Method and apparatus for eliminating register boxes, improving penetration sealing, improving airflow and reducing the labor costs to install ceiling registers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for eliminating register boxes, improving penetration sealing, improving airflow and reducing the labor costs to install ceiling registers is disclosed. A collar plate assembly that interfaces with flexible or metal air ducts is provided with at least one spring indentation ring in the collar portion of the assembly to accept two or more locking springs. These locking springs are used to attach the ceiling register to the collar plate assembly. The collar plate assembly uses mounting rails that attach the assembly to either ceiling or wall supports. After the ceiling or wall material is applied, the circular area inside the collar is cut-out to provide access. A trim ring is inserted in the cut-out that attaches between the collar and the ceiling or wall to eliminate air leakage and provide an essentially smooth flow of air from the supply duct into the inside of the structure. After ceiling or wall installation and surface preparation is completed, the ceiling register is simply positioned over the register cut-out and firmly inserted until it seals against the ceiling or wall surface. The ceiling register is locked into place by the action of its locking springs expanding into the collar indentation ring. No ceiling register mounting hardware is required.

1 . A method for rapidly attaching ceiling registers, comprising the steps of:
 providing a collar plate assembly with an interior indentation ring that is positioned to accommodate specific ceiling and surface coating thicknesses;   positioning and attaching said collar plate assembly between ceiling supports;   connecting air duct to said collar plate assembly;   positioning and connecting outer insulation of air duct to contact plate area of collar plate assembly;   installing ceiling by attaching to ceiling supports;   cutting an access hole in ceiling using the interior surface of collar plate as a guide;   finishing interior surface of ceiling;   and inserting ceiling register with integral locking springs into opening of collar plate assembly until said springs lock into said indentation ring.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the indentation ring is semicircular in shape. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the indentation ring shape is triangular in shape. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein discrete stepped indentation rings are used to accommodate a variety of ceiling and surface coating thicknesses. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the width of the indentation is used to accommodate a wider variety of ceiling and surface coating thicknesses. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the indentation ring is oriented in an opposite direction toward the center of the opening. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the indentation ring serves a secondary role as a stop for the tie wrap used to attach the air duct to the collar plate. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the collar plate assembly is captured using mounting rails that attach to the ceiling supports. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the collar plate assembly is attached directly to the ceiling supports using fasteners. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plate portion of the collar plate assembly is removed and the collar is attached to the ceiling supports with mounting rails connected to the side of the collar. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein flexible air duct is used. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein rigid metal air duct is used by direct connection to the crimped portion of the collar plate assembly. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the locking springs are made of spring steel. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the locking springs are made of stainless steel. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the locking springs are made of beryllium copper. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the locking springs are made of plastic. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the locking springs contain sharp points of contact with the indentation ring to improve locking resolution. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein more than two locking springs are used. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a trim ring with sealing compound is installed between the collar and the inside surface of the ceiling to provide an airtight passage into the interior space. 
   
   
       20 . A method for rapidly attaching ceiling registers, comprising the steps of:
 providing a conventional register box with an interior indentation ring that is positioned to accommodate specific ceiling and surface coating thicknesses;   installing said conventional register box by attaching between ceiling supports;   cutting an access hole in ceiling using the conventional register box flange of said conventional register box as a guide;   finishing interior surface of ceiling;   and inserting ceiling register with integral locking springs into opening of said conventional register box until said springs lock into said indentation ring.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said interior indentation ring is replaced with short indentation segments. 
   
   
       23 . A system for rapidly attaching ceiling registers, comprising:
 a collar plate assembly with an interior indentation ring that is positioned to accommodate specific ceiling and surface coating thicknesses;   said collar plate assembly is mounted between ceiling supports;   an air duct and outer insulation of air duct in connected to contact said collar plate assembly;   the ceiling is installed by attaching to the ceiling supports;   an access hole in ceiling is cut using the interior surface of collar plate as a guide;   the interior surface of ceiling is finished;   and a ceiling register with integral locking springs is inserted into opening of collar plate assembly until said springs lock into said indentation ring.   
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the shape of the indentation ring is semicircular. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 23  wherein shape of the indentation ring is triangular. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 23  wherein multiple indentations rings are used to accommodate a variety of ceiling and surface coating thicknesses. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the width of the indentation ring is used to accommodate a wider variety of ceiling and surface coating thicknesses. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the indentation ring is oriented in an opposite direction toward the center of the opening. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the indentation ring serves a secondary role as a stop for the tie wrap used to attach the air duct to the collar plate. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the collar plate assembly is captured using mounting rails that attach to the ceiling supports. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the collar plate assembly is attached directly to the ceiling supports using fasteners. 
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the plate portion of the collar plate assembly is removed and the collar is attached to the ceiling supports with mounting rails attached to the side of the collar. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 23  wherein flexible air duct is used. 
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 23  wherein rigid metal air duct is used by direct connection to the crimped portion of the collar plate assembly. 
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the locking springs are made of spring steel. 
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the locking springs are made of stainless steel. 
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the locking springs are made of beryllium copper. 
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the locking springs are made of plastic. 
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the locking springs contain sharp points of contact with the indentation ring to improve locking resolution. 
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 23  wherein more than two locking springs are used. 
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 23  wherein a trim ring with sealing compound is installed between the collar and the surface of the ceiling to provide an airtight passage into the interior space. 
   
   
       42 . A system for rapidly attaching ceiling registers, comprising:
 a conventional register box with an interior indentation ring that is positioned to accommodate specific ceiling and surface coating thicknesses;   said conventional register box is mounted between ceiling supports;   an access hole in ceiling is cut using the conventional register box flange as a guide;   the interior surface of ceiling is finished;   and a ceiling register with integral locking springs is inserted into opening of said conventional register box until said springs lock into said indentation ring.   
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said indentation ring is replaced with short indentation segments.