Drainable architectural louver

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024401841-A1
Application number	US-202418734845-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 5, 2024
Priority date	Jun 5, 2023
Publication date	Dec 5, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A louver assembly configured to couple to a stand-alone HVAC unit includes a frame defining an opening configured to direct an ambient air flow from an ambient environment into the stand-alone HVAC unit. The louver assembly also includes a plurality of louver blades secured to the frame and disposed within the opening. Each louver blade includes an upstream end, a downstream end, a main body, and a retention member extending from the main body at the upstream end to define a recess configured to accumulate liquid captured from the ambient air flow. Each louver blade is configured to direct the liquid along the recess toward a jamb frame member of the frame. The louver assembly further includes fasteners configured to extend through a component of the frame and engage with the louver blades to secure the louver blades to the frame.

First claim

1 . A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
a self-contained HVAC unit configured to extend at least partially through an external wall of a building in an installed configuration of the HVAC system; and a louver assembly configured to couple to the self-contained HVAC unit, wherein the louver assembly is configured to be disposed within an ambient environment surrounding the building in the installed configuration of the HVAC system, and the louver assembly comprises:
a frame defining an opening configured to direct an ambient air flow from the ambient environment into the self-contained HVAC unit; and
a louver blade coupled to the frame, wherein the louver blade comprises a main body, a retention member extending from the main body, and a recess defined by the main body, the louver blade is configured to capture environmental elements directed into the louver assembly via the ambient air flow and direct the environmental elements into the recess, and the louver blade is configured to direct the environmental elements along the recess toward the frame.

2 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a plurality of flanges extending along the frame cross-wise to the recess of the louver blade and defining a channel, and the louver blade is configured to direct the environmental elements along the recess and into the channel.

3 . The HVAC system of claim 2 , wherein the frame comprises a jamb frame member and a jamb frame insert disposed between the jamb frame member and the louver blade relative to a lateral axis along which the recess extends, and the jamb frame insert comprises the plurality of flanges.

4 . The HVAC system of claim 3 , wherein the jamb frame insert comprises:
a lateral side portion extending along a longitudinal axis of the louver assembly; and a support rail extending from the lateral side portion along the lateral axis, wherein the plurality of flanges extends from the lateral side portion along the lateral axis.

5 . The HVAC system of claim 4 , comprising a mechanical fastener extending through the support rail, wherein the mechanical fastener is engaged with the louver blade to secure the louver blade to the support rail.

6 . The HVAC system of claim 5 , wherein the retention member extends from the main body at a first end of the louver blade, the louver blade comprises a first engagement arm and a second engagement arm extending from a second end of the louver blade, opposite the first end, the first engagement arm and the second engagement arm define a retention recess, and the mechanical fastener extends into the retention recess and is engaged with the first engagement arm and the second engagement arm to secure the louver blade to the support rail.

7 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the louver assembly comprises a first end facing the ambient environment and a second end, opposite the first end, coupled to the self-contained HVAC unit, the louver assembly comprises a depth extending from the first end to the second end, and the depth is equal to or less than approximately two inches.

8 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the self-contained HVAC unit comprises:
a housing; a vapor compression circuit disposed within the housing, wherein the vapor compression circuit is configured to place the ambient air flow in a heat exchange relationship with a working fluid circulated through the vapor compression circuit, the vapor compression circuit is configured to generate a conditioned air flow, and the housing is configured to discharge the conditioned air flow directly into a space within the building; and a sleeve configured to extend through an opening formed in the external wall in the installed configuration of the HVAC system, wherein the housing is configured to extend within the sleeve in the installed configuration of the HVAC system.

9 . The HVAC system of claim 8 , wherein the louver assembly is configured to be secured to the sleeve.

10 . The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the main body comprise a linear portion extending from the retention member and an arcuate portion extending from the linear portion, and the louver blade comprises:
an extension extending from the arcuate portion; and a guide lip extending from the extension at an end of the extension opposite the arcuate portion, wherein the guide lip extends toward an upstream end of the louver blade, relative to a direction of the ambient air flow into the louver assembly.

11 . A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
a louver assembly configured to couple to a stand-alone HVAC unit, wherein the louver assembly comprises:
a frame comprising a first jamb frame member, a second jamb frame member, a head frame member, and a sill frame member coupled to one another to define an opening configured to direct an ambient air flow from an ambient environment into the stand-alone HVAC unit; and
a plurality of louver blades secured to the frame and disposed within the opening, wherein each louver blade of the plurality of louver blades comprises an upstream end, a downstream end, a main body, and a retention member extending from the main body at the upstream end to define a recess configured to accumulate liquid captured from the ambient air flow, and each louver blade of the plurality of louver blades is configured to direct the liquid along the recess toward the first jamb frame member, the second jamb frame member, or both; and
a plurality of fasteners, wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners is configured to extend through a component of the frame and engage with a respective louver blade of the plurality of louver blades to secure the respective louver blade to the frame.

12 . The HVAC system of claim 11 , wherein the louver assembly comprises a depth dimension extending from a first end of the louver assembly to a second end of the louver assembly in a direction of the ambient air flow through the louver assembly, and the depth dimension is equal to or less than approximately two inches.

13 . The HVAC system of claim 11 , wherein each louver blade of the plurality of louver blades comprises:
a first engagement arm formed at the downstream end and extending in a direction of the ambient air flow through the louver assembly; a second engagement arm formed at the downstream end and extending in the direction of the ambient air flow through the louver assembly; and a retention recess formed at least partially between the first engagement arm and the second engagement arm, wherein the retention recess is configured to receive the fastener of the plurality of fasteners corresponding to the louver blade, and the first engagement arm and the second engagement arm are configured to engage with the fastener to secure the louver blade to the frame.

14 . The HVAC system of claim 11 , wherein the frame comprises a jamb frame insert disposed between the first jamb frame member and the plurality of louver blades, relative to a lateral axis along which the plurality of louver blades extends between the first jamb frame member and the second jamb frame member, wherein the jamb frame insert comprises:
a lateral side portion extending along a longitudinal axis of the louver assembly; and a plurality of flanges extending from the lateral side portion along the lateral axis and toward the plurality of louver blades, wherein the plurality of flanges defines a channel extending along a vertical axis between the head frame member and the sill frame member, the respective recess of each louver blade of the plurality of louver blades is configured to d

Assignees

• Air Distribution Tech Ip Llc

Inventors

• Manoji Akash Sudhakar
• Pathare Vishal Devram
• Thomas Nathan Leonard
• Rockhold Joseph

Classifications

• F24F13/20

  Casings or covers · CPC title

• F24F2221/26

  improving the aesthetic appearance · CPC title

• F24F2221/52

  Weather protecting means, e.g. against wind, rain or snow · CPC title

• F24F13/084 Primary

  with mounting arrangements, e.g. snap fasteners for mounting to the wall or duct · CPC title