GRILLE FOR A VENTILATION SYSTEM

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to a ventilation fan that is installed in a wall or ceiling of a room to provide ventilation for the room and particularly to a ventilation fan including a housing that incorporates a blower and a grille to hide the blower from view of the user and prevent a user from obstructing the operation of the blower and/or injuring themselves by reaching into the blower. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a grille for a ventilation fan that facilitates efficient air flow to the ventilation fan while allowing efficient manufacturing, shipping and storage.

The description provided in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely because it is mentioned in or associated with the background section. The background section may include information that describes one or more aspects of the subject technology.

SUMMARY

A ventilation system comprising a main housing configured to be positioned adjacent to a room of a building structure, a blower configured to be positioned in the main housing and draw air out of the room of the building structure, and a grille configured to be releasably secured to one of the main housing and the blower to at least partially block view of the blower, the grille comprising a plate defining an inner side and an opposing outer side, a plurality of legs extending from the plate and angled outwardly at an angle to the plate, wherein the angle of the legs facilitates nested stacking of the grille with a second grille configured identically to the grille. The plate can be flat. The plurality of legs can be four legs. The plate can define a periphery and the plurality of legs can extend from the plate periphery. The plate can be rectangular and the plurality of legs can comprise four legs, one located at each corner of the plate. The plate can define a periphery and the grille can further defines a rail extending from the plate periphery between two adjacent ones of the plurality of legs.

A grille for a ventilation system, the grille comprising a plate defining an inner side and an opposing outer side, a plurality of legs extending from the plate inner side and angled outwardly at an angle to the plate, wherein the angle of the legs facilitates nested stacking of the grille with a second grille configured identically to the grille. The plate can be flat. The plurality of legs can comprises four legs. The plate can define a periphery and the plurality of legs can extend from the periphery. The plate can be rectangular and the plurality of legs can comprise four legs, one located at each corner of the plate. The plate can define a periphery and the grille can further define a rail extending from the plate periphery between two adjacent ones of the plurality of legs.

A stack of grilles configured for a ventilation system, the stock comprising a first grille and a second grille, and each of the first and second grilles comprising a plate defining an inner side and an opposing outer side, a plurality of legs extending from the plate and angled outwardly at an angle to the plate, wherein the angle of the legs facilitates nested stacking of the first grille with the second grille. Each of the first and second grilles can comprise one or more of a grille spring anchor, a grille spring retainer and a nub extending from the plate inner side, and the plate outer side of the first grille can rest on the grille spring anchor, the grille spring retainer and/or the nub of the second grille. The plate of each of the first and second grilles can be flat. The plate of each of the first and second grilles can define a periphery and the plurality of legs can extend from the plate periphery. The plate of each of the first and second grilles can be rectangular and the plurality of legs can comprises four legs, one located at each corner of the plate. The legs of each of the first and second grilles can comprise a curved wall. The plate of each of the first and second grilles can define a periphery and a rail can extend from the plate periphery between two adjacent ones of the plurality of legs. The legs of each of the first and second grilles can be angled outwardly 18 degrees from perpendicular to the plate.

A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present disclosure is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a bottom-side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a ventilation fan grille in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top-side perspective view of the grille of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the grille of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the grille of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the ventilation system, including the grille of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a plurality of the grille of FIG. 1 stacked in a nested configuration.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of the grille of FIG. 1 stacked in a nested configuration.

In one or more implementations, not all of the depicted components in each figure may be required, and one or more implementations may include additional components not shown in a figure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure. Additional components, different components, or fewer components may be utilized within the scope of the subject disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of a ventilation system 1, in accordance with the present disclosure, is depicted in FIG. 4B. The ventilation system 1 is configured to be positioned in a room of a building structure to provide ventilation for the room of the building structure. For example, the ventilation system 1 may be positioned in a wall or ceiling panel 18 of the room and aligned with a cutout 18a in the panel 18 to ventilate the room. The ventilation system 1 may include a main housing 10 defining an internal region to house a blower 12. The main housing 10 defines an inlet 14 at the cutout 18a through which the blower can draw air and an outlet 16 through which the blower can expel air.

A grille 20 is removably coupled to the main housing 10 or blower 12 and is configured to obscure view of, and access to, the cutout 18a in the ceiling panel 18, the main housing 10, and the blower 12 from within the room. The grille 20 thus provides a more aesthetic appearance of the system 1 from the room to which the system 1 is connected. The grille 20 is depicted as being removably coupled to the main housing by a grille spring 22, but other known methods of coupling the grille 20 to the main housing 10 or the blower 12 are also contemplated.

The grille 20 has a plate 30 depicted as a rectangle that extends in all four directions to a plate periphery 30a that causes the plate 30 to span at least the ceiling cutout 18a and preferably extends beyond the perimeter of the ceiling cutout 18a to obscure the view of the cutout 18a from a user in the room. The plate defines an inner side 30b configured to face the blower 12 and an outer side 30c configured to face the user in the room. The plate 30 can be shaped as other than the depicted rectangular configuration. The plate 30 is depicted as planar, but can vary the depicted configuration. The depicted plate 30 defines no apertures through which air can flow, but such apertures are contemplated in other embodiments. The depicted plate 30 comprises no lighting, speakers, sensors or other accessories, but all such accessories are contemplated in other embodiments.

A plurality of legs 32 extend from the plate periphery 30a away from the plate inner side 30b to a leg distal end 32a. The legs 32 are configured to extend toward the ceiling panel 18 when installed and the leg distal ends 32a to contact the ceiling panel 18 as the grille 20 is biased toward the ceiling panel by the grille spring 22. Each of the legs 32, in the depicted embodiment, has a curved wall 32b at the corner of the plate and a flat wall 32c on each side of the curved wall 32b. The flat walls 32c extend straight along the direction of the plate periphery 30a, while the curved wall 32b curves to form a rounded corner of the otherwise perpendicular angle formed by the two adjacent sides of the plate periphery 30a. The curved wall 32b and the flat walls 32c extend straight from the plate inner side 30b at an angle. In one embodiment, the curved walls 32b and the flat walls 32c are angled outward from the plate to form an angle α from perpendicular to the plate 30. In one embodiment, the angle α is between 5 degrees and 25 degrees. In another embodiment, the angle α is 18 degrees.

The plurality of legs 32 in the depicted embodiment has a total of four legs 32, with one leg 32 located at each corner of the rectangle defined by the plate 30 provide the plate optimal stability. However other numbers of legs 32 are also contemplated in the rectangular embodiment as well as embodiments in which the plate 30 has non-rectangular configurations. For example, three legs are contemplated when using a circular plate 30 (not shown).

A rail 34 extends between each adjacent pair of legs 32 along the plate periphery 30a, in the depicted embodiment, to stiffen the plate 30 against distortion due to the bias of the grille spring 22, sagging due to gravity, or other distortions. In alternative embodiments, the rails 34 can be removed entirely or replaced by other stiffening structure, such as ribs on the plate inner side 30b. The rails 34 extend from the plate periphery 30a away from the plate inner side 30b toward the blower 12 to a rail distal end 34a. Preferably, the rails 34 extend at the same angle α from perpendicular to the plate 30 as the elements of the legs 32. The leg distal end 32a extends beyond the rail distal end 34a to define a gap G between each rail, the two adjacent legs 32 and the location of the ceiling panel 18 after installation. The gap G provides an intake area for the blower 12 to draw air under the plate 30 and into the inlet 14.

It has been found that a distance D of 0.5 inches or more between the rail distal end 34a and the ceiling panel 18 facilitates efficient flow of air through the gap G when the rails extend approximately 7.5 inches. Because distance between the rail distal end 34a and the ceiling panel 18 is dictated by the legs 32, the distance D can also be measured between the rail distal end 34a and the leg distal end 32a. In the alternative embodiment grille in which no rails exist (not shown), the distance D is measured from the plate 30 to the ceiling panel 18 or leg distal end 32a. In one preferred embodiment, the distance D is 0.625 inches.

A pair of grille spring anchors 36 extend from the plate inner side 30b to receive and hold the grille springs 22. An end of each of the grille springs 22 is rotatably held in each of the grille spring anchors 36. A pair of grille spring retainers 38 also extend from the plate inner side 30b, with each of the grille spring retainers 38 being adjacent to one of the grille spring anchors 36 to allow the grille spring 22 from the adjacent grille spring anchor 36 to be rotated to a position parallel to the plate 30 and snapped into grille spring retainer 38 to hold the grille spring 22 flat against the plate 30 for shipping, storage, etc. Optionally, a pair of nubs 40 also extend from the plate inner side 30b.

In one embodiment, either the grille spring anchors 36 or the grille spring retainers 38 extend a height H from plate inner side 30b and the nubs 40 extend the same height H from the plate inner side 30b. In an alternative embodiment, all of the grille spring anchors 36, the grille spring retainers 38 and the nubs 40 extend the same height H from the plate inner side 30b. The height H is preferably in the range of 0.20 inches to 0.50 inches. In various particular embodiments, the height H is 0.200, 0.250, 0,290, 0.295, 0.300, or 0.400 inches. In another embodiment, the height H is in the range of 20%-40% of the height of the legs 32 extending from the plate inner side 30b.

The configuration of the grille 20 described herein facilitates a nested stack 50 of a plurality of the grilles 20 as depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6. The outwardly angle α of the legs 32 and, where present, rails 34 allows the plate 30 of a first 50a of a plurality of grilles 20 to be fit between the four legs 32 of a second 50b of a plurality of grilles 20 such that the plate outer side 30c of the first 50a of the plurality of grilles 20 rests on the nubs 40, grille spring retainers 38 and/or grille spring anchors 36 of the second 50b of the plurality of grilles 20. Similarly, the plate 30 of a second 50b of a plurality of grilles 20 fits between the four legs 32 of a third 50c of the plurality of grilles 20 such that the plate outer side 30c of the second 50b of the plurality of grilles 20 rests on the nubs 40, grille spring retainers 38 and/or grille spring anchors 36 of the third 50c of the plurality of grilles 20. A stack of grilles 20 can comprise any number of grilles 20 stacked in this manner. This stacked configuration significantly reduces space requirements for storing and shipping a plurality of the grilles 20. In one embodiment, stacking in this manner can save from 50% to 80% of the space otherwise required to ship the grilles 20 individually.

While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from this disclosure. Such modifications are considered as possible variants comprised in the scope of the disclosure. Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit the disclosure. The word exemplary is used to mean serving as an example or illustration. To the extent that the term include, have, or the like is used, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term comprise as comprise is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.

Phrases such as an aspect, the aspect, another aspect, some aspects, one or more aspects, an implementation, the implementation, another implementation, some implementations, one or more implementations, an embodiment, the embodiment, another embodiment, some embodiments, one or more embodiments, a configuration, the configuration, another configuration, some configurations, one or more configurations, the subject technology, the disclosure, the present disclosure, other variations thereof and alike are for convenience and do not imply that a disclosure relating to such phrase(s) is essential to the subject technology or that such disclosure applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect or some aspects may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa, and this applies similarly to other foregoing phrases.

All numbers and ranges disclosed above may vary by some amount. Whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range are specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.

A phrase “at least one of” preceding a series of items, with the terms “and” or “or” to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list. The phrase “at least one of” does not require selection of at least one item; rather, the phrase allows a meaning that includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. By way of example, each of the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” refers to only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or at least one of each of A, B, and C.

The title, background, brief description of the drawings, abstract, and drawings are hereby incorporated into the disclosure and are provided as illustrative examples of the disclosure, not as restrictive descriptions. It is submitted with the understanding that they will not be used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the detailed description, it can be seen that the description provides illustrative examples and the various features are grouped together in various implementations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed subject matter requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed configuration or operation. The claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “said” and similar references in the context of describing the disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. An element proceeded by “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said” does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence of additional same elements. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.

Numerous modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Preferred embodiments of this disclosure are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the disclosure. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the disclosure.