GB2342437A

GB2342437A - Ventilator

Info

Publication number: GB2342437A
Application number: GB9923721A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Brudenell
Original assignee: TOP FRAME Ltd
Current assignee: TOP FRAME Ltd
Priority date: 1998-10-09
Filing date: 1999-10-08
Publication date: 2000-04-12
Also published as: GB9821933D0; GB9923721D0

Abstract

A frame ventilator 2 comprises a base member 4 and a cover member 6 connectable so as to form a tubular structure. Apertures 20,22 provided on opposing sides of the base member 4 allow the passage of air across the ventilator 2. Edges of the base and cover members 4,6 are connectable so as to form a hinge and latch 36, 38 respectively. In a preferred embodiment the ventilator includes internal support members 8 retained between the base and cover members 4,6. The hinge 36 allows the base and cover members 4,6 to be retained in a partially fitted state while the support members are fitted thereto.

Description

Ventilator The present invention relates to a frame ventilator for use above a frame of a window or a door.

Frame ventilators are typically used above a door or window frame to permit ventilation of an enclosed space without the need for the door or window to be opened. Typically such ventilators comprise a number of extruded components and are supplied to an end user in an assembled form. Assembly is time consuming and consequently increases the cost to the end user. Frame ventilators can be supplied as kits for assembly by an end user, however their complexity means that any cost saved by buying in kit form is lost in the time taken to assemble on site. Furthermore, there may be assembly errors.

It is typical for existing types of ventilators to be supplied in fixed sizes and as a consequence of their complex construction it is often difficult to make alterations to suit a non-standard installation.

The present invention seeks to provide a frame ventilator which can be quickly and easily assembled without the need for specialist knowledge, skills or tools, and which is easily adaptable to suit a range of frame sizes and fitting situations.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a frame ventilator having a substantially hollow body with apertures therein to allow the passage of air from one side thereof to the other, the hollow body including first and second elongate members having longitudinal edges which are interengageable so as to form a tubular structure, wherein said edges are interengageable to provide a hinge at said one side and a latch at said other side. Preferably the elongate members are channel like.

The ventilator of the present invention can be supplied in a disassembled form and readily assembled on site. The hinged connection between the elongate members enables them to be retained in association with one another in a partially constructed state without the need for jigs or clamps, and allows internal components of the ventilator to be fitted before said members are latched together. The elongate members can be supplied in strip form which can be cut to the required length without affecting the joining properties thereof.

In a preferred embodiment the ventilator includes a support member provided longitudinally within the tubular structure. The support member may serve to increase the rigidity of the ventilator and to resist deformation of the tubular structure when under load. The support member is preferably substantially planar and has one or more apertures therein to allow the passage of air therethrough. Preferably the support member has a plurality of spaced apertures, which may be in the form of slots. A plurality of such support members may be provided.

The support member is preferably locatable within a slot provided in a respective elongate channel member. The slot and the corresponding edge of the support member may have an interengageable form locking structure to enable the support member to be positively engaged in the slot. The interengageable form locking structure may take the form of resiliently deformable snap-fit projections, preferably of the fir tree type.

In a preferred embodiment, the apertures which allow the flow of air from one side of the hollow body to the other are provided on opposite sides of one of said first and second elongate channel members. Preferably one of said channel members is provided with the apertures such that, in use, an aperture is provided on either side of the frame to which the ventilator is fitted. In a preferred embodiment there are provided a plurality of spaced apertures. Said apertures may be in the form of slots or rectangular holes. The ventilator preferably includes a fly screen to prevent the ingress of insects and debris such as leaves. Said fly screen may be provided within the tubular structure adjacent one of said apertures.

The hinge between said longitudinal edges of said first and second elongate members may comprise a bulbous lip of one of said edges and a socket of the other of said edges.

The latch between said longitudinal edges of said first and second elongate members may comprise a ribbed edge of one of said elongate members and a barbed recess of the other of said members. Preferably the hinge and latch edge formations are formed so as to be mutually exclusive and hence adapted to be located properly when the elongate members are correctly orientated with respect to one another.

Preferably the ventilator is provided with a slider to enable the flow of air therethrough to be regulated. The slider is positionable so as to selectively occlude one of the sets of apertures of the hollow body. Preferably the slider comprises an elongate planar member have spaced apertures therein, the size, shape and spacing of said apertures matching those of the hollow body. Accordingly the slider apertures, in use, can be moved into and out of register with the hollow body apertures to regulate air flow. The slider may be slidably supported in a recess formed in one of the channel members or, alternatively by facing lips on respective channel members. In one embodiment of the present invention the component forming the slider and the internal support member may be the same. The ventilator may be provided with end caps to close the ends of the tubular structure. Alternatively the ends of the tubular structure may be sealed by the ventilator abutting the building structure surrounding the ventilator, in use.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a frame ventilator adapted to form a substantially hollow body with apertures therein to allow the passage of air from one side thereof to the other, the ventilator comprising a body including an elongate open channel member having one pair of opposing longitudinal edges and a longitudinal living hinge formed in the member between said edges, wherein said edges are latchable to form a closed tubular structure.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a frame ventilator kit comprising one or more elongate members of the kind described above, one or more internal support members, and a slider.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a ventilator according to a first embodiment of the present invention ; Figure 2 shows an exploded side view of a hinge of the present invention; Figure 3 shows an exploded side view of a latch of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a partial perspective view of an internal support and a slider of a ventilator according to the present invention; Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of a ventilator according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional side view of a ventilator according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional side view of a ventilator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional side view of a ventilator according to a fifth aspect of the present invention; Figure 9 shows a side view of the connection between a support member and the cover member of the ventilators of Figures 7 and 8; and Figure 10 shows a partial cross-section of an alternative ventilator, corresponding to Figure 7.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4 there is shown an assembled ventilator 2 comprising a base member 4, a cover member 6, internal support members 8 and a slider 10. The base member 4 has a lower surface 12 adapted to fit against a frame of a door or a window, while the upper surface 14 of the cover member 6 is adapted to fit to the building structure surrounding said frame. The internal support members 8 are received in slots 16 provided in the base and cover members 4,6, while the slider 10 is located between respective lips 18 of the base and cover members 4,6. The base and cover members 4,6 are formed by extrusion, and thus have a continuous longitudinal profile.

The base member 4 has outer and inner sets of apertures 20,22 which are positioned such that, in use, one set is provided on each side of the door or window frame. Each set of apertures 20,22 comprises a plurality of spaced slots or holes. The internal support members 8 are provided with apertures 24 to permit air to pass therethrough.

The slider 10 is also provided with a set of apertures 26 which correspond substantially to the shape and spacing of the adjacent set of apertures 22 in the base member 4. In use, the slider 10 is slidable relative to the base member 4 to move the sets of apertures 22,26 selectively into and out of register with one another to regulate flow through the ventilator 2. A tab 28 projects from the slider 10 to facilitate movement thereof. A fly screen 30 is provided within the ventilator 2 behind the outer set of apertures 20. The fly screen 30 has a fine mesh which prevents the ingress of insects and wind blown debris. Angled slots 32,34 in the base and cover members 4,6 locate the fly screen adjacent the outer set of apertures 20. It will be appreciated that the cover member 6, base member 4, internal support members 8 and slider 10 are elongate and the assembled ventilator 2 is provided with end caps (not shown) in use. A depending flange 35 provides a shield against wind and rain.

The base and cover members 4,6 are held together by interengageable formations 36,38 provided thereupon. A first formation 36 comprises a beaded lip 40 provided along one edge of the base member 4 which is engageable in a socket 42 of the cover member 6 to form a hinge. The second formation 38 comprises a ribbed second edge 44 of the base member 4 which is engageable in a barbed recess 46 of the cover member 6 to form a latch. One method of assembling the ventilator 2 from its constituent components comprises first introducing the lip 40 into the socket 42. This has the effect of establishing a hinged connection between the cover member 6 and base member 4. The fly screen 30 and internal support members 8 can then be located in one of their respective slots 16,32,34 before the ribbed second edge 44 of the base member 4 is inserted into the cover member barbed recess 46. By fully locating the ribbed second edge 44 in the recess 46 the fly screen 30 and internal support members 8 are sandwiched between the base and cover members 4,6. The slider 10 can then be placed between the inner set of apertures and the lips before the end caps are attached.

Alternatively the lip 40 can be located in the socket 42, and the ribbed edge 44 introduced partially into the recess 46 before the internal supports 8 and fly screen 30 are introduced into their slots 16,32,34. The ribbed edge 44 can subsequently be fully inserted into the recess 46 to sandwich the internal support members 8 and fly screen 30 before the slider 10 and end caps are fitted.

It will be understood that the provision of two interengageable formations 36,38 having different configurations aids in the correct assembly of the ventilator. The width of the beaded lip 40 prevents it from being mistakenly inserted into the barbed recess 46, while the ribbed edge 44 is narrower than the socket 42 and hence is prevented from being attached therein.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 5. Here the upper surface 14 of the cover member 6 has different shape to that of the cover member 6 of the previously described embodiment. The change in the upper profile of the ventilator 2 may be required to allow the ventilator 2 to fit to particular types of building structure surrounding a frame. It is also common in this particular field to use differently shaped ventilators 2 when fitting new windows to a building or merely installing ventilators above existing windows. For example the configuration shown in Figure 1 is suitable for use windows which are installed when a building is constructed, whereas the configuration shown in Figure 5 is suitable for use when replacement windows are fitted to an existing building structure. It will be noted that the base member 4, internal support members 8, and slider 10 correspond to those shown in the previously described embodiment and are thus interchangeable. Such commonality of components reduces manufacturing costs.

A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 6. As before the ventilator 2 comprises base and cover members 4,6, internal support members 8, a slider 10, a fly screen 30 and end caps (not shown). The internal support members 8 and their respective slots 16 are provided with snap-fit projections 48 which enable the support members 8 to be positively located within the slots 16. The slider 10 is provided in a recess 50 of the base member 4 as opposed to between adjacent lips of the base and cover members 4,6 in the previous embodiments. In this embodiment the internal support members 8 and the slider 10 are the same, a feature which further reduces manufacturing costs and the complexity of the ventilator 2.

Figures 7 and 8 show ventilators 2 wherein the internal support members 8 are received only in slots 16 of the cover member 6. The ventilator of figure 7 is provided with two separate support members 8a, each of which has a ribbed edge 52 adapted to fit to the slots 16. Figure 9 shows in greater detail the ribbed edge 52 retained in the slot 16 by barbed projections 54 thereof. The support members 8a of the ventilator of figure 7 are substantially"T"shaped in cross-section and have a flattened base 56 adapted to rest against the base member 4. In contrast, the ventilator 2 of figure 8 has a support member 8b which is substantially"U"shaped in cross-section. The respective legs 58 of the support member 8b are received in the slots 16 of the cover member 6, while the transverse section 60 of the support member rests against the base member 4. It will be understood that when ventilators 2 having the configurations shown in figures 7 and 8 are assembled, the support members 8 are fitted to the slots 16 of the cover member 6 before the base and cover members 4,6 are latched together.

The number of projections and ribs 52,54 can be selected to give suitable retention characteristics. In use the support members are located in the mouth of a corresponding groove and pushed into the base of the groove before or during closure of the elongate members 4,6. This combination has the advantage that the support members are unable to slide laterally, and are thus resistant to rattling.

An alternative construction to the ventilator of Figure 7 is illustrated in Figure 10. The support member 8c is similar to member 8a, but somewhat shorter. The sides of the flattened base 56 rest on upstanding longitudinal ribs 61 extruded as part of the base member 4. This arrangement increases compliance of the assembly, and ensures a seal on the upper face of each rib 61. In practice it may be advantageous to arrange for the height of the support member 8c to be such as to be under a small degree of compression when the base and cover members 4,6 are latched together ; slight bowing of the base 56 promoting and maintaining the seal against the ribs 61. The ribs 61 also serve to stiffen the ventilator against fixing loads. Although only one support member 8c is illustrated in Figure 10, each support member of a ventilator may have a similar form.

Claims

Claims 1. A frame ventilator having a substantially hollow body with apertures in opposing sides thereof to allow the passage of air therethrough, the hollow body including first and second elongate members having longitudinal edges connectable so as to form a tubular structure, wherein said members are hinged at one side of the hollow body and said edges are latchable at the other side thereof.
2. A frame ventilator according to claim 1 wherein the first and second elongate members are channel like.
3. A frame ventilator as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the apertures are provided on opposite sides of one of said first and second elongate members.
4. A frame ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the hinge comprises a bulbous lip of one of the elongate members and a socket of the other of the other of the elongate members.
5. A frame ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the latch comprises a ribbed edge of one of said elongate members and a barbed recess of the other of said elongate members.
6. A frame ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim, the ventilator including a support member provided longitudinally within the tubular structure between the elongate members, and in contact therewith.
7. A frame ventilator as claimed in claim 6 wherein the support member is received in a respective slot of one of said elongate members.
8. A frame ventilator as claimed in claim 7 wherein a respective slot and support member have an interengageable form locking structure so as to enable a support member to be retained in a slot.
9. A frame ventilator as claimed in claim 8 wherein the interengageable form locking structure comprises resiliently deformable snap-fit projections of a support member and respective slot.
10. A frame ventilator as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9 wherein the support member is substantially planar.
11. A frame ventilator as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the support member is substantially"T"shaped in cross-section.
12. A frame ventilator as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the support member is substantially"U"shaped in cross-section.
13. A frame ventilator as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the support member has a base adapted to contact the other of the elongate members.
14. A frame ventilator as claimed in any of claims 6 to 13 wherein the support member is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures.
15. A frame ventilator according to any of claims 6 to 14 wherein the support member engages the edge of one or more longitudinally extending ribs of one of said elongate members.
16. A frame ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim, the ventilator including a slider movable so as to enable the flow of air therethrough to be regulated.
17. A frame ventilator as claimed in claim 16 wherein the slider is movable so as to selectively occlude apertures on one side of the hollow body.
18. A frame ventilator as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the slider is slidably supported in a recess formed in one of the elongate members.
19. A frame ventilator as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the slider is slidably supported in facing lips on respective elongate members.
20. A frame ventilator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.