Patent Publication Number: US-2021162323-A1

Title: Filter lock

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a filter lock for securing a filter to a filter support frame. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, filter support frames are provided with a support edge for supporting a filter arranged in place such that the filter may filter a fluid flow, for instance an air flow. Further, filter support frames are often provided with an inner frame edge extending parallel with the support edge and at a distance from said support edge. 
     As fluid passes the filter, the filter arranged in place will collect impurities in the fluid flow and consequently purify the fluid flow. Over time, as the filter collects more and more impurities, the fluid flow through the filter is reduced due to the filter becoming clogged. Hence, the filter must be exchanged for a new filter, or cleaned if the filter in use is reusable. This poses a problem, as filters are conventionally arranged fixedly to a filter support frame using screws, leading to considerable filter detaching and filter reattaching times, consequently amounting to considerable installation costs. 
     Hence, there is a need for an improved arrangement for securing a filter to a filter support frame, which arrangement allows for facilitated detachment and attachment of a filter to a corresponding filter support frame. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved solution that alleviates the mentioned drawbacks with present solutions. Furthermore, it is an object to provide a filter lock for securing a filter to a filter support frame that facilitates detachment and attachment of a filter to a corresponding filter support frame. The invention is defined by the appended independent claims, with embodiments being set forth in the appended dependent claims, in the following description and in the drawings. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, a filter lock for securing a filter to a filter support frame is provided. The filter lock comprises a supporting member, and a rotating member rotatably arranged to the supporting member about a rotational axis, the rotating member comprising a first rim surface and a second rim surface, wherein the filter lock is configured to be arranged to a filter support frame supporting a filter such that the rotating member is rotatable between a secured position, at which position the first rim surface of the rotating member is, when in use, facing the filter such that said filter is secured to the filter support frame, and a fully open position, at which position the second rim surface of the rotating member is, when in use, facing the filter. The filter lock is releasably removable from said filter support frame when in the fully open position. 
     The filter may be fixed relative to the filter support frame when the filter lock is in the secured position, and may be removed from the filter support frame when the filter lock is in the fully open position. The filter lock may, when the rotating member is in a secured position, secure and lock the filter in place to the filter support frame. An advantage of such a filter lock may be a facilitated detachment and attachment of a filter to a corresponding filter support frame. By arranging the filter lock to a filter support frame such that a portion of a top surface of the supporting member abuts an inner frame edge of a filter support frame, the rotating member may rotate into the secure position, at which position the filter is clamped in place between the filter lock and the support edge. Said clamping may be sufficient to secure the filter in place to the filter support frame. The filter may hence be secured in place by a single rotation of the rotating member of the filter lock. 
     The supporting member may have a bottom surface. The bottom surface may, when in use, face the filter. When the rotating member is in the open position, the second rim surface may extend in a plane that coincide with the plane of the supporting member bottom surface, or is offset from the plane of the supporting member bottom surface. The second rim surface may in the open position be offset in a direction into the supporting member, which direction may also be described as a direction away from the filter when in use. In the open position, the second rim surface may be substantially in parallel with the supporting member bottom surface. When the rotating member is in the secured position, the first rim surface may extend in a plane that is offset from the plane of the supporting member bottom surface in a direction away from the supporting member. Said direction may also be described as towards the filter when in use. In the secured position, the first rim surface may be in parallel with the supporting member bottom surface. 
     Further, the filter lock may be configured to be arranged to the filter support frame without using any screws or equivalent fastening elements. The filter lock may be held in place securely as the rotating member clamps the filter in place, which consequently pushes said top surface portion in abutment with the inner frame edge. However, the filter lock may be configured to be attached fixedly using screws or similar components. The supporting member may comprise holes for receiving screws to hold the supporting member fixed relative the filter support member. The filter lock may be configured such that the supporting member does not need to be removed from the filter support frame when the clamped filter needs to be exchanged or cleaned. The filter lock may be configured such that a filter is removable from the filter support frame when the rotating member is moved into a fully open position. 
     Further, a plurality of filter locks may be arranged along inner walls of a filter support frame to clamp a filter in place to a filter support frame. Having a plurality of filter locks may improve the clamping effect on the filter. By having a plurality of filter locks arranged to the filter support frame to secure the filter in place, it may further ensure that the filter is arranged securely to the filter support frame. 
     Further, the pressing of the rotating member onto the filter does not necessarily require that the rotating member and the filter is in direct contact. For instance, a cover may be arranged in between the filter and the filter lock. Then, when the rotating member of the filter lock is rotated into a secured position, the rotating member will press onto the cover, which consequently presses onto the filter. Hence, the filter lock may still secure a filter in place even when a cover is arranged in between said filter and filter lock. 
     By the filter lock being releasably removable from said filter support frame when in the fully open position it may be meant that the filter lock is releasably removable from said filter support frame only when in fully open position, and not in the closed position. Further, the filter lock may be secured to a filter support frame when in the closed position. 
     According to one embodiment, the supporting member may comprise an abutting surface connecting a top surface and a bottom surface of the supporting member, and the filter lock may be configured to be arranged to the filter support frame supporting the filter such that the abutting surface abuts the filter support frame, and the bottom surface faces the filter. 
     An advantage of said abutting surface is that the filter lock may be more adapted to secure the filter to the filter support frame. When rotating the rotating member into engagement with the filter, the supporting member consequently presses onto the filter support frame and is pressed away from the filter. The abutting surface may be configured to provide the filter lock with support to counteract this effect. The abutting surface may be arranged on an abutting side, which abutting side comprises at least one recess. The abutting surface may extend around said at least one recess. The abutting surface may extend along the border of said abutting side of the filter lock abutting the filter support frame when arranged thereto. Further, the abutting surface may have such a shape to improve abutment area to the filter support frame it is intended to be arranged to. The abutting surface may for instance be substantially planar. The abutting surface may also be curved, such curved to match the curvature of a curved filter support frame. 
     According to a further embodiment, the supporting member may comprise a protruding element configured to engage with a frame edge of the filter support frame. 
     An advantage of the above embodiment may be to improve engagement of the filter lock with the filter support frame. The protruding element may be configured to engage with an inner frame at least extending outward from an inner wall of the filter support frame, and then at least extending in a direction parallel to the inner wall of the filter support frame, toward the location at which a filter is to be arranged. Such an inner frame edge may have a cross section being substantially L-shaped, which allows for the protruding element to engage with said inner frame edge by having the filter lock arranged such that the protruding element is inserted in the gap formed by the inner frame edge and the inner wall of the filter support frame. The protruding element may comprise a top surface being substantially planar so as to increase the contact surface between the protruding element and the bottom surface of the L-shaped inner frame edge, the bottom surface in said gap. The protruding element may have a thickness substantially equal that of the width of the gap formed by the inner frame edge and the inner wall of the filter support edge. By having such a protruding element, the filter lock may provide an enhanced clamping effect acting on the filter and further secure the filter to the filter support frame. 
     According to a further embodiment, the protruding element may protrude from a top surface of the supporting member. The top surface of the supporting member may be a surface facing away from the filter when the filter lock is in use in a filter support frame. By having the protruding element protruding from the top surface, an advantage of the above embodiment is that the protruding element may more readily engage with an inner frame edge. A further advantage of the above embodiment is that the protruding element and the supporting member may be manufactured as a solid component. This may reduce manufacturing cost of the filter lock. 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the first rim surface of the rotating member may be substantially planar. 
     An advantage of the above embodiment is that the first rim surface may distribute the contact force between the rotating member and the filter over a larger area. This may reduce the risk of the filter breaking due to the applied force of the rotating member as it is rotated into a secured position. 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the second rim surface of the rotating member may be substantially planar, and may be arranged substantially perpendicular relative to the first rim surface. 
     An advantage of the above embodiment is that the gap between the filter and the second rim surface, when the rotating is in a fully open position, is increased. This may facilitate the filter to be removed from the filter support frame when the rotating member of the filter lock is in a fully open position. 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a corner connecting the first rim surface and the second rim surface may be curved. 
     An advantage of the above embodiment is that the rotating member may more easily be rotated between the secured position and the fully open position when making contact with the filter, or a cover arranged in between the filter lock and the filter. Further, the resulting contact force acting between the filter lock and the corresponding contacted surface may be distributed more favorably, thereby improving durability of the filter lock and the filter contact is being made. 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the first rim surface transitions into the corner at an offset with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the first rim surface of the rotating member and which plane coincides with the rotational axis. 
     An advantage of the above embodiment is a resulting self-locking functionality of the rotating member. The rotating member may be prevented from being rotated away from the secured position by interactions with the filter alone. In order for the rotating member to be rotated from the secured position, a force inducing said rotation must overcome the contact force arising from the filter arranged in place. 
     The filter lock may further be designed to enhance the self-locking functionality. This may be accomplished by modifying a depth of the rotating member, the depth being the transversal distance measured from a location at which the rotational axis intersects the rotating member to the first rim surface. By adjusting said depth, the contact force arising between the rotating member and the filter may be adjusted to a desired magnitude. The force magnitude may for instance be based on a peak contact force arising due to air flow through the filter. 
     Further, the self-locking functionality may be further enhanced by modifying the shape of the rotating member. This may be accomplished by modifying a height of the supporting member, the height measured from a portion abutting the inner frame edge of the filter support frame and location at which the rotational axis intersects the supporting member. By adjusting the height, the rotational axis will end up either closer to or further away from the filter when the filter lock is arranged to a filter support frame supporting a filter, thereby consequently impacting the resulting contact force. 
     In one embodiment, a distance between the first rim surface and the rotational axis may be larger than a distance between the second rim surface and the plane which is perpendicular to the first rim surface and that coincides with the rotational axis. 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the filter lock may be configured to be arranged at an inner corner of a filter holding frame, and the supporting member of the filter lock comprises a first protruding element and a second protruding element, wherein each protruding element extends in directions substantially perpendicular to each other, wherein the protruding elements are configured to engage with second inner frame edges arranged on respective sides of said corner. 
     An advantage of the above embodiment is that the filter lock may be more suitable to be arranged in a corner. Hence, only four filter locks may be necessary to secure a filter to a filter support frame, one at each corner. 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the supporting member comprises a first abutting surface and a second abutting surface, said abutting surfaces being substantially planar and arranged mutually perpendicular to one another, said abutting surfaces configured to abut respective sides of said corner. 
     An advantage of the above embodiment is that the filter lock is provided with more suitable surfaces for abutting inner walls of a filter support frame. The planar surfaces may further guide the supporting member to engage with the inner frame edges of a filter support frame. 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the rotating member may comprise a gripping portion. 
     An advantage of the above embodiment is facilitated actuation of a rotation of the rotating member. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, a use of a filter lock to secure a filter to a filter support frame provided. The filter lock may be configured according to any embodiments of the present invention. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, a filter system for filtering a fluid containing impurities is provided. The filter system comprises: a filter support frame comprising a support edge and an inner frame edge; a filter configured to be arranged in said filter support frame in abutment with the support edge, and a filter lock according to any preceding claims configured to be arranged in-between said inner frame edge and the filter to secure the filter to the filter support frame by rotating the rotating member into a secured position. 
     An advantage of such a filter system is that the filter may be more easily detached and attached to said filter support frame. The filter lock in said filter system may be configured according to any embodiments disclosed previously. The filter system may comprise a plurality of such filter locks to improve clamping functionality of the filter to the filter support frame. The filter locks may be arranged along any of the inner walls of a filter support frame to clamp the filter in place. The filter locks may be arranged at corners of the filter support frame. 
     Further, the filter lock may not only be suitable to be arranged to filter support frames configured to support filters having a quadratic surface shape. The filter lock may just as well clamp filters having a circular surface shape as well. In fact, the filter lock is not limited to clamp any particular filter shape. It may conveniently be suitable to secure a filter having any shape to a corresponding filter support frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will in the following be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the filter lock according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the filter lock according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the filter lock according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the filter lock according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the filter lock when arranged to secure a filter to a filter support frame according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows a zoomed in perspective view of the filter lock when arranged to secure a filter to a filter support frame according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  show a side view of the filter lock when arranged in a filter support frame having a filter in place according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  show a side view of the filter lock when moved to secure the filter to the filter support frame according to one embodiment of the invention, and 
         FIG. 9  show a side view of the filter lock when securely clamping the filter to the filter support frame according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation. Furthermore, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims. In the description and drawings, like numbers refer to like elements. 
     The present invention relates to a filter lock  1  for securing a filter  50  to a filter holding frame  60 . The filter lock  1  comprises a supporting member  10  and a rotating member  20  rotatably arranged to the supporting member  10  about a rotational axis A, as is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     The supporting member  10  extends in three mutually perpendicular axes: a first axis X, a second axis Y, and a third axis Z. The supporting member  10  comprises a top and a bottom surface  10   a,    10   b,  wherein the bottom surface  10   b  is arranged on an opposite side of the supporting member  10  with respect the top surface  10   a.  Each surface of the top and bottom surface  10   a,    10   b  are arranged substantially parallel to a plane spanned by the first axis X and the second axis Y. The top and bottom surface  10   a,    10   b  are offset relative each other by a distance along the third axis Z. The supporting member further comprises a first abutting surface  10   c  arranged to extend along a side connecting a top side of the filter lock and a bottom side of the filter lock. The top side of the filter lock is the side of the filter lock comprising the top surface  10   a.  The bottom side is the side of the filter lock comprising the bottom surface  10   b.  The supporting member  10  also comprises a second abutting surface  10   c  arranged to extend along a side connecting said top and bottom side of the filter lock. 
     The supporting member  10  further comprises an axle slot  15  extending in a direction parallel to the first axis X and extending through each supporting member portion. The axle slot  15  is configured to tightly hold a cylindrical axle  25  in place while allowing said cylindrical axle to rotate. The axle slot  15  is configured to allow said cylindrical axle  25  to rotate about a rotational axis A. The rotational axis A and the first axis X are mutually parallel. The axle slot  15  is also open to the bottom side. The axle slot  15  is open along its longitudinal extension along axis X. The axle slot  15  is further formed so as to clamp the axle  25  when the axle  25  has been positioned in the axle slot  15 . The axle slot  15 , being open along its extension and providing said clamping, provides that the axle  25  can be snapped into position in the axle slot  15 . 
     The supporting member  10  also comprises a first protruding element  12   a  and a second protruding element  12   b,  each configured to engage with corresponding support edges  63   a,    63   b  of the filter support frame  60 . The protruding elements  12   a ,  12   b  extend in a first direction along the third axis Z from the top surface  10   a,  and extend in mutually perpendicular directions along the top surface  10   a.  The protruding elements  12   a,    12   b  are configured to engage with inner frame edges  63   a,    63   b  arranged on respective sides  61   a,    61   b  of a corner edge of the filter support frame. Each protruding element  12   a,    12   b  comprise a planar surface  13   a,    13   b  to maximize contact area between the protruding elements  12   a,    12   b  to the inner frame edges  63   a,    63   b.    
     The rotating member  20  comprises a first rim surface  21   a  and a second rim surface  21   b.  The first and second rim surfaces  21   a,    21   b  are arranged along a rim side of the rotating member  20 , the rim side being the side connecting a first and a second side of the rotating member through which the rotational axis A extends. The first rim surface  21   a  and the second rim surface  21   b  are arranged substantially perpendicular relative each other. The first rim surface  21   a  and the second rim surface  21   b  are connected to each other via a corner edge  21   c.  A region near the corner edge  21   c  is curved, such that the surface of the corner edge  21   c  connects smoothly with the first rim surface  21   a.  The surface of the corner edge  21   c  may also connect smoothly with the second rim surface  21   b.  The rotating member  20  further comprises a longitudinal axle  25 . The longitudinal axle  25  is configured to be arranged inside the axle slot  15 . The longitudinal axle  25  is cylindrical in shape, and has a substantial circular cross section along the rotational axis A. The slot  15  is cylindrical in shape as well, specifically having a circular cross section along the rotational axis A. The rotating member  20  is configured to rotate relative the supporting member about the rotational axis A. 
     The rotating member  20  also comprises a longitudinal gripping portion  26  extending substantially in a direction perpendicular to the axle  25 . The gripping portion  26  is configured to be gripped by a user. The gripping portion  26  facilitates actuation of a rotation of the rotating member  20 . 
     The filter lock  1  is configured to be arranged to a filter support frame  60  for securing a filter  50  to said filter support frame  60 . In  FIG. 5 , the filter lock  1  is arranged to one inner corner edge of a filter support frame  60 , to abut a first and a second inner wall  61   a,    61   b.  A filter lock  1  may be arranged to each inner corner edge for securing a filter  50  arranged in place of the filter support frame  60 . However, for illustrative purposes, the filter lock  1  is only arranged at one corner, specifically at the inner corner edge enclosed by the circle M. 
       FIG. 6  illustrate a zoomed in portion of the region of  FIG. 5  enclosed by the circle M. The filter lock  1  is arranged at one inner corner edge of the filter support frame  60  such that the rotating member abuts and presses onto the filter  50 . The inner frame edges  63   a,    63   b  provided on each respective side of the inner corner of the filter support frame enables the filter lock, when the rotating member  20  is in a secure position, to push onto the filter and clamping it in place together with the support edge  63 . 
       FIGS. 7-9  further illustrate the working principle of the filter lock. In  FIG. 7 , the filter lock  1  is arranged to an inner wall  61   a  such that the first abutting surface  10   c  of the supporting member abuts said inner wall. The filter lock  1  is further arranged such that the protruding element  12   a  engages with an inner frame edge  63   a.  When the protruding element  12   a  engages with the inner frame edge  63   a,  the rotating member  20  may rotate from a fully open position toward a secured position, shown in  FIG. 9 . As the rotating member  20  rotates from the fully open position to the secured position, the corner edge  21   c  comes in contact with the filter  50 . As the rotating member  20  rotates further in said direction, the corner edge  21   c  presses the filter  50  to move in a negative Z direction as indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 8 . The filter  50  is displaced in the negative Z direction until the filter  50  comes into contact with the support edge  62 . Then, as the rotating member  20  rotates even further, the corner edge  21   c  presses the filter  50  such that it flexes about a plane parallel to the plane spanned by the first axis X and the second axis Y. The corner edge  21   c  is moved along the surface of the filter in a direction parallel to negative Y axis direction. In  FIG. 9 , the rotating member  20  has been rotated into secured position, at which position the first rim surface  21   a  of the rotating member is in contact with the filter  50  and the second rim surface  21   b  faces the inner wall  61   a.  At this position, the rotating member  20  and the support edge  62  clamp the filter in between them, thus securing the filter in place to the filter support frame  60 . Further, the first surface  21   a  of the rotating member is configured to transition into the corner edge surface  21   c  at an offset with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the first surface  21   a  of the rotating member  20  and which plane coincides with the rotational axis A. This offset provides a functionality of a self-locking functionality, such that the filter lock  1  remains locked even when the filter experiences flexing due to drafts. Only by rotating the rotating member  20  from the secured position may the filter be dislocated from the filter support frame. 
     The filter lock, and its respective components, may be manufactured in, for instance plastic, or a metal. The filter lock may also be manufactured in other suitable materials for withstanding stresses potentially occurring in the present application of the described invention. 
     In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.