Patent Application
20110244781
The present invention relates to air flow measuring devices and more particularly to adjusting the dimensions of the opening of a hood of an air flow measuring device.
Referring to
Air flow is measured using the air flow measuring device 100 by holding and aligning the top of hood 100 against an air flow opening and reading the airflow measurement on the readout device such a digital display. However, air flow openings, such as registers, diffusers, and grills, exist in a variety of sizes. To accurately measure the air flow from an air flow opening, the size of the opening of hood 110 should be as close as possible to the size of the air flow opening. Accordingly, although hood 110 is typically collapsible to fit into a carrying case, because hood 110 is of a fixed size, technicians must carry around numerous hoods of a variety of sizes to take readings for common air flow openings. To measure the air flow of a particular air flow opening, the technician must measure the air flow opening and then select, unfold, and place the correct sized hood 110 (if available) on the base 120 to measure the air flow. Carrying around multiple hoods 110 is bulk and costly, and replacing a hood 110 on a base 120 to match the size of an air flow opening is tedious and time consuming.
Embodiments of the present invention include methods and apparatuses for adjusting the size of an opening of a hood of an air flow measuring device to measure air flow. Methods and apparatuses include placing a first material including at least one flap over an opening of a hood to conceal at least a portion of the opening of the hood and adjusting the at least one flap to create a new opening for the air flow measuring device. In another embodiment, a second material including at least one flap is placed over the first material and the at least one flap of the first material and the at least one flap of the second material are adjusted to create a new opening for the air flow measuring device.
Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention adjust the size of the opening of a hood 110 based on the size of the air flow opening for which air flow measurements are to be taken. Embodiments of the present invention may reduce the number of hoods needed for air flow measurement or eliminate the need to have multiple hoods.
Flaps 210, 220, 230, 240 may include reclosable fasteners such as Velcro or any other fastening technology to secure flaps 210, 220, 230, 240 in an open or closed position. For example, referring to
Flap 200 may be attached to air flow measuring device 100 by any attachment means such as Velcro or any other attachment technology. In one embodiment, flap 200 may be attached to the hood 110 and can be flipped over the opening of air flow measuring device 100. Flap 200 may be detachable to or un-detachable from hold 110. One of ordinary skill in the art would know how to attach flap 200 to air flow measuring device 100.
Flap 200 may have any number of flaps with any dimensions to achieve any desired number of openings having any desired dimensions. One of ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure would know how to design a flap 200 to achieve a desire number of openings have desired dimensions.
For example, referring to
Flaps 310, 320, 330, 340 may include reclosable fasteners such as Velcro or any other fastening technology to secure flaps 310, 320, 330, 340 in an open or closed position. For example, referring to
Flap 300 may be attached to air flow measuring device 100 by any attachment means such as Velcro or any other attachment technology. In one embodiment, flap 300 may be attached to the hood 110 and can be flipped over the opening of air flow measuring device 100. Flap 300 may be detachable to or un-detachable from hold 110. One of ordinary skill in the art would know how to attach flap 300 to air flow measuring device 100.
Flap 300 may have any number of flaps with openings having any dimensions to achieve any desired number of openings having any desired dimensions. One of ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure would know how to design a flap 300 to achieve a desired number of openings have desired dimensions.
In another exemplary embodiment, flap 200 and flap 300 are used together to adjust the dimensions of the opening of hood 110.
The combinations of flaps 200, 300 may be used to adjust the opening of hood 110 to have numerous dimensions at various locations.
Flaps 200, 300 may be made of any appropriate material to measure airflow. In one embodiment, flaps 200, 300 are made of the same material of which hood 110 is made. One of ordinary skill in the art would know which material to use to make flaps 200, 300.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the forgoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in an embodiment” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.
