IP Library Granted Patent US 9,726,396
Granted Patent B2
US 9,726,396 · App. 15/040,043 · Granted Aug 8, 2017

Universal line components duct elbow

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,726,396
App. No.
15/040,043
Granted
Aug 8, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A universal line components duct elbow (universal elbow) accommodates a variety of condensate tanks. The universal elbow includes an elbow base, an elbow cover, and an interface clip. The interface clip is releasably connected to the bottom wall and sidewalls of the elbow base and adapted for supporting a condensate tank within the universal elbow. In order to releasably connect the interface clip to the bottom wall of the elbow base, the bottom wall of the elbow base includes an elbow base/clip securing structure that engages a complementary clip/elbow base securing structure on one side of the interface clip. In order to secure the condensate tank within the universal elbow, the interface clip has a clip/tank securing structure on the opposite side that engages the structure of the condensate tank.

Claims (21)

1. A universal line components elbow [ 30 ] for housing line components [ 16 , 18 , 20 ] and a condensate tank [ 14 ] comprising:

a. an elbow base [ 32 ] having an elbow base/clip securing structure [ 52 , 54 , 56 , 58 , 60 ];

b. an elbow cover [ 40 ] connected to the elbow base [ 32 ] for closing the universal line components elbow [ 30 ]; and

c. an interface clip [ 48 ] comprising:

i. a clip/elbow securing structure [ 64 , 66 , 68 , 70 ] on one side of the interface clip [ 48 ] for engaging the elbow base/clip securing structure [ 52 , 54 , 56 , 58 , 60 ] of the elbow base [ 32 ] in order to secure the interface clip [ 48 ] to the elbow base [ 32 ]; and

ii. a clip/tank securing structure [ 74 , 76 , 78 , 80 , 282 , 384 , 486 , etc.] on an opposite side of the interface clip [ 48 ] for engaging the condensate tank [ 14 ] in order to secure the condensate tank [ 14 ] to the interface clip [ 48 ] and therefore to the elbow base [ 32 ].

2. The universal line components elbow of claim 1 , wherein the line components include refrigeration lines and wherein the elbow base has a bottom wall and side walls, wherein the elbow base includes a separator connected to and extending from the bottom wall essentially parallel to the side walls, and wherein the separator defines a space for the refrigeration lines and a space for the condensate tank.

3. The universal line components elbow of claim 1 , wherein the elbow base has a bottom wall and side walls, wherein the elbow base/clip securing structure of the elbow base comprises a base hook extending from the bottom wall and essentially parallel to the sidewalls and an elongated track connected to and extending along one of the sidewalls essentially perpendicular to the bottom wall, wherein the clip/elbow securing structure of the interface clip includes at least one elongated groove for engaging the elongated track of the sidewall and a clip shoulder for engaging the base hook of the bottom wall, and wherein the clip/tank securing structure of the interface clip includes a tank support pad, tank guides, and a tank hook for securing the condensate tank to the interface clip and therefore to the elbow base.

4. The universal line components elbow of claim 3 , wherein the base hook includes a camming surface that engages the clip shoulder so that movement of the clip shoulder toward the bottom wall deflects the base hook and thereby allows the clip shoulder to pass by the base hook and engage a hook retaining surface of the base hook.

5. The universal line components elbow of claim 3 , wherein the tank support pad, the tank guides, and the tank hook of the clip/tank securing structure of the interface clip are positioned and dimensioned to conform to the size and dimensions of a particular condensate tank.

6. A universal line components elbow kit [ 100 ] comprising:

a. a universal line components elbow [ 30 ] comprising:

i. an elbow base [ 32 ] having an elbow base/clip securing structure [ 52 , 54 , 56 , 58 , 60 ];

ii. an elbow cover [ 40 ] connected to the elbow base [ 32 ] for closing the universal line components elbow [ 30 ]; and

b. a plurality of interface clips [ 48 , 148 , 248 , 348 , 448 , 548 ] each interface clip comprising:

i. a common clip/elbow securing structure [ 64 , 66 , 68 , 70 ] on one side of the interface clip [ 48 , 148 , 248 , 348 , 448 , 548 ] for engaging the elbow base/clip securing structure [ 52 , 54 , 56 , 58 , 60 ] of the elbow base [ 32 ] in order to secure the interface clip [ 48 , 148 , 248 , 348 , 448 , 548 ] to the elbow base [ 32 ]; and

ii. a unique clip/tank securing structure [ 74 , 76 , 78 , 80 , 282 , 384 , 486 , etc.] on an opposite side of the interface clips [ 48 , 148 , 248 , 348 , 448 , 548 ] for engaging one of a plurality of condensate tanks [ 14 in order to secure a condensate tank to the interface clips [ 48 , 148 , 248 , 348 , 448 , 548 ] and therefore to the elbow base [ 32 ].

7. The universal line components elbow of claim 6 , wherein the line components include refrigeration lines and wherein the elbow base has a bottom wall and side walls, wherein the elbow base includes a separator connected to and extending from the bottom wall essentially parallel to the side walls, and wherein the separator defines a space for the refrigeration lines and a space for the condensate tank.

8. The universal line components elbow of claim 6 , wherein the elbow base has a bottom wall and side walls, wherein the elbow base/clip securing structure of the elbow base comprises a base hook extending from the bottom wall and essentially parallel to the sidewalls and an elongated track connected to and extending along one of the sidewalls essentially perpendicular to the bottom wall, wherein the clip/elbow securing structure of the interface clip includes at least one elongated groove for engaging the elongated track of the sidewall and a clip shoulder for engaging the base hook of the bottom wall, and wherein the clip/tank securing structure of the interface clip includes a tank support pad, tank guides, and a tank hook for securing a condensate tank to the interface clip and therefore to the elbow base.

9. The universal line components elbow of claim 8 , wherein the base hook includes a camming surface that engages the clip shoulder so that movement of the clip shoulder toward the bottom wall deflects the base hook and thereby allows the clip shoulder to pass by the base hook and engage a hook retaining surface of the base hook.

10. The universal line components elbow of claim 8 , wherein the tank support pad, the tank guides, and the tank hook of the clip/tank securing structure of the interface clip are positioned and dimensioned to conform to the size and dimensions of a particular condensate tank.

Assignments (6)
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 23, 2021
From: DIVERSITECH CORPORATION; TRIATOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.; STRIDE TOOL, LLC; QUICK-SLING, LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058528/0954 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 23, 2021
From: DIVERSITECH CORPORATION; TRIATOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.; STRIDE TOOL, LLC; QUICK-SLING, LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058576/0051 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2021
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: DIVERSITECH CORPORATION; TRIATOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 058575/0909 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2017
From: DIVERSITECH CORPORATION
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT AND ASSIGNEE
Reel/Frame 042647/0864 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2017
From: DIVERSITECH CORPORATION
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS SECOND LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT AND ASSIGNEE
Reel/Frame 042648/0397 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2016
From: SJOGREN, RICHARD
To: DIVERSITECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040160/0053 →