Air diffuser assembly with integral air return

Claim 2

In an air diffuser assembly means for use in a suspendedceiling integrated air distribution system wherein an air supply duct continuously overlies and is mounted on the diffuser assembly to supply air from a continuous outlet therealong to said diffuser assembly continuously therealong, the improvement comprising the provision of: blank-off means for selectively blanking off a portion of said diffuser assembly below said air supply duct outlet to prevent the passage of air from said outlet through said assembly at said portion; and vent meAns associated with said diffuser assembly and positioned on the room side of said blank-off means at said portion for selectively venting air from said room through said assembly into an attic space above said ceiling and outside of said duct.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said diffuser assembly includes a pair of spaced inverted T-bar members defining an air passage therebetween and supporting adjacent ceiling tiles in said ceiling, each said T-bar member including a vertical web extending above the associated ceiling tiles and wherein said vent means comprise a plurality of spaced openings through at least one web of said T-bar webs in a portion thereof above the associated ceiling tiles.

Claim 4

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said openings are continuously spaced along the web of each T-bar member of the assembly and means are provided for selectively blocking off certain of said openings where airflow from said plenum chamber outlet through the assembly is desired.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the assembly is initially provided with a series of spaced knock out plates which may be selectively removed to provide said vent means.

Claim 6

The improvement of claim 3 wherein said means provided for blocking said openings comprise a plate mounted to said assembly.

Claim 7

The improvement of claim 4 wherein means are provided for selectively closing said vent means provided by removing said knock out plates,

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 6 wherein said means provided for selectively closing said vent means includes a plate slidably mounted to said assembly.

Claim 9

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the blank-off means comprises: a U-shaped channel member having a horizontal web; and a resilient pad at each end of the channel member located between the web thereof and the diffuser assembly to close the space therebetween.

Claim 10

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the blank-off means comprises: a horizontal plate mounted to the diffuser assembly; and resilient pads inserted between each end of the plate and the diffuser assembly to close the space therebetween.

Claim 11

An air diffuser for use in a suspended-ceiling integrated air distribution system including an elongated continuous air plenum chamber mounted on and supplying air through a continuous air outlet, opening into said assembly, and including an attic area above the suspended ceiling through which air return is accomplished, said air diffuser comprising: a pair of spaced ceiling tile support members supporting said air plenum chamber with the continuous air outlet between said member, supplying air to the room through the space between the support members, each of said members having a series of knock-out plates, said plates when removed, leaving return openings through the members into the attic; at least one vertical divider plate between the members, said divider plate dividing the space between the members into at least two sections; at least one extractor means mounted in one section and having vanes protruding into the plenum chamber to direct the air through the air outlet and between the members at the one section into the room; at least one blank-off means mounted in the other section and positioned between the return openings and the continuous air outlet, said knockout plates being removed to open the return openings, said blank-off means blanking off the direct flow of supply air from the continuous air outlet through the support members at the other section and through the return openings to the attic.

Claim 12

An air diffuser for use in a suspended-ceiling integrated air distribution system including an elongated continuous air plenum chamber mounted on and supplying air through a continuous air outlet, opening into said assembly, and including an attic area above the suspended ceiling through which air return is accomplished, said air diffuser comprising: a pair of spaced ceiling tile support members supporting said air plenum chamber with the continuous air outlet between said member, supplying air to the room through the space between the support members, each of said members having a series of knock-out plates, said plates when removed, leaving return openings through the members into the attic; at least one vertical divider plate between the members, said divider plate dividing the space between the members into at least two sections; at least one extractor means mounted in one section and having vanes protruding into the plenum chamber to direct the air through the air outlet and between the members at the one section into the room; at least one blank-off means mounted in the other section and positioned between the return openings and the continuous air outlet, said knockout plates being removed to open the return openings, said blank-off means blanking off the direct flow of supply air from the continuous air outlet through the support members at the other section and through the return openings to the attic.

Claim 13

An air diffuser assembly as in claim 10 wherein the extractor means and the blank-off means are selectively interchangeable to change the direction of airflow and a blocking plate is mounted to the support members over the once opened openings in the other sections to selectively close the openings, the knock-out plates in the one section being removed to selectively open the openings therein whereby the flow of air is reversed.

Claim 14

An air diffuser assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein the support members are made up of segments with one segment thereof being as long as one section and a framework is provided for connecting the segments together.

Claim 15

In a suspended-ceiling integrated air diffuser assembly including a continuous, or effectively continuous, air bar having spaced inverted T-bar ceiling tile supporting members, each including a vertical web extending above the ceiling tiles defining therebetween an air passage through the ceiling and an air supply duct associated continuously along said air bar in air supply relation to said air passage, the improvement comprising the provision of; vent means through portions of at least one web of said T-bar member above the level of the associated ceiling tiles for venting air from the room area below said ceiling tiles through said web to the attic space above said ceiling tiles outside of said duct, and blank-off means positioned between said vent means and air supply duct for blanking-off the air supply from said duct to said air passage in portions thereof where said vent means are provided.

Claim 16

In a suspended-ceiling integrated air diffuser assembly including a continuous, or effectively continuous, air bar having spaced inverted T-bar ceiling tile supporting members, each including a vertical web extending above the ceiling tiles defining therebetween an air passage through the ceiling and an air supply duct associated continuously along said air bar in air supply relation to said air passage, the improvement comprising the provision of; vent means through portions of at least one web of said T-bar member above the level of the associated ceiling tiles for venting air from the room area below said ceiling tiles through said web to the attic space above said ceiling tiles outside of said duct, and blank-off means positioned between said vent means and air supply duct for blanking-off the air supply from said duct to said air passage in portions thereof where said vent means are provided.