IP Library Granted Patent US 8,419,837
Granted Patent B2
US 8,419,837 · App. 13/012,935 · Granted Apr 16, 2013

Air filtration system with quick connect

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,419,837
App. No.
13/012,935
Granted
Apr 16, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air filtration system includes a housing that is interchangeably positioned within a plenum that is in fluid communication between the housing and a room. A fan is positioned within the housing and configured to draw contaminated air from the plenum. At least one filter member is positioned within the housing and configured to filter the contaminated air. A flexible duct is configured to channel filtered air from the housing to the room. The flexible duct is configured to enable the interchangeability of the housing.

Claims (50)

1. An air filtration system comprising:

a housing that is interchangeably positioned within a plenum that is in fluid communication between the housing and a room;

a fan positioned within the housing and configured to draw contaminated air from the plenum;

at least one filter member positioned within the housing and configured to filter the contaminated air; and

a flexible duct configured to channel filtered air from the housing to the room, the flexible duct configured to enable the interchangeability of the housing.

2. The air filtration system of claim 1 further comprising a quick connect including a female ring having slots and a male ring having protrusions, the male ring coupled to the flexible duct and the female ring coupled to the housing, the slots configured to receive the protrusions to couple the flexible duct to the housing.

3. The air filtration system of claim 1 further comprising a quick connect including a female ring having slots and a male ring having protrusions, the male ring coupled to the flexible duct and the female ring coupled to a ceiling grid, the slots configured to receive the protrusions to couple the flexible duct to the ceiling grid.

4. The air filtration system of claim 3 further comprising a gasket positioned between the male ring and the female ring to form an airtight interface.

5. The air filtration system of claim 1 further comprising an open return, the fan configured to draw the contaminated air from the plenum through the open return.

6. The air filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the interchangeability of the housing enables the air filtration system to be positioned within the plenum so as to avoid existing structures.

7. The air filtration system of claim 1 further comprising a quick connect that rotates about the flexible duct to couple the flexible duct to a ceiling grid.

8. The air filtration system of claim 1 further comprising a quick connect that rotates about the flexible duct to couple the flexible duct to the housing.

9. An air filtration system comprising:

a plenum in fluid communication with a room;

a housing interchangeably positioned within the plenum and in fluid communication with the room;

a fan positioned within the housing and configured to draw contaminated air from the plenum;

at least one filter member positioned within the housing and configured to filter the contaminated air; and

a flexible duct configured to channel filtered air from the housing to the room, the flexible duct configured to enable the interchangeability of the housing.

10. The air filtration system of claim 9 further comprising a quick connect including a female ring having slots and a male ring having protrusions, the male ring coupled to the flexible duct and the female ring coupled to the housing, the slots configured to receive the protrusions to couple the flexible duct to the housing.

11. The air filtration system of claim 9 further comprising a quick connect including a female ring having slots and a male ring having protrusions, the male ring coupled to the flexible duct and the female ring coupled to a ceiling grid, the slots configured to receive the protrusions to couple the flexible duct to the ceiling grid.

12. The air filtration system of claim 11 further comprising a gasket positioned between the male ring and the female ring to form an airtight interface.

13. The air filtration system of claim 9 further comprising an open return, the fan configured to draw the contaminated air from the plenum through the open return.

14. The air filtration system of claim 9 , wherein the interchangeability of the housing enables the air filtration system to be positioned within the plenum so as to avoid existing structures.

15. The air filtration system of claim 9 further comprising a quick connect that rotates about the flexible duct to couple the flexible duct to a ceiling grid.

16. The air filtration system of claim 9 further comprising a quick connect that rotates about the flexible duct to couple the flexible duct to the housing.

17. A method of providing an air filtration system for a room, the method comprising

interchangeably positioning a housing within a plenum that is in fluid communication with the room;

positioning a fan within the housing to draw contaminated air through the plenum from the room;

positioning at least one filter member within the housing to filter the contaminated air; and

channeling the filtered air through a flexible duct from the housing to the room, the flexible duct configured to enable the interchangeability of the housing.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

coupling a male ring to the flexible duct, the male ring having protrusions; and

coupling a female ring to the housing, the female ring having slots configured to receive the protrusions of the male ring to couple the flexible duct to the housing.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

coupling a male ring to the flexible duct, the male ring having protrusions; and

coupling a female ring to a ceiling grid, the female ring having slots configured to receive the protrusions of the male ring to couple the flexible duct to the ceiling grid.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising positioning a gasket between the male ring and the female ring to form an airtight interface.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising drawing the contaminated air from the plenum through an open return.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the interchangeability of the housing enables the air filtration system to be positioned within the plenum so as to avoid existing structures.

23. The method of claim 17 further comprising rotating a quick connect about the flexible duct to couple the flexible duct to a ceiling grid.

24. The method of claim 17 further comprising rotating a quick connect about the flexible duct to couple the flexible duct to the housing.

25. The air filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible duct includes a quick connect on an outer end thereof, wherein the quick connect is configured to be coupled to one of a plurality of supply vents in panels of a ceiling grid, wherein the quick connect is configured to be interchanged among the plurality of supply vents.

26. The air filtration system of claim 1 , further comprising a ceiling grid including a plurality of supply vents formed in a plurality of panels, wherein the flexible duct includes a quick connect on an outer end thereof, wherein the quick connect is coupled to one of the plurality of supply vents, and wherein the quick connect is configured to be interchanged among the plurality of supply vents.

27. The air filtration system of claim 9 , wherein the flexible duct includes a quick connect on an outer end thereof, wherein the quick connect is configured to be coupled to one of a plurality of supply vents in panels of a ceiling grid, wherein the quick connect is configured to be interchanged among the plurality of supply vents.

28. The air filtration system of claim 9 , further comprising a ceiling grid including a plurality of supply vents formed in a plurality of panels, wherein the flexible duct includes a quick connect on an outer end thereof, wherein the quick connect is coupled to one of the plurality of supply vents, and wherein the quick connect is configured to be interchanged among the plurality of supply vents.

29. The method of claim 17 , wherein the interchangeably positioning operation comprises switching a quick connect of the flexible duct among different supply vents in panels of a ceiling grid.

30. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

providing a first mating fastener on an outer end of the flexible duct; and

providing second mating fasteners on each of a plurality of supply vents formed in a plurality of panels of a ceiling grid,

wherein the interchangeably positioning a housing operation comprises switching the first mating fastener among the second mating fasteners.

Assignments (8)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2021
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC, LLC; THERMA-STOR LLC; ADDISON HVAC LLC; NOVELAIRE TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.; ROBERTS-GORDON LLC; STERIL-AIRE LLC; UNITED COOLAIR LLC; AIRXCHANGE, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056650/0303 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2021
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC, LLC; THERMA-STOR LLC; ADDISON HVAC LLC; NOVELAIRE TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.; ROBERTS-GORDON LLC; STERIL-AIRE LLC; UNITED COOLAIR LLC; AIRXCHANGE, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056647/0868 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 11, 2017
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: NORTEK, INC.; BARCOM ASIA HOLDINGS, LLC; BARCOM CHINA HOLDINGS, LLC; BNSS LP, INC.; BNSS GP, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CORE BRANDS, LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; GEFEN, LLC; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); HUNTAIR MIDDLE EAST HOLDINGS, INC.; LINEAR LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORDYNE LLC; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; REZNOR LLC; TV ONE BROADCAST SALES CORPORATION; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 041346/0048 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 5, 2015
From: CES GROUP, LLC
To: NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 035132/0952 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAME OF CONVEYING PARTY PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 033211 FRAME 0629. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Jul 29, 2014
From: HUNTAIR, INC.
To: CES GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 033492/0449 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 13, 2014
From: LINEAR LLC; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CORE BRANDS, LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); TV ONE BROADCAST SALES CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; CES GROUP, LLC; REZNOR LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032891/0753 →
MERGER Recorded Feb 14, 2014
From: HUNLAIR INC.
To: CES GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 033211/0629 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2011
From: SCHREIBER, KEVIN J.
To: HUNTAIR, INC.
Reel/Frame 025690/0140 →