Air diffuser cover flap and method

Abstract

A system for preventing air within a room from entering an inactive air diffuser utilizing a diffuser cover flap attached to a surface around the diffuser made of a rigid lightweight material containing cavities for protruding diffuser levers. The cover flap has a flexible lip region permitting the cover flap to lift away from the diffuser when air is supplied through the diffuser into the room, and rest flush with the air diffuser when the system is inactive preventing conditioned air and airborne contaminants from re-entering the ductwork system.

1 . A device for the covering of typical air diffusers made of lightweight, flexible material, comprising:
 a front wall, opposite top and bottom walls, and opposite side walls;   a flexible lip connected to each of said walls;   said lip resting flush against the wall of a building or structure surrounding said diffuser when no air is leaving said diffuser;   a method of attaching said device to the wall of a building or structure surrounding a diffuser;   a plurality of insets formed into said front wall to accommodate various placements of louver levers; and   a portion of said lip hinged to allow the covering device to be pushed away from the diffuser by air being blown from said diffuser.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , including:
 a plurality of structural ridges formed into said front wall to provide stability and strength to said covering.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , including:
 said method of attaching said device to a wall of a building or structure including double-sided adhesive.   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , including:
 said top, bottom, and sidewalls creating an angle with said front wall greater than ninety degrees.   
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 said flexible material being of light-weight plastic.   
     
     
         6 . A method of delivering air to a room through standard HVAC processes, comprising:
 a typical room with a typical diffuser for supplying air to said room;   said diffuser including a plurality of louvers and a lever for controlling said louvers; and   a diffuser covering device made of flexible material and affixed to the wall adjacent to said diffuser, further comprising:
 a front wall, a top and bottom wall, and opposite side walls; 
 a lip connected to said top, bottom, and side walls, said lip resting flat against the building wall when air is not being forced through said diffuser; and 
 a plurality of insets formed into said front wall to accommodate the louver lever of said diffuser; 
   wherein said diffuser covering is forced to lift away from said building wall and said diffuser while air is being forced through said diffuser, allowing the air to enter the room, and when said air no longer is blowing into said room, said diffuser covering falls back against said building wall and covers said diffuser, preventing the air that was blown into the room from reentering said diffuser.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 said air is conditioned to be either heated or cooled and may or may not pressurize the room to be conditioned.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 said diffuser cover front wall contains a plurality of structural ridges to provide added structural integrity to said diffuser cover.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 said diffuser cover is comprised of lightweight flexible plastic.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 said diffuser cover lip contains a hinged portion adjacent to where said cover is affixed to said building wall;   said hinged portion allowing greater ease of flexibility when air is forced against said diffuser cover from said diffuser.   
     
     
         11 . A device for the covering of typical air diffusers made of lightweight, flexible plastic, comprising:
 a front wall, including a plurality of structural ridges for increased support;   top, bottom walls, and opposite side walls forming angles greater than ninety degrees with said front wall;   a flexible lip connected to each of said walls;   said lip resting flush against the wall of a building or structure surrounding said diffuser when no air is leaving said diffuser;   a method of attaching said device to the wall of a building or structure surrounding a diffuser including the use of double-sided adhesive;   a plurality of insets formed into said front wall to accommodate various placements of louver levers;   a portion of said lip hinged to allow the covering device to be pushed away from the diffuser by air being blown from said diffuser;   
     
     
         12 . A method of delivering conditioned air to a room through standard HVAC processes, comprising:
 a typical room with a typical diffuser for supplying air to said room;   said diffuser including a plurality of louvers and a lever for controlling said louvers; and   a diffuser covering device made of flexible plastic and affixed to the wall adjacent to said diffuser, further comprising:
 a front wall, a top and bottom wall, and opposite side walls; 
 a hinged lip connected to said top, bottom, and side walls, said lip resting flat against the building wall when air is not being forced through said diffuser; 
 a plurality of insets formed into said front wall to accommodate the louver lever of said diffuser; and 
 a plurality of structural ridges on said front wall for added structural integrity; 
   said conditioned air to be either heated or cooled and may or may not pressurize the room to be conditioned;   wherein said diffuser covering is forced to lift away from said building wall and said diffuser while air is being forced through said diffuser, allowing the air to enter the room, and when said air no longer is blowing into said room, said diffuser covering falls back against said building wall and covers said diffuser, preventing the air that was blown into the room from reentering said diffuser.