Housing assembly

• US 20060272231A1
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boral Building Products Inc. (Seven Group Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tapco International Corporation (Seven Group Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Lajewski, Todd M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,610,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/198
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/082 Grilles, registers or guards
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2007/0025 using vent ports in a wall
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/00 Ventilation

Abstract

A housing assembly for mounting to a wall of a building is disclosed. The housing assembly includes a front plate attached to a back plate. The back plate defines an axis and has a flange extending radially away from the axis for coupling to the wall. An insert is disposed between the front plate and the back plate. The insert includes a central body having a fluid diverter extending outwardly from the central body for guiding a fluid away from the wall. The housing assembly further includes a locking device for selectively coupling and uncoupling the insert from one of the front plate and the back plate.

Claims

1. A housing assembly for mounting to a wall of a building, said assembly comprising;

a back plate defining an axis and having a flange extending radially away from said axis for coupling to the wall,

a front plate attached to said back plate for aesthetic purposes,

an insert disposed between said front plate and said back plate and having a central body with a fluid diverter extending outwardly from said central body for redirecting a fluid away from the wall, and

a locking device for selectively coupling and uncoupling said insert from one of said front plate and said back plate.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking device includes a first coupling member and a second coupling member interposed between said front plate and said back plate.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first coupling member is further defined as a continuous rib extending radially toward said axis from one of said front plate and said back plate for engaging said second coupling member.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second coupling member is further defined as a plurality of tangs spaced from each other and extending from said central body along said axis for engaging said rib.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a raised portion extending from one of said front plate and said back plate along said axis.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said raised portion extends from said back plate and said central body defines a recess for receiving said raised portion.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid diverter includes an upper portion spaced from a lower portion with each of said portions extending from said central body.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said upper portion defines an outer surface angled toward said central body for guiding the fluid toward said lower portion.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said lower portion includes a pair of wings extending angularly away from said axis for receiving the fluid from said upper portion.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said lower portion defines an inner surface angled away from said central body for receiving the fluid from said outer surface and for guiding the fluid away from the wall.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said front plate and said back plate includes a plurality of adjustment devices spaced from one another for securing said front plate to said back plate.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein one of said front plate and said back plate includes a plurality of locking fingers spaced from each other for mating with said adjustment devices.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein each of said adjustment devices define a plurality of channels for receiving said locking fingers and for adjusting a space between said front plate and said back plate.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said central body defines a plurality of holes spaced from one another for passing said adjustment devices through said holes to abut said fluid diverter against one of said front plate and said back plate.

15. An insert of a housing assembly for diverting a fluid away from a wall of a building, said insert comprising;

a central body,

a coupling member disposed on said central body for selectively coupling and uncoupling said insert to the housing assembly, and

a fluid diverter extending outwardly away from said central body and having an upper portion spaced from a lower portion for diverting the fluid away from the wall of the building.

16. An element as set forth in claim 15 wherein said upper portion defines an outer surface angled toward said central body for guiding the fluid toward said lower portion.

17. An element as set forth in claim 15 wherein said lower portion includes a pair of wings extending angularly away from said central body for receiving the fluid from said upper portion.

18. An element as set forth in claim 16 wherein said lower portion defines an inner surface angled away from said central body for receiving the fluid from said outer surface and for guiding the fluid away from the wall.

19. An element as set forth in claim 15 wherein said coupling member is further defined as a plurality of tangs spaced from each other and extending outwardly away from said central body.

20. An element as set forth in claim 19 wherein said central body defines a recess adjacent said tangs.

21. An element as set forth in claim 20 wherein said central body defines a plurality of holes spaced from one another and adjacent said recess.