GB2519126A

GB2519126A - Resilient ventilation grate

Info

Publication number: GB2519126A
Application number: GB1317962.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Frewer
Original assignee: 2GDI Ltd
Current assignee: 2GDI Ltd
Priority date: 2013-10-10
Filing date: 2013-10-10
Publication date: 2015-04-15
Also published as: GB201317962D0

Abstract

A device 10 to permit ventilation of a building and is arranged to be installed from within the building and pass through a hole in a wall of the building. The device comprises a body 20 having a through aperture 22, a resilient lip member 30 located at a first end 24 of the body and arranged to engage with an outside wall of the building, a shielding means 40, 50 also located at the first end and arranged to prevent ingress of water and particles through the device, and a seal 60 located at a second end (26, Fig 5B) of the body that is opposite the first end seals the body with the hole through the wall. The resilient lip may be substantially flat ring having a diameter larger than the body and made from silicon based material. The seal may be outwardly expanded radially by rotating a locking member 70. The shielding means comprises a plurality of circular louvers (41 43, 51 53, Figs 9A & 9B) having different concentrically arranged diameters. Two sets of concentric louvers may be mounted in opposition to one another (back to back) Fig 9C.

Description

RESILIENT VENTILATION GRATE

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to ventilation ducting assemblies.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a resilient grate for the ducting of a ventilation system.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Ventilation systems typically consist of air extracting means internal to a building or room thereof, typically a wall-mounted fan; a duct within a through-wall aperture for conveying the extracted air to the outside; and an external wall-mounted grate for preventing ingress of particles or parasitic elements into the duct.

[0003] Conventional grates are most often installed from the outside at the time of building and thus easily made flush and/or sealed about the through-wall aperture in the building wall, for preventing peripheral ingress of water and other comparable particles into the aperture, the interstitial space in case of a double wall, and the ventilation system itself. Conventional grates are also louvered to help prevent ingress of water and comparable particles into the duct.

[0004] Ventilation installation engineers regularly face a common problem, which occurs when internal components of a ventilation system at height are installed from the inside of a building, including the duct through the building wall, but the external grate is not installed at the same time. It is then only at a later time, frequently after the height access means, such as a scaffold, has been removed, that the omission is noticed and must be remedied. Depending on either or both of the required height for the external grate and statutory workplace requirements, the scaffold may need to be erected again for installing the missing grate, at very disproportionate time and expense.

[0005] A solution is therefore required, which obviates the need for external access to the grate area, yet still ensures that the grate will shield the aperture and duct against ingress of unwanted particles. The solution should also preferably be simple and fast to install, cost-effective to produce and involve as few moving parts as possible.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention provides a solution in the form of a resilient grate, which temporarily deforms as it is pushed through the duct from the inside of a building, resumes its shape once clear of the duct and the through-aperture, and can be releasably secured in place.

[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is therefore provided an external grate for a duct, comprising a main body having a through-aperture, a resilient lip member secured about a first extremity of the main body, shielding means adapted to prevent ingress of water and comparable particles located at the first extremity of the main body and selective expanding and constricting means located about and adjacent a second extremity of the main body, opposed to the first extremity.

[0008] In an embodiment of the external grate, the main body is substantially tubular. In a variant of this embodiment, the resilient lip member may be a substantially flat ring having a diameter substantially larger than a diameter of the main body. The ring may be made of a silicon-based material.

[0009] In an embodiment of the external grate, the selective means comprises a resilient ring located about and adjacent the second extremity of the main body, and a locking member releasably and securely engaging with the main body at the second extremity for compressing, and thereby causing an outward expansion of, the resilient ring.

[0010] In a variant of this embodiment, in which the main body is substantially tubular, at least one locking thread extends into the internal wall of the through-aperture from the second extremity of the main body, and the locking member is substantially circular and comprises at least one peripheral pin for engaging the thread.

[0011] The thread preferably comprises a locating aperture for maintaining the pin therein corresponding to a compressed condition of the resilient ring, whereby the pin engaging in the thread effectively embodies a screw and thread configuration. The locating aperture maintains the pin in position within the thread once reached, for instance at or adjacent the end of the thread distal from the second extremity, thus locking the locking member in place with the resilient ring in a compressed condition.

[0012] In an embodiment of the external grate, the shielding means comprises a plurality of louvers at least partially occluding the through-aperture.

In a variant of this embodiment, in which the main body is substantially tubular, the louvers are circular and have different respective diameters, and are arranged concentrically relative to one another. In a variant of this embodiment, the plurality of louvers may comprise two sets of concentric louvers mounted in opposition relative to one another.

[0013] In an embodiment of the external grate, the resilient lip member and the resilient peripheral member are made of silicon-based material.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method of installing an external grate for a duct from inside a building, comprising the steps of providing a duct in a through-aperture of a building wall, inserting an external grate according to any of the above-described embodiments into the duct from the inside of the building, pushing the external grate through the duct until the resilient lip member protrudes free from the duct, abutting the resilient lip member against the building wall surrounding the through-aperture and expanding the selective means within the duct to secure the external grate in place.

[0015] Other aspects are as set out in the claims herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an external grate according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the external grate of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the external grate of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a lateral view of the external grate of Figure 1.

Figure 5A is a front perspective view of the main body and resilient lip member of the external grate of Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 5B is a rear perspective view of the main body and resilient lip member of the external grate of Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 6A is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of resilient lip member of Figures 1 to 5B.

Figure 6B is a rear perspective view of the resilient lip member of Figure 6.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a locking member for releasably and securely engaging with the main body of Figures 1 to 5B.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a resilient peripheral member which, in use, is compressed by the locking member of Figure 7.

Figure 9A is a front perspective view of shielding means mounted to the front of the external grate of Figures ito 5B.

Figure 9B is a rear perspective view of shielding means secured to the main body as shown in Figure 5A under or behind the shielding means of Figure 9A.

Figure 9C is a rear perspective view of the shielding means respectively shown in Figures 9A and 9B assembled together; and Figure 10 is a perspective view of a hand tool adapted to rotate the locking member of Figures 3 and 7 through a duct.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0017] There will now be described by way of example a specific mode contemplated by the inventors. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to

unnecessarily obscure the description.

[0018] With reference to Figures 1 to 9 herein, an embodiment of a resilient external grate 10 is shown, which comprises a main body 20 having a through aperture 22, symbolized in Figures 1, 4, and 5B by an arrow 22. The external grate 10 further comprises a resilient lip member 30 secured about a first extremity 24 of the main body 20. The external grate 10 further comprises first shielding means 40 and second shielding means 50, which are both adapted to prevent ingress of water and comparable particles into the through aperture 22.

The first and second shielding means 40, 50 are located at the first extremity 24 of the main body 20 adjacent the resilient lip member 30.

[0019] In the embodiment, each shielding means 40, 50 comprises a plurality of louvres at least partially occluding the through-aperture 22. The louvres 41, 42, 43 of the first shielding means 40 are circular and have different respective diameters one relative to the other, and are arranged concentrically relative to one another about a common hub 44 and rigidly maintained by radial bracing struts 45. Thus the outer circular louvre 41 has a larger diameter than an intermediate circular louvre 42, which itself has a larger diameter than the inner circular louvre 43. Each louvre is transversally shaped as a truncated cone having a larger base pointing towards the main body 20 and a narrower top pointing away from the main body 20.

[0020] The louvres 51, 52, 53 of the second shielding means 50 are likewise circular and have different respective diameters one relative to the other, and are arranged concentrically relative to one another about a central aperture and rigidly maintained by radial bracing struts 55 and diametrical bracing struts 56. Thus the outer circular louvre 57 has a larger diameter than an intermediate circular louvre 52, which itself has a larger diameter than the inner circular louvre 53. Each louvre is transversally shaped as a truncated cone having a larger base pointing away from the main body 20 and a narrower base pointing towards from the main body 20. With reference to Figure 9C, the first and second shielding means 40, 50 are secured to one another so that their respective louvres are placed in opposed orientation, with the largest diameter of the outer circular louvre 41 of the first shielding means 40 abutting the largest diameter of the outer circular louvre 57 of the second shielding means 40.

[0021] The resilient lip member 30 is a substantially flat ring 30 comprising front and rear radial reinforcing ribs 31, each extending between an inner through-aperture 32 and an outer periphery 34 of the ring 30. An alternative embodiment of the resilient lip member 30 is shown in Figures 6A and 6B, which may have a substantially smooth forward-facing surface shown in Figure 6A, and a rearward-facing surface comprising diametrical reinforcing ribs 33 arranged concentrically about the central-through aperture 32 in addition to the radial reinforcing ribs 31, as shown in Figure 6B.

[0022] The central through-aperture 32 of each embodiment of the ring 30 has a diameter adapted to press fit and/or snap fit the ring 30 about the first extremity 24 of the main body 20. In the alternative embodiment of 6B, a sealing ring 35 may further project transversally to the rearward-facing surface towards the main body 20, in order to further improve the fitting and corresponding sealing of the ring 30 about the first extremity 24 of the main body 20.

[0023] With reference to Figures 5A and SB, a substantially flat ring 25 projects peripherally from the second extremity 26 of the main body 20. The surface of the projecting ring 25 facing away from the first extremity 24 and substantially perpendicular to a main axis of the main body 20 provides an abutting surface for a resilient member 60, in the embodiment a rubber or silicone ring 60 formed by two concave halves 61, 62 so as to define a substantially C-shaped section, such that the internal diameter of the resilient ring 60 comprises two substantially flat faces 63 separated by an annular groove 64.

[0024] The resilient external grate 10 further comprises a circular locking member 70, which engages at the second extremity 26 with the main body 20 for retaining the resilient ring 60 against the rearward-facing side of the projecting ring 25 and for compressing same against in use, thus causing its radial expansion outward, away from the periphery from the main body 20 and against the internal surface of the duct (not shown) into which the external grate 10 has been pushed and located in use.

[0025] With reference to Figure 7, the circular locking member 70 comprises a cylindrical portion 71 having an external diameter adapted to achieve a sliding fit relative to the internal wall of the main body 20 delimiting the through-aperture 22. With reference to Figures 5B and 7, a thread or groove 27 extends from a portion 28 of the edge of the second extremity 26 into the internal wall of the through-aperture 22, and comprises a plurality of locating projections 29 along its length. Each projection 29 has a dimension less than the depth of the thread 27, sufficient to allow unimpeded passage of guiding tabs 72 located about a first extremity of the cylindrical portion 71 within the thread, and to allow the resilient passage of guiding and locking projections or pins 73 located about the periphery of the cylindrical portion 71. In use, each pin 73 is resiliently forced past a projection 79 along the thread 27, wherein the projection 79 prevents its free contra-rotation.

[0026] The locking member 70 further comprises a circular end plate 74 at the second extremity of the cylindrical portion 71, opposed to the first extremity bearing the locating tabs 72 and projections 73. The circular end plate 74 has an outer diameter substantially larger than the cylindrical portion 71 and substantially equal to the outer diameter of the projecting ring 25 of the main body 20. An inner face 76 of the end plate 74 faces the rearward-facing surface of the projecting ring 25 of the main body 20 and, correspondingly, and the resilient ring 60 is located therebetween.

[0027] The circular end plate 74 includes a number of grasping though-apertures 75 disposed substantially equidistant about its area relative to a central through-aperture 75, for facilitating the rotation of the locking member 70 relative to the main body. A fastener 90 passes through the central through-aperture 75 of the circular end plate 74, the central aperture of the second shielding means and engages in the central hub 44 of the first shielding means 40 for securing the components of the external grate 10 to one another.

[0028] In use, rotation of the circular locking member 70 relative to the main body 20 translates the guiding tabs 72 and projections 73 within the thread 27 and brings the end plate 74 closer to the main body 20 as the rotation progresses, whereby the resilient ring 60 is correspondingly compressed between the opposed end plate internal face 76 and the main body projecting ring 25, eventually forcing its outward expansion equally about the second extremity 26 and beyond the respective diameters of the end plate 74 and projecting ring 25, until such expansion is constrained by the wall of the duct within which the main body 20 of the external grate is located.

[0029] Ventilation ducts commonly extend over several inches and commonly have a diameter of six inches or less, whereby rotation of the locking member 70 may not be physically possible by hand. Accordingly, the inventors have devised a complementary tool 100 for use with the external grate of the present invention which, with reference to Figure 10, comprises a handle portion and a plurality of elongate and arcuate members 120, each terminated by a grasping hook 130.

[0030] In the example shown, the hand tool 100 comprises three elongate members 120, each forming a dog leg such that their respective end sections away from the handle portion 110 are substantially parallel to one another, with interstitial distances from one another corresponding to distances between the grasping though-apertures 75 of the circular end plate 74.

[0031] In the example shown still, each grasping hook 130 consists of a portion 130, starting from the extremity distal the handle portion 110, of the end section of the elongate members 120 which is bent at a right angle relative thereto. The extremity of each hook portion 130 is oriented at a respective direction away from the other two hook portions 130, so as to facilitate the grasping action.

[0032] In use, the external grate 10 is fully inserted into a ventilation duct from the inside of the building. The tool 110 is then inserted into the duct, hooks first, after the external grate 10 and may be used to push the grate 10 there through until the resilient lip member 30 protrudes free from the duct, on the outside of the building. The tool may then be manhandled so as to engage each hook 130 into a respective grasping though-aperture 75 and subsequently pull the external grate 10 back towards the duct, so as to abut the resilient lip member against the building wall surrounding the ducting through-aperture. After abutment, the tool may then be rotated for causing a corresponding rotation of the grasping though-apertures 75 and, by extension, the locking member 70 relative to the main body 20, causing the compression of the resilient ring 60 between the circular end plate 74 and the projecting ring 25 of the main body and its substantially uniform, radial expansion against the internal wall of the duct.

Claims

Claims 1. An external grate for a duct, comprising: a main body having a through-aperture; a resilient lip member secured about a first extremity of the main body; shielding means adapted to prevent ingress of water and comparable particles located at the first extremity of the main body; and selective expanding and constricting means located about and adjacent a second extremity of the main body, opposed to the first extremity.
2. An external grate according to claim 1, wherein the main body is substantially tubular.
3. An external grate according to claim 2, wherein the resilient lip member is a substantially flat ring having a diameter substantially larger than a diameter of the main body.
4. An external grate according to any of claim 1 to 3, wherein the selective means comprises a resilient peripheral member located about and adjacent the second extremity of the main body, and a locking member releasably and securely engaging with the main body at the second extremity for compressing, and thereby causing an outward expansion of, the resilient peripheral member.
5. An external grate according to claim 4 when depending on claim 2 or 3, wherein at least one locking thread extends into the internal wall of the through-aperture from the second extremity of the main body, and wherein the locking member is substantially circular and comprises at least one peripheral projection for engaging the locking thread.
6. An external grate according to claim 5, wherein the locking thread comprises a locating projection for maintaining the peripheral projection therein, corresponding to a compressed condition of the resilient peripheral member.
7. An external grate according to any of claim 1 to 6, wherein the shielding means comprises a plurality of louvers at least partially occluding the through-aperture.
8. An external grate according to claim 7, wherein the louvers are circular and have different respective diameters, and wherein the louvers are arranged concentrically relative to one another.
9. An external grate according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of louvers comprises two sets of concentric louvers mounted in opposition relative to one another.
10. An external grate according to any of claim 4 to 9, wherein the resilient lip member and the resilient peripheral member are made of silicon-based material.
11. A method of installing an external grate for a duct from inside a building, comprising the steps of providing a duct in a through-aperture of a building wall; inserting an external grate according to any of claims 1 to 7 into the duct from the inside of the building; pushing the external grate through the duct until the resilient lip member protrudes free from the duct; abutting the resilient lip member against the building wall surrounding the through-aperture; and expanding the selective means within the duct to secure the external grate in place.
12. An external grate substantially as described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying Figures.