AU779801B2

AU779801B2 - Air-conditioning register and boot assembly

Info

Publication number: AU779801B2
Application number: AU35340/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: William James Donnelly
Original assignee: Talana Investments Ltd
Current assignee: NOVA-DUCT TECHNOLOGIES Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1999-05-26
Filing date: 2000-05-16
Publication date: 2005-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-16
Also published as: AU3534000A

Description

P/00/0011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

S

*r

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: Talana Investments Limited William James DONNELLY FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH BEADLE 101 Collins Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia AIR-CONDITIONING REGISTER AND BOOT

ASSEMBLY

Details of Associated Provisional Application: PQ0591 filed 26 May 1999 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us AIR-CONDITIONING REGISTER AND BOOT ASSEMBLY This invention relates to ducted heating and air-conditioning systems and is particularly concerned with providing an improved register and boot assembly for use in such systems.

In ducted central heating or air-conditioning systems, heated or conditioned air is delivered to various room or other spaces within a building via a piped or ducted network from a centrally located plant. In such systems, air vents are often located in the floors of the rooms or spaces to which conditioned air is to be supplied. However, air vents may equally be provided in the walls or ceiling of the room or space.

Generally in the installation of ducted heating or air-conditioning systems, the entry point of conditioned air is provided via two components of an air delivery Y L* e, a uuu, an a 1%lL Historically, the boot is a component having an air inlet portion and a mouth portion defining an air outlet, the shape of which corresponds to a hole provided in the floor, wall or ceiling of the room to which heated or conditioned air is to be supplied. The air inlet portion is designed to be attached to the incoming duct carrying the conditioned air.

The second component or "register" is adapted to fit over the mouth portion of the boot and is usually designed to diffuse the incoming air to the best advantage for the room or space. Usually, louvres are formed in the face of the register. The register may also include devices behind the face to regulate and/or close off the air supply.

In Australia over the past ten years or so, moulded plastic diffusers suitable only for ceiling applications have become popular and, in some cases, incorporate within their construction both the inlet connection for the ducting and the outlet register or "face" to the conditioned space. However, all known floor entry points consist of an entry boot and a floor register. In the United States of America, Canada and other countries where ducted heating or air-conditioning is popular, most entry points for conditioned air delivery have both a register and a boot which can be relatively expensive to manufacture and time consuming to install.

JRG:JA:40357407.CAP 16 May 2000 004555753v3 -3- It is therefore desirable to provide an improved register and boot assembly for a ducted heating or air-conditioning system which is relatively inexpensive to produce and relatively simple to install.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a register and boot assembly for a ducted heating or air-conditioning system, the assembly comprising: a boot member having a tubular air inlet portion and a mouth portion defining an air outlet; a register mounting member adapted to be connected to the boot member and having closed side walls and open front and rear faces; and a register face member adapted to be mounted on the mounting member so as to cover the open, front face of the mounting portion, wherein the external surface of the register mounting member is provided with gripping formations for engagement with comDlementarv uipping surfaces of resilient securing clips for mounting said register mounting member in an aperture in a floor, wall or ceiling of a room or 15 space, which means is engageable with the floor, wall or ceiling at or adjacent the aperture.

S-In another aspect, the invention provides a register and boot apparatus for a ducted heating or air-conditioning system, the apparatus including: a boot member having a tubular air inlet portion and a mouth portion defining an air 20 outlet; a register mounting member having closed side walls and open front and rear faces; a register face member adapted to be mounted on the mounting member so as to cover the open, front face of the mounting member; means for mounting said register mounting member in an aperture in a floor, wall or ceiling of a room or space to which heated or conditioned air is to be supplied, which means is engageable with the floor, wall or ceiling at or adjacent the aperture; and means for attaching the register mounting member on the boot member about said air outlet defined by the mouth portion of the boot member so that air passes into the register mounting member through said open rear face.

The register mounting member is preferably detachably connected to the boot member. Preferably, the boot member has a flange surrounding the air outlet of the mouth 004555753v3 -4portion and the rear part of the register mounting member is adapted to engage with the flange to attach the register mounting member to the boot member.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the register mounting member and flange are substantially rectangular in shape and the mounting member has channel formations on opposite sides engageable with corresponding sides of the flange of the boot member so that the mounting member can slide onto the boot member to be retained thereon.

Whilst the boot member, register mounting member and register face member are preferably rectangular in shape, it will be appreciated that they could be of other shapes, such as circular, hexagonal, etc.

The register and boot assembly preferably includes an air flow control device. In a preferred embodiment, the air flow control device includes a baffle rotatably mounted within the register mounting member. A control member may be conveniently provided to operate the air flow control device.

The control member is preferably in the form of a slide member which is mounted for slidable movement relative to the register face member. The slide member preferably S"has a portion engageable with a co-operating part of the air flow control device in such a manner that slidable movement of the slide member causes rotational movement of the air S flow control device to regulate and/or close the air flow through the register and boot assembly.

20 Preferably, the register face member has a louvred face portion in the form of a grille of transverse bars with openings therebetween. The register face member preferably Salso has a transverse slot and the slide member preferably has one or more legs which extend through the slot and engage with a pintle which is offset from the axis of rotation of Sthe rotatable baffle. An adjustable stop may be provided for restricting sliding movement of the control slide and therefore rotational movement of the baffle to provide volume air control.

The means for mounting register mounting member in an aperture preferably includes resilient securing clips provided at opposite locations on its side wall and/or end walls for mounting the assembly in a complementary sized aperture in a floor, wall or ceiling of the room or other space to which heated or conditioned air is to be supplied. The securing clips preferably have flexible portions extending outwardly from the register 004555753v3 mounting portion and which are adapted to flex inwardly when the mounting portion is inserted into the aperture in the floor, wall or ceiling. After insertion, the securing clips flex outwardly to engage with the sides of the aperture to retain the register mounting portion in position in the aperture.

The register face member preferably has a mounting portion of external dimensions similar to the internal dimensions of the mounting member so that the mounting portion can fit snugly within the mounting member. Preferably, areas of the external surface of the mounting portion have gripping formations, such as ridges or corrugations, for engagement with complementary gripping formations on the side and/or end walls of the mounting member.

In one particularly preferred embodiment, the gripping formations are provided on internal surfaces of the securing clips which are arranged to clip over the side walls and/or o •end walls of the mounting member.

In a further advantageous feature of the invention, the register and boot assembly is 15 preferably supplied for installation with a removable membrane which overs the open front o:o face of the mounting member or the mouth of the boot member. Such a membrane is arranged to protect the entry of dust, debris and moisture into the mounting member and/or •:i the boot when the mounting member and/or boot are placed in position in a floor or wall c..aperture some time prior to subsequent assembly of the mounting member and/or register.

o•0o 20 A still further aspect of the invention provides a register sub-assembly for a ducted heating or air-conditioning system, including: a register mounting member having closed side walls and open front and rear faces; a register face member mounted on the mounting member so as to cover the open, front face of the mounting member; means for mounting said register mounting member in an aperture in a floor, wall or ceiling of a room or space, which means is engageable with the floor, wall or ceiling at or adjacent the aperture; and 004555753v3 means for attaching the register mounting member to a boot member about an air outlet from the boot member so that air passes into the register mounting member through said open rear face.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompany drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a duct joiner assembly in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is exploded perspective view the components of the assembly of Figure 1.

The duct joiner assembly shown in the drawings comprises a boot member 10, a register mounting member 20 and a register face member The boot member 10 has a tubular air inlet portion 11 and an air outlet portion 12, the upper end of which as shown in Figure 2 defines an open mouth 13. The air outlet portion 12 is of curved shape having a rectangular flange 14 aroundu Uit muiuth 13 and tapering down to a lower flange 15 where the tubular air inlet portion 11 meets the air 15 outlet portion 12. Thus, the air inlet portion 11 extends at an acute angle to the plane of °the mouth 13. In other applications, the air inlet portion may extend perpendicularly to the plane of the mouth. The tubular air inlet portion 11 is provided with grooves 16, 17 and 18 in its cylindrical outer surface which may be provided with retaining projections formed integrally or fitted in the grooves 16, 18 and a sealing ring for joining and sealing the 20 tubular air inlet portion to an end of a cylindrical air supply duct of a ducted heating or air conditioning system. The projections and sealing ring provided in the grooves 16, 17 and 18 may be of similar form to those described in our co-pending Australian patent application entitled "Improved Duct Joiner and Method of Manufacture", the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The boot member is preferably formed in two halves of injection moulded plastics material, and the two halves of the boot member may be attached together in similar manner to the method described in our co-pending Australian patent application entitled "Improved Duct Joiner and Method of Manufacture".

Alternatively, the boot member may be formed in one piece.

The register mounting member 20 is also of rectangular form having opposed side walls 21 opposed end walls 22 an open front face 23 and an open rear face 24.

('~~hannnpl fnrm2t,-nc are- r~ri-NitiriA nlc~r p o.A- -sF f 'f**t~lA*tLs*. .J JJ St1%, 4.n~~.t-lOtl. S it. tt'-tr it. -L111t formations being adapted to engage with the sides of the flange 14 around the mouth 13 of the boot member 10. A flange 26 surrounds the open front face 23 of the register mounting member 20. The end walls 22 of the register mounting member 20 have indented portions 27 provided with gripping formations 29 on their **:outer surfaces which assist in the mounting of securing clips 70 on the upper ends of the end walls 22. A round hole 28 is provided in each indented portion 27 for rotatably receiving the ends of a spindle 42 of an air flow control device or baffle of the register and boot assembly.

The rectangular dimensions of the side and end walls of register mounting member 20 are greater than the dimensions of the mouth portion 12 of the boot member. This provides an advantage in installation of the boot and register assembly as will be described later.

The register face member 30 has a louvred front face portion 31 and a lower mounting portion 32. The front face portion 31 is in the form of a generally rectangular grille formed by transversely extending alternating bars 33 and slots 34.

The mounting portion 32 has short side walls 35 and end walls 36 extending rearwardly from the front face plate 3 1. The end walls 36 of the register face member 30 have gripping formations 37 on their outer surfaces which are of similar JRG:JA:40357407.CAP16My20 16 May 2000 form to the gripping formations 29 on the outer surfaces of the register mounting member The air flow control device 40 comprises a generally rectangular baffle which is adapted to be mounted within the register mounting member below the register face member 30 in the assembled register and boot assembly. The baffle has a pair of co-planar wings 41 extending outwardly from opposite sides of a central cylindrical spindle 42. The end parts 43 of the spindle 42 extend beyond the ends of the wings and are adapted to be received in the holes 28 in the end walls 22 of the register mounting member 20 to mount the baffle 40 within the register mounting member 20. The upper surface of the baffle 40 as shown in Figure 2 has a triangular part 44 on which a cylindrical pintle 45 is provided. The longitudinal oo axis of the pintle 45 is parallel to but offset from the longitudinal axis of the cxl7ndlri;al cnindle 421 When mounted in the register mounting member, the baffle 40 is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the spindle 42. Rotational movement of the baffle is controlled by a control member or slide 50. The slide 50 has an upper square plate portion 52 and a pair of legs 54 depending from the slide 50. In use, the legs of the slide 50 are inserted into a central slot 34' of the face plate 31 and engage S over the pintle 45 of the baffle 40, so that when the slide is moved laterally in the central slot 34, the baffle 40 rotates about the longitudinal axis of the spindle 42 to open, close or regulate the air flow through the register and boot assembly.

ooeol The register and boot assembly is also provided with an adjustable stop 60 to limit the sliding movement of the control member or slide 50. The adjustable stop comprises a small square plate 62 with four pegs 64 depending downwardly from the plate 62. In use, the pegs 64 are received in complementary holes 38 provided in the bars 33' of the grille on either side of the central slot 34'. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, eight holes 38 are provided in the bars 33' so th-at the position of the stop 60 can be adjusted as required. It will, however be appreciated that a different number of holes may be provided to vary the number of positions for the stop to suit different applications. In an alternative embodiment, the holes may be replaced by recesses or indentations.

JRG:JA:40357407.CAP 16 May 2000 The register and boot assembly is adapted to be mounted in a rectangular opening in the floor of a room or space to which heated or conditioned air is to be supplied by means of the securing clips 70 which are adapted to be mounted on the upper edges of the end walls 22 of the register mounting member 20. Each securing clip 70 has an inverted U-shaped portion 71 formed by a first limb 72, a second limb 73 and a bridge section 74, and a flexible outward portion 75 extends outwardly and upwardly from the lower end of the second limb 73. The U-shaped portions 71 engage over the upper edges of the indented portions 27 of the end walls 22 and the inner surface of the second limb 73 is provided with gripping formations 76 which engage with the gripping formations 29 on the outer surfaces of the indented portions 27 of the end walls 22. The outer surfaces of the first limbs 72 of the securing clips 70 also have gripping formations 77 provided thereon. The gripping formations 77 are adapted to engage with the gripping formations 37 on the outer surfaces of the ends 36 of the mounting portion 32 of the face member to assist in retaining the face member 30 to the register mounting member 20 in the complete register and boot assembly. Preferably, the gripping formations 29, 76, 37 ~and 77 are in the form of horizontally extending ridges or corruations which provide resistance against separation of the relevant parts in the complete register and boot assembly.

o *20 It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the register and boot assembly is simple to assemble and install in a rectangular aperture in the floor of a room with the register mounting member 20 being slidably mounted on the boot member 10 by means of the channel formations 25 which can slide onto the flange 14 of the boot member 10. An alternative means of assembly is to mould a series of restraining flexible clips to the leading edge of the mouth portion 12 of the boot 10 for attachment to the register mounting member 20. This eliminates the need for the flange 14 and channel formation 25. It will, however, be appreciated that other means of joining the boot 10 to the register mounting member 20 may be provided. Also, the mounting portion 32 of the register face member 30 can be easily inserted into the register mounting member 20 and retained therein by the gripping formations 37 and 77. The securing clips 70 are also retained securely on the upper edges of the indented portions 27 of the end walls 22 by the gripping formations 29 and 76. Further, the flexible outwardly extending portions 75 of the securing clips provide for a simple and quick installation of the assembly within an aperture of the floor of a room or space to be supplied with heated or conditioned air via the register and boot assembly.

Each of the components of the register and boot assembly described above may be conveniently formed from injection moulded plastics material to provide a low cost register and boot assembly, although it will be appreciated that at least some of the components of the register and boot assembly may be formed from other materials.

A further advantage in installation of the register and boot assembly described above, particularly with low floors, is that with the boot member having a mouth portion 12 of smaller dimensions than the register mounting member 20, the boot member 10 can first be joined to the end of a duct and located below the floor. Then, when it is required to attach the register, the boot member can be raised up through the floor aperture to enable the register mounting member to be attached thereto. With low floors, where space is limited it is also possible for **the boot member to be attached to the end of ducting at a different location below .the floor where more space is available and then the boot member can be fed under the floor with the ducting to the location of the floor aperture, raised through the aperture and attached to the register mounting member. The assembly can then be S" lowered into position with the clips at the ends of the register mounting assembly engaging with the sides of the floor aperture.

In the installation of ducted heating and air-conditioning systems in new buildings, often the boot of a boot and register assembly is installed in an aperture in the floor of a room or space some time (often days) before the register is connected to the boot. In this case, dust, debris and water can fall-into the boot and ducts of the ducted system, which is undesirable. In order to overcome this problem, a removable membrane, preferably in the form of a thin film of plastics material (not shown), is attached to the upper surface of the flange 14 of the boot member 10. For this purpose, the membrane may have a self-adhesive margin JRG:JA:40357407.CAP 16 May 2000 around its periphery. Then, if the boot member 10 is installed in position some time prior to attachment of the register mounting member 20 and register face member the membrane will prevent dust, debris and water from falling into the boot member 10 and entering the duct of the heating or air-conditioning system. The membrane can then be removed just before attachment of the register mounting member and face member.

In a modified embodiment, a removable membrane may be attached to the upper surface of the flange 26 of the register mounting member 20 to cover the open front face 23 of the mounting member 20. In this case the membrane can prevent the entry of dust, debris and moisture into the mounting member 20 and boot member 10 when they are installed in position some time prior to attachment of the baffle 40 and/or register face member o o* ,ILt Will alo be alppreciatd that vlarious mdifiLcatIUons adl alteraLtions may Ilbe made to the register and boot assembly described above without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For instance, the register and boot assembly may be mounted in the wall or ceiling of a room or space to be supplied with heated or conditioned air, and the shape of the various components of the register and boot assembly may be varied for different applications.

JRG:JA:40357407.CAP 16 May 2000

Claims

1. Register and boot apparatus for a ducted heating or air-conditioning system, the apparatus including: a boot member having a tubular air inlet portion and a mouth portion defining an air outlet; a register mounting member having closed side walls and open front and rear faces; a register face member adapted to be mounted on the mounting member so as to cover the open, front face of the mounting member; means for mounting said register mounting member in an aperture in a floor, wall or ceiling of a room or space to which heated or conditioned air is to be supplied, which means is engageable with the floor, wall or ceiling at or adjacent the aperture; and o. means for attaching the register mounting member on the boot member about said air outlet defined by the mouth portion of the boot member so that air passes into the register mounting member through said open rear face.

2. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for S mounting said register mounting member in an aperture includes gripping formations on external surfaces of side or end walls of the register mounting member, and resilient securing clips having gripping surfaces complementary with 20 said gripping formations for mounting the assembly in said aperture in a floor, wall or ceiling of the room or space to which heated or conditioned air is to be supplied.

3. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 2 wherein internal surfaces of the side or end walls of the register mounting member are provided with gripping formations for engagement with complementary gripping formations on side or end walls of the register face member.

4. A register and boot apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the register mounting member is detachably connected to the boot member. 004555753v3 -12- A register and boot apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the boot member has a flange surrounding the air outlet of the mouth portion and the rear part of the register mounting member is adapted to engage with the flange to attach the register mounting member to the boot member.

6. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the register mounting member and flange are substantially rectangular in shape and the mounting member has channel formations on opposite sides engageable with corresponding sides of the flange of the boot member so that the mounting member can slide onto the boot member to be retained thereon.

7. A register and boot apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and further comprising an air flow control device. S8 A register and hnot annrah1 s according tn claim 7 wherein the air flnow control device includes a baffle rotatably mounted within the register mounting member.

9. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a control member is 15 provided to operate the air flow control device. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the control member comprises a slide member mounted for slidable movement relative to the register :go face member.

11. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the slide member has a 20 portion engageable with a co-operating part of the air flow control device in such a manner that slidable movement of the slide member causes rotational movement of the air flow control device to regulate and/or close the air flow through the register and boot assembly.

12. A register and boot apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the register face member has a louvred face portion in the form of a grille of transverse bars with openings therebetween.

13. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the register face member has a transverse slot, and the slide member has one or more legs which 004555753v3 -13- extend through the slot and engage with a bar or pintle which is offset from the axis of rotation of the rotatable baffle.

14. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 13 wherein an adjustable stop is provided for restricting sliding movement of the control slide and therefore rotational movement of the baffle. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the adjustable stop comprises a stop member with downwardly depending pegs received in complementary holes or recesses in the register face member.

16. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the number of holes or recesses exceeds the number of pegs on the adjustable stop.

17. A register and boot apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said means for mounting such register mounting member in an aperture includes resilient securing clips provided at opposite locations on its side wall and/or end walls for mounting the assembly in a complementary sized aperture in a floor, wall 15 or ceiling of the room or other space to which heated or conditioned air is to be supplied.

18. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 17 wherein the securing clips have flexible portions extending outwardly from the register mounting 0o o member which are adapted to flex inwardly when the mounting member is inserted S 20 into the aperture in the floor, wall or ceiling and which, after insertion flex S"outwardly to engage with the sides of the aperture to retain the register mounting °•eo* S"member in position in the aperture.

19. A register and boot apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the register face member has a mounting portion of external dimensions similar to the internal dimensions of the mounting member so that the mounting portion can fit snugly within the mounting member. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 19 wherein areas of the external surface of the register face member have gripping formations, such as ridges or 004555 75303 14 corrugations, for engagement with complementary gripping formations provided on internal side and/or end walls of the mounting member.

21. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 20 as dependent from claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the gripping formations are provided on internal surfaces of the securing clips which are arranged to clip over the side walls and/or end walls of the mounting member.

22. A register and boot apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the register and boot assembly is supplied for installation with a removable membrane which covers the open front face of the mounting member or the mouth of the boot member.

23. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the removable U A+C I r

24. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the removable 0%* membrane is affixed to the mouth portion of the boot member.

25. A register sub-assembly for a ducted heating or air-conditioning system, including: a register mounting member having closed side walls and open front and rear faces; a register face member mounted on the mounting member so as to cover the open, front face of the mounting member; means for mounting said register mounting member in an aperture in a floor, wall 20 or ceiling of a room or space, which means is engageable with the floor, wall or ceiling at or adjacent the aperture; and means for attaching the register mounting member to a boot member about an air outlet from the boot member so that air passes into the register mounting member through said open rear face.

26. A register sub-assembly according to claim 25 wherein said means for mounting said register mounting member in an aperture includes gripping formations on external surfaces of side or end walls of the register mounting member, and resilient securing clips having gripping surfaces complementary with said gripping 004555753v4 formations for mounting the assembly in said aperture in a floor, wall or ceiling of the room or space to which heated or conditioned air is to be supplied.

27. A register sub-assembly according to claim 25 or 26 wherein internal surfaces of the side or end walls of the register mounting member are provided with gripping formations for engagement with complementary gripping formations on side or end walls of the register face member.

28. A register sub-assembly according to any one of claims 25, 26 and 27 and further comprising an air flow control device.

29. A register sub-assembly according to claim 28 wherein the air flow control device includes a baffle rotatably mounted within the register mounting member. A register sub-assembly according to claim 29 wherein a control member is provided to operate the air flow control device. 0.000 31. A register sub-assembly according to claim 30 wherein the control member comprises a slide member mounted for slidable movement relative to the register 15 face member. o 00.

32. A register sub-assembly according to claim 31 wherein the slide member has a portion engageable with a co-operating part of the air flow control device in such a manner that slidable movement of the slide member causes rotational movement of the air flow control device to regulate and/or close the air flow through the register 20 and boot assembly. .:.oO .33. A register sub-assembly according to any one of claims 25 to 32 wherein the register face member has a louvred face portion in the form of a grille of transverse bars with openings therebetween.

34. A register sub-assembly according to claim 33 wherein the register face member has a transverse slot, and the slide member has one or more legs which extend through the slot and engage with a bar or pintle which is offset from the axis of rotation of the rotatable baffle. 004555753v4 16- A register sub-assembly according to claim 34 wherein an adjustable stop is provided for restricting sliding movement of the control slide and therefore rotational movement of the baffle.

36. A register sub-assembly according to claim 31 wherein the adjustable stop comprises a stop member with downwardly depending pegs received in complementary holes or recesses in the register face member.

37. A register sub-assembly according to claim 32 wherein the number of holes or recesses exceeds the number of pegs on the adjustable stop.

38. A register sub-assembly according to any one of claims 25 to 37 wherein said means for mounting such register mounting member in an aperture includes resilient securing clips provided at opposite locations on its side wall and/or end walls fIUoUIr IIouting thle assmbly ind ua complemenIItaly a.s aper tutre a Ufloor, wall or ceiling of the room or other space to which heated or conditioned air is to be S supplied. 15 39. A register sub-assembly according to claim 26 or 38 wherein the securing clips have flexible portions extending outwardly from the register mounting member which are adapted to flex inwardly when the mounting member is inserted into the aperture in the floor, wall or ceiling and which, after insertion flex outwardly to engage with the sides of the aperture to retain the register mounting member in 20 position in the aperture.

40. A register sub-assembly according to any one of claims 25 to 39 wherein the register face member has a mounting portion of external dimensions similar to the internal dimensions of the mounting member so that the mounting portion can fit snugly within the mounting member.

41. A register sub-assembly according to claim 40 wherein areas of the external surface of the register face member have gripping formations, such as ridges or corrugations, for engagement with complementary gripping formations provided on internal side and/or end walls of the mounting member. 004555753v4 17-

42. A register sub-assembly according to claim 41 as dependent from claim 38 or claim 39 wherein the gripping formations are provided on internal surfaces of the securing clips which are arranged to clip over the side walls and/or end walls of the mounting member.

43. A register sub-assembly according to any one of claims 25 to 42, wherein the register and boot assembly is supplied for installation with a removable membrane which covers the open front face of the mounting member.

44. A register and boot assembly for a ducted heating or air-conditioning system, the assembly comprising: a boot member having a tubular air inlet portion and a mouth portion defining an air outlet; a ICgistlel IU1LIgII ICIIUe adatLdu to b cecd to the boot member and having closed side walls and open front and rear faces; and a register face member adapted to be mounted on the mounting member so as to 15 cover the open, front face of the mounting portion, wherein the external surface of the register mounting member is provided with gripping formations for engagement with complementary gripping surfaces of resilient securing clips for mounting said register mounting member in an aperture in a floor, wall or ceiling of a room or space, which means is engageable with the floor, wall or ceiling at or adjacent the 20 aperture. A register and boot assembly according to claim 44 wherein internal surfaces of the side or end walls of the register mounting member are provided with gripping i formations for engagement with complementary gripping formations on side or end walls of the register face member.

46. A register and boot assembly according to claim 44 or 45 wherein the boot member has a flange surrounding the air outlet of the mouth portion and the rear part of the register mounting member is adapted to engage with the flange to attach the register mounting member to the boot member. 004555753v3 -18-

47. A register and boot assembly according to claim 46 wherein the register mounting member and flange are substantially rectangular in shape and the mounting member has channel formations on opposite sides engageable with corresponding sides of the flange of the boot member so that the mounting member can slide onto the boot member to be retained thereon.

48. A register and boot assembly according to any one of the claims 44 to 47 and further comprising an air flow control device.

49. A register and boot assembly according to claim 48 wherein the air flow control device includes a baffle rotatably mounted within the register mounting member.

50. A register and boot apparatus according to claim 49 wherein a control member is provided to operate the air flow control device.

51. A register and boot assembly according to claim 50 wherein the control member comprises a slide member mounted for slidable movement relative to the register face member. S 15 52. A register and boot assembly according to claim 51 wherein the slide member has a portion engageable with a co-operating part of the air flow control device in such a manner that slidable movement of the slide member causes rotational movement of the air flow control device to regulate and/or close the air flow through the register and boot assembly. 20 53. A register and boot assembly according to any one of claims 44 to 52 wherein the ~register face member has a louvred face portion in the form of a grille of transverse bars with openings therebetween.

54. A register and boot assembly according to claim 53 wherein the register face member has a transverse slot, and the slide member has one or more legs which extend through the slot and engage with a bar or pintle which is offset from the axis of rotation of the rotatable baffle. 004555753v4 -19- A register and boot assembly according to claim 54 wherein an adjustable stop is provided for restricting sliding movement of the control slide and therefore rotational movement of the baffle.

56. A register and boot assembly according to claim 51 wherein the adjustable stop comprises a stop member with downwardly depending pegs received in complementary holes or recesses in the register face member.

57. A register and boot assembly according to claim 52 wherein the number of holes or recesses exceeds the number of pegs on the adjustable stop.

58. A register and boot assembly according to any one of claims 44 to 57 wherein said means for mounting such register mounting member in an aperture includes resilient securing clips provided at opposite locations on its side wall and/or end wa!! fnr moulntino the CsCselmly in a nePmpntarw apgtr a r ncr, wral or ceiling of the room or other space to which heated or conditioned air is to be Ssupplied. 15 59. A register and boot assembly according to claim 44 or 58 wherein the securing .0 clips have flexible portions extending outwardly from the register mounting member which are adapted to flex inwardly when the mounting member is inserted into the aperture in the floor, wall or ceiling and which, after insertion flex outwardly to engage with the sides of the aperture to retain the register mounting 20 member in position in the aperture. 60 A register and boot assembly according to any one of claims 44 to 59 wherein the register face member has a mounting portion of external dimensions similar to the .internal dimensions of the mounting member so that the mounting portion can fit snugly within the mounting member.

61. A register and boot assembly according to claim 60 wherein areas of the external surface of the register face member have gripping formations, such as ridges or corrugations, for engagement with complementary gripping formations provided on internal side and/or end walls of the mounting member. 004555753v3 20

62. A register and boot assembly according to claim 61 as dependent from claim 58 or claim 59 wherein the gripping formations are provided on internal surfaces of the securing clips which are arranged to clip over the side walls and/or end walls of the mounting member. TALANA INVESTMENTS LIMITED By its Registered Patent Attorneys Freehills Carter Smith Beadle 12 October 2004 *r