US2680501A

US2680501A - Slat type grille with interlocked slats

Info

Publication number: US2680501A
Application number: US83459A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cunningham Marion Morgan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-03-25
Filing date: 1949-03-25
Publication date: 1954-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1971-06-08

Description

June 8, 1954 M. M. CUNNINGHAM 2,680,501

SLAT TYPE GRILLE WITH INTERLOCKED SLATS Filed March 25, 1949 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

. portion of the grille Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED PATENT QFFICE.

3,680,501 SLAT TYPE GRILLE WITH INTERLOCKED SLATS Mar on orgen Cunn m,

Wwnswk t, ll; 1

Application March 25, 1919., Serial N 0- 83,459

l0 Claims- My invention relates to a ri e er the t pe som posed of intersecting slats which are transversely notched and interfitted at the intersections so that each extends across or substantially aeross the width of the other, and has refelell e ll??? particularly to facilities for interlockin the in.- tersecting slats. Grilles of this type are used eggs tensively in artificial lighting to diffuse the light and shield the source of illumination a manner .to avoid objectionable glare.

It has been customary, heretofcre, to iurnish uch grilles in assembled form uch. rille construe tion with the slats permanently secured together has been objectionable, however, for a number of reasons.

advance production 7 v sizes for which there is a regulardemand can be rnade for stock and considerable storage space is quired for he ri es. w en as em ed. More over, they cannot cleaning or repairing.

The principal objects of my invention are, to provide an improved slatted grille for lighting t es or for her u e-s e to con tru t the r l so t t m y b readny and uickly sembled and disassembled; to provide simple and convenient interlocking facilities whereby the iorm and i the job; to permit disassembly of the grille for cleaning or for repairs; and in general, be provide a slatted grille which is coonom-ical tc manufacture, simple to assemble and Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a grille in accordance with my invention;

Fi 2 is a persp ctive view or a fragmentary of F g- 1 d howi g acile tie by which it may be suspended;

3 is a f a men ary View of .a mug s t sl'lQWihg the form of slot arrangeme t, for m lacki g w th a ball Fie- 41s a plan View of portions of intersecting .h etee be r di y di ss mbled for grille se in h teeter term. in ieh th i tsrlochine lements are .in ertee e r es:

Fig 5. i else view at t e sla s c F 4 sq: J' lsted to e in e l cke port on;

Fla 6 i e psrsnee ive iew st he end of a erll e slat mounted ina marginal frarne member;

e- 7 s e r rsheetive view sho in twq int nse s slats with modified rm f locking le ment;

Fir 8 a f a m ta y view Qi a l ad ted for use with the glisceshaped locking element of Fig. 7

Fla is a eer h el e n w 9 sc rer-sh ne l t abou t9 9. ssembl d the. sh w ng a m sh fied rm 9? ce.

he s ats h s 19 is a plea view Qt the slats h n n la a af e assembly;

R eii is a plan vie at meeihsd t rm 9? gri l con t u t .1 hewi e he ang e of ass mbl ee He 1.3 s? p an view he s at Q the ll fin l a emb ed f r R f rr n to erewlhe a d Pa cula y t i s 1 thro h he rille ass mbly sh wn ere n is emreset 9t ets Q para lel slats t slat f one set hsiee h ea e b t ene um ral 15 and he slat .9; the th et b t e reierenee n meral l The slats l5 and [6 are elilge each xnade of tri stee s hre lele at 1 val wi h slots l seeks ast .eeeeeiine eter rti ns si t e shit stock fre ly th re n and herm the stri s o slats O h et to he ea ily en a ed at th s 1 t o s ith th has er slats hf he eths set of t ether set .e slats so slats he s the of the other p d rarsl elr l th hl Width s 7. of e slat 9; the eh I s l h t thus assess d the int rsec in sla s and I6 form a grillewi'th square openings there;

kins element integ a th r- 's Q 3 through bounded by upright as shown in Fig. 2.

For interlocking the two sets of slats l5 and Hi in the thus enmeshed position, each slat l5 and I6 is provided at the inner end of each slot i! with a circular enlargement [8 located midway between the lateral edges of the slat so that the circular enlargements l8 of the slats it are at the same elevation as those of the other slats it when the slats l5 and it are properly enmeshed, and balls 19 are provided which are engaged in the openings ll of both the slats l5 and Hi at the intersections thereof.

These balls l9 fit quite closely within the circular enlargements l8 so as to hold the slats i5 and I6 against unmeshing movement, that is, movement in the direction of their width, and the balls themselves are held securely in place by the quarter turn arrangement therearound of the semi-circular halves of the enlargements 18.

Generally it is not necessary to provide balls l9 in all of the intersecting openings 18 as a few properly distributed throughout the area of the grille are sufficient, only three being shown, for

portions of the slats example, in the fragmentary portion of the grille illustrated in Fig. 2. In such case, it is preferable to omit the circular enlargements it at the inner ends of the slots H where an interlocking ball 19 is not employed and merely continue the slots 61 sufiiciently, as indicatedat Na in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the slats l5 and 16 will mesh fully together, the slot extensions Ha being preferable at the places where the balls l9 are omitted, as the unoccupied openings 18 would permit passage of light therethrough and this is undesirable.

To insert these balls 19 in the intersecting openings l8, one set of the enmeshed slats l5 and I6 is merely swung relatively to the other set of slats to a somewhat collapsed condition substantially as shown in Fig. 4, in which position the balls l9 may be readily inserted, whereupon the restoring of the enmeshed slats l5 and (8 to the normal right angular relation shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 locks the balls IS in the openings is so that the slats l5 and 16 are inseparably locked to gether. To disassemble the slats [5 from the slats I6, it is merely necessary to collapse the grille. to the position shown in Fig. 4 whereupon the balls [9 may be removed.

For suspending a grille of the above construction, hangers 26 may be provided at appropriate places, for example, one near each corner of the grille, each hanger being formed at the lower end with a hook 2| which engages intersecting slats l5 and it through the openings 18 at the particular intersection.

These grilles are generally supported in a marginal frame, such as indicated at 22 in Fig. l, which holds the slats of one set at right angles to the slats of the other set and this frame may consist of channel-shaped bars 23, such as shown in Fig. 5, joined together at the grille corners, or it may consist of frame members of any other suitable design, such as L-shaped and the like. Each channel bar 23 is provided in its central upright web 24 with a series of circular ball openings 25 of the same size and the same distance apart as the openings N3 of the slats I5 and i6, and each opening 25 has a slot 26 extending vertically therethrough from the bottom flange 2'! to the top flange 28 of the channel member and continued outwardly in the top flange 23 as indicated at 29 in Fig. 6 to permit insertion of an end portion of a slat IE or 16 downwardly in the slot 26.

The frame 22 is of such size that ends of all of the slats l5 and I6 engage in slots 25 of the marginal frame and with an opening 18 in each of said ends disposed in ball interlocking relation with the respective opening 25 of the marginal frame 22, and the frame 22 is of such construction that when the slats l5 and it are collapsed to the relative angular relation, such as shown in Fig. 4, to receive balls is in the ball receiving openings i8 thereof the slats i5 and Iii are at the same time likewise angularly disposed with respect to the surrounding members of the frame 22 to receive balls 19 in the openings 18 which intersect the openings 25 of the frame.

Thus, when the grille is collapsed to receive balls l9 in intersecting pairs of openings l8, iii of the slats l5 and 15 to interlock the slats, balls l9 may at the same time be inserted in the intersecting pairs of openings i8, 25, and when the grille is thereafter extended to the expanded form of Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the slats ends are interlocked with the frame.

To permit collapse of the frame 22 to conform to the collapsed form of the grille in the operation of inserting or removing the various balls, the frame members (channel irons of Fig. 6, for example) may be hinged together at the corners of the frame, or if preferred, the frame members may be disconnectable at the frame corners for collapsing and detachably securable together in right angular relation in the expanded form of the grille.

Obviously also, it is not necessary for all of the slats i5 and it to engage or be interlocked at their ends with the frame 22. They may be interlocked only at selected places around the frame, in which event plain slots H with extensions Fla. and plain slots 28 without enlargements 25 are employed at the others of said places, or, if desired, only selected slats may be extended sufficiently to engage the frame 22.

Moreover, it is not essential that a frame 22 be employed which extends entirely around the grille. Frame members (such as shown in Fig. 6, for example) may be employed at the opposite ends or at the opposite sides only of the grille and the ends of the slats H5 or of the slats 15, as the case may be, interlocked therewith.

The locking elements for interlocking the meshed slats i5 and it may be of shapes other than the ball shape of Figs. 2, l, 5 and 6. For example, circular discs may be employed as shown at 30 in Fig. 7.

In such case, the slots I! of the slats l5 and I6, instead of terminating in a rounded enlargement it as in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, have a cross slot 31! at the inner ends thereof midway between the lateral edges of the slat, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8, and of suitable size and shape to receive the discs 30. Thus, the combined slots l1 and 31 produce a T-shaped slot, which has the advantage that the portions 32 at opposite sides of the slot 11 are springy and permit greater collapse of the assembled grille to the Fig. 4 position for insertion and removal of the discs 30. Moreover, the discs 30 may be punched from the slats i5 and 16 as indicated at 33 in Fig. 8, if desired.

As an alternative construction, the locking element, instead of being a separate part as in the case of the ball 18 and disc 30, may be a projection on one or both sides of the slats or some of them. The slats l5 and 15 may be provided with slots H at their intersection, as shown in Fig. 9, the same as in the Fig. 2 construction and one of these slots I! has a circular enlargetions, the slats of each set being substantially ment H3 at the inner end but with slits 34 extendp rpen icul r to h l t f h other set nd laterally from the plane of the slot. The slot 5 terlocked with one another in the enmeshed ll in the other slat 15 of Fig. 9 terminates in a' p rp ndicul r r lati n against separation in h hemispherical hump 36 pressed laterally from the direction of the width of the slats, said means slat at one side as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. comprising an enlargement of the inner end of In assembling a grill of this type, the respeceach slot of each slat at each place of inter tive slats l5 and it are meshed together until 10 looking thereof, and a separate key at each place the humps as interfere with further meshing, f int rl kin engaged in h l r m n of in this collapsed condition the two sets of slats tWo sets of slats and d d y sab are forced to the full meshing position, after from both ofosaid enlargements when one set of which they are expanded to the normal posislats is shifted obliquely to the other set or slats, tion at right angles to one another as shown said key'having enlargement defining portions 111 Fig 10 of the meshed togethei intersecting slats ar- In this final meshing of the slats l5 and i6 of ranged circumferentially around the key at sub Figs. 9 and 10, the portion 35, of the slat I 6, which stantially equal circumferentially spaced inter slats I5 and it are fully enmeshed, this portion the place of intersection of the slats when the 35 springs back to the normal position in the slats of one set are perpendicular to the slats plane of the slat 6. of the other set, said enlargement defining por In this Figs. 9 and 10 construction all of the tions being relatively movable circumferentially circular openings It may be in one set of the around the key to release thekey by movement the other set of slats or they may alternate in tively to the other set of slats.

the slats of both sets. Also, the bulges 36 may .2. A grille composed of two intersecting sets be spaced apart with a considerable number of Of laterally spaced parallel slats which are slotted plain slots therebetween and the slots with cir and meshed together edgewise at the interseccular openings l8 slitted at the sides as at 34 tions, and means at at least some of the intermay be likewise spaced apart so long as the bulge 35 sectio s y Which t WO Sets Of s ats re de 33 slots and the circular opening it slots mesh tachably interlocked with one another in the the two sets of slats pising a circular enlargement at the inner end A modification of this Figs. 9 and 10 construcof each slot of each slat at the intersect on theree tion is shown in Figs. 11 and 12 wherein the slats of, and a ball engaged in the circular enlargeinations 3'! and 38, each of which has an out- 3. A grille composed of two intersecting sets of Wa d y eXtehding u e 9 o t t e i a laterally spaced parallel slats which are slotted 5 and meshed together edgewise at the intersecintersection where the two sets of slats are to tions, and means at at least some of the intersecbe interlocked. The other slats, indicated at l6 tions by which the two sets of slats are detachin Figs. 11 and 12, are of the same construction ably interlocked with one another in the en slats of Figs. 9 and 10. prising a cross slot at the inner end of each slot Disas mbly of the rill s utilizin humped of each slat at the intersection thereof, and a disc lockin el m n is mpli h y w in the engaged in said cross slots of both slats.

respective sets of slats to the somewhat collapsed 4.. A grille composed of t intersecting t of Position Shown in and pu he slats laterally spaced parallel slats which are slotted apart. and meshed together edgewise at the intersec- Grilles of the character contemplated in m tions, and means at at least some of the intersecs invention may be made of louvers or slats of any m by hi h the two sets of slats are de achsuitable material, metallic, plastic, or otherwise. ably interlocked with one another in ma em Likewisethe balls and the discs 39 may be meshed relation against separation in the direct made of various types of materials. For some men f the Width f the slats, said means 603% purposes, a pleasing ornamental or decorative prising a lateral ff et fr m a S191; f One of efiect can be achieved by using Clear colored the intersecting slats and a bulge from the side plastic or glass balls 19 or discs 38 which will f the other intersecting 1 and engaged in said diifuse or refract the rays from the light source. off et While I have shown and described my inven- 5, A grille composed of two intersecting sets tion in a preferred ferm, I m aware that of laterally spaced parallel slats which are slotted 11s changes and modifications y be ade and meshed together edgewise at the intersectherein without departing from the spirit of the tions, and having at each place of intersection invention, the scope of which is to be determined thereof with the slats of the other set a slot. which by the appended claims. is open at one end and extends inwardly from What is claimed is: one lateral edge of theslat in the direction of and 1. A grille composed of two intersecting sets p rt Way ro h Wi th of he la toward the of laterally spaced parallel slats which are slotted Opp lateral g o t es at, and the slats of and meshed together edgewise at the interseceach set being engageable i a g g bl from meshed intersecting relation with the slats of the other set by relative movement of the slats of one set with respect to the slats of the other set in a direction lengthwise of said slots of the slats of both sets, and means at at least some of the intersections by which the two sets of slats are detachably interlocked with one another in the enmeshed relation against separation in the direction of the width of the slats, said means comprising an enlargement at the inner end of the slot of one of the intersecting slats and bulges at the opposite sides of the other slat at the inner end of the slot and engaged in the said enlargement.

6. A grille composed of two intersecting sets of laterally spaced parallel slats which are slotted and meshed together edgewise at the intersections, the slats of each set being substantially at right angles to the slats of the other set and having at each place of intersection thereof with the slats of the other set a slot which is open at one end and extends inwardly from one lateral edge of the slat in the direction of and part way across the width of the slat toward the opposite lateral edge of the slat, and the slats of each set being engageable in and disengageable from meshed intersecting relation with the slats of theother set by relative movement of the slats of one set with respect to the slats of the other set in a direction lengthwise of said slots of the slats of both sets, and means at at least some of the intersections by which the two sets of slats are detachably interlocked with one another in the enmeshed right angle relation against separation in the direction of the width of the slats, said means comprising an individual locking member at each such intersection having a peripheral surface which is spaced from and substantially concentric with and extends at least a part way around the axis of intersection, and at least one of the slats at such intersection having means which is movable relatively to the other slat arcuately along said peripheral surface of the looking member in adirection circularly around said axis to interlock the slats against separation.

'7. A grille composed of two intersecting sets of laterally spaced parallel slats which are slotted and meshed together edgewise at the intersections, the slats of each set being substantially perpendicular to the slats of the other set and having at each place of intersection thereof with the slats at the other set a slot which is open at one end and extends inwardly from one lateral edge of the slat in the direction of and part way across the width of the slat toward the opposite lateral edge of the slat, and the slats of each set being engageable in and disengageable from meshed intersecting relation with the slats of the other set by relative movement of the slats of one set with respect to the slats of the other set in a direction lengthwise of said slots of the slats of both sets, and means at at least some of the intersections by which the two sets of slats are detachably interlocked with one another in the enmeshed perpendicular relation against separation in the direction of the width of the slats, said means comprising an individual locking member at each such intersection having a peripheral surface spaced outwardly from and extending substantially concentrically around the axis of intersection, and at least one of the slats at such intersection having means which is movable peripherally around the locking member along said peripheral surface thereof to and from the other slat in a direction circularly around the axis of intersection to interlock the slats against separation.

8. A grille composed of two intersecting sets of laterally spaced parallel slats which are slotted and meshed together edgewise at the intersections, the slats of each set being substantially perpendicular to the slats of the other set and having at each place of intersection thereof with the slats of the other set a slot which is open at one end and extends inwardly from one lateral edge of the slat in the direction of and part way across the width of the slat toward the opposite lateral edge of the slat, and the slats of each set being engageable in and disengageable from meshed intersecting relation with the slats of the other set by relative movement of the slats of one set with respect to the slats of the other set in a direction lengthwise of said slots of the slats of both sets, and means at at least some of the intersections by which the two sets of slats are detachably interlocked with one another in the enmeshed perpendicular relation against separation in the direction of the width of the slats, said means comprising an individual locking member at each such intersection having an arcuate surface which is spaced outwardly from and substantially concentric with the axis of intersection, and at least one of the slats having the slot thereof at the intersection provided with a lateral enlargement which is movable relatively to the other slat peripherally along the arcuate surface of the locking member in a direction circularly around said axis to cooperate with the looking member in interlocking the slats against separation.

9. A grille composed of two intersecting sets of laterally spaced parallel slats which are slotted and meshed together edgewise at the intersections, the slats of each set being substantially perpendicular to the slats of the other set and having at each place of intersection thereof with the slats of the other set a slot which is open at one end and extends inwardly from one lateral edge of the slat in the direction of and part way across the width of the slat toward the opposite lateral edge of the slat, and the slats of each set being engageable in and disengageable from meshed intersecting relation with the slats of the other set by relative movement of the slats of one set with respect to the slats of the other set in a direction lengthwise of said slots of the slats of both sets, and means at at least some of the intersections by which the two sets of slats are detachably interlocked with one another in the enmeshed perpendicular relation against separation in the direction of the width of the slats, said means comprising a separate locking member at each such intersection which is individually removable therefrom and has an arcuate surface which is spaced outwardly from and substantially concentric with the axis of intersection, and at least one of, the slats at such intersection having the slot thereof at the intersection provided at each side of the axis of intersection with a lateral enlargement which is movable relatively to the other slat peripherally along the arcuate surface of the locking member in a direction circularly around said axis to cooperate with the locking member in interlocking the slats against separation.

10. A grille composed of two intersecting sets of laterally spaced parallel slats which are slotted and meshed together edgewise at the intersections, and having at each place of intersection thereof with the slats of the other set a slot which 2,680,501 9 g is open at one end and extends inwardly from one to one another, said locking member having a lateral edge of the slat in the direction of and peripheral surface spaced outwardly from and of one set with respect to the slats of the other set other intersecting portion in a direction circuin a direction lengthwise of said slots of the slats larly around the axis of intersection to interlock of both sets, and means at at least some of the 10 the s ats a a Separationintersections by which the two sets of slats are References Cited in the file of this patent direction of the width of the slats, and a mar- UNITED STATES PATENTS of the slats are detachably interlocked, all of Sam 5??? ggi 5 detachably interlocked slats being releasable upon v n 7 1,197,506 Doyen Sept. 5, 1916 ad ustment of one set of slats obliquely to the L 1,896,957 Hutcheson Feb. 7, 1933 other set of slats and b0 the frame, said slats 2 490 586 Embree Dec 6 1949 having end portions which intersect portions of 20 u said marginal frame and some of said intersect- FOREIGN PATENTS ing portions having matching openings at the intersection and a locking member seated in said N umber Country Date openings interlocking said intersecting portions 97119 Sweden 1939