Patent Publication Number: US-2016231018-A1

Title: System for lowering and raising a hvac air vent

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a system that lowers an air vent in a typical HVAC system to allow access thereto. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     HVAC systems in both commercial and residential buildings include a system of ducts that allow the flow of air in and out of the rooms of the particular building or residence. The duct system is a network of ducts that extend through the ceilings and interior walls of the building. The duct system usually includes outlets that allow for the flow of air into the rooms of the building. Further a return duct is usually supplied that returns air from a particular room or area within the building. Typically the return duct includes a filter that must be maintained over a course of time. Normally this return duct is in the ceiling and requires a user to use a ladder or step stool in order to gain access to the vent and perform the maintenance related to the air filter. As a consequence, it would be advantageous to have a system wherein that this return air vent could actually be lowered to avoid the necessity of using a ladder or step stool to gain access to the filter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a system for lowering an air vent comprising: a reel; a cable system attached to the reel; and an air vent engaged at the end of the cable system, where the reel and the cable system enable a vertical adjustment of the air vent. Preferably, the air vent may seal a return air duct, where the air vent is with a frame opening of a ceiling. Further, the air vent may include a removable filter and is connected to a HVAC system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a system for lowering and elevating an air vent in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an alternative system for lowering and elevating an air vent in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to a system that lowers a return air vent to allow access to the return air vent in a HVAC system. The system according to the present invention includes a reel that is installed in the duct system of the HVA system above the return air vent. The reel includes a cabling system that attaches to the vent that covers the return air opening. This cable system allows the user to lower the vent that encloses the filter on the return air vent. Once this vent is lowered the user may easily gain access to the filter for maintenance purposes. Once maintenance is complete the system returns the vent into a sealed position over the opening of the return air duct. 
     In reference to  FIG. 1 , a system that lowers a HVAC vent according to present invention is depicted. The system includes a reel  10  that is powered by a motor, not shown, that turns and releases cables attached to a vent  30 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the Vent  30  is in a lowered position extending from cables  22   a,    22   b  on each side of the vent  30 . At least two cables are contemplated for use in this system. These cables wrap around the reel  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . A duct  15  is shown as the return air duct that is sealed by the vent  30 . Within the vent  30  is a filter  32  that may be removed by a user. Further shown in  FIG. 1 , is a frame opening  20  that provides the opening for the return air duct  15 . During use the motor is activated that revolves the reel  10  to either lower cables  22   a,    22   b  or alternatively retract the cables  22   a,    22   b  to seal the opening of the return air duct  15 . 
     An alternative embodiment of the present invention is depicted in  FIG. 2  where the return air vent  15  is provided on a angled ceiling as shown with the angled frame  25 . This system of the present invention allows for the lowering of the vent  30  which contains filter  32  however once these cables  22   a,    22   b  are retracted the vent  30  seals off the angled opening provided in the frame  25 . 
     The present invention therefore provides a unique and effective means to vertically adjust an air vent in the ceiling of a HVAC system. This system therefore alleviates the necessity for ladders or step stools in order to access filters within the return air duct systems. The instant invention has been shown and described in what it considers to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made there from within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. The instant invention has been shown and described in what it considers to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made there from within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.