Ventilation system diffuser and conduit

Abstract

An improved diffuser connectable to a duct of a ventilation system has a diffuser body, a collar extending outwardly away from the diffuser body, and a conduit slideably mounted in the collar. The conduit is slideably extendable from a retracted configuration, wherein substantially all of the conduit is enclosed in the diffuser body and the collar, into at least one extended position wherein at least a portion of the conduit is extended out of the retracted configuration away from the diffuser body and out of the collar for connection to the duct. Thus, the diffuser may be compactly stored for transport in the retracted position and then extended for attachment to the duct in the extended configuration. A retaining member on the conduit prevents the conduit from being involuntarily retracted back into the retracted configuration. A conduit for attachment to a diffuser is also provided.

1 . A diffuser connectable to a duct of a ventilation system, said diffuser comprising:
 a diffuser body;   a collar extending outwardly away from said diffuser body; and   a conduit slideably mounted in said collar, said conduit being slideably extendable from a retracted configuration, wherein substantially all of said conduit is enclosed in said diffuser body and said collar, into at least one extended position wherein at least a portion of said conduit is extended out of said retracted configuration away from said diffuser body and out of said collar for connection to said duct.   
   
   
       2 . The diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein said conduit has first and second ends, said first end being disposed outside of said collar in said first retracted position and extended further away therefrom when said conduit is extended into said extended position, said conduit further comprising at least one retaining member protruding outwardly away from said conduit towards said collar and angled away from said first end, said retaining member, when said conduit is in said extended configuration, abutting against said collar when said conduit is in said extended configuration to prevent sliding of said conduit therethrough back towards said retracted configuration. 
   
   
       3 . The diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein said collar and said conduit are cylindrically shaped. 
   
   
       4 . The diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein said portion comprises substantially all of said conduit. 
   
   
       5 . The diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein said conduit is made of a rigid material. 
   
   
       6 . The diffuser of  claim 2 , wherein said collar has a collar lip at a free end thereof, said collar lip protruding inwardly towards said conduit, said conduit being extendable into said extended configuration by extension outwardly through said free end, said retaining member extending over and abutting said collar lip when said conduit is in said extended configuration. 
   
   
       7 . The diffuser of  claim 6 , wherein said first end has a first end lip and said second end has a second end lip, said first and second end lips protruding outwardly towards said collar. 
   
   
       8 . The diffuser of  claim 7 , wherein said collar lip is situated between said first end lip and said second end lip and said first and second end lips overlap with said collar lip to prevent detachment of said conduit from said collar. 
   
   
       9 . The diffuser of  claim 7 , wherein said conduit has an exterior conduit surface extending between said end lips and which is in slideable abutting contact with said collar lip. 
   
   
       10 . The diffuser of  claim 7 , wherein said retaining member is situated proximal said second end lip and is spaced apart therefrom at a distance approximating a thickness of said collar lip, said collar lip being snuggly retained in abutment with said second end lip and said collar lip when said conduit is in said extended configuration. 
   
   
       11 . The diffuser of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one retaining member comprises a plurality of retaining members forming at least one retaining member set, said retaining members of each retaining member set being substantially equally spaced apart relative one another and positioned at a respective longitudinal position for said retaining member set relative said second end. 
   
   
       12 . The diffuser of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one extended configuration comprises a plurality of extended configurations, said conduit having, for each said extended configuration, a respective retaining member set. 
   
   
       13 . A conduit for connecting a diffuser to a duct of a ventilation system, the diffuser having a diffuser body and a collar protruding outwardly away therefrom, said conduit having at least one retaining member protruding outwardly away therefrom, said conduit being configured to be slideably mounted in the collar for slideable extension therethrough from a retracted configuration, wherein substantially all of the conduit is enclosed in the diffuser and the collar, into at least one extended configuration wherein at least a portion of said conduit is extended out of said retracted configuration away from said diffuser body and out of said collar for connection to said duct, the retaining member protruding outwardly beyond the collar in the extended configuration to prevent sliding of the conduit therethrough back towards the retracted configuration. 
   
   
       14 . The conduit of  claim 13 , wherein said conduit has first and second ends, said first end being disposed outside of the collar in said first retracted position and extended further away therefrom when said conduit is extended into said extended position, said retaining member protruding outwardly away from said conduit towards said collar and angled away from said first end and towards said second end. 
   
   
       15 . The conduit of  claim 13 , wherein said portion comprises substantially all of said conduit. 
   
   
       16 . The conduit of  claim 13 , wherein said conduit is made of a rigid material. 
   
   
       17 . The conduit of  claim 14 , said first end having a first end lip and said second end having a second end lip, said first and second end lips protruding outwardly towards the collar and overlapping a portion thereof to prevent detachment of said conduit from the collar. 
   
   
       18 . The conduit of  claim 17 , wherein said conduit has an exterior conduit surface extending between said end lips and which is in slideable abutting contact with said collar. 
   
   
       19 . The conduit of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one retaining member comprises a plurality of retaining members forming at least one retaining member set, said retaining members of each retaining member set being substantially equally spaced apart relative one another and positioned at a respective longitudinal position for said retaining member set relative said second end. 
   
   
       20 . The conduit of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one extended configuration comprises a plurality of extended configurations, said conduit having, for each said extended configuration, a respective retaining member set.