US3202082A

US3202082A - Adjustable ventilating louver

Info

Publication number: US3202082A
Application number: US217640A
Authority: US
Inventors: George A Viehmann
Original assignee: Construction Specialties Inc
Current assignee: EMEH Inc
Priority date: 1962-08-17
Filing date: 1962-08-17
Publication date: 1965-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-24

Description

Aug. 24, 1965 G. A. VIEHMANN ADJUSTABLE VENTILATING LOUVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 17, 1962 INVENTOR,

GEORGE A. VIEHMAN N 140 4 ATTORNEYS his Aug. 24, 1965 G. A. VIEHMANN ADJUSTABLE VENTILATING LOUVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1962 If N U" INVENTOR.

GEORGE A.VIEHMANN FIG 3 ATTORNEYS his Aug. 24, 1965 Filed Aug. 17, 1962 G. A- VIEHMANN IHI ADJUS TABLE VENT ILATING LOUVER 3 SheetsSheet 3 INVENTOR. GEORGE A. VIEHMANN Ina M EQMQL A TTOR/VE Y5 United States Patent sncacsz ADJUSTABLE VENTlLATING LGUVER George A. Viehmann, New Providence, NJ, assrgnor to Construction Specialties, Inc., Cranford, N..I., a corporation of New .Iersey Filed Aug. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 217,644 12 Claims. (Cl. 98--88) This invention rel-ates to ventilating devices incorporating louvers or jalousics and, more particularly, to improved structures to facilitate the assembly and operation of ventilating louvers.

Ventilating louvers generally comprise a number of adjustable blades secured in a frame installed on the outside of a wall or door and a second frame around the opening on the inside of the wall. The frames are often separately attached to the wall surfaces around the opening or are installed by connecting the inner and outer frames by means of screws drawing the frames together and bringing flanges on each frame tightly against the Wall surfaces. When separately fastened to the wall surfaces, installation is laborious and expensive, particularly in brick or concrete walls. When fastened together, lugs usually riveted, welded or bolted to the frame must be provided to receive screws or bolts from the other frame. 111 addition to expense and labor, the lugs often are inefllciently connected and may loosen when subjected to vibration or stress.

Further, the louver blades are often pivoted in the frame by elements bolted, welded, riveted, or formed integrally .with the blades, such as by stamping, which makes assembly of the ventilator complicated and expensive. These pivot arrangements often fall under stress, particularly where the louver doors are used with exhaust fans or where there are high winds.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages inherent in the prior ventilating louvers by providing improved pivot members to mount a plurality of louver blades in a first frame. To attach the pivot members to the blades, .a longitudinal boss on each blade receives a primary pin extending from the pivot member. A pair of secondary pins on the pivot member bear against the surface of the blade on opposite sides of the boss. To secure the pivot member in the frame, and provide simultaneous pivoting of the blades, one of two pivot member axles extends into an opening in the frame, while a second axle is inserted into .a hole in an actuating bar which extends along the inside of the frame.

A second frame is fastened to the first frame by fasteners secured to clips attached to the first frame. Each clip consists of oppositely directed plates and a fastener receiving portion projecting laterally from the plates. The end of one of the plates is received in a slot in a flange on the first frame, while the end of the other plate is in forced contact with a second parallel flange on the first frame.

These and further advantages of the invention will be more readily understood when the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a complete ventilating louver installed in a wall;

FIGURE 2 is a view in section somewhat enlarged, taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 FIGURE 3 is a side view showing a partially disassembled ventilating louver in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a long longitudinal section, somewhat enlarged, taken along the view line 4- 4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view, greatly enlarged, taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional View taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2, with a portion of a louver blade boss cut away to reveal a pivot member connected to the louver blade;

FIGURES 7 and 8 are isometric views taken from two different directions of a snap-in clip; and

FIGURE 9 is an isometric view of the louver blade pivot member.

For purposes of description, 21 ventilating louver 10 suitable for installation in a wall or door 1 1, as illustrated in EIGURE 1, is presented. As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the ventilator comprises an outside frame 1-2, a plurality of louver blades 13 mounted in the outside frame, and an inside frame 14. The frames shown are fabricated from

extrusions

14a and 12a joined by angle pieces 15 with crimped connections 16 between the extrusions and the angle pieces.

When installed, the inside frame 14 is connected to the outside frame 12 by means of fasteners 17 secured to clips 18. The clips, best shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, each consists of an L-shaped plate 19 and an oppositely directed plate 20 integral with the upper edge of the plate 19. A fastener receiving portion 23 having a tapped hole .22 also is united with the upper edge of the L- shapcd plate 19 and overlies the lower laterally extending portion of the plate forming a slot 21 therebetween. A V-shaped groove 23a in the fastener receiving portion 23 aids in finding the hole during installation.

The clip 18 is fabricated with the plate 20 angularly disposed to the L-shaped plate 19, as shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8. To install the clip in the outside frame, as shown in FIGURE 5, the laterally extending portion of the L-shaped clip plate 19 is forced into a slot 24 formed between a flange Z5 and a web 27 on the outside frame 12. A flange 26 on the inside frame 14 telescopes over the flange and extends into the slot 21. The other plate it is then driven toward the web 27 with its edge 29 jammed downwardly into contact with a second flange 28 on the outside frame, thereby compressing the plate 20 between the second flange 2 3 and the slot 2 and wedging the clip 18 into place on the frame 12. A transverse groove ZSA may be provided in the plate 20 to facilitate bending. Additionally, the edge 29 of the plate 2i? may be serrated to provide a rough surface to grip the flange 28.

The clips 18 may advantageously be made by cutting an extruded shape of proper cross-section to predetermined lengths, or they may be forged or cast. Aluminum is well-suited as a material for the clips because of its ductility and resistance to corrosion.

Referring to FIGURES 5, 6, and 9, the louver blades 13 are rotatably mounted in the outside frame 12 by means of a pivot member 30 A plate 31 forming the body of the pivot member carries a primary mounting pin 32 and two secondary mounting pin-s 33 and 34 extending laterally from one surface of the plate. The primary mounting pin is received in a boss 35 on the blade .13, and the secondary mounting pins bear against the surface of the blade on either side of the boss. I The mounting pins engage the boss and blade tightly so that the pivot member St is securely attached to the blade A web 36 may advantageously be added between the primary pin 32 and one of the secondary mounting pins to strengthen the pivot member. In the illustrated embodiment, a generally C-shaped boss 35 is provided on the blade. 13, as shown in FIGURE 5, with the end of the boss spaced from the blade to accommodate the web 36.

Projecting laterally from the surface of the plate 3 opposite from the

mounting pins

32, 33, and 34 are a longer axle 3'7 and a shorter axle 38. The longer axle 37 is inserted into a hole 39 in the side of the outside frame 1 2, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 6. The shorter an axle serves to connect the l3 and pivot member 34) to an actuating bar 40 (FIGURE 5 1 The pivot member may be a one piece casting faoricated of a suitable casting metal. Further, the louver blades 13 will have pivot arrangements at both ends, but the pivot pin described is generally required at only one end. The end opposite from that having the described pivot member may be mounted on a simple axle.

An operating handle ll mounted on the inside face of one of the louver blades 13, as shown in FIGURE 2, can be located in any convenient position. Since the blades are linked together by the actuating bar ill, pivotal movement of the blade 13 to which the operating handle is attached necessarily results in similar movement of all blades. It is apparent that other means may be used to operate the actuating bar dil The ventilating louver is readily installed by locating the outside frame 12 and inside frame on opposite sides of the Wall opening. The fasteners 17 are screwed 'into the tapped holes 22 in the fastener receiving portion 23 of the clip 18 and tightened to draw the frames together. The flanges on the frames friotionally engage the wall surfaces holding the ventilating louvers securely in place.

It is apparent that the invention provides a nu nber of advantages in the assembly and installation of ventilating louvers. The single pivot member 36 performs the functions of mounting the blades 13 in the frame 12 and linking all the blades together to an actuating bar dtl. Moreover, the pivot member 39 is readily and securely attached to thelouver blade 13 without riveting, bolting or similar operations required. The pivot member is panticularly adaptable to assemblies utilizing extruded blades, but may also be used with blades stamped from sheet material. Further, the clips 18 by which the inside frame 14 is secured to the outside frame 12 are quickly and easily snapped into place by inserting the end of one plate into the slot formed by one flange and driving the end of the other plate into place against the other flange.

It should be understood that the size, material and geometry of the features described herein may be altered WithOIl't substantially affecting their functions. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be considered illustrative, and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

'1. In a ventilating apparatus including a first frame carrying a plurality of pivotally mounted louver blades, a plurality of louver blade pivot members mounting the blades in the frame, each pivot member including a plate, a primary mounting pin and two secondary mounting pins extending laterally from one side of the plate,

and first'and second axles extending laterally from the other side of the plate, a boss on one end of each louver blade receiving the primary pin with the secondary pins bearing against the blade on each side of the boss, openings in the first frame receiving the first axles extending from the pivot members to mount the louver blades rota-tably in the frame, an actuating bar extending along the inside of the frame perpendicular to the blades and formed with openings receiving the second axles of the pivot members, whereby the louver blades pivot together, a pair of laterally spaced flanges on the first frame one of which forms a slot with its opening facing the other flange, a second frame, and a plurality of clips attaching the second'frame to the first frame, each clip having oppositely directed plates and a fastener receiving portion projecting laterally from the plates, one of the clip plates being received by the slot on the flange of the first frame, the other of the clip plates being in contact with the other flange on the first frame, and fasteners extending through the second frame and anchored at the fastener receiving portion of the clip to hold the frames together,

:2. In ventilating apparatus including a first frame carrying a plurality of pivotally mounted louver blades, a plurality of louver blade pivot members mounting the blades in the frame, each pivot member including a plate, a primary mounting pin and two secondary mounting pins extending laterally from one side of the plate, and first and second axles extending laterally from the other side of the .plate, a boss on each louver blade receivingthe primary pin with the secondary pins bearing against the blade on each side of the boss, openings in the first frame receiving the first axles extending from the pivot membars to mount the louver blades rotatably in the frame, and an actuating bar extending along the inside of the frame perpendicular to the blades and formed with openings to receive the second axles of the pivot members, whereby the louver blades pivot together.

3. Ventilating apparatus as defined in claim 2, where in a web joins the primary and one of the secondary pins, and the boss is C-shaped.

4. A pivot member for mounting in a frame a blade formed with a boss comprising a plate, a primary mounting pin and two secondary mounting pins extending laterally from one side of the plate, the primary mounting pin adapted to be inserted in the boss on the blade, the secondary pins adapted to bear against the surface of the blade on either side of the boss, and first and second axles extending laterally from the other side of the plate to secure the blade rotatably to the frame.

5. In a connector fora ventilating device having a first frame member having an outwardly projecting peripheral flange at one side thereof and a reversely bent peripheral flange at its opposite side thereof defining a peripheral groove facing toward said outwardly projecting flange and a second frame member telescopically receiving said reversely bent flange and having an outwardly projecting peripheral flange, the combination of threaded fastening elements extending through the peripheral flange of said second frame member, a plurality of clip members each having an L-shaped plate having one portion thereof friction'ally engageable in said groove and another portion extending outwardly beyond said reversely bent flange, and means on said portion for receiving a said threaded fastening element to connect said frame members together.

6. The connector set forth in claim 5 in which said clip member comprises a second plate portion extending from said another portion of said L-shaped plate in a direction substantially opposite to said one portion and bendable into engagement with said peripheral flange on said first frame member.

7. The connector set forth in claim 5 comprising converging surfaces on said another portion of said clip member providing a V-shaped groove for guiding said fastening element into said means for receiving said fastening element.

8. A pivot member for mounting a louver blade pivotally in a frame comprising a plate, a primary mounting pin and two secondary mounting pins extending outwardly from and substantially perpendicular to one side of the plate for engaging and supporting said blade, and first and second substantially parallel axles extending from the other side of the plate in a direction opposite to said pins, one of said axles being coaxial with said primary mounting pin and forming a pivot for said plate and blade.

9. The pivot as defined in claim 3 wherein a Web joins the primary pin and one of the secondary pins.

10. A clip for joining a pair of flanged frames comprising an L-shaped plate having a first leg and a second leg, a second plate formed integrally with said L-shaped plate and united therewith at the outer end of said first leg and extending therefrom in the opposite direction from said second leg, and a fastener-receiving portion formed integrally with said L-shaped plate and united 5 therewith at said outer end of said first leg, said fastenerreceiving portion overlying said second leg and defining a slot therewith and having threaded means thereon for receiving a threaded fastening element. A

11. The clip set forth in claim 10 wherein said fastenerreceiving portion has V-shaped groove means formed therein to facilitate guiding the fastening element into engagement with said threaded means.

12. Th clip set forth in claim 10 wherein said second plate has transverse groove means formed therein ad- 10 3,055,461

jacent the end thereof at which it is united with said L-shaped plate to facilitate bending said second plate relative to said L-shaped plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Jones 50-250 X Spicker et a1. 74-102 Raleigh 189-62 Germonprez 98-114 X Nelson 189-62 X Huff.

Hammitt et a1. 50-250 X Ridder 189-36 X ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. MEYER PERLIN, Examiner.

Claims

2. IN VENTILATING APPARATUS INCLUDING A FIRST FRAME CARRYING A PLURALITY OF PIVOTALLY MOUNTED LOUVER BLADES, A PLURALITY OF LOUVER BLADE PIVOT MEMBERS MOUNTING THE BLADES IN THE FRAME, EACH PIVOT MEMBER INCLUDING A PLATE, A PRIMARY MOUNTING PIN AND TWO SECONDARY MOUNTING PINS EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM ONE SIDE OF THE PLATE, AND FIRST AND SECOND AXLES EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLATE, A BOSS ON EACH LOUVER BLADE RECEIVING THE PRIMARY PIN WITH THE SECONDARY PINS BEARING AGAINST FRAME BLADE ON EACH SIDE OF THE BOSS, OPENINGS IN THE FIRST FRAME RECEIVING THE FIRST AXLES EXTENDING FROM THE PIVOT MEMBERS TO MOUNT THE LOUVER BLADES ROTATABLY IN THE FRAME AND AN ACTUATING BAR EXTENDING ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME PERPENDICULAR TO THE BLADES AND FORMED WITH OPENINGS TO RECEIVE THE SECOND AXLES OF THE PIVOT MEMBERS, WHEREBY THE LOUVER BLADES PIVOT TOGETHER.