Abstract:
In one embodiment, there is provided a second ceiling air conditioning apparatus, comprising: an air conditioner configured to cool air to a desired temperature; one or more conduits configured to conduct the cool air from the air conditioner; and a second ceiling positioned immediately below a structural ceiling, the second ceiling being configured to receive the cool air from the one or more conduits, thereby cooling at least a portion of air below the second ceiling.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to an air conditioning system and more particularly to a second ceiling air conditioning apparatus and system. 
         [0002]    Air conditioning technology has not significantly improved for many years. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In one embodiment, there is provided a second ceiling air conditioning apparatus, comprising: an air conditioner configured to cool air to a desired temperature; one or more conduits configured to conduct the cool air from the air conditioner; and a second ceiling positioned immediately below a structural ceiling, the second ceiling being configured to receive the cool air from the one or more conduits, thereby cooling at least a portion of air below the second ceiling. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The accompanying drawings provide visual representations which will be used to more fully describe various representative embodiments and can be used by those skilled in the art to better understand the representative embodiments disclosed herein and their inherent advantages. In these drawings, like reference numerals identify corresponding elements. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1A  is a drawing of a second ceiling air conditioning apparatus comprising a second ceiling installed in a room, with the second ceiling comprising one second ceiling panel. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1B  is a detail drawing of a valve comprised in the conduit and currently in a closed position that does not allow the cool air to pass through the valve and then through the conduit on to the second ceiling. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1C  is a detail drawing of a valve comprised in the conduit and currently in an open position that does allow the cool air to pass through the valve and then through the conduit on to the second ceiling. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1D  is a drawing of a second ceiling air conditioning apparatus comprising a second ceiling installed in a room, with the second ceiling comprising two modular second ceiling panels. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a drawing of a second ceiling air conditioning apparatus comprising a second ceiling installed in an airplane. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one or more specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as exemplary of the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the following description and in the several figures of the drawings, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. 
         [0011]    A second ceiling air conditioning apparatus comprising a second ceiling is provided for installation in one or more of an airplane, a motor vehicle, a room, a studio, a home, and an office. The second ceiling air conditioning apparatus takes account of the basic laws of physics instead of violating them. Physicians can use embodiments of the invention to keep things cool in one or more of an examining room and an operating room. The second ceiling air conditioning apparatus is also suitable for use in another type of office including one or more of a law office and a business office. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a drawing of a room  100  comprising a second ceiling air conditioning apparatus  110 . The second ceiling air conditioning apparatus  110  comprises an air conditioner  120 , a conduit  130 , and a second ceiling  140 . Typically, although not necessarily, the second ceiling  140  is positioned immediately below a structural ceiling  143  of the room  100 . In this example, the second ceiling  140  is positioned immediately below the structural ceiling  143 . In this example, the second ceiling  140  substantially covers the full surface of the structural ceiling  143 . 
         [0013]    In this example, the second ceiling air conditioning apparatus  110  does not comprise any optional spacers. Accordingly, in this example, there is no spatial separation between the second ceiling  140  and the structural ceiling  143 . 
         [0014]    The air conditioner  120  directs the conditioned, cool air via the conduit  130  to a valve  145 . The valve  145  has two positions, an open position and a closed position. When the valve  145  is in the closed position, the conditioned, cool air is not allowed to pass beyond the valve  145  in the direction of the second ceiling  140 . When the valve  145  is in the open position, the cool, conditioned air passes past the valve  145  into the second ceiling  140 . More details on the valve  145  are provided in  FIGS. 1B and 1C . 
         [0015]    The second ceiling  140  comprises one or more optional vents  150 . The one or more vents  150  are configured to provide ventilation to one or more users  160  occupying the room  100 . The valve  135  may be controllable by one or more of the one or more users  160 . Alternatively, or additionally, the valve  135  may be controllable by automated controls (not shown) comprised in the room  100 . The automated controls (not shown) may be configured by one or more of the one or more users  160 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 1B  is a detail drawing of a valve  145  comprised in the conduit  130 , the conduit  130  comprising a first conduit portion  130 A and a second conduit portion  130 B. The valve  145  is currently in a closed position  163  so that after the cool air passes through the first conduit portion  130 A and then on to the valve  145 , the cool air is stopped and is not allowed to pass through the valve  145  on to the second conduit portion  130 B and then on to the second ceiling  140 . The valve  145  will typically—as shown here—although not necessarily be comprised in the conduit  130 . Alternative embodiments could locate the valve  145  in one or more of the air conditioner  120  and the second ceiling  140 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 1C  is a detail drawing of the valve  145  comprised in the conduit  130 , and as before the conduit comprises the first conduit portion  130 A and the second conduit portion  130 B. Here the valve  145  is currently in an open position  167  so that after the cool air passes through the first conduit portion  130 A and then on to the valve  145 , the cool air is allowed to pass through the valve  145  on to the second conduit portion  130 B and then on to the second ceiling  140 . 
         [0018]    The second ceiling  140  becomes cool from the received cool air. As a result, the second ceiling  140  cools the room  100 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 1D  is a drawing of a room  100  comprising a second ceiling air conditioning apparatus  110 . The second ceiling air conditioning apparatus  110  comprises an air conditioner  120 , a conduit  130 , and two modular second ceiling panels  140 A and  140 B. Typically, although not necessarily, the second ceiling  140  is positioned immediately below a structural ceiling  143  of the room  100 . In this example, the two modular second ceiling panels  140 A and  140 B do not substantially cover the full surface of the structural ceiling  143 . In this example, the second ceiling panels  140 A and  140 B are positioned immediately below the structural ceiling  143 . 
         [0020]    In this example, the second ceiling air conditinoing apparatus  110  further comprises one or more optional spacers  170 . The spacers  170  are positioned so as to provide spatial separation  180  between the second ceiling panels  140 A and  140 B and the structural ceiling  143 . In this example, the spatial separation between the second ceiling panel  140 A and the structural ceiling  143  is approximately half an inch. Similarly, the spatial separation between the second ceiling panel  140 B and the structural ceiling  143  is approximately half an inch. 
         [0021]    The air conditioner  120  directs the conditioned, cool air via the conduit  130  to a valve  145 . The valve  145  has two positions, an open position  163  and a closed position  167 . When the valve is in the closed position  167 , the conditioned, cool air is not allowed to pass beyond the valve  145  in the direction of the second ceiling  140 . When the valve  145  is in the open position  163 , the cool, conditioned air passes past the valve  145  into the two modular second ceiling panels  140 A and  140 B. One or more of the two modular second ceiling panels  140 A and  140 B become cool from the received cool air. As a result, the one or more of the two modular second ceiling panels  140 A and  140 B cool the room  100 . 
         [0022]    In this example, the first modular second ceiling panel  140 A does not comprise an optional vent. In this example, the second modular second ceiling panel  140 B does not comprise an optional vent  150 . The valve  135  may be controllable by one or more users  160 . Alternatively, or additionally, the valve  135  may be controllable by automated controls (not shown) comprised in the room  100 . The automated controls (not shown) may be configured by one or more of the one or more users  160 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a drawing of an airplane  200  comprising a second ceiling air conditioning apparatus  110 . The second ceiling air conditioning apparatus  110  comprises an air conditioner  120 , a conduit  130 , and a second ceiling  140 . Typically, although not necessarily, the second ceiling  140  is positioned immediately below a structural ceiling  143  of the airplane  200 . In this example, the second ceiling  140  substantially covers the full surface of the structural ceiling  143 . 
         [0024]    In this example, the second ceiling air conditioning apparatus  110  further comprises one or more optional spacers  170 . The spacers  170  are positioned so as to provide spatial separation  180  between the second ceiling panels  140 A and  140 B and the structural ceiling  143 . In this example, the spatial separation between the second ceiling  140  and the structural ceiling  143  is approximately one inch. 
         [0025]    The air conditioner  120  directs the conditioned, cool air via the conduit  130  to a valve  145 . The valve  145  has two positions, an open position  163  and a closed position  167 . When the valve is in the closed position  167 , the conditioned, cool air is not allowed to pass beyond the valve  145  in the direction of the second ceiling  140 . When the valve  145  is in the open position  163 , the cool, conditioned air passes past the valve  145  into the second ceiling  140 . The second ceiling  140  becomes cool from the received cool air. As a result, the second ceiling  140  cools the airplane  200 . 
         [0026]    In this example, the second ceiling  140  does not comprise an optional vent. The one or more vents  150  are configured to provide ventilation to one or more users  160  occupying the room  100 . The valve  135  may be controllable by one or more of the one or more users  160 . Alternatively, or additionally, the valve  135  may be controllable by automated controls (not shown) comprised in the room  100 . The automated controls (not shown) may be configured by one or more of the one or more users  160 . 
         [0027]    According to further embodiments of the invention, the apparatus may be located in one or more of an airplane, a motor vehicle, a room, a studio, an office, and a home. 
         [0028]    According to further embodiments of the invention, the apparatus may further comprise a valve having a closed position that does not allow the cool air to pass through the valve on to the second ceiling, the valve also having an open position that does allow the cool air to pass through the valve on to the second ceiling. 
         [0029]    According to still other embodiments of the invention, the conduit may comprise the valve. 
         [0030]    According to still further embodiments of the invention, the second ceiling may substantially covers the entire structural ceiling. 
         [0031]    According to yet other embodiments of the invention, the second ceiling may comprise one or more second ceiling panels. According to still other embodiments of the invention, at least one of the one or more second ceiling panels may be modular. 
         [0032]    According to yet further embodiments of the invention, at least one of the one or more second ceiling panels may be movable. The apparatus comprising one or more second ceiling panels may be located in one or more of a room, a studio, an office, and a home. 
         [0033]    One or more of the one or more modular second ceiling panels may have a standardized set of spatial dimensions. 
         [0034]    For example, one or more of the one or more modular second ceiling panels may have a standardized set of spatial dimensions approximately equal to six feet by eight feet by two inches. For example, one or more of the one or more modular second ceiling panels may have a standardized set of spatial dimensions approximately equal to eight feet by ten feet by two inches. 
         [0035]    According to further embodiments of the invention, the one or more second ceiling panels may substantially cover the entire surface of the structural ceiling. A single modular second ceiling panel may substantially cover the entire surface of the structural ceiling. 
         [0036]    According to other embodiments of the invention, the second ceiling may be positioned immediately adjacent to the structural ceiling. 
         [0037]    According to still other embodiments of the invention, the apparatus may further comprise spacers that are positioned so as to provide spatial separation between the second ceiling and the structural ceiling. The apparatus as recited in claim  13 , wherein the spatial separation between the second ceiling and the structural ceiling is between approximately half an inch and approximately one inch. 
         [0038]    According to further embodiments of the invention, the second ceiling may comprise material that, relative to other construction materials, is inexpensive. The second ceiling may comprise material that, relative to other construction materials, is lightweight. The second ceiling may comprise plastic. 
         [0039]    Embodiments of the invention provide the advantage that they enable to user to avoid the potentially unpleasant experience of having cold air directed at his or her face as frequently happens with standard air conditioning systems. A second advantage is that embodiments of the invention provide a system and apparatus that is likely to be less expensive than current systems. A third advantage is that embodiments of the invention provides a system and apparatus that is likely to use less energy than current systems. 
         [0040]    While the above representative embodiments have been described with certain components in exemplary configurations, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that other representative embodiments can be implemented using different configurations and/or different components. There may be many variations to these components without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the order and connections of certain components can be altered without substantially impairing the functioning of the invention. For example, the valve may be comprised in the air conditioner. For example the valve may be comprised in the second ceiling. 
         [0041]    The representative embodiments and disclosed subject matter, which have been described in detail herein, have been presented by way of example and illustration and not by way of limitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form and details of the described embodiments resulting in equivalent embodiments that remain within the scope of the appended claims.