Snap-in collar for air outlet assembly

Claim 2

A collar for mounting an air outlet grille member in an opening in an air duct, said air duct having an outer wall surface, an inner wall surface and an edge surface at said opening intersecting said wall surfaces at outer and inner corners, respectively, said collar comprising a collar member having a front side and a back side, said back side being adapted to bear directly against said outer duct wall surface in the operative position of said collar, two flange members affixed to said back side of said collar member at opposing locations for carrying an air outlet member, and two wing tabs on each of said flange members each pointing away from a said air outlet member, the distance between the outer points of one tab and the outer points of another tab in a said opposing position being greater than the corresponding dimension of said duct opening, said wing tabs being deflectable about an axis generally perpendicular to said duct opening from a normal free position for insertion of said tabs into said duct opening, said tabs having tapered leading edges operative to facilitate such insertion, said tabs being selfreturnable after insertion into said opening toward said free position, said tabs having progressively tapered trailing edges with a said trailing edge having an inner end with respect to said collar member and an outer end, a said tab being positioned and adapted to tightly engage said inner corner of said duct wall intermediate said ends of said trailing edge as said tab attempts to return to its said free position by rotating about said axis, said inward end of said tab trailing edge then being outside of said inner duct wall surface, said tab thus being operative to wedge said duct wall against said back side of said collar member in rattle-free engagement therewith despite any minor variations in the thickness of said wall from a predetermined dimension.

Claim 3

A molded unitary collar for mounting an air outlet grille member in an opening in an air duct, said air duct having an outer wall surface, an inner wall surface and an edge surface at said opening intersecting said wall surfaces at outer and inner corners, respectively, said collar comprising a substantially rectangular collar member having a front side and a back side, said back side being adapted to bear directly against said outer duct wall surface in the operative position of said collar, two flange members affixed to opposing rectangular legs of said collar member at the back side thereof for movably carrying a said air outlet member, and two wing tabs on each of said flange members each pointing away from a said air outlet member, the distance between the outer points of one said tab and the outer points of another tab on an opposing leg of said collar member being greater than the corresponding dimension of said duct opening, said wing tabs being deflectable about an axis generally perpendicular to said duct opening from a normal free position for insertion of said tabs into said duct opening, said tabs having tapered leading edges operative to facilitate such insertion, said tabs being self-returnable after insertion into said opening toward said free position, said tabs having progressively tapered trailing edges with a said trailing edge having an inner end with respect to said collar member and an outer end, a said tab being positioned and adapted to tightly engage said inner corner of said duct wall intermediate said endS of said trailing edge as said tab attempts to return to its said free position by rotating about said axis, said inward end of said tab trailing edge then being outside of said inner duct wall surface, said tab thus being operative to wedge said duct wall against said back side of said collar member in rattle-free engagement therewith despite any minor variations in the thickness of said wall from a predetermined normal dimension.

Claim 4

A molded unitary collar for mounting an air outlet grille member in an opening in an air duct, said air duct having an outer wall surface, an inner wall surface and an edge surface at said opening intersecting said wall surfaces at outer and inner corners, respectively, said collar comprising a substantially rectangular collar member having a front side and a back side, said back side being adapted to bear directly against said outer duct wall surface in the operative position of said collar, two flange members affixed to opposing rectangular legs of said collar member at the back side thereof for movably carrying a said air outlet member, and two wing tabs on each of said flange members each pointing away from a said air outlet member, the distance between the outer points of one said tab and the outer points of another tab on an opposing leg of said collar member being greater than the corresponding dimension of said duct opening, said wing tabs being deflectable about an axis generally perpendicular to said duct opening from a normal free position for insertion of said tabs into said duct opening, said tabs having tapered leading edges operative to facilitate such insertion, said tabs being self-returnable after insertion into said opening toward said free position, said tabs having progressively tapered trailing edges with a said trailing edge having an inner end with respect to said collar member and an outer end, a said tab being positioned and adapted to tightly engage said inner corner of said duct wall intermediate said endS of said trailing edge as said tab attempts to return to its said free position by rotating about said axis, said inward end of said tab trailing edge then being outside of said inner duct wall surface, said tab thus being operative to wedge said duct wall against said back side of said collar member in rattle-free engagement therewith despite any minor variations in the thickness of said wall from a predetermined normal dimension.