GB2519748A

GB2519748A - Part for a trickle ventilator

Info

Publication number: GB2519748A
Application number: GB1318832.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Coates; Steven Pollitt
Original assignee: PATTERSON AND ROTHWELL Ltd
Current assignee: PATTERSON AND ROTHWELL Ltd
Priority date: 2013-10-24
Filing date: 2013-10-24
Publication date: 2015-05-06
Also published as: GB201318832D0

Abstract

A body 3 defining a passage for the flow of air and a barrier 19 which is movable between a first position in which the passage is substantially open and a second position in which the passage is substantially closed by the barrier. A part 29 of the barrier is resilient and spaced from another part of the barrier and the resilient part 29 may be urged toward the other part of the barrier. The barrier 19 may be pivotally mounted inside the body 3 and may be arranged relative to the body such that movement of the barrier between first and second positions causes the body to act on the resilient part 29 and urge it towards the other part of the barrier. The resilient part 29 may have a projection which interacts with one or more formations on the body 3 and there may be two resilient parts 29 at opposite ends of the barrier 19. The body is particularly suitable for mounting on a window frame (1, Fig. 1) to form a trickle ventilator.

Description

PART FOR A TRICKLE VENTILATOR

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a part for a trickle ventilator or trickle vent.

Background to the Invention

In recent years, measures have been taken to improve the airtightness ofbuildings in order to improve thermal comfort, reduce heat loss and thereby reduce energy consumption. Whilst this has made dwellings cheaper to heat and more environmentally friendly, it has also negatively impacted on internal air quality through lack of adequate vcntilation. This impaired indoor air quality is undesirable since it can give rise to health problems for occupants.

In order to improve ventilation of buildings without significantly affecting the ability ofthe building to retain heat, trickle vents are incorporated into window frames. A trickle vent is a small ventilation opening that permits a flow ofair to and from a building without creating a significant draught. They usually comprise a longitudinal hollow body that may be attached either side of the frame above the window pane. The two bodies together with the window frame together define a through passage from one side of the frame to the other. A flap is provided inside the body which may be moved from a first position in which the passage is closed to the flow of air and a second position in which the passage is open and air may flow.

Several different mechanisms exist for fixing the flap in either the closedor open position. Conventional trickle vents use a hinge mechanism which is separate from the flap and which serves to hold the flap in the closed position. When it is desired to move the flap from the closed position to the open position, a user urges the flap toward the open position which overcomes the retaining force ofthe hinge andpcrmits movcmcntof the flap to the open position.

A problem with a separate hingc mechanism is that it incrcascs manufacturing cost and assembly time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a trickle vent that maybe manufactured more cheaply and assembled more quickly than conventional trickle vcnts.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect ofthe present invention, there is provided a trickle vent comprising a body defining a passage for the flow of air, a barrier which is movable between a first position in which thc passagc is substantially opcn and a sccond position in which the passage is substantially closed by the barrier, wherein part of the barrier is rcsilient and spaccd from another part ofthc barricr and whcrcin thc rcsflicnt part may bc urged toward the other part of the barrier.

Advantageously, the resilient part may bc uscd to hold the barrier in the closed position. The barrier therefore incorporates a mechanism for holding the barrier in position and may therefore be formed from a single piece. Being able to manufacture the barrier in a single piece reduces assembly time because a separate locking mechanism is not required and it also reduces manufacturing cost.

The barrier may be mounted inside the body. The barrier may be pivotally mounted inside the body. The resilient part may be integral to the barrier. The barrier and resilient part may be formed from a single piece. The barrier may be arranged relative to the body such that movement of the barrier between first and second positions causes the body to act on the resilient part and urge the resil lent part toward the other part of the barrier.

The resilient part of the barrier may further comprise a projection which is arranged to interact with one or more formations on the body. One or more formations may prevent the barrier from moving between the first and second positions. The one or more formations may bc bypassabic by the barrier by movement of the rcsilient part. The barrier may comprise two resilient parts. The barrier may comprise a resilient part at opposite ends respectively of the barrier.

There may be provided a window frame comprising a part of a trickle vent according to the first aspect of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a trickle vent attached to a window frame; Figure 2 shows a part of the trickle vent shown in Figure 1 that is attached to the inside of the window frame; Figure 3 shows an enlarged perspective view ofthe inside of a section of the part shown in Figure 3; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a flap which is mounted inside the part shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a front view of the flap shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a plan view of the flap shown in Figure 4; Figure 7 shows a rear view of the flap shown in Figure 4; Figure 8 shows an underside view of the part shown in Figure 2; Figure 9 shows an underside view ofthe part shown in Figure 1 that is attached to the outside of the window frame; Figure 10 shows an open face side of the part shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 shows an open face side of the part shown in Figure 2; Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the external casing of the parts shown in Figures 2 and 9; and With reference to the drawings there is shown a cross sectional view ofthe top of a window frame 1 incorporating a trickle vent to permit air to circulate to and from a building interior. The trickle vent comprises two parts, an interior part 3 and an exterior part 5. In this embodiment, each part 3, 5 is moulded from PVC plastics material and comprises attachment means for attaching the parts to respective sides of the window frame 1.

The internal part 3 and the external part 5 are substantially equivalent in dimensions and comprise a longitudinal, hollow, substantially cuboidal body 7, 9. Each body 7, 9 has an opening through two sides ihat rorn a channel through which air may flow. One ofthe openings 11, 13 is formed in the side ofthe body 7, 9 that is intended in use to be fixed to the window frame 1. The other opening 15, 17 is formed in the underside of the body 7, 9 that will face downwardly when the parts 3, 5 are attached to the respective sides of the window frame 1. In the case of the internal part 3, the underside opening 15 comprises a number of relatively large apertures formed along the length of the body. These apertures are separated by parallel struts 18 which provide strength to the structure and serve as an abutment means for an airflow bather or flap 19 mounted within the body 7. In the case ofthe external parts, the underside opening 17 comprises a plurality of parallel slots that together form a grill to prevent unwanted contaminants and insects from entering the vent.

The window frame 1 has a passageway routed therethrough from one side to the other. The parts 3, 5 of the trickle vent are attached to the window frame I such that the openings 11, 13 are aligned with the openings formed in the frame I and such that the two bodies 7, 9 surround the frame openings 1. Thus, air is forced to circulate throughthe window frame I via the openings 11, 13, 15, 17 of the respective trickle vent parts 3, 5.

In order to control the flow of air though the channel formed by the vent parts 3, 5 and window frame I, the flap 19 is pivotally mounted within the body 7 so that it can be moved between two extreme positions. In the first extreme position (as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3) the flap 19 abuts the struts 18 on the underside ofthe body 7 and closes off the opening 15. In this position, air is restricted from flowing to and from the buildingvia the channel formed through the window framc 1. In the second extreme position, the flap 19 is pivoted about a snrnll longitudinal projection 21 until the flap 19 abuts the underside 23 of the upper face of the body 7. In this second extreme position, air is permitted to flow through the underside opening 15 through the frame facing opening 11 and into the channel formed through the window frame 1 or vice versa. To facilitate movement of the flap 19 between the two extreme positions, a lever 25 extends from the centre of an edge of the flap 19. The body of the lever 25 has a curved edge 27 to serve as a guide and support for guiding the flap 19 between the two positions in a smooth, controlled manner.

The flap 19 is formed from PVC plastics material using a single mould. It is substantially flat and rectangular in shape and is dimensioned to fit within the body7 and to cover the opening 15 in the first extreme position. A resilient arm 29 extends from each end of the flap and is spaced from the rest of the flap 19 by a gap. Each arm 29 is capable of being flexed in toward the main body of the flap 19 so that the gap therebetween is reduced. Since the arms 29 are resilient they are biased toward their original position in which the original gap is restored. Therefore, the arms 29 resist movement toward the main body of the flap 19 and therefore exert a force against anything that urges them toward the body of the flap and closes the gap.

A small stud 31 projects from the outer face of each arm 31. The studs 31 are arranged to interact with two substantially small lips 33, 35 that project from the inside end faces ofthe body 7 ofthe inner vent part 3. The lips 33, 35 serve as barriers that must be overcome in order for the flap 19 to move between the two extreme positions. In the absence of sufficient force, the two arms 29 will not be able to flex sufficiently inwards for the studs 31 to clear the lips 33, 35. The lips therefore help to hold the flap 29 in either extreme position in the absence of extemal forces. When it is desired to move the flap between the two positions, a user pushes or pulls the flap 19 via the lever 25 with sufficient force that the interaction between the lips 33, 35 and the studs 31 urges the arms 29 inwardly and permits the studs 31 and arms 29 to clear the lips 33, 35 thus enabling the flap to be moved between open and closed configurations.

To further facilitate holding the flap 19 in the open position, the inner end walls ofthe body 7 narrow toward the underside 23 of the upper face ofthe body 7. The inner walls are arranged to narrow such that the distance between the opposite sides respectively adjacent the underside 23 is slightly less than the distance between the two studs 31 of the flap 19 in a relaxed, non-flexed state. Thus, when the flap 19 is urged toward the underside 23, the constricting walls of the body 7 act on the arms of the flap 19, urging them toward the rest of the body and holding the flap 19 in place. An external force is required from the user to urge the flap out from the constricted walls toward the closed position.

In use, the internal part 3 and the external part 5 are screwed into the window frame 1 such that the openings 11, 13 surround the openings formed in the window frame 1 and are bounded by the walls of the respective bodies 7, 9. A passageway is therefore created between the inside and outside of the building in which it is installed. When it is desired to ventilate a room in a building, the flap 19 is moved from the closed position to the open position where it is retained in place by the constricted walls and the lip 35.

When sufficient ventilation has occurred, the trickle vent is closed by urging the flap 19 out from its locked position and to a closed state where it abuts the lower face and struts 18 of the body 7.

The above embodiment is described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A part for a trickle ventilator comprising a body defining a passage for the flow of air, a barrier which is movable between a first position in which the passage is substantially open and a second position in which the passage is substantially closed by the barrier, wherein part of the barrier is resilient and spaced from another part of the barrier and wherein the resilient part may be urged toward the other part of the barrier.
2. A part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier is mounted inside the body.
3. Apart as claimed in claim 2, wherein the barrier is pivotally mounted inside the body.
4. A part as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the resilient part is integral to the barrier.
5. A part as claimed in claim 4, wherein the barrier and resilient part are formed from a single piece.
6.. A part as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the barrier is arranged relative to the body such that movement of the barrier between first and second positions causes the body to act on the resilient part and urge the resilient part toward the other part of the barrier.
7. A part as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the resilient part of the barrier frirther comprises a projection which is arranged to interact with one or more formations on the body.
8. A part as claimed in claim 7, wherein one or more formations prevent the barrier from moving between the first and second positions.
9. A part as claimed in claim 8, wherein the one or more formations are bypassable by the barrier by movement of the resilient part.
10. A part as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the barrier comprises two resilient parts.
11. A part as claimed in claim 10, wherein the barrier comprises a resilient part at opposite ends respectively of the barrier.
12. A part as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
13. A window frame comprising a part as claimed in any preceding claim.