Plenum partition baffle system

Abstract

A system for directing airflow within a plenum comprising sizeable, shapeable, and interconnectable baffles that can be nondestructively attached to plenum support structures. The system includes means for removably interconnecting the baffles and also for removably and non-destructively attaching the baffles to plenum support structure without tools.

1 . A plenum partition baffle system for use within the plenum of a raised floor, the raised floor having floor panels supported by one or more pedestals, the system comprising:
 one or more baffles scored both vertically and horizontally into segments such that the one or more baffles can be sized and shaped by the breaking apart or tearing off of segments from the one or more baffles;   the one or more baffles further having one or more scored aperture outlines, the portions of each baffle within the one or more scored aperture outlines being capable of removal from the baffle by the application of pressure upon those portions and wherein upon removal of a portion of each baffle within a scored aperture outline, a fastener-accepting aperture results that allows each baffle to be attached to the one or more pedestals and interconnected with another like baffle;   means for interconnecting the one or more baffles to another like baffle; and   means for attaching the one or more baffles to the one or more pedestals.   
     
     
         2 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more baffles can be sized and shaped without use of a tool. 
     
     
         3 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 1  wherein the means for interconnecting the one or more baffles to another like baffle does not require use of a tool. 
     
     
         4 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 1  wherein the means for attaching the one or more baffles to the one or more pedestals does not require use of a tool. 
     
     
         5 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more baffles can be removably interconnected to another like baffle and the means for interconnecting the one or more baffles to another like baffle allows for removable interconnection. 
     
     
         6 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 6  wherein the means for removably interconnecting the one or more baffles to another like baffle does not require use of a tool. 
     
     
         7 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more baffles can be nondestructively and removably attached to the one or more pedestals and the means for attaching the one or more baffles to the one or more pedestals allows for removable and non-destructive attachment. 
     
     
         8 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 8  wherein the means for removably and non-destructively attaching the plurality of baffles to the one or more pedestals does not require use of a tool. 
     
     
         9 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the one or more scored aperture outlines are oval or racetrack shaped and oriented horizontally on the baffle. 
     
     
         10 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the one or more baffles has a plurality of oval or racetrack shaped scored aperture outlines that are horizontally oriented in one or more rows on the baffle, and the horizontal distance between at least two adjacent scored aperture outlines is one inch. 
     
     
         11 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the one or more scored aperture outlines is oval or racetrack shaped and oriented vertically on the baffle. 
     
     
         12 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the one or more baffles is made from flame retardant polypropylene insulation. 
     
     
         13 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the one or more baffles has accordiated pleats. 
     
     
         14 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises one or more air blades mountable on at least one of the one or more baffles. 
     
     
         15 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the one or more baffles has scored lines creating horizontal strips. 
     
     
         16 . A plenum partition baffle system for use within the plenum of a drop ceiling, the drop ceiling having ceiling tiles held in a framework connected to one or more framework supports, the system comprising:
 one or more baffles scored both vertically and horizontally into segments such that the one or more baffles can be sized and shaped by the breaking apart or tearing off of segments from the one or more baffles;   the one or more baffles further having one or more scored aperture outlines, the portions of each baffle within the one or more scored aperture outlines being capable of removal from the baffle by the application of pressure upon those portions and wherein upon removal of a portion of each baffle within a scored aperture outline, a fastener-accepting aperture results that allows each baffle to be attached to the one or more framework supports and interconnected with another like baffle;   means for interconnecting the one or more baffles to another like baffle; and   means for attaching the one or more baffles to the one or more framework supports.   
     
     
         17 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 18  wherein the one or more baffles can be sized or shaped without use of a tool. 
     
     
         18 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 18  wherein the means for interconnecting the one or more baffles to another like baffle does not require use of a tool. 
     
     
         19 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 18  wherein the means for attaching the one or more baffles to the one or more framework supports does not require use of a tool. 
     
     
         20 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 18  wherein the one or more baffles can be removably interconnected to another like baffle and the means for interconnecting the one or more baffles to another like baffle allows for removable interconnection. 
     
     
         21 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 23  wherein the means for removably interconnecting the one or more baffles to another like baffle does not require use of a tool. 
     
     
         22 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 18  wherein the one or more baffles can be nondestructively and removably attached to the one or more framework supports and the means for attaching the one or more baffles to the one or more framework supports allows for removable and non-destructive attachment. 
     
     
         23 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 25  wherein the means for removably and non-destructively attaching the plurality of baffles to the one or more framework supports does not require use of a tool. 
     
     
         24 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 18  wherein at least one of the one or more scored aperture outlines is oval or racetrack shaped and oriented horizontally on the baffle. 
     
     
         25 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 18  wherein at least one of the one or more baffles has a plurality of oval or racetrack shaped scored aperture outlines that are horizontally oriented in one or more rows on the baffle, and the horizontal distance between at least two adjacent scored aperture outlines is one inch. 
     
     
         26 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 18  wherein at least one of the one or more scored aperture outlines is oval or racetrack shaped and oriented vertically on the baffle. 
     
     
         27 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 18  wherein at least one of the one or more baffles is made from flame retardant polypropylene insulation. 
     
     
         28 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 18  wherein at least one of the one or more baffles has accordiated pleats. 
     
     
         29 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 18  wherein the system further comprises one or more air blades mountable on at least one of the one or more baffles. 
     
     
         30 . The plenum partition baffle system of  claim 18  wherein at least one of the one or more baffles has scored lines creating horizontal strips. 
     
     
         31 . A baffle for use within a plenum, the plenum having one or more plenum support structures, the baffle comprising:
 both vertically and horizontally scored segments such that each baffle can be sized and shaped without tools by the breaking apart or tearing off of segments from the baffle; and   one or more scored aperture outlines, the portions of the baffle within the one or more scored aperture outlines being capable of removal from the baffle by the application of pressure upon those portions and wherein upon removal of a portion of the baffle within a scored aperture outline, a fastener-accepting aperture results that allows the baffle to be non-destructively and removably attached to the one or more plenum support structures and removably interconnected with another like baffle.   
     
     
         32 . The baffle of  claim 35  wherein at least one of the one or more scored aperture outlines are oval or racetrack shaped and oriented horizontally on the baffle. 
     
     
         33 . The baffle of  claim 35  wherein at least one of the one or more scored aperture outlines are or racetrack shaped and oriented vertically on the baffle. 
     
     
         34 . The baffle of  claim 35  wherein the baffle is made from flame retardant polypropylene insulation. 
     
     
         35 . The baffle of  claim 35  wherein the baffle further comprises accordiated pleats. 
     
     
         36 . A method for directing air flow in a plenum, the plenum having one or more plenum support structures, the method comprising:
 providing one or more baffles scored into segments and having one or more scored aperture outlines;   sizing and shaping the one or more baffles by breaking apart or tearing off segments from the one or more baffles;   creating one or more fastener-accepting apertures in each of the one or more baffles by removing a portion of each baffle within the one or more scored aperture outlines by applying pressure to the portion of each baffle within the one or more scored aperture outlines; and   attaching the one or more baffles to a plenum support structure by means of a fastener inserted through a fastener-accepting aperture.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the fastener-accepting apertures are created without use of a tool. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the one or more baffles are attached to a plenum support structure without use of a tool. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the one or more baffles are non-destructively and removably attached to a plenum support structure. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 41  further comprising interconnecting at least one of the one or more baffles to another like baffle. 
     
     
         41 . The method of claim  45  wherein the one or more baffles are interconnected without use of a tool. 
     
     
         42 . The method of claim  45  wherein the one or more baffles are removably interconnected.