Abstract:
A air filtering assembly for removing particulate matter from air supplied through HVAC ducts. The air filtering assembly includes a frame assembly including a connection assembly adapted for coupling to an air vent, and an air filter couplable to the frame assembly and positioned adjacent to the air vent for filtering the air directed through the air vent.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to air filtration devices and more particularly pertains to a new air filtering assembly for removing particulate matter from air supplied through HVAC ducts. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of air filtration devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, air filtration devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,665,145; 5,840,245; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 344,581; U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,787; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 118,420; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 344,792. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new air filtering assembly. The inventive device includes a frame assembly including a connection assembly adapted for coupling to an air vent, and an air filter couplable to the frame assembly and positioned adjacent to the air vent for filtering the air directed through the air vent. 
     In these respects, the air filtering assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of removing particulate matter from air supplied through HVAC ducts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of air filtration devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new air filtering assembly construction wherein the same can be utilized for removing particulate matter from air supplied through HVAC ducts. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new air filtering assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the air filtration devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new air filtering assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art air filtration devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a frame assembly including a connection assembly adapted for coupling to an air vent, and an air filter couplable to the frame assembly and positioned adjacent to the air vent for filtering the air directed through the air vent. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new air filtering assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the air filtration devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new air filtering assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art air filtration devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new air filtering assembly which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new air filtering assembly which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new air filtering assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such air filtering assembly economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new air filtering assembly which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new air filtering assembly for removing particulate matter from air supplied through HVAC ducts. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new air filtering assembly which includes a frame assembly including a connection assembly adapted for coupling to an air vent, and an air filter couplable to the frame assembly and positioned adjacent to the air vent for filtering the air directed through the air vent. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new air filtering assembly that prevents discomfort for allergy sufferers. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new air filtering assembly that can be retrofit into existing air vents. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new air filtering assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic detail view of the louver closing mechanism of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new air filtering assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the air filtering assembly  10  generally comprises a frame assembly  20  and an air filter  50 . 
     The frame assembly  20  includes a connection assembly  40  designed for coupling to an air vent  2 . 
     The air filter  50  is couplable to the frame assembly  20  such that the air filter  50  is positioned adjacent to the air vent  2 . Thus air passing through the air vent  2  is directed through the air filter  50 . 
     The frame assembly  20  includes a main member  22  and a door  24  pivotally coupled to the main member  22 . 
     A plurality of support members  25  extends between opposite sides of a rim portion  26  of the door  24 . 
     The air filter  50  is positionable in the main member  22  when the door  24  is in an open position. The door  24  is closable for enclosing the air filter  50  in the main member  22 . 
     The connection assembly  40  comprising a plurality of hooks  42  coupled to the frame member  20 . Each of the hooks  42  is designed for engaging a screen covering the air vent  2  for holding the frame assembly  20  adjacent to the air vent  2 . 
     The connection assembly  40  comprises a plurality of connecting screws  44 . Each of the connecting screws  44  is insertable through an associated connection hole in the frame assembly  20 . A distal end of each the connecting screw  44  is threaded such that the distal end is designed for engaging to a threaded connection aperture of the air vent  2  such that the frame assembly  20  is held in position adjacent to the air vent  2 . 
     A plurality of louvers  28  is coupled to the frame assembly  20  such that the louvers  28  are positioned adjacent to the air filter  50  when the air filter  50  is coupled to the frame assembly  20 . 
     Each of the louvers  28  includes a planar portion. Each of the louvers  28  is rotatable around a central longitudinal axis of the louver  28  such that the louvers  28  are rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The closed position is defined by the planar portion of each the louver  28  being positioned to contact the planar portion of an adjacently positioned louver  28 . Thus air from the air vent  2  is prevented from passing through the air filter  50 . The open position is defined by the louvers  28  being rotated such that an associated gap is formed between adjacent pairs of the louvers  28 . Thus air from the air vent  2  is permitted to pass through the air filter  50 . 
     A locking assembly  30  is coupled to the frame assembly  20  for holding the door  24  in a closed position. The locking assembly  30  includes a magnet  32  coupled to the door  24  proximate a distal edge of the door  24 . The locking assembly  30  further includes a metal latch plate  34  coupled to the main member  22 . The metal latch plate  34  is positioned for magnetically engaging the magnet  32  when the door  24  is in the closed position. 
     The main member  22  includes a biasing chamber  36 , which has an opening facing the magnet  32  when the door  24  is in the closed position. The magnet  32  is positioned in the biasing chamber  36  such that an extension portion of the magnet  32  extends through the opening in the biasing chamber  36 . 
     A biasing member  38  is positioned in the biasing chamber  36  for biasing the extension portion of the magnet  32  through the opening in the biasing chamber  36 . 
     The metal latch plate  34  includes a perimeter edge for abutting a lip of the opening of the biasing chamber  36  for preventing the metal latch plate  34  from passing through the opening in the biasing chamber  36 . 
     A handle  60  is coupled to the frame assembly  20  such that a distal end of the handle  60  extends through a slot in the main member  22  of the frame assembly  20 . The handle  60  is movable between a first position and a second position. A proximal end of the handle  60  is operationally coupled to the louvers  28  by a connecting rod  62  for rotating the louvers  28  between the open position and the closed position when the handle  60  is moved between the first position and the second position. 
     In use, the door on the frame assembly is moved to the open position. The air filter is then placed on the main member and captured when the door is returned to the closed position. The door is held closed by the magnetic engagement of the magnet to the latch plate. The frame assembly is then connected to the air vent by use of either of the hooks, the connecting screws, or both. The louvers are then opened allowing air to flow through the filter from the air vent by moving the handle from the closed position to the open position. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.