Method and apparatus for eliminating register boxes, improving penetration sealing, improving airflow and reducing the labor costs to install ceiling registers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for eliminating register boxes, improving penetration sealing, improving airflow and reducing the labor costs to install ceiling registers is disclosed. A collar plate assembly that interfaces with flexible or metal air ducts is provided with at least one spring indentation ring in the collar portion of the assembly to accept two or more locking springs. These locking springs are used to attach the ceiling register to the collar plate assembly. The collar plate assembly uses mounting rails that attach the assembly to either ceiling or wall supports. After the ceiling or wall material is applied, the circular area inside the collar is cut-out to provide access. A trim ring is inserted in the cut-out that attaches between the collar and the ceiling or wall to eliminate air leakage and provide an essentially smooth flow of air from the supply duct into the inside of the structure. After ceiling or wall installation and surface preparation is completed, the ceiling register is simply positioned over the register cut-out and firmly inserted until it seals against the ceiling or wall surface. The ceiling register is locked into place by the action of its locking springs expanding into the collar indentation ring. No ceiling register mounting hardware is required.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention pertains in general to a method and apparatus for eliminating heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system register boxes, improving penetration sealing, improving airflow and reducing the labor costs to install ceiling registers in a structure, and more precisely, to a method and apparatus for eliminating HVAC system register boxes, improving penetration sealing, improving airflow and reducing the labor costs to install ceiling registers in a structure using mechanical methods.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Eliminating leakage in air ducts, register boxes, ceiling registers, return plenum components and associated mechanical parts, including penetrations of ceilings and walls, is a paramount issue in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. The importance is derived from the need to improve energy efficiency. Unfortunately, the quest to seal the myriad of mechanical joints in such system...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention disclosed and claimed herein comprises a method and apparatus for eliminating register boxes, improving ceiling and wall penetration sealing, and reducing the labor and material costs to install ceiling registers. Basic system components are a collar plate assembly that interfaces with flexible or metal air ducts, at least one spring indentation ring in the collar portion of the collar plate assembly to accept two or more locking springs, at least two locking springs that attach to the ceiling register that is to be mounted in the ceiling or wall, mounting rails to attach the collar plate assembly to either ceiling or wall supports, and a trim ring that attaches between the collar and the ceiling or wall to eliminate air leakage and provide an essentially smooth flow of air from the supply duct into the inside environment of the structure. After ceiling or wall installation and surface preparation including hole cut-outs, texturing, and painting is completed, the ceiling register is simply positioned over the register cut-out and firmly inserted until it seals against the ceiling or wall surface and is simultaneously locked into place by the action of its locking springs expanding into the collar indentation ring. No mounting hardware is required and installation is both quick and easy. The preferred embodiment of the ceiling register is round, providing a 360 degree omnidirectional air flow pattern into the structure. Other ceiling register shapes, including square and rectangular, with differing outlet air flow patterns are within the scope of this patent and are included in these specifications. Such implementations do not in fact eliminate the need for a register box, but they do require that the register box be augmented with square or rectangular indentation rings which can also be only short indentation segments that match the corresponding locations of the locking springs. Ceiling registers include both automated (motorized) and manual controls for adjusting the volume of exiting air into the structure.

Problems solved by technology

Such implementations do not in fact eliminate the need for a register box, but they do require that the register box be augmented with square or rectangular indentation rings which can also be only short indentation segments that match the corresponding locations of the locking springs.

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