US3058266A - Lattice type plastic grille construction - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 16, 1962 R. HARVEY 3,058,266

LATTICE TYPE PLASTIC GRILLE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 18, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENR. RIC/Mk0 HARVEY ATTORNEY.

Oct. 16, 1962 R. HARVEY 3,058,266

LATTICE TYPE PLASTIC GRILLE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 18, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGJI. HGJZ.

V 22 35 45 FIG-J3.

[55 55 INVENTOR. l5 57 57 57 RICHARD HARVEY 57 f BY A TTOIFNE L flit fates This invention relates to grilles, and more particularly, to a lattice type grille construction.

Ordinarily, lattice type grilles must be carefully constructed from pro-formed sections of material in a very careful and painstaking manner to produce a grille of exacting symmetrical arrangement. In many instances, portions of lattice type grilles are made from hand carvings, formed or stamped metal, or the like. The hand labor and carefully selected materials ordinarily required to produce an exacting lattice type grille are very expensive and difiicult to adapt for many of the various uses to which they can be put. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide lattice type grille construction that is extremely simple to fabricate, is authentic in appearance, and which can be economically adapted for various purposes.

More specifically, a primary object of the present invention is to form and construct grillework panels through the practical use of thermoplastic or thermo-setting plastics, in such a manner as to impart to the finished panel rigidity, strength, lightness of weight, and freedom from warpage.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide grillework panels of cellular construction having unit halves which are injection or compression molded and which are joined together by means of solventcernents, resulting in a single welded hollow unit, such that any multiple of these hollow units so obtained are in turn, welded together by means of the solvent cements, thus producing a multi-unit panel of completely chemically welded hollow construction.

Still another specific object of the present invention is to provide grillework of hollow shell construction designed to impart to the finished plastic panel a uniform distribution of stress, of substantially great rigidity and strength, and which is relatively free from warpage and of exceptionally light weight, all of which factors are not otherwise inherent in the plastic from which it is constructed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of constructing a lattice type grille that virtually eliminates painstaking hand labor, produces a grille of any desired size and of extremely accurate symmetry, and which can be of any desired outline.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide fabricated cellular lattice grille sections of generally symmetrical outline having segments of a continuous grille pattern, and which can be readily assmbled without special skills or equipment to form a completed lattice grille panel for any desired purpose.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide lattice grille panels of the type described that may be constructed from a plurality of relatively small and easy to handle sections of identical configuration, which can thus be fabricated by securing together a plurality of the identical sections to form an enlarged panel with an attractive continuous pattern design extending throughout the entire area thereof, and with all seam lines between adjacent sections being completely hidden from view.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front plan view of a lattice grille panel made in accordance with one form of the present invention.

3,@58,Z% Patented Oct. 16, 1962 FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the panel shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 1, showing a slightly modified form of panel.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the panel shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front plan view of one of the sections forming the panel shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a back view of a section half forming a part of the section shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the section half shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5, of a single section of the type used for forming the panel shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 9 is a back view of a section half of the section shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of the section half shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary open-shell view showing an alignment means between adjacent ones of the sections forming the panel shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a fastener for securing a plurality of adjacent section halves together.

FIG. 15 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 15-45 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a pair of open-shell section halves secured together in side by side relationship by means of one of the fasteners shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1717 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are cross-sectional views taken along lines 18-18 and 19-19, respectively, of FIG. 3.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a wall showing one use of combined half-shell sections and whole sections.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, an arabesque style lattice grille panel 20 made in accordance with one form of the present invention is shown to be constructed from a plurality of substantially identical panel sections 22, all secured together in abutting relationship to provide a continuous pattern extending over the entire surface area of the grille panel.

As is more clearly shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 of the drawing, each panel section 22 is of generally symmetrical outline, including a frame portion 26 and a. plurality of hollow intersecting bands 28 that have inside channels 27 and are segments of a continuous repeating pattern of interwoven rings, as is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. As the exterior outline of each section 22 and the pattern bands 28 are symmetrical and identical in all positions, such sections may be readily assembled together in any relative position to form the repeating design shown in FIG. 1.

Each such panel section 22 is preferably molded of plastic material of any desired color and surface texture, in two halves, each of which is identical to the other. With further reference now to FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawing, each such section half is shown to include an identical number of spaced apart male detents 30 and cooperating female indents 31; the detents and indents are uniformly spaced apart in predetermined relationship so as toenable all of the detents 30 on one section half to be received within each of the female indents 31 in the other such section half when both halves are placed together in back to back relationship, in any corresponding position thereof. Thus, a single mold may be used to manufacture all of the section halves and completed sections 22.

The interior of each frame portion 26 of each panel half is provided with a groove 32 which cooperates with the corresponding groove 32 of the mating panel half to provide a cellular type construction, similar to that provided between the channels 27 in the bands 28.

The exterior marginal surface of the frame portion 26 is substantially fiat so as to form a mating abutment surface for engagement by each next adjacent section 22, thus producing seam lines that are virtually invisible to the eye, as is shown in FIG. 1. Each side of the marginal frame 26 is provided with a pair of semicircular openings 33 that are spaced the same distance inwardly from the opposite ends of each such side. These openings thus cooperate with the corresponding openings on the other half of each section to provide circular bores when both halves are assembled, as is shown in FIG. 2. These openings may be conveniently provided during the molding of the section halves, and are automatically aligned with each other because of the equal spacing inwardly from each end of the frame sides, thus avoiding the neces sity of having to assemble the section halves in any predetermined order. Both section halves of each section may be also conveniently thermally sealed together or chemically cemented in any desired manner, following which the abutment surfaces 35 thereof are suitably treated to provide substantailly fiat surface contour for exacting abutting relationship with the adjacent panel sections during erection of the finished panel. Such erection of the panel may be facilitated by the use of interlocking dowels that may be inserted into the openings 33 in one panel section and driven into the aligned openings in the next adjacent panel section, to frictionally secure such sections together Without any externally visible or added fastening elements. Such dowels may be cemented in place, or may be frictionally retained within the provided openings 33, thus enabling the panel to be disassembled or changed in size or shape whenever required.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3, 4 and 8 to of the drawing, which illustrate a modified form of construction which takes the form of a ring and bar type panel 40. This panel is constructed from a plurality of identical panel sections 42, each of which includes a pair of identical panel halves that are secured together in back to back relationship, with the channels 45 in the ring segments 46 and channels 49 in the bar elements 47 forming a cellular construction, in the manner hereinbefore described. In this embodiment, the ring segments 46 form portions of a continuous repeating panel pattern, while the bar elements 47, which also form a part of the repeating pattern panel, further serve as connecting means for securing all of the sections 42 together. Each such barportion 47 is provided with a substantially flat abutting portion 48 which fits closely together in abutting relationship with the corresponding surface portion of each next adjacent panel section. Uniformly spaced apart openings 50 along each side of each section half form sockets that slidably receive short lengths of dowels 52, as shown in FIG. 13, that align the adjacent panel sections 42 in assembly with each other, as shown in FIG. 3.

Because of the symmetrical arrangement of the various segments 46 and abutment surfaces 48, such sections 42 may be conveniently assembled with each other in any desired position, without affecting the continuous pattern resulting therefrom.

With reference now to FIGS. 14 through 16, a clip element 55 is shown which may be used to secure the marginal edges of adjacent panel section halves 61 together, in the absence of the other section halves that are described as being in back to back relationship with the embodiments illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 13 of the drawing. Thus, it is possible to assemble a cellular type lattice grille panel that will provide a finished appearance on one side, while being only partly finished on the opposite side, such as for display and decorative purposes. This reduces by one-half the number of panel section halves required to produce a special type of panel for these purposes. Each such clip is shown to include a pair of spaced apart sides 57 having a semicylindrical connection portion 59 extending perpendicularly therebetween. The semi-cylindrical portion 59 is received within semi-circular openings 53 in the adjacent panel section halves 61, while the sides 57 are frictionally engaged with and clamp the adjacent abutting portions of the panel section halves together.

As seen in FIG. 20, whole sections and half sections may be readily combined, as for instance, where it is desired to decorate the face of a wall section with section halves 71 and to continue the panel with whole sections 72 extending beyond the end 73 of the wall section '70.

It will now be recognized that a cellular lattice grille construction has been provided which incorporates basically simple injection molding procedures for producing a plurality of substantially identical panel sections that may be readily assembled together to form a finished panel of any desired size and shape. Accordingly, the method of assembling such panels is greatly simplified, enabling such otherwise expensive lattice grille panels to be used for various purposes. As a result, such panel sections may be conveniently manufactured in various colors and sold separately for assembly at the desired point of use, thus further reducing shipping and packing costs and making such panel sections available for all types of commercial, domestic, and industrial purposes. The symmetrical arrangement of the pattern segments of each section, and the symmetrical outline of each such section, greatly facilitates the assembly of the numerous panel sections to provide a completed lattice type grille panel which is completely authentic, and which cannot be improperly assembled, thus assuring the proper continuity of the finished design throughout the entire panel.

The shell type construction employed in fabricating hollow grillework panels in accordance with the present invention allows for much freer use of massive form reproductions, deeper sections, and deeper sculpture, as well as thicker proportions that is practicable by molding the plastic by any other method. The chemical bonding of the individual sections employed by the present invention produces integral units of hollow components that are relatively free of warpage through extended periods of time, are substantially lighter in weight than solid plastic units, and which provides the appearance of massive panels while retaining the weight savings without sacrifice of strength for the purposes desired. All of these features are possible through the aforementioned method of fabrication, thus producing plastic articles with these favorable characteristics that are not inherent in the conventional molding of solid plastic articles of this type.

While I have described the securement of the marginal edges of adjacent section halves 61 by use of a clip ele ment 55, it is to be understood this securing means is only by way of example and that the section halves may be secured to each other by chemical welding or in any other suitable manner. Also, though dowels have been shown and described, it is to be understood that any other suitable aligning or securing means may be used.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a grille type panel having a continuous repeating pattern, a plurality of substantially identical individual hollow cast sections of thermoplastic material, each of said sections being of generally symmetrical outline and having symmetrically arranged Wall portions surrounding the open work of said grille and defining segments of said repeating pattern of said grille, all of said Wall portions being tubular in cross section and the tube Walls being of substantially uniform thickness, securing means comprising a chemical cement maintaining said individual sections in assembly With each other, each one of said sections comprising a pair of substantially identical cast hollow halves and locating means positioning said halves together in aligned back-to-back relationship, said locating means comprising a plurality of detents integral with each one of said halves, and each said half including an equal number of indents each receiving one of said detents therewithin.

2. A grille type panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein said securing means further comprises openings extending through identically located areas of each of said marginal abutment surfaces, and dowels extending through aligned openings of adjacent ones of said sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 278,224 Crandall May 22, 1883 658,403 Stephens Sept. 25, 1900 1,056,810 McDonald Mar. 25, 1913 1,151,974 Straight Aug. 31, 1915 1,298,025 Ferguson Mar. 25, 1919 1,320,647 Pomerantz Nov. 4, 1919 1,772,357 Manson Aug. 5, 1930 1,815,719 Lane July 21, 1931 1,971,994 Smith Aug. 28, 1934 2,272,061 Drake Feb. 3, 1942 2,891,397 Hauer June 23, 1959

Images