Patent Abstract:
Method and apparatuses for adjusting the dimensions of the opening of a hood of an air flow measuring device using flaps is provides. Flaps of various configurations and dimensions can be used to adjust the opening of hood to have numerous dimensions at various locations.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to air flow measuring devices and more particularly to adjusting the dimensions of the opening of a hood of an air flow measuring device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an air flow measuring device  100  is used to measure air flow from registers, diffusers and grilles for various reasons such as, to verify air flow distribution, balance buildings, and pinpoint air system deficiencies. Air flow measuring device  100  generally includes a hood  110  and base  120 . The hood  110  channels air to the base  120 . The base  120  includes a measuring device for measuring the air flow and a readout device. 
         [0003]    Air flow is measured using the air flow measuring device  100  by holding and aligning the top of hood  100  against an air flow opening and reading the airflow measurement on the readout device such a digital display. However, air flow openings, such as registers, diffusers, and grills, exist in a variety of sizes. To accurately measure the air flow from an air flow opening, the size of the opening of hood  110  should be as close as possible to the size of the air flow opening. Accordingly, although hood  110  is typically collapsible to fit into a carrying case, because hood  110  is of a fixed size, technicians must carry around numerous hoods of a variety of sizes to take readings for common air flow openings. To measure the air flow of a particular air flow opening, the technician must measure the air flow opening and then select, unfold, and place the correct sized hood  110  (if available) on the base  120  to measure the air flow. Carrying around multiple hoods  110  is bulk and costly, and replacing a hood  110  on a base  120  to match the size of an air flow opening is tedious and time consuming. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Embodiments of the present invention include methods and apparatuses for adjusting the size of an opening of a hood of an air flow measuring device to measure air flow. Methods and apparatuses include placing a first material including at least one flap over an opening of a hood to conceal at least a portion of the opening of the hood and adjusting the at least one flap to create a new opening for the air flow measuring device. In another embodiment, a second material including at least one flap is placed over the first material and the at least one flap of the first material and the at least one flap of the second material are adjusted to create a new opening for the air flow measuring device. 
         [0005]    Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art air flow measuring device. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a flap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 2B and 2C  illustrate exemplary new openings of the hood of the air flow measuring device illustrated in  FIG. 1  that can be achieved using the flap illustrated in  FIG. 2A . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a flap according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3B-3E  illustrate exemplary new openings of the hood of the air flow measuring device illustrated in  FIG. 1  that can be achieved using the flap illustrated in  FIG. 3A . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary new opening of the hood of the air flow measuring device illustrated in  FIG. 1  that can be achieved using the flaps illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 3A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention adjust the size of the opening of a hood  110  based on the size of the air flow opening for which air flow measurements are to be taken. Embodiments of the present invention may reduce the number of hoods needed for air flow measurement or eliminate the need to have multiple hoods. 
         [0013]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a flap  200  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Flap  200  may include multiple flaps of varying widths, for example, flaps  210 ,  220 ,  230 , and  240 . In alternate embodiments, more or less flaps may be provided of the same or varying widths or combinations of thereof. 
         [0014]    Flaps  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240  may include reclosable fasteners such as Velcro or any other fastening technology to secure flaps  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240  in an open or closed position. For example, referring to  FIGS. 2B ,  2 C flap  220  may include Velcro hooks  250  on its underside to attach to Velcro loops  260  on flaps  210 ,  230  and flap  230  may include Velcro hooks  250  on its underside to attach to Velcro loops  260  on flap  240 . In an alternate embodiment, the Velcro hooks and loops may be interchanged. However, reclosable fasteners may be arranged in numerous ways to secure flaps  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240  in an open or closed position. 
         [0015]    Flap  200  may be attached to air flow measuring device  100  by any attachment means such as Velcro or any other attachment technology. In one embodiment, flap  200  may be attached to the hood  110  and can be flipped over the opening of air flow measuring device  100 . Flap  200  may be detachable to or un-detachable from hold  110 . One of ordinary skill in the art would know how to attach flap  200  to air flow measuring device  100 . 
         [0016]      FIGS. 2B and 2C  illustrate exemplary new openings of hood  110  that can be achieved using flap  200 . For example, in an exemplary embodiment, flap  200  may have an overall dimension of 24″×24″. To measure the airflow of an airflow opening measuring 24″×8″, flap  200  is placed over the opening of hood  110  and then flap  220  is pulled back to reveal a 24″×8″ opening  270  as shown in  FIG. 2B . In an open position, flap  220  may drape down the side of air flow measuring device  100 . To measure the airflow of an airflow opening measuring 24″×18″, flaps  220  and  230  may be pulled back to reveal a 24″×18″ opening  280 , as shown in  FIG. 2C . 
         [0017]    Flap  200  may have any number of flaps with any dimensions to achieve any desired number of openings having any desired dimensions. One of ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure would know how to design a flap  200  to achieve a desire number of openings have desired dimensions. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a flap  300  according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Flap  300  may include multiple layers of flaps of varying widths and lengths, where a flap may have an opening of a particular dimension. 
         [0019]    For example, referring to  FIGS. 3A-E  flap  300  may include flaps  310 ,  320 ,  330 ,  340  where flaps  320 ,  330 ,  340  may have openings  320 ′,  330 ′,  340 ′ respectively. In an exemplary embodiment, flap  300  may have an overall dimension of 24″×24″ where flap  320  has a 8″×8″ opening  320 ′; flap  330  has a 12″×12″ opening  330 ′; and flap  340  has a 16″×16″ opening  340 ′. In alternate embodiments, more or less flaps may be provided, which may having openings of varying widths. 
         [0020]    Flaps  310 ,  320 ,  330 ,  340  may include reclosable fasteners such as Velcro or any other fastening technology to secure flaps  310 ,  320 ,  330 ,  340  in an open or closed position. For example, referring to  FIG. 3B , flap  310  may include Velcro hooks  350  on its underside to attach to Velcro loops  360  on flap  320 . Similarly, flaps  320 ,  330 ,  340  also may include Velcro hooks and loops to secure the flaps, as shown in  FIGS. 3C-3E . In an alternate embodiment, the Velcro hooks and loops may be interchanged. However, reclosable fasteners may be arranged in numerous ways to secure flaps  310 ,  320 ,  330 ,  340  in an open or closed position. 
         [0021]    Flap  300  may be attached to air flow measuring device  100  by any attachment means such as Velcro or any other attachment technology. In one embodiment, flap  300  may be attached to the hood  110  and can be flipped over the opening of air flow measuring device  100 . Flap  300  may be detachable to or un-detachable from hold  110 . One of ordinary skill in the art would know how to attach flap  300  to air flow measuring device  100 . 
         [0022]      FIGS. 3B-3E  illustrates exemplary new openings of hood  110  that can be achieved using flap  300 . For example, to measure the airflow of an airflow opening measuring 8″×8″, flap  300  is placed over the opening of hood  110  and then flap  310  is pulled back to reveal a 8″×8″ opening  320 ′, as shown in  FIG. 3B . In an open position, flap  310  may drape down the side of air flow measuring device  100 . To measure the airflow of an airflow opening measuring 12″×12″, flap  320  is pulled back to reveal a 12″×12″ opening  330 ′, as shown in  FIG. 3C . To measure the airflow of an airflow opening measuring 16″×16″, flap  330  is pulled back to reveal a 12″×12″ opening  340 ′, as shown in  FIG. 3D . To measure the airflow of an airflow opening measuring 20″×20″, flap  340  is pulled back to reveal a 20″×20″ opening  370 ′, as shown in  FIG. 3E . 
         [0023]    Flap  300  may have any number of flaps with openings having any dimensions to achieve any desired number of openings having any desired dimensions. One of ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure would know how to design a flap  300  to achieve a desired number of openings have desired dimensions. 
         [0024]    In another exemplary embodiment, flap  200  and flap  300  are used together to adjust the dimensions of the opening of hood  110 .  FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary new opening of hood  110  that can be achieved using flaps  200 ,  300 . For example, flap  300  may be placed over the opening of hold  110  and then flaps  310 ,  320  are pulled back to reveal a 12″×12″ opening  330 ′. Flaps  310 ,  320  may drape down the side of air flow measuring device  100 . Then, to achieve a new opening that may have different dimensions than the dimensions that may be achieved with either flap  200  or  300  alone, flap  200  is placed over top flap  300  and flap  220  may be pulled back, for example, to reveal a portion of opening  330 ′ with flaps  230 ,  340  concealing a portion of opening  330 . 
         [0025]    The combinations of flaps  200 ,  300  may be used to adjust the opening of hood  110  to have numerous dimensions at various locations. 
         [0026]    Flaps  200 ,  300  may be made of any appropriate material to measure airflow. In one embodiment, flaps  200 ,  300  are made of the same material of which hood  110  is made. One of ordinary skill in the art would know which material to use to make flaps  200 ,  300 . 
         [0027]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the forgoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. 
         [0028]    Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in an embodiment” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0029]    Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6