GB2244802A - Ventilator and ventilator covers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to ventilators with covers. A ventilator comprises a support member (12) adapted for mounting in a wall or the like and for connection with the end of a ventilator duct (15), a grill (16) supported by or forming part of the support member; and a cover member (17) or cover support member when installed, such that the cover member will at least partly obscure the grill from sight without preventing gas flow through the grill. The grill (16) may be annular and preferably a set of grills of different sizes and shapes can be associated with a duct. <IMAGE>

Description

VENTILATOR AND VENTILATOR COVERS This invention relates to ventilators and ventilator covers.

Conventionally, a ventilator whether mechanical or static, that is whether or not it includes a fan for extracting or inputting a gas (usually air), includes a duct extending between the room or building to be ventilated and another area such as the outside atmosphere. The end of the duct which opens into the building is normally covered by a grill. If the duct end is positioned in a place where the appearance matters, such as the wall adjacent a fire place or a wall blocking off a fireplace, the grill may be designed to be as attractive as possible. However, grills are not inherently attractive and there is a tendency for people to cover up the grill thus blocking the ventilator duct and contravening the building regulations which require adequate ventilation, particularly air for combustion where the room contains a fire.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ventilator incorporating a grill with a decorative ventilation cover or cover support for at least partially obscuring the grill from sight while allowing adequate flow of gas.

Accordingly, the invention provides a support member adapted for mounting in a wall or the like and for connection with the end of a ventilator duct, the support member supporting a grill, and a cover member or cover support member spaced forwardly of the frame member to stand proud of the wall when installed, such that the cover member will at least partly obscure the grill from sight without preventing gas flow through the grill.

Preferably, the cover member will completely obscure the grill from sight when viewed from in front.

In one form, the cover member is a picture such as a photograph,a picture frame or mirror fixed in front of or spaced from a grill which extends (when installed) substantially in the plane of the surface of the wall.

In another preferred form, the grill is annular and itself projects from the support member normal to the wall, and the cover or cover support comprises a picture frame or securing means for detachably securing thereto so as to substantially cover the grill, a frame, plate, picture, clock, mirror, or other decorative object which would normally be placed on a wall for its attractive appearance.

Such annular grill may be of rectangular or circular or other section.

The apertures in the grill are preferably above that considered to be insect screen and within the maximum size to meet vermin requirements. Preferably the free area of the grill is substantially 50% of the total grill area and with advantage is at least 100 sq. cms.

In one preferred form, a set of grills, covers or cover support means of different sizes and styles are each arranged to be an easy fit, preferably a sliding fit, on to a common wall mounting unit so that a customer can decide which style of grill and cover he wishes to select for use with one single wall mounting unit. The sets of units come in a variety of sizes, shapes and rear shaped take -offs with types suitable for connection to a round wall ventilator, oblong or square brick format telescopic wall boxes or direct connection to duct work systems. Sets of units can be adapted to be connected directly to a wall type fan unit or a fan mounting box.

Embodiments of ventilators and ventilator covers will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of parts of a ventilator unit, Figure 2 is a perspective view of parts of a second embodiment of ventilator unit, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of ventilator unit, Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a still further embodiment of ventilator unit, Figure 5 shows a set of ventilator units of different styles each adapted for mounting on a common wall sleeve, and Figure 6 shows a set of ventilator units of different styles each adapted for mounting on a common fan box.

Figure 1 shows an open fronted support frame 12 having a back 13 and sides 14, adapted to be inserted in a ventilator opening in a wall so that its open front is substantially planar with the surface of the wall. A circular sectioned duct portion 15 opens through the back wall 13 and is intended to be a telescoping fit with existing ventilator ducting. A rectangular grill 16 is adapted to be mounted in the open front of the support 12 via brackets 19 and a cover member 17, preferably in the form of a picture/photograph of attractive appearance is attached to the front of the grill spaced forwardly thereof to at least partially cover the grill while allowing air circulation behind it and through the grill. The cover is preferably spaced at least 0.6 centimetres in front of the grill by spacers indicated at 18.If the cover extends over the whole area of the grill the spacing must be increased.

Figure 2 shows a different embodiment of ventilator unit in which the mounting support member comprises a back plate 22 secured to a rectangular section duct 23 adapted to be supported on and connected to the remaining ventilator ducting with the plate 22 substantially flush with the inner surface of the wall. A rectangular sectioned, annular grill 24 extends forwardly from the plate and is provided with securing tabs 25. A cover 26 has tabs 27 by which it is adapted to be mounted on the front of the grill so as to substantially cover the grill completely from sight when viewed from in front. It may be considerably larger than -the front of the grill so as to obscure it substantially even when viewed partially from the side. At least two of the tabs may be formed with keyhole slots and pins to aid the easy mounting.The cover may be a picture, mirror or merely form a mounting for such objects.

Figure 3 shows a grill 24 similar in concept to that of Figure 2 but intended to be screwed onto the front of a fan unit to form a front cover thereof.Such fan units as used in bars, clubs, board rooms and the like normally have an open front 30 tp 40 cms. square which requires to be covered.

The cover plate 26 closes the front of the grill and serves to mount a picture frame 28 and protect the back of the frame from damp air or the like circulating behind it. With this arrangement a customer can mount his own picture and picture frame in front of the grill and change this when he wishes to.

Figure 4 shows a variation on the embodiments of Figure 2 and 3 in which the grill 30 and mounting frame 31 for insertion in the wall are each of circular section. A clock 32 is adapted to be mounted to the front of the grill 30 via tabs 35 and screws so that it will be spaced from the frame 31 and thus from the wall while substantially obscuring the grill from sight when viewed from in front. In this case, the frame 30 has a square sectioned aperture 33 for connection to existing ventilation ducting extending through the wall or to a wall fan unit. Instead of a clock, the tabs 35 can be used for mounting a mirror or picture. A conventional wall plate spring mounting member 36 with hooks 37 can be used for mounting a plate or plaque instead of the clock.

It should be appreciated that in any of these embodiments, the aperture in the frame and/or any ducting forming part thereof can be of any shape or size adapted to connect, preferably telescopically with the ventilator ducting extending through the wall or to concealed ductwork at the rear of the unit.

The apertures in the grills are in the range 3 to 10 mm. preferably substantially 6 mm. and preferably provide a free area substantially 50% of the total grill area.

Preferably the free area is at least 100 sq. cms.

Figure 5 shows an assembly of parts namely ventilation units 40, 41 and 42 of the type shown respectively in Figures 1, 2 and 4 each of which is adapted to be mounted on a common wall sleeve 43. The wall sleeve has a duct portion 44 designed to mate with existing ventilation ducting and a front flange 45. Any selected one of the units 40, 41 or 42 can be fastened to the flange 45 by the matching fastening holes with the opening 46 in the back of the unit aligned with the duct 44. Clearly wall sleeves and apertures 46 can have any corresponding sizes and shapes.

Figure 6 similarly shows an assemblage of parts comprising ventilation units 40, 41, 42 any of which can be mounted to the front of a fan box 51, itself adapted to be mounted in a wall. Tthe ventilation unit is slid onto the front part 52 to abut and be secured to side bars 53. When so mounted the back of the selected ventilation unit will be substantially flush with the inner surface of the wall as previously described. A fan mounting plate 50 is used to mount a fan in the fan box.

It will be seen that in each of these arrangements, the ventilation grill is at least partially and preferably wholly obscured from sight when viewed from in front and a variety of pictures or other objects can be supported to provide this obscuration while allowing adequate flow of air through the grill.

Claims (20)

1. A ventilator comprising a support member adapted for mounting in a wall or the like and for connection with the end of a ventilator duct, a grill supported by or forming part of the support member; and a cover member or cover support member supported forwardly of the grill to stand proud of the wall when installed, such that the cover member will at least partly obscure the grill from sight without preventing gas flow through the grill.

2. A ventilator according to claim 1 wherein the cover member completely obscures the grill from sight when viewed from in front.

3. A ventilator according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the grill member lies in the plane of the wall or is in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the wall and the cover member or cover support member are spaced forwardly of the grill.

4. A ventilator according to claim 3 wherein the cover member or cover support member is at least 0.6cm in front of the grill.

5. A ventilator according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the grill is annular and itself projects from the support member normal to the wall.

6. A ventilator according to claim 5 wherein the annular grill is of rectangular or circular section.

7. A ventilator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the grill apertures are of 3-lOmm in width.

8. A ventilator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the free area of the grill is substantially 50% of the total grill area.

9. A ventilator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support member is adapted for telescopic connection to the ventilator duct.

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10. A ventilator according to any of the preceding claims wherein the cover member, or a cover intended to be supported by the cover support member, is a picture frame, plate, picture, clock, mirror or other decorative object which would normally be placed on a wall for its decorative appearance.

11. A kit comprising a ventilator as defined in any one of the preceding claims and at least one additional grill, cover member or cover support member capable of being interchangeably incorporated into the ventilator.

12. A kit according to claim 1 comprising at least one additional grill, cover member or cover support member wherein said additional grill, cover member or cover support member is of a different size and/or style from a first grill or member of said ventilator.

13. A support member as defined in any one of the preceding claims.

14. A set of at least one grill, at least one cover and/or at least one cover support, the set being adapted to be fitted together with the support member of claim 13 to form a ventilator.

15. A ventilator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support member defines, or is adapted to be attached to, a wall type fan unit or a fan mounting box.

16. A grill or set of grills adapted to be attached to a support member as part of a ventilator according to any one of the preceding claims.

17. A ventilator substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A support member substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A ventilator grill substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A method of capping a ventilator duct which comprises securing thereto a ventilator as defined in any one of the preceding claims.