Air vent inserts

Abstract

An air vent insert for boosting circulation and/or purifying the air in the room in a safe and cost effective manner is disclosed. The insert includes a housing configured to be inserted into an air duct and covered by a face plate. The housing has a flange portion that rests on the wall or floor surrounding the duct opening and a body portion recessed in the duct to achieve a low profile design. The body portion contains one or more fans and/or air purification units coupled to an electronic control unit. For increased safety, the entire unit operates on low voltage DC power supplied from an AC/DC converter plugged into a standard 3 prong wall outlet.

1 . A device for circulating air in a room having an air duct opening in the floor or in a wall of the room, the device comprising: 
 a housing configured to be inserted into the air duct opening, the housing defining a flange portion and a body portion and defining at least one air passageway therethrough, the flange portion being configured to rest on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening and the body portion being sized to fit into the air duct when the flange portion is resting on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening;    the housing containing at least one DC powered fan and an electronic control unit therefore, the electronic control unit adapted to receive DC power from an external AC/DC converter; and    a face plate defining at least one grill covering the fan, the face plate further defining a power cord opening for connecting the electronic control unit to the external AC/DC converter.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the electronic control unit is wirelessly linked to a controller.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the controller includes a thermostat.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the air duct is one of a plurality of ducts from a central air heating or cooling unit and the controller is the controller of the central air heating or cooling unit.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the controller is a handheld remote control.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a motion sensor for activating the device.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the housing is unitary and the face plate further defines a recess to receive at least a portion of a cord from the external AC/DC converter.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising an air purification unit.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the air purification unit includes at least one of static electricity filter, ozone generator, UV generator, negative ion generator and photocatalytic oxidation.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the at least one fan is disposed between the air purification unit and the face plate.  
   
   
       11 . A device for purifying air in a room having an air duct opening in the floor or in a wall of the room, the device comprising: 
 a housing configured to be inserted into the air duct opening, the housing defining a flange portion and a body portion and defining at least one air passageway therethrough, the flange portion being configured to rest on the wall or the floor surrounding the duct opening and the body portion being sized to fit into the air duct when the flange portion is resting on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening;    an air purification unit coupled to the body portion of the housing, the air purification unit including at least one of static electricity filter, ozone generator, UV generator, negative ion generator and photocatalytic oxidation;    an electronic control unit in the body portion of the housing; and    a face plate having at least one grill covering the housing, the face plate defining an outer face facing the interior of the room wherein, when the device is installed in the air duct opening, the outer face is not more than 1.5 inches from a plane defined by the wall or floor surrounding the opening.    
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the face plate includes first and second grills and a control panel positioned between the grills.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 11  further comprising first and second fans mounted in the housing.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  further comprising a control panel on the face plate, wherein the fans operate at one of at least three different speeds and the control panel includes a visual indicator for indicating which of the three different fan speeds have been selected.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 11  further comprising a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of air being forced through the duct.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the electronic control unit is wirelessly linked to a controller.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the electronic control unit receives DC power from an external AC/DC converter.  
   
   
       18 . A device for circulating air in a room having an air duct opening in the floor or in a wall of the room, the device comprising: 
 a unitary plastic housing configured to be inserted into the air duct opening, the housing defining a flange portion and a generally rectangular body portion configured to be recessed into the air duct opening when the flange portion is resting on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening;    first and second DC powered fans positioned in the housing for circulating air in the room;    an electronic control unit for activating the fans; and    a face plate coupled to the housing and defining first and second grills covering the fans    
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18  further comprising an air purification unit.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the air purification unit includes an ozone generator, a source of UV light, a static electricity filter or a source of negative ions.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 18  further comprising a motion detector coupled to the electronic control unit.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the fans are powered by a battery in the housing.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 18  further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein the electronic control controls the fans based on a signal received from the temperature sensor.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 23  wherein the electronic control has a memory for storing temperature data and a processor for executing logic to control operation of the fans based on stored temperature data.  
   
   
       25 . A system, comprising: 
 a housing configured to be inserted into an air duct opening, the housing defining a flange portion and a body portion and defining at least one air passageway therethrough, the flange portion being configured to rest on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening and the body portion being sized to fit into the air duct when the flange portion is resting on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening;    at least one of a fan and an electrically powered air purification device in the housing;    an electronic control unit in the housing for controlling at least one of a fan and an electrically powered air purification device;    a face plate having a grill; and    an AC/DC converter for supplying DC power to the electronic control unit from a wall outlet.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the housing is a unitary plastic housing.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the fact plate includes a control panel.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 25  further comprising a motion sensor.  
   
   
       29 . A device for insertion into an air duct opening in a room wherein the air duct conveys air from a central furnace or air conditioner to the room, the device comprising: 
 a unitary housing defining a flange portion and a body portion, the flange portion being configured to rest on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening and the body portion being sized to fit into the air duct when the flange portion is resting on the wall or on the floor surrounding the duct opening;    the housing containing an electronic control unit and at least one fan for boosting the air flow from the central furnace or air conditioner into the room;    wherein the electronic control unit is electrically connected to the central furnace or air conditioner and receives electrical power directly therefrom.