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EP 1 209 423 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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13.10.2004 Bulletin 2004/42 |
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Date of filing: 12.11.2001 |
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Ventilation grille for use in elevated floor assemblies
Lüftungsgitter zur Verwendung mit erhöhten Fussböden
Grille de ventilation à utiliser dans des planchers surélevés
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR |
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Priority: |
22.11.2000 LU 90679
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Date of publication of application: |
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29.05.2002 Bulletin 2002/22 |
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Proprietor: Uniflair International S.A. |
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1660 Luxembourg (LU) |
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Inventor: |
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- Isaac, Eric Peter
5335 Moutfort (LU)
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Representative: Schmitt, Armand et al |
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Office Ernest T. Freylinger S.A.,
B.P. 48 8001 Strassen 8001 Strassen (LU) |
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References cited: :
FR-A- 2 289 690 US-A- 5 345 779
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US-A- 4 825 603
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- PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 018, no. 514 (M-1680), 28 September 1994 (1994-09-28)
& JP 06 174260 A (TOKYU CONSTR CO LTD;OTHERS: 02), 24 June 1994 (1994-06-24)
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention generally relates to a ventilation grille for use in elevated
floor assemblies.
[0002] Ventilation grilles are integrated in elevated floor assemblies as air in- or outlets.
For easy integration of such ventilation grilles in elevated floors, they are generally
rectangular, with a longitudinal edge having the same length than a floor panel. They
comprise longitudinal ribs arranged vertically and parallel to each other between
two outer ribs. Two flat base plates transversely extend on the shorter edges of the
ventilation grille between the outer ribs. These base plates have an adjustable foot
fixed to each their ends for supporting the ventilation grille on the support structure
of the elevated floor. These height adjustment feet allow to compensate for leveling
inaccuracies in the support structure. They also enable a standardized size of ventilation
grille to be used in conjunction with floor panels of different thickness. In US-4825603
is shown one example of ventilation grille with vertical ribs.
[0003] An important aspect of such ventilation grilles integrated in elevated floor assemblies
is their ability to resist to floor travelling loads in commercial and office buildings,
without important deformation or breakage. While the longitudinal ribs do provide
a good longitudinal rigidity, transverse rigidity of known ventilation grilles is
generally insufficient.
[0004] The object of the present invention is hence to provide a ventilation grille for
mounting in an elevated floor assembly, which has good longitudinal and good transverse
rigidity. Such a ventilation grille is defined in claim 1.
[0005] In order to overcome the abovementioned problems, the present invention provides
a ventilation grille for use in elevated floor assemblies comprising longitudinal
ribs arranged vertically and parallel to each other between a first and a second outer
rib, at least two base plates transversely extending between the first and second
outer ribs and an adjustable foot fixed to each end of the base plates for supporting
the ventilation grille on a support structure. According to an important aspect of
the invention, the transverse base plates include a reinforcement flange extending
downwardly and transversely to the ribs. Due to their vertical arrangement, the longitudinal
ribs give the ventilation grille good longitudinal rigidity. Similarly, due to its
vertical arrangement, the reinforcement flange gives the ventilation grille good transversal
rigidity. The ventilation grille hence has good longitudinal and transverse rigidity,
thus enabling the ventilation grille to resist to floor traveling loads in commercial
and office buildings, without important deformation or breakage.
[0006] The base plates are advantageously made of folded sheet metal and the reinforcement
flange are e.g. formed by folding one edge downwardly. This means that the base plates
can be produced very cheaply. For increased rigidity, the reinforcement flange can
be double-backed.
[0007] At each of its ends, the base plate preferably comprises a fixing flange extending
upwardly and parallel to the ribs. The fixing flange enable the base plates to be
secured to the outer ribs.
[0008] The adjustable feet are preferably adjustment screws, which allow an quick and easy
height adjustment of the ventilation grille on the support structure of the elevated
floor assembly. These adjustable feet allow to compensate for leveling inaccuracies
in the support structure. They also enable a standardized size of ventilation grille
to be used in conjunction with floor panels of different thickness.
[0009] The present invention will be more apparent from the following description of a not
limiting embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, wherein
Fig.1 is a longitudinal section through a ventilation grille according to the invention;
Fig.2 is a transverse section through the same ventilation grille; and
Fig.3 is a perspective view of a mounting frame.
[0010] Fig.1 and Fig.2 show a longitudinal, resp. transversal, side view of a ventilation
grille 10. The ventilation grille is best described by referring to both these figures.
Fig.2 is a cut along line A-A of Fig.1 and Fig.1 is a cut along line B-B of Fig.2.
[0011] The ventilation grille 10 has several longitudinal ribs 12 including two outer ribs
14, 16. The ribs 12, 14, 16 are arranged vertically and parallel to each other and
are interconnected by means of transversal rods 18. The ends of the ribs 12, 14, 16
rest on a mounting frame 20 for mounting the ventilation grille 10 on a support structure
of an elevated floor assembly.
[0012] The mounting frame 20 can be more clearly seen on Fig.3. It comprises a base plate
22 made of folded sheet metal. One edge of the base plate 22 is folded downwardly
and forms a reinforcement flange 24. For further rigidity, the reinforcement flange
24 is double-backed. At each of its ends, the mounting frame 20 comprises a fixing
flange 26 for securing the mounting frame 20 to the outer ribs 14, 16. Securing of
the fixing flange 26 to an outer rib 14, 16 can be achieved by any fixing means, e.g.
by a screw through a bore 28. At each end of the base plate 22, a bore 30 is arranged
for receiving an adjustment screw 32. By means of the adjustment screws 32, the ventilation
grille 10 can be adjusted in height on the support structure of the elevated floor
assembly. Four adjustment screws 32, one in each corner of the ventilation grille
10, act as support feet for supporting the ventilation grille 10 on the support structure
of the elevated floor assembly. The ribs 12, 14, 18, give the ventilation grille 10
good longitudinal rigidity due to their vertical arrangement. Good transversal rigidity
is achieved by the reinforcement flange 24 of the mounting frame 20.
1. A ventilation grille (10) for use in elevated floor assemblies comprising:
longitudinal ribs (12) arranged vertically and parallel to each other between a first
and a second outer rib (14, 16);
at least two base plates (22) transversely extending between said first and second
outer ribs (14, 16), and
an adjustable foot (32) fixed to each end of said base plates (22) for supporting
said ventilation grille (10) on a support structure;
characterised in that
said transverse base plates (22) include a reinforcement flange (24) extending downwardly
and transversely to said ribs (12, 14, 18).
2. Ventilation grille (10) according to claim 1, wherein said base plates (22) are made
of folded sheet metal, said reinforcement flange (24) being formed by folding one
edge downwardly.
3. Ventilation grille (10) according to claim 2, wherein said reinforcement flange (24)
is double-backed.
4. Ventilation grille (10) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said
base plate (22) comprises a fixing flange (26) at each of its ends for fixing it to
the outer ribs (14, 16), said fixing flanges (26) extending upwardly and parallel
to said outer ribs (14, 16).
5. Ventilation grille (10) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said
adjustable feet (32) are adjustment screws.
1. Lüftungsgitter (10) zur Verwendung mit erhöhten Fußböden, umfassend:
Längsrippen (12), die senkrecht und parallel zueinander zwischen einer ersten und
einer zweiten Außenrippe (14, 16) angeordnet sind;
mindestens zwei Grundplatten (22), die quer zwischen der ersten und der zweiten Außenrippe
(14, 16) erstrecken; und
einen einstellbaren Fuß (32), der an jedem Ende der Grundplatten (22) befestigt ist,
um das Lüftungsgitter (10) an einer Tragkonstruktion zu halten;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die quer verlaufenden Grundplatten (22) eine verstärkende Abkantung (24) einschließen,
die sich nach unten und quer zu den Rippen (12, 14, 18) erstreckt.
2. Lüftungsgitter (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Grundplatten (22) aus Falzblech bestehen,
wobei die verstärkende Abkantung (24) durch eine Abwärtsbiegung einer Kante ausgebildet
ist.
3. Lüftungsgitter (10) nach Anspruch 2, wobei die verstärkende Abkantung (24) doppelwandig
ist.
4. Lüftungsgitter (10) nach irgendeinem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Grundplatte
(22) eine Montageabkantung (26) an jedem ihrer Enden umfasst, um sie an den Außenrippen
(14, 16) zu befestigen, wobei sich die Montageabkantungen (26) nach oben und parallel
zu den Außenrippen (14, 16) erstrecken.
5. Lüftungsgitter (10) nach irgendeinem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei die einstellbaren
Füße (32) Stellschrauben sind.
1. Grille de ventilation (10) à utiliser dans des planchers surélevés comprenant :
des nervures longitudinales (12) disposées verticalement et parallèlement les unes
aux autres entre une première et une deuxième nervure extérieure (14, 16) ;
au moins deux plaques de base (22) s'étendant transversalement entre ladite première
et ladite deuxième nervures extérieures (14, 16),
un pied ajustable (32) fixé à chaque extrémité desdites plaques de base (22) pour
supporter ladite grille de ventilation (10) sur une structure de support ;
caractérisée en ce que
lesdites plaques de base transversales (22) comprennent une bride de renforcement
(24) s'étendant vers le bas et transversalement auxdites nervures (12, 14, 18).
2. Grille de ventilation (10) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle lesdites plaques
de base (22) sont faites d'une tôle métallique pliée, ladite bride de renforcement
(24) étant formée en pliant un bord vers le bas.
3. Grille de ventilation (10) selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle ladite bride de
renforcement (24) est doublée sur l'envers.
4. Grille de ventilation (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans laquelle ladite plaque de base (22) comprend une bride de fixation (26) à chacune
de ses extrémités pour fixation aux nervures extérieures (14, 16), lesdites brides
de fixation (26) s'étendant vers le haut et parallèlement auxdites nervures extérieures
(14, 16).
5. Grille de ventilation (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans laquelle lesdits pieds ajustables (32) sont des vis de réglage.