Patent ID: 7022010
Filing Date: 2006-04-04
Classification: F24F

Abstract:
1. An air conditioner with a circular air diffuser system for facilitating the safe and convenient installation of ceiling air diffusers comprising, in combination: a ceiling with an upper surface and a lower surface and a circular aperture there through adapted to accommodate the passage of conditioned air into a room located below the ceiling from above, the upper and lower surfaces defining a ceiling thickness there between; a boot fabricated of a rigid material having a cylindrical lower section with a lower edge and a large circular cross sectional configuration and with a cylindrical upper section with an upper edge and a small circular cross sectional configuration and with an intermediate section in a frusto-conical configuration joining the upper and lower sections, the upper and lower and intermediate sections each having an axial length and a common vertical axis during operation and use, the diameter of the circular aperture being slightly greater than the diameter of the lower section of the boot with the axial length of the lower section of the boot being greater than the thickness of the ceiling whereby the boot may be placed into the circular aperture from below with the lower edge of the boot being essentially flush with the lower surface of the ceiling, the boot also including a circular flange extending radially outwardly from the lower edge of the boot with an upper surface in facing contact with the lower surface of the ceiling, the circular flange having four threaded apertures equally spaced around the flange with axes parallel with the central axis of the boot; a layer of a thermally insulating material secured to the interior face of the boot; a flexible hose with a circular cross section having an output end coupled to the upper section of the boot an input end adapted to be coupled to an air conditioner for supplying conditioned air from an air conditioner to the boot and then to beneath the ceiling; a support assembly including four short equally spaced circumferential primary slots formed through the lower section of the boot and layer and spaced at a common first distance from the lower edge of the boot and four essentially U-shaped clips with flared free ends and fabricated of a resilient material positioned from interior of the boot through the primary slots whereby a ceiling adjacent to the circular aperture will be securely contacted and held between the flange and the clips; four short equally spaced circumferential secondary slots formed through the lower section of the boot and layer, rotationally offset from the first slots, and spaced at a common second distance, different from the first distance, from the lower edge of the boot whereby a ceiling of a second thickness, greater than the first distance, adjacent to the circular aperture will be securely contacted and held between the flange and the clips; four short equally spaced circumferential tertiary slots formed through the lower section of the boot and layer, rotationally offset from the first slots, and spaced at a common third distance, different from the first and second distances, from the lower edge of the boot whereby a ceiling of a third thickness, greater than the second distance, adjacent to the circular aperture will be securely contacted and held between the flange and the clips; and a grill in an essentially flat circular configuration and an exterior diameter equal to the exterior diameter of the flange with four threaded apertures aligned with the apertures of the flange with four bolts to removably couple the grill to the boot, the grill having a plurality of arcuate slots terminating in lips having centers of curvature on a common side of the grill to direct the flow of air there through to a preselected direction.