Reversible air extractor assembly for mounting on rigid and / or flexible walls

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reversible extractor assembly for mounting on rigid and / or flexible walls. The assembly comprises a mount (100) for a wall (200), a reversible air extractor (300) and a blind cover. The air extractor (300) comprises an air output side and an air absorption side depending on the rotation of motor-driven blades. The two sides of the extractor (300) comprise identical coupling means (310), to mount the device on one side or the other. The wall mount (100) is mounted on a wall (200), in which a through hole has been previously made. The mount comprises attachment means for attaching to the wall around the aforementioned through hole, as well as one or more through holes aligned with said hole. The mount further comprises complementary coupling means (130) with respect to the coupling means (310) of the two sides of the extractor.

Description

[0001]

[0002] REVERSIBLE AIR EXTRACTOR ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING ON RIGID AND / OR FLEXIBLE WALLS

[0003] Technical sector

[0004] The present invention relates to the technical field of ventilation devices for air extraction. More specifically, it relates to air extraction (infiltration) devices intended for mounting on rigid and / or flexible walls.

[0005] Background of the invention

[0006] Air extractors mounted on walls or partitions have a variety of applications related to creating air flow, for example, to ventilate closed spaces, control indoor growing parameters, or expel unpleasant odors. Depending on the direction of the air flow, linked to the mounting orientation of the device on the corresponding wall, the extractor will either extract or introduce air into the space enclosed by the wall or walls; a single device can perform both functions depending on its mounting position.To facilitate the explanation and interpretation of this specification and the appended claims, from this point on we will refer to the device as an "extractor" when it expels air from the enclosed space and as an "offender" when it acts in the opposite direction; this term ("offender" and derivatives, such as "infringement") is the one used, for example, in indoor or cabinet growing techniques and its use has been selected in this document although this invention is not limited in any way to said application, as will be deduced from the successive sections.

[0007] Extractors (offenders) are responsible for maintaining a constant renewal of the interior air to exercise control over parameters such as temperature and humidity, which are very important both in the case of use by living beings (people, animals or plants) and for the conservation of stored objects or materials. Sometimes it will be necessary to create a greater or lesser air flow depending on the use of the room; it is also interesting to be able to control that the

[0008] 1

[0009] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) incoming airflow is greater than outgoing airflow (or vice versa). Similarly, the same enclosure, cabinet, booth, room, or compartment may be used for different purposes over different periods of time, so it is desirable to be able to modify the air inlet / outlet pattern without the need for complex construction or interventions, while maintaining the same airflow efficiency of each extractor / intractor device.

[0010] Among the various applications in which it would be highly beneficial to be able to easily adapt the air renewal pattern to the conditions at any given time are the aforementioned indoor plant cultivation or, for example, in portable toilets or construction sheds where it is desirable to create a greater outflow when the indoor air is stale and a predominant inflow for its renewal. It would also be applicable in test rooms or booths, in terrariums to adapt the specific atmosphere required by these animals, in cabinets or storage containers to avoid the typical musty odor and protect items that may be damaged by humidity (for example, with timed activation of the extractors / intractors), in sex shop booths or booths prepared for sexual or erotic entertainment, and, in general, in any enclosed space with at least one rigid and / or flexible wall or partition.

[0011] Taking the foregoing into account, the present invention provides an air extraction / intake device that is easily convertible to operate in one mode or the other, without the need for specific designs for the blades that propel the air, since, in general, devices designed to operate bidirectionally are not as efficient as unidirectional ones. In any case, the present invention offers an alternative to those devices, offering great ease of assembly and versatility in terms of the configuration of various devices acting together and combined with a passive ventilation accessory, which will also be described below.

[0012] Explanation of the invention

[0013] To this end, the object of the present invention is a reversible extractor assembly for mounting on rigid and / or flexible walls. The assembly essentially comprises a support for rigid and / or flexible walls, a reversible air extractor and a cover.

[0014] 2

[0015] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) blind, according to the characteristics that will be explained successively.

[0016] The air extractor comprises a face through which the air is exhausted and another face through which the air is drawn in according to the rotation of the blades driven by a motor. The two faces of the extractor comprise identical coupling means that will be used to mount the device on one side or the other. The wall mount will be mounted on a wall or partition (or any similar surface where an incoming / outgoing air flow is desired, whether a relatively solid wall, such as wood, metal, or plastic, or a softer, malleable wall, such as fabric) in which a through hole has been previously made for air circulation. The mount will comprise means for fixing it to the wall around the through hole previously made therein, and also one or more through holes corresponding to the through hole in the wall, that is, spatially coinciding with it.The support will also comprise coupling means complementary to the coupling means of the aforementioned extractor and located on both sides of the extractor.

[0017] According to one feature of the invention, the reversible air extractor assembly comprises a support cover. Said support cover comprises a through hole spatially coinciding with the through hole(s) of the aforementioned support; it also comprises means for fixing it to the wall. Furthermore, the support cover has a shape such that, when its through hole overlaps the through hole(s) of the support, this shape coincides, at least partially, with the shape of the wall support. In this way, this coincidence of shapes provides greater robustness to the support-blind cover assembly, sandwich-like with the wall in between, especially in cases where the wall is made of a relatively soft, weak, thin, or flexible material.

[0018] According to another characteristic of the invention, the means for fixing the cover to the wall are complementary to the means for fixing the support to the wall. That is, fixing means can be used which, while respectively fixing the cover to the wall and the support to the wall, also serve to fix or secure the support and the cover to each other. For example, according to another characteristic of the invention, these complementary fixing means could be screws and corresponding holes in the cover and the support, such that the cover fixing is achieved.

[0019] 3

[0020] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) the aforementioned support wall with a single fixing means. Other possible means could also be, for example, bolts and nuts, strong adhesives, magnets, sailboats, and the like.

[0021] According to another feature of the invention, the reversible extractor assembly comprises a blind cover that can be used instead of the air extractor, as a passive ventilation means or simply to close the through hole in the wall. The blind cover comprises coupling means identical to those mentioned above for the air extractor, so they are also complementary with respect to the coupling means of the support. The blind cover also comprises a through opening coinciding with part of the through hole in the wall, to allow air to pass through when desired. It also comprises a partition arranged such that it covers the other part of the through hole in the wall.Finally, the blind cover also comprises a sealing cap that can be rotatably fixed to the blind cover; the sealing cap comprises a ventilation opening portion (i.e., an open portion, an opening) and a sealing portion (a covered portion) such that the sealing cap can be rotated so that its sealing portion completely covers the through opening of the blind cover (without allowing air to pass through, zero ventilation) or it can be rotated so that the ventilation opening portion completely coincides with the through opening of the blind cover (complete ventilation); it can also be rotated to any intermediate position between the two just mentioned.

[0022] According to an additional feature of the invention, the partition of the blind cover comprises a bore or hole, and the sealing cover comprises a pivot that can be rotatably mounted in said bore; in this specific manner, the rotation or turning described in the preceding paragraph is realized.

[0023] A further feature of the invention relates to the fact that the rotatably mountable pivot can be or comprise a split pivot pin with widenings at the ends (split longitudinally so that it can be compressed when entering the bore and the widenings so that it cannot come out once inserted), a pivot pin with a widening at its end (which clicks into the bore by pressure, and with a flat part in the terminal widening facing the partition so that it is not easy to extract it), a pivot pin with projections along the same (to make its extraction difficult), a pivot pin with a cap that can be clicked, snapped or screwed onto the end of the pin

[0024] 4

[0025] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) (a cap or end cap that fits over the end of the pin once it is inserted into the hole) or any combination thereof.

[0026] According to another characteristic of the invention, the ventilation opening part and the sealing part of the sealing cap may comprise at least one rib or projections (preferably vapours) to facilitate manual turning of the sealing cap by gripping or pushing said ribs with the fingers.

[0027] According to another characteristic of the invention, the coupling means of the air extractor and the blind cover and the coupling means of the wall bracket that are complementary to each other are of the bayonet type. Specifically, either the extractor and the blind cover or the wall bracket comprise alternating circumferential flanges (they form the outline of a circumference when imaginarily joined together) (i.e. with also circumferential spaces between them) open inwards of the imaginary circumference and the other element between the extractor / blind cover and the wall bracket comprises other complementary circumferential flanges, open outwards of the circumference.In this way, for coupling, an imaginary circumference of one component is superimposed with the other of the other component, the circumferential flanges of each being in the circumferential spaces of the other, and the components are rotated mutually (extractor with respect to wall support or blind cover with respect to wall support) until the flanges of one are coupled by friction with the flanges of the other.

[0028] According to another embodiment of the invention, the reversible extractor assembly may comprise an extension coupling. This extension coupling is shaped like a duct or tube to allow air to pass through its interior and can be fixed to the wall support through coupling means that are complementary to those of said wall support and which can therefore be the same or equivalent to those mentioned above for the blind cover or the extractor. At its other end, the extension coupling is adapted, or simply suitable, for the coupling or fixing of a corresponding air conduction tube, such that the air flow can be directed and brought to the desired position depending on the length and configuration of this conduction tube.

[0029] Finally, another feature of the invention responds to the fact that the means

[0030] 5

[0031] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) of coupling of the support and the complementary coupling means of the extractor and the blind cover can also be magnets, sailboat, projections / protuberances that fit with corresponding click-on housings and female and male threads.

[0032] Brief description of the drawings

[0033] To complement the description being made and in order to help better understand the characteristics of the invention, some figures are attached in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

[0034] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an air extractor according to the invention.

[0035] Figure 2 shows a side view of the air extractor in Figure 1.

[0036] Figure 3 shows a view of an embodiment of the wall support and the support cover of the invention together with a wall for its application.

[0037] Figure 4 shows the wall bracket and support cap from Figure 3 mounted on the wall.

[0038] Figure 5 shows a perspective side view of the wall bracket (mounted on a corresponding wall) and the air extractor presented for fixing them together.

[0039] Figure 6 shows a side perspective view corresponding to Figure 5, but with the wall bracket and the air extractor already fixed to each other.

[0040] Figure 7 shows a blind cover and a sealing cover according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0041] Figure 8 shows the blind cover and the sealing cover of Figure 7 assembled together.

[0042] 6

[0043] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Figure 9 shows the blind cover of figures 7 and 8 facing a wall support of the previous figures.

[0044] Figure 10 shows the blanking plate and wall bracket from Figure 9 assembled together.

[0045] Figure 11 is a perspective side view of the wall bracket (mounted on a corresponding wall) and the extension coupling presented for fixing them together.

[0046] Figure 12 shows a side perspective view corresponding to Figure 11, but with the wall bracket and the extension coupling already fixed to each other.

[0047] Figures 13(a) to 13(d) show an example of application of the extension coupling with one or more air conduction tubes.

[0048] Figure 14 shows an example of application of two air extractor assemblies of the invention in a cabinet or cabin, in its modality corresponding to the extension couplings fixed to the wall supports.

[0049] Figure 15 shows an example of the application of the air extractor joint vapors of the invention in a cabinet or cabin, in its modality corresponding to the extractors fixed to the wall supports.

[0050] Detailed description of the invention

[0051] In this section, a description of the invention will be carried out taking as reference the figures mentioned above and focusing on some details not mentioned above.

[0052] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an air extractor (300) that is part of the assembly of the invention. The extractor (300) comprises a housing, protective grilles and the usual internal components for the operation of a device of this type and which are not the object of the present invention. In this sense, it is simply noted that, as usual, the extractor (300) will have a face

[0053] 7

[0054] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) through which the air is absorbed and another from which the same air is expelled. As can be seen in this figure, the extractor (300) also comprises coupling means (310) which, in one of the preferred embodiments, are in the form of circumferential flanges open outwards. These coupling means (310) are provided on both sides of the extractor (300), which can be better seen in the representation of figure 2.

[0055] Figure 3 shows, on the other hand, a wall support (100), a wall (200) and a support cover (400). A through hole (210) has been previously made in the wall (200) at the place where the air is to circulate specifically (either towards one side or the other of the wall (200)). The support (100) comprises means (110) for fixing to the wall which may be, for example, screws and, if necessary (depending on the material of the support (100)) corresponding holes. Said support (100) also comprises coupling means (130) complementary with respect to the means (310) of the extractor (300) such that the latter can be fixed on one or the other of its faces to the support (100), acting, in each case, as an extractor or as an offender. These complementary coupling means (310, 130) are preferably quick-coupling so that the function of the extractor / intractor (300) can be easily changed.Let us imagine, for example, a case in which the user has arranged several reversible extractors (300) in different positions on various walls (200) of the wardrobe. With the device of the present invention, multiple air currents could be created, with different paths to renew specific parts of the wardrobe, or air could simply be introduced into it or extracted from it since, as will be explained in more detail later, the invention also comprises an accessory that allows the through holes (210) of the wall (200) to be closed quickly (as in the case of the assembly of the extractors (300)) or to leave the option of passive ventilation.

[0056] The invention provides for the installation of only the support (100) if, for example, the wall (200) were a sufficiently solid wall (wood, metal, plastic or resistant polymer, etc.) and also provides, optionally, in another embodiment, the installation of a support cover (400) on the other side of the wall (200), facing the support (100) (Figures 3 and 4). This last case would be more advisable for walls (200) made of soft material such as, for example, walls (200) of cloth wardrobes or

[0057] 8

[0058] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) similar materials, since said support cap (400) acts as a means of reinforcement for the support (100) itself, providing greater robustness to the assembly. The aforementioned fixing means (110) can be used to fix, in turn, the support (100) with the support cap (400); in this case, screws with corresponding holes, although other means such as bolts and nuts, strong adhesives and the like could be used. In any case, the support cap (400) can also act as a trim so it can be applied even in the case of more rigid walls (200) with which the support (100) alone would already be functional.

[0059] For the embodiment shown here, the complementary coupling means (310, 130) have been materialized in the form of a bayonet-type coupling, with projections on the support (100) and other projections on the extractor (300) (on both sides) such that the support (100) and one side of the extractor (300) are located opposite each other (Figure 5), they approach each other until they touch each other (Figure 6), and with a simple rotation of the extractor (300) these complementary projections (which have a shape that follows the contour of a circle) are coupled by friction; also, apart from the friction coupling, some protuberance (and possibly some complementary cavity) is provided, on some of the projections, and projected perpendicular to the plane of the wall (200), so that the friction bayonet closure is complemented by an additional click closure.In figures 1 to 6, for example, these projections can be seen in more detail, where, in the case of the support (100), they are open towards the interior of an imaginary circumference formed by them, and, in the case of the extractor (300), they are open towards the outside following a circumferential contour somewhat smaller than that of the first circumference corresponding to the support (100) in order to be able to fit one inside the other with the rotation of the extractor (300).

[0060] This technical characteristic of quick coupling of the extractor (300), on both sides, to the support (100), could be achieved with other complementary coupling means (310, 130), such as magnets, sailboat, fittings of projections / protuberances with corresponding housings by click, female and male threads and the like.

[0061] The reversible extractor assembly of the invention also comprises another accessory in the form of the blind cover (500) of figures 7 to 10. This cover (500) is designed to be placed on the support (100) in replacement of the extractor (300) and its function is

[0062] 9

[0063] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) simply cover the through hole (210) or act as a means of adjustable passive ventilation through its sealing cover (530). This configuration provides great versatility to any enclosure in which mists from these reversible extractor assemblies have been arranged by allowing choosing between adjustable active / passive ventilation and incoming / outgoing ventilation individually in each position. To this end, the blind cover (500) comprises coupling means (310) exactly the same as those of the extractor (300) in order to couple just as easily to the support (100). Said cover (500) also comprises an interior divided into two parts: a partition (520) and a through opening (510). The partition (520) further comprises a bore (522) into which a pivot pin provided on the inner face of the sealing cover (530) also shown in the figures can be rotatably coupled.Said pivot (which, in the figures, is not seen, as it is on the hidden face of the cover (530)) fits into the hole (522) and, in this way, the sealing cover (530) can be turned to leave the through opening (510) completely or partially open or simply close it. To this end, the sealing cover (530) comprises a sealing part (550) and a ventilation opening part (540) whereby, by making one of the parts (550, 540) coincide with the through opening (510) of the blind cover (500), the partial or total passage of air is allowed or not.

[0064] The sealing cover (530) may also comprise projections or ribs (560) which serve to reinforce the ventilation part (540) and also as gripping elements for both said ventilation part (540) and for the sealing part (550) in order to be able to rotate the cover (530) easily by hand. The important technical characteristic in this case is that said sealing cover (530) is rotatable with respect to the blind cover (500) and this could be achieved by means other than those shown here such as, for example, a click fit of the outer circumference of the sealing cover (530) with the receiving circumference of the blind cover (500) through tabs arranged along this receiving circumference.

[0065] In Figure 7, the sealing part (550) has ribs (560) arranged in a first orientation (ribs (560) seen practically horizontal in the right area of ​​the cover (530)) and other ribs (560) arranged in a second orientation (ribs (560) seen in the upper area of ​​the cover (530)); this different arrangement responds only to design reasons and could be the same

[0066] 10

[0067] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) throughout the sealing portion (550) or each rib (560) could have a different orientation or the ribs (560) could be grouped, according to their orientation, in a manner different from that shown in Figure 7. It is understood that the various arrangements of the ribs (560) are protected in accordance with the text formulated in the corresponding claim and that these different arrangements do not affect the essence of this technical characteristic. In another embodiment, said ribs (560) of the sealing portion (550) could be projections with any shape (discontinuous strips, circular bulges or with any other shape, etc.) such that they facilitate the grip to rotate the lid (530).

[0068] According to another embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, the reversible extractor assembly may comprise a mounting accessory in the form of the extension coupling (600). This coupling (600) is provided with coupling means (310) (equivalent to those mentioned, with the same numerical reference, for other parts such as the extractor (300) or the blind cover (500)) such that, with said means (310), it can be coupled to the wall support (100). The coupling (600) is suitable so that, at its other end, opposite the one for fixing to the wall support (100), an air conduction tube (700) can be fixed as shown in the configuration of Figures 13(a) to 13(d). The conduction tube (700) may be any tube suitable for these purposes and of those already available on the market for air conduction systems. Therefore, it can be smooth or corrugated, flexible or rigid, or any combination of characteristics.In Figure 13 it is shown fixed to the coupling (600) by means of a flange but any suitable means could be used, for example, by friction, bayonet, click, by screws, etc., or any combination of the above. Also shown in Figures 13(b) to 13(d) is the use of an active air drive element that can be inserted between two sections of tube (700) to increase the air flow and / or to divert said flow to specific locations away from the coupling (600).

[0069] Two non-limiting examples of application of the air extractor assembly of the present invention are shown in Figures 14 and 15. Specifically, Figure 14 shows a cabin or cabinet in which two extractor assemblies have been installed, one on the ceiling of the cabinet and another on the lower part of one of the side walls (200). In this case, the aforementioned extension couplings (600) have been mounted on the wall supports (100) and then conduction tubes (700) and

[0070] 11

[0071] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) active air supply / absorption devices (the arrows in the figure indicate the direction of air flow). Figure 15 shows another application example, but in this case, with extractors (300); the usual procedure will be to mount one extractor (300) acting as an air extraction device and another extractor (300) acting as a ventilation device. There may also be the option of mounting extractor fans (300) in their extraction or ventilation function depending on the air exchange speed requirements in the passenger compartment or its size.

[0072] Finally, it should be mentioned that the circular shapes of both the support (100) and the covers (500, 530), the extractor (300) and the extension coupling (600) respond only to the embodiment described here and that they could be different always in accordance with the technical characteristics disclosed in the claims.

[0073] The present invention, as previously mentioned, is applicable to any space where, for various reasons, it is desired to create incoming and / or outgoing ventilation currents in walls, partitions, ceilings, and the like. It therefore finds application in grow cabinets, music rehearsal booths, sexual / erotic entertainment booths, industrial isolation booths (for noise, gases, or the like), meditation booths (or any space where sensory isolation from the outside is desired), portable toilets, laboratories, etc.

[0074] 12

[0075] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Reversible air extractor assembly for mounting on rigid and / or flexible walls comprising: - an extractor (300) comprising an air expulsion face and an air absorption face, and coupling means (310) on both faces, - a wall support (100) for a wall (200) in which a through hole (210) has been previously made, said wall support (100) comprising: - means (110) for fixing to the wall (200) around the through hole (210) made, - at least one through hole (120) in correspondence with said hole (210) of the wall (200), - coupling means (130) complementary to the coupling means (310) of the extractor (300).

2. Assembly according to claim 1, comprising a support cover (400) for fixing it on the side of the wall (200) opposite to that of the support (100), which in turn comprises: - a through hole (410) coinciding with the at least one through hole (120) of the support (100), - means for fixing to the wall (200), and - with a shape such that, when both through holes (410) and (120) overlap, it coincides, at least partially, with the shape of the wall support (100).

3. Assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein the means for fixing the cover (400) to the wall (200) are complementary with respect to the means (110) for fixing the support (100).

4. Assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein the means for fixing the cover (400) to the wall (200) and the means (110) for fixing the support (100) complementary to each other comprise screws and, optionally, corresponding holes for the screws.

5. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a blind cover (500) comprising: 13 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) - coupling means (310), complementary to the coupling means (130) of the support (100), - a through opening (510) coinciding with part of the through hole (210) of the wall (200), - a partition (520) coinciding with and covering the other part of the through hole (210), and - a sealing cover (530) rotatably attachable to the blind cover (500) and comprising a ventilation opening part (540) and a sealing part (550) such that, in one of the rotational positions, the sealing part (550) completely covers the through opening (510) and, in another of the rotational positions, the ventilation opening part (540) coincides, at least partially, with the through opening (510).

6. Assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein the partition (520) comprises a bore (522) and the sealing cover (530) comprises a pivot rotatably mountable in said bore (522).

7. An assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein the rotatably mountable pivot comprises a split pivot pin with enlargements at the ends, a pivot pin with an enlargement at its end, a pivot pin with projections along its length, a pivot pin with a click-fit, snap-fit ​​or thread-fit cap on the end of the pin or any combination thereof.

8. Assembly according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the ventilation opening portion (540) and / or the sealing portion (550) of the sealing cap (530) comprise at least one rib (560) to facilitate manual rotation of the sealing cap (530).

9. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling means (310) and the coupling means (130) complementary to each other are of the bayonet type, with alternating circumferential flanges, open in opposition, such that they engage each other by friction when the extractor (300) or the blind cover (500) rotates with respect to the support (100). 14 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 10. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a duct-shaped extension coupling (600) such that one end of the duct comprises the coupling means (310) and the other end of the duct is suitable for coupling an air conduction tube (700).

11. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling means (310) and the complementary coupling means (130) comprise magnets, sails, projections / protuberances that can be fitted into corresponding housings by clicking, female and male threads and combinations of the above. 15 SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

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