HVAC filter changing system
OwnerRobert D. Walker, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air conditioner filter removing system for air filters located in elevated return-air vents, such as return-air vent mounted in a ceiling or upper wall. The device consists of a filter-grabbing mechanism that can be mounted to an extension pole. The filter-grabbing mechanism has teeth protruding from it to grab an air filter and a holding plate where the filter is balanced once engaged by the teeth. In its preferred embodiment, the system has one or more magnets for holding the return-air vent door closed so the filter-grabbing mechanism can easily pull the vent open. Further, the preferred embodiment also has kicker plates that help removal of the teeth out of the grill louvers they are inserted into, on the vent door.
Claims18
An air conditioner filter-changing system for changing an air filter located in an elevated return-air vent that has a vent door containing grill louvers, wherein said filter-changing system comprises:
- a filter-grabbing device, said filter-grabbing device comprising:
- a holding plate with a substantially flat top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of sides;
- at least one tooth protruding from at least one side of said holding plate and aligned in the range from substantially planar with said top surface to slightly angled from said top surface;
- said at least one tooth being sized and shaped for insertion into at least one grill louver on said vent door and being capable of pulling said vent door open;
- said at least one tooth also being sized and shaped for insertion between the filter media and support structure of an air filter;
- at least one kicker plate protruding at a downward angle from said holding plate, said at least one kicker plate protruding from at least one of said plurality of sides where said at least one tooth is located;
- and,
- a mounting means for mounting said filter-grabbing device to an extension pole, said mounting means being attached to the bottom surface of said filter-grabbing device.
A method of removing an air filter in an elevated return-air vent that has a vent door with grill louvers comprising:
- mounting a filter-grabbing device to an extension pole with a mounting means;
- extending said filter-grabbing device toward said elevated return-air vent;
- orienting at least one tooth from said filter-grabbing device for insertion of said at least one tooth for insertion between at least two of said grill louvers;
- inserting said at least one tooth between at least two of said grill louvers,
- pulling said vent door from said elevated return-air vent with said at least one tooth inserted between at least two of said grill louvers;
- removing said at least one tooth from between said at least two grill louvers;
- inserting said at least one tooth between the filter media and the filter support structure of said air filter,
- pulling said air filter from said return-air vent;
- balancing said air filter on a holding plate of said filter-grabbing device;
- and;
- bringing said air filter down from said elevated return-air vent.
An air conditioner filter-changing system for changing an air filter located in an elevated return-air vent that has a vent door containing grill louvers, wherein said filter-changing system comprises:
- a filter-grabbing device, said filter-grabbing device comprising:
- a holding plate with a substantially flat top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of sides;
- at least one tooth protruding from at least one side of said holding plate and aligned in the range from substantially planar with said top surface to slightly angled from said top surface;
- said at least one tooth being sized and shaped for insertion into at least one grill louver on said vent door and being capable of pulling said vent door open;
- said at least one tooth also being sized and shaped for insertion between the filter media and support structure of an air filter;
- a frictionous material attached to said top surface of said holding plate;
- and,
- a mounting means for mounting said filter-grabbing device to an extension pole, said mounting means being attached to the bottom surface of said filter-grabbing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.