Patent Publication Number: US-2021164681-A1

Title: Programmable vent

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/974,477 which was filed on Dec. 2, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A programmable vent system is provided. The programmable vent system may have at least one vent unit and at least one central housing unit. The programmable vent system may allow a user to individually monitor and control the at least one air vent located within a building or home. Each programmable vent may be controlled via a wireless communication, such as a remote control, a Bluetooth device or may be controlled wirelessly through a cell phone signal. The present programmable vent system may increase the efficiency of energy within the building or home by directing hot or cool air only to proper areas within the building or home. 
     Programmable appliances and home electronics are well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,876 to Linde discloses a programmable remote-control motion vent outlet having an air vent arrangement and a control device. The air vent arrangement includes a ventilating guide adapted for mounting at a ventilating air outlet, wherein the ventilating guide has a ventilating slot for guiding an airflow passing from the ventilating air outlet to outside, a plurality of vent blades rotatably mounted to the ventilating guide for selectively allowing the airflow passing through the ventilating slot. The control device is adapted for remotely switching the vent blades between an air passage position and an air blockage position. In which, at the air passage position, the vent blades are rotated to open the ventilating slot respectively for allowing the airflow passing therethrough, and at the air blockage position, the vent blades are rotated to close the ventilating slot respectively for blocking the airflow passing through. 
     Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,518 to Kline discloses an apparatus and process for individually adjusting temperature set points of a plurality of VAV devices ( 27 ,  29 ) in an HVAC system. The process includes the step of coupling each of a plurality of computers ( 34 ) located in a plurality of offices or spaces ( 22 ) for input of a temperature set point signal. The computers ( 34 ) are coupled to the VAV devices ( 27 ,  29 ) such that a selected computer will input or adjust the temperature set point of only VAV devices ( 27 ,  29 ) located in the same space ( 22 ) as the computer ( 34 ). Such coupling can be accomplished through direct electrical connections ( 33 ), transmitted signals ( 37 ,  38 ), or the use of computer networks ( 36 ,  42 ) which are connected to the VAV devices ( 27 ,  29 ) directly or through the building HVAC control network ( 32 ). In the preferred form, the computers ( 34 ) are also capable of retrieving the current set point from the VAV device ( 27 ,  29 ), displaying it on the computer display screen and thereafter adjusting the temperature, for example, by using graphical display software. 
     However, these patents fail to describe a programmable vent system which is easy to use as described herein by the present programmable vent system. Further, these patents fail to provide for a programmable vent system which allows a user to control the air flow through a home or building in a quick and energy efficient manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A programmable vent system is provided. The programmable vent system may have at least one vent unit and at least one central housing unit. The programmable vent system may allow a user to individually monitor and control the at least one air vent located within a building or home. Each programmable vent may be controlled via a wireless communication, such as a remote control, a Bluetooth device or may be controlled wirelessly through a cell phone signal. The present programmable vent system may increase the efficiency of energy within the building or home by directing hot or cool air only to proper areas within the building or home. 
     An advantage of the present programmable vent system is that the present programmable vent system increases energy efficiency within a house or building by, for example, restricting the movement of cool or hot air only to occupied rooms. 
     And another advantage of the present programmable vent system is that the present programmable vent system may be controlled by a remote control or through a wireless Internet connection or cell phone. 
     Yet another advantage of the present programmable vent system is that the present programmable vent system may be used in connection with multiple vents within the home or building. 
     Still another advantage of the present programmable vent system is that the present programmable vent system may have a self-contained battery. 
     And still another advantage of the present programmable vent system is that the present programmable vent system may allow a user to control a vent which is difficult to for a person to reach which may be located on, for example, a vaulted ceiling. 
     And another advantage of the present programmable vent system is that the present programmable vent system allows a vent unit to be used automatically with, or manually without, a central housing unit. 
     For a more complete understanding of the above listed features and advantages of the present programmable vent system reference should be made to the detailed description and the drawings. Further, additional features and advantages of the invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of the programmable vent system wherein a central housing unit is shown transparent for illustrative purposes and wherein a remote is illustrated and wherein the central housing unit is secured to the vent unit. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a detailed view of the central housing unit in one embodiment wherein a display screen of the central housing unit is visible. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an interior view of the central housing unit of the programmable vent in one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the servo and lever of the central housing unit wherein the lever is in the first orientation (or “open” orientation) with respect to the vent unit. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the servo and lever of the central housing unit wherein the lever is partially in the second orientation (or “closed” orientation) with respect to the vent unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A programmable vent system is provided. The programmable vent system may have at least one vent unit and at least one central housing unit. The programmable vent system may allow a user to individually monitor and control the at least one air vent located within a building or home. Each programmable vent may be controlled via a wireless communication, such as a remote control, a Bluetooth device or may be controlled wirelessly through a cell phone signal. The present programmable vent system may increase the efficiency of energy within the building or home by directing hot or cool air only to proper areas within the building or home. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a programmable vent system  1  is provided. The programmable vent system  1  may have a vent unit  10 , a central housing unit  50  and a control unit  100 . In an embodiment, the vent unit  10  may be made largely of metal, plastic or other suitable and durable material. The vent unit  10  may have a top  11 , a bottom  12  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), a first side  13 , a second side  14 , a front  15  and a back  16 . 
     The vent unit  10  may be temporarily or permanently secured to an HVAC opening (not shown) in a wall, ceiling or floor of the home or building. 
     The top  11  of the vent unit  10  may be comprised of a first frame and the bottom  12  of the vent unit  10  may be comprised of a second frame. In an embodiment, the second frame (the “bottom unit”  12 ) may move with respect to the first frame (the top unit  11 ). More specifically, the bottom frame may move from a first orientation (FIG.  4 ) to a second orientation ( FIG. 5  illustrates the second frame in the process of completely closing, but still partially open). In the first orientation, the vent is “open” and in the second orientation the vent is “closed” or “partially closed.” It should be understood that the second frame may completely cover the openings  18  of the first frame so that no air may pass through the vent. 
     In an embodiment, the central housing unit  50  may have a top  51 , a bottom (not shown), a first side  53 , a second side  54 , a front  54 , a back  55  and an interior  56  ( FIG. 3 ). The interior  56  of the central housing unit  50  may be exposed when the top  51  (or “lid”) is removed or opened. In an embodiment, the electronics of the interior  56  of the central housing unit  50  may be electrically grounded so as to reduce or eliminate electrical shocks. Still further, in an embodiment, the interior  56  of the central housing unit  50  may be moisture/water proof or resistant so as to reduce the chance of an electrical short. In an embodiment, the central housing unit  50  may be temporarily secured to the top  11  (the “first frame unit”) of the vent unit  10  in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In one embodiment, the top  51  of the central housing unit  50  may have a digital display screen  70  wherein the digital display screen  70  may display indicia  75  such as, for example, the date, the time, the temperature and on/off times for the vent to open or close. In an embodiment, the interior  56  of the central housing unit  50  may have at least a servo motor  80 , a power source such as a battery  81  and a micro controller  82 . The servo  80  may be powered by the battery  81  in one embodiment, but may also be powered by alternating current in an embodiment. The servo  80  may be mechanically connected to a lever  85  as described below. In an embodiment, buttons  125  may be located on the central housing unit  50  to allow a user to additionally program the central housing unit  50  directly from the central processing unit  50  (as opposed to using the remote  100 ). 
     In an embodiment, the top  11  of the vent (the “first frame” unit) may have a plurality of slots or openings  18  that allow the passage of air.  FIG. 1  illustrates twelve rectangular slots or openings  18 ; however, a greater or fewer number of slots or openings  18  may be used in connection with the present programmable vent system  1 . Further, the shape of the slots or openings  18  may vary from the slots/openings  18  shown in the illustrations. 
     The bottom  12  (or “second frame” unit) may also have a plurality of slots or openings  19  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). Ideally, the slots or openings  19  of the second frame unit are similar to the slots or openings  18  of the first frame unit. While the top unit  11  of the vent  10  remains stationary, the bottom  12  (second frame unit) may move with respect to the top  11  (first frame unit). When the slots or openings  18 ,  19  of the top  11  and bottom  12  are aligned as shown in  FIG. 4 , air may free flow through the vent  1  to cool or heat a room. When the bottom  12  (the second frame unit) moves to the second orientation with respect to the top unit  11 , the slots or openings  18  of the top unit  11  may become either partially or completely obstructed by a portion of the actual frame of the bottom  12  (the second frame unit) so that the air flow is either partially obstructed or completely obstructed from passing through the vent  10 .  FIG. 5  shows the second frame unit partially blocking the openings  18  of the first frame unit  11 . 
     In an embodiment, the bottom unit  12  (second frame unit) may have a vertically extending rod  30 . Preferably, the vertically extending rod  30  is perpendicular with respect to the bottom unit  12 . The vertically extending rod  30  may be received within an opening  86  of a lever  85  of the central housing unit  50 . More specifically, the lever  85  of the central housing unit  50  may partially surround the vertically extending rod  30  and may physically move the extending rod  30  (and therefore the entire bottom unit  12 ) when the servo  80  moves the lever  85 . Preferably, the servo  80  requires low torque so that the overall energy consumption of the programmable vent system  1  is rather low. 
     In an embodiment (as described below), a user may completely remove the central housing unit  50  from the vent  10  and may still control the vent unit  10  by manually moving the vertically extending rod  30  with his/her hand. Therefore, the vent unit  10  may be operated manually when the central housing unit  50  is completely removed from the vent unit  10  or, electively, the vent unit  10  may be controlled automatically by placing the central housing unit  50  on top of the vent unit  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . As a result, the vent  10  may still be controlled even if the central housing unit  50  fails or the battery is depleted. 
     In an embodiment, the central housing unit  50  is easily removable from the vent unit  10  so that the central housing unit  50  may be replaced and/or repaired without needing to remove the entire vent unit  10  from the vent&#39;s location on the wall, floor or ceiling. As a result, a user may easily swap out a first central housing unit  50  for an alternative, yet working central housing unit  50 . 
     In an embodiment, a remote  100  may be used to operate and/or program the programmable vent system  1 . The remote  100  may be a stand alone remote or may be a cell phone which sends a signal to the central housing unit  50 , by, for example, the Internet. In the embodiment wherein the remote unit  100  is a cell phone, a user may program and/or operate the programmable vent system  1  from a location outside of the house or building, for example, from miles away on vacation. In one embodiment, the programmable vent system  1  may be automatically programmed to, for example, open or close if the room temperature exceeds a preprogrammed temperature range which may be, for example, over 110 degrees or under 55 degrees. Further, a single remote  100  may be used to program multiple vents  10  with either the same on/off schedule or with different on/off schedules. 
     In an embodiment, at least the bottom of the central housing unit  50  is at least partially magnetic so that it can be attracted to the top  11  of the vent unit  10  (which may also be magnetic). As a result, the central housing unit  50  may remain secured to the vent unit  10  even when the vent unit  10  is vertically secured to a wall or hanging upside-down from a ceiling without the need for screws or other securing devices. 
     In an embodiment, the central housing unit  50  may be programmed to automatically open the vent  10  if the battery of the central housing unit  50  falls below 5%. Further, in an embodiment, the central housing unit  50  may send a wireless signal to the remote  100  or to a computer to alert a user if the battery of the central housing unit  50  drops below 5%. 
     Although embodiments of the invention are shown and described therein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.