Internal Air Damper

Abstract

An internal air damper is installed with each outlet of the residential air duct system to overcome any air imbalance that may occur within the system. The internal air damper includes a retainer sleeve plate, a damper plate, a pair of malleable tabs, and a plurality of retainer tabs. The damper plate is internally and concentrically connected to the retainer sleeve plate by the pair of malleable tabs and the retainer tabs are perimetrically connected around the retainer sleeve plate. The retainer tabs secure the internal air damper into an air duct and then the damper plate can be selectively flexed from a closed configuration to an opened configuration to balance an imbalance air flow before entering into a room or portion of a room.

Description

[0001] The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/102,888 filed on Jan. 13, 2015.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to an internal air balancing system of a building. More specifically, the present invention is an internal air damper apparatus for use within a building air duct system to manually adjust the air flow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Duct systems used in the ventilated cooling and heating of a building are often constructed with a branched architecture. More specifically, the main duct is connected directly to the source of cooled or heated air while many different branch ducts are distributed from the main duct. Each branch is a duct serving a single terminal where the conditioned air enters the zone, room or portion of a room that is to be cooled or heated. The branched architecture duct systems are generally utilized within residential homes and commercial buildings. In reference to residential homes, the residential air duct system needs to be leak free to meet standard building codes thus the existing commercial style air dampers that penetrate the air ducts do not work with the residential construction. Since the residential air duct system consists of many branches, the smallest available flex branch is 4'' and capable of delivering up to 100 CFM of air volume. Most residential applications, generally bathrooms and closets, that use a 4'' supply branch only requires 10 to 30 CFM by design. As a result, a standard 3-bedroom and 2-bathroom house has at least five 4'' lines can cause a common problem that is known as the air imbalance. For example, one room may receive increased amount of conditioned air compare to the required amount while another room may receive decreased amount of conditioned air compare to the required amount.

[0004] It is an objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus that efficiently and inexpensively solve the air imbalance within residential homes. More specifically, the present invention is an internal air damper that positions with each air outlets of the residential air duct system so that the internal air damper can be manually adjusted to solve any air imbalance within the residential air duct system. Due to the quick and easy installation, the present invention is able to construct a leak free air balancing system within new residential air duct systems or existing residential air duct systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in the closed configuration.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention in the closed configuration.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention in the opened configuration.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention in the opened configuration.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a side view of the present invention in the closed configuration.

[0010] FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention in the opened configuration.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a side view of the present invention in the opened configuration, showing the air flow of the air duct.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

[0012] All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0013] A residential ventilation system requires air balancing when first installed in new or remodeled building construction as balancing of the ventilation system encompasses the proper proportioning of the overall airflow between all of the various terminals in the ventilation system. In particular, each individual terminal in the ventilation system is assigned a specified air flow according to system specifications of the ventilation system. As may be appreciated, the air flow at any one terminal is highly interdependent with all the other terminals, since the terminals are interconnected through the various branches, submains, and the main duct system. The present invention, an internal air damper, is a low cost air damper that can manually adjust to the normal airflow in a terminal to the desired air flow of the terminal. As a result, the present invention is able to provide a leak free apparatus for balancing air distribution in each terminal according to the system specifications. More particularly, the present invention provides for the manual balancing of the air flow within each individual terminal of the ventilation system so that each individual terminal can equally discharge conditioned air to one or more zones of the building through the ventilation system. In reference to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a retainer sleeve plate 1, a damper plate 5, a pair of malleable tabs 7, and a plurality of retainer tabs 8. The present invention is configured to place within the terminal and behind the outlet grill so that the air balancing can occur within the terminal. In order to meet the ventilation system specifications, components of the present invention are made into a single apparatus and preferably made of 24-gauge metal to efficiently install and function within the terminal.

[0014] In reference to FIG. 2, the retainer sleeve plate 1 functions as the platform member of the present invention and comprises a body 2, an outer edge 3, and an inner edge 4. The body 2 is extended from the inner edge 4 to the outer edge 3 as the shape of the retainer sleeve plate 1 is defined by the body 2, the inner edge 4 and the outer edge 3. Even though the retainer sleeve plate 1 of the preferred embodiment is shaped into a circular form, the retainer sleeve plate 1 of the present invention can be shaped into any other geometric shapes as long as the retainer sleeve plate 1 matches to the geometric shape of the terminal.

[0015] In reference to FIG. 2, the retainer tabs 8 are externally and perimetrically connected around the retainer sleeve plate 1 so that the retainer tabs 8 and the retainer sleeve plate 1 are able to secure the present invention within the terminal. More specifically, the retainer tabs 8 are adjacently connected with the outer edge 3 so that each retainer tab 8 is able to press against the inside wall of the terminal. Additionally, each of the retainer tabs 8 are equally spaced apart from each other so that the retainer sleeve plate 1 can be evenly pressed against the inside wall of the terminal. The preferred embodiment includes four retainer tabs 8, wherein each retainer tab 8 is positioned 90 degrees apart from each other along the circular shaped retainer sleeve plate 1. Additionally, the retainer tabs 8 of the preferred embodiment are angularly positioned with the retainer sleeve plate 1 so that the present invention can be easily inserted into the terminal without damaging the present invention or the terminal. The retainer tabs 8 are also designed to bend along the inside wall parameter of the terminal so that present invention is able fit though different size terminals. For example, the retainer tabs 8 can maintain the initial angular orientation leaving an empty space between the outer edge 3 and the inside wall parameter of the terminal or bend against the inside wall parameter of the terminal creating a snug fit.

[0016] In reference to FIG. 2, the damper plate 5 is concentrically positioned with the retainer sleeve plate 1 and internally connected to the retainer sleeve plate 1 by the pair of malleable tabs 7. More specifically, the pair of malleable tabs 7 is connected in between a lateral surface 6 of the damper plate 5 and the inner edge 4 of the retainer sleeve plate 1 as the sleeve pair of malleable tabs 7 is diametrically opposed of each other. As a result of the positioning of the pair of malleable tabs 7, the damper plate 5 can be selectively flexed from a closed configuration to an opened configuration to adjust the air flow of the terminal. Even though the damper plate 5 of the preferred embodiment is shaped into a circular form, the damper plate 5 of the present invention can be shaped into other geometric shapes as long as the damper plate 5 is able to freely flex within the retainer sleeve plate 1.

[0017] In reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 5, the closed configuration intends to block the air flow from the terminal. During the installation of the present invention, the retainer sleeve plate 1 is perpendicularly positioned with the air flow of the terminal as shown in FIG. 7. Then the closed configuration of the present invention is able to block the air flow from the terminal as the damper plate 5 is positioned parallel with the retainer sleeve plate 1 about the pair of malleable tabs 7. Once the present invention is installed within the terminal, the air flow can be balanced though the damper plate 5. More specifically, the present invention is manually flexed into the opened configuration from the closed configuration so that the desired amount of conditioned air can be discharged though the terminal. In reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 6, when the present invention is at the opened configuration, the damper plate 5 is angularly positioned with the retainer sleeve plate 1 about the pair of malleable tabs 7. Depending on the angle between the damper plate 5 and the retainer sleeve plate 1, the present invention is able to determine the amount of air flow that passes though the present invention. For example, when the damper plate 5 is perpendicularly positioned with the retainer sleeve plate 1, the present invention is considered to be fully opened. When the damper plate 5 is at a 60-degree angle with the retainer sleeve plate 1, the present invention considered to be partially opened. As a result, the present invention is able to provide an efficient and easy solution to air imbalance that normally occurs within the terminal.

[0018] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. An internal air damper apparatus comprises: a retainer sleeve plate; a damper plate; a pair of malleable tabs; a plurality of retainer tabs; the plurality of retainer tabs being externally and perimetrically connected around the retainer sleeve plate; the damper plate being concentrically positioned with the retainer sleeve plate; the damper plate being internally connected to the retainer sleeve plate by the pair of malleable tabs; and the damper plate being selectively flexed from a closed configuration to an opened configuration to adjust an air flow of a terminal.

2. The internal air damper apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the retainer sleeve plate comprises a body, an outer edge, and an inner edge; the body being extended from the inner edge to the outer edge; each of the plurality of retainer tabs being equally spaced apart from each other; and the plurality of retainer tabs being adjacently connected with the outer edge.

3. The internal air damper apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the pair of malleable tabs being diametrically opposed of each other; and the pair of malleable tabs being connected in between a lateral surface of the damper plate and an inner edge of the retainer plate sleeve.

4. The internal air damper apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the closed configuration; and the damper plate being positioned parallel with the retainer sleeve plate about the pair of malleable tabs.

5. The internal air damper apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the opened configuration; and the damper plate being angularly positioned with the retainer sleeve plate about the pair of malleable tabs.

6. The internal air damper apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retainer sleeve plate being perpendicularly positioned with the air flow of the terminal.

7. An internal air damper apparatus comprises: a retainer sleeve plate; a damper plate; a pair of malleable tabs; a plurality of retainer tabs; the retainer sleeve plate comprises a body, an outer edge, and an inner edge; the body being extended from the inner edge to the outer edge; the plurality of retainer tabs being externally and perimetrically positioned around the retainer sleeve plate; each of the plurality of retainer tabs being equally spaced apart from each other; the plurality of retainer tabs being adjacently connected with the outer edge; the damper plate being concentrically positioned with the retainer sleeve plate; the damper plate being internally connected to the retainer sleeve plate by the pair of malleable tabs; and the damper plate being selectively flexed from a closed configuration to an opened configuration to adjust an air flow of a terminal.

8. The internal air damper apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprises: the pair of malleable tabs being diametrically opposed of each other; and the pair of malleable tabs being connected in between a lateral surface of the damper plate and an inner edge of the retainer plate sleeve.

9. The internal air damper apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprises: the closed configuration; and the damper plate being positioned parallel with the retainer sleeve plate about the pair of malleable tabs.

10. The internal air damper apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprises: the opened configuration; and the damper plate being angularly positioned with the retainer sleeve plate about the pair of malleable tabs.

11. The internal air damper apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the retainer sleeve plate being perpendicularly positioned with the air flow of the terminal.

12. An internal air damper apparatus comprises: a retainer sleeve plate; a damper plate; a pair of malleable tabs; a plurality of retainer tabs; the retainer sleeve plate comprises a body, an outer edge, and an inner edge; the body being extended from the inner edge to the outer edge; the plurality of retainer tabs being externally and perimetrically positioned around the retainer sleeve plate; each of the plurality of retainer tabs being equally spaced apart from each other; the plurality of retainer tabs being adjacently connected with the outer edge; the damper plate being concentrically positioned with the retainer sleeve plate; the pair of malleable tabs being diametrically opposed of each other; the pair of malleable tabs being connected in between a lateral surface of the damper plate and an inner edge of the retainer plate sleeve; and the damper plate being selectively flexed from a closed configuration to an opened configuration to adjust an air flow of a terminal.

13. The internal air damper apparatus as claimed in claim 12 comprises: the closed configuration; and the damper plate being positioned parallel with the retainer sleeve plate about the pair of malleable tabs.

14. The internal air damper apparatus as claimed in claim 12 comprises: the opened configuration; and the damper plate being angularly positioned with the retainer sleeve plate about the pair of malleable tabs.

15. The internal air damper apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the retainer sleeve plate being perpendicularly positioned with the air flow of the terminal.