Method and apparatus for desktop air conditioning

Abstract

A method and apparatus for desktop air conditioning provides conditioned air to individuals sitting at a desk. A raised floor air delivery system provides a plenum having conditioned air under the raised floor upon which the individual and their desk sit. Small ducts extend vertically up from the floor to the underneath side of the desk where they are connected to a desktop diffuser. The desktop diffuser directs air from the plenum generally horizontally across a top of the desk toward the chest and face of the individual. The desktop diffuser is low profile so as not to interfere with the surface of the desktop and its aesthetics.

1 . A method of providing desktop air conditioning in a building having a raised floor air distribution system, the system including an air handling unit for providing conditioned air and a raised floor with a plurality of floor tiles supported above a structural floor to define a plenum, and a desk having a desktop, the conditioned air being supplied to the plenum to keep it at a positive pressure variance when compared to a room above the raised floor, the method comprising:
 providing at least a first supply duct leading upwardly from and in fluid communication with the plenum, whereby conditioned air from the plenum may pass through the raised floor and up the supply duct; and   providing a desktop diffuser, the diffuser having a lower portion that is coupled with the first supply duct and an upper portion that is supported by the desktop, wherein the diffuser is positioned in a opening in the desktop, wherein the diffuser includes a grille with a plurality of fins, wherein the fins define air channels through which the conditioned air may pass from the supply duct, through the diffuser and into the room through the air channels, wherein the grille includes an upper surface, wherein the upper surface is generally parallel to the desktop, wherein the air channels provide passages through the upper surface, and wherein the fins are angled with respect to the upper surface of the grille at a degree sufficient to direct air from the diffuser in a direction that is generally along the desktop.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser includes a body portion, wherein the body portion is generally cylindrical, and wherein the body portion extends downwardly from the grille. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the fins are generally arcuate in shape, whereby the passages through the upper surface are generally arcuate in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the grille is a generally planar circle having an outer circumference, wherein the outer circumference of the grille is greater than an outer circumference of the generally cylindrical body, thereby creating a lip around the diffuser, and wherein the lip of the diffuser rests on the desktop. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser is a low profile diffuser such that the diffuser sticks up from the desktop less than one inch. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the diffuser sticks up from the desktop less than one quarter of one inch. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser further includes an air volume adjustment mechanism having a stationary plate and a movable plate, wherein the plates are positioned adjacent one another, below the grille, and generally parallel to the upper surface, wherein the plates include a plurality of openings therein, and wherein the movable plate is selectively movable between an open position, where at least one of its openings is aligned with at least one of the openings in the stationary plate, and a closed position, where none of the openings in the movable plate are aligned with the openings in the stationary plate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the movable plate includes a user engageable tab that protrudes upwardly from and is generally perpendicular to an upper surface of the movable plate, wherein the grille includes an arcuate slot there in, and wherein a portion of the tab is received in the slot, whereby a user may move the movable plate via engagement with the tab. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser includes a body portion that extends downwardly from the grille, wherein the body portion is received in the opening in the desktop, wherein the body portion has a central longitudinal axis, wherein the central longitudinal axis is generally vertical and perpendicular to the desktop. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the body portion is generally cylindrical and wherein the diffuser may be rotated in the opening in the desktop about the central longitudinal axis to alter the direction of air flow out of the diffuser. 
     
     
         11 . A desktop diffuser for use in an opening in a top of a desk as part of a desktop air conditioning system, the diffuser comprising:
 a grille portion having a plurality of fins which define air channels through which conditioned air may pass, wherein the grille includes a generally planar upper surface that is generally parallel to the top of the desk when the diffuser is received in the opening, wherein the air channels pass through the upper surface, and wherein portions of the fins are angled with respect to the upper surface of the grille such that a majority of air passing through the air channels and out of the diffuser is made to flow in a direction that is closer to parallel to the upper surface than it is to perpendicular to the upper surface; and   a body portion, wherein the body portion extends downwardly from a lower surface of the grille.   
     
     
         12 . The diffuser of  claim 11 , wherein a portion of the lower surface of the grille extends outwardly beyond the body portion to create a lip and wherein the diffuser is supported by the lip resting on the top of the desk when the diffuser is received in the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The diffuser of  claim 12 , wherein the lower surface of the grille that extends outwardly beyond the body portion to create the lip is less than half of one inch from the upper surface of the diffuser. 
     
     
         14 . The diffuser of  claim 11 , wherein the fins include an upper angled surface and a lower angled surface, wherein the upper angled surface faces the upper surface, and wherein a plurality of the upper angled surfaces are angled downwardly with respect to the upper surface between 15°-55°. 
     
     
         15 . The diffuser of  claim 14 , wherein a plurality of the upper angled surfaces are angled downwardly with respect to the upper surface approximately 35°. 
     
     
         16 . The diffuser of  claim 14 , wherein the lower angled surface faces downwardly and wherein a plurality of the lower angled surfaces are angled downwardly with respect to the upper surface between 15°-55°. 
     
     
         17 . The diffuser of  claim 11 , wherein the fins include an upper angled surface and a lower angled surface, wherein the fin further includes a ledge having a downwardly facing surface, wherein the ledge extends outwardly from an upper end of the lower angled surface, and wherein the downwardly facing surface of the ledge is generally parallel to the upper surface of the grille. 
     
     
         18 . The diffuser of  claim 11 , wherein the air channels provide passages through the upper surface, wherein the fins are generally arcuate in shape, and wherein the passages through the upper surface are generally arcuate in shape. 
     
     
         19 . The diffuser of  claim 18 , wherein the passages are concentric in shape from a point on the upper surface adjacent an edge of the upper surface. 
     
     
         20 . The diffuser of  claim 11 , wherein the diffuser is a variable volume diffuser further comprising:
 a stationary plate and a movable plate, wherein the plates are positioned adjacent one another, below the grille, and generally parallel to the upper surface, wherein the plates include a plurality of openings therein, and wherein the movable plate is selectively movable between an open position, where at least one of its openings is aligned with at least one of the openings in the stationary plate, and a closed position, where none of the openings in the movable plate are aligned with the openings in the stationary plate.   
     
     
         21 . The diffuser of  claim 20 , wherein the movable plate includes a user engageable tab that protrudes upwardly from and is generally perpendicular to an upper surface of the movable plate, wherein the grille includes an arcuate slot there in, and wherein a portion of the tab is received in the slot, whereby a user may move the movable plate via engagement with the tab. 
     
     
         22 . A low profile, variable volume, desktop diffuser for use in an opening in a top of a desk as part of a desktop air conditioning system having a conditioned air supply duct, the diffuser comprising:
 a generally circular grille portion having a lower surface and a generally planar upper surface, the grille having a plurality of stationary fins which cooperate to define air channels through which conditioned air may pass, wherein portions of the fins are angled with respect to the upper surface of the grille such that a majority of air passing through the air channels and out of the diffuser is made to flow at an angle that is less than 45° to the upper surface, the grille having an outer circumference of a first dimension;   a generally cylindrical body portion connected to and depending downwardly from the lower surface, wherein the body portion has an outer circumference of a second dimension, wherein the outer circumference of the body portion is less than the outer circumference of the grille portion such that an annular lip is formed having downwardly facing desktop engaging surface that is generally parallel to the upper surface of the grille, whereby the diffuser is supported in the opening in the desk by the lip, wherein the diffuser is rotatable in the opening; and   means for controlling the volume of conditioned air flowing through the diffuser.   
     
     
         23 . The diffuser of  claim 22 , wherein the cylindrical body portion is tubular in nature and includes an inner wall surface having at least one longitudinally extending ridge thereon, the means for controlling the volume of conditioned air flowing through the diffuser comprising:
 a stationary plate and a movable plate, wherein the plates are generally circular in nature, wherein the stationary plate has a larger circumference than the movable plate, wherein circumference of the stationary plate is less than a circumference of the inner wall, wherein the stationary plate includes a notch in an edge thereof, wherein the ridge is received in the notch to hold the stationary plate in place, wherein the plates are positioned adjacent one another, below the grille, and generally parallel to the upper surface, wherein the plates include a plurality of openings therein, and wherein the movable plate is selectively movable between an open position, where at least one of its openings is aligned with at least one of the openings in the stationary plate, and a closed position, where none of the openings in the movable plate are aligned with the openings in the stationary plate.   
     
     
         24 . A method of providing desktop air conditioning comprising:
 providing a desk having a generally horizontal and planar desktop with an opening therein;   providing a low profile diffuser having an upper surface with a plurality of passages therein through which conditioned air may pass and a support surface facing in a direction opposite of the upper surface;   receiving the diffuser in the opening of the desk such that the support surface engages the desktop; and   coupling a supply duct to a portion of the diffuser, whereby conditioned air may pass from the supply duct, through the diffuser, and out the upper surface of the diffuser.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the upper surface of the diffuser is less than half of one inch above the desktop when the diffuser is received in the opening.