INTEGRATED VENTILATION REGISTER FILTER

Abstract

A ventilation register includes a panel having a flange and a plurality of first apertures adapted to allow airflow through the panel, with each first aperture having a diameter or dimensions sufficient to allow movement of an object or entity through that first aperture. A filter is coupled to the ventilation register and has a plurality of second apertures adapted to allow airflow through the filter while inhibiting a movement of an object or entity through the filter.

Description

Claims

1. A ventilation register, comprising: a panel having a flange and a plurality of first apertures adapted to allow airflow through the panel, with each first aperture having a diameter or dimensions sufficient to allow movement of an object or entity through that first aperture;a filter integrated into the ventilation register, the filter having a plurality of second apertures adapted to allow airflow through the filter while inhibiting a movement of an object or entity through the filter;a housing with at least a portion of the housing disposed between the panel and the filter, the housing having side walls that form a hollow enclosure with front and back openings;wherein the flange is positioned about a periphery of at least a portion of the side walls and defines at least a portion of the front opening; andwherein the ventilation register is adapted to be disposed in a register boot so that the register is operable to allow a flow of air through the register while inhibiting a movement of an object or entity between the register and the boot.

2. The ventilation register of claim 1, wherein the ventilation register includes adjustable apertures to allow airflow to be controlled.

3. The ventilation register of claim 2, wherein the adjustable apertures are at least partially defined by rotatable slats.

4. The ventilation register of claim 2, wherein the adjustable apertures are at least partially defined by a slidable cover.

5. The ventilation register of claim 1, wherein the ventilation register includes a door or a slide that may be selectively opened and closed in order to remove objects or entities that have been caught by the filter, wherein the door or slide is disposed in the filter.

6. The ventilation register of claim 1, wherein a removable insert comprises the filter, the insert configured to fit within the housing.

7. The ventilation register of claim 1, wherein the filter is permanently affixed to the ventilation register.

8. The ventilation register of claim 1, wherein the ventilation register and the filter are a monolithic piece and wherein the ventilation register is affixed to a surface.

9. The ventilation register of claim 1, wherein: the flange contacts a floor surface;the filter is integrated with the housing;a ventilation register height is defined as the distance between the distal edge of the panel and the distal edge of the filter;the register boot has a boot depth measured from a floor surface to the bottom of the register boot; andthe ventilation register height is less than the boot depth.

10. The ventilation register of claim 1, wherein the filter is made of a metal mesh.

11. The ventilation register of claim 10, wherein each of the first apertures has a first cross-sectional area and wherein each of the second apertures has a second cross-sectional area that is less than one one-hundredth of the first cross-sectional area.

12. The ventilation register of claim 10, wherein each of the second apertures has a second cross-sectional area that is less than one two-hundredth of the first cross sectional area.

13. A ventilation register comprising: an airflow pathway having an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet and defining an airflow direction,a panel having a plurality of first apertures and a filter affixed to the panel, the filter having a plurality of second apertures, with both the panel and the filter disposed in the airflow pathway, the panel disposed nearer to the airflow outlet than the filter is to the airflow outlet, wherein each first aperture has a cross-sectional area that is normal to the airflow direction, and an average of the cross-sectional areas of the first apertures is defined as a first average cross-sectional area and each second aperture has a cross-sectional area that is normal to the airflow direction, and an average of the cross-sectional areas of the second apertures is defined as a second average cross sectional area;an airflow control structure provided in the airflow pathway, the airflow control structure including adjustable apertures, the adjustable apertures being adjustable between a fully open position and a fully closed position, wherein when the adjustable apertures are adjusted to the fully open position, each adjustable aperture has a cross-sectional area that is normal to the airflow direction, and an average of the cross-sectional areas of the adjustable apertures is defined as a third average cross-sectional area, and the second average cross sectional area is less than each of the first average cross-sectional area and the third average cross-sectional area; andwherein the ventilation register is adapted to be disposed in a register boot so that the register is operable to allow a flow of air through the register while inhibiting a movement of an object or entity between the register and the boot when the object or entity has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than both the first average cross-sectional area and the third average cross-sectional area, but larger than the second average cross-sectional area.

14. The ventilation register of claim 13, wherein the first apertures and the adjustable apertures are the same apertures.

15. The ventilation register of claim 13, wherein the register is configured such that, during normal operation, the air gauge pressure measured at the airflow inlet is at least 90% of the pressure at the airflow outlet.

16. The ventilation register of claim 13, wherein the filter is made of metal and wherein the second apertures have a diameter in the range of 0.5 mm to 6 mm.

17. The ventilation register of claim 13, wherein the register includes a filter element and wherein the filter element is heated or electrostatically charged and configured to kill bacteria or viruses.

18. The ventilation register of claim 19, wherein the register is configured such that, during normal operation, air speed measured at the airflow outlet is at least 90% of the air speed measured at the airflow outlet of a substantially identical register that does not include a filter.

19. The ventilation register of claim 19, wherein the register includes a battery pack, wherein the battery pack is configured to electrostatically charge or heat the filter or a filter element.

20. A ventilation register comprising: a panel including a flange configured to engage a floor surface, the panel having first apertures,a filter including second apertures, wherein: the filter is coupled to the panel and configured to trap objects and entities that enter the ventilation register;the second apertures are smaller than the first apertures; andthe filter is positionable in at least a first position and a second position, wherein when the filter is positioned in the first position, objects and entities are inhibited from passing through the ventilation register, and wherein when the filter is positioned in the second position, objects and entities trapped by the filter may be removed from the ventilation register.