AU2006308496A1 - Louvre window system - Google Patents

Description

WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 1 LOUVRE WINDOW SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to louvre or shutter arrangements. In a particular form the present invention relates to louvre window assemblies 5 that are customised for a given window or aperture. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Louvre window systems that incorporate rotatable blades or windows are extremely popular for a number of applications which otherwise are not 10 suitable for standard blinds or curtains. One such example includes louvre window or shutter arrangements that are formed from extruded aluminium sections thereby making them especially suitable for outdoor use due to aluminium's excellent weathering properties. 15 As many of the windows or apertures in a building are of non-standard dimensions, this implies that louvre window assemblies must be ordered, manufactured and assembled on an individual basis according to measurements taken from the window in question. It has been found that this process of manufacturing and assembling individual window assemblies on 20 an individual basis to order requires a large inventory of different sized components to be retained by the manufacturer. Clearly, this increases the cost associated with the manufacturing process as individual types of components must be separately catalogued, stored and tracked. 25 Another disadvantage of having a number of differently sized components is that the various jigs and handling apparatus that are used to manufacture a louvre window assembly must be either customised so that they can work with components of different sizes or alternatively be modified and repeated for each differently sized component thereby again adding to the cost of WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 2 manufacture and the scope for error as manufacturing personnel either have to reconfigure or change apparatus. This is especially so with louvre window assemblies formed from extruded aluminium sections which are comparatively expensive and difficult to process and assemble when 5 compared to other materials. It is an object of the present invention to provide a louvre window assembly that is capable of being readily customised to a given window or aperture. 10 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a louvre window assembly that is capable of being more efficiently manufactured and assembled. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 15 In a first aspect the present invention accordingly provides an adjustable frame assembly for a louvre window assembly, said adjustable frame assembly including: a first static frame member forming a first portion of the external frame of said louvre window assembly; 20 an adjustable frame member adjustable with respect to said first static frame member to change the combined total frame width of said first static frame member and said adjustable frame and hence the size of the aperture defined by said louvre window assembly, wherein said adjustable frame member is adapted to be received in a recess extending along the length of 25 said first static frame member and moveable within said recess to change the combined total frame width.

WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 3 Preferably, said adjustable frame assembly includes fixing means to fix the location of said adjustable frame member with respect to first static frame member. 5 Preferably, said fixing means includes at least one fixing element to fix said adjustable frame member to a second static frame member forming a second portion of the external frame of said louvre window assembly, said second portion arranged substantially perpendicularly to said first portion of said external frame. 10 Preferably, said at least-one fixing element includes a screw and said adjustable frame member includes a corresponding threaded portion located on said adjustable frame member to receive said screw and to secure said adjustable frame member to said second static frame member. 15 Preferably, said second static frame member includes abutment means, said abutment means located to abut with said adjustable frame member to cause said first and second portions of said external frame to be aligned substantially perpendicularly to each other. 20 Preferably, said abutment means includes a pair of opposed lips or ridges arranged to receive an end of said adjustable frame member. In a second aspect the present invention accordingly provides a cross rail 25 member for a louvre window assembly, said rail member forming a portion of a frame of said louvre window assembly, wherein said cross rail member includes at least one projecting stop member extending along the length of said rail member intermediate the sides thereof, said at least one stop member forming an elongate abutment against which a louvre or shutter can abut WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 4 when rotated to a fully closed position from a clockwise or anticlockwise direction. Preferably, said at least one stop member is formed separately from said cross 5 rail member and includes an engagement portion to be press fitted into a corresponding elongate slot or channel located in a wall of said cross rail member. Preferably, said elongate slot or channel is located centrally of said wall of 10 said cross rail member. In a third aspect the present invention accordingly provides a tensioned pin assembly, for mounting an end of a louvre or shutter of a louvre window assembly including: 15 an insert member receivable in a frame member of said louvre window assembly, said insert member having a cavity; a retractable biased pin member located in the cavity of the insert member and projecting therefrom, said pin member being biased towards an extended position, and having a mounting region to mount said end of said 20 louvre or shutter, wherein said pin member further includes an abutment surface to frictionally engage with an engagement portion of said cavity when said pin member extends from said cavity to provide frictional resistance to rotation of said pin thereby resisting rotational movement of a louvre or shutter mounted on said tensioned pin assembly. 25 Preferably, said cavity is substantially cylindrical and wherein said abutment surface includes a flange located at an inner end of said pin member and said engagement portion includes an inner circumferential ridge located in said cavity to frictionally engage with said flange portion.

WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 5 Preferably, said biased pin member includes a recess to receive one end of a coil spring located in said cavity, said coil spring providing a biasing force to bias said pin member outwardly. 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a front view of a louvre window assembly according to an 10 illustrative embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2a is a detailed front view of the bottom left hand corner of the louvre window assembly illustrated in Figure 1; FIGURE 2b is a side sectional view of the bottom left hand corner of the louvre window assembly depicted in Figure 2a; 15 FIGURE 2c is a bottom view of the bottom left hand corner of the louvre window assembly depicted in Figure 2a; FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the bottom left hand corner of the louvre window assembly depicted in Figure 2a; FIGURE 4a is an exploded view of a tensioned pin assembly for mounting a 20 blade; FIGURE 4b is a detailed perspective view of the pin member from the tensioned pin assembly illustrated in Figure 4a; FIGURES 4c and 4d are front views of the tensioned pin assembly illustrated in Figure 4a in operation when mounting a blade; 25 FIGURE 5 is a side sectional view of the cross rail member illustrated in Figure 1; FIGURES 6a to 6c are side sectional views of varying arrangements of cross rail members; and FIGURE 6d is a prior art cross rail member.

WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 6 In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 5 Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a louvre window assembly 100 according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Louvre window assembly 100 includes a top horizontal frame member 110, two side vertical frame members 120, 130, a bottom horizontal frame member 140, adjustable bottom rail member 180 and a cross rail member 150 dividing the 10 window assembly into an upper portion 200 and a lower portion 300. A number of horizontal blades or louvres 160 are rotatably mounted adjacent to one another between side vertical frame members 120, 130. Whilst in this illustrative embodiment, window assembly 100 is formed primarily from extruded aluminium section it would be clear to those skilled in the art that 15 the present invention may be also applied to window assemblies formed from, other suitable materials. Referring now to Figures 2a to 2c and 3, there are shown detailed views of the bottom left hand corner of louvre window assembly 100. Bottom horizontal 20 frame member 140 is formed as an extruded member of constant cross section having two upwardly extending front and rear walls 144, 143 (as best seen in Figure 2b) and a longitudinally extending rectangular slot or channel 142 extending along the entire length of the base of bottom horizontal frame member 140. Extending along the top wall of channel 142 is a part circular 25 groove 141 which has a circular dimension comparable to that of the threaded portion of screws 121a to 121c. In this manner, the threaded portion of a screw may be screwed directly into groove 141 in the process forming a corresponding threaded portion on the interior of wall of groove 141.

WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 7 The open mouth 141a of groove 141 allows a suitably sized vertically oriented screw to threadably engage with the side walls of the open ended portion 141a through an aperture in the top wall of channel 142 as in the case of the attachment of roller element 148 to bottom horizontal frame member 140 5 where mounting plate 146 is inserted into channel 142 and attached by a pair of upwardly extending vertical screws 147a, 147b thereby allowing the roller 148 to protrude from the bottom of channel 142 and the entire louvre window assembly to move from side to side in a horizontal direction. 10 Adjustable bottom rail member 180, also formed from extruded aluminium section, is of a generally rectangular configuration having top and bottom longitudinally extending rectangular slots or channels 184, 186. Each channel further includes a respective longitudinal groove 182, 181 similar in configuration to that described for bottom horizontal frame member 140. 15 Located in top channel 184 is upwardly extending insert 185 which provides an abutment for blade 160 to rest against thereby preventing blade 160 from rotating a full 360'. Adjustable bottom rail member 180 locates within the space or recess between 20 the front and rear walls 144,143 of bottom horizontal frame member 140 and is able to slide vertically up and down with respect to bottom horizontal frame member 140 in telescopic fashion thereby adjusting the position of the insert 185 and hence the vertical dimension of the opening 300 of window assembly 100, thereby forming an adjustable frame assembly having a first 25 static frame member (i.e in this embodiment bottom horizontal frame member 140) and an adjustable frame member (i.e. in this embodiment adjustable bottom rail member 180).

WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 8 This dimension of the adjustable frame assembly can be varied as required on assembly, as whilst the length of side vertical frame members 120, 130 will be defined by the aperture that window assembly 100 is to be fitted to, the vertical dimension however of opening 300 will be determined by that 5 required to evenly fit a number of blades or louvres 160. As louvres 160 will typically be of a predetermined size this will imply that without the ability to change the vertical position of adjustable bottom rail member 180, the vertical size of bottom horizontal frame member 140 will have to be varied to accommodate the louvres 160. 10 The ability of being able to change the vertical position of adjustable bottom rail member 180 with respect to bottom horizontal frame member 140 implies that the height of bottom horizontal frame member 140 does not have to be changed or customised thereby reducing the inventory required of different 15 heights of bottom horizontal frame members 140. Accordingly, a bottom horizontal frame member 140 of constant vertical height can be employed and cut to length as required and the position of adjustable bottom rail member 180 be varied to fit the number of louvres 160 fitted in opening 300. 20 Another advantage of the combination adjustable bottom rail member 180 and bottom horizontal frame members 140 is their method of attachment to respective side vertical frame members 120, 130. Considering now side vertical frame member 120, entire screws 121a, 121b, 121c are inserted through apertures formed in external side face 125 and inserted through 25 corresponding apertures located in internal wall portion 124. These apertures are drilled during the assembly process to line up with part circular groove 141 located in bottom horizontal frame member 140 and part circular grooves 181,182 located in adjustable bottom rail member 180 whose respective locations will be defined by the vertical position of adjustable bottom rail WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 9 member 180 with respect to bottom horizontal frame member 140. In this manner, screws 121a, 121b, 121c may simply be screwed into corresponding part circular grooves 141, 181, 182 in the process fixing the vertical position of adjustable bottom rail member 180. 5 The inner side 126 of vertical frame member 120 is open and includes opposed inwardly directed lip portions 122 and internal abutments 123 which allows edge facing (not shown) to be slid down to form an inner wall. The end of adjustable bottom rail member 180, being slightly narrower than bottom 10 horizontal frame member 140, will on tightening of screws 121a, 121b, 121c seat between opposed lip portions 122 and abut against abutments 123 (as best seen in Figure 2c) in the process ensuring that the joint between side vertical frame member 120 and bottom horizontal frame member 140 remains square. As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, the importance of 15 being able to rapidly assemble uniformly square joints combined with the ability to vary the location of the edge and hence the size of a frame provides a distinct advantage over prior art systems. Clearly, the present invention need not be applied to the bottom edge of a 20 window assembly 100 but may be equally applied to a top edge, intermediate edges as in the case of cross rail member 150 or where vertically oriented louvres are being used the invention may be applied to the side edges of a window assembly. 25 Referring now to Figures 4a to 4d, there is shown a tensioned pin assembly 400 for rotatably mounting one end of a blade or louvre 160. Tensioned pin assembly 400 includes a tubular insert 410 having a cylindrical cavity 415 having a first middle circumferential ridge 430 located approximately midway along cavity 410 and a second circumferential ridge 435 located WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 10 towards the open end of cavity 410 (as best seen in Figure 4a). Tensioned pin assembly 400 also includes a coil spring 440 that locates in cavity 415 and a pin member 450 having a cylindrical recess 453 incorporating flange 451 to receive spring 440. Pin member 450 further includes tubular body portion 454 5 and a tapered spline mounting portion 452 for the mounting of the end of the blade or louvre 160. On assembly, tubular insert 410 is press fitted into an aperture in edge face plate 190 and seats within a corresponding aperture located in internal wall 10 portion 124 located in this example in side vertical frame member 120. Coil spring 440 followed by pin member 450 are then inserted into the cylindrical cavity 415 of tubular insert 410 with the outwardly extending end of spring 440 being received in cylindrical recess 453 of pin member 450. A certain amount of force is required to push flange portion 451 past both 15 circumferential ridges 430, 435 but thereafter pin member 450 is retained by flange portion 451 abutting circumferential ridge 430. To rotatably mount one end of louvre 160, pin member 450 is pushed into tubular insert 410 (as best seen in Figure 4c) at which stage the louvre may be 20 manipulated into position and pin member 450 be allowed to spring back, thereby presenting tapered spline mounting portion 452 which engages with corresponding tapered spline recess 162 which forms part of end cap 161 located on the end of louvre 160. Pin member 450 is restrained from protruding further due to flange 451 abutting circumferential ridge 430 (as 25 best seen in Figure 4d). Friction caused by the interaction between flange 451 and ridge 430 also resists rotational movement of louvre 160 and prevents the louvre from inadvertently rotating between adjustments.

WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 11 As would be clear to those skilled in the art, the louvre mounting system of the present invention provides a significant advantage over prior art methods as firstly the louvre mounting points may be easily fitted to the frame members by simply drilling holes in the edge facing at the required locations 5 and corresponding holes into the internal wall of the relevant side member and then press fitting the tubular insert into these holes. To mount a louvre it is then a simple process of inserting a spring into the insert followed by the pin member which can then be easily held down whilst manoeuvring the louvre into position and then allowing it to spring back and engage with the 10 end of the louvre once it has been aligned. Additionally, the tensioned pin assembly acts as a braking mechanism preventing the inadvertent rotation of a louvre which is often desirable to maintain privacy or to ensure that the louvres are not open during inclement weather or the like. 15 In another illustrative embodiment, the end cap 161 includes a threaded aperture that may be aligned with a corresponding aperture located on edge facing and on internal wall portion- 124 so that end cap 161 can.be screwed in place thereby completely preventing rotation of louvre 160. 20 Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a detailed cross sectional view of cross rail member 150 formed from extruded aluminium section. Cross rail member 150 is rectangular in shape with top and bottom longitudinally extending rectangular channels 154, 156 in which are seated respective upwardly and downwardly extending inserts 155, 157 which form abutments 25 to prevent the complete rotation of louvres 160. As inserts 155, 157 form a knife edge abutment region, louvres can be rotated through almost 360' so that the louvre 160 abuts either side of inserts 155, 157. Cross rail member 150 is attached between vertical frame members 120, 130 by virtue of screws (not shown) which are screwed into longitudinally part circular grooves 151, 152.

WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 12 In this illustrative embodiment, cross rail member 150 is identical to adjustable bottom rail member 180 thereby providing further cost savings and reduced inventory management. 5 Referring now to Figures 6a to 6d, the flexibility of cross rail member 150 can be seen in comparison with prior art cross rail member 500. By only incorporating a single abutment 155 (as in Figure 6a), cross rail member 150 can be adapted to form a single bottom rail member only or alternatively an adjustable bottom rail member 180. Similarly, by including top and bottom 10 abutments 155, 157 the cross rail member 150 may form an intermediate member that divides a window into two portions (as in Figure 6b) or alternatively by only including downwardly extending insert 157, the cross rail member can be adapted to form a top rail member. In comparison, the prior art cross rail member 500 with its asymmetric abutment regions 510, 520 15 is significantly limited in application when compared to the cross rail member 150 including one. or more inserts 155, 157 of the present invention. Inserts 155,157 are formed as separate extruded sections and may be cut to length and press fitted into one or more channels 154, 156 of cross rail 20 member 150 as required. As would be clear to those skilled in the art, in this manner many different parts of the louvre window assembly may be formed from essentially two components thereby reducing inventory and providing savings in the manufacturing process. 25 A brief consideration of the above described embodiments will indicate that the invention provides an extremely simple, economical feature for manufacturing and assembling louvre window assemblies which is effective to significantly reduce the number of components required to be stocked to manufacture window assemblies of different sizes.

WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 13 Although a number of embodiments of the method and system of the present invention have been described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but 5 is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Claims (12)

1. An adjustable frame assembly for a louvre window assembly, said adjustable frame assembly including: a first static frame member forming a first portion of the external frame 5 of said louvre window assembly; an adjustable frame member adjustable with respect to said first static frame member to change the combined total frame width of said first static frame member and said adjustable frame and hence the size of the aperture defined by said louvre window assembly, wherein said adjustable frame 10 member is adapted to be received in a recess extending along the length of said first static frame member and moveable within said recess to change the combined total frame width.

2. An adjustable frame assembly for a louvre window assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustable frame assembly includes fixing 15 means to fix the location of said adjustable frame member with respect to first static frame member.

3. An adjustable frame assembly for a louvre window assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fixing means includes at least one fixing element to fix said adjustable frame member to a second static frame member 20 forming a second portion of the external frame of said louvre window assembly, said second portion arranged substantially perpendicularly to said first portion of said external frame.

4. An adjustable frame assembly for a louvre window assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one fixing element includes a screw 25 and said adjustable frame member includes a corresponding threaded portion WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 15 located on said adjustable frame member to receive said screw and to secure said adjustable frame member to said second static frame member.

5. An adjustable frame assembly for a louvre window assembly as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein said second static frame member includes 5 abutment means, said abutment means located to abut with said adjustable frame member to cause said first and second portions of said external frame to be aligned substantially perpendicularly to each other.

6. An adjustable frame assembly for a louvre window assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said abutment means includes a pair of opposed 10 lips or ridges arranged to receive an end of said adjustable frame member.

7. A cross rail member for a louvre window assembly, said rail member forming a portion of a frame of said louvre window assembly, wherein said cross rail member includes at least one projecting stop member extending along the length of said rail member intermediate the sides thereof, said at 15 least one stop member forming an elongate abutment against which a louvre or shutter can abut when rotated to a fully closed position from a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

8. A cross rail member for a louvre window assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one stop member is formed separately from said cross 20 rail member and includes an engagement portion to be press fitted into a corresponding elongate slot or channel located in a wall of said cross rail member.

9. A cross rail member for a louvre window assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said elongate slot or channel is located centrally of said wall of said 25 cross rail member. WO 2007/048175 PCT/AU2006/001575 16

10. A tensioned pin assembly, for mounting an end of a louvre or shutter of a louvre window assembly including: an insert member receivable in a frame member of said louvre window assembly, said insert member having a cavity; 5 a retractable biased pin member located in the cavity of the insert member and projecting therefrom, said pin member being biased towards an extended position, and having a mounting region to mount said end of said louvre or shutter, wherein said pin member further includes an abutment surface to frictionally engage with an engagement portion of said cavity when 10 said pin member extends from said cavity to provide frictional resistance to rotation of said pin thereby resisting rotational movement of a louvre or shutter mounted on said tensioned pin assembly.

11. A tensioned pin assembly for a louvre window assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cavity is substantially cylindrical and wherein said 15 abutment surface includes a flange located at an inner end of said pin member and said engagement portion includes an inner circumferential ridge located in said cavity to frictionally engage with said flange portion.

12. A tensiQned pin assembly for a louvre window assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said biased pin member includes a recess to receive one end 20 of a coil spring located in said cavity, said coil spring providing a biasing force to bias said pin member outwardly.