Abstract:
A diffuser for positioning in an opening of a passageway having conditioned air, the diffuser including a grate assembly, a pan assembly, and a retention assembly. The grate assembly includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion contains an aperture, a plurality of slotted sections, and a flange. The lower portion includes downwardly depending sidewalls and a stop. The pan assembly includes a tray with an aperture and a plurality of upwardly depending legs. The retention assembly couples the grate assembly with the pan assembly and contains a first member that is movable from a first position to a second position for selectively engaging the stop.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to an improved floor diffuser and more particularly to a directional floor diffuser that is movable to emit air in specific directions. 
     Typical floor diffusers in the industry are made from a number of different materials. Some are constructed from plastic while others may be constructed from metal. Conventional diffusers are typically placed in an opening in the floor. The floor diffusers are sized in accordance with the opening in the floor. The floor diffuser is typically held in place by some attachment means. However, the standard attachment means requires the user to have access to the diffuser both above and below the floor. Specifically, the user must have access to the portion of the floor diffuser that is below the floor to secure the attachment means. 
     The floor diffusers, in a raised floor system, are attached to the openings in the raised floor and are also generally used to direct air away from the opening in the floor and from the plenum that comprises the area above the concrete floor and below the raised floor. Typically, the floor diffusers are “nondirectional” or, in other words, the floor diffusers do not emit the air in any specific direction. Specifically, the nondirectional floor diffusers provide air swirling around the diffuser, thereby not allowing any user adjustability of the dissipation of the air throughout the room. Due to the swirling of the air around the floor diffuser, it is recommended that furniture be placed no closer than 24-36 inches of the center of the diffuser. The constraint on the placement of the furniture reduces the amount of usable floor space. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to manufacture a directional floor diffuser that has the ability to emit air in a specific direction. Further it would be desirable to manufacture a floor diffuser that is movable such that the direction of the air emitted can be changed by the user. Still further it would be desirable to manufacture a floor diffuser that is movable without the need for access below the floor. Still further it would be desirable to manufacture a floor diffuser that may selectively control the amount of air emitted therethrough. Thus, while floor diffusers are known, there remains a need for an improved floor diffuser that has the ability to be locked in place, is movable only by access to the portion above the floor, and can emit varying amounts of air in specific directions. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, an improved floor diffuser with a retention means is provided that is movable to emit air in specific directions. The floor diffuser includes a grate assembly, a pan assembly, and a retention assembly. In one embodiment, the grate is generally rectangular in cross-section and includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is plate-like and contains an outwardly depending flange. The upper portion further contains a series of slotted sections that emit air in specific directions. The lower portion consists generally of interconnected sidewalls that depend downwardly from a lower surface of the upper portion. The downwardly depending sidewalls form a rectangular housing having four corners. The housing is sized to correspond to the dimensions of a hole in the floor. 
     The pan assembly contains a rectangular tray and a plurality of legs. The legs are located at each corner of the tray and depend upwardly therefrom. The tray is sized to correspond to the dimensions of the rectangular housing of the grate. 
     The retention assembly includes a retention screw, a retention bar, and a nut. The retention assembly both couples the grate assembly with the pan assembly and locks the floor diffuser in place. To assemble the floor diffuser, the retention screw is placed through a centrally located aperture in the upper portion of the grate assembly. The retention bar is then threaded onto the retention screw. Next, the legs of the tray are aligned with the corners of the housing and the retention screw is aligned and placed within an aperture located in the tray. The nut is then threaded onto the retention screw until the legs abut a lower surface of the grate and the nut abuts the tray. 
     In an alternate embodiment the floor diffuser could also be round. The floor diffuser could also contain an air adjustment assembly that can selectively control the amount of air emitted therefrom. The air adjustment assembly contains a plate having a plurality of slots oriented the same as the slots of the grate assembly. The plate is coupled to the underside of the grate assembly and is movable by a wheel to vary the amount of air emitted from the floor terminal. 
     Additional advantages, and novel features of the invention, will be set forth in part in a description which follows and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a floor diffuser of the present invention with a retention assembly and a tray, the retention assembly being orientated in the locked position and the diffuser received in a floor; 
         FIG. 2  is a side-elevational view of the floor diffuser of  FIG. 1  with the retention assembly in the locked position; 
         FIG. 3  is a front-elevation view of the floor diffuser of  FIG. 1  with the retention assembly in the locked position; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom-plan view of the floor diffuser of  FIG. 1  with the pan removed, the retention assembly in the locked position, and showing partial lines of the retention assembly in an unlocked position; 
         FIG. 5  is a side-elevation, cross-sectional view of the grate assembly of the floor diffuser taken along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side-elevation, cross-sectional view of the grate assembly of the floor diffuser taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a floor diffuser with an air adjustment assembly, a retention assembly, and a tray; 
         FIG. 8  is a side-elevational view of the floor diffuser of  FIG. 7  with parts broken away to show details; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom-plan view of the floor diffuser of  FIG. 8  taken along the line  9 - 9 , showing the air adjustment assembly in the closed position; 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom-plan view of the floor diffuser of  FIG. 9 , but with the air adjustment assembly in the open position; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation, cross-sectional view of the floor diffuser of  FIG. 10  taken along the line  11 - 11 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a side elevation, cross-sectional view of the floor diffuser of  FIG. 10  taken along the line  12 - 12 ; and 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom-plan view of the plate of the air adjustment assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings in greater detail and initially to  FIG. 1 , a floor diffuser is shown received in a hole in a floor and is designated generally by the numeral  10 . The floor diffuser  10  includes a grate assembly  12 , a pan assembly  14 , and a retention assembly  16 . The grate assembly  12  is generally rectangular and is constructed from die-cast aluminum. It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that any suitable material may be used. As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the grate assembly  12  includes an upper portion  18  and a lower portion  20 . The upper portion  18  is a plate with an inner portion  22  and an outer portion  24 . The inner portion  22  contains a centrally located aperture  26  and a plurality of slotted sections. Specifically, the inner portion  22  contains a middle section  28  and a pair of side sections  30 . The middle section  28  contains first and second slotted sections  32 ,  34 . The side sections  30  each contain a plurality of angled slots  36 . The configuration of the slotted sections  32 ,  34 , and the angled slots  36  will be discussed further below. 
     The outer portion  24  is a tapered flange that depends outwardly from the inner portion. As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the flange  24  serves to maintain the floor diffuser  10  in contact with the hole in the floor. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the lower portion  20  consists generally of interconnected sidewalls  38  that depend downwardly from a lower surface  40  of the upper portion  18 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the downwardly depending sidewalls  38  form a rectangular housing  42  containing four corners  43 . The housing  42  is sized and configured to accommodate the hole in the floor and is received therein. Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each of the sidewalls  38  is shaped as shown and contains a downwardly projecting protrusion  44 , a stop  46 , and a notch  48 , the importance of which will be described in further detail below. Further, as specifically seen in  FIG. 3 , the sidewall depth from the lower surface  40  to the notch  48  corresponds to the thickness of the floor. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the pan assembly  14  will be discussed. The pan assembly  14  contains a tray  50  and a plurality of legs  52 . The tray  50  is generally rectangular and includes a base  54  and a peripheral wall  56 . Specifically the tray  50  is sized to correspond to the dimensions of the rectangular housing  42  of the grate  12 . The tray  50  further includes a centrally located aperture, not shown, that when the diffuser  10  is assembled is aligned with the aperture  26  contained in the grate  12 . The wall  56  extends around a perimeter of the base  54  and depends upwardly therefrom. The legs  52  are located at each corner  58  of the base  54  and depend upwardly from the tray  50 . The legs  52  may be integral with the tray  50  or attached thereto by any suitable attachment means. Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , it should be understood that an upper portion of the legs  52  abuts a lower surface  60  on the inner portion  22  of the grate  12  when the floor diffuser  10  is assembled. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the retention assembly  16  will be discussed. The retention assembly  16  includes a retention screw  62 , a retention bar  64 , and a nut  66 . The retention screw  62  contains a head  68  and a threaded shaft  70 . The threaded shaft  70  is placed within the aperture  26  contained in the upper portion  18  of the grate  12  and the head  68  holds the screw  62  in place. As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the retention bar  64  is rectangular in cross-section and has a threaded aperture  72  at its midpoint. The threaded aperture  72  receives the threaded shaft  70  of the retention screw  62 . The nut  66  is a standard item and includes a threaded nylon insert. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the orientation of the slotted sections will be discussed.  FIG. 5  shows the orientation of the middle section  28  of the grate assembly  12  while  FIG. 6  shows the orientation of the side sections  30 . Specifically,  FIG. 5  shows the orientation of the first and second slotted sections  32 ,  34  of the middle section  28 . The first slotted section  32  contains generally vertical sidewalls  72  that emit air in a generally vertical direction. The second slotted section  34  contains angled sidewalls  74 . The angled sidewalls  74  of the second slotted section  34  are designed to emit air in a specific direction. As shown by reference numeral  76 , the sidewalls  74  of slotted section  34  are oriented at a non-90° angle with respect to the lower surface  40  of the upper portion  18  of the grate assembly  12 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the orientation of the side sections  30 . As stated above, the side sections  30  contain angled slots  36 . Specifically the side sections  30  are oriented to emit air away from the grate assembly  12  in specific directions. Further, the orientation of the angled slots  36  of the side sections  30  allow air to be emitted in multiple directions. For the purpose of this discussion, multiple means more than one. The slotted sections  30  contain angled sidewalls  78 . Further, while the slotted sections  30  emit air in multiple directions, it should be understood that the orientation of angled sidewalls  78  of both slotted sections  30  are the same. As shown by reference numeral  80 , the sidewalls  78  are oriented at a non-90° angle with respect to the lower surface  40  of the upper portion  18  of the grate assembly  12 . The orientation of the slotted sections  32 ,  34 , and the angled slots  36  enable the user to control the direction of air flow out of the grate assembly. Further, the configuration of the retention assembly  16  allows the user to quickly remove the diffuser  10  from the floor, rotate the diffuser  10  in the opening in the floor, and selectively choose the direction of air flow from the diffuser  10 . 
     The assembly and operation of the floor diffuser  10  will now be discussed, initially with reference to  FIG. 2 . The diffuser  10  is assembled before it is placed in the hole in the floor. First, the retention screw  62  is placed though the aperture  26  in the upper portion  18  of the grate. Next, the retention bar  64  is threaded onto the threaded shaft  70  of the retention screw  62  by turning the head  68  of the retention screw in a clockwise manner. The retention bar  64  should be threaded onto the screw  62  a sufficient amount such that the pan  14  may be installed. Specifically, the retention bar  64  must be threaded onto the retention screw  62  such that once installation is complete and the retention screw  62  is turned in a clockwise manner, the retention bar  64  will rotate and contact the stop  46  on the downwardly depending protrusion  44 . To install the pan assembly  14 , the retention screw  62  is aligned with the centrally located aperture, not shown, in the base  54 . The legs  52  of the pan  14  are then placed in an abutting relationship with the corners  43  on the lower surface  60  of the grate assembly  12 . Next, the retention screw  62  is placed through the centrally located aperture, not shown, in the base  54 . The nut  66  is then threaded onto the retention screw  62  until the legs  52  contact the lower surface  60  of the grate  12  and the nut  66  abuts the base  54  of the pan  50 . It should be noted that once the threaded portion  70  of the screw  62  reaches the nylon insert of the nut  66 , a wrench and a screwdriver will be needed to further advance the screw  62  into the nut  66 . The floor diffuser  10  is now fully assembled. 
     Now that the floor diffuser  10  is fully assembled, the operation of the floor diffuser  10  will be discussed. In order to place the diffuser  10  in the floor the retention bar  64  must be in the unlocked position, where the retention bar  64  is oriented generally diagonally, as shown by the hidden lines in  FIG. 4 . The diffuser  10  is then placed in the floor. To place the retention bar  64  in the locked position, shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the user simply turns the retention screw  62  in a clockwise direction. By turning the retention screw  62 , the retention bar  64  is raised on the threaded shaft  70 . As the retention bar  64  raises on the threaded shaft, it comes in contact with stop  46  on the downwardly projecting protrusion  44 . Once the retention bar  64  contacts the stop  46 , further rotation of the screw  62  causes the retention bar  64  to move upwardly into the notch  48  such that it is locked in place, as shown in  FIG. 2 . At this point, the floor diffuser  10  is unable to be lifted out of the floor. 
     To remove the floor diffuser  10  from the floor, the user turns the retention screw  62  in a counterclockwise direction. By turning the retention screw  62 , the retention bar  64  is lowered on the threaded shaft  70  and is displaced from the notch  48 . Once displaced from the notch  48 , the retention bar  64  rotates back to the diagonal position, as shown by the hidden lines in  FIG. 4 . At this point, the floor diffuser  10  may be removed from the floor. Thus, the ability of the user to remove the floor diffuser  10  by simply turning a single screw coupled with the directional orientation of the slotted sections  32 ,  34 , and  36 , allows the user to selectively direct the air emitted from the diffuser  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8  a second embodiment of a floor diffuser is shown and is designated generally by the numeral  82 . The floor diffuser  82  is similar to the floor diffuser  10  discussed above with the exception that it is circular and contains an air adjustment assembly. The floor diffuser  82  includes a grate assembly  84 , an air adjustment assembly  86 , a pan assembly  88 , and a retention assembly  90 . The grate assembly  84  includes an upper portion  92  and a lower portion  94 . The upper portion  92  is a plate with an inner portion  96  and an outer portion  98 . The inner portion  96  contains a centrally located aperture  100 , a plurality of slotted sections, and an elongate slot  101 . Specifically, the inner portion  96  contains a middle section  102  and a pair of side sections  104 . As seen in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  11 , and  12  the orientation of the slots and their sidewalls in the middle and side sections  28 ,  30  discussed above is the same as the orientation of the slots and their sidewalls in the middle and side sections  102 ,  104 . As seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the outer portion  98  is a tapered flange that depends outwardly from the inner portion  96  and serves to maintain the floor diffuser  82  in contact with the hole in the floor. The lower portion  94  is a sidewall that depends downwardly from a lower surface  106  of the upper portion  92  to form a circular housing  108 . The housing  108  is sized and configured to accommodate the hole in the floor and is received therein. 
     The pan assembly  88  of floor diffuser  82  is essentially the same as the pan assembly  14  described above with the exception that it is circular. The pan assembly  88  contains a tray  110  and a plurality of upwardly depending legs  112 . The tray  110  has an outer circumference that is generally smaller than the outer circumference of the circular housing  108  of the grate assembly  84 . The tray  110  further includes a centrally located aperture  114  that when assembled aligns with the aperture  100  contained in the grate  84 . 
     The retention assembly  90  includes a retention screw  116 , a retention bar  118 , and a nut  120 . The retention assembly  90  is essentially the same as the retention assembly  16  described above, except there is no need for the stop  46  and notch  48 . In this embodiment, the retention bar  118  is rotated until it abuts one of the legs  112 . Further tightening of the retention screw  116  moves the retention bar up the side of the leg  112  until the retention bar  118  comes into contact with the bottom of the floor. The retention bar  118  is received on the retention screw  116  as described above. The retention screw  116  is placed within the aperture  100  contained in the upper portion  92  of the grate assembly  84  and within an aperture  122  in the pan assembly  88  to assemble the floor diffuser  82 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9-13 , the air adjustment assembly  86  will be discussed.  FIG. 9  shows the air adjustment assembly  86  in the closed position while  FIGS. 10 ,  11 , and  12  show the air adjustment assembly  86  in the open position. The air adjustment assembly  86  includes a wheel  124 , a retaining bolt  126 , and a plate  128 . The plate  128  is attached to the grate assembly  84  by the retaining bolt  126  and the retention screw  116 . The wheel  124  along with the retaining bolt  126  are used to move the plate  128 , and in turn the air adjustment assembly  86  from the closed position of  FIG. 9  to the open position of  FIGS. 10 ,  11 , and  12 . The retaining bolt  126  contains a threaded shaft  130  and a head  132 . The wheel  124  contains a centrally located threaded aperture  140  that receives the threaded shaft  130  of the retaining bolt  126 . A portion of the wheel is aligned within the elongate slot  101  in the grate assembly  84 , as will be further discussed below. The plate  128  includes a plurality of slots  134 , a centrally located elongate aperture  136 , and a tab  138 . The plurality of slots  134  match the pattern of slots of the slotted middle section  102  and side sections  104 . The centrally located elongate aperture  136  is aligned with the aperture  100  contained in the upper portion  92  of the grate assembly  84  and the retention screw  116  passes therethrough. A nut  142  and a washer  144  are received on the retention screw  116  and abut the plate  128 . The tab  138  depends downwardly from the plate  128  and contains an aperture  146  therein. The retaining bolt  126  is placed within the aperture  146  and a nut  148  is placed opposite the head. The threaded shaft  130  is received in a threaded block  150  located on the underside of the grate assembly  84  proximate the housing  108 . 
     As such, once assembled, the wheel  124  may be used to move the air adjustment assembly  86  from the closed position in  FIG. 9  to the open position in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Specifically, to move the air adjustment assembly  86  from the closed position in  FIG. 9  to the open position in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the user may rotate the wheel  124  in the clockwise direction. Further, to move the air adjustment assembly  86  from the open position in  FIGS. 10 and 11  to the closed position in  FIG. 9 , the user may rotate the wheel  124  in the counterclockwise direction. Rotation of the wheel  124  causes the bolt  126  received therein to move, which in turn causes the plate  128  to move with respect to the grate assembly  84 . As such the amount of air emitted from the diffuser  82  can be controlled. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 7 and 8  the installation of the floor diffuser  82  will now be discussed. To install the floor diffuser in the floor, the retention bar  118  must be lowered to a point near the tray  110 . The retention bar  118  may be lowered by turning the retaining bolt  126  counterclockwise. Once the retention bar  118  has been lowered, the floor diffuser may then be placed within the hole in the floor by tilting the floor diffuser such that a first end  150  of the retention bar  118  may be placed under the floor. Once the first end  150  is placed under the floor, the floor diffuser  82  may then be manipulated within the hole to allow a second end  152  of the retention bar  118  to fit therebelow. As such, both ends  150 ,  152  of the retention bar  118  are now located below the floor. The user may then turn the floor diffuser  82  to selectively direct air in the appropriate direction. Once the direction has been fixed, the user may then turn the retaining bolt  126  in a clockwise direction which, in turn, causes the retention bar  118  to move vertically up the retention screw  116  and, thus, lock the floor diffuser  82  in place. 
     The present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its scope. For example, the plate  128  of the air adjustment assembly  86  of the second embodiment may be modified such that the air adjustment assembly is used with the square floor diffuser  10  of the first embodiment. It will be seen from the foregoing that this invention is one well adapted to attain the ends and objects set forth above and to attain other advantages, which are obvious and inherent in the device. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and within the scope of the claims. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.