US3680470A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Louver with a reduced turning radius
Assignee: Dynaplastics Inc
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Filing: 1970-10-15
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1990-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A louver having a frame and a set of vanes mounted for pivotal movement about axes of rotation characterized by a rack and pinion operating the vanes, the rack being affixed to a plurality of co-engaging members that snap together to encompass a horizontal vane in the louver to facilitate assembly. In another aspect, the louver is characterized by the vanes having pins, or stub shafts, disposed in notches along at least one side of the frame and a snap-on strip for that side of the frame to hold the vanes in place. Moreover, the vanes overlap so that they can completely block flow of a fluid through the louver. Specific structural features such as the protrusions of the snap-on strip engaging apertures in the frame, are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy M Neece
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:40
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F13/00; F24F13/08; F24F13/10; F24F13/14; F24F13/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
335 words
In a louver having a frame and a set of vanes mounted for pivotal movement about respective axes of rotation and engaging oppositely disposed sides of said frame, the improvement comprising: a. a normal vane carried in the front of said frame, fixedly connected to said frame, and disposed at an angle that is substantially normal with respect to said axes of rotation; said normal vane defining a fixed, substantially lineal track for movement of a rAck therealong; b. a plurality of co-engaging members encompassing said normal vane and including an exterior member that forms a slide bar means at the front of said louver and an interior member that carries a lineal rack; said co-engaging members being movable reciprocally and longitudinally of said normal vane by movement of said slide bar means such that said rack is operable from the front of said louver; said co-engaging members having mating fastening means reversibly engaging each other, said mating fastening means comprising structure that can be disengagably snapped together to facilitate assembly and disassembly; c. a pinion connected with one of said vanes so as to have its center aligned with said axis of rotation of said one of said vanes whereby rotation of said pinion effects rotation of said vane, said pinion engaging said rack such that lateral movement of said rack longitudinally of said normal vane effects rotation of said pinion; d. a pin means connected with each vane of said set of vanes, eccentric with respect to said axis of rotation thereof, and an aperture means of a predetermined width surrounding said pin means; and e. a connector link having a plurality of bifurcated ends removably snapped over and engaging respective said pins and interconnecting said vanes of said set of vanes with each other via said pin means, said bifurcated ends being adapted to move within said aperture means and being disposed along said connector link the same distance said vanes are disposed apart by respective means defining said axes of rotation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
335 words
In a louver having a frame and a set of vanes mounted for pivotal movement about respective axes of rotation and engaging oppositely disposed sides of said frame, the improvement comprising: a. a normal vane carried in the front of said frame, fixedly connected to said frame, and disposed at an angle that is substantially normal with respect to said axes of rotation; said normal vane defining a fixed, substantially lineal track for movement of a rAck therealong; b. a plurality of co-engaging members encompassing said normal vane and including an exterior member that forms a slide bar means at the front of said louver and an interior member that carries a lineal rack; said co-engaging members being movable reciprocally and longitudinally of said normal vane by movement of said slide bar means such that said rack is operable from the front of said louver; said co-engaging members having mating fastening means reversibly engaging each other, said mating fastening means comprising structure that can be disengagably snapped together to facilitate assembly and disassembly; c. a pinion connected with one of said vanes so as to have its center aligned with said axis of rotation of said one of said vanes whereby rotation of said pinion effects rotation of said vane, said pinion engaging said rack such that lateral movement of said rack longitudinally of said normal vane effects rotation of said pinion; d. a pin means connected with each vane of said set of vanes, eccentric with respect to said axis of rotation thereof, and an aperture means of a predetermined width surrounding said pin means; and e. a connector link having a plurality of bifurcated ends removably snapped over and engaging respective said pins and interconnecting said vanes of said set of vanes with each other via said pin means, said bifurcated ends being adapted to move within said aperture means and being disposed along said connector link the same distance said vanes are disposed apart by respective means defining said axes of rotation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The louver of claim 1 wherein said co-engaging members have respective mating protrusion means and slot means that may be disengagably snapped together to encompass said normal vane and retain said rack in place.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The louver of claim 1 wherein said rack is integrally formed with an interior one of said plurality of co-engaging members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The louver of claim 1 wherein said normal vane has limit means for preventing movement of said rack out of engagement with said pinion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The louver of claim 1 wherein said pinion is integrally formed with said one of said vanes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The louver of claim 1 wherein said pinion is formed with a slot means therein for conformingly engaging said one of said vanes, said one vane has a cut away portion for receiving said pinion, and said pinion and said one of said vanes are assembled after manufacture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The louver of claim 1 wherein elements of said louver are formed of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The louver of claim 1 wherein said vanes in said set of vanes extend on both sides of said respective axes of rotation so as to enable blocking the flow of a fluid through said louver when said vanes are closed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
272 words
The louver of claim 1 having a small radius of rotation, wherein said means defining said axes of rotation are located in notches disposed along at least one side of said louver frame, said notches being open toward the inner edge of said louver frame and wherein there is provided: a. a plurality of separate first portions of holding means disposed along the inner edge of said at least one side of said louver frame for retaining a strip in place; and b. a snap-on strip disposed along said at least one side and bearing against said respective means defining said axes of rotation; said snap-on strip having interiorly protruding blocking means disposed along its length in said notches and retaining said vanes of said set of vanes in place; said snap-on strip having a plurality of mating separate second portions of holding means disengagably snapped into engagement with said first portions of holding means; said first and second portions of holding means comprising a plurality of respective aperture means for receiving protrusions snapped thereinto and protrusion means for conformingly and frictionally engaging said aperture means on at least two sides thereof; said aperture means and said protrusion means being dispOsed at correlative intervals along the lengths of said snap-on strip and said at least one side of said louver frame such that said protrusion means can be snapped into said aperture means and hold said snap-on strip positively against lateral and longitudinal movement, and yet allow radial movement against only snap-in friction such that said snap-on strip is readily removable to facilitate disassembly and readily snapped into place to facilitate assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
The louver of claim 9 wherein said snap-on strip bears against said means defining said axes of rotation with sufficient force to retain said vanes in any set position; and wherein said frame carries mounting means at oppositely disposed ends thereof for pivotal mounting and said frame has a radius of rotation of less than 1 inch about said mounting means, said radius of rotation being measured from the axis of said mounting means to the extremities of said louver in a direction perpendicular to said axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
274 words
In a louver having a small radius of rotation and having a frame and a set of vanes mounted for pivotal movement about respective means defining axes of rotation and located in notches disposed along two oppositely disposed sides of the louver frame, the notches being open toward the inner edge of said louver frame, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of separate first portions of holding means disposed along an inner portion adjacent the inner edge of each of said sides of said louver frame for retaining a strip in place; and b. a snap-on strip disposed along each of said sides and bearing against said respective means defining said axes of rotation; said snap-on strip having interiorly protruding blocking means disposed along its length in said notches and retaining said vanes of said set of vanes in place; each snap-on strip having a plurality of mating separate second portions of holding means disengagably snapped into engagement with first portions of holding means; said first and second portions of holding means comprising a plurality of respective aperture means for receiving protrusions snapped thereinto and protrusion means for conformingly and frictionally engaging said aperture means on at least two sides thereof; said aperture means and said protrusion means being disposed at correlative intervals along the length of said sides and said snap-on strip such that said protrusion means can be snapped into said aperture means and hold said snap-on strip positively against lateral and longitudinal movement, and yet allow radial movement against only snap-in friction such that said snap-on strip is readily removable to facilitate disassembly and readily snapped into place to facilitate assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
274 words
In a louver having a small radius of rotation and having a frame and a set of vanes mounted for pivotal movement about respective means defining axes of rotation and located in notches disposed along two oppositely disposed sides of the louver frame, the notches being open toward the inner edge of said louver frame, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of separate first portions of holding means disposed along an inner portion adjacent the inner edge of each of said sides of said louver frame for retaining a strip in place; and b. a snap-on strip disposed along each of said sides and bearing against said respective means defining said axes of rotation; said snap-on strip having interiorly protruding blocking means disposed along its length in said notches and retaining said vanes of said set of vanes in place; each snap-on strip having a plurality of mating separate second portions of holding means disengagably snapped into engagement with first portions of holding means; said first and second portions of holding means comprising a plurality of respective aperture means for receiving protrusions snapped thereinto and protrusion means for conformingly and frictionally engaging said aperture means on at least two sides thereof; said aperture means and said protrusion means being disposed at correlative intervals along the length of said sides and said snap-on strip such that said protrusion means can be snapped into said aperture means and hold said snap-on strip positively against lateral and longitudinal movement, and yet allow radial movement against only snap-in friction such that said snap-on strip is readily removable to facilitate disassembly and readily snapped into place to facilitate assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
The louver of claim 11 wherein said frame has as said first portion of said holding means a plurality of longitudinally extending aperture means and a plurality of laterally extending aperture means disposed along its length and conformingly engaging mating protrusion means on said snap-on strip and wherein said snap-on strip bears against said means defining said axes of rotation with sufficient force to retain said vanes in any set position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |