Air duct register with improved air flow

Abstract

A register for mounting on an opening of an air duct in a structure includes an annular face plate with a perimeter side wall sized and configured for a close fit with the opening. Two plenums are positioned inside the perimeter side wall, with a recess surrounding the plenums. Each plenum has a planar top surface that is adjacent or nearly co-planar with the annular face plate. The plenums open to the air duct and define a plurality of cavities beneath the top surface. A plurality of vent openings are defined in a perimeter wall of each plenum so that air from the air duct enters the plurality of cavities and flows through the plurality of vent openings and through the recess into the surrounding environment. The register presents a generally uniform aesthetic appearance between the face plate and the top surfaces of the plenums. The configuration of the cavities and vent openings creates turbulent air flow, thereby increasing the air flow through the register relative to louvered registers having the same flow area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A register for mounting on an opening of an air duct in a structure, the register comprising:
 an annular face plate sized to be seated on a surface of the structure surrounding the opening;   a perimeter side wall extending generally perpendicularly from said face plate, the perimeter side wall sized and configured for a close fit with said structure within said opening;   one or more plenums, each plenum defined by a planar top surface and a perimeter wall, said one or more plenums supported by said perimeter side wall with said planar top surface of each plenum adjacent said annular face plate and defining a recess between said perimeter wall of said one or more plenums and said perimeter side wall, each plenum including;
 a plurality of transverse panels extending between opposite portions of said perimeter wall to define a plurality of cavities beneath said top surface, said cavities opening into the air duct when the register is mounted on the opening; and 
 a plurality of vent openings defined in said perimeter wall between said recess and each of said plurality of cavities, whereby air from the air duct enters said plurality of cavities and flows through said plurality of vent openings and through said recess. 
   
     
     
         2 . The register of  claim 1 , wherein said register is a one-piece body. 
     
     
         3 . The register of  claim 1 , in which the opening of the air duct is rectangular, wherein said annular face plate is rectangular and said top surface of each plenum is rectangular. 
     
     
         4 . The register of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said perimeter wall of each plenum includes opposite side walls, extending along the long dimension of the rectangular shape of the plenum, and opposite end walls, and   said plurality of transverse panels extend between said opposite side walls.   
     
     
         5 . The register of  claim 3 , wherein plurality of panels includes five panels and said plurality of cavities includes six cavities. 
     
     
         6 . The register of  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom wall extending between said perimeter side wall and said perimeter wall of each of said one or more plenums, said bottom wall offset from said annular face plate and closing said recess from the air duct. 
     
     
         7 . The register of  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of ribs connected between said perimeter side wall and said perimeter wall of each plenum. 
     
     
         7 . The register of  claim 1 , wherein said register is a one-piece body. 
     
     
         8 . The register of  claim 1 , further comprising two plenums, wherein said recess is further defined between said two plenums. 
     
     
         10 . The register of  claim 1 , in which the opening of the air duct is rectangular, wherein:
 said annular face plate is rectangular;   said top surface of each plenum is rectangular;   said perimeter wall of each plenum includes an outer side wall facing said perimeter side wall, an inner side wall facing an inner side wall of the other plenum, and opposite end walls, and   said plurality of transverse panels extend between said outer side wall and said inner side wall of each plenum.   
     
     
         11 . The register of  claim 10 , wherein plurality of panels includes five panels and said plurality of cavities includes six cavities for each plenum. 
     
     
         12 . The register of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of resilient clips attached to the perimeter side wall, said clips configured and arranged to engage the underside of the structure at the opening to hold the register in the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The register of  claim 1 , further comprising a cam lock at opposite portions of said perimeter side wall, said cam lock including a locking wedge rotatably attached to said perimeter side wall to rotate to and from a locking position in which the locking wedge engages the underside of the structure at the opening to hold the register in the opening. 
     
     
         14 . The register of  claim 12 , wherein said cam lock includes a head defining a screw driver slot, said head disposed in and accessible through said recess. 
     
     
         15 . The register of  claim 1 , further comprising an annular shroud extending from said annular side wall, said annular shroud having a dimension from said annular side wall of 0.125-2.0 ins.