US3665838A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air chamber assembly
Assignee: Wilson Lighting Ltd
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Filing: 1970-01-29
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1990-01-29
Abstract
Abstract An air chamber assembly including two adjacently disposed fluorescent lighting units mounted in the ceiling of, for example, a commercial office or school, the assembly comprising an air chamber which is located within a space between the two lighting units and which is defined by a hollow air chamber casing, or air boot. The casing is formed with a ventilation air inlet duct through which air having the desired temperature and humidity may be supplied to the interior of the casing from a suitably located source of such air within the associated building. The assembly also comprises a support beam which is of inverted channel form in cross-section and which has a web portion, depending parallel limb portions, and outwardly directed flange portions projecting from the longitudinal edges of the limb portions of the beam remote from the web portion in a plane parallel to the plane containing the web portion. In certain embodiments of the invention, heat-fusible plates, rods or bodies are disposed between the web portion or the flange portions of the beam and the air chamber casing, thereby to maintain an edge portion of the casing a pre-determined spaced distance from the beam. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, heat-fusible strips are provided, each strip being secured to a portion of the casing which is pivotally mounted relative to the remainder of the casing, and to said remainder of the casing. Movement of the pivotal portions of the casing is thus prevented except on fusion of the heat-fusible strips, the pivotal portions of the casing each having an edge which is disposed in supported contact with the beam to maintain the above-mentioned edge portion of the casing at said pre-determined distance from the beam except on pivotal movement of the pivotal portions of the casing. The predetermined spaced distance between the above-mentioned edge portion of the casing and the beam defines a ventilation air outlet duct through which ventilation air may flow from the interior of the casing to the room space or the like below the assembly, the casing being urged under gravity in the downward direction to cause this edge portion of the casing to enter into air-tight sealing contact with the flange portions of the beam on fusion of the heat-fusible plates, rods, bodies or strips.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles G Shepherd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:40
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62C; A62C2/00; A62C2/06; A62C2/24; A62C2/241; A62C2/242; F; F24; F24F; F24F13/00; F24F13/02; F24F13/06; F24F13/078; F24F11/00; F24F11/30; F24F11/32; F24F11/33; F24F11/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
Air chamber assembly comprising means defining a hollow air chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a support member, and spacer means which comprises heatfusible means and which is disposed in supporting relation between the air chamber casing and the support member thereby to maintain an edge portion of the air chamber casing a predetermined spaced distance from the support member, said predetermined spaced distance defining a second air flow duct therebetween communicating with a space to be ventilated for the passage of ventilation air between the interior of the air chamber casing and said space, and the casing being urged under the influence of gravity acting on the casing in the direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter into substantially airtight sealing contact with the support member on fusion of the heat-fusible means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
Air chamber assembly comprising means defining a hollow air chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a support member, and spacer means which comprises heatfusible means and which is disposed in supporting relation between the air chamber casing and the support member thereby to maintain an edge portion of the air chamber casing a predetermined spaced distance from the support member, said predetermined spaced distance defining a second air flow duct therebetween communicating with a space to be ventilated for the passage of ventilation air between the interior of the air chamber casing and said space, and the casing being urged under the influence of gravity acting on the casing in the direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter into substantially airtight sealing contact with the support member on fusion of the heat-fusible means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
159 words
Air chamber assembly comprising means defining a hollow air chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a support member, and spacer means which consists of heat-fusible means disposed in supporting relation between the support member and the air chamber casing with the heat-fusible means bearing directly on the support member and on the air chamber casing, thereby to maintain an edge portion of the air chamber casing a predetermined spaced distance from the support member, said predetermined spaced distance defining a second air flow duct therebetween communicating with a space to be ventilated for the passage of ventilation air between the interior of the air chamber casing and said space, and the casing being urged in the direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter into substantially air-tight sealing contact with the support member of fusion of the heat-fusible means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
159 words
Air chamber assembly comprising means defining a hollow air chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a support member, and spacer means which consists of heat-fusible means disposed in supporting relation between the support member and the air chamber casing with the heat-fusible means bearing directly on the support member and on the air chamber casing, thereby to maintain an edge portion of the air chamber casing a predetermined spaced distance from the support member, said predetermined spaced distance defining a second air flow duct therebetween communicating with a space to be ventilated for the passage of ventilation air between the interior of the air chamber casing and said space, and the casing being urged in the direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter into substantially air-tight sealing contact with the support member of fusion of the heat-fusible means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
204 words
Air chamber assembly according to claim 2, wherein the support Member comprises a beam of inverted channel form in cross-section, the beam having a web portion, depending substantially parallel limb portions, and outwardly directed flange portions projecting from the longitudinal edges of the limb portions of the beam remote from the web portion in a plane substantially parallel to the plane containing the web portion; and the heat-fusible means comprises a pair of spaced plates of heat-fusible material, the opposed side edges of each of which are grooved with the lateral edge portions of the casing bounding a recess formed therein disposed within the grooves, the lower edge of each plate being in supported contact with the upper face of the web portion of the beam thereby to maintain said edge portion of the air chamber casing said pre-determined distance above the outwardly directed flange portions of the beam, while permitting the air chamber casing to descent under gravity with resultant entry of the web and limb portions of the beam into the recesses formed in the casing and entry of said edge portion of the casing into substantially air-tight sealing contact with the flange portions of the beam, on fusion of the plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
Air chamber assembly according to claim 1, wherein the heat-fusible means comprises at least one rod of heat-fusible material, one end portion of the rod being mounted in engagement with the support member and the other end of the rod supporting the air chamber casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Air chamber assembly according to claim 4, wherein said one end portion of the heat-fusible rod is in screw-threaded engagement with an aperture formed in the support member, thereby permitting variation in the magnitude of said pre-determined distance between said edge portion of the air chamber casing and the support member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
Air chamber assembly according to claim 1, including two adjacently disposed lighting unit structures each of which comprises spaced end walls and a member which rigidly interconnects the end walls and which is adapted to support at least one lamp, each end wall including an end wall portion and said flange portions which project from the inner wall portion, and which present edges, and the adjacent end walls of the two adjacently disposed lighting unit structures together constituting the air chamber casing, with the edges of the side flange portions of said adjacent end walls being secured together in a substantially air-tight manner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
Air chamber assembly according to claim 1, wherein the heat-fusible means comprises a body the upper surface of which presents two spaced, parallel flanges, a bracket member presented by the air chamber casing being disposed between said spaced, parallel flanges in supported contact with the body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
Air chamber assembly according to claim 7, wherein a rigid plate is pivotally mounted on the air chamber casing, said pivotal plate presenting an edge which is disposed substantially in contact with the web portion of the support beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
Air chamber assembly according to claim 8, wherein the pivotal plate is constituted by a portion of the air chamber casing bounded by two slots, one end of each of which communicates with an edge of the casing, and by a third slot which terminates adjacent to the other ends of said two slots, the third slot constituting the axis about which the pivotal plate may move relative to the casing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
Air chamber assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spacer means further comprises a rigid plate which is pivotally mounted on the air chamber casing, said pivotal plate presenting an edge which is disposed in supported contact with the support member thereby to maintain said edge portion of the casing said pre-determined distance from the support member and the heat-fusible means being secured to the pivotal plate and to the casing to prevent pivotal movement of the pivotal plate relative to the casing except on fusion of the heat-fusible means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
Air chamber assembly according to claim 10, wherein the pivotal plate is constituted by a portIon of the air chamber casing bounded by two slots one end of each of which communicates with an edge of the casing, and by a third slot which terminates adjacent to the other ends of said two slots, the third slot constituting the axis about which the pivotal plate may move relative to the casing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
192 words
Air chamber assembly comprising a hollow air chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a support beam of inverted channel form in cross-section, the beam having a web portion, depending substantially parallel limb portions, and outwardly directed flange portions projecting from the longitudinal edges of the limb portions of the beam remote from the web portion in a plane substantially parallel to the plane containing the web portion, and heat-fusible spacer means disposed between the web portion of the support beam and the air chamber casing thereby to maintain an edge portion of the air chamber casing a pre-determined spaced distance from the flange portions of the support beam, said pre-determined spaced distance constituting a second air flow duct for the passage of ventilation air from or to, respectively, the interior of the air chamber casing, and the casing being urged under gravity in the downward direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter into substantially air-tight sealing contact with the flange portions of the support beam on fusion of the spacer means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
192 words
Air chamber assembly comprising a hollow air chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a support beam of inverted channel form in cross-section, the beam having a web portion, depending substantially parallel limb portions, and outwardly directed flange portions projecting from the longitudinal edges of the limb portions of the beam remote from the web portion in a plane substantially parallel to the plane containing the web portion, and heat-fusible spacer means disposed between the web portion of the support beam and the air chamber casing thereby to maintain an edge portion of the air chamber casing a pre-determined spaced distance from the flange portions of the support beam, said pre-determined spaced distance constituting a second air flow duct for the passage of ventilation air from or to, respectively, the interior of the air chamber casing, and the casing being urged under gravity in the downward direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter into substantially air-tight sealing contact with the flange portions of the support beam on fusion of the spacer means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
Air chamber assembly according to claim 12, wherein the spacer means comprises a hollow body the upper surface of which presents two spaced, parallel flanges, a bracket member presented by the air chamber casing being disposed between said spaced, parallel flanges in supported contact with the hollow body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
Air chamber assembly according to claim 12, wherein a rigid plate is pivotally mounted mounted on the air chamber casing, said pivotal plate presenting an edge which is disposed substantially in contact with the web portion of the support beam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
Air chamber assembly according to claim 14, wherein the pivotal plate is constituted by a portion of the air chamber casing bounded by two slots, one end of each of which communicates with an edge of the casing, and by a third slot which terminates adjacent to the other ends of said two slots, the third slot constituting the axis about which the pivotal plate may move relative to the casing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
151 words
Air chamber assembly comprising means defining a hollow air chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a support member, and spacer means which comprises heat-fusible means and which is disposed in supporting relation between the air chamber casing and the support member with the heat-fusible means under compression thereby to maintain an edge portion of the air chamber casing a pre-determined spaced distance from the support member, said pre-determined spaced distance defining a second air flow duct therebetween communicating with a space to be ventilated for the passage of ventilation air between the interior of the air chamber casing and said space, and the casing being urged in the direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter into substantially air-tight sealing contact with the support member on fusion of the heat-fusible means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
151 words
Air chamber assembly comprising means defining a hollow air chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a support member, and spacer means which comprises heat-fusible means and which is disposed in supporting relation between the air chamber casing and the support member with the heat-fusible means under compression thereby to maintain an edge portion of the air chamber casing a pre-determined spaced distance from the support member, said pre-determined spaced distance defining a second air flow duct therebetween communicating with a space to be ventilated for the passage of ventilation air between the interior of the air chamber casing and said space, and the casing being urged in the direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter into substantially air-tight sealing contact with the support member on fusion of the heat-fusible means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
153 words
Air chamber assembly comprising means defining a hollow air chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a support member, and spacer means which comprises heat-fusible means and which is disposed is supporting relation between the air chamber casing and the support member, with the heat-fusible means not under tensile stressing, thereby to maintain an edge portion of the air chamber casing a pre-determined spaced distance from the support member, said pre-determined spaced distance defining a second air flow duct therebetween communicAting with a space to be ventilated for the passage of ventilation air between the interior of the air chamber casing and said space, and the casing being urged in the direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter into substantially air-tight sealing contact with the support member on fusion of the heat-fusible means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
153 words
Air chamber assembly comprising means defining a hollow air chamber casing, a first air flow duct formed in the casing for the passage of ventilation air to or from the interior of the casing, a support member, and spacer means which comprises heat-fusible means and which is disposed is supporting relation between the air chamber casing and the support member, with the heat-fusible means not under tensile stressing, thereby to maintain an edge portion of the air chamber casing a pre-determined spaced distance from the support member, said pre-determined spaced distance defining a second air flow duct therebetween communicAting with a space to be ventilated for the passage of ventilation air between the interior of the air chamber casing and said space, and the casing being urged in the direction to cause said edge portion thereof to enter into substantially air-tight sealing contact with the support member on fusion of the heat-fusible means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |