US2467309A - Grille assembly - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1949. E. l.. HART ETAL 2,467,309

GRILLE AS SEMBLQY Filed Jan. 8, 4194e Patented Apr. 12, 1949v GRILLE ASSEMBLY Edward L. Hart and Charles Melvin Moore, Philadelphia, Pa., assig'nors, by mesne assignments, to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 8, 1946, Serial No. 639,855

2 Claims.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a grille assembly wherein the grille element is mounted in the supporting structure for adjustment selectively into a plurality of differing operative positions, said assembly including means for retaining said element captive in the structure and for tensioning the element to prevent rattling.

More specifically, the invention contemplates an assembly wherein the supporting structure 2 bars ia to the opposite bar, and which are inclined to the plane of the grille so as to exert a directional or deflecting effect upon air propelled through the opening 2 from the interior of the comprises a frame in which the grille element may be received in any one of a number of diilering predetermined positions, together with means for retaining the grille element captive while permitting retraction of the element from the frame for reinsertion in another of the alternative positions.

The invention further contemplates an assembly of the aforesaid character wherein the said retaining means functions also as a `means for tensioning the grille against rattling in the frame.

The invention resides also in certain novel structural details and arrangements hereinafter described and illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein,

Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 are fragmentary views in perspective showing a grille assembly in accordance with the invention, the grille element occupying different ones of the four possible positions of adjustment in the respective views;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5, Fig. 4; i

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary inverted plan view of the assembly as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, partially in section on the line 6-6 of the latter figure, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 'I-1, Fig. 5.

With reference to the drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, the grille assembly has been shown in application to an air conditioning unit, the casing of said unit, constituting the supporting structure for the assembly, is indicated by the reference numeral I. Set into this casing, and dening the edges of an aperture 2 therein, is a rectangular frame 3, said frame having an outwardly extending lip or iiange l, which overlies the edges of the casing I surrounding said aperture, and having at its inner end a peripheral inwardly extending flange 5 which forms a seat for a grille element 6. When thusseated, the grille element is, in effect, inserted in the aperture 2 and neatly fills the latter.

The grille element 6 comprises a series of louvres or vanes 'l which extend in parallel spaced relation across theelement from one of the side casing. Obviously, the actual direction of such deflection will depend upon the position of the grille in the frame, 3. When the grille is positioned as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the inclined louvres act to direct the outilowing air to the right, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4.

l When the grille is adjusted through an angle of in a clockwise direction, the air will be defiected downwardly as indicated in Figure l. A further adjustment of the grille through another angle of 90 will cause the air to be deflected to the left as indicated in Figure 3; and in the fourth position, as shown in Figure 2, the air will be directed upwardly.

These adjustments of the grille may be effected A by lifting the grille bodily from the frame 3 and reinserting it in the desired position. It is desirable, however, that means be provided for retaining the grille captive so that while it is possible to remove the grille from the frame to make the aforesaid adjustmens, it cannot be entirely removed from the structure. To this end, the grille is attached at its inner side to a strip 8 of flexible material, preferably resilient in character for a purpose hereinafter set forth. In the present instance, the strip is composed of spring steel and is provided at its mid section with an aperture 9 for reception of a stud Il which projects from the inner side of the grille and at the center of the latter. The stud II is threaded for reception of a nut I2, which preferably is of a selflocking character, whereby the grille is attached to the strip. In the present instance, the stud II is formed at the end of a metallic pin I3 which is forcibly inserted in a recess I4 in a knob I5 formed integrally with and at the center of the grille.

The ends of the strip 8 occupy positions, respectively, within metallic channel elements IG--IS which are secured by screws I'I to the casing I, said casing being provided in its inner side and at points adjoining the edges of the aperture 2 with recesses I8 for reception of the said channels. One of the screws of each pair, namely that one which lies nearest to the edges of said aperture, passes through a slot I9 in the end of the strip 8 so that the strip in effect is secured at each end to the casing I. rBy reason of the slots I9, the strip is afforded a certain limited longitudinal movement in the channels I6 with respect to the channels and to the casing. This 3 longitudinal movement is sumcient to permit the strip to assume a position. shown in broken lines in Figure 5, when the grille is lifted from the frame 3. Normally, the spring will assume the l ment purposes as described, and to tension thegrille to prevent rattling thereof in the frame due to vibration of the structure. 1

It will be noted by reference to Figures 5, 6, and 7 that the channels I0 which house the ends f the strip l are provided with flanges I'l-Zi which provide a bearing surface for the extremities of the strip and prevent the said extremities from contacting directly with the casing Vl. Any wear that might develop by reason of the movements of the ends of the strip falls, therefore, upon the channels rather than upon the other elements of the structure. It will be noted also that the channels I6 extend beyond the edges of the casing I and that the frame I is channeled at the underside for reception of the projecting` ends of thechannels IO as indicated at 22.

In operation, if it is desired to change the position of the grille in its frame, it is merely necessary to withdraw the grille bodily through the medium of the knob i to the position shown in broken lines in Figure 5. While in this retracted position, the grille may be rotated freely about the axis of the stud Il, such rotation being permitted by the aforedescribed loose connection between the grille and the strip 8. The grille may then be replaced in the desired position wherein it is resiliently retained by action of the spring strip 8 as described.

We claim:

1. vIn a grille assembly, a structure including a frame of non-circular form, a grille fitted to and seating in the frame and receivable in the latter in a plurality oi' differing positions, a leaf spring spanning the inner side of the frame and connected to the grille in amanner togpermit -angular movements of the grille with respect to the spring and to the structure into said diiering positions, said spring bearing at its ends against the structure and exerting resilient pressure tending normally to retain the grille against its seat in the frame, and means for anchoring thev spring in the structure, said means including a sliding connection between an end of the spring and the structure so as to permit retraction of the grille from the frame.

2. In a grille assembly, a structure including a frame of non-circular form, a grille fitted to and seating in the v'frame and receivable in the latter in a plurality of differing positions, a leaf spring i spanning the inner side of the frame and connected to the grille in a manner to permit angular movements of the grille with respect to the spring and to the structure into said differing positions, said spring bearing at its ends against the structure and exerting resilient pressure tending normally to retain the grille against its seat in the frame, means for attaching the ends of the spring to the structure, said attaching means affording movement of the spring relative to the structure yto an extent permitting retraction-of the grille vfrom the frame, and housing means embracing the said spring ends.

EDWARD L. HART.

CHARLES MELVIN MOORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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