Abstract:
An improved diffuser connectable to a duct of a ventilation system has a diffuser body, a collar extending outwardly away from the diffuser body, and a conduit slideably mounted in the collar. The conduit is slideably extendable from a retracted configuration, wherein substantially all of the conduit is enclosed in the diffuser body and the collar, into at least one extended position wherein at least a portion of the conduit is extended out of the retracted configuration away from the diffuser body and out of the collar for connection to the duct. Thus, the diffuser may be compactly stored for transport in the retracted position and then extended for attachment to the duct in the extended configuration. A retaining member on the conduit prevents the conduit from being involuntarily retracted back into the retracted configuration. A conduit for attachment to a diffuser is also provided.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Benefit of U.S. Provisional application for patent Ser. No. 60/929,366, filed on Jun. 25, 2007, is hereby claimed. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to diffusers for air ventilation systems and methods, and is particularly concerned with a diffuser for connection to a ventilation system and a conduit therefore. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Diffusers for ventilation systems are well known in the art. Such diffusers are generally connected to ventilation ducts, in suspension therefrom, of a ventilation system by connecting a collar of the diffuser, which extends away from a diffuser body thereof, to the ventilation duct using a connector such as a clamp or the like. While diffusers may be directly connected in this fashion to the ventilation ducts, typically, most diffusers are connected by connecting a flexible duct to the collar and to the ventilation duct, again using a connector such a clamp or the like. 
         [0004]    Unfortunately, the size of most collars for conventional diffusers is such that the collar does not extend or protrude sufficiently from the diffuser body to allow for easy connection of the collar to the ventilation duct or flexible duct. This problem may be addressed by simply making the collar longer or by connecting a conduit thereto and then connecting the conduit to the ventilation duct or the flexible duct. However, simply increasing the length of the collar, including connecting a conduit thereto, results in the diffuser, along with the conduit, to occupy additional volume, which may reduce the number of diffusers that may be stored in a container, increasing both storage and transport costs. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved diffuser for connection to a ventilation system and conduit therefor. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved diffuser for connection to a ventilation system and conduit therefor. 
         [0007]    An advantage of the present invention is that the diffuser can be easily connected to the ventilation system by extending the collar with the conduit. 
         [0008]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the conduit can be retracted within the diffuser collar and body to facilitate storage thereof. 
         [0009]    A further advantage of the present invention is that the number of diffusers, including the conduit, storable in a space is maximized. 
         [0010]    Still another advantage of the present invention is that the storage and transport costs of the diffuser with the conduit are minimized. 
         [0011]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the conduit can be connected to the collar, or conduit end portion, of any other equipment. 
         [0012]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a diffuser connectable to a duct of a ventilation system, the diffuser comprising:
       a diffuser body;   a collar extending outwardly away from the diffuser body; and   a conduit slideably mounted in the collar, the conduit being slideably extendable from a retracted configuration, wherein substantially all of the conduit is enclosed in the diffuser body and the collar, into at least one extended position wherein at least a portion of the conduit is extended out of the retracted configuration away from the diffuser body and out of the collar for connection to the duct.       
 
         [0016]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conduit for connecting a diffuser to a duct of a ventilation system, the diffuser having a diffuser body and a collar protruding outwardly away therefrom, the conduit having at least one retaining member protruding outwardly away therefrom, the conduit being configured to be slideably mounted in the collar for slideable extension therethrough from a retracted configuration, wherein substantially all of the conduit is enclosed in the diffuser and the collar, into at least one extended configuration wherein at least a portion of the conduit is extended out of the retracted configuration away from the diffuser body and out of the collar for connection to the duct, the retaining member protruding outwardly beyond the collar in the extended configuration to prevent sliding of the conduit therethrough back towards the retracted configuration. 
         [0017]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the description in association with the following Figures, in which similar references used in different Figures denote similar components, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a diffuser having a slideable conduit for attachment to a duct, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a side-sectional view of the diffuser shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the conduit in a retracted position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a side-sectional view of the diffuser shown in  FIG. 1 , taken along line  3 - 3  thereof, showing the conduit in an extended configuration; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of zone  4  of  FIG. 1 , showing a retaining member of the conduit. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and by no means as of limitation. 
         [0024]    The invention is now described in general terms with regard to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a diffuser, shown generally as  10 , for connection to a ventilation duct  12  of a ventilation system, not shown, preferably with a flexible duct  14 , well known in the art, connected to the ventilation duct  12 . The flexible duct  14  is releasably connectable to a conduit  16  slideably mountable in a mouth  18  of a collar  20  of the diffuser  10 , which protrude outwardly away from a diffuser body  22  of the diffuser  10 , with a clamp, not shown, or other means well known in the art. Thus, the diffuser  10  is releasably connected to the ventilation duct  12 , and typically suspended therefrom, by the flexible duct  14  connected to the conduit  16  which forms an extension to the collar  20 , as opposed to conventional diffusers which are connected to the ventilation duct  12  by connection of the flexible duct  14  to the collar  20  alone. Accordingly, the conduit  16 , advantageously, provides a slideable extension to the collar  20  and thereby provides additional space for connecting the flexible duct  14  to the diffuser  10 , thus facilitating the connection. The connection is particularly facilitated, and the extra space particularly useful, in situations where the collar side of the diffuser body  22  is covered with insulation prior to connection to the flexible duct  14 , in which case the collar  20  is not of sufficient length to connect it easily to the flexible duct  14 . The diffuser body  22  is typically situated in a room or space for which the ventilation system is deployed, with air flowing between the space and the ventilation duct  12  via the diffuser body  22 , collar  20 , conduit  16 , and flexible duct  14 . If desired, however, the conduit  16  could also be connected directly to the ventilation duct  12 , again with a clamp or other ventilation duct connector known in the art. In this case, there would be no need for the flexible duct  14 . 
         [0025]    To better explain the features of the conduit  16  and diffuser  10 , reference is now made to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the conduit  16  is slideably mounted in the diffuser collar  20 , more specifically in the mouth  18  at the free end  34 . The conduit  16  has generally opposed longitudinal first end  24   a  and second end  24   b , and each end  24  has a protruding end lip  30  which protrudes outwardly away from the exterior conduit surface  26  of the conduit  14 . The collar  20  has a collar lip  32 , defining the mouth  18 , at the free end  34  thereof and which protrudes inwardly away from the exterior collar surface  36 , i.e. towards the interior collar surface  28  and the conduit  16  when mounted in the collar  20 . 
         [0026]    The conduit  16  is configured, i.e. sized and shaped, such that when the conduit  16  is mounted in the collar  20 , the conduit  16  is slideable therein with the exterior conduit surface  26  of the conduit  16  proximally adjacent the interior collar surface  28  of the collar  20  and, preferably, with the collar lip  32  in abutting contact with the exterior conduit surface  26 . At the same time, the first end lip  30   a  and second end lip  30   b  are configured, i.e. sized and shaped, to protrude beyond, i.e. to overlap, the collar lip  32  when the conduit  16  is mounted in the collar  20 . This ensures that, when first end  24   a  of conduit  16  is slid towards the mouth  18  and the collar  20 , the first end lip  30   a  on first end  24   a  cannot be slid beyond the collar lip  32  into mouth  18  as the first end lip  30   a  will come into retaining abutting contact with the collar lip  32  when the conduit  16  is in a retracted configuration, shown generally as  38  in  FIG. 2 , in which the first end  24   a  is abuttingly proximally adjacent the collar lip  32 . This abutting function can be alternatively achieved by any other stop mechanism, e.g. the second end lip  30   b  abutting against an internal part of the diffuser  10 . Similarly, when the first end  24   a  of conduit is  14  is slid away from mouth  18  to extend the conduit  16  out of the collar  20  through the mouth  18  into an extended configuration, shown generally as  40  in  FIG. 3 , in which the second end  24   b  is situated proximal, and preferably abuttingly adjacent, the collar lip  32  compared to the first end  24   a , the second end lip  30   b  cannot be slid beyond collar lip  32  as second end lip  30   b  will be in retaining abutting contact with the collar lip  32 . Accordingly, the conduit  16 , collar lip  32  and end lips  30  advantageously inhibit the conduit  16  from being accidentally disconnected, i.e. detached, from the diffuser  10  once mounted in the collar  20 . 
         [0027]    To prevent the second end  24   b  from sliding back into the collar  20 , i.e. away from the collar lip  32 , through the mouth  18  when the conduit is in the extended configuration  40 , the conduit  10  has at least one retaining member  42 . The retaining member  42  is angled towards the second end  24   b , i.e. away from the first end  24   a , and protrudes outwardly away from the exterior conduit surface  26  at sufficient length to ensure that, if the second end  24   b  is slid away from the mouth  18  when the conduit  16  is in the extended configuration  40 , the retaining member  42  will abut the collar lip  32  and prevent further movement of the conduit  16 , and notably second end  24   b , into the collar  20  and the diffuser body  22 , thus retaining the conduit  16  in the extended configuration  40 . Thus, when the conduit  16  is slid into extended configuration  40 , the conduit  16  is retained therein by retaining member  42  while advantageously providing additional space for connecting the diffuser  10  to the flexible duct  14  or the ventilation duct  12 . 
         [0028]    There may be, and preferably are, multiple retaining members  42  on the conduit  16  and which form a retaining member set, shown generally as  44 , of retaining members  42  which are, preferably equally, spaced apart relative one another at substantially the same longitudinal position on the conduit  16  relative the second end  24   b  thereof. For example, if the conduit  16 , mouth  18 , and collar  20  are cylindrically shaped, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the retaining members  42  would be preferably equally circumferentially spaced apart relative one another on the conduit  16 . Further, the retaining member  42  is preferably situated proximally adjacent the second end lip  30   b  and spaced apart at a distance equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the collar lip  32 , such that the collar lip  32  is snuggly retained between the second end lip  30   b  and the retaining member  42 . Thus, preferably, when the conduit  16  is in the extended configuration  38 , substantially all of the conduit  16  extends outwardly away from the collar  20  through the mouth  18 . However, although not shown, there could also be multiple retaining members  42 , or multiple retaining members sets  44 , situated at different respective longitudinal positions relative the second end  24   b . In this case, the conduit could be slideable into one of multiple extended configurations on the conduit  16 , each extended configuration corresponding to the respective longitudinal position of the retaining member  44  therefor relative the second end  24   b.    
         [0029]    Preferably, the conduit  16  is further configured, with regard to the length thereof between first and second ends  24   a ,  24   b  thereof, such that when the conduit  16  is in the retracted configuration  42  with the first end  24   a  proximal the collar lip  32 , the second end  24   b , and thus almost all of the conduit  16 , is enclosed by the collar  20  and the diffuser body  22 . Accordingly, the diffuser  10  with the conduit  14  mounted therein does not, when the conduit is in retracted configuration  38 , occupy more volume than the diffuser  10  would occupy if the conduit  16  were not installed therein. This facilitates storage of the diffuser  10  with the conduit  16  mounted therein and, advantageously, maximizes the amount of diffusers  10  with conduits  16  mounted therein that may stored, for example by stacking the diffusers  10  one on top of the other, in a given space. Advantageously, this also increases the amount of diffusers  10  with the conduit  16  mounted therein that can be transported at any one time within a container, not shown, which may facilitate distribution and reduce transportation cost thereof. 
         [0030]    The diffuser  10  and conduit  16  are preferably made of a rigid material, such as metal or the like. However, if desired the conduit  16  could also be made of a resilient and/or flexible material. Similarly, provided they provide enough resistance to maintain the conduit  16  in the collar  20  and in the retracted and extended configurations  38 ,  40 , the lips  30 ,  32  could be made of a resilient material. Additionally, the conduit  16  could, if desired, be distributed or sold separately from the diffuser  10  and subsequently slideably mounted therein, provided the conduit  10 , lips  30 ,  32 , collar  20 , and mouth  18  are configured as described above. 
         [0031]    Although the present diffuser  10  and conduit  16  have been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinabove described.