Louver assembly

Abstract

A louver assembly for placement in an opening for regulating the inlet of air includes a first blade stack having a plurality of elongated blades mounted within a frame having an upper frame member and a lower frame member, the lower frame member defining a sill, and a windbreak positioned adjacent to a front face of the louver assembly and extending from a point above the sill to a point below the sill. The windbreak is configured to divert wind at the front face of the louver assembly above the sill to facilitate draining of water from the louver assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A louver assembly for placement in an opening for regulating the inlet of air, comprising:
 a first blade stack having a plurality of elongated blades mounted within a frame having an upper frame member and a lower frame member, the lower frame member defining a sill; and   a windbreak positioned adjacent to a front face of the louver assembly and extending from a point above the sill to a point below the sill;   wherein the windbreak is configured to divert wind at the front face of the louver assembly above the sill to facilitate draining of water from the louver assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The louver assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a drain pan positioned on the lower frame member, the drain pan being configured to receive water sequestered by the plurality of elongated blades.   
     
     
         3 . The louver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the windbreak includes a generally horizontal leg portion that is mounted to the louver assembly at a position spaced vertically from the top surface of the drain pan and a depending leg portion that extends downwardly from the horizontal leg portion.   
     
     
         4 . The louver assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the horizontal leg portion is spaced between about 1 inches to about 2 inches, in a vertical direction, from a top surface of the drain pan.   
     
     
         5 . The louver assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the windbreak further includes a drip edge that extends outwardly and downwardly from the depending leg portion.   
     
     
         6 . The louver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the windbreak extends across substantially an entire width of the louver assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The louver assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the plurality of elongated blades are mounted within the frame in a horizontally-spaced and vertically-extending configuration.   
     
     
         8 . The louver assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second blade stack having a plurality of elongated blades mounted within the frame in a vertically-spaced and horizontally-extending configuration.   
     
     
         9 . The louver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the windbreak and the sill define a passageway therebetween for the outflow of water from the louver assembly.   
     
     
         10 . A louver assembly for regulating air passage through an opening, said louver assembly comprising:
 a first stack of blades having a housing defined about said blades, said housing being supported upon a bottom sill of said opening;   a water passage defined between said housing and said bottom sill, said water passage allowing water entering said louver assembly and impacting said blades to drain from said housing; and   an air deflection shield arranged adjacent to said water passage, said air deflection shield being fixed to said housing and extending across said water passage in a spaced-apart relationship, thereby permitting water to drain from said housing.   
     
     
         11 . The louver assembly of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the air deflection shield includes a generally horizontal leg portion that is mounted to the housing at a position spaced vertically from the top surface of the bottom sill and a depending leg portion that extends downwardly from the horizontal leg portion.   
     
     
         12 . The louver assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the horizontal leg portion is spaced between about 1 inch to about 2 inches, in a vertical direction, from a top surface of the bottom sill.   
     
     
         13 . The louver assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the air deflection shield further includes a drip edge that extends outwardly and downwardly from the depending leg portion.   
     
     
         14 . The louver assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the air deflection shield extends across substantially an entire width of the louver assembly.   
     
     
         15 . A method of ensuring proper drainage in a louver assembly oriented within an opening, said method comprising the steps of:
 arranging a first stack of louver blades within a housing;   mounting said housing within said opening, said housing being supported on a bottom sill of said opening and defining a water passageway therebetween; and   arranging an air deflection shield adjacent said water passageway, said air deflection shield being disposed in a spaced-apart relationship from said water passageway and permitting water to drain from said housing via said water passageway.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the air deflection shield includes a generally horizontal leg portion that is mounted to the housing at a position spaced vertically from the top surface of the bottom sill and a depending leg portion that extends downwardly from the horizontal leg portion.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the horizontal leg portion is spaced between about 1 inch to about 2 inches, in a vertical direction, from a top surface of the bottom sill.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the air deflection shield further includes a drip edge that extends outwardly and downwardly from the depending leg portion.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the air deflection shield extends across substantially an entire width of the louver assembly.