Cornice duct system

Abstract

An energy efficient air distribution system placed within the conditioned space of a building comprising a duct having an interior volume for conducting air. One of the exterior surfaces may have an ornamental design providing the impression the device is actually cornice molding. An opening extends through the duct wall for releasing conditioned air from the duct interior into the conditioned space. Opening is positioned on the duct to be visibly obscured. In one embodiment, a flow control mechanism is positioned adjacent to the opening for controlling the amount of conditioned flowing through the opening.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An air conditioning and diffusing device comprising: 
 a. a duct comprising at least a first duct wall creating an interior volume in which conditioned air flows;    b. at least one opening in the first duct wall to diffuse the conditioned air from the interior volume through the first duct wall into a conditioned space; and    c. an ornamental surface on an exterior surface of the first duct wall, the ornamental surface having a surface profile;    d. the opening extending through the surface profile in a manner to be visibly obscure from a viewer within the conditioned space.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface profile comprises a projection, the opening positioned adjacent to the projection to be visibly obscured from a viewer within the conditioned space.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow control mechanism positioned within the first duct wall that forms the ornamental surface, the flow control mechanism being selectively positionable between an open configuration, a closed configuration, and gradations therebetween.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is positioned at an upper edge of the ornamental surface.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is positioned at a middle section of the ornamental surface.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ornamental surface further comprises a recess sized to contain a lighting unit.  
     
     
         7 . An air conditioning and diffusing device comprising: 
 a. a duct to conduct conditioned air comprising at least a first duct wall and creating an interior volume in which the conditioned air flows;    b. an opening in the first duct wall to diffuse the conditioned air from the interior volume through the first duct wall into a conditioned space;    c. a projection positioned adjacent to the opening; and    d. a flow control mechanism positioned within the projection and selectively adjustable to adjust an amount of conditioned air moving through the opening.    
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the opening is positioned adjacent to a top surface of the duct.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a lighting unit positioned within a recess in the duct.  
     
     
         10 . An air conducting and diffusing device to be used within a conditioned space comprising: 
 a. a duct having an interior volume through which conditioned air flows, the duct comprising a first duct wall;    b. at least one opening in the first duct wall to diffuse the conditioned air from the interior volume through the first duct wall and into a conditioned space, the opening having a first end adjacent to the interior volume and a second end adjacent to the conditioned space, the opening being angled such that the first end is at a different plane than the second end; and    c. an ornamental surface on the exterior surface of the first duct wall with the opening extending through the ornamental surface.    
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising an insultative layer positioned within an interior of the duct.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a lighting unit positioned within a recess in the ornamental surface.  
     
     
         13 . A method of constructing a duct to diffuse air into a conditioned space comprising the steps of: 
 a. extruding a first section having an ornamental surface and having a length equal to the length of the conditioned space;    b. machining a series of openings within the ornamental surface;    c. connecting the first section to a second section to form a duct having an interior volume through which conditioned air flows; and    d. positioning a flow control mechanism within the first section.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising forming the second section through an extrusion process.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first section comprises a front section and the second section comprises a back section, further comprising connecting a top section and a bottom section to the duct.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising keying together the first and second sections.  
     
     
         17 . An air distribution system to distribute air throughout a conditioned space comprising: 
 a. a functional duct placed within the conditioned space, the first functional duct having: 
 i. an air opening to receive conditioned air from an exterior source;  
 ii. a duct wall that forms an interior volume through which the conditioned air flows;  
 iii. at least one opening in the duct wall to diffuse the conditioned air from the interior volume into the conditioned space; and  
 iv. an ornamental surface having a surface profile, the at least one opening extending through the surface profile at a point to be visibly obscure from a viewer within the conditioned space; and  
   b. at least one non-functional duct positioned within the conditioned space, the at least one non-functional duct having an exterior appearance like the functional duct;    c. the at least one non-functional duct and the functional duct being arranged within the conditioned space to form the visual appearance of a continuous molding.