Invented by NGUYEN; Steven Huu, NGUYEN; Chau Huu

Changing air filters in your home or office HVAC system is important. Yet, anyone who has tried to replace a ceiling vent filter knows that it can be awkward, risky, and even dangerous. The filters are often placed high above the floor, behind heavy metal grilles, making the whole job a chore. Now, a new patent application introduces a clever device and method to make this task much easier and safer. Let’s look at why this matters, how the science and the old solutions stack up, and what is truly new about this invention.

Background and Market Context

Indoor air quality has become a bigger concern in recent years. We spend most of our time indoors, and the air inside is often more polluted than the air outside. HVAC systems help by moving air around and filtering out dust, allergens, and other particles. But for the filters to work, they need to be changed often—every few months. If not, the air quality drops, and your system uses more energy because clogged filters make it work harder.

Here’s the problem: most return air vents are up high, especially in homes with central air conditioning. The grilles that cover the vents are heavy and usually made of metal. Replacing the filter means you have to get a ladder or stool, unscrew or unclip the grille—sometimes while balancing overhead—replace the filter, and then put it all back. It’s easy to drop the cover or even fall. Many people, especially the elderly or those with limited mobility, can’t do it safely. Even for able-bodied folks, it’s a job that gets delayed or skipped, leaving dirty filters in place for too long.

This is not just a comfort or safety issue. Letting filters go too long harms indoor air quality, leads to more dust in the home, and can even damage the HVAC system. That means higher bills and more repairs. Property owners sometimes pay for professional help, but that is costly and inconvenient.

The market for easier and safer filter replacement solutions is huge. Every building with a central HVAC system—homes, apartments, offices, schools—faces the same challenge. A device that makes filter replacement simple, quick, and safe could find a place in millions of homes and businesses. That’s why this new patent application is so interesting. It proposes a system that lets you change filters without ladders, heavy lifting, or any risky moves.

Scientific Rationale and Prior Art

To understand the invention, it helps to know how HVAC vents and filters are usually built. The basic setup is simple: air ducts carry air to or from rooms. At the end of each duct is a grille or vent cover. Behind some grilles is a filter, which catches dust and other particles as air moves through.

Most traditional grilles are made of metal and are built to last for years. They are screwed or clipped tightly into the ceiling or wall. The filter sits behind the grille, held in place. When it’s time to replace the filter, you have to remove the grille—a process that is heavy, awkward, and often requires tools. Some newer systems have tried to make this easier by adding hinges or quick-release latches, but the basic problems remain: you still have to reach up high, support the weight of the grille, and work overhead.

There have been some inventions aimed at making filter replacement simpler. Some use lightweight covers or magnetic attachments. Others have tried to make the filters themselves easier to access, or have designed reusable filter frames. A few products allow the filter to slide out sideways, but these are rare and not always easy to retrofit in existing buildings.

An important need that prior designs haven’t solved is allowing people to change filters without climbing or lifting heavy grilles. Some patents have described tools that help you reach up and pop the grille off, but you still have to lift and manage the cover. Other inventions have focused on the filter itself, but not the process of getting to it.

Another challenge is keeping the grille lightweight but sturdy, so it does not sag or break. If the cover is too light, it can be flimsy and look cheap. If it’s too heavy, it’s hard to handle. Also, the cover needs to look good—since it’s visible on your ceiling or wall—and allow enough airflow for the HVAC system to work well.

What has been missing is a system that brings the filter down to you, instead of you having to go up to it. The idea is to move the filter and cover down to a comfortable height, let you swap out the filter, and then put it back up—all without a ladder, heavy lifting, or risk of injury. This is where the new invention stands apart from the old ways.

Invention Description and Key Innovations

This new patent describes a “positioning device” that is installed at the vent opening—usually in the ceiling. The device has a clever mechanism inside that can lower the filter and its cover down to a height where you can reach it safely, standing on the ground. After you replace the filter, the device lifts it back up to its place in the ceiling. Let’s break down how it works and what makes it special.

The main parts are:

– A housing made of two parts. One part (the “first housing portion”) faces down into the room and has a port or grille. The other part (the “second housing portion”) is attached to the ceiling above, holding the mechanism.

– Guide features built into the first housing portion. These guide and hold the filter or filter-grille device in place, making sure it doesn’t slip or get misaligned during use.

– An elevator mechanism inside the second housing portion. This mechanism connects the two parts of the housing, and lets the first housing portion (with the filter) move up and down. The elevator can use cables, linkages, or tracks, and can be powered by a small motor or even operated by hand with a tool.

– The filter itself can be a separate part or integrated with a lightweight grille. In some versions, the filter-grille device is made from strong, light materials like cardboard, plastic, or thin wood, instead of heavy metal. This makes it easy to handle and even allows the whole unit to be replaced if needed.

– Some versions can include extra features, like lights (even UV lights to kill germs), timers or indicators that tell you when to change the filter, and smart controls that can connect to a phone app or a home automation system.

Here’s how you use it:

When it’s time to change the filter, you use a remote control, a wall switch, or a special tool. The device’s mechanism lowers the first housing portion, bringing the filter down to a comfortable height—about two to five feet above the floor. There’s no need for a ladder or any climbing.

Once the filter is within easy reach, you can simply remove the old filter and slide in a new one. The guide features make sure the filter fits snugly and stays in place. When you’re done, you activate the elevator mechanism again, and it lifts the filter and cover back up to the ceiling. The device locks everything back in place, keeping the filter secure until the next replacement.

Some versions use a positioning tool—a telescoping rod with a special attachment—to operate the device manually. This tool can mate with a hole or slot in the cover, letting you raise or lower the filter by turning or pulling the tool. This is a great option for homes without electrical wiring at the vent, or for people who prefer a simple, mechanical solution.

The patent also describes kits that include the housing, frame, and several filter-grille devices. These make it easy to install the whole system and keep replacement filters on hand for future use.

What sets this invention apart is how it solves real-world problems. It makes filter changing safer—no more climbing or holding heavy metal covers overhead. It’s fast—no more fiddling with screws or tools on a ladder. It’s accessible—anyone, regardless of age or strength, can change the filter. And it’s flexible—the device can be fitted into existing homes or new buildings, and the filter-grille can be made in different colors and styles to match any décor.

Another smart idea is the use of angled, slanted surfaces and magnets in the frame and filter-grille device. These guide the filter-grille into perfect alignment as it is installed, and the magnets snap it securely into place. This prevents the filter from being installed crookedly and keeps the whole system looking neat.

Finally, the design makes the filter-grille device light and disposable, so there’s no more cleaning heavy, dusty metal grilles. You just replace the whole filter-grille when needed, keeping everything clean and fresh.

Conclusion

This new positioning device for HVAC filters is a big step forward. It takes a simple but important home maintenance task—changing air filters—and makes it safe, quick, and easy for everyone. By lowering the filter to where you can reach it, using light materials, and adding helpful features like guide rails and magnetic alignment, the invention removes many of the barriers that keep people from changing their filters on time. This means better air quality, lower energy costs, and less risk of injury. It’s an idea whose time has come, and one that could soon become the new standard in homes and buildings everywhere.

Click here https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/ and search 20250216118.