Adjustable register vent and grill assembly designed to fit all size standard air distribution boot openings

Abstract

An apparatus, methods and systems for an independent air register vent assembly having a register frame assembly, louver components, and a means to adjust the register frame assembly and louver components to a range of lengths and/or widths. A length and/or width adjustable grill assembly covers the register frame assembly. A removable motor-receiver is attached to operate the louver components. The motor-receiver places the louvers into open, closed, and one or more intermediate positions. The louvers may also be manually operated. A remote transmitter controls the motor-receiver. An optional digital thermometer on the transmitter passively displays the room temperature. Low battery and re-powering conditions move the louvers into fully open positions. The air register vent assembly is installable in one or more configurations: manual only, with motor-receiver, and/or with remote transmitter, depending on the option selected. The register vent assembly option can be changed in the field.

1 . An apparatus for selectively regulating airflow through an opening, the opening having a length and width, the apparatus comprising:
 means for sizing a regulating element, the regulating element comprising a housing, the housing comprising two fixed-width sides and two lengthwise adjustable sides, the fixed width sides having means for receiving one or more slats;   means for obstructing the opening with the regulating element, the means for obstructing comprising one or more lengthwise adjustable slats, the slats positioned lengthwise across the opening, rotatably affixed to the fixed width sides of the adjustable housing; and   means for varying the degree of obstruction, the means for varying comprising a lever or gear attached to the one or more lengthwise adjustable slats, operable to rotate the one or more adjustable slats into varying degrees of open or closed positions.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising:
 means for affixing the regulating element to the opening, the means for affixing comprising compression tabs disposed on the housing. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus for selectively regulating airflow through an opening of  claim 1 , further comprising means for incrementally rotating the slats, the means comprising a motor-receiver assembly removably disposed in the register assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising means for affixing the regulating element to the opening, the means for affixing comprising compression tabs disposed on the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the two lengthwise adjustable sides comprise three or more sections and the lengthwise adjustable slats comprise three or more sections. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising means for affixing the regulating element to the opening, the means for affixing comprising compression tabs disposed on the housing. 
     
     
         7 . A lengthwise adjustable grill assembly for covering a register housing of an airflow opening, the opening having a length and width, the apparatus comprising:
 a first end grill member, having an inward side and an outward side and airflow openings;   a second end grill member, having an inward side and an outward side and airflow openings;   a center grill member, having an inward side and an outward side and airflow openings;   wherein the center grill member is disposable between the first and second end grill members, the inward side of the center grill member overlappingly disposable on the outward sides of the first and second end grill members, the length of the overlap conformable to fit the length of the opening;   an open hinge disposed on each of the end grill members for receiving a hinge tab disposed on the register, the open hinge disposed on a lengthwise side of the inward side of the each of the two end grill members;   means for clasping disposed on an opposite non-hinged lengthwise side of the grill assembly for removably affixing to the register housing;   an opening for exposing an LED indicator disposed in the first end grill member;   an opening for exposing a manual lever or gear, disposed in the second end grill member;   deflection fins disposed in the openings of the first end grill member   deflection fins disposed in the openings of the second end grill member;   deflection fins disposed in the openings of the center grill member, wherein the direction of the deflection fins on one longitudinal side of the center grill member conform to the direction of deflection fins of the first end grill member and direction of the deflection fins on the other longitudinal side of the center grill member conform to the direction of deflection fins of the second end grill member; and   receiving members disposed on the inward side of the first and second end grill members for receiving a filter element, the filter element disposable across the openings of the first and second end and center grill members.   
     
     
         8 . The lengthwise adjustable grill assembly of  claim 7  further comprising receiving members disposed on the inward side of the center grill member for receiving the filter element. 
     
     
         9 . The lengthwise adjustable grill assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a lengthwise sizeable filter element, the filter element marked widthwise at a plurality of lengths for sizing to conform to the adjusted length of the adjustable grill assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The lengthwise adjustable grill assembly of  claim 7  wherein the material composition of the grill assembly in an adjusted length has a compressive strength on the outward side of the end and center members equal to or exceeding three hundred pounds. 
     
     
         11 . The lengthwise adjustable grill assembly of  claim 7  wherein the center grill member comprises two or more sections. 
     
     
         12 . A system for selectively regulating airflow through an opening, the opening having a length and width, the system comprising:
 a lengthwise adjustable register assembly;   one or more lengthwise adjustable slats, the slats rotatably affixed to the register assembly;   a motor-receiver assembly removably disposed in the register assembly;   a remote transmitter configured to send command signals to the motor-receiver assembly; and   wherein the motor-receiver assembly comprises a motor in mechanical communication with the slats, a receiver configured for receiving commands from the remote transmitter, and a controller to actuate the motor based on the received commands.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a lengthwise adjustable grill assembly disposed on the lengthwise adjustable register assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the grill assembly comprises the grill assembly of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         15 . A system for selectively regulating airflow through an opening, the opening having a length and width, the system comprising:
 a lengthwise adjustable register assembly;   one or more lengthwise adjustable slats, the slats rotatably affixed to the register assembly;   a motor-receiver assembly removably disposed in the register assembly,   a lengthwise adjustable grill assembly positioned and arranged for removable attachment onto the lengthwise adjustable register assembly; and   wherein the motor-receiver assembly comprises a motor in mechanical communication with the slats, a receiver configured for receiving commands from a remote transmitter, and a controller to actuate the motor based on the received commands.   
     
     
         16 . A system for remote controlling an airflow register comprising:
 a motor-receiver assembly positioned and arranged for removable attachment to a length-adjustable airflow register;   a remote transmitter configured to send command signals to the motor-receiver assembly;   wherein the motor-receiver assembly comprises a motor, a receiver configured for receiving commands from the remote transmitter, and a controller to actuate the motor, based on the received command signals;   wherein the remote transmitter comprises a digital thermometer and switches to send incremental open or close command signals.   
     
     
         17 . A lengthwise sizeable filter element having a length and a width, the filter element marked widthwise at a plurality of lengths for sizing to conform to an adjusted length of a length-wise adjustable grill assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The lengthwise sizeable filter of  claim 17  wherein the marked lengths are perforated. 
     
     
         19 . The lengthwise sizeable filter of  claim 17  wherein the marked lengths are scored. 
     
     
         20 . The lengthwise sizeable filter of  claim 17  wherein the filter is separable at the marked lengths. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for selectively regulating airflow through an opening, the opening having a length and width, the apparatus comprising:
 means for sizing a regulating element, the regulating element comprising a housing, the housing comprising two fixed-width sides and two lengthwise adjustable sides, the fixed width sides having means for receiving one or more slats;   means for obstructing the opening with the regulating element, the means for obstructing comprising one or more fixed lengthwise slats, the length of the slats conforming to the adjusted length of the lengthwise adjustable sides, the slats positioned lengthwise across the opening, rotatably affixed to the fixed width sides of the adjustable housing; and   means for varying the degree of obstruction, the means for varying comprising a lever or gear attached to the one or more fixed lengthwise slats, operable to rotate the one or more fixed lengthwise slats into varying degrees of open or closed positions.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  comprising:
 means for affixing the regulating element to the opening, the means for affixing comprising compression tabs disposed on the housing. 
 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for remote controlling an airflow register comprising:
 a motor-receiver assembly positioned and arranged for removable attachment to a length-adjustable airflow register;   wherein the motor-receiver assembly comprises:
 a motor, 
 a receiver configured for receiving commands from a remote transmitter, 
 a battery compartment for receiving a removable battery cartridge; 
 a controller configured to actuate the motor based on the received command signals; and 
 an indicator light in communication with the controller; 
   wherein the controller is configured to set the airflow register into the open position upon low battery condition detected by the controller.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus for remote controlling an airflow of  claim 23  wherein the controller is configured to actuate the motor to place the airflow register in one of an open, closed, or one or more intermediate open positions. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus for remote controlling an airflow of  claim 23  wherein the controller is configured to actuate the motor to place the airflow register in one of an open, closed, or three intermediate open positions. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for remote controlling an airflow register comprising:
 a remote transmitter configured to send command signals to a motor-receiver assembly, the motor-receiver assembly positioned and arranged for removable attachment to a length-adjustable airflow register;   wherein the remote transmitter comprises:
 a digital thermometer, 
 one or more switches to send incremental open or close command signals, 
 a display of the requested incremental open or close position, 
 a controller configured to send full open command signal upon re-powering of the remote transmitter. 
   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus for remote controlling an airflow of  claim 26  wherein the controller is configured to send command signals to the motor-receiver assembly to place the airflow register in one of an open, closed, or one or more intermediate open positions. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus for remote controlling an airflow of  claim 26  wherein the controller is configured to send command signals to the motor-receiver assembly to place the airflow register in one of an open, closed, or three intermediate open positions. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus for remote controlling an airflow of  claim 26  wherein the controller is configured to send full open command signal upon detecting a low battery condition and display an alert. 
     
     
         30 . An air register system comprising:
 a register frame assembly;   louver components;   means to adjust the register frame assembly and louver components to a range of lengths and widths.   
     
     
         31 . The air register system of  claim 30  comprising:
 an electric battery motor attached to the register frame assembly; 
 a wireless receiver attached to the electric battery motor; 
 a separate wireless transmitter comprising:
 a sliding potentiometer; 
 a digital thermometer; 
 
 wherein the electric battery motor is connected to the louver components; 
 wherein the louver components are disposed in the register frame assembly. 
 
     
     
         32 . A system for remote controlling an airflow register comprising:
 a motor-receiver assembly positioned and arranged for removable attachment to an airflow register;   a remote transmitter configured to send command signals to the motor-receiver assembly;   wherein the motor-receiver assembly comprises:
 a motor, 
 a receiver configured for receiving commands from a remote transmitter, 
 a battery compartment for receiving a removable battery cartridge; 
 a controller configured to actuate the motor based on the received command signals; and 
 an indicator light in communication with the controller; 
   wherein the controller of the motor-receiver assembly is configured to set the airflow register into the open position upon low battery condition detected by the controller;   wherein the controller of the motor-receiver assembly is configured to actuate the motor to place the airflow register in one of an open, closed, or one or more intermediate open positions;   wherein the remote transmitter comprises:
 a digital thermometer, 
 one or more switches to send incremental open or close command signals, 
 a display of the requested incremental open or close position, 
 a controller configured to send full open command signal upon re-powering of the remote transmitter; 
   wherein the controller of the transmitter is configured to send command signals to the motor-receiver assembly to place the airflow register in one of an open, closed, or one or more intermediate open positions;   wherein the controller of the transmitter is configured to send full open command signal upon detecting a low battery condition and display an alert.