Vent covers for recreational vehicle ductwork

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11760158-B2
Application number	US-202017064204-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2020
Priority date	Oct 7, 2019
Publication date	Sep 19, 2023
Grant date	Sep 19, 2023

Abstract

A diffusing vent assembly may include a diffuser base and a diffusing head. The diffuser base may include a mounting flange, a collar extending from the mounting flange, and a ductwork fixation channel. The collar may span an infra-ceiling space of a vehicle. The diffusing head may include a diffuser vane configuration, a rotational flange surrounding the diffuser vane configuration, and an air blade. The diffuser base and the diffusing head further comprise complementary rotational securement members that permit rotation of the diffusing head relative to the diffuser base. The air blade may extend through the collar of the diffuser base. Installing the diffusing vent assembly may include engaging the ductwork fixation channel with a supply duct, inserting the diffusing head into the diffuser base, and securing the diffusing head and the diffuser base using the complimentary rotational securement members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A diffusing vent assembly comprising a diffuser base and a diffusing head, wherein:
the diffuser base comprises a mounting flange, a collar extending from the mounting flange, and a ductwork fixation channel formed about an outside periphery of the collar;
the collar of the diffuser base defines a collar extension length c between the mounting flange and the ductwork fixation channel of the diffuser base;
the collar extension length c is large enough to span an infra-ceiling space of a recreational vehicle;
the diffusing head comprises a diffuser vane configuration, a rotational flange surrounding the diffuser vane configuration, and an air blade extending from the rotational flange;
the air blade comprises a terminal edge and defines an air blade extension length b between the rotational flange of the diffusing head and the terminal edge of the air blade;
the air blade extension length b is greater than the collar extension length c; and
the diffuser base and the diffusing head further comprise complementary rotational securement members that permit rotation of the diffusing head relative to the diffuser base about a rotational axis of the diffusing head, and fix the diffusing head to the diffuser base along the rotational axis of the diffusing head, with the air blade of the diffusing head extending through the collar of the diffuser base such that an extended portion of the air blade rotates with the diffusing head and is visible in a supply duct held in the ductwork fixation channel of the diffuser base to regulate the flow of a volume of conditioned air as it travels from the supply duct through the diffusing vent assembly.

2. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ductwork fixation channel of the diffuser base forms an outwardly-oriented circumferential gap about the outside periphery of the collar.

3. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting flange of the diffuser base extends radially from the collar of the diffuser base.

4. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser base further comprises a first receiving ring and a second receiving ring extending radially from the collar and forming the ductwork fixation channel.

5. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first receiving ring is positioned to engage an interior surface of a supply duct and the second receiving ring is positioned to engage an exterior surface of the supply duct to fix a position of the diffuser base relative to a supply duct.

6. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first receiving ring of the diffuser base further comprises a chamfer oriented for supply duct engagement prior to supply duct fixation in the ductwork fixation channel.

7. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 6 , wherein the chamfer of the first receiving ring further comprises gussets to provide resiliency to the diffuser base.

8. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first receiving ring and the second receiving ring are continuous.

9. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the Young's modulus of the diffusing head is greater than the Young's modulus of the diffuser base.

10. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser base comprises polypropylene and thermoplastic elastomer.

11. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser base comprises from 40 weight percent to 70 weight percent polypropylene and from 30 weight percent to 60 weight percent thermoplastic elastomer.

12. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser vane configuration comprises a plurality of support legs extending laterally from the rotational flange.

13. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of support legs support an air fin, a center disk, or both.

14. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the complimentary rotational securement members of the diffusing head are a plurality of locking tabs around the circumference of the diffusing head that engage the diffuser flange of the diffuser base.

15. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 1 wherein the diffusing vent assembly is configured such that in-duct conditioned air in a supply duct held in the ductwork fixation channel of the diffuser base contacts the air blade of the diffusing head and is redirected to the diffuser vane configuration of the diffusing head.

16. The diffusing vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the terminal edge of the air blade slopes bi-directionally away from a maximum point of extension along a circumferential path about a rotational axis A of the diffusing head; and
the air blade and an extended portion of the air blade occupy a partial circumferential portion of the diffusing head.

17. A recreational vehicle comprising supply ductwork and a diffusing vent assembly, the diffusing vent assembly comprising a diffuser base and a diffusing head, wherein:
the supply ductwork and diffusing vent assembly is positioned in an infra-ceiling space of the recreational vehicle;
the diffusing vent assembly is in communication with the supply ductwork;
the diffuser base comprises a mounting flange, a collar extending from the mounting flange, and a ductwork fixation channel formed about an outside periphery of the collar;
the collar of the diffuser base defines a collar extension length c between the mounting flange and the ductwork fixation channel of the diffuser base;
the collar extension length c is large enough to span the infra-ceiling space of a recreational vehicle;
the diffusing head comprises a diffuser vane configuration, a rotational flange surrounding the diffuser vane configuration, and an air blade extending from the rotational flange;
the air blade comprises a terminal edge and defines an air blade extension length b between the rotational flange of the diffusing head and the terminal edge of the air blade;
the air blade extension length b is greater than the collar extension length c; and
the diffuser base and the diffusing head further comprise complementary rotational securement members that permit rotation of the diffusing head relative to the diffuser base about a rotational axis of the diffusing head, and fix the diffusing head to the diffuser base along the rotational axis of the diffusing head, with the air blade of the diffusing head extending through the collar of the diffuser base into the supply duct such that an extended portion of the air blade rotates with the diffusing head and is visible in the supply duct to regulate the flow of a volume of conditioned air as it travels from the supply duct through the diffusing vent assembly.

18. The recreational vehicle of claim 17 , further comprising an AC unit in fluid communication with a supply duct assembly and the diffusing vent assembly.

19. The recreational vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the diffuser vane configuration comprises a plurality of support legs extending laterally from the rotational flange.

20. The recreational vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of support legs support an air fin, a center disk, or both.

21. The recreational vehicle of claim 20 , wherein the diffusing vent assembly and the supply duct assembly are configured such that:
in-duct conditioned air contacts the air blade of the diffusing head and is redirected to the diffuser vane configuration of the diffusing head; and
the in-duct conditioned air contacts the center disk of the diffusing head and is redirected to the air fin and diffuser va

Assignees

• Thor Technologies Inc
• Keystone Rv Company

Inventors

• Snyder Jeff
• Brock Jon
• Bullock Mark
• Retallack Charles
• Battles Jr Don

Classifications

• B60H1/00364 Primary

  for caravans or trailers · CPC title

• B60H1/00664 Primary

  Construction or arrangement of damper doors (control systems or circuits for damper doors B60H1/00835) · CPC title

• B60H1/245

  located in the roof · CPC title

• B60H2001/00235

  Devices in the roof area of the passenger compartment · CPC title

• B60H1/00564

  of air ducts · CPC title