Abstract:
An easy access air filter housing and cover assembly for homes with tall ceilings is provided that enables a user to replace the air filter without the need of standing on a ladder. A kit including special tools and a conventional extendable pole is provided to enable the user to change the filter according to a novel method of changing the filter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to an easy access air filter housing that facilitates the replacement of air filters by individuals, especially in instances where the air filter is located in a housing that is mounted in a ceiling. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    In prior art filter housings, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, the process of replacing air filters on a regular basis using known housings is awkward and can lead to serious injury especially when the filter housing is located in the ceiling of a home. Newer homes are often constructed with ceiling heights of 8 feet and higher. Large return air ducts are being located in the ceiling with air filters located in the housing at the intake area of the air duct. To replace the filter it is necessary in many cases to stand on a ladder in an awkward position, unlatch a cover on the housing, carefully avoid the cover from falling on the individual, remove and replace the filter, close the cover and then manipulate a latching mechanism to secure the filter in the housing. The hinge mounting the cover to the housing is typically of the type that does not include a mechanical interconnection between the two segments of the hinge and thus the cover can easily become detached from the housing. Such a hinge is shown at  51  in  FIG. 2 . A typical latching mechanism is shown in  FIG. 1  and includes a slot  53  and latching member  52 . 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The problems of the prior art are overcome by the present invention. The cover is provided with a latching mechanism that can be manipulated by the individual without the need of a ladder. The cover is provided with an improved hinge in the form of one or more conventional piano type hinges that are secured to the cover and housing and having a pivot mechanism that mechanically interconnects the two portions of the hinge so that they cannot become unattached to each other in normal use. The periphery of the cover or an internal portion of the housing is equipped with a plurality of magnets that secure the cover to the housing. A first tool has a hook-like portion adapted to engage the cover and grasp it through one of the slot-like openings typically formed through the surface of the cover to move the cover to an open position. A second tool is provided that attaches to known extendable poles and includes platforms to support the filter. The filter to be replaced can be gripped by either tool, depending on the type of filter, and removed. A clean filter can then be placed on the second tool and inserted into the housing. With the furnace fan on at this point the air flow will hold the filter in place and the cover can be rotated up to engage the housing and be held in a closed position by virtue of the magnets. All this can be done without the need of a ladder. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0006]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are representative of the prior art. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the housing and cover of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the housing, cover and hinge. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  depicts a user supporting the filter on the end of the second tool. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the second tool attached to the extendable pole 
           [0011]    FIG,  7  is a perspective view of the first tool attached to the extendable pole. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , there is provided a housing member  10  which consists of four side members. The housing is typically rectangular or square in shape and is adapted to be mounted in a ceiling in a known manner. Each side of the housing includes a main frame member  16 . The housing includes an inwardly extending flange  15  that cooperates with a cover  11  to form a filter compartment. Along one side of the housing, one or more piano-type hinges  13  rotatably secure the cover to the housing. In lieu of two separately mounted hinges, it is within the scope of the invention to use a single piano type hinge that extends for a substantial portion of the side of the housing and cover to which it is attached. A plurality of magnets  12  are secured to the outer periphery of the cover or internally within the housing. The number and position of the magnets is not critical; however it is desirable to have at least two magnets mounted on the side of the cover or housing that is opposite the side that has the hinge(s) mounted on them. The housing may be rectangular or square in shape. In the event that the housing is rectangular in shape, the cover could be pivotably mounted either on the longer or shorter side of the housing. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cover has the same general shape as the opening in the housing and is provided with a plurality of air slots  14  to permit the flow of air through the filter and housing. The sides of the cover are slightly less in length than the corresponding lengths of the housing to allow the cover to rotate into and out of the housing. The hook portion of the first tool is adapted to fit within one of the slots  14  in the cover to allow the user to pivot the cover to an open position. 
         [0014]    A support tool adapted to be used in conjunction with the housing is shown in  FIG. 6 . The tool includes a body portion  23  and a plurality of support members  22  extending radially outwardly from the body portion. A support platform which may be a disk-shaped magnet is attached to the end of each support member. The tool has at the lower end of the body portion a socket for attachment to a conventional extendable pole. The lower end of the body is also provided with a suitable locking mechanism such as a set screw to lock the extension pole within the socket. The radially outwardly extending support members may be adjustable in length by any suitable known means, such as telescoping rod-like members. Detent members or set screws may be provided in a known manner to hold the rods in place at a selected length. 
         [0015]    The hook-like tool is shown in  FIG. 7 . It includes a main body portion  40  with a socket at one end adapted to receive a known extendable pole. The socket is provided with a locking mechanism such as a set screw to secure the pole within the socket. A hook-like member  25  extends from the other end of the body. 
         [0016]    In operation, the user places the hook-like tool on the end of the pole and engages the cover through one of the slots. The cover is then pulled downwardly to an open position. A typical filter may have a metal mesh screen on one side thereof which can be engaged by the support tool and its magnets to remove the filter from the housing. If there is not a metal mesh screen on the face of the filter, the hook-like tool can be used to penetrate the filter and remove it. All of this may be done while the air system fan is running. A VELCRO surface may be applied to the filter and to the opening for the filter. After the old filter is removed, a new filter is placed on the support tool and moved into the housing. The air flow will keep the filter within the housing. The tools or extension pole can then be used to rotate the cover back into engagement with the housing. 
         [0017]    As can be appreciated, the present invention provides a simple yet elegant solution of the problems inherent in the prior art, including the very real possibility of serious bodily injury to anyone who is replacing an air filter under these conditions. 
         [0018]    Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific details, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations on the scope of the invention, except to the extent that they are included in the accompanying claims.