EP2008032A1

EP2008032A1 - Grill and decorative panel for a fan

Info

Publication number: EP2008032A1
Application number: EP07732276A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anthony Laurence Croke; Paul Nicholas Kearsley
Original assignee: Greenwood Air Management Ltd
Current assignee: Greenwood Air Management Ltd
Priority date: 2006-04-03
Filing date: 2007-04-03
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Also published as: WO2007113553A1; GB0606689D0; GB2436865B; GB2436865A; EP2444756A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a grill assembly for a duct mounted fan, comprising a square or rectangular grill mounted to a mounting plate so as to be rotatably adjustable relative thereto. The invention also concerns a decorative panel for attachment to a duct-mounted fan, wherein the decorative panel comprises at least one hook for attachment to the fan. The invention also concerns a fan system comprising such a grill assembly and such a decorative panel.

Description

Grill and decorative panel for a fan

The invention relates to a grill for mounting to an in-duct type fan and also to a decorative panel for mounting to a grill.

In-duct axial extractor fans are commonly found around the home in kitchens and bathrooms. They are generally either fitted when the house is built or they can be installed later as part of DIY projects or when replacing existing units.

In-duct fans are fitted into a duct which is fitted into a hole in the wall or ceiling. In wall mounted duct fans, the duct leads through the hole in the wall, usually to the outside for venting the extracted air. Ceiling mounted duct fans are mounted in a hole in the ceiling and a duct (usually flexible duct) carries the air to an outside vent.

The grills which are mounted to the front of extractor fans can be of a variety of shapes. The shape of grill will often be chosen in order to match the interior decoration of a room or to fit in with a certain theme or style. In many instances, especially in kitchens and bathrooms where extractor fans are commonly found, the interior decoration comprises tiling which more often than not is square.

Many fans are provided with circular shaped grills as the fans themselves are generally cylindrical owing to their rotary nature, and are inserted into circular ducts in the walls or ceilings. However, circular grills do not fit in very well with the square effect of tiles and so fans are also frequently provided with square grills.

Grills are typically in the form of a simple clip-on facade. The fan unit is provided with a mounting structure for clipping the grill to. Fan units are typically sold as a whole package including the fan and the grill, so a fan sold with a circular grill will have a circular mounting structure and a fan sold with a square grill will have a square mounting structure.

When an in-duct fan is installed, it is wired to the mains electrical supply and then inserted into the duct. Then the main fan unit is fixed to the wall or ceiling, typically by means of screws screwed into plastic plugs in the wall. After the fan unit is fixed in place, the grill is clipped onto the mounting structure.

Frequently, the mounting of the fan to the wall results in an unsatisfactory alignment. This can happen particularly when houses are first being fitted out and the fitters mount the fans carelessly and in a hurry and before the room has been decorated. Later on, when the house is fully decorated, a misaligned fan with a square grill is very noticeable. To correct the alignment of the grill, the alignment of the whole fan must be corrected.

According to the present invention, there is provided a grill assembly for a duct mounted fan, comprising a square or rectangular grill mounted to a mounting plate so as to be rotatably adjustable relative thereto.

By providing a square or rectangular grill which is rotatably mounted, the orientation of the grill can be changed with respect to the fan. Thus when a fan is mounted on the wall or ceiling carelessly or accidentally out of line, the grill can be simply rotated so that it aligns with other features of the decoration. Preferably the grill has a circular or part-circular mounting structure for rotatably mounting the grill to a corresponding circular or part-circular mounting plate.

The grill may just clip to the mounting plate of the fan and keep its orientation through friction between the mounting structure of the grill and the mounting plate. However, preferably the grill further comprises a releasable fixing means for preventing relative rotation of the grill with respect to the mounting plate. This allows the user to align the plate to their satisfaction and then fix it in place so that it does not become misaligned through being knocked accidentally. For further security a plurality of releasable fixing means may be provided.

In one preferred embodiment, the or each releasable fixing means comprises a screw which can be screwed between a fixing position in which it abuts against the mounting plate and prevents relative rotation and a release position in which the screw does not abut the mounting plate and the grill can rotate relative to the mounting plate. Preferably the screws are located unobtrusively, e.g. at the bottom of the grill, but where they can easily be accessed with a screwdriver. The screws could be screwed through a moulded threaded portion of plastic.

However, preferably the or each screw is mounted to the grill by means of a captive nut. The captive nut will make for easier and more reliable threading of the screw. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the mounting structure comprises a hook which hooks over a portion of the mounting plate. This provides for easy attachment of the grill. The grill can be hooked over a corresponding lip on the mounting plate of the fan (which can be wide enough that it need not be accurately orientated) to locate the mounting structure onto the mounting plate. The two can then be relatively rotated to perfect the alignment and, if appropriate, fixed in place with the fixing means. Although a grill can go some way towards providing an acceptable front end to an extractor fan, it still has a rather functional appearance and in some circumstances it may be desired to provide a decorative front panel in front of the grill. Therefore in a preferred embodiment the grill further comprises at least one pocket formed on the grill for mounting a decorative front panel.

A decorative panel can then be attached to the grill so as to cover the grill and substantially obscure it from view. The decorative panel can be designed in accordance with a wide variety of styles and themes and can add to the look of a room while covering up the rather functional looking grill. In a more preferred embodiment, the grill is provided with a plurality of said pockets on the grill. This creates a more stable platform for mounting the decorative panel. Preferablt the pockets are located on one side of the grill, more preferably the upper side so that the decorative panel can be hooked onto the grill.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a fan system comprising an axial in-duct fan, and a grill assembly as discussed above. Preferably the mounting plate is removably attached to the main body of the fan.

The fan system may further comprise a decorative panel as discussed below. The decorative panel may be removably mounted to the grill.

The decorative panel itself is believed to be independently inventive and so according to another aspect, the invention provides a decorative panel for attachment to a duct-mounted fan, wherein the decorative panel comprises at least one hook for attachment to the fan.

As discussed above, the decorative panel preferably comprises a plurality of said hooks to provide a greater stability in mounting the panel. Preferably, the panel is further provided with at least one stay for supporting the panel against the fan or a wall when the panel is mounted vertically. Depending on the size of the decorative panel, the stay may abut against the grill in use or it may abut against the wall below or to the side of the grill. The stay or stays define the vertical alignment of the panel. Alternatively a stay may be provided on the grill or on the fan.

Preferably the or each hook spaces the panel axially from the fan to allow air to flow laterally into the space between the panel and the fan. This distance will vary depending on the size and purpose of the fan. In a preferred embodiment, the or each stay spaces the panel from the fan by the same amount as the hooks. Thus the panel is kept in a vertical alignment, parallel with the front of the fan and an even space is provided around the panel to allow air to flow_. into the fan evenly from all sides. In a particularly preferred arrangement, the decorative panel further comprises a removable centre panel. A removable centre panel allows for variations to the style or theme of the decorative panel, e.g. a change of colour or pattern. One centre panel can be removed and interchanged with another panel to create a different look without having to change the whole decorative panel. The decorative panel may be provided with a pocket for receiving one side of the removable centre panel. The decorative panel may also be further provided with at least one retaining means for removably retaining the removable centre panel. With such an arrangement, the centre panel can be easily fitted and removed by slotting one edge of the centre panel into the pocket in order to locate it and then holding it in place by the retaining means. The at least one retaining means may comprise a clip or an interference fit or both.

The decorative panel may be integrally formed with any of its various hooks, stays, pockets and retaining means. However for ease of manufacture, the decorative panel preferably comprises a decorative facia mounted on a support. This is advantageous because the support is generic and can be attached to a variety of different facias. The facia provides the aesthetic features of the panel which are chosen to go with the style and theme of a room, whereas the support provides a means of mounting the facia which does not depend on the style or theme of the room. Also, the same size support may be attached to different sized facias for different sized fans.

Preferably any hooks, stays, pockets and retaining means are formed on the support so that any variation of facia and removable centre panel can be fitted to the support. Preferably the facia is mounted on the support by adhesive.

In one preferred embodiment, the panel (or the facia) is formed as an arc of a hollow cylinder. The curve creates a larger separation distance from the grill on two opposite sides for intake of air into the fan, and a smaller separation distance from the grill on the other two opposite sides which conceal the grill better. The orientation of the panel can be chosen depending on where the fan is most likely to be viewed from, but preferably the narrower separation distance is formed at the sides of a vertically mounted panel and with the greater separation distance formed at the top and bottom.

It will be appreciated that the square or rectangular grill and decorative panel described above may be combined together in the same system in any combination of their various embodiments. Thus according to a further aspect, the invention provides a decorative panel mounting system for an in-duct type fan, comprising a decorative panel as discussed above and a square grill as discussed above.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a fully assembled view of the first embodiment; and

Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a square grill 1 for mounting onto a circular mounting plate 2. The circular mounting plate may be removably attached to an in-duct type fan unit 3. The grill 1 has a circular mounting structure 4 which is sized so as to fit over the circular mounting plate 2. The circular mounting structure is fitted with a hook 5 at the top which is designed to fit over the rim 6 of the circular mounting plate 2. The rim 6 extends around the whole periphery of the circular mounting plate 2, so the orientation of the fan does not affect the ability of the hook 5 to hook at the top. The circular, mounting structure 4 of the grill 1 is also provided with clips 7 towards the bottom of the grill. These clips are also designed to hook over the rim 6 of the circular mounting plate 2. The clips 7 are flexible so that they are deformed out of the way as the mounting structure 4 is squeezed over the mounting plate 2. The clips spring back in behind the rim 6 and hold the grill 1 onto the mounting plate 2. However, once mounted, the grill 1 can still be rotated relative to the mounting plate 2. Therefore the grill can still be re-aligned after the fan has been fixed into a wall or ceiling without having to re-align the fan unit itself.

Once the orientation of the grill 1 has been perfected, the grill may be fixed relative to the circular mounting plate 2 so as to prevent it from becoming easily mis- aligned again. These is done be means of two screws (not shown) which are inserted into openings 11 in the underside of the grill 1. These openings are small and unobtrusive so they do not detract from the appearance of the grill. A captive nut (not shown) is mounted in the opening 11 of the grill 1 and the screw is screwed through it. When the screw is tightened, the end of the screw will press against the hooks 7 preventing them from disengaging and also it will press the hooks 7 tightly against the rim 6 of the circular mounting plate 2. The friction thus generated between the hooks 7 and the rim 6 prevents further rotation of the grill 1 with respect to the mounting plate 2. The circular mounting plate 2 is provided with first fixing holes 8 near the centre of the ring. These may be used to attach the fan to the plastic ducting which is fitted in a hole in the wall or ceiling. The mounting plate 2 is also provided with second fixing holes 9 near the outside edge of the ring. These may be used to fix the fan to the wall or ceiling. Once attached in this manner, the fan cannot easily be re- aligned.

The grill 1 is also provided with pockets .10 located towards the rear side of the fan. These pockets are unobtrusive when seen from the front, so they do not detract from the appearance of the grill on its own. However, to further improve the look of the fan unit, a decorative panel may be mounted to the pockets 10. Figure 2 shows the grill 1 mounted to the circular mounting plate 2 which is attached to a fan unit 3.

Figure 3 shows a decorative panel 20 according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The decorative panel 20 comprises a facia 21, a support frame 22 and a removable centre panel 23. The facia 21 provides a decorative front end to the fan, concealing the fan unit from view. The facia 21 is attached to the support frame 22 by adhesive. the support frame 22 is designed to attach to the front end of a fan, e.g. the grill. In Fig. 3, the panel 20 is shown being mounted to a specific mounting structure provided on the fan unit. The support frame has two hooks 24 provided at the top. These hooks fit into pockets 25 on the grill or mounting structure 26. The hooks 24 have a length which spaces the panel 20 from the grill or mounting structure 26 so that a gap is provided around the panel 20 allowing air to flow into the fan.

A stay 27 is provided on the bottom of the support frame 22. The stay 27 also serves to space the panel 20 from the wall or from the grill or mounting structure 26 to create a space for air to flow into the fan. The stay 27 and the hooks 24 provide the same amount of spacing between the panel 20 and the mounting structure 26 at the top and the bottom. A locating portion 28 is provided on the mounting structure 26. This locating portion 28 engages with the stay 27 when the panel 20 is mounted, thereby ensuring a good alignment of the panel 20 with the mounting structure 26. Once fitted, the panel 20 may be fixed in place by means of a screw passed through the bottom of the stay 27 and into the locating portion 28. The panel can easily be removed by removing the screw.

The removable centre panel 23 provides additional variation in the design of the panel 20. The centre panel 23 is not permanently attached to the support frame 22 and so it can quickly and easily be replaced with an alternative centre panel 23. The support frame 22 is provided with an elongate pocket 30 at the top of a central portion thereof. On the opposite side of the central portion of the support frame 22, a retaining clip 31 is provided. In use, one edge of the centre panel 23 is fitted into the elongate pocket 30, and then the opposite edge of the centre panel 23 is clipped in by the retaining clip 31. The centre panel 23 can easily be removed simply by releasing the clip 31 and pushing the centre panel 23 out.

The facia 21 is slightly curved, being closer to the mounting structure 26 at the sides than it is at the top and bottom. Wall mounted fans are usually seen from the side as they tend to be positioned around head height. By curving the decorative panel 20 inwards, the grill or mounting structure 26 is concealed from a greater range of viewing angles. However, the panel 20 must still allow sufficient air to flow into the fan so that the room is adequately ventilated. The top and bottom of the fan are separated from the mounting structure 26 by a greater amount to compensate for the sides,being closer.

The decorative panel 20 shown in Figure 3 may be hooked onto the pockets 10 on the grill shown in Figures 1 and 2, thus improving the aesthetic appearance of the fan unit 3.

Claims

1. A grill assembly for a duct mounted fan, comprising a square or rectangular grill mounted to a mounting plate so as to be rotatably adjustable relative thereto.

2. A grill assembly according to claim 1, wherein the grill has a circular or part- circular mounting structure for rotatably mounting the grill to a circular mounting plate.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the grill further comprises a releasable fixing means for preventing relative rotation of the grill with respect to the mounting plate.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a plurality of releasable fixing means is provided.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the or each releasable fixing means comprises a screw which can be screwed between a fixing position in which it abuts against the mounting plate and prevents relative rotation and a release position in which the screw does not abut the mounting plate and the grill can rotate relative to the mounting plate.

6. An assembly as claimed in 5, wherein the or each screw is mounted to the grill by means of a captive nut.

7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a portion of the grill comprises a hook which hooks over a portion of the mounting plate..

8. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising at least one pocket formed on the grill for mounting a decorative front panel.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the grill is provided with a plurality of said pockets on the grill.

10. A decorative panel for attachment to a duct-mounted fan, wherein the decorative panel comprises at least one hook for attachment to the fan.

11. A decorative panel as claimed in claim 10, comprising a plurality of said hooks.

12. A decorative panel as claimed in claim 10 or 11, further comprising at least one stay for supporting the panel against the fan or a wall when the panel is mounted vertically.

12. A decorative panel as claimed in any of claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the or each hook spaces the panel axially from the grill to allow air to flow laterally into the space between the panel and the grill.

14. A decorative panel as claimed in claims 12 and 13, wherein the or each stay spaces the panel from the fan by the same amount as the hooks.

15. A decorative panel as claimed in any of claims 10 to 14, further comprising a removable centre panel.

16. A decorative panel as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a pocket for receiving the removable centre panel.

17. A decorative panel as claimed in claim 16, further comprising at least one retaining means for removably retaining the removable centre panel.

18. A decorative panel as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one retaining means comprises a clip.

19. A decorative panel as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein the at least one retaining means comprises an interference fit.

20. A decorative panel as claimed in any of claims 10 to 19, wherein the panel comprises a decorative facia mounted on a support.

21. A decorative panel as claimed in claim 20, wherein any hooks, stays, pockets and retaining means are formed on the support.

22. A decorative panel as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein the facia is mounted on the support by adhesive.

23. A fan system comprising an axial in-duct fan which has a grill assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9.

24. A fan system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the mounting plate is removably attached to a main body of the fan.

25. A fan system as claimed in claim 23 or 24, further comprising a decorative panel as claimed in any of claims 10 to 21.

26. A fan system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the decorative panel is removably mounted to the grill.

27. A grill assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

28. A decorative panel substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

29. A fan system substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.