Retrofit damper with pivoting connection between deployment and operational configurations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11149980-B2
Application number	US-201816006768-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2018
Priority date	Jun 12, 2018
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A damper assembly is configured for deployment in a forced air duct that supplies conditioned air through a register boot to a register vent secured relative to the register boot. The damper assembly includes a damper unit and a deployment strap. The deployment strap includes a first end secured relative to the damper unit and an opposing second end and has a length that is sufficient to position the damper unit in the forced air duct when the second end of the deployment strap is secured relative to the register boot. When in a deployment configuration, the damper unit has a reduced profile to facilitate deliver of the damper unit through the register boot and into the forced air duct. When in an operational configuration, the damper unit is configured to operate a damper blade between a closed position and an open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A damper configured for deployment in a forced air duct that supplies conditioned air through a register boot to a register vent secured relative to the register boot, the damper comprising:
a damper assembly that is configurable between a deployment configuration and an operational configuration, wherein:
in the deployment configuration, the damper assembly has a reduced profile to facilitate delivery of the damper assembly through the register boot and into the forced air duct, and
in the operational configuration, the damper assembly is configured to operate a damper blade between a closed end position in which air moving through the forced air duct is restricted from flowing past the damper assembly, and an open end position in which air moving through the forced air duct is less restricted from flowing past the damper assembly;

a deployment member including a first end secured relative to the damper assembly and an opposing second end, wherein the first end of the deployment member is secured relative to the damper assembly such that limited rotation of the deployment member causes the deployment member to rotate relative to the damper assembly; and
a coupler rotatably engaged with the damper assembly, wherein the first end of the deployment member is secured to the coupler.

2. The damper of claim 1 , wherein further rotation of the deployment member causes the damper assembly to rotate with the deployment member.

3. The damper of claim 1 , wherein rotating the deployment member 90 degrees or less permits the deployment member to rotate relative to the damper assembly.

4. The damper of claim 1 , wherein rotating the deployment member more than 90 degrees causes the damper assembly to rotate with the deployment member once the deployment member has rotated 90 degrees.

5. The damper of claim 1 , wherein the coupler further comprises a rotation limit feature that engages a corresponding feature of the damper assembly when the coupler is rotated counter clockwise or rotated clockwise.

6. The damper of claim 1 , wherein the deployment member is configured to bend in a first direction and configured to resist bending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

7. The damper of claim 6 , wherein the deployment member defines a cross-section having a width and a thickness, wherein the thickness is orthogonal to the first direction, and wherein the thickness is less than the width.

8. The damper of claim 7 , wherein the width is at least five times the thickness.

9. The damper of claim 6 , wherein rotating the deployment member relative to the damper assembly causes a rotation of the first direction relative to the damper assembly.

10. The damper of claim 1 , wherein the deployment member is configured to rotate relative to the damper assembly in a clockwise direction and in a counter-clockwise direction.

11. The damper of claim 1 , wherein the deployment member has a length sufficient to position the damper assembly in the forced air duct when the second end of the deployment member is secured relative to the register boot.

12. The damper of claim 1 , wherein the damper assembly further comprises:
a damper frame; and
a damper insert arm rotatably connected to the damper frame, wherein the first end of the deployment member is secured to the damper insert arm.

13. The damper of claim 12 , wherein the damper insert arm is substantially parallel to the damper frame in the deployment configuration and substantially perpendicular to the damper frame in the operational configuration.

14. The damper of claim 1 , wherein the deployment member is configured to support the damper assembly when the damper assembly is delivered through the register boot and into the forced air duct.

15. The damper of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the coupler engages the first end of the deployment member and a second portion of the coupler engages the damper assembly, wherein the first portion is configured to rotate relative to the second portion.

16. The damper of claim 15 , wherein the coupler comprises a recess configured to accommodate the first end of the deployment member in a frictional fit.

17. The damper of claim 15 , wherein the coupler further comprises one or more recess side tabs that secure the first end of the deployment member from radial movement relative to the coupler and a tab extending outwardly within the recess that secures the first end of the deployment member from axial movement relative to the coupler.

18. The damper of claim 15 , wherein the coupler further comprises a rotation limit feature configured to limit the rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion to limit the rotation of the deployment member relative to the damper assembly.

19. The damper of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electric damper motor configured to drive the damper blade between the closed end position and the open end position; and
a controller configured to regulate operation of the electric damper motor.

Assignees

• Ademco Inc

Inventors

• Emmons David J
• Carlson Nathan
• Wolff Steven

Classifications

• F24F13/14 Primary

  built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre · CPC title

• F24F13/1413

  using more than one tilting member, e.g. with several pivoting blades (F24F13/15 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24F2013/1453

  with cables, e.g. bowden cables · CPC title

• F24F13/1426

  characterised by actuating means · CPC title

• F24F13/10 Primary

  movable, e.g. dampers · CPC title