Granted Patent B2

US 12,372,269 · App. 18/810,167 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Inventor: Dominic Pecchia (Youngstown, OH)

F24F13/084F24F13/085

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. A method for an air vent apparatus, the method comprising:

moving a vent housing body toward an opening defined in a wall, wherein the opening is in communication with an air duct;

connecting the vent housing body to one of the wall and the air duct via a toolless installation, wherein the toolless installation of the vent housing body to one of the wall and the air duct is accomplished in manner that is free of both a screw and a bolt; and

connecting a grill to the vent housing body.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

disposing a filter between the grill and the vent housing body; and

opening the grill relative the vent housing body via a hinge while the vent housing body remains connected one of the wall and the air duct, wherein the filter remains in the vent housing body when the grill is hinged open.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

removing the filter from the vent housing body when the grill is hinged open.

4. A method for an air vent apparatus, the method comprising:

moving a vent housing body toward an opening defined in a wall, wherein the opening is in communication with an air duct;

connecting the vent housing body to one of the wall and the air duct via a toolless installation, wherein the toolless installation of the vent housing body to one of the wall and the air duct is accomplished in manner that is free of both a screw and a bolt;

connecting a grill to the vent housing body;

disposing a filter between the grill and the vent housing body;

opening the grill relative the vent housing body via a hinge while the vent housing body remains connected one of the wall and the air duct, wherein the filter remains in the vent housing body when the grill is hinged open;

removing the filter from the vent housing body when the grill is hinged open;

installing a plate in the vent housing body in a space previously occupied by the filter after having removed the filter, wherein the plate is operable to preclude or inhibit air flow through the grill.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

maintaining the filter stationary as the grill is hinged open.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

maintaining a height dimension of the filter parallel to a vertical direction as the filter remains stationary as the grill is hinged open, wherein the height dimension of the filter is less than a length dimension of the filter and greater than a thickness dimension of the filter.

7. A method for an air vent apparatus, the method comprising:

moving a vent housing body toward an opening defined in a wall, wherein the opening is in communication with an air duct;

connecting the vent housing body to one of the wall and the air duct via a toolless installation, wherein the toolless installation of the vent housing body to one of the wall and the air duct is accomplished in manner that is free of both a screw and a bolt;

connecting a grill to the vent housing body; and

wherein the toolless installation of the vent housing body to one of the wall and the air duct is effectuated by a clip connector.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the clip connector comprises a clip arm that extends rearward in a cantilevered manner from a rear surface of the vent housing body.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

moving a portion of the clip through the opening in the wall that is aligned with the air duct;

contacting a surface of the clip with the wall that defines the opening; and

flexing the clip from a neutral position to a flexed position in response to the vent housing body moving toward the wall.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

moving the surface of the clip to a location behind the wall, wherein when the surface is located behind the wall the clip returns to the neutral position.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the clip connector establishes a snap-fit configuration that connects the vent housing body to the wall without the use of a screwdriver or a drill.

12. A method for an air vent apparatus, the method comprising:

moving a vent housing body toward an opening defined in a wall, wherein the opening is in communication with an air duct;

connecting the vent housing body to one of the wall and the air duct via a toolless installation, wherein the toolless installation of the vent housing body to one of the wall and the air duct is accomplished in manner that is free of both a screw and a bolt;

connecting a grill to the vent housing body; and

wherein the toolless installation of the vent housing body to one of the wall and the air duct is effectuated by a plurality of clip connectors.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

attaching at least one clip connector from the plurality of clip connectors to the vent housing body via a T-shaped member on the at least one clip connector.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

inserting a portion of the T-shaped member through a slot formed in the vent housing body.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the slot is formed in a top wall of the vent housing body.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the slot is a single slot formed in the top wall of the vent housing body and the single slot is located centrally between two sidewalls of the vent housing body.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

attaching at least one clip connector to the vent housing body via an end member on the at least one clip connector.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the end member is shaped complementary to and received within a perimeter channel formed in a rear surface of the vent housing body.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

inserting a portion of the at least one clip through a slot formed in the vent housing body when the end member is disposed within the perimeter channel.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (266)