposed limbs and a bridging portion connecting said limbs, one of said limbs having a retention groove extending transversely of its underside surface adjacent its free end, the other said limb having a tooth-like projection projecting outwardly 6 from its outer surface intermediate the ends thereof, openings in the side walls of the housing through which said resilient clips are horizontally locatable, each clip, when fully located, making pressure contact against the ceiling surface near the opening in which the housing is fitted, such pressure contact being effective to clampingly engage a marginal edge portion of the ceiling opening between the bridging portion of the clip and said laterally out-turned flange, with said retention groove locating over the bottom edge of said opening, and with said tooth-like projection in locking engagement with abutment means projecting downwardly from the inner surface of said end wall.

Preferably, the abutment means comprises ratchet teeth with which the tooth-like projection on the upper limb of the clip is designed to selectively mesh, whereby the contact pressure exerted by the clip against the ceiling can be adjusted.

Preferably each of the resilient spring clips is integrally moulded of resilient plastics material.

With this invention, the installation of an air diffuser assembly is significantly simplified in that the diffuser housing can be quickly and easily fitted within an opening in a ceiling and retained in its fitted position by the fixing clips spaced around its side walls. With the housing releasably fixed in position, the modular core elements are then interlocked together to form a sub-assembly to provide the desired air delivery pattern, and the sub-assembly is then inserted upwardly into the lower open end of the housing and snap-fitted into position. The cylindrical neck portion of the housing can be readily fitted to an air supply duct.

In order to more fully explain the present invention, an embodiment is described hereunder in some further detail with reference to and as llustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an "exploded" perspective view of an air diffuser assembly according to an embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, partly sectioned, elevational view showing the manner in which a core element is releasably clipped into position in the housing of the diffuser fl assembly; ifFig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a modular core element constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention; i Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view of two core elements, when interconnected; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, partly sectioned, elevational view, i showing tha manner in which the housing is installed into position in a ceiling.

i 20 Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, an air diffuser assembly 1 0 comprises an integrally moulded housing 11 having a square recessed section 12 which opens downwardly, and a pluralizy of modular core elements 13 which are arranged to be snugly housed within the recessed section 12 of the housing 11. The recessed section 12 joins to a cylindrical sleeve portion 14 which is adapted to be fitted to an air supply duct (nQt shown) from which air is delivered to the diffuser assembly and into the room or space which is being conditioned or ventilated.

The housing 11 comprises four continuous side walls 16 which terminate at their bottom edges in an outwardly directed s lateral peripheral flange 17 which, when the assembly is fitted into the ceiling, is arranged to firmly bear against the underside surface of the ceiling 18. The housing is also provided with an intermediate horizontal wall 20 which has a central opening 21 which communicates with the interior of the neck portion 14. The walls 16, 20 define the recessed II L section 12 which, in this embodiment, is of square shape and is adapted to receive four diffuser core elements 13.

Each core element 13 comprises a square frame formed by peripheral frame members 22, and a plurality of curved air deflector blades 23 each pivotally mounted by pivot craule mounts 24 on opposite side frame members 22 of the square V frame (refer Fig. Each of the curved blades 23 may be movable independently of the others for adjustment of the direction of delivery of the air from the diffuser i In order to interconnect the modular core element- 13 in a i predetermined configuration prior to their assembly within the recessed portion 12 of the housing 11, each of the core i1 elements 13 is provided with complementary securing means on each of its peripheral frame members 22 (refer Fig. In L this embodiment, the securing means comprises a dovetail projection 30 and a complementary shaped recess 31. The elements 13 can thus be interlocked by engaging the S 20 projections 30 respectively with recesses 31 on adjacent Sframe members 22. In addition, each side of each element 13 is provided with both a projection 30 and a recess 31 so that the elements 13 can be assembled with a variety of i orientations. That is, the orientation of the deflector blades 23 with respect to the housing 11 may be varied by rotating each element 13 about a vertical axis. The arrangement of the projections 30 and recesses 31 allow connection regardless of the orientation of each element 13.

To assist in aligning adjacent core elements 13 horizontally, there are provided complementary detent-type catches on the frame members 22 of the elements 13 in the form of detent projection 26 which engage in complementary holes 27. There is some flexibility in the walls 22 so as to allow the detent projections 26 to releasably engage the holes 27.

As with the projections 30 and recesses 31, each side 22 of each element 13 has both a detent projection 26 and a hole 9 L. r- 27. This allows for the detent-type catches to function, regardless of the orientation of each element.

Extending upwardly from the upper edge of each side frame member 22, centrally thereof, is a deflectable latching arm 34 which is arranged to co-operate with an engagement surface on the upper face of the wall 20 of the housing 11.

The elements 13 can thus be snap-fitted in position within the recessed portion 12. With the sub-assembly of core elements 13 so positioned, each of the latching arms 34 passes through an opening 36 adjacent the outer periphery of wall 20. The snap-fit connection is in accord with known art.

It is important that the core elements 13 be firmly retained within the recessed portion 12 of the housing 11 in a horizontally aligned array. Preferably, the bottom edges of the core elements 13 are arranged to lie flush with the unierside surface of the peripheral flange 17, with portions of their upper edges abutting against stops 37 integrally moulded with the walls 16.

In order to remove the sub-assembly of core elements 13 from K the housing 11, one needs to insert a tool or one's finger upwardly through the core element 13 and deflect the latching arm 34 to a position where it can be withdrawn from its opening 36 in a downwards direction. Once detached from the housing 11, the core elements can be rearranged in any desired configuration in order to provide for optimum delivery of air into a particular room. Once rearranged, and interlocked together, the core element sub-assembly is then !simply pushed upwardly into the recessed portion 12 and snapfittingly engaged in position. Preferably, only two of the arms 34 on one side of the sub-assembly engage in position.

This avoids the need to have to disengage all arms 34 when removing the sub-assembly.

As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, another feature of the present invention is the manner in which the housing 11 is releasably fitted into position in an opening in the ceiling 18, without the need for the use of threaded fasteners. This is achieved by the use of a plurality of approximately Ushaped resilient spring clips 40 each of which is arranged to project through and be retained within an opening or window 41 formed in the side wall 16 of the housing 11 near its r upper edge. With the clips fully engaged in position, the bridge portion 42 which interconnects the upper and lower limbs 43, 44 respectively of the clip 40 makes pressure Scontact against the rear surface of the ceiling 18. A i transverse groove 45 formed in the underside of the limb 44 adjacent its free end hooks onto the lower horizontal edge of the window 41, whilst the upper limb 43 has a tooth-like I 4 projection 46 which meshes with downwardly projecting teeth 47 provided on the inner surface of the wall 20 of the 4 housing 11. This forms a ratchet type locking device which S ensures that the upper limb 43 of the clip 40 is firmly o locked in position. It will of course be appreciated that when in their locked positions, the clips 40 are in a tensioned condition.

:o Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, in order to retain an o. ar supply duct to the neck 14 of the integral housing 11, there are provided a plurality of bendable tabs 50, each of which has a hinged end 51 and a distal end 52. Prior to sliding the duct over the end of the neck portion 14, each of the tabs 50 is bent about a predetermined bending axis so that its distal end 52 projects approximately radially outwards from the wall of the neck portion 14 and retained in that position by notches formed in the edges of the opening delineating the tab. The most common form of duct is spiral form duct, and when this type of duct is fitted onto the end of the neck 14, the ribbed inner surface of the duct is grippingly engaged by the projecting tab portions 52. The tabs 50 are both flexible and deformable and of less thickness than the thickness of the wall of the neck portion 14. Alternatively if plain wall duct is used, the tab portions 52 will frictionally engage the duct, thereby assisting in retaining the duct therein.

11

I

I~u.Rm~ -F, i; .i A brief consideration of the above-described embodiment will indicate that the invention provides for a vastly improved air diffuser assenibly which is extremely versatile, easily and readily installed, and easily demountable to enable the interior of the diffuser housing to be cleaned from underneath. Furthermore, since the core elements are assembled within the housing from the underside thereof, one does not need to gain access to the interior of the ceiling in order to remove and, where necessary, rearrange the orienta-cion of the individual core elements.

o :o It will of course be appreciated that the invention is not S limited to the provision of a diffuser of square shape as a rectangular construction can be readily adopted, and also that the number of modular core elements can be varied.

9 g0 q O 01 *0 0 9& 00

Claims

2. An improved air diffuser assembly according to claim 1 wherein said side walls define a square recessed section.
3. An improved air diffuser assembly according to claim 1 wherein said side walls define a rectangular recessed section.
4. An improved air diffuser assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said complementary securing means comprises dovetail means formed in the outer surfaces of the frame of each said core element, said dovetail means comprising a dovetail projection and a complementary recess. c being pre-assembled together to provide a selected air delivery pattern, and thereafter inserted upwardly as a sub- assembly into said open lower end of the housing and retained therein with the core elements horizontally aligned. An improved air diffuser assembly according to claim 4 wherein each side wall of the frame of each said core element has both a dovetail projection and complementary recess located thereon such that the orientation about a vertical axis of said core elements may be changed.
6. An improved air diffuser assembly according to either claim 4 or 5 wherein said complementary securing means further comprise locking means which hold said core elements in horizontal alignment. S 7. An improved air diffuser assembly according to claim 6 wherein said locking means comprises a plurality of detent- type catches between adjacent core element sides wherein one core element has a detent projection, and the adjacent core element has a hole for snugly receiving the detent projection.
8. An improved air diffuser assembly according to claim 7 wherein the sides of said core elements are resilient so as to allow releasable engagement of said detent-type catches.
9. An improved air diffuser assembly according to either o" claim 7 or 8 wherein a pair of detent-type catches are provided on each side of each core element, said catches being arranged such that the orientation, about a vertical 0 axis, of said core elements can be changed. 04 An improved air diffuser assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said latch means comprises at least one latch arm extending upwardly from an upper edge of each said core element, and said latch engaging means comprises a latch arm engaging surface on said inner end wall.
11. An improved air diffuser assembly according to claim wherein each core element has a latch arm extending upwardly from the upper edge of each, of its four side walls, said 1. I I_ I_ l latch arm engaging surfaces being provided on the outer peripheral edges of said inner end wall.
12. An improved air diffuser assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each of said side walls terminates at its lower end in a laterally out-turned flange which extends peripherally around the housing. 1
13. In an improved air diffuser assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, improved connection means for detachably mounting said housing within an opening in a ceiling comprising a plurality of approximately U-shaped resilient spring clips each comprising resiliently Sdeflectable opposed limbs and a bridging portion connecting said limbs, one of said limbs having a retention groove extending transversely of its underside surface adjacent its free end, the other said limb having a tooth-like projection I projecting outwardly from its outer surface intermediate the ends thereof, openings in the side walls of the ho 'ing ii 20 through which said resilient clips are horizontally i locatable, each clip, when fully located, making pressure i contact against the ceiling surface near the opening in which i said housing is fitted, such pressure contact being effective to clampingly engage a marginal edge portion. f the ceiling opening between the bridging portion of the clip and said laterally out-turned flange, with said retention groove locating over the bottom edge of said opening, and with said i" tooth-like projection in locking engagement with abutment means projecting downwardly from the inner surface of said i 30 end wall. iti
14. An improved air diffuser assembly according to claim 13 wherein said abutment means comprise a plurality of ratchet teeth with which said tooth-like projection engages. An improved air diffuser assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said housing has integrally formed therewith an air delivery duct engaging neck portion for connection to an end of an air delivery duct. SThere are a number of drawbacks associated with such a 2
16. An improved air diffuser assembly according to claim wherein said neck portion further comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending locking tabs, each of which can be positioned such that a portion thereof extends radially outward from the wall of the neck so as to either frictionally grip or lock the inner surface of said duct to said neck portion.
17. An improved air diffuser assembly according to either claim 15 or 16 wherein said neck portion further comprises a plurality of concentric cylindrical portions of different diameters.
18. An improved air diffuser assembly as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 28th day of September, 1993. UfLLOcAC I 5T('*A-T S CLj L1j.. r By his Patent Attorneys S' R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES j 1 Li i L when so secured, can be readily clipped into position within the diffuser outer frame from the underside thereof. 3 ABSTRACT This invention relates to an improved air diffuser assembly comprising a housing (11) having walls which define a downwardly opening recessed section a plurality of modular core elements (13) snuggled housed within the j 5 recessed section of the housing wherein the core i elements (13) are provided with complimentary securing means L (30,31) to enable the cores to be releasably secured together in side by side horizontally aligned relationship, and means (34,36) for releasably connecting the core elements within to the recessed section arranged and constructed so that I the core elements (13) can be pre-assembled together to j provide a selected air delivery pattern, and thereafter inserted upwardly as a sub-assembly into the recessed section of the housing and retained therein with the core elements horizontally aligned. .1 i ::I i_ i a-