Configurable pliable air ducts

摘要

In some example pliable air duct systems, inflatable ducts of various diameters and lengths are created by selectively assembling pre-existing stock pieces in different combinations. In some examples, the stock pieces include disconnectable longitudinal joints and disconnectable circumferential joints, wherein the longitudinal joints enable interconnecting multiple stock pieces to achieve a desired tube diameter, and the circumferential joints allow connecting multiple tube segments end-to-end to produce an air duct assembly of a desired length. To control the volume and/or the direction of air discharged from the duct, the duct assembly, in some examples, includes an adjustable register comprising a movable pliable sheet that overlies a discharge opening in a pliable sidewall of the duct. In some examples, the inflatable duct includes one or more cutout patterns on the duct's sidewall to provide guidance in creating a sidewall discharge opening of a proper size and location.

主权项

1. An inflatable air duct assembly for conveying air in a longitudinal direction, the inflatable air duct assembly comprising:
a first sidewall piece that is pliable; a first zipper side along a first longitudinal edge of the first sidewall piece, the first zipper side to selectively zip with either a second zipper side along a second longitudinal edge of the first sidewall piece or a third zipper side along a longitudinal edge of a second sidewall piece to provide a first tube segment selectively configurable in at least one of a first configuration having a first diameter when the first zipper side is zipped with the second zipper side or a second configuration having a second diameter larger than the first diameter when the first zipper side is zipped with the third zipper side, the first longitudinal edge of the first sidewall piece to extend in the longitudinal direction; a second tube segment that is pliable; and a disconnectable circumferential joint connecting the first and second tube segments end-to-end.