Suspended ceiling-mountable enclosure

Abstract

The present invention is a ceiling-mountable enclosure comprising a support frame, a lightweight inner enclosure, and a back box configured for installation in a suspended ceiling. The apparatus of the present invention includes a removable device door configured to be mounted to the support frame. Electrical and signal wires are routed through conduit access plates provided at the back box. Electrical or other equipment is mounted to a removable device door. The removable device door with mounted equipment is attached to the support frame, then rotated upwards to fit flush with the ceiling and fastened to the support frame. A variety of power receptacles are provided that are configured to be mounted to either the back box, the inner enclosure, or the removable device door. The enclosure includes a cooling system comprising an electrically powered fan and air ducts integrated into the inner enclosure. The air ducts include a textured surface that improves the air flow through the ducts.

1 . An air duct of an in-ceiling enclosure assembly, said air duct comprising a textured surface. 
     
     
         2 . The air duct of  claim 1  wherein said textured surface comprises a plurality of surface features. 
     
     
         3 . The air duct of  claim 1  wherein said textured surface comprises a pattern of surface features. 
     
     
         4 . The air duct of  claim 2  wherein said surface features comprise a plurality of dimples. 
     
     
         5 . The air duct of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of dimples are arranged in a pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The air duct of  claim 3  wherein said pattern comprises a icosahedral pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The air duct of  claim 4  wherein said pattern comprises a icosahedral pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The air duct of  claim 4  wherein said dimples are circular. 
     
     
         9 . The air duct of  claim 4  wherein said dimples are concave. 
     
     
         10 . The air duct of  claim 4  wherein said dimples are convex. 
     
     
         11 . The air duct of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of dimples have a plurality of sizes. 
     
     
         12 . The air duct of  claim 1  comprising an inlet in communication with an interior of said in-ceiling enclosure assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The air duct of  claim 12  comprising a fan adjacent to said inlet. 
     
     
         14 . The air duct of  claim 12  in which said inlet is disposed adjacent to a cooling fan of equipment mounted in said interior of said in-ceiling enclosure assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The air duct of  claim 1  comprising an outlet in communication with an exterior of said in-ceiling enclosure assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The air duct of  claim 1  wherein said air duct comprises a first surface formed in an interior enclosure of said in-ceiling enclosure assembly and a second surface formed by a backbox of said in-ceiling enclosure assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The air duct of  claim 16  wherein said textured surface comprises a portion of said first surface. 
     
     
         18 . The air duct of  claim 16  wherein said textured surface comprises a portion of said second surface. 
     
     
         19 . The air duct of  claim 1  wherein said textured surface is configured to prevent laminar flow across said textured surface. 
     
     
         20 . The air duct of  claim 13  wherein said fan is a variable speed fan controlled by a thermostatic controller.