AU2013100823A4 - Modular Greenhouse Assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular greenhouse assembly, including: a plurality of polycarbonate panels held within a frame, the frame and the polycarbonate panels together defining end walls, side walls and a roof; the frame including: a first end assembly, a second end assembly, and at least one intermediate assembly configured for attachment to the first end assembly, the second end assembly, or at least one other intermediate assembly; each of the first end assembly, the second end assembly and the at least one intermediate assembly including a plurality of channelled extrusions, each channel of the extrusions being configured to receive and engage an edge of a polycarbonate panel to hold the panel therein without the use of additional fastening means, the channelled extrusions being fitted to each other by connector members received in ends of adjacent pairs of the extrusions. LiL cno Ak Cc m0 cn

Description

Documnt55-13/06/2013 MODULAR GREENHOUSE ASSEMBLY [0001] The present invention relates to improvements in modular greenhouses. [0002] Previously known greenhouses include freestanding structures which have a rigid frame constructed of wood or metal, and with a covering of glass or plastics. In recent times there has been increased availability of prefabricated kits to assist the gardening enthusiast to assemble a greenhouse without requiring professional assistance. [0003] The present invention seeks to provide an improved greenhouse assembly. [0004] The present invention provides, in a first aspect, a modular greenhouse assembly, including: a plurality of polycarbonate panels held within a frame, the frame and the polycarbonate panels together defining end walls, side walls and a roof; the frame including: a first end assembly, a second end assembly, and at least one intermediate assembly configured for attachment to the first end assembly, the second end assembly, or at least one other intermediate assembly; each of the first end assembly, the second end assembly and the at least one intermediate assembly including a plurality of channelled extrusions, each channel of the extrusions being configured to receive and engage an edge of a polycarbonate panel to hold the panel therein without the use of additional fastening means, the channelled extrusions being fitted to each other by connector members received in ends of adjacent pairs of the extrusions. [0005] In preferred embodiments, the roof is an inclined roof, and the assembly includes at least one gutter positioned to receive water from the roof. [0006] Preferably, the assembly includes at least one ventilation panel in the roof, the ventilation panel being actuatable between a closed position and an open position by an actuator operably coupled to the ventilation panel.

Don t55-13/06/2013 -2 [0007] Preferably, the actuator comprises an arm pivotably connected to the ventilation panel. [0008] In preferred embodiments, the assembly includes bracing between the side walls and the roof. [0009] Preferably, the extrusions have a cross-sectional shape which forms a closed loop, for example a box section. [0010] Preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a modular greenhouse assembly; [0012] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the assembly of Figure 1, with polycarbonate panels removed; [0013] Figure 3 is an exemplary front end assembly for use with the assembly of Figure 1; [0014] Figure 4 schematically depicts part of an intermediate assembly forming part of the assembly of Figure 1; [0015] Figures 5 to 7 illustrate construction of the intermediate assembly; [0016] Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional detail view depicting attachment of a gutter to the assembly of Figure 1; [0017] Figure 9 illustrates ventilation panels of the greenhouse assembly; [0018] Figure 10 shows a profile of an extrusion of the greenhouse assembly; and [0019] Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view through an extrusion at the base of the assembly, affixed to the ground to hold the assembly in place. [0020] Referring initially to Figure 1, there is shown a modular greenhouse assembly 10. Assembly 10 is formed from a plurality of extrusions, including first extrusions 12, Documnt55-13/06/2013 -3 second extrusions 14 and third extrusions 16. In the side walls of the greenhouse assembly 10, generally indicated at 20 and 22 respectively, the first extrusions 12 are oriented in a generally vertical direction and are substantially mutually parallel, the second extrusions 14 in a generally horizontal direction and collinear with other like second extrusions, and the third extrusions 16 in a generally horizontal direction, collinear with other like extrusions 16, and parallel to the second extrusions 14. The second extrusions 14, when connected, form the base of the assembly 10. The third extrusions 16, when connected, form the tops of the side walls of the assembly 10, and provide a join with the roof of the assembly. [0021] End wall 22 has vertically aligned extrusions 13 which form the corners of the assembly 10 between the end wall 22 and side walls 20. [0022] A pair of first extrusions 12 and a pair of second extrusions 14 may form a frame within which is disposed a polycarbonate panel 18. Framed panels 18, together with further framed panels 32, 34 and 36, collectively define the external walls 20, 22 and roof 24 of the assembly 10. [0023] As illustrated in the exploded view of Figure 2, the greenhouse 10 is assembled from a first end section 102 and a second end section 104 between which are disposed two intermediate sections 106 and 107 which are joined by a joining section 108. [0024] The assembly 10 may include any number of intermediate sections 106 and 107, such that the length of the assembly can be extended as desired. For example, as illustrated in Figure 3, intermediate section 106 can join at one end to a front, intermediate or back section 200, and at the other end to an intermediate section 210. [0025] Each intermediate section 106, 107 includes a pair of pivotable panel bays 110 at its upper end, corresponding to the location of the roof of the assembly 10. The panel bays 110 hold panels 34 (Figure 1). [0026] Details of the first end (front) section 102, with polycarbonate panels installed, are shown in Figure 4. The end section 102 is formed from vertical extrusions 13 and 314, Document55-13/06/2013 -4 horizontal extrusions 14 and 316, and angled extrusions 312 which, when joined to vertical extrusions 13 and 314, are angled according to the roof angle. [0027] The extrusions 13, 14, 312, 314 and 316 are joined together by connector members which engage with the extrusions by snap-fit engagement. For example, extrusion 312 and extrusion 13 are joined by connector member 340 (see detail), which has a leg 344 configured to fit into the hollow profile of extrusion 13 and snap-fit by a stud 354 which engages with a corresponding hole. A second leg 342 is disposed at an angle relative to leg 344, corresponding to the roof angle, and has a stud 352 to snap-fit into a hole in roof extrusion 312. A third leg 346 is orthogonal to first leg 344 and has a stud 356 to snap-fit into an extrusion of an intermediate section 106 (Figure 2). Similar connector members are used to provide a snap-fit connection at joins between each pair of adjacent extrusions in the assembly 10. [0028] As shown in the detail at upper right of Figure 3, a bracket 330 can be affixed at the join between extrusions 312 and 314 to provide greater structural strength at the join. End section 102 also includes angled bracing 310 between the horizontal extrusions 14. [0029] As shown in Figure 11, extrusion 13 has a profile which is a hollow structural section. The profile includes two channels 1100 to receive an edge of a polycarbonate panel 320. Each channel has extending into it a locking protrusion 1110 to engage with the panel 320 to hold it firmly in place. The extrusion 13 has two such channels, aligned at right angles to each other since it is located at a corner of the assembly. It will be appreciated that other extrusions will have channels aligned according to their position within the assembly 10. For example, extrusions 14 provided at the base of the assembly 10 need only have a single channel, as illustrated in Figure 12, since they need only to secure the lower edge of one panel. [0030] End section 102 has a wall section and a gable section. Panels 320 of the wall section are retained in the manner described above, and panels 322 and 324 of the gable section are retained in similar fashion. [0031] Turning now to Figure 5, intermediate section 106 is illustrated in more detail.

Documnt55-13/06/2013 -5 Intermediate section 107 is similar, but is effectively a mirror-image version of section 106. [0032] Intermediate section 106 includes vertical extrusions 12, lower horizontal extrusions 14, upper horizontal extrusions 16 and angled (roof) extrusions 412 which join at horizontally-aligned roof extrusions 17. The angled extrusions 412 are braced by a horizontal brace 422. The structure is braced between lower and upper horizontal extrusions 14 and 16 by angled braces 410. Angled braces 426 extend between vertical extrusions 12 and angled roof extrusions 412. Further, angled braces 424 extend between upper horizontal extrusions 16 and roof extrusion 17. The various extrusions are joined at their ends by appropriate connector members as previously described. [0033] Referring now to Figure 6, polycarbonate panels 18 are slotted into the frame of intermediate section 106 as shown in the direction of the arrows, and as previously described, locking the panel edges into the channels of the extrusions 12 and 14. Roof panels 36 and 38 are inserted and locked in in similar fashion (Figure 7). [0034] Referring now to Figures 1 and 8, the assembly 10 includes a gutter section 40 which can be attached to extrusions 16 and corner connector members 340. The gutter can be used in conjunction with a downpipe 44 which is attached thereto, the gutter 40 and downpipe 44 being able to be used to divert rainwater falling onto the roof of the assembly 10 such that it can be collected for reuse. [0035] As best shown in Figure 8, connector member 340 has a recessed area 806 which is shaped and sized to receive an abutment section 812 of gutter section 810. Once abutment section 812 is nestled in recessed area 806, the gutter section 810 may be affixed to connector member 340 via a threaded fastener received in fastener recess 803 of the connector member. The extrusions 16 may also have similar recessed areas to receive the gutter section 810 along its length, with the gutter section 810 optionally being fastened to the extrusions 16 by any suitable means. [0036] Referring now to Figure 9, operation of the ventilation sections formed by panels 34 secured within bays 110 is described. As shown in the upper detail, the ventilation panel Documnt55-13/06/2013 -6 can be manually actuated between a closed position, and the open position shown in Figure 9, by means of a rod 910 which is pivotally attached to an edge of the bay 110 by a hinge 916. Attached to extrusion 16 of the intermediate section 106 is a bracket provided with pins 914 configured to be received in holes 912 of the rod 910, so as to hold the ventilation panel in position at varying heights. [0037] It will be appreciated that many modifications of the above are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. [0038] Throughout this specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims (6)

1. A modular greenhouse assembly, including: a plurality of polycarbonate panels held within a frame, the frame and the polycarbonate panels together defining end walls, side walls and a roof; the frame including: a first end assembly, a second end assembly, and at least one intermediate assembly configured for attachment to the first end assembly, the second end assembly, or at least one other intermediate assembly; each of the first end assembly, the second end assembly and the at least one intermediate assembly including a plurality of channelled extrusions, each channel of the extrusions being configured to receive and engage an edge of a polycarbonate panel to hold the panel therein without the use of additional fastening means, the channelled extrusions being fitted to each other by connector members received in ends of adjacent pairs of the extrusions.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the roof is an inclined roof, and the assembly includes at least one gutter positioned to receive water from the roof.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, including at least one ventilation panel in the roof, the ventilation panel being actuatable between a closed position and an open position by an actuator operably coupled to the ventilation panel.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises an arm pivotably connected to the ventilation panel.

5. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, including bracing between at least the side walls and the roof.

6. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the extrusions have a cross-sectional shape which forms a closed loop.