Externally Tensioned Pliable Air Ducts
AssigneeRite-Hite Holding Corporation
InventorsCary Pinkalla, Jeff Logic, Kevin J. Gebke, Nicholas L. Kaufmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Example air duct assemblies include an air duct including a tubular sidewall that is pliable, the tubular sidewall defining an interior of the air duct, the air duct elongate in a longitudinal direction. Example air duct assemblies include a hoop disposable within the interior of the air duct, the hoop providing the sidewall with support in a radial direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Example air duct assemblies include a cable disposable within the interior of the air duct, the cable to extend along a longitudinal length of the air duct, the cable to engage the hoop to help support a weight of the hoop and the tubular sidewall.
Claims20
An air duct assembly comprising:
- an air duct including a tubular sidewall that is pliable, the tubular sidewall defining an interior of the air duct, the air duct elongate in a longitudinal direction;
- a hoop disposable within the interior of the air duct, the hoop providing the sidewall with support in a radial direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
- and
- a cable disposable within the interior of the air duct, the cable to extend along a longitudinal length of the air duct, the cable to engage the hoop to help support a weight of the hoop and the tubular sidewall.
An air duct assembly comprising:
- an elongate pliable air duct having a tubular sidewall;
- a bracket having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the bracket to be external to the air duct and rigidly affixed to a support structure external to the air duct, the second portion of the bracket to be inside the air duct, the bracket to pass through an opening in the tubular sidewall located between opposite ends of the air duct;
- and
- a cable to be attached to the second portion of the bracket and to extend along a longitudinal length of the air duct, the air duct to be held in tension along the longitudinal length of the air duct by virtue of the cable being held in tension along the longitudinal length of the air duct.
An air duct assembly comprising:
- an air duct including an elongate pliable tubular sidewall;
- a bracket to extend from an exterior of the air duct to an interior of the air duct through an opening in the sidewall, the opening closer to a first end of the air duct than the opening is to a second end of the air duct;
- a cable to be attached to the bracket and to extend along the interior of the air duct toward the second end, the cable to be attached to a separate structure that is closer to the second end of the air duct than the bracket is to the second end;
- and
- a hoop disposable within the air duct, the hoop to be connected to the cable and to the sidewall to place the sidewall in tension based on the cable being held in tension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.