WO2000055547A1

WO2000055547A1 - Aeration grille for air intake ducts

Info

Publication number: WO2000055547A1
Application number: PCT/EP2000/001226
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nevio Savorani
Original assignee: Europlast S.P.A.
Priority date: 1999-03-17
Filing date: 2000-02-15
Publication date: 2000-09-21
Also published as: IT1309665B1; ITBO990124A0; ITBO990124A1

Abstract

The grille consists of a first piece (A, A') provided with a ring-shaped body (1, 13) having a round or polygonal shape, equipped on its external front with a flange (3, 14) for the abutment against the wall (S), on which the air intake duct (C) opens, and provided with means for the fixing on said wall and/or on the duct. Said grille here referred to also consists of a second piece (B, B'), provided with a ring-shaped body with a round (9) or polygonal shape (23) to be introduced with a minimum clearance into the body (1, 13) of said first piece (A, A'), and equipped with a plurality of wings (10, 24) integral with it, distanced one from the other and suitably oriented. At least one net (6, 16) is placed between said two pieces, in order to prevent the transit of insects. Said second piece is kept within said first piece by means for the removable fixing, said means being prearranged so as to be easily operated by the user, so that by pressing them it is possible to remove said second piece (B, B') for the periodical cleaning of said net.

Description

Aeration grille for air intake ducts

The present invention relates to aeration grilles to be mounted on the ends of air intake ducts, in order to carry out a protection against the transit of foreign bodies and to allow in the meanwhile a sufficient air intake.

The grilles carried out according to known methods consist of a ring-shaped body, that is to say, closed on itself as a frame, having a circular or polygonal shape, said body being integral in its inside with a plurality of parallel wings, usually inclined, so as to carry out an obstruction to the direct transit of rain or of other foreign bodies, said wings being suitably distanced one from the other so as to allow the transit of air. In order to prevent the transit of insects or of other small foreign bodies, a net-like surface with relatively narrow meshes is known to be mounted within the grille or to be obtained as one piece with its wings .

The fixing of the grilles is carried out at present by means of some means associated with the external frame or with the winged body of said grilles; it is not possible to clean periodically the net-shaped obstruction without removing the whole grille.

In the Italian Utility Model Patent Application n. VR94U-50 dated 4-8-1994, belonging to CAPEL ARI Dino, aeration grilles are shown and described equipped with a mounting template consisting of a ring-shaped body to be necessarily introduced into the aeration mouth, said body carrying an outside flange which marks an abutment against the surface on which said aeration mouth opens, said body being provided with an inside flange which marks a reception seat with retaining means for the snap mounting in said seat of a traditional grille, equipped with its own means for the fixing to said aeration duct. Neither in this case is it provided that the link between the grille and the mounting template can be removed in order to allow the periodical removal of the grille itself for the cleaning of the net-shaped obstruction.

On the other hand, the periodical cleaning of the net-shaped surface is a particularly frequent requirement for grilles which are mounted for in- stance in kitchens, where the net-shaped surface tends to gather greasy dirt greatly reducing in the long term the transit of air, till the grille itself becomes practically useless.

The present invention aims at avoiding these and other disadvantages of the known prior art. According to one main feature of the invention, the grille is formed in at least two pieces. A first piece includes the external frame of the grille with fixing means associated to it. A second piece includes the winged body of the grille, and both pieces include complementary means for removable fixing, so that by pressing on said means it is possible to remove only the winged body of the grille and carry out the periodical cleaning of said body and/or of a net-shaped insert placed between said two pieces.

These and other features of the grilles according to the presente invention, and the advantages thereof will be more evident from the following description of some preferred forms of embodiment, shown as a mere, non-limiting example in the figures of the enclosed drawings, where:

- Fig.l is a plan view of the external frame piece of the grille, in the round enclosed confor- mation;

- Fig. 2 and 2a show the grille piece in Fig. 1 sectioned respectively along lines II-II and III-

III;

- Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the piece with the winged body of the grille, said piece being complementary with the external piece of grille in figures 1 and 2;

- Fig. 4 is a view in lateral elevation of the grille body of figure 3;

- Fig. 5 shows further details of the grille body of figure 3, sectioned along line V-V;

- Fig. 6 shows the grille of the previous figures, transversally sectioned as in figures 2, 5, and mounted;

- Fig. 7 shows further details of the grille in figure 6, sectioned along line VII -VII;

- Fig. 8 shows a roundly-shaped grille according to the present invention transversally sectioned, with a different rapid system for its fixing;

- Fig. 9 is a view in front elevation with partially removed parts of a compound polygonally- shaped grille with the same rapid system of fixing as the grille in figure 8; - Fig. 10 shows some details of the external frame piece of the grille in figure 9, sectioned along line X-X;

- Fig. 11 and 12 show further details of the grille in figure 9, taken along sections XI -XI and XII -XII;

- Fig. 13 and 14 show a front elevation of the details concerning the fixing teeth associated with the winged body of the grille and corresponding respectively to the details in figure 11 and in figure 12 ;

- Fig. 15, 16 and 17 show the two pieces forming the grille, partly sectioned and mounted, with different solution for the removable fixing of said pieces .

The grilles according to the present invention are preferably carried out by means of plastic injection within a mould, but it is obvious that they should be understood as claimed even if they are carried out with different materials and with different forms and dimensions with respect to those later illustrated.

With reference to figures 1 to 7 it can be observed that according to a first form of embodiment the grille includes a first piece A constituting the external portion or frame of the grille itself and comprising a ring-shaped cylindrical round body 1, whose external surface can be slightly conical and provided with axial juts 2 placed at the same distance for the joint mounting in an aeration duct C, said body being equipped with an external flange

3 defining an abutment against the surface S on which said duct C opens and with an internal flange

4 marking a ring-shaped seat 5 for the perimetrical inclusion of a net 6 to keep out the insects, if said net is carried out in a relatively rigid way or if it is provided with an external stiffening frame. If the net β is carried out with a flexible material and if it is not provided with an external stiffening frame, the piece A can be equipped with one or more crossties on the flange 4, said crossties being not shown, so as to support said net in a better way. These crossties will be advantageously placed obliquely with respect to the net, so as to touch it substantially on ideal lines limiting the permeability of said net as little as possible. From figures 2 and 2a it can be observed that the internal surface of the body 1 is characterised in that it shows a jointed part 7 on the seat 5, so as to simplify the correct introduction of the net 6 into said seat 5 with its axis placed horizontally, even if the piece A has already been mounted.

The presence of the net 6 on the piece A is a necessary though not limiting condition, since said net can be connected to the second piece constituting the grille, as will be later explained.

The piece A eventually comprises withdrawn marks 8, 8', for instance two of them which are diametrically opposed, placed on the internal flange 4 and opening both towards the inside of the body 1 and towards the inside of the aeration duct C, characterised in that their front shape (fig. 2a) is rectangular, whereas their plan shape (fig. 1 and 7) is that of an isosceles trapezium, with their inclined side 108 oriented in the same direction, for instance counterclockwise.

The internal surface of the body 1 can be slightly conical because of production necessities and so as to simplify the introduction into said body of piece B, which constitutes the grille and consists of a ring-shaped body, substantially cylindrical and round 9 (fig. 3, 4, 5), with a slight external and/or internal taper because of production necessities, said ring-shaped body 9 being in- ternally integral with a plurality of wings 10 suitably inclined and distanced one from the other. The body 9 has such external dimensions as to be introduced with a minimum clearance into the body 1 and to reach with its internal front the seat 5 for the perimetrical inclusion of the net 6, so as to block in situ said net, whereas the external front of said body 9 is substantially coplanar with the external front of piece A. The wings 10 are suitably withdrawn from the internal front of the body 9, so as not to touch the net 6 and not to limit its permeability.

From figures 3 to 5 it can be observed that the body 9 is eventually provided, on its external lateral surface, in particular on its internal front, with at least one pair of teeth 11, 11' at the same angular distance, said teeth being one alike the other and tapered towards said internal front of the body here referred to, said teeth also having the same width as the marks 8, 8' of piece A or being narrower, lateral slits 12, 12' being provided laterally with respect to each tooth, said slits occupying axially the body 9 for its whole thickness, so as to give a suitable elasticity to the portion of said body carrying said teeth. When piece B is introduced into piece A, the teeth 11, 11' bend towards the inside of said piece B, and when said piece is turned clockwise by means of some of its wings 10, said teeth reach the marks 8, 8' and snap within them, thus stopping the turning of piece B by abuting against the vertical side 208 of said marks. Piece B is thus blocked axially within piece A by means of the anchorage of the teeth 11, 11' to the upper side 308 of said marks 12, 12' (fig. 6 and 7) .

In order to remove piece A from piece B it is simply necessary to take some wings of said piece B and turn it counterclockwise, so that the teeth 11, 11' cooperate with the inclined sides 108 of the marks 8,8' and get out of said marks, thus allowing the axial extraction of piece B and the removal of the net 6, which can now be cleaned.

It will now be obvious that, differently from what has been said before, the net 6 can be differently fixed in any suitable way on the internal front of piece B, for instance glued or perimetri- cally welded on the internal front of said piece, thus advantageously allowing the net removal by removing piece B. Even if the net if fixed to piece B and it is not free as it was in the previous in- stance, said net can be cleaned with extreme easiness whenever necessary.

It should be understood that piece A can be fixed in the air intake duct C even without a joint, for instance with silicone or by means of screws; in the latter case the flange 3 should be provided with holes which can be opened by the user, or with an elastic rapid connection for which piece A should be provided with at least one intermediate crosstie 19 as can be seen from figure 8, for instance with a "U" profile, the central portion of said crosstie being integral with a perpendicular body 20 placing itself axially within duct C and supporting a bow spring 21 which, with its pointed ends, anchors itself to the internal surface of said duct so as to keep piece A firmly in situ .

A connection of this kind is for instance also provided for the polygonal grille which will be now described with reference to figures 9 to 14. Said grille consists of a polygonally-shaped piece A' , having for instance a substantially square plan, provided with a ring-shaped body 13 with a flange 14 on its external front, said body defining an abutment against the surface on which the air in- take duct C opens, and with a small flange 15 on its internal front, said flange defining a seat for the perimetrical support of the net 16 for keeping out the insects. The flange 15 supports some enlarged corner areas 17 with round marks 18 for the execution of holes used to fix piece A' by means of screws as an alternative to the anchorage by means of the spring 21 in figure 8.

Piece A' integrates the flange 15 with the intermediate crosstie 19 having for instance an inverted "U" profile, said crosstie being integral in its central portion with the perpendicular body 20 in figure 8, which supports the bow spring 21 for the anchorage of the aeration duct to the internal surface. The body 13 of piece A' is provided on its internal opposed lateral walls with withdrawn marks having a rectangular shape, said marks opening towards the inside of piece A' and towards the aeration duct C, one of said marks 22 being placed for instance in the middle of one of said walls and other two marks 22' being placed on the ends of the other wall. Piece B' is introduced into piece A', said piece B' having a ring-shaped body 23 with such a shape as to suit the internal cavity of the body 13 and to reach with its internal front the net 16 by leaning onto it, said body 23 being integral with wings 24, distanced one from the other, inclined and suitably withdrawn from said net 16 so as not to limit its permeability, whereas figures

11 and 12 show that the crossties 124 for the interconnection of the wings 24 substantially lean onto the net 16 so as to keep it at a suitable distance from said wings. From figure 9 it can be observed that, opposite the crossties 124 of piece B' , corresponding crossties 119 of piece A' can be provided, especially when the grille is quite large. The body 23 of piece B' carries a pair of teeth 25' on the external surface of one of its walls, said teeth, as evident from figures 11 and 13, being bound to be clasped to the marks 22' of piece A' , whereas on the opposite wall said body carries a central tooth 25 as evident from figures

12 and 14, said tooth having a tapered profile towards the aeration duct, being laterally delimited by means of slits 26, 26' and engaging trip-wise the mark 22. From figures 12 and 14 it can be observed that the portion of body 23 carrying the tooth 25 and being flexible thanks to the slits 26, 26' is externally provided with a withdrawn mark 27, used to carry out a guide into which a small flat implement can be introduced, for instance the point of a screw-driver, so as to bend the tooth 25 out of the reach of the corresponding anchor mark and to extract easily piece B' from piece A' whenever it is necessary to clean the net 16. It should be understood that the means for the reciprocal removable fixing of the two pieces constituting the grille have been described here in some preferred, though not exclusive, forms of embodiment, and therefore other means for the removable fixing can be used. If the two pieces constituting the grille are roundly-shaped, the bodies of the two pieces can be prearranged so as to be screwed one within the other, in a way which can be easily understood from experts operating in this field. Figure 15 shows for instance a variation which provides, in case of a roundly-shaped grille, the use of screwed means 28 and of female screwed means 29, which can be for instance integral with the crosstie 19 of piece A and with the central portion of piece B, or vice versa. The variation in figure 16 is suitable both for round and for polygonal grilles, since it provides that the fixing of piece B, B' to piece A, A' is carried out by means of one or more screws 30 or of turning clasps, mounted in corresponding seats 31 of piece B, B' and cooperating with seats 32 of a piece A, A' of said grille. The variation in figure 17 eventually provides that the fixing of piece B, B' to piece to piece A, A' is carried out by means of one or more small permanent magnets 33, placed for instance on said piece B, B' and cooperating with corresponding ferromagnetic parts 34, plunged or fixed in suitable position for instance on the first piece A, A' , for instance in the crosstile 19.

Claims

C AIMS 1. Aeration grille for air intake ducts, characterised in that it consists of:

- a first piece (A, A' ) provided with a ring- shaped body (1, 13) with a round or polygonal plan, equipped on its external front with a flange (3, 14) for the abutment against the wall (S) against which the air intake duct (C) opens, and with means for the fixing on said wall and/or on the duct;

- a second piece (B, B' ) provided with a ring- shaped body (9) with a round or polygonal plan (23) , to be introduced with a minimum clearance into the body (1, 13) of said first piece (A, A') and equipped with a plurality of wings (10, 24) integral with it, said wings being distanced one from the other and suitably oriented;

- at least one net (6, 16) located between the two pieces, to prevent the transit of insects;

- means for the removable fixing of said second piece (B, B' ) in said first piece (A, A'), said means being prearranged so as to be easily operated by the user, so that by pressing them it is possible to remove said second piece (B, B' ) to clean said net periodically.

2. Grille as claimed in claim 1, in which the net (6, 16) leans perimetrically onto a flange (4, 15) which is integral with the internal front of the ring-shaped body (1, 13) of the first piece (A, A' ) and is kept from the abutment against the internal front of the ring-shaped body (9, 23) of the second piece (B, B') of said grille.

3. Grille as claimed in the previous claims, characterised in that, if the net is not stiff enough or if it is not equipped with a stiffening perimetrical frame, it can also be supported by means of one or more crossties (19) which are integral with the internal flange (4, 15) of the body of said first piece (A, A' ) and/or by means of one or more crossties (124) for the interconnection of the wings (24) of said second piece (B, B') .

4. Grille as claimed in claim 1, in which the net (6, 16) is associated with and for instance fixed on the perimeter of the internal front of said second piece (B, B' ) , so that said net can be removed by removing said second piece (B, B' ) .

5. Grille as claimed in the previous claims, in which the wings (10, 24) of the second piece (B, B') are suitably withdrawn from the internal front of said second piece, so as not to touch the net

(6, 16) and not to reduce its permeable surface.

6. Grille as claimed in claim 1, in which the ring-shaped bodies of the first and second piece constituting said grille, if having a round plan, are prearranged so that said second piece can be screwed into said first piece.

7. Grille as claimed in claim 1, with the ring-shaped bodies of the two pieces having a round plan, characterised in that the body of the first piece (A) is provided with a diametrical crosstie

(19) carrying a screw (28) or a female screw (29) integral with it and perpendicular to it, onto which a female screw (29) or a screw (18) can be screwed, the latter being integral with the winged body of the second piece (B) of said grille.

8. Grille as claimed in claim 1, with the ring-shaped bodies of the two pieces having a round or polygonal plan, in which the winged body of the second piece (B, B' ) is provided in any suitable position with one or more seats (31) for the mounting of corresponding screws or turning clasps (30) which cooperate with corresponding seats (32) of the first piece (A, A') of said grille.

9. Grille as claimed in claim 1, with the ring-shaped bodies of the two pieces having a round or polygonal plan, characterised in that the winged body of the second piece (B, B' ) is provided in any suitable position with one or more permanent magnets (33) or with ferromagnetic inserts (34) which cooperate respectively with ferromagnetic inserts (34) or with permanent magnets (33) mounted on the first piece (A, A') of said grille.

10. Grille as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the body of the second piece (B, B' ) constituting said grille is provided on its external lateral surface with teeth (11, 11', 25, 25'), said teeth being all or partly sprung because they are obtained from body portions which have been made flexible thanks to lateral slits (12, 12', 26, 26') , so that during the mounting of the second piece (B, B' ) said teeth snap into corresponding withdrawn marks (8, 8', 22, 22) provided on the internal lateral surface of the body of the first piece (A, A') of the grille, means being provided in order to disengage all or part of the sprung teeth from said marks, so as to remove said second piece of the grille.

11. Grille as claimed in claim 10, with the ring-shaped bodies of the two pieces having a round plan, characterised in that the withdrawn marks (8, 8') provided on the body of the first piece (A), into which snap the teeth (11, 11') of the second piece (B, B' ) , are characterised in that at least one of their vertical sides (108) is inclined, so that by turning the second piece (B) the teeth cooperate with said inclined side of said marks and get out of them bending, in order to allow the removal of the second piece .

12. Grille as claimed in claim 10, with the ring-shaped bodies of the two pieces having a polygonal plan, characterised in that the flexible teeth (25) of the second piece (B' ) are obtained from a portion of the body (23) of said second piece, said portion being made flexible by means of lateral slits (26, 26') and being externally provided with a withdrawn mark (27) , into which it is possible to introduce a flat implement from outside, for instance the point of a screw-driver, in order to disengage the tooth (25) from the corresponding anchor mark (22) and to remove said second piece .

13. Grille as claimed in the previous claims, equipped with crossties (119) on the external piece

(A, A') provided with the fixing means, said crossties preferably being opposed to the crossties

(124) of the removable winged piece (B, B' ) .