EP1041350A1 - Fastening device for an air diffuser - Google Patents

Abstract

The fastening system for an air diffuser set in an aperture (2) in a partition (3) such as a false platform consists of two more elastically deformable arms (9) extending radially from a ring (5) on the diffuser to grip the edge of the partition betwee their tips (9a) and a collar (7). The ring (5) is attached to an air duct (6) held in place by a retaining band (10) with lugs ( for the arms' inner ends (9b).

Description

The present invention relates to fixing means for a air diffuser intended to be housed in an opening made for this purpose in a wall such as a false ceiling, and an air diffuser provided with such fixing means.

In a manner known per se, the air diffusers comprise a part rear forming a sleeve for connection to a ventilation duct ending behind the wall, and a front part constituted by a collar front whose dimensions are greater than those of the abovementioned opening, so as to be pressed against a corresponding peripheral zone of the latter by means of fixing means.

These diffusers generally have, in their central part, a plurality of trunks of concentric cones spaced apart and directed, of so as to channel the air flow towards the duct or from this according to the field of application of such a diffuser.

Indeed, such a diffuser can be applied, for example, in the heating, ventilation, cooling or heating systems air conditioning, or in that of air extraction systems or smoke, where the air diffuser constitutes respectively an air outlet or a air inlet.

It can also be circular or square diffusers. In this last case, the central nucleus will not consist of truncated cones, but by trunks of pyramids.

Likewise, it is understood that the air diffusers according to the invention can also be accommodated in all other kinds of horizontal walls or vertical than false ceilings.

At present, the installation of air diffusers, in false ceilings for example, when installing an air conditioning system, requires from the technicians a lot of tips and know-how, which translates of course by a fairly long installation time, for more results or less satisfactory.

Indeed, the known fixing means intended for such diffusers air are generally made up of fixing bars or rods of suspension that it is necessary to have behind the false ceiling, before installing the air diffuser.

The mounting of this air diffuser on the fixing bar or on the rods for example involves dismantling its central part, then reassembly thereof after fixing.

A first difficulty, linked to this kind of fixation, lies in the fact that it is necessary to intervene inside the false ceiling itself to put in place these items. This constitutes an operation which is not always easy given the small space available in these false ceilings.

Another difficulty consists in the fact that it is necessary to connect the ventilation duct to the diffuser sleeve before its mounting, which does not make it easy to fix it properly diffuser, especially when the sheath is flexible.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by offering a solution that facilitates the installation and removal of air diffusers, whatever their diameter and their section, and which can also be applied to diffusers currently manufactured and marketed, without modification and preferably almost without tools. Advantageously, the solution to be proposed must allow all assembly operations or disassembly of the diffuser is carried out exclusively from outside Wall.

The object of the invention is achieved by fixing means for a air diffuser intended to be housed in an opening made for this purpose in a wall such as a false ceiling, the diffuser having a sleeve for connection to a sheath and a flange for support on the wall.

According to the invention, these fixing means comprise at least two arms, elastically deformable and intended to be attached to the diffuser, so as to extend radially from the diffuser sleeve and to fix the diffuser by elastic pinching of the wall, for example the false ceiling, between the arms and the diffuser flange.

When the arms are attached to the diffuser, their free ends are, in the inactive position, distant from the front bezel by a value less than the thickness of the wall and fall within a circle of radius greater than that of a circle in which the opening of the wall is inscribed, so as to ensure the blind fixing of said diffuser. Dimensions and arm profile are determined, in relation to the nature of the material constituent, and in particular with its elasticity, so as to obtain a compromise between the desired elastic effect and sufficient rigidity to support the weight of the diffuser and part of the weight of the sheath.

The object of the invention is also achieved by an air diffuser intended to be housed in an opening made for this purpose in a wall such as a false ceiling and having, on the one hand, at the rear, a sleeve of connection to a ventilation duct terminating behind the wall and, on the other hand, at the front, a front flange whose dimensions are greater than those of the opening, so as to be pressed against a corresponding peripheral zone thereof, by means of fixation.

According to the invention, the fixing means comprise at least two elastically deformable arms in a radially extending vertical plane from the diffuser sleeve, and whose free ends are, in inactive position, distant from the front bezel by a lower value to the thickness of the wall and fall within a circle of radius greater than that of a circle in which the opening of the wall is inscribed, so as to securing said diffuser by elastic clamping of the wall between the elastic arms and collar.

The present invention also relates to the features which will emerge from the description of an embodiment of the invention below and which should be considered in isolation or in all their combinations possible techniques.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe longitudinale d'un diffuseur d'air selon l'invention comportant des moyens de fixation selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus selon la figure 1 ;
• les figures 3 et 4 représentent un diffuseur d'air selon une variante de réalisation des moyens de fixation de la figure 1, respectivement avant et après montage sur un faux-plafond ;
• la figure 5 représente en plan un collier de serrage destiné à être rapporté sur le manchon d'un diffuseur et sur lequel sont disposés les moyens de fixation selon une autre variante de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 6 représente en plan un collier de serrage selon une variante de réalisation de la figure 5 ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de détail montrant un exemple de liaison des moyens de fixation sur les colliers de serrage des figures 5 et 6 ;
• les figures 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d représentent successivement les différentes phases de montage d'un diffuseur d'air équipé de moyens de fixation selon l'invention.

This description is given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of an air diffuser according to the invention comprising fixing means according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a top view according to Figure 1;
• Figures 3 and 4 show an air diffuser according to an alternative embodiment of the fixing means of Figure 1, respectively before and after mounting on a false ceiling;
• FIG. 5 shows in plan a clamping collar intended to be attached to the sleeve of a diffuser and on which the fixing means are arranged according to another alternative embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 6 shows in plan a clamp according to an alternative embodiment of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is a detail view showing an example of connection of the fixing means on the clamps of Figures 5 and 6;
• Figures 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d successively show the different stages of mounting an air diffuser fitted with fixing means according to the invention.

The air diffuser generally referenced at 1 in Figure 1, is intended to be housed in an opening 2 made for this purpose in a wall 3, constituted for example by a false ceiling made according to a certain distance from a ceiling 4.

The air diffuser 1 comprises, on the one hand, at the rear, a sleeve 5 intended to be connected to a flexible ventilation duct 6 terminating between the false ceiling 3 and the ceiling 4.

At its front part, the air diffuser 1 comprises a front flange 7 peripherally connected to the last trunk of cone 8d of a series of trunks of cones 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d of a central core 8 of the air diffuser 1.

The external dimensions of the front flange 7, in this case it is a diameter, are larger than the dimensions of the opening 2, so that the flange 7 is pressed against a peripheral zone corresponding to the opening, by means of fixing means.

According to the example shown in Figure 2, the radius R1 of the flange is larger than the radius R2 of the opening 2.

When the air diffuser has a square section, the value of each of the sides of the flange is greater than that of the sides or the diameter of the opening.

The means for fixing the air diffuser 1 to the false ceiling 3 are constituted by two arms 9. Each arm 9 has a free end 9a and an end 9b by which the arm is attached or linked to the sleeve 5. The arms are elastically deformable in a vertical plane, extending radially from the sleeve 5 of the diffuser 1. The free ends 9a of the arms 9 are, in the inactive position, distant from the front flange 7 according to a value less than the thickness E of the false ceiling 3 and are part of a circle I of radius greater than that of a circle II in which fits the opening 2 of said false ceiling 3. This arrangement allows the fixing in blind of said diffuser 1 by elastic pinching of the wall of the false ceiling 3 between the elastic arms 9 and the collar 7, without using tools. According to shape of the arms 9, the radius of the circle I increases more or less when the arms are moved away from the collar 7.

According to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the elastic arms 9 are two in number and are arranged radially on either side of the sleeve 5 diametrically opposite.

As a variant, these elastic arms 9 could be three in number or four and be, in this case, distributed radially around the sleeve 5 in forming between them angles of 120 ° or 90 °. A greater number of arm 9 would not be contrary to the invention. But in practice, the number of arms is limited, like the choice of regular or irregular layout arms around the sleeve, because the size of the opening has a influence on the ease of assembly of the diffuser, and in particular of its introduction into the wall opening. Indeed, a simple assembly of the air diffuser in the opening, described with reference to FIGS. 8a to 8d, does not can be obtained in general only with a reduced number of arms and with a regular or almost regular arrangement, shown in the figures.

According to an embodiment not shown, the elastic arms 9 are reported at their ends 9b on the periphery of the sleeve 5 of inseparable way, for example by means of welds. In variant, the arms can be produced by obtaining them from the material lower peripheral edge of the sleeve 5, during the manufacture thereof. This realization in one piece is particularly interesting for the manufacture of plastic sleeves.

According to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, but also according to that of FIGS. 3 and 4 which will be described below, the elastic arms 9 and 9A are attached to the periphery of the sleeve 5 in a removable manner, by via a collar 10 comprising clamping means acting on the sleeve 5. On the periphery of the collar 10, lugs are provided fixing 11 in the form of a pass, intended for the introduction of the ends 9b of said arms 9 and whose section is substantially corresponding to the section of these.

As shown in FIG. 7, the fixing lugs 11 are made on the collar 10 by a stamping operation. They could also be performed in any other way, for example by reporting them by welding.

The same collar 10 or 10A may have three fixing lugs 11 forming an angle at the center of 120 ° between them, plus an additional tab arranged at 180 ° relative to any one of the other three (FIGS. 5 and 6). In this way, the collar has an almost regular arrangement of mounting arm and can also be adapted to a two-arm 180 ° system than a three-arm system at 120 °.

In all cases, means of immobilization (not shown) of the elastic arms 9 or 9A are interposed between these and the legs 11 of the collar 10 or 10A supporting them.

According to the embodiment of Figure 5, the support collar 10 of elastic arms 9 is circular and made in two parts 10a, 10b formed for example by complementary metal strips preformed at contour of the sleeve 5. The length of the collar corresponds to that of the periphery of the sleeve, which means that it is generally slightly lower to allow clamping. The two parts 10a, 10b of the collar 10 are connected to each other, on the one hand, by a hinge 12 disposed at one of their ends and, on the other hand, by means of closure and clamping 13 on the sleeve 5 arranged at their other end.

By way of example, the articulation point 12 is constituted by two circular hooks made at the ends of the parts 10a, 10b forming the collar 10, the dimension of one of the hooks being smaller than that of the other so as to allow not only their hanging complementary, but also their articulation, the hooks 12a, 12b being made in different directions to allow their picking.

The closing and tightening means 13 of the collar 10 are made up according to the present exemplary embodiment (FIG. 5) by a screw 13a passing through freely a hole (not shown) of a tab 14a, made at one end of the part 10a of the collar 10, and screwing into a threaded hole (not shown) made on another tab 14b at one end of a part 10b of the same collar 10. The blocking of the screw 13a in said threaded hole of the tab 14b is facing each other makes it possible to securely fix the assembly on the sleeve 5 of diffuser 1. Of course, the screw and the tapped hole could be replaced by any other system.

The 10A collar could be made in a single piece which would be threaded on the sleeve 5 of the diffuser 1, prior to the installation of the sheath ventilation 6 (figure 6).

In all cases, the height h of the collar 10 or 10A must be determined so that once mounted on the sleeve 5 of the diffuser 1, there remains on said sleeve 5 enough space to be able to fit therein correctly and effectively the end of the flexible sheath 6.

Whatever solution is chosen among the different modes of embodiment which have just been described above, the dimensions of the arms 9, 9A, in relation to the nature of the material constituting them, are determined so as to obtain a compromise between the desired elastic effect and a sufficient rigidity to support the weight of the diffuser 1 and possibly part of the weight of the sheath 6.

Indeed, depending on their dimensions but also on their number, the elastic arms 9, 9A must have characteristics of flexibility so as to make them deformable, having a spring effect allowing to resume their original shape, while offering resistance mechanical suitable for effectively supporting the diffuser 1.

Also, the length, shape and mechanical characteristics of each arm is chosen such that in the stable position of the diffuser, that is to say once the diffuser is installed in the wall, the pinching effect mentioned above is optimum, taking into account the spring effect of the material used, so as to maintain the diffuser in the desired position, without however that their length is a nuisance during installation or disassembly.

Consequently, the length and the shape of said arms may vary depending on the size of the diffuser and the material used.

This is how the elastic arms 9 according to the embodiment example Figures 1 and 2 have a relatively straight shape, in particular as regards relates to the ends 9a, while the corresponding ends 9Aa arms 9A according to the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 are bent a first time down to form an angle a, then in the opposite direction and outward to form an end hook.

The advantage of such a configuration of the ends 9Aa is to facilitate mounting the diffuser 1, while increasing the pinching effect of the false ceiling 3 between said end 9Aa of the arm 9A and the flange 7 of the diffuser 1, without the effort of deformation of the tab being too great during the mounting. In addition, the rounded shape of the end hook offers the advantage of do not damage the suspended ceiling during installation.

Still according to this configuration, the length of the arm 9A is such that once engaged in the fixing lugs 11 of the collar 10, it slightly exceeds, in the rest position, the collar 7 of the diffuser 1, so that you can hang it on the edge of the opening 2 of the false ceiling 3 when installing said diffuser 1, then slide it without damage onto the inside face of false ceiling 3 thanks to the curved end.

• introduction de la gaine souple 6 sur le manchon 5 et présentation du diffuseur 1 devant l'ouverture 2 du faux-plafond 3 (figure 8a) ;
• introduction d'un premier bras 9 derrière la paroi du faux-plafond 3 en présentant le diffuseur 1 devant l'ouverture 2 selon un certain angle et en le faisant glisser complètement dans une direction transversale, par exemple vers la gauche (figure 8b) ;
• introduction d'au moins un second bras 9 après redressement du diffuseur 1 et en le faisant coulisser dans une direction sensiblement opposée, donc vers la droite (figure 8c) ;
• recherche d'une position de centrage du diffuseur 1 (figure 8d).

As shown in FIGS. 8a to 8d, the mounting of the diffuser 1 can be carried out blind from the outside according to the following mounting phases:

• introduction of the flexible sheath 6 on the sleeve 5 and presentation of the diffuser 1 in front of the opening 2 of the false ceiling 3 (FIG. 8a);
• introduction of a first arm 9 behind the wall of the false ceiling 3 by presenting the diffuser 1 in front of the opening 2 at a certain angle and by sliding it completely in a transverse direction, for example to the left (FIG. 8b);
• introduction of at least a second arm 9 after straightening the diffuser 1 and sliding it in a substantially opposite direction, therefore to the right (FIG. 8c);
• finding a centering position for the diffuser 1 (Figure 8d).

The advantage of a fastening device as described above lies in the fact that not only does it require no mounting tools, otherwise possibly a simple screwdriver to secure the collar, but it also allows blind mounting without any intervention behind the false ceiling. In addition, it can adapt to any type of existing diffuser without any modification of it.

Claims (12)

Fixing means for an air diffuser intended to be housed in an opening (2) made for this purpose in a wall (3) such as a false ceiling, the diffuser having a sleeve (5) for connection to a sheath (6) and a flange (7) for the support on the wall (3), characterized in that that they comprise at least two elastically deformable arms (9, 9A) and intended to be attached to the diffuser, so as to extend radially to from the sleeve (5) of the diffuser and fix the diffuser by pinching elastic of the wall (3) between the arms (9, 9A) and the flange (7) of the diffuser. Fastening means according to claim 1, characterized in that they comprise a collar (10) comprising clamping means intended to act on the sleeve (5) and on the periphery of which are provided lugs fastening (11) in the form of a pass, intended for the introduction of the ends (9b) of the arms (9, 9A) and whose section is substantially corresponding to the section of these. Fastening means according to claim 2, characterized in that means for immobilizing the elastic arms (9, 9A) are interposed between these and the legs (11) of the collar (10) supporting them. Fastening means according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that that the support collar (10) of the elastic arms (9) is circular and made in two parts (10a, 10b) formed by complementary preformed strips around the sleeve (5) and of length corresponding to that of its periphery, the two parts (10a, 10b) of the collar (10) being interconnected, on the one hand, by a joint (12) disposed at one of their ends and, on the other hand, by the clamping means (13) disposed at their other end. Fastening means according to any one of the claims above, characterized in that the dimensions of the arms (9, 9A), in relationship with the nature of the material constituting them, are determined from so as to obtain a compromise between the desired elastic effect and a sufficient rigidity to support the weight of the diffuser (1) and part of the weight of the sheath (6). Air diffuser intended to be housed in an opening (2) made at this effect in a wall (3) such as a false ceiling, having a given thickness (E), the air diffuser comprising, on the one hand, at the rear, a sleeve connection (5) to a ventilation duct (6) terminating behind said wall (3) and, on the other hand, at the front, a front flange (7) whose dimensions are greater than those of the opening (2), so as to be pressed against a corresponding peripheral zone thereof, by by means of fixing means, characterized in that these means of attachment include at least two arms (9, 9A), elastically deformable in a vertical plane extending radially from the sleeve (5) of the diffuser (1), and whose free ends (9a, 9Aa) are in the inactive position, distant from the front flange (7) by a value less than the thickness (E) of the wall (3) and are part of a circle (I) of radius greater than that a circle (II) in which the opening (2) of the wall (3) is inscribed, so securing said diffuser (1) by elastic clamping of the wall (3) between the elastic arms (9, 9A) and the flange (7). Diffuser according to claim 6, characterized in that the arms elastic (9, 9A) are two in number and are arranged radially on either side of the sleeve (5) diametrically opposite. Diffuser according to claim 6, characterized in that the arms elastics (9, 9A) are three in number and are distributed radially around of the sleeve (5) forming between them angles of 120 °. Diffuser according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the elastic arms (9, 9A) are attached to the periphery of the sleeve (5) of inseparable way. Diffuser according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that that the elastic arms (9, 9A) are attached to the periphery of the sleeve (5) removably. Diffuser according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that that the elastic arms (9, 9A) are made in one piece with the sleeve (5). Diffuser according to one of Claims 6 to 11, characterized in that that the length (L) and the elasticity of the arms (9, 9A) are chosen so as to allow mounting of the diffuser from the outside by introducing a first arm (9, 9A) behind the wall (3) presenting the diffuser (1) in front the opening (2) at a certain angle and sliding it completely in a transverse direction, then by introducing at least a second arm (9, 9A) after straightening said diffuser (1) and sliding it in a substantially opposite direction to a centering position.

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