Two piece vent assembly and method of use

Abstract

A filtered air vent apparatus has a vent housing body comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall defining a portion of an air passageway that extends between at least a first open end and a second open end. There is a grill hingedly attachable to the vent housing body and securable to the vent housing body. A connector provides a snap-in configuration that permits or effectuates toolless installation of the filtered air vent apparatus. A filter is selectively and removably positioned behind the grill and in the air passageway.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An air vent apparatus comprising:
 a vent housing body defining comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall that define a longitudinal direction therebetween, a top wall and a bottom wall that define a vertical direction therebetween, and a front surface and a rear surface that define a transverse direction therebetween, wherein the vent hosing body defines an air passageway that extends between at least a first open end and a second open end; and   at least one clip connector attached to the rear surface of the vent housing body, wherein the clip connector provides a snap-in attachment of the vent housing body to one of a wall and an air duct to effectuate a toolless installation of the air vent apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one clip connector includes:
 an upper clip connector attached to the top wall of the vent housing body.   
     
     
         3 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the upper clip connector is centered on the top wall between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a T-shaped member on the upper clip connector;   a slot formed in the top wall of the vent housing body, wherein the T-shaped member couples with the slot to attach the upper clip connector to the vent housing body.   
     
     
         5 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a clip arm of the upper clip connector, wherein the clip arm extends rearward in the transverse direction in a cantilevered manner from the rear surface of the vent housing body to a terminal end of the clip arm.   
     
     
         6 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an upwardly facing surface on the clip arm of the upper clip, wherein the upwardly facing surface tapers from an edge to the terminal end.   
     
     
         7 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a ledge on the clip arm of the upper clip connector that is located below the edge of the upwardly facing surface, wherein the ledge is located between the T-shaped member and the terminal end, wherein the ledge is configured to engage one of the wall and the air duct after the toolless installation of the vent housing body.   
     
     
         8 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one clip connector includes:
 a first lower clip connector attached to the bottom wall of the vent housing body.   
     
     
         9 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one clip connector further includes:
 a second lower clip connector attached to the bottom wall of the vent housing body, and the second lower clip connector is spaced apart from the first lower clip relative to the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         10 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first lower clip connector and the second lower clip connector are on opposite sides of a center of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         11 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first lower clip includes:
 an end member on the first lower clip connector that is configured to be received by a portion of the bottom wall of the vent housing body.   
     
     
         12 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the lower wall of the vent housing body that receives the end member on the first lower clip connector is a C-shaped channel, wherein the end member is shaped complementary to the C-shaped channel. 
     
     
         13 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a slot formed in the bottom wall of the vent housing body, wherein the slot receives a clip arm on the first lower clip.   
     
     
         14 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a louvered grill having a hinge flange, wherein the slot also receives the hinge flange on the grill that to hingedly connect the grill to the vent housing body.   
     
     
         15 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first lower clip includes:
 a clip arm of the first lower clip connector, wherein the clip arm extends rearward in the transverse direction in a cantilevered manner from the rear surface of the vent housing body to a terminal end of the clip arm.   
     
     
         16 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an downwardly facing surface on the clip arm of the first lower clip connector, wherein the downwardly facing surface tapers from an edge to the terminal end.   
     
     
         17 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a ledge on the clip arm of the first lower clip connector that is located above the edge of the downwardly facing surface, wherein the ledge is located between an end member and the terminal end, wherein the ledge is configured to engage one of the wall and the air duct after the toolless installation of the vent housing body.   
     
     
         18 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first clip connector attached to one of the top wall, the bottom wall, the first sidewall, or the second sidewall of the vent housing body;   a second clip connector attached to another one of the top wall, the bottom wall, the first sidewall, or the second sidewall of the vent housing body; and   wherein the first clip connector and the second clip connector provide a snap-in engagement to one of the wall and the air duct in the toolless installation of the vent housing body; and   a louvered grill hingedly attachable to the front surface of the vent housing body.   
     
     
         19 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a filter that is selectively and removably positioned between the louvered grill and the vent housing body.   
     
     
         20 . The air vent apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a plate that is selectively and removably positioned between the louvered grill and the vent housing body when the filter is removed, wherein the plate is operable to prevent or impede airflow through the louvered grill.