Offset louver grille

Abstract

A grille having a frame defining a grille opening and for receiving a plurality of first louvers and a plurality of second louvers. The first plane and second plane are separated by a predetermined offset depth to define a gap between adjacent first louvers and second louvers along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the frame. The first louvers can be spaced apart to define a first gap between adjacent first louvers. A second louver can be positioned at the second plane to align with the horizontal gap between adjacent first louvers such that the first and second louvers cooperate to obscure viewing through the grille at least along the axis perpendicular to the plane of the frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A grille, comprising:
 a frame defining a grille opening and a grille plane, wherein the grille opening is positioned within the grille plane;   a plurality of first louvers arranged in a first plane to extend over a first region of the grille opening, wherein a first horizontal gap is defined between adjacent first louvers;   a plurality of second louvers arranged in a second plane to extend over a second region of the grille opening, wherein a second horizontal gap is defined between adjacent second louvers;   wherein the second louvers are offset horizontally from the first louvers such that at least one second louver is aligned with each first horizontal gap along an axis perpendicular to the grille plane.   
     
     
         2 . The grille of  claim 1 , wherein the second louvers each have a second width corresponding to a width of the corresponding first horizontal gap. 
     
     
         3 . The grille of  claim 2 , wherein at least two of the second louvers are sized to have differing second widths. 
     
     
         4 . The grille of  claim 2 , wherein the second louvers are universally sized to have uniform second widths. 
     
     
         5 . The grille of  claim 1 , wherein the first louvers are each aligned with at least one second horizontal gap along the axis perpendicular to the grille plane. 
     
     
         6 . The grille of  claim 5 , wherein the first louvers each have a first width corresponding to a width of the corresponding second horizontal gap. 
     
     
         7 . The grille of  claim 6 , wherein at least two of the first louvers are sized to have differing first widths. 
     
     
         8 . The grille of  claim 6 , wherein the first louvers are universally sized to have uniform first widths. 
     
     
         9 . The grille of  claim 1 , wherein the first plane is offset from the second plane to define a vertical gap between the first plurality of louvers and the second plurality of louvers along the axis perpendicular to the grille plane. 
     
     
         10 . The grille of  claim 9 , wherein vertical gap permits viewing through the grille opening along at least one viewing axis transverse to the axis perpendicular to the grille plane. 
     
     
         11 . The grille of  claim 9 , wherein offsetting the first and second planes defines a plurality of air flow paths through the grille opening. 
     
     
         12 . A method of obscuring viewing through a grille opening of a grille, comprising:
 arranging a plurality of first louvers in a first plane to extend over a first region of the grille opening, wherein a first horizontal gap is defined between adjacent first louvers;   arranging a plurality of second louvers in a second plane to extend over a second region of the grille opening, wherein a second horizontal gap is defined between adjacent second louvers;   wherein the second louvers are offset horizontally from the first louvers such that at least one second louver is aligned with each first horizontal gap along an axis perpendicular to the grille plane.   vertical gap permits viewing through the grille opening along at least one viewing axis transverse to the axis perpendicular to the grille plane.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second louvers each have a second width corresponding to a width of the corresponding first horizontal gap. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 sizing at least two of the second louvers to have differing second widths.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first louvers are each aligned with at least one second horizontal gap along the axis perpendicular to the grille plane. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 sizing at least two of the first louvers to have differing first widths.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 offsetting the first plane from the second plane to define a vertical gap between the first plurality of louvers and the second plurality of louvers along the axis perpendicular to the grille plane.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein vertical gap permits viewing through the grille opening along at least one viewing axis transverse to the axis perpendicular to the grille plane. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein offsetting the first and second planes defines a plurality of air flow paths through the grille opening.