Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority as a non-provisional application of prior filed U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/028,114, filed Feb. 12, 2008 and incorporates this application in its entirety herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of environmental control systems and more particularly relates to a register for heating and cooling systems that actuates when acted upon by gross motor movements, particularly pressure imparting touch. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The introduction of forced air into an environment is a common method of heating or cooling that environment. The principle is simple, air is heated or cooled by an environmental control device, as examples a furnace for heat or an air conditioner for cooling, and that treated air is forced through ducts into an environment. In order to cover the ducts so as to prevent accidental access and direct air flow, registers are used. Registers are in their simplest form duct covers with grates fashioned in them so that air may pass through the register. Typically, a register will have one or more louvers that are adjustable by a user so as to further control air flow into the environment. Typically these louvers are adjusted by a wheel, dial, or may be directly adjusted by manipulating a tab that protrudes from the louvers through the register. Adjustment of the louvers provides the ability to adjust air flow or totally close off the register, and thus the local environment, from the treated air and, depending on the register&#39;s construction, can provide some directional control of the air flow. 
         [0004]    However, the use of a wheel, dial, or tab to adjust louvers has its problems. The most persistent of these problems is the requirement of fine motor movement to operate these constructions. Specifically, a user must operate the adjustment mechanism by a specific action toward the mechanism, i.e. turning the dial, which requires fine finger motion. Depending upon the situation, this motion could be inordinately difficult. Registers are usually placed on or near the floor or near or in the ceiling of a room, sometimes in awkward places, and sometimes users will place obstacles, like furniture, in the way of a register. Users may be of any shape, size or medical condition, including the arthritic or shorter in stature. The user&#39;s ability coupled with the location and placement of the register can make adjustment of these prior art registers an arduous task. The present invention utilizes gross motor movement to reduce these difficulties. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of air registers, this invention provides an improved air register. As such, the present invention&#39;s general purpose is to provide a new and improved air register that is actuated by gross motor movement rather than fine motor movement. 
         [0006]    To accomplish these objectives, the air register comprises an outer frame, a spring biased inner grate body, and at least one louver capable of being mechanically rotated by action on the inner grate body. In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one louver is mounted upon a spoked wheel which is turned by a prong interacting with the spokes as the inner grate body is depressed, thereby turning the spoked wheel and the associated at least one louver. 
         [0007]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0008]    Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 
         [0009]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0010]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a register according to the present invention, installed and about to be actuated by a user 
           [0012]      FIG. 1   a  is a sectional view of the register of  FIG. 1 , taken along line A-A. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a register according to the present invention, installed and being actuated by a user 
           [0014]      FIG. 2   a  is a sectional view of the register of  FIG. 2 , taken along line A-A. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a register according to the present invention, installed and after being actuated by a user 
           [0016]      FIG. 3   a  is a sectional view of the register of  FIG. 3 , taken along line A-A. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a register according to the present invention, installed and about to be actuated by a user 
           [0018]      FIG. 4   a  is a sectional view of the register of  FIG. 4 , taken along line A-A. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a register according to the present invention, installed and being actuated by a user 
           [0020]      FIG. 5   a  is a sectional view of the register of  FIG. 5 , taken along line A-A. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a register according to the present invention, installed and after being actuated by a user 
           [0022]      FIG. 6   a  is a sectional view of the register of  FIG. 6 , taken along line A-A. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the air register is herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , one of the preferred embodiments comprises an outer frame  20  and an inner grate body  30  capable of sliding motion within and relative to the outer frame  20 . A user  10  merely presses the inner grate body  20  ( FIG. 2 ) and releases the pressure ( FIG. 3 ) to actuate the register. With this particular embodiment, the actuation motion is a straight push against the center of the inner grate body  30 . The register is merely inserted over a duct in a hole in the wall, floor or ceiling and secured as any other register would be, with the outer frame  20  providing the external mounting support. 
         [0025]    The actual register mechanism is depicted in  FIGS. 1   a ,  2   a , and  3   a . Spoked wheels  40  are mounted along the short walls of outer frame  20 . On each spoked wheel  40  are mounted two louvers  42 , opposite each other. Springs  24  reside on ledges  22  inside the outer frame and support inner grate body  30 . Retention means, such as a tongue-in-groove interface or a rail interface are employed to keep inner grate body  30  stabilized in the outer frame  20 . Two carefully positioned prongs  32  extend downward from the inner grate body  32  so as to interface with spokes  44  on the spoked wheels  40  when the inner grate body  30  is pushed downward. With downward action ( FIG. 2   a ), inner grate body  20  compresses springs  24  and prongs catch the prime positioned spoke  44   a  and push it down, rotating the wheels  40  and the associated louvers  42 . This action also places the secondary spoke  44   b  proximate the prongs  32 . Spoke  44  placement will be determinative of possible angles of adjustment for the louvers  42 . As shown in these drawings, the louvers  42  will rotate between two sets of being closed, half-open, fully open and half-open again (corresponding to eight spokes  44 ). When pressure is removed ( FIG. 3   a ), the springs  24  will return the inner grate body  30  to its default position and the prongs  32  will be removed from the spokes  44 . Wheels  40  will rotate slightly so as to position the former secondary spoke  44   b  into primary position. Louvers  42  will then have moved from one position to another and the process may be repeated as the louvers  42  complete a circuit around the wheels  40 . It is important that there be some clearance between louvers  42  in the closed position as any overlap will prevent rotation. 
         [0026]    As many wheels  40 , spokes  44 , and louvers  42  may be utilized as a manufacturer desires, however the more wheels  40 , spokes  44  and louvers  42 , the more complicated the structure will be, with associated costs involved. The inventors feel that eight spokes  44  and two louvers  42  mounted upon each of two wheels  40  represents a good balance between the number of louver positions and complexity. 
         [0027]    A second embodiment is depicted in  FIGS. 4-6   a . In this embodiment, inner grate body  60  rotates within outer frame  50 , being hinged on one side. The user  10  pushes the inner grate body on a side opposite the hinge to impart torque on the inner grate body  60 . A spring  64  provides return bias for the inner grate body  60 . Prong  62  interfaces with spokes  78  on wheel  76 , specifically spoke  78   a . It should be noted that prong  62  is curved into a hook shape so as to better interface with spokes  78 . The spokes  78  on wheel  76  are also hinged so as to move out of the way of prong  62  when it pushes down against the primary spoke  78   a  (note secondary spoke  78   b  is collapsed in  FIG. 5   a ). As wheel  76  turns, it pulls belt  74  which in turn rotates wheel  70 , thereby allowing both sets of louvers  72  to turn. 
         [0028]    In either embodiment, a gross motor movement is involved to actuate the louvers. This allows users to actuate the registers with a simple touch or by using an object, such as a broom handle, to actuate the registers. In so doing, proximity problems are dramatically reduced, as are problems related to the dexterity of the user. Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.

Technology Category: 2