US3660956A

US3660956A - Grating construction

Info

Publication number: US3660956A
Application number: US50526A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oscar A Budlong
Original assignee: Brooks Products Inc
Current assignee: BPAC Inc A CORP OF
Priority date: 1970-06-29
Filing date: 1970-06-29
Publication date: 1972-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-09

Abstract

A grating construction in which the grating members include upper portions defining vertical slots and lower portions defining angular slots, the spacing being such that any particle having a width and length less than the spacing of the upper portions will pass through the lower portions; however, the angular relation between the upper and lower portions prevents passage of an elongated member therethrough.

Description

nited States atent n 1 Moose Budlong 1 y 9, 1972 [s41 GRATING CONSTRUCTION 3,528,210 9/1970 Johnson et a1. ..52/667 [72] Inventor: Oscar A. Budlong Santa Ana Cam, 3,530,781 9/1970 Kesmger ..52/20 [73] Assignee: Brooks Products, Inc., El Monte, Calif. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATONS J v Sweden [21] Appl. No.: 50,526 Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland Atl0rney-Ly0n & Lyon [52] U.S. C l. ..52/669, 52/656 57] ABSTRACT [51] lnt.Cl.. ..E0lc 9/10 581 Field of Search ..52/656, 660, 662, 664-669, A grating construction in which the g g members include 52/19 20 2 l 659 upper portions defining vertical slots and lower portions defining angular slots, the spacing being such that any particle hav- [56] References Cited ing a width and length less than the spacing of the upper portions will pass through the lower portions; however, the an gu- UNITED STATES PATENTS lar relation between the upper and lower portions prevents passage of an elongated member therethrough. 3,479,777 11/1969 Schack ..52/666 1,958,995 5/1934 Green ..52/666 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 9 r972 4 AZ r r /g r f 7/ IN VENTOR. 05 6142 ,4. 505.4 o/ve BY 6' 4 7'7'08/1/ Y5 GRATING cous'rauc'nou BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Grating structures are often required to protect equipment which requires ventilation an which might be damaged or which may be dangerous if touched; for example, transformers and other electrical equipment pose this problem. Conventional grates serve to protect such equipment from direct contact by a person but do not prevent such person from forcing a stick of wood or a bar of metal through the grate. Attempts to provide deflectors have been made; however, the spacing is reduced, causing objects which enter the outer portion of the grate to wedge at the inner portion thereof and clog the grate. The equipment which requires a protective grate may be so constructed that such debris may fall through without damage to the equipment; however, if excessive clogging occurs, the circulation of air around the equipment will be reduced to the point that excessive heating will occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a solution to this problem and is summarized in the following objects:

First, to provide a grating construction wherein the minimum spacing between the grating bars occurs at the entrance ends of the openings therebetween so that any essential spherical objects, such as pebbles, may fall through.

Second, to provide a grating construction, including an outer grate section having openings disposed normal to the surface, and an inner section having angularly disposed openings of at least the same width as the normal openings and so arranged that an elongated rigid object such as a wood or metal rod cannot pass therethrough and if the rod is flexible, it is laterally deflected by the grate to prevent or minimize the danger incidental to contact with critical portions of the equipment.

Third, to provide a grating construction in which grating members present flat outer surfaces to provide improved shoe support and so spaced as to minimize the possibility of spike heels becoming wedged in the grate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view, showing one embodiment of the grate construction.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken through 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 2, showing a pair of the grate units.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 2, showing another embodiment of the grate construction.

FIG. 5 is a similar fragmentary transverse sectional view, showing a further embodiment of the grate construction.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the grate construction shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to the previous sectional views, showing a still further embodiment of the grate construction.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing one grate unit of the construction shown in FIG. 7.

Reference is first directed to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In the construction here illustrated, a frame comprising a pair of end members 1 and side members 2 enclose the grate construction. The grate construction includes a set of upper grate members 3 which may be channel shaped in cross section and disposed with their ends resting on the end members 1. The upper grate elements or members are welded or otherwise secured to one or more connecting bars 4, depending upon the size of the grate construction, and form therebetween venting slots 5.

Joined to the lower sides of the connecting bars 4 is a set of lower grate members 6 in the form of relatively thin slats which are welded to the undersides of the connecting bars underneath the upper grate members 3 and in angular relation thereto. If desired, the lower grate members 6 may be notched to receive the connecting bars so that their upper edges may be welded directly to the upper grate members 3. The lower grate members 6 form venting slots 7 therebetween which communicate with corresponding venting slots 5 between the upper grate members 3.

The relative widths of the grate members 3 and the grate members 6 are such that the width of the venting slots 7 is at least equal to the width of the venting slots 5 and may, if desired, be slightly greater. As a result, any spherical object or essentially spherical object such as a pebble or the like which will pass between the upper grate members 3 through a venting slot 5 will fall on through the corresponding venting slot 7. The angularrelation of the grate members 3 and 6 is such that the straight rod cannot be thrust through the grate construction. Stated otherwise, the apex 8 formed at the bottom corner of each upper grate member 3 lies adjacent to or beyond a plane 9 passing between the edges 10 and 11 of the upper grate member 3 and lower grate member 6, as indicated in FIG. 3. While a bendable rod or shaft might be thrust between adjacent grate units or members, the effect is to bend such a rod into an are, causing to curve upwardly and away from whatever equipment may be guarded by the grate construction. The flat relatively wide upper edges of the upper grate member 6 provide a firm and comfortable surface on which to walk and minimize the chance that even a woman's spike heel would be forced between the grate members.

Reference is now directed to FIG. 4. In this construction, the upper grate members 12 are in the form of rectangular bars of greater thickness than the lower grate members 6. Also, the proportions of the upper grate members are such that the venting slots 5 and 7 are at least equal.

Reference is now directed to FIGS. 5 and 6. In this construction, rectangular upper grate bars 13 are used similar to those in FIG. 4. In this case, however, a set of grate strips 14 are used, each of which is folded longitudinally to provide angularly related upper portions 15 and lower portions 16. the upper portions 15 are suitably secured to the grate bars 13. Again, the resulting construction is such that the venting slots 7 are equal to or wider than the venting slots 5. Also, in this construction, the connecting bars 4 may be set in notches provided along the upper margins or edges of the grate bars 13 and corresponding upper edges of the grate strips 14.

Reference is now directed to FIGS. 7 and 8. In this construction, single piece grate bars 17 are provided which may be in the fonn of extrusions. Each grate bar 17 is longitudinally folded or extruded to form an angularly related upper portion 18 and lower portion 19. The thickness of each grate bar 17 tapers from its upper edge toward its lower edge in such a manner that the venting slots 20 tend to increase in width downward.

It will be noted that all of the embodiments illustrated have in common the features noted in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3; that is, each embodiment has means to block the insertion of a rod through the grate structure and to deflect a flexible rod should such a member be forced through the grate construction. Also, virtually all debris which may pass through the upper side of the grate construction falls through the grate construction rather than hanging up or wedging within the boundaries of the grate construction.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the constructions set forth, but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A grate construction, comprising:

a. an upper portion including a set of spaced, vertically disposed relatively wide surface elements presenting a flat walking surface on the upper edges thereof the spaces between the upper edges of the surface elements constituting vent slots and load supporting elements traversing the surface elements, said surface elements forming therebetween upper vertical vent passages continuing downwardly from the vent slots;

b. and a lower portion including a set of relatively thin deflecting elements disposed in parallel relation to each other but sloping transversely in angular relation to the surface elements, the upper portions of the deflecting elements being substantially aligned with respective surface elements, the deflecting elements forming therebetween lower vent passages in continuing angular relation to the upper vent passages;

. the upper and lower vent passages being at least as wide as the vent slots whereby an essentially spherical object capable of passing a vent slot will fall freely through the upper and lower vent passages;

d. the lower edges of the deflecting elements underlying at least the lower portions of the surface elements next adjacent thereto, whereby the angular paths between said surface elements and said deflecting elements precludes the passage of a substantially rigid linear member therethrough.

2. A grating construction, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. the load supporting elements are cross-bars extending between the set of surface elements and the set of deflecting elements in transverse relation to the elements, said cross bars being welded to the respective sets and maintaining them in fixed spaced relation.

3. A grating construction, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. each of the outer surface elements includes a bar member and the upper portion of a deflecting element, the lower portions of the deflecting elements being in angular relation to the upper portions.

4. A grating construction, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. each surface element and a corresponding deflecting element are monolithic and the width thereof tapers from the upper extremity of the surface element to the lower extremity of the deflecting element.

i i I l

Claims

1. A grate construction, comprising: a. an upper portion including a set of spaced, vertically disposed relatively wide surface elements presenting a flat walking surface on the upper edges thereof the spaces between the upper edges of the surface elements constituting vent slots and load supporting elements traversing the surface elements, said surface elements forming therebetween upper vertical vent passages continuing downwardly from the vent slots; b. and a lower portion including a set of relatively thin deflecting elements disposed in parallel relation to each other but sloping transversely in angular relation to the surface elements, the upper portions of the deflecting elements being substantially aligned with respective surface elements, the deflecting elements forming therebetween lower vent passages in continuing angular relation to the upper vent passages; c. the upper and lower vent passages being at least as wide as the vent slots whereby an essentially spherical object capable of passing a vent slot will fall freely through the upper and lower vent passages; d. the lower edges of the deflecting elements underlying at least the lower portions of the surface elements next adjacent thereto, whereby the angular paths between said surface elements and said deflecting elements precludes the passage of a substantially rigid linear member there-through.

2. A grating construction, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the load supporting elements are cross-bars extending between the set of surface elements and the set of deflecting elements in transverse relation to the elements, said cross bars being welded to the respective sets and maintaining them in fixed spaced relation.

3. A grating construction, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. each of the outer surface elements includes a bar member and the upper portion of a deflecting element, the lower portions of the deflecting elements being in angular relation to the upper portions.

4. A grating construction, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. each surface element and a corresponding deflecting element are monolithic and the width thereof tapers from the upper extremity of the surface element to the lower extremity of the deflecting element.