Air filter devices with gap sealing unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10940416-B2
Application number	US-201615762409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2016
Priority date	Sep 24, 2015
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

An air filter device including an air filter unit and an expansion unit. The air filter unit includes a filter media assembly maintained by an outer frame assembly. The outer frame assembly defines exterior length, width and depth dimensions of the air filter device in an initial state. The expansion unit provides one or more of an expanded length, width or depth in an expanded state of the air filter device. Portions or an entirety of the expansion unit can provided apart from the air filter unit in a deliver condition of the air filter device, or can be assembled to the air filter unit prior to delivery to a user. The air filter devices of the present disclosure are useful with a wide variety of differently size air handling devices, able to readily seal with an air handling device compartment via the expansion unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air filter device comprising:
an air filter unit including:
a filter media assembly defining a perimeter,
an outer frame assembly arranged about the perimeter and establishing exterior length, width and depth dimensions of the air filter device in an initial state, outer frame assembly including a first frame member covering a first edge of the perimeter; and

an expansion unit configured to effect an expanded state of the air filter device, the expansion unit including a first flange configured to project from the first frame member in the expanded state, wherein the first flange includes a panel and a first tab for selectively locking the panel relative to the first frame member;
wherein at least one of the exterior length, width and depth dimensions of the air filter device is greater in the expanded state than in the initial state.

2. The air filter device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the expansion unit is provided apart from the air filter unit in a delivery condition of the air filter device, and wherein the at least a portion of the expansion unit is configured for selective assembly to the outer frame assembly.

3. The air filter device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the expansion unit is attached to the outer frame assembly in a delivery condition of the air filter device, and wherein the at least a portion of the expansion unit is configured to be selectively extended away from the outer frame assembly to establish the expanded state of the air filter device.

4. The air filter device of claim 1 , wherein the air filter device is configured to be installable to a compartment of an air handling device in each of the initial and expanded states.

5. The air filter device of claim 4 , wherein the initial state includes the expansion unit disassembled from the air filter unit such that the air filter unit can be installed to the compartment of the air handling device, or wherein the initial state includes the expansion unit connected to the air filter unit and arranged in an un-expanded arrangement.

6. The air filter device of claim 1 , wherein the expansion unit includes at least a first standoff configured for selective mounting to the outer frame assembly.

7. The air filter device of claim 6 , wherein the first standoff is sized for mounting to a major face of the air filter unit in the expanded state, and further wherein upon mounting of the first standoff to the air filter unit, the depth dimension of the expanded state is greater than the depth dimension of the initial state, the length dimension of the expanded state is greater than the length dimension of the initial state, or the width dimension of the expanded state is greater than the width dimension of the initial state.

8. The air filter device of claim 6 , wherein the expansion unit further includes a second standoff apart from the first standoff.

9. The air filter device of claim 8 , wherein the expansion unit further includes a third standoff apart from the first and second standoffs, wherein the first standoff is configured for mounting to a major face of the air filter unit, the second standoff is configured for mounting to a side frame member of the outer frame assembly, and the third standoff is configured for mounting to an end frame member of the outer frame assembly.

10. The air filter device of claim 1 , wherein the first side flange defines a fixed end attached to the first frame member and a free end opposite the fixed end, and further wherein the expanded state includes the free end laterally spaced from the first frame member.

11. The air filter device of claim 1 , wherein outer frame assembly further includes a second frame member covering a second end of the perimeter, and further wherein the expansion unit further includes a second flange configured to project from the second frame member in the expanded state.

12. The air filter device of claim 10 , wherein the expansion unit further includes a deflection device configured to bias the free end away from the first frame member.

13. The air filter device of claim 1 , wherein the panel defines a fixed end pivotably connected to the first frame member, a free end opposite the fixed end, and opposing, first and second sides, further wherein the first tab projects from the first side.

14. The air filter device of claim 13 , wherein the first tab terminates at a leading end opposite the first side, the leading end configured to selectively interface with respective ones of a plurality of slots.

15. The air filter device of claim 14 , wherein the outer frame assembly includes a second frame member covering a second edge of the perimeter, the second frame member arranged orthogonal to the first frame member, and further wherein the plurality of slots are defined in the second frame member, and wherein the first tab and the plurality of slots are configured to selective lock the panel at a plurality of different angular orientations of the panel relative to the first frame member.

16. The air filter device of claim 1 , wherein the perimeter includes opposing, first and second side edges and opposing, first and second end edges, and further wherein the outer frame assembly includes first and second side frame members covering the first and second side edges, respectively, and first and second end frame members covering the first and second end edges, respectively, and further wherein the expansion unit includes a first flange configured to project from the first side frame member in the expanded state, a second flange configured to project from the second side frame member in the expanded state, a third flange configured to project from the first end frame member in the expanded state, and a fourth flange configured to project from the second end frame member in the expanded state, wherein each of the flanges includes a fixed end connected to the corresponding frame member and a free end opposite the fixed end.

17. The air filter device of claim 1 , wherein the expansion unit includes a first hollow seal body projecting from the outer frame assembly in the expanded state.

18. A method of installing an air filter to an air handling device, the method comprising:
receiving an air filter device in an initial state, the air filter device including:
an air filter unit including a filter media assembly defining a perimeter, and an outer frame assembly arranged about the perimeter and establishing exterior length, width and depth dimensions of the air filter device in the initial state, and
an expansion unit configured to effect an expanded state of the air filter device;

evaluating a size of an air filter compartment provided with the air handling device;
arranging the expansion unit relative to the outer frame assembly based upon the evaluation; and
inserting the air filter device into the air filter compartment.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Gregerson Glen O
• Herbrand Thomas J
• Prince David J
• Schreppel Danielle M
• Thompson Craig D
• Olson Judd D

Classifications

• B01D2275/203

  Shapes flexible in their geometry, e.g. bendable, adjustable to a certain size · CPC title

• B01D46/0032

  using electrostatic forces to remove particles, e.g. electret filters · CPC title

• B01D46/0005 Primary

  Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames (B01D46/2422 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B01D46/10

  Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces · CPC title

• F24F13/28

  Arrangement or mounting of filters · CPC title