GB2035544A - Grille structures - Google Patents

Abstract

A grille structure comprises opposite side frame members (10), between which extend a series of support members (26) in the ends of which are inserted end attachments (30) by means of which the support members are a snap fit into the side members (10). The support members (26) have channels (32) which slidably receive mounting elements (38), pairs of limbs (44) of which project from the channel and define slots to receive a series of grille strips (14). The strips (14) have beads (48) which are a snap fit in recesses (46) in the limbs (44), the latter preferably being shaped to allow angular movement of the strips in the mounting elements. End frame members (12) can be joined to the side members (10) by corner elements (22) which are a resilient push fit into the ends of the frame members. The support members (26) may hold other elements e.g. (40) for supporting other components e.g. (16). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Grille structure and method of construction This invention relates to the construction of grilles for the passage of air, and especially grilles for use with heating or ventilating equipment.

Conventional grilles are usually mass-produced to a series of fixed sizes, or are made in modular components which can be fitted together to produce various sizes of grille. However, it is normally difficult and expensive to produce grilles of any desired size to order.

Associated with this, it is also useful to be able to produce grilles localiy from centrally manufactured components. The present invention seeks to provide a construction of grille which allows these things to be done.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a grille structure comprising two opposite side members, a series of spaced-apart elongate support members each extending between and secured to said opposite side members, and a series of spaced-apart elongate grille members carried by said support members and extending transversely thereto, the support members having a channel cross-section with a restricted mouth in which are slidably located one or more mounting elements retained by the restricted mouth and with parts projecting through the mouth for attachment to said grille members.

By this means, a grille of any desired size can be constructed, the channel-section support members being cut to fit between the side members, and before fitting them thereto mounting elements are slidably inserted in the channels of the support members, to which the grille members are attached either before or after fitting the support members to the side members. A second aspect of the present invention therefore provides a method substantially as indicated above for constructing a grille structure.

The side members may comprise part of a surround frame for the grille.

The grille may include one or more other components mounted to said support members between the side members by means of mounting elements slidably located in the channels with parts projecting therefrom.

Preferably the support members have end attachments for mounting them to the side members. The end attachments and side members are preferably provided with cooperating projections and recesses whereby a support member with end attachments can be snap-fitted into fixed side members. The projecting parts of the mounting elements for the grille members preferably have recesses in which the grille members are a snap-fit.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, it will be more particularly illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective fragmentary view of a completed grille, Figure 2 shows an exploded view of representative components of the grille, Figure 3 shows a fragmentary cross-section through part of the grille, Figure 4 shows a fragmentary cross-section, similar to that of Fig. 3, of a modified grille construction, Figure 5 shows a fragmentary cross-section of the grille at right-angles to that of Fig. 3, Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 show alternative designs of mounting elements with their associated grille members, and Figures 10 and 11 show cross-sections at right-angles to each other through part of a modified grille structure.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Fig.

1; the grille comprises a surround frame having opposite side frame members 10 joined by opposite end frame members 12, and a series of spaced-apart elongate grille members 14 extending parallel to the side members 1 0. In this particular embodiment, the grille members 14 terminate short of one of the end members 12, the space being occupied by an inspection lid 1 6 for access to heater controls or the like.

Referring to Fig. 2; the side and end frame members are seen to be of generally L-shaped cross-section with an exposed limb 1 8 and depending support limb 20. The ends of the frame members are mitred and secured together by corner brackets 22, suitably of aluminium or plastics material, the limbs of which are a resilient push fit in grooves 24 to one side of the flange 20.

A series of support members 26 (only one is shown in Fig. 2) extend between the side frame members 10 at intervals along the grille. Each support member comprises an elongate component 28 and a pair of end attachment components 30. The end attachment components are secured to the flanges 20 of the side frame members, as described below. The elongate component 28 is of generally H-section, providing two channels, 32,34 the mouths of which are restricted by inturned lips. Plugs 36 on the end attachment components 30 are a push fit into the ends of the larger channel 34.

Mounting elements, examples of which are shown at 38 and 40, are slidably lengthwise into the shallower channels 32 of the support members, each of the mounting elements having a flat base 42 which is retained within the channel by the restricted mouth thereof, and a part which projects from the channel mouth. In the case of the mounting element 38, the projecting part comprises two limbs 44 defining between them an arcuately rebated recess 46 into which an edge portion of the strip-like grille member 1 4 is a snap fit, the limbs 44 being resiliently deflectable to receive a bead 48 on the strip 14, the bead entering the arcuate rebate in the recess 46 and being retained thereby. A series of mounting elements 38 are inserted lengthwise in the channel 32 of a support member 26, to mount a corresponding number of strips 14.

The mounting element 40 is preferably elongate as shown, so as to correspond to the width of the lid 1 6. As seen also in Fig. 5, the projecting part of the mounting element has a bead 50 at its upper edge which is a snap fit in a recess 52 extending along the underside of the lid 16, thereby forming a hinge by means of which the lid can be raised and lowered. The projecting part of the mounting element 40 can also be seen to have a laterally projecting limb 54 which resiliently engages with a rib 56 on the underside of the lid when the lid is in the raised conditon, thereby retaining the lid in this condition.A second mounting element 40 is provided on another support member 26 towards the free end of the lid, whereby the bead 50 engages the underside of the lid when it is lowered, and the limb 54 is a snap fit with a lip 58 at the free edge of the lid, thereby retaining the lid in the closed condition.

Along the rest of the frame a suitable number of support members 26 are arranged between the frame members 10, the support members each carrying a series of mounting elements 38. The grille strips 14 are thereby supported at intervals along their length. The engagement of the grille strips in the mounting members can be more clearly seen in Figs. 6 to 9, from which it will also be noted that in Figs. 6, 7 and 9 the recess 46 in each mounting member widens towards its base so that there is a substantial amount of lateral clearance between the edge portion 60 of the strip 14 below the bead 48 and the limbs 44 of the mounting element. This enables the strip 14 to be pivoted about the axis of the bead 48 into various positions as shown. The strips 14 thus act as adjustable louvres.

Fig. 7 shows a modified arrangement in which the base of the recess 46, although wider than the edge portions 60 of the strips 14, has an upstanding ridge 62, thereby defining two distinct alternative angular positions for the strip 14. The strip thus has to be inserted into the mounting element at the desired angle initially. However, if the ridge is low enough, it may simply provide a resiliently displaceable obstruction, so that the strip is normally held there by one position but can be pushed into the alternative position. If the base of the recess 46 is sufficiently wide, two or more ridges can be provided giving an appropriate number of alternative angular positions for the strip.

Fig. 8 shows a simpler arrangement in which the base of the recess matches the edge of the strip 14 so that the strip only has a single position.

Fig. 9 shows a modification of the arrangement of Fig. 6, wherein the bead 48 is formed with a series of teeth 64 which engage with teeth 66 on the limbs 44 to hold the strip 1 4 in a particular desired angular position, the teeth being resiliently disengageable to allow the strip to be moved into alternative angular positions. Instead of having a number of teeth on the bead 48 engaging with a single tooth on a limb 44, a number of teeth could be provided on the limb 44 and a single tooth on the bead 48, or a series of teeth could be provided on each of the bead and the limb.

Turning now more particularly to the design of the end attachment members 30 as shown in Fig. 3; the end attachment member has a long upper limb 68 and a short lower limb 70, both inclined slightly in the direction away from the plug 36. The limb 68 has a stepped slightly tapering end 72 which engages in an inturned channel 74 formed at the outside of the angle between the limb 1 8 and flange 20 of the frame member 10. The limb 70 has a shoulder 76 which, when the stepped portion 72 is engaged in the channel 74 snaps into a groove 78 at the opposite edge of the flange 20. Thus, in the assembly of the grille, when the surround frame has been constructed, each support member 26, comprising channel 28, mounting element or elements and end attachment members 30 can be offered up to the surround frame and snapped into position.Thereafter the strips 14 and lid 16 (if provided) can be fitted to the mounting elements.

Referring to Fig. 4; this shows a modification of the grille construction wherein a prefabricated surround frame is not employed.

This might be the case,for example, where it is desired to set the grille in a recess in a housing, wall or the like, without an exposed surrounding flange 1 8. In this case, the side frame members 10' are generally flat, with the channel 74 at one edge and opposing channel 75 at the other edge to receive the limb 76 of the end attachment member 30.

In this embodiment, only side members 10 are used; the end members being unnecessary. The side members are secured to the housing on opposite sides of the opening.

This can be done before the support members and grille members are mounted thereto, or else the support members at least can be mounted to the side members 10' before fitting the resulting assembly into the opening and securing the side members to the housing on opposite sides of the opening.

One advantage of the construction of the present invention is that grilles of different sizes and with different arrangements of components within the grille area can be readily constructed from basic units. Apart from grille strips 14 and lid 16, other com-ponents which it is desired to mount within the area of the grille can be so mounted by means of appropriately designed mounting elements fitted to the channel support members.

Means may be provided for simultaneously pivoting all the grille members 14. This may be by means of a connecting member extending transversely to the grille members and interconnecting them so that longitudinal movement of the connecting member rotates all the grille members.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11; the crosssection of the side members 10 is modified slightly to provide at the lower edge thereof a downwardly opening channel 70 with a restricted mouth. Into this can be slidably fitted a downward extension member 72 in the form of an elongate extrusion having a shallow channel portion 74 with a restricted mouth. The two extension members 72 on opposite sides of the frame are arranged so that their channel portions 74 open towards each other. A series of studs 76 project from the mouths of the channels 74, and are retained therein by enlarged heads 78. The studs are of circular cross-section so that they are rotatable. Their ends remote from the heads 78 are slotted to receive grille strips 14.Thus, a series of such strips, each supported at opposite ends by a pair of studs 76, can be located under the main grille, and extending at right angles to the upper series of grille strips 1 4. The lower grille strips can be rotated into different positions, as indicated in Fig. 10. The back wall of the channel 74 can be provided with a longitudinal extending rib 80 which mates with a series of radial grooves formed on the end face of the head 78 of each stud, thereby providing a series of resiliently displaceable angular settings for the stud. To this end, the stud can conveniently be made of a resilient material such as plastics, while the extension member 72 may be an aluminium extrusion.If desired, the heads of the studs can be located at desired positions along the channel 74 by means of intermediate spacer elements (not shown) slid lengthwise into the channels 74.

This lower series of adjustable louvres enables a greater control to be exerted over the air flow and its direction. The air flow can be directed differently over different parts of the grille area. Furthermore, the lower louvre blades can be turned into positions in which they provide a greater or a lesser resistance to air flow, and thus different degrees of air flow damping can be provided over different areas of the grille.

The members 72 could of course be formed integrally with the frame members 1 2. However, by making them separate as shown, grilles can be made without the lower series of louvre blades, and a lower series of louvre blades added subsequently if it should prove necessary or desirable.

Claims (14)

1. A grille structure comprising two opposite side members, a series of spaced-apart elongate support members each extending between and secured to said opposite side members, and a series of spaced-apart elongate grille members carried by said support members and extending transversely thereto, the support members having a channel crosssection with a restricted mouth in which are slidably located one or more mounting elements retained by the restricted mouth and with parts projecting through the mouth for attachment to said grille members.

2. A grille structure according to claim 1 wherein the support members have end attachments for mounting them to the side members.

3. A grille structure according to claim 2 wherein the end attachments and side members are provided with co-operating projections and recesses whereby a support member with end attachments can be snap-fitted into fixed side members.

4. A grille structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the projecting parts of the mounting elements for the grille members have recesses in which the grille members are a snap fit.

5. A grille structure according to any one of the preceding claims including one or more other components mounted to one or more said support members between the side members by means of mounting elements slidably located in the channels with parts projecting therefrom.

6. A grille structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said side members form part of a surrounding frame which includes two further opposite frame members of similar cross-section to said side members and joined thereto by corner elements which are a resilient push fit into longitudinally extending recesses in the ends of the frame members.

7. A grille structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the opposite side members have extension members extending lengthwise of the side members on opposite sides of the grille, the opposite extension members having mutually inwardly opening channel section portions in which are rotatably received end supports for a series of louvre members extending at right-angles to said grille members.

8. A grille structure, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of making a grille structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the channel-section support members are cut to fit between the side members, and before fitting them thereto mounting elements are slidably inserted in channels of the support members, to which mounting elements the grille members are attached either before or after fitting the support members to the side members.

10. A method of making a grille structure, substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings

11. A louvre assembly, comprising an elongate louvre blade having a bead extending longitudinally of the blade, and a support member for the blade which has a slot to receive the blade and allow angular movement thereof, the slot being recessed to accommodate the bead so that the blade is retained thereby at different angular positions.

1 2. A louvre assembly according to claim 11, wherein the bead is of generally arcuate section to match a generally arcuate recess in the support member.

1 3. A louvre assembly according to claim 11 or claim 1 2 wherein the slot has a Vshaped portion, the recess being generally at the apex of the V.

14. A louvre assembly according to any one of claims 11 to 1 3 wherein the bead is in the form of two ribs of generally part-circular cross-section, on opposite sides of the blade, the ribs being spaced between the longer edges of the blade.

1 5. A louvre assembly according to any one of claims 11 to 14 wherein the bead and the co-operating edges of the recess are provided with serrations to improve the grip between them and provide positive click-stop settings for the blade.

1 6. A louvre assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.