Duct fitting

Claim 2

A flow control assembly comprising: a duct having an opening therein having a pair of spaced tabs formed on the peripheral edge of said opening, one of said tabs extending inwardly of said opening and the other of said tabs extending outwardly of said opening; a fitting having a main body portion with a forward end and a rearward end, a flange on said main body portion encircling the forward end and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, said flange having a pair of tabs formed on the leading edge thereof, one of said flange tabs extending in a direction toward the main body portion and the other of said flange tabs extending in a direction away from said main body portion, a helically extending self-threading member being connected at one end to said flange adjacent said flange tabs, the outermost edges thereof being generally sharp, said flange being threadably mounted in the opening in said branch-out duct in a fluid-tight manner, said flange being disposed internally of said duct and said self-threading member cutting into said branch-out duct surrounding said opening, at least one abutment member formed in said main body portion rearwardly of said flange and spaced therefrom and a generally conically-shaped resilient tensioning ring encircling said main body portion abutting against said abutment member and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the narrowest portion of said conically-shaped ring being disposed against said abutment member with the widest portion thereof extending in a direction outwardly from the narrowest portion thereof away from said main body portion and abutting against said branch-out duct surrounding said opening; and a flexible duct fixedly secured to said main body portion.

Claim 3

A fitting for connecting a first duct to a second duct wherein one of said ducts includes a front wall having an opening therein, said fitting comprising: a main body portion having a forward end and a rearward end; a flange encircling the forward end of said main body portion and fixedly secured thereto and projecting radially outwardly therefrom; at least one abutment member formed on said main body portion rearwardly of said flange and spaced therefrom; generally conically shaped resilient tensioning means removably disposed on said main body portion abutting against said abutment member and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the narrowest portion of said tensioning means abutting against said abutment member and retained in fixed position on said main body portion with the widest portion thereof extending in a direction away from said main body portion and toward said flange, said tensioning means being adapted to be forced against the wall of said one of said ducts when said flange is inserted into said opening therein to thereby rigidly secure said main body portion to said one of said ducts and form a double seal between both said flange and said one of said ducts and the tensioning means and said one of said ducts, said main body portion includes a first portion having a forward end and a rearward end, said first portion being generally cylindrical in cross-section and of generally uniform diameter throughout substantially its entire length, a second portion integral with the forward end of said first portion, said second portion being generally conical in shape and having its widest portion at the forward end of said main body portion, said abutment member is disposed on said second portion and a raised annular bead encircles the second portion of said main body portion spaced rearwardly of said abutment member, spring retaining means disposed on said main body portion for preventing axial movement of a helical spring on the other one of said ducts and inserted over said main body portion in a direction away from said tensioning means, and said spring retaining means includes a plurality of spaced detents intergral with said main body portion extending outwardly therefrom, said detents being helically spaced on said main body portion and generally cup-shaped and curved outwardly and upwardly from a first point on said main body portion and in a direction away from the rear end of said main body portion.

Claim 4

A fitting for connecting a first duct to a second duct wherein one of said ducts includes a front wall having an opening therein, said fitting comprising: a main body portion having a forward end and a rearward end; a flange encircling the forward end of said main body portion and fixedly secured thereto and projecting radially outwardly therefrom; at least one abutment member formed on said main body portion rearwardly of said flange and spaced therefrom; generally conically shaped resilient tensioning means removably disposed on said main body portion abutting against said abutment member and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the narrowest portion of said tensioning means abutting against said abutment member and retained in fixed position on said main body portion with the widest portion thereof extending in a direction away from said main body portion and toward said flange, said tensioning means being adapted to be forced against the wall of said one of said ducts when said flange is inserted into said opening therein to thereby rigidly secure said main body portion to said one of said ducts and form a double seal between both said flange and said one of said ducts and the tensioning means and said one of said ducts, said main body portion includes a first portion having a forward end and a rearward end, said first portion being generally cylindrical in cross-section and of generally uniform diameter throughout substantially its entire length, a second portion integral with the forward end of said first portion, said second portion being generally conical in shape and having its widest portion at the forward end of said main body portion, said abutment member is disposed on said second portion and a raised annular bead encircles the second portion of said main body portion spaced rearwardly of said abutment member, spring retaining means disposed on said main body portion for preventing axial movement of a helical spring on the other one of said ducts and inserted over said main body portion in a direction away from said tensioning means, and said spring retaining means includes a plurality of spaced detents intergral with said main body portion extending outwardly therefrom, said detents being helically spaced on said main body portion and generally cup-shaped and curved outwardly and upwardly from a first point on said main body portion and in a direction away from the rear end of said main body portion.

Claim 5

A fitting for connecting a first duct to a second duct wherein one of said ducts includes a front wall having an opening therein, said fitting comprising: a main body portion having a forward end and a rearward end; a flange encircling the forward end of said main body portion and fixedly secured thereto and projecting radially outwardly therefrom; at least one abutmeNt member formed on said main body portion rearwardly of said flange and spaced therefrom; generally conically shaped resilient tensioning means removably disposed on said main body portion abutting against said abutment member and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the narrowest portion of said tensioning means abutting against said abutment member and retained in fixed position on said main body portion with the widest portion thereof extending in a direction away from said main body portion and toward said flange, said tensioning means being adapted to be forced against the wall of said one of said ducts when said flange is inserted into said opening therein to thereby rigidly secure said main body portion to said one of said ducts and form a double seal between both said flange and said one of said ducts and the tensioning means and said one of said ducts, said main body portion includes a first portion having a forward end and a rearward end, said first portion being generally cylindrical in cross-section and of generally uniform diameter throughout substantially its entire length; a second portion integral with the forward end of said first portion, said second portion being generally conical in shape and having its widest portion at the forward end of said main body portion, said abutment member is disposed on said second portion and a raised annular bead encircles the second portion of said main body portion spaced rearwardly of said groove, spring retaining means disposed on said main body portion for preventing axial movement of a helical spring on the other of said ducts and inserted over said main body portion in a direction away from said tensioning means, and said spring retaining means including a retaining member removably secured to said main body portion, said retaining member having a plurality of spaced detents extending outwardly therefrom, said detents being helically spaced on said retaining member.

Claim 6

A fitting for connecting a first duct to a second duct wherein one of said ducts includes a front wall having an opening therein, said fitting comprising: a main body portion having a forward end and a rearward end; a flange encircling the forward end of said main body portion and fixedly secured thereto and projecting radially outwardly therefrom; at least one abutmeNt member formed on said main body portion rearwardly of said flange and spaced therefrom; generally conically shaped resilient tensioning means removably disposed on said main body portion abutting against said abutment member and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the narrowest portion of said tensioning means abutting against said abutment member and retained in fixed position on said main body portion with the widest portion thereof extending in a direction away from said main body portion and toward said flange, said tensioning means being adapted to be forced against the wall of said one of said ducts when said flange is inserted into said opening therein to thereby rigidly secure said main body portion to said one of said ducts and form a double seal between both said flange and said one of said ducts and the tensioning means and said one of said ducts, said main body portion includes a first portion having a forward end and a rearward end, said first portion being generally cylindrical in cross-section and of generally uniform diameter throughout substantially its entire length; a second portion integral with the forward end of said first portion, said second portion being generally conical in shape and having its widest portion at the forward end of said main body portion, said abutment member is disposed on said second portion and a raised annular bead encircles the second portion of said main body portion spaced rearwardly of said groove, spring retaining means disposed on said main body portion for preventing axial movement of a helical spring on the other of said ducts and inserted over said main body portion in a direction away from said tensioning means, and said spring retaining means including a retaining member removably secured to said main body portion, said retaining member having a plurality of spaced detents extending outwardly therefrom, said detents being helically spaced on said retaining member.

Claim 7

A flow control assembly comprising: a duct having a front wall with an opening therein, a fitting having a main body portion with a forward end and a rearward end, said fitting having a flange encircling the forward end of said main body portion and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, said flange being insertable into the opening in said branch-out duct in a fluid-tight manner with said flange being disposed internally of said opening, at least one abutment member disposed on said main body portion rearwardly of said flange and spaced therefrom, and generally conically-shaped resilient tensioning means removably encircling said main body portion abutting against said abutment member and retained in fixed position on said main body portion and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the narrowest portion of said conically-shaped tensioning means being disposed against said abutment member with the widest portion thereof extending in a direction outwardly from the narrowest portion away from said main body portion and abutting against said branch-out duct surrounding said opening; a flexible duct fixedly secured to said main body portion, said flexible duct includes a helical spring encircling a substantial portion of said main body portion, a generally cylindrical reinforcing liner encircling said wire, and a generally cylindrical vapor barrier cover encircling said insulating liner, and spring retaining means disposed on said main body portion for preventing axial movement of said helical spring, inserted over said main body portion in a direction away from said tensioning means, said spring retaining means includes a retaining member encircling a substantial portion of said main body portion between said spring and said main body portion and having a plurality of spaced detents integral therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, said detents being helically spaced on said retaining member with one of said detents being disposed adjacent one turn of said helical spring and another of said detents being disposed adjacent another turn of said helical spring, both of said detents being disposed on the respective adjacent turn of said spring forwardly of the rear end of said main body portion, said detents being generally cup-shaped and curved outwardly and upwardly from a first point on said retaining member and in a direction away from the rear end of said main body portion.

Claim 8

A flow control assembly comprising: a duct having a front wall with an opening therein, a fitting having a main body portion with a forward end and a rearward end, said fitting having a flange encircling the forward end of said main body portion and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, said flange being insertable into the opening in said branch-out duct in a fluid-tight manner with said flange being disposed internally of said opening, at least one abutment member disposed on said main body portion rearwardly of said flange and spaced therefrom, and generally conically-shaped resilient tensioning means removably encircling said main body portion abutting against said abutment member and retained in fixed position on said main body portion and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the narrowest portion of said conically-shaped tensioning means being disposed against said abutment member with the widest portion thereof extending in a direction outwardly from the narrowest portion away from said main body portion and abutting against said branch-out duct surrounding said opening; a flexible duct fixedly secured to said main body portion, said flexible duct includes a helical spring encircling a substantial portion of said main body portion, a generally cylindrical reinforcing liner encircling said wire, and a generally cylindrical vapor barrier cover encircling said insulating liner, and spring retaining means disposed on said main body portion for preventing axial movement of said helical spring, inserted over said main body portion in a direction away from said tensioning means, said spring retaining means includes a retaining member encircling a substantial portion of said main body portion between said spring and said main body portion and having a plurality of spaced detents integral therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, said detents being helically spaced on said retaining member with one of said detents being disposed adjacent one turn of said helical spring and another of said detents being disposed adjacent another turn of said helical spring, both of said detents being disposed on the respective adjacent turn of said spring forwardly of the rear end of said main body portion, said detents being generally cup-shaped and curved outwardly and upwardly from a first point on said retaining member and in a direction away from the rear end of said main body portion.

Claim 9

In a fitting for connecting a rigid duct to a flexible duct wherein said rigid duct includes a front wall having an opening therein, said fitting including a main body portion having a forward end and a rearward end, a flange encircling the forward end of said main body portion and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the improvement which comprises: at least one abutment member disposed on said main body portion rearwardly of said flange and spaced therefrom; generally conically-shaped resilient tensioning means encircling said main body portion and abutting against said abutment member and retained in fixed position on said main body portion projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the narrowest portion of said conically-shaped tensioning means being disposed against said abutment member with the widest portion thereof extending in a direction outwardly from the narrowest portion away from said main body portion, spring retaining means disposed on said main body portion for preventing axial movement of a helical spring in said flexible duct inserted over said main body portion in a direction away from said tensioning means, and said spring retaining means includes a retaining member encircling a substantial portion of said main body portion between said wire and said main body portion and having a plurality of spaced detents integral therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, said detents being helically spaced on said retaining member, said detents being generally cup-shaped and curved outwardly and upwardly from a first point on said retaining member and in a direction away from the rear end of said main body portion.

Claim 10

In a fitting for connecting a rigid duct to a flexible duct wherein said rigid duct includes a front wall having an opening therein, said fitting including a main body portion having a forward end and a rearward end, a flange encircling the forward end of said main body portion and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the improvement which comprises: at least one abutment member disposed on said main body portion rearwardly of said flange and spaced therefrom; generally conically-shaped resilient tensioning means encircling said main body portion and abutting against said abutment member and retained in fixed position on said main body portion projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the narrowest portion of said conically-shaped tensioning means being disposed against said abutment member with the widest portion thereof extending in a direction outwardly from the narrowest portion away from said main body portion, spring retaining means disposed on said main body portion for preventing axial movement of a helical spring in said flexible duct inserted over said main body portion in a direction away from said tensioning means, and said spring retaining means includes a retaining member encircling a substantial portion of said main body portion between said wire and said main body portion and having a plurality of spaced detents integral therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, said detents being helically spaced on said retaining member, said detents being generally cup-shaped and curved outwardly and upwardly from a first point on said retaining member and in a direction away from the rear end of said main body portion.

Claim 11

A flow control assembly including the combination of a ventilation duct having an air flow passage therethrough and an opening through the side of said duct communicating with said air flow passage, a pair of spaced tabs formed on the peripheral edge of said opening in the ventilation duct, one of said tabs extending inwardly of said opening and the other of said tabs extending outwardly of said opening; a fitting having a main body portion with a forward end and a rearward end, a flange encircling the forward end of said main body portion and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, a pair of tabs formed on the leading edge of said flange, one of said flange tabs extending in a direction toward the main body portion and the other of said flange tabs extending in a direction away from said main body portion, a helically extending self-threading member connected at one end to said flange adjacent said flange tabs, said flange being threadably mounted in the opening in said branch-out duct in a fluid-tight manner, said flange being disposed inside of the branch-out duct and behind said opening and said self-threading member cutting into said branch-out duct surrounding said opening, at least one abutment member formed in said main body portion rearwardly of said flange and spaced therefrom, a generally conically-shaped resilient tensioning ring encircling said main body portion abutting against said abutment member and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the narrowest portion of said conically-shaped ring being disposed against said abutment member with the widest portion thereof extending in a direction outwardly from the narrowest portion thereof away from said main body portion and abutting against said branch-out duct surrounding said opening, and a flexible duct fixedly secured to said main body portion.

Claim 12

A flow control assembly including the combination of a ventilation duct having an air flow passage therethrough and an opening through the side of said duct communicating with said air flow passage, a pair of spaced tabs formed on the peripheral edge of said opening in the ventilation duct, one of said tabs extending inwardly of said opening and the other of said tabs extending outwardly of said opening; a fitting having a main body portion with a forward end and a rearward end, a flange encircling the forward end of said main body portion and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, a pair of tabs formed on the leading edge of said flange, one of said flange tabs extending in a direction toward the main body portion and the other of said flange tabs extending in a direction away from said main body portion, a helically extending self-threading member connected at one end to said flange adjacent said flange tabs, said flange being threadably mounted in the opening in said branch-out duct in a fluid-tight manner, said flange being disposed inside of the branch-out duct and behind said opening and said self-threading member cutting into said branch-out duct surrounding said opening, at least one abutment member formed in said main body portion rearwardly of said flange and spaced therefrom, a generally conically-shaped resilient tensioning ring encircling said main body portion abutting against said abutment member and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the narrowest portion of said conically-shaped ring being disposed against said abutment member with the widest portion thereof extending in a direction outwardly from the narrowest portion thereof away from said main body portion and abutting against said branch-out duct surrounding said opening, and a flexible duct fixedly secured to said main body portion.

Claim 13

A flow control assembly for a ventilating system including thE combination of a ventilating duct having an air flow passage therethrough and an opening through the side of said duct communicating with said air flow passage, a pair of spaced tabs formed on the peripheral edge of said opening, one of said tabs extending inwardly of said opening and into said passage, the other of said tabs extending outwardly of said opening, a hollow outlet fitting having a main body portion with an air flow passage therethrough and having a forward end and a rearward end, a flange encircling the forward end of said main body portion and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, a pair of tabs formed on the leading edge of said flange, one of said flange tabs extending in a rearward direction toward the main body portion of the fitting and the other of said flange tabs extending in a forward direction away from the main body portion of the fitting, said flange being threaded through the opening and disposed inside of said duct in a fluid-tight manner with the side of said duct surrounding said opening, at least one abutment member formed in said main body portion rearwardly of said flange and spaced therefrom, a generally conically-shaped resilient tensioning ring encircling said main body portion and abutting against said abutment member and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the narrowest portion of said conically-shaped ring being disposed against said abutment member with the widest portion thereof extending in a direction outwardly from the narrowest portion thereof away from said main body portion and abutting against said branch-out duct surrounding said opening, and a flexible duct fixedly secured to said main body portion.

Claim 14

A flow control assembly for a ventilating system including thE combination of a ventilating duct having an air flow passage therethrough and an opening through the side of said duct communicating with said air flow passage, a pair of spaced tabs formed on the peripheral edge of said opening, one of said tabs extending inwardly of said opening and into said passage, the other of said tabs extending outwardly of said opening, a hollow outlet fitting having a main body portion with an air flow passage therethrough and having a forward end and a rearward end, a flange encircling the forward end of said main body portion and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, a pair of tabs formed on the leading edge of said flange, one of said flange tabs extending in a rearward direction toward the main body portion of the fitting and the other of said flange tabs extending in a forward direction away from the main body portion of the fitting, said flange being threaded through the opening and disposed inside of said duct in a fluid-tight manner with the side of said duct surrounding said opening, at least one abutment member formed in said main body portion rearwardly of said flange and spaced therefrom, a generally conically-shaped resilient tensioning ring encircling said main body portion and abutting against said abutment member and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the narrowest portion of said conically-shaped ring being disposed against said abutment member with the widest portion thereof extending in a direction outwardly from the narrowest portion thereof away from said main body portion and abutting against said branch-out duct surrounding said opening, and a flexible duct fixedly secured to said main body portion.