Patent ID: 7594518

Claim:
A vane system for use in a corner in a duct in a HVAC assembly to direct a flow of air through the corner, the vane system comprising (a) a plurality of unitary vanes ( 25 ) each including (i) at least one arcuate wall with a pair of spaced apart generally parallel sides, (ii) an upper end, (iii) a lower end, said sides extending between said upper and lower ends, (iv) at least one rib ( 38 ) intermediate said sides, attached to said arcuate wall, extending intermediate said ends generally parallel to said sides, and including a plurality of spaced apart apertures ( 41 ) each with a top and a bottom ( 85 ), adjacent said wall, formed through said rib, stacked one on top of the other extending in a direction generally parallel to said sides of said vane, and opening in a direction generally perpendicular to said sides; (b) a first runner ( 30 ) connected to said upper ends of said vanes and extending generally perpendicular to said sides and rib: (c) a plurality of tongues ( 34 ) connected to, outwardly extending from, and generally perpendicular to said first runner, each of said tongues (i) extending along and generally parallel to said sides and said rib of a different one of said vanes, (ii) having at least one outwardly projecting tooth ( 37 ) extending In a direction transverse and generally perpendicular to said sides and said rib of said vane, and through and interlocked with one of said apertures in said rib of said vane; and, (d) a second runner connected to said lower ends of said vanes and extending generally perpendicular to said sides and rib.