Fan mounting spacer assembly

• US 7,128,303 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2004
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broan-Nutone LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Broan-Nutone LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Penlesky, Robert G., Bothe, Danny W.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita M.
• Application Number:
  US10/817,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20050218289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 248/674, 248/300, 248/200, 248/511, 248/304, 403/170, 403/169, 446/121, 446/126, 525/03, 525/05
• US Class Current: 248/674
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/601 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/341 Three or more radiating members

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a spacer configured to mount a fan housing to a surface of a structural support. In some embodiments, the spacer includes a body, a first aperture passing through the body and having a first length through the body, and a second aperture passing through the body and having a second length through the body, wherein the second length is different than the first length. The body can be oriented in a first orientation with respect to the fan housing and structural support or in a second orientation with respect to the fan housing and structural support to mount the fan housing at different distances from a mounting surface of the structural support.

Claims

1. A spacer configured to mount a fan housing to a surface of a structural support, the spacer comprising:

a body;

a first aperture passing through the body, the first aperture having a first length through the body;

a second aperture passing through the body, the second aperture having a second length through the body, the second length different than the first length; and

a third aperture passing through the body, the third aperture having a third length through the body, the third length different than the first length and the second length;

wherein the body has a first orientation with respect to the fan housing and structural support in which the body separates the fan housing from the surface of the structural support by the first length when installed with a fastener passed through the first aperture and into the structural support;

wherein the body has a second orientation with respect to the fan housing and structural support in which the body separates the fan housing from the surface of the structural support by the second length when installed with a fastener passed through the second aperture and into the structural support; and

wherein the body has a third orientation with respect to the fan housing and structural support in which the body separates the fan housing from the surface of the structural support by the third length when installed with a fastener passed through the third aperture and into the structural support.

2. The spacer of claim 1, wherein an end of the first aperture is tapered for guiding a fastener into the first aperture.

3. The spacer of claim 1, wherein the body is constructed of a plastic material, and the first and second apertures are integrated into the body.

4. The spacer of claim 1, wherein the body includes an outwardly extending protrusion for orienting the spacer with respect to the fan housing in at least one of the first, second, and third orientations.

5. The spacer of claim 1, wherein the first aperture and second aperture lie in planes that are substantially perpendicular to one another.

6. The spacer of claim 1, wherein the body includes:

a first mounting surface engageable with the housing when the body is in the first orientation; and

a second mounting surface engageable with the housing when the body is in the second orientation, the first mounting surface being substantially perpendicular to the second mounting surface.

7. The spacer of claim 6, further comprising a lip extending outwardly from the body, the lip preventing orientation of the spacer in a fourth orientation in which the first mounting surface is flush with the surface of the structural support.

8. The spacer of claim 7, wherein the lip prevents orientation of the spacer in a fifth orientation in which the second mounting surface is flush with the surface of the structural support.

9. A spacer for mounting a fan housing in positions spaced from a mounting surface of a structural support, the spacer comprising:

a body having a first dimension in a first orientation, a second dimension in a second orientation different than the first orientation, and a third dimension in a third orientation different than the first orientation and the second orientation;

a first aperture defined in the body and shaped to receive a fastener through the body, the first aperture having a length passing through the body that is the same as the first dimension;

a second aperture defined in the body and shaped to receive a fastener through the body;

the second aperture having a length passing through the body that is the same as the second dimension;

a third aperture defined in the body and shaped to receive a fastener through the body, the third aperture having a length passing throught the body that is the same as the third dimension;

the spacer having

a first mounting orientation with respect to the fan housing and structural support in which the spacer separates the fan housing from the mounting surface of the structural support by a distance substantially the same as the first dimension;

a second mounting orientation with respect to the fan housing and structural support in which the spacer separates the fan housing from the mounting surface of the structural support by a second distance substantially the same as the second dimension, wherein the second distance is different than the first distance; and

a third mounting orientation with respect to the fan housing and structural support in which the spacer separates the fan housing from the mounting surface of the structural support by a third distance substantially the same as the third dimension, wherein the third distance is different than the first distance and the second distance.

10. The spacer of claim 9, wherein an end of the first aperture is tapered for guiding a fastener into the first aperture.

11. The spacer of claim 9, wherein the body is constructed of a plastic material, and the first and second apertures are integrated into the body.

12. The spacer of claim 9, wherein the body includes an outwardly extending protrusion for orienting the spacer with respect to the fan housing in at least one of the first and second mounting orientations.

13. The spacer of claim 9, wherein the first aperture and second aperture lie in planes that are substantially perpendicular to one another.

14. The spacer of claim 9, wherein the body includes a first mounting surface engageable with the fan housing when the body is in the first mounting orientation, the spacer further comprising a lip extending outwardly from the body, the lip preventing mounting of the spacer in an orientation in which the first mounting surface is flush with the mounting surface of the structural support.

15. The spacer of claim 14, wherein the body includes a second mounting surface engageable with the fan housing when the body is in the second mounting orientation, the spacer further comprising a second lip extending outwardly from the second mounting surface, the second lip preventing mounting of the spacer in an orientation in which the second mounting surface is flush with the mounting surface of the structural support.