Nicholas S Kaufman

US Patent:

20140000744, Jan 2, 2014

Filed:

Nov 3, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/879759

Inventors:

Cary Pinkalla - Fox Point WI, US
Frank Heim - Platteville WI, US
Kevin J. Gebke - Dubuque IA, US
Nicholas L. Kaufman - Sherrill IA, US
William A. Niehaus - Holy Cross IA, US

International Classification:

F24F 7/06
F16L 11/00
F16L 55/00
F16L 3/18

US Classification:

138103, 138118, 138119, 137 1501

Abstract:

Pliable-wall air ducts with internal expanding structures are disclosed. An example air duct system includes a shaft to be disposed within an air duct, to extend in a longitudinal direction, and to be in longitudinal compression. The air duct system also includes a plurality of ribs to be coupled to the shaft and to engage an inner surface of the air duct and a spring to be disposed within the air duct, the spring to be coupled to the shaft. The spring under stress being a contributing factor in both the shaft being in longitudinal compression and the air duct being in longitudinal tension.