Air access panel

Abstract

A panel for a covering an air access opening formed in a component of a ventilation system, comprises a one piece rectangular peripheral frame defining a panel opening, said frame having a front side and a rear side, and upper, lower and side frame elements, a plurality of parallel louvers extending between opposite side frame elements of the frame, across said panel opening. The louvers are integrally formed with the frame. The panel is formed from pressing a blank of at least 20 gauge steel by CNC punching, or hydraulic shearing or using a progressive dye. A door having a front side and a rear side, may be removably and pivotally attached to an upper portion of the panel, pivotal from an open position allowing access to the panel opening to a closed position wherein the door covers an upper portion of the panel opening. Preferably the door is attached to the panel by a slot and pin arrangement.

1 . A panel for a covering an air access opening formed in a component of a ventilation system, said panel comprising: 
 a one piece rectangular peripheral frame defining a panel opening, said frame having a front side and a rear side, and upper, lower and side frame elements; and    a plurality of parallel louvers extending between opposite side frame elements of the frame, across said panel opening, said louvers integrally formed with the frame, said plurality of louvers forming a louvered portion of the panel.    
   
   
       2 . A panel as recited in  claim 1  wherein a mounting flange is integrally formed with and extends rearwardly from the rear side of said peripheral frame and is adapted to fit within the air access opening for mounting of the panel to the component, such that the panel covers the air access opening.  
   
   
       3 . A panel as recited in  claim 2  wherein said plurality of louvers extend horizontally across a bottom portion of said panel opening and are positioned to cover the air access opening when the panel is mounted to the component.  
   
   
       4 . A panel as recited in  claim 3  wherein a filter guide is secured to the rear of the panel behind the louvered portion of panel, said filter guide forming a carrying channel for a supporting an air filter to be disposed between the louvered portion and the air access opening, covering the entire air access opening, for filtering air passing through the air access opening.  
   
   
       5 . A panel as recited in  claim 2  wherein said panel comprises steel.  
   
   
       6 . A panel as recited in  claim 5  wherein said panel comprises steel of at least 20 gauge.  
   
   
       7 . A panel as recited in  claim 2  wherein said panel has a length as measured from an upper edge of the frame to a lower edge of about 50 inches and a width of about 16 inches as measured from side edge to side edge of the frame.  
   
   
       8 . A panel as recited in  claim 7  wherein the louvered portion extends from the bottom of the panel opening, upwardly about 18 inches.  
   
   
       9 . A panel as recited in  claim 6  formed by pressing and bending a steel sheet into the desired shape of the panel.  
   
   
       10 . A panel as recited in  claim 2  wherein each said louver is angled downwardly from front to back.  
   
   
       11 . A panel as recited in  claim 2  wherein said mounting flange is sized to be inserted into the air access opening so as to be positioned against walls of the ventilation system component which define the air access opening, and which may be removably attached thereto by securing means.  
   
   
       12 . A panel as recited in  claim 2  further comprising a door having a front side and a rear side, said door being removably attached to an upper portion of the panel, said door pivotal from an open position to a closed position, wherein the door covers a portion of the panel opening.  
   
   
       13 . The panel as recited in  claim 12  wherein the door includes opposite side edges each of which forms a slots extending forwardly and upwardly from the rear of each side edge at an upper portion thereof, the mounting flange extending along each side element of the frame and each including a pin positioned on opposing upper inner sides of the mounting flange, each pin extending inwardly and substantially horizontally into the panel opening and being adapted to be inserted into the respective mating slot on the side edges of the door, thereby carrying the door on the frame in pivotal removable engagement therewith.  
   
   
       14 . The panel of  claim 13  wherein the slots extend at an angle α of approximately 132 degrees upwardly from the rear of the door forwardly on the side edges thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The panel as recited in  claim 12  wherein the door in a closed position covers an upper portion of the panel opening, above the louvered portion.  
   
   
       16 . The panel as recited in  claim 12  wherein each side frame element forms a rearwardly and downwardly extending slot at an upper portion of each side frame element, and the door includes pins on each side thereof, sized and positioned to be inserted within each said slot, thereby carrying the door on the frame in pivotal removable engagement therewith.  
   
   
       17 . A panel for a covering an air access opening formed in a component of a ventilation system, said panel comprising: 
 a rectangular peripheral frame defining a panel opening, said frame having a front side and a rear side, and upper, lower and side frame elements,    a plurality of parallel louvers extending between opposite sides frame elements, across said panel opening, said plurality of louvers forming a louvered portion of the panel; and    a door having a front side and a rear side, said door being removably attached to an upper portion of the panel, said door pivotal forwardly from an open position allowing access to an upper portion of the panel opening to a closed position wherein the door covers said upper portion of the panel opening.    
   
   
       18 . A panel as recited in  claim 17  wherein said panel frame and louvers are one integrally formed piece and said louvers are positioned at a lower portion of the panel opening, below the door when in said closed position.  
   
   
       19 . A panel as recited in  claim 17  wherein a mounting flange is integrally formed with and extends rearwardly from the rear side of said peripheral frame and is adapted to fit within the air access opening for mounting within the air access opening of the ventilation system component.  
   
   
       20 . A panel as recited in  claim 17  wherein said panel comprises steel of at least 20 gauge.  
   
   
       21 . A panel as recited in  claim 19  wherein said mounting flange is sized to be inserted into the air access opening so as to be positioned against walls of the ventilation system component which define the air access opening, and which may be attached thereto by securing means.  
   
   
       22 . The panel as recited in  claim 17  wherein the door includes opposite side edges each of which forms a slot extending forwardly and upwardly from the rear of each side edge at an upper portion thereof, the mounting flange including portions extending along each side element of the frame and each including a pin positioned on opposing upper inner sides of the mounting flange, each pin extending inwardly into the panel opening and being adapted to be inserted into the respective mating slots on the side edges of the door, thereby carrying the door on the frame in pivotal removable engagement therewith.