IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0288795
(2011-11-03)
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등록번호 |
US-8434526
(2013-05-07)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Pinkalla, Cary
- Heim, Frank
- Gebke, Kevin J.
- Kaufman, Nicholas L.
- Niehaus, William A.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
14 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
Pliable-wall air ducts with suspended frames are disclosed herein. An example air duct system includes an air duct having a pliable sidewall to extend in a longitudinal direction, the pliable sidewall having a total weight and a framework to be disposed within the air duct. The framework includes a
Pliable-wall air ducts with suspended frames are disclosed herein. An example air duct system includes an air duct having a pliable sidewall to extend in a longitudinal direction, the pliable sidewall having a total weight and a framework to be disposed within the air duct. The framework includes a shaft extending in the longitudinal direction, a rib to engage an inner surface of the air duct and a plurality of spokes connecting the rib to the shaft. The example air duct system includes one or more hangers comprising an elongate member having an upper section and a lower section. The lower section to extend through a corresponding opening defined by the pliable side wall and to be coupled to the framework. Most of the total weight of the pliable sidewall is to be carried by the framework.
대표청구항
▼
1. An air duct system, comprising: an air duct having a pliable sidewall to extend in a longitudinal direction, the pliable sidewall defining a plurality of openings, the pliable sidewall having a total weight;a framework to be disposed within the air duct, the framework comprising a material of les
1. An air duct system, comprising: an air duct having a pliable sidewall to extend in a longitudinal direction, the pliable sidewall defining a plurality of openings, the pliable sidewall having a total weight;a framework to be disposed within the air duct, the framework comprising a material of less flexibility than that of the pliable sidewall, the framework further comprising: a shaft extending in the longitudinal direction;a rib to engage an inner surface of the air duct; anda plurality of spokes connecting the rib to the shaft; anda plurality of hangers corresponding to the plurality of openings, each hanger of the plurality of hangers comprising an elongate member having an upper section and a lower section, the lower section to be coupled to the framework via access through a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings, and most of the total weight of the pliable sidewall to be carried by the framework. 2. An air duct system, comprising: an air duct having a pliable sidewall in a tubular shape to define a longitudinal direction, the pliable sidewall having a total weight;a framework disposed within the air duct, the framework comprising: a material of less flexibility than that of the pliable sidewall,a shaft being of adjustable length by virtue of the shaft having a section of adjustable overlap in the longitudinal direction; anda plurality of ribs coupled to the shaft, the ribs to engage an inner surface of the air duct; anda plurality of hangers with one or more of the hangers comprising an elongate member having an upper section and a lower section, the upper section being above the air duct, the lower section being coupled to the framework, and most of the total weight of the pliable sidewall being carried by the framework. 3. An air duct system, comprising: an air duct having a pliable sidewall in a tubular shape to define a longitudinal direction, the pliable sidewall defining a plurality of openings one or more of which have a more-open configuration and a less-open configuration;a framework to be disposed within the air duct, the framework comprising a material of less flexibility than that of the pliable sidewall, the framework comprising: a shaft to extend in the longitudinal direction; a plurality of ribs to engage an inner surface of the air duct, the plurality of ribs to be spaced apart in the longitudinal direction; anda plurality of spokes connecting the plurality of ribs to the shaft; anda plurality of hangers corresponding to the plurality of openings, one or more of the hangers comprising an elongate member having an upper section and a lower section, the lower section to be coupled to the framework via access through a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings. 4. The air duct system of claim 3, wherein the pliable sidewall has a total weight, and most of the total weight of the pliable sidewall is carried by the framework. 5. The air duct system of claim 3, wherein the air duct is to be in longitudinal tension, and the shaft is to be in longitudinal compression. 6. The air duct system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of openings are to be substantially at an uppermost surface of the pliable sidewall. 7. The air duct system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of openings are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. 8. The air duct system of claim 7, wherein each opening of the plurality of openings is a slit extending in the longitudinal direction. 9. The air duct system of claim 8, wherein the slit extends longitudinally from a first slit end to a second slit end, the slit in the less-open configuration is further selectively configurable in a first biased configuration and a second biased configuration, the slit being open more at the first slit end than at the second slit end when the slit is in the first biased configuration, the slit being open more at the second slit end than at the first slit end when the slit is in the second biased configuration. 10. The air duct system of claim 3, further comprising a releasable fastener associated with a respective one of the openings, the releasable fastener to holding the corresponding opening in the less-open configuration when the corresponding opening is in the less-open configuration. 11. The air duct system of claim 10, wherein the releasable fastener comprises a touch-and-hold fastener attached to the pliable sidewall. 12. The air duct system of claim 10, wherein the releasable fastener comprises a zipper attached to the pliable sidewall. 13. The air duct system of claim 3, wherein the lower section comprises a releasable connector to be selectively engaged or disengaged with the framework. 14. The air duct system of claim 3, wherein each hanger of the plurality of hangers extend through its corresponding opening of the plurality of openings. 15. The air duct system of claim 3, wherein the framework includes a plurality of protrusions extending upward through the plurality of openings. 16. The air duct system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of hangers include a plurality of length adjusters that provide the plurality of hangers with an adjustable length between the upper section and the lower section. 17. The air duct system of claim 3, wherein each rib of the plurality of ribs is a ring. 18. The air duct system of claim 17, wherein the ring is comprised of bar stock having a rectangular cross-section with rounded corners. 19. An air duct method, comprising: installing a framework inside an air duct, the air duct comprising a pliable sidewall in a tubular shape to define a longitudinal direction, the pliable sidewall having a total weight, the framework comprising a plurality of ribs that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction;suspending the framework from a plurality of hangers extending from an overhead support such that the framework supports most of the total weight of the pliable sidewall, the plurality of hangers being distributed and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction;after suspending the framework from the overhead support, adjusting in the longitudinal direction relative to the pliable sidewall a position of at least one rib of the plurality of ribs; andthe plurality of hangers suspending the framework after adjusting the position of the at least one rib. 20. The air duct method of claim 19, wherein the adjusting in the longitudinal direction relative to the pliable sidewall the position of the at least one rib of the plurality of ribs is performed by air-pressurizing an interior volume of the air duct. 21. The air duct method of claim 19, wherein the adjusting in the longitudinal direction relative to the pliable sidewall the position of the at least one rib of the plurality of ribs is performed by extending a length of the framework. 22. The air duct method of claim 19, wherein the pliable sidewall defines an opening providing access for coupling one hanger of the plurality of hangers to the framework, the air duct method further comprising adjusting the opening for accommodating adjusting in the longitudinal direction relative to the pliable sidewall the position of the at least one rib of the plurality of ribs. 23. The air duct method of claim 19, wherein the framework comprises: a shaft extending in the longitudinal direction;a plurality of rings serving as the plurality of ribs, the plurality of rings engaging an inner surface of the air duct; anda plurality of spokes connecting the plurality of rings to the shaft. 24. The air duct method of claim 19, further comprising: during at least one period, subjecting an internal volume of the air duct to a pressure no greater than a surrounding atmospheric pressure;during the at least one period, holding the pliable sidewall in longitudinal tension; andduring the at least one period, holding the framework in longitudinal compression.
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