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  Damper assembly for air handling systemDamper assembly for air handling system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080014859, Damper assembly for air handling system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]1. Field of the Invention [0002]The present invention relates generally to a damper assembly for an air handling system. More particularly, the present invention is a damper assembly configured to be readily installed within an air duct of an existing air handling system and operable for regulating air flow through the air duct. [0003]2. Technical Background [0004]Conventional air handling systems, such as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, include a central air plenum and a plurality of air ducts extending outwardly from the central air plenum to distribute air flow into a large open area, or into different rooms in a home or building. At the time of installation, a damper assembly may be provided in each air duct to adjust the air flow through the air duct. In a typical installation, the damper assembly is positioned in the air duct adjacent the central air plenum and manually adjusted by an external handle or lever. However, access to the various damper assemblies to change the air flow distribution throughout the system is often restricted. Alternatively, each air duct may terminate away from the central air plenum in a grate having movable shutters, commonly referred to as an "air diffuser." An air diffuser, however, cannot effectively handle a high flow rate without making a whistling noise when moved to a closed position. [0005]U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,615 issued to Edmisten discloses an air handling system having a central air plenum and a plurality of air ducts. Each air duct is provided with a damper assembly positioned in the air duct away from the central air plenum and adjacent the outlet end of the air duct. The damper assembly includes a damper plate pivotally mounted within the air duct about a pivot axis such that the damper plate can be adjusted between a closed position substantially transverse to the air duct and an opened position substantially parallel to the air duct. The damper assembly is positioned within the air duct at a location accessible from the outlet end so that a person may manually pivot the damper plate to regulate the air flow through the air duct. The damper assembly is configured to be positioned within an air duct at the time the air handling system is installed and is operable for regulating air flow through the air duct. However, the damper assembly of the '615 patent cannot be installed within an air duct of an existing air handling system without dismantling and subsequently reconstructing the air duct and surrounding infrastructure. In particular, no means is provided for readily installing the damper assembly in an existing air handling system. [0006]Accordingly, what is needed is a damper assembly configured to be readily installed within an air duct of an existing air handling system and operable for regulating air flow through the air duct. More particularly, a damper assembly is needed for an air handling system having at least one air duct where air flow adjustments are necessary and there is no means of readily installing a conventional damper assembly for regulating air flow through the air duct. A damper assembly according to the present invention satisfies this need, among others, while providing a method of readily retrofitting an existing air handling system having at least one air duct to include a damper assembly positioned within the air duct and operable for regulating air flow through the air duct. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007]In one aspect, the invention provides a damper assembly for regulating air flow through an air duct. The damper assembly includes a mounting plate for mounting the damper assembly to the air duct and a damper plate movably attached to the mounting plate. The mounting plate is inserted into the air duct and mounted adjacent an outlet end of the air duct. The mounting plate may be provided with a hook at one end for engaging the air duct, and more particularly, a boot collar disposed between the air duct and a boot. The mounting plate may also be provided with at least one through hole for receiving a fastener to secure the mounting plate to the air duct. More preferably, the mounting plate has a plurality of spaced apart through holes, at least one of the through holes receiving a fastener to secure the mounting plate to the air duct. The damper assembly further includes means for movably attaching the damper plate to the mounting plate and means for adjusting the position of the damper plate within the air duct. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting plate is relatively thin and has an elongate, generally rectangular shape and the damper plate is relatively thin and has a generally circular shape. [0008]In another aspect, the present invention provides a damper assembly including a mounting plate adapted for mounting adjacent an outlet end of the air duct, a damper plate movably attached to the mounting plate, means for movably attaching the damper plate to the mounting plate and means for adjusting the position of the damper plate within the air duct. The mounting plate is inserted into the outlet end of the air duct to install the damper assembly into an air duct of an existing air handling system. The means for movably attaching the damper plate to the mounting plate preferably includes a first mounting bracket attached to the damper plate and a second mounting bracket attached to the mounting plate by a pair of fasteners. Each fastener preferably consists of an externally threaded bolt, and internally threaded nut and a wave washer such that the first mounting bracket of the damper plate is attached to the second mounting bracket of the mounting plate with sufficient resistance to maintain the damper plate in a desired position within the air duct against forces generated by air flow through the air duct, while at the same time permitting the position of the damper plate to be adjusted without requiring the damper assembly to be disassembled. The means for adjusting the position of the damper plate preferably includes a bracket attached to the damper plate and having a flange portion extending outwardly from the damper plate. [0009]In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method of installing a damper assembly into an air duct of an existing air handling system. The method includes providing a damper assembly having a mounting plate and a damper plate movably attached to the mounting plate. The damper assembly is inserted into an outlet end of the air duct and the mounting plate is mounted to the air duct adjacent the outlet end. The method may further include providing means for movably attaching the damper plate to the mounting plate. The means for movably mounting the damper plate to the mounting plate preferably includes a first mounting bracket attached to the damper plate and a second mounting bracket attached to the mounting plate by a pair of fasteners. The fasteners preferably consist of an externally threaded bolt, and internally threaded nut and a wave washer such that the first mounting bracket of the damper plate is attached to the second mounting bracket of the mounting plate with sufficient resistance to maintain the damper plate in a desired position within the air duct against forces generated by air flow through the air duct, while at the same time permitting the position of the damper plate to be adjusted without requiring the damper assembly to be disassembled. The method may further include providing means for adjusting the position of the damper plate within the air duct. The means for adjusting the damper plate preferably includes a bracket attached to the damper plate and having a flange portion extending outwardly from the damper plate. [0010]Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following detailed description, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. [0011]It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present exemplary embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention, and together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles and operations thereof BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a damper assembly according to the present invention prior to being installed into an air duct of an existing air handling system. [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the damper assembly of FIG. 1 installed within the air duct with the damper plate in a fully opened position. [0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the damper assembly of FIG. 1 installed within the air duct with the damper plate in a fully closed position. [0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a means for adjusting the position of the damper plate within the air duct. [0016]FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing a preferred embodiment of a damper assembly according to the present invention in greater detail. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0017]Reference will now be made in greater detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. An exemplary and preferred embodiment of a damper assembly 20 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1 with the damper assembly outside an air duct 10 of an existing air handling system prior to installing the damper assembly into the air duct. As used herein, "existing air handling system" refers to an air handling system such as a commonly used heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, that is already (i.e., previously) installed and in which air flow adjustments are needed, but for which there is no means of readily installing a conventional damper assembly for regulating air flow through an air duct. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for readily retrofitting an existing air handling system having at least one air duct to include a damper assembly positioned within the air duct and operable for regulating air flow through the air duct. [0018]Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1-3, the air duct 10 extends outwardly from a central air plenum (not shown) of the previously installed air handling system into a large open area, or into a room of a home or building. The air duct 10 terminates in an outlet end typically comprising a boot 12 and a boot collar 14 for joining the boot to the outlet end of the air duct. As shown herein, the air duct 10 transitions from a generally circular cross-section at the outlet end of the air duct to a generally rectangular cross-section at the outlet end of the boot 12. The outlet end of the boot 12 typically extends through an opening formed in a floor or wall 15 of the room such that air flow through the air duct 10 is delivered to the room. The outlet end of the boot 12 is rectangular shaped in order to receive a conventional grate have movable shutters, as will be described in greater detail below. However, the outlet end of the air duct 10 and/or boot 12 may have any desired cross-sectional shape, for example circular, square, rectangular, elliptical, etc. The present invention is not limited by the specific size, shape and location of the outlet end of the air duct 10. The only requirement is that the outlet end of the air duct 10 is accessible from the interior of the room and that the damper assembly 20 is suitably sized and shaped to be inserted into the outlet end of the air duct from the room and conforms to the interior geometry of the air duct. [0019]Referring now specifically to FIG. 1, the damper assembly 20 comprises a damper plate 22 and a mounting plate 24. The damper plate 22 is movably attached to the mounting plate 24. As shown and described herein, the damper plate 22 is relatively thin and generally circular in shape, while the mounting plate 24 is relatively thin, elongate and generally rectangular in shape. The damper plate 22 and the mounting plate 24 may be made of any suitable material, such as plastic, composite or metal. Preferably, however, the damper plate 22 and the mounting plate 24 are made of the same lightweight and formable metal, such as aluminum. In particular, the mounting plate 24 should be substantially rigid, but at the same time capable of being formed to match the contour of the boot 12, as will be described. The damper plate 22, on the other hand, must be rigid enough to withstand forces generated by air flow through the air duct 10 without buckling or deforming appreciably. In practice, the geometric properties of the damper plate 22 and the mounting plate 24 contribute to their desired degree of stiffness. The damper plate 22 may be movably attached to the mounting plate 24 at any location such that the damper plate engages the outlet end of air duct 10 to regulate air flow through the air dust, as will be described in greater detail below. As shown, the damper plate 22 is movably attached to the mounting plate 24 at one end. However, the damper plate 22 may be movably attached to the mounting plate 24 at a medial location between the opposite ends of the mounting plate. The mounting plate 24 may also be provided with one or more through holes 26 adjacent the end opposite the damper plate 22, for a purpose to be described. [0020]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the damper assembly 20 installed within the air duct 10 with the damper plate 22 in a fully opened position. The damper assembly 20 is inserted into the outlet end of the boot 12 from the interior of the room and positioned with the damper plate 22 adjacent the outlet end of the air duct 10. Typically, the damper assembly 20 is inserted into the boot 12 until the end of the mounting plate 24 having the movably attached damper plate 22 is positioned adjacent a lip 13 of the boot collar 14 that meets the outlet end of the air duct 10. As shown, the end of the mounting plate 24 is provided with a hook 25 or other suitable means for engaging the lip 13 of the boot collar 14. The hook 25 is particularly useful to secure the end of the mounting plate 24 adjacent the damper plate 22 to the air duct 10 without special tools or equipment at a location within the air duct that is not accessible for a conventional fastener, such as a sheet metal screw. The mounting plate 24 is configured with sufficient length such that the end of the mounting plate opposite the damper plate 22 will typically extend outwardly from the outlet end of the boot 12. The mounting plate 24 may be provided with a series of spaced through holes 26 so that an appropriate one (or more) of the through holes may be utilized to secure the mounting plate to the interior of the boot 12 adjacent the outlet end with a common fastener 27, such as a sheet metal screw. Alternatively, the mounting plate 24 may be secured to the boot 12 by any other suitable means, such as adhesive, or by one or more rivets in the event sufficient access to the exterior of the boot 12 is available. Any excess length of the mounting plate 24, indicated by broken lines in FIG. 2, is removed (e.g. cut off) and discarded. The structural arrangement of the damper assembly 20 and the method of installing the damper assembly into the air duct 10 of an existing air handling system described herein represent the best mode of practicing the invention presently known to the inventor. However, many other structural arrangements and installations are possible and would be known or readily ascertained by one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, any such structural arrangements and/or installation methods are considered to fall within the intended scope of the present invention. Continue reading about Damper assembly for air handling system... Full patent description for Damper assembly for air handling system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Damper assembly for air handling system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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