Method and apparatus for delivering heated or conditioned air to a remote room in a structure

Abstract

The invention provides an integrated blower, motorized damper, and thermostat apparatus comprising an area-specific booster unit incorporated into selected locations of the ventilation ductwork of a building, which facilitates rapid delivery of heated or conditioned air to remote rooms in structures having a central source of forced air.

1 . An apparatus for delivering heated or conditioned air to a remote room in a building structure, the building structure having ventilation ductwork and a central source of forced air, the apparatus comprising: 
 a section of ductwork having a first end and a second end;    a booster fan portion disposed at said ductwork first end;    a motorized damper portion disposed at said ductwork second end; and    a thermostat portion positioned in the remote room and electrically connected to said booster fan portion and said motorized damper portion, wherein said thermostat operates to selectively activate said booster fan portion and open said motorized damper portion to boost the flow of direct heated or cooled air into the remote room, and to deactivate said booster fan portion and close said motorized damper portion when the desired temperature in the remote room is reached.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus for delivering heated or conditioned air to a remote room in a building structure of  claim 1  further including a housing for circuitry to drive said booster fan portion and said motorized damper portion.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus for delivering heated or conditioned air to a remote room in a building structure of  claim 2  wherein said housing is electrically coupled to a residential electrical circuit.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus for delivering heated or conditioned air to a remote room in a building structure of  claim 1  wherein said ductwork is connected to a room register.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus for delivering heated or conditioned air to a remote room in a building structure of  claim 1  wherein said booster fan portion comprises a blower impeller and a blower motor.  
   
   
       6 . A method for delivering heated or conditioned air to a remote room in a building structure, the building structure having ventilation ductwork and a central source of forced air, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a section of ductwork having a first end and a second end;    providing a booster fan at the ductwork first end;    providing a motorized damper at the ductwork second end;    providing a thermostat in the remote room and electrically connected to the booster fan and the motorized damper;    operating the thermostat to selectively activate the booster fan and open the motorized damper to boost the flow of direct heated or cooled air into the remote room, and to deactivate the booster fan and close the motorized damper when the desired temperature in the remote room is reached.