# US 5,342,175 A · Grill > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,342,175 A - Document ID: US5342175A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/037,038 - Filed: 1993-03-25 - Granted: 1994-08-30 - Earliest claimed: 1993-03-25 - Assignees: Patton Electric Company, Inc. - Inventors: Noel T. Patton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5342175A ## CPC - F04D 29/703: {specially for fans, e.g. fan guards} - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) ## Abstract A grill for appliances such as, for example, portable electric fans, heaters, humidifiers, radios, etc. The grill may be used to prevent individuals from touching the appliance's internal components while, nevertheless, allowing movement of air and sound therethrough and/or merely for decorative purposes. The grill is made up of a plurality of elongate ribs spaced apart from each other and which define a plurality of slots therebetween. Each rib is shaped having a central peak extending upwardly from side portions located on the right and left sides of the central peak. The central peak and the side portions are connected together via a curvilinear region and, thus, each of the ribs generally have a bell-shape. The ribs each have an outer surface that is coplanar with the fan/heater unit front surface and, thus, define a flat plane outer surface. The flat plane outer surface, in perspective, appears to have depth beyond the flat plane surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A grill having a flat plane outer surface giving the appearance of having depth beyond the flat plane outer surface, said grill comprising a plurality of elongate ribs spaced apart from each other and defining a plurality of slots therebetween, each of said ribs having an outer surface defining said grill flat plane outer surface and wherein each of said ribs are similarly shaped with a peak extending upwardly from portions located on the right and left sides of said peak, said peak and portions below said peak connected via curvilinear regions and, wherein said rib portions are substantially straight and said peak is centered therebetween, said curvilinear regions on the left and right sides of said central peak being mirror images of one another. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The grill of claim 1 wherein said slots extend through said grill and define air passages and further comprising a cylindrical air duct having a longitudinal axis extending between a fan and said grill, said grill flat plane outer surface being generally perpendicular to the air duct longitudinal axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The grill of claim 2 further comprising an elongate support rib attached to said cylindrical air duct and to said grill ribs, whereby said grill ribs are supported. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The grill of claim 3 wherein said grill ribs are quadrangle-shaped in cross-section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The grill of claim 2 wherein said grill and said air duct are made of plastic and are formed by injection molding. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The grill of claim 2 wherein said grill flat plane outer surface extends across a fan unit front face and said rib portions extend to a left and right side of said fan unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The grill of claim 2 wherein said grill ribs are quadrangle-shaped in cross section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The grill of claim 1 further comprising an elongate support rib attached to said grill ribs, whereby said grill ribs are supported. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The grill of claim 1 wherein said grill ribs are quadrangle-shaped in cross-section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The grill of claim 1 wherein said grill ribs are made of plastic and are formed by injection molding. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The grill of claim 1 wherein said grill flat plane outer surface extends across a fan unit front face and said rib portions extend to a left and right side of said fan unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The grill of claim 11 further comprising an elongate support rib attached to said grill ribs, whereby said grill ribs are supported. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The protective grill of claim 11 wherein said grill ribs are quadrangle-shaped in cross-section, ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The grill of claim 1 wherein said grill ribs are rectangle-shaped in cross-section. ### Claim 15 A grill having a flat plane outer surface giving the appearance of having depth beyond the flat plane outer surface, said grill comprising a plurality of elongate ribs spaced apart from each other and defining a plurality of slots therebetween, each of said ribs having an outer surface defining said grill flat plane outer surface and shaped with a peak extending upwardly from portions located on the right and left sides of said peak, said peak and portions below said peak connected via curvilinear regions and, wherein said rib portions are substantially straight and said peak is centered therebetween, said curvilinear regions on the left and right sides of said central peak being mirror images of one another. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The grill of claim 15 further comprising an elongate support rib attached to said grill ribs, whereby said grill ribs are supported. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The grill of claim 15 wherein said grill ribs are quadrangle-shaped in cross-section. ### Claim 18 A grill having a flat plane outer surface giving the appearance of having depth beyond the flat plane outer surface, said grill comprising a plurality of elongate ribs spaced apart from each other and defining a plurality of slots therebetween, each of said ribs having an outer surface defining said grill flat plane outer surface and shaped with a peak extending upwardly from portions located on the right and left sides of said peak, said peak and portions below said peak connected via curvilinear regions and, wherein said grill flat plane outer surface extends across a fan unit from face and said rib portions extend to a left and right side of said fan unit, said rib portions being substantially straight and said peak centered therebetween, said curvilinear regions on the left and right sides of said central peak being mirror images of one another.