EP1717406A2

EP1717406A2 - System and baffle for solar shielding and/or decoration of a building opening

Info

Publication number: EP1717406A2
Application number: EP06008905A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anders Vangsgaard; Carsten Godsk Jorgensen
Original assignee: Vangsgaard AS
Current assignee: VANGSGAARD A/S
Priority date: 2005-04-29
Filing date: 2006-04-28
Publication date: 2006-11-02
Also published as: DK200500633A; EP1717406A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1) for solar protection and/or decoration of a building opening (2,9,11), preferably a window (3,8), which system (1) comprises a least a displaceable guard plate (4,6,7,10,65), and where said guard plate (4,6,7,10,65) is comprised of at least a stiff plate (13) which is displaceable in a horizontal or vertical plane.

The present invention furthermore relates to a guard plate (4,6,7,10,65) for use in a system (I) as described above.

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a solar protection system and/or decoration of a building opening, preferably a window, which system comprises a least a displaceable guard plate comprised of at least a stiff plate which at least is displaceable in a vertical plane.
The present invention furthermore relates to a guard plate for application in a system as described above.

Background of the invention

Solar radiation inside a building through various building openings, e.g. windows and doors, is desirable in order to reduce the consumption of light and heat in the building in this natural way and increase the welfare for the persons inside the building.
Sometimes, the sun light may be very bright or entering the building from different angles which may result in drawbacks for the persons inside the building.
For example:

solar radiation may be annoying for office staff working with computers as they may be blinded by direct sunlight or reflections from the computer screen.
solar radiation may be annoying for office staff, as the temperature in the office area may be increased substantially, thus necessitating ventilation which is energy intensive and may result in unwanted draught.
solar radiation may be detrimental to furniture etc. placed in the area where the sun light enters the building.

Different types of solar protection systems shielding building openings are produced. For example internal and/or external window blinds which are able to roll up and down vertically or turned vertically or horizontally, shades which are able to roll up and down, sun ray reflecting foil and/or toned glass in the building openings.
There are a number of drawbacks in relation to the existing types of solar protection systems, e.g.:

External blinds are expensive to mount on buildings as the blinds must be of a certain quality and strength to take the effect of changing weather, and at the same time they may blur the appearance of a building, especially when they are in use.
Internal blinds or shades are regarded as a simple and cheap solution, but they will typically cover the entire building opening, which is why the persons opposite to the window opening must agree to roll down the blinds/shades or to have a full vision. Furthermore, the sun light may be detrimental to blinds or shades in that the colour, the pattern and the material will decay, and it is required to change the blinds or shades regularly.
Sun ray reflecting foil or toned glass in building openings imply that the vision is reduced such that the persons inside the building do not have a perception of the weather outside.

In US-A1-2004/0244924 is described a combined element for decorative as well as application purposes comprising a wind-up-material which by extension can be mounted in a frame, which subsequently may be arranged in a displaceable manner, and is in one embodiment described as a sun screen.
One disadvantage of this type of sun screen is that it is complicated to assemble. Another disadvantage is that if a possible decoration on the wind-up-material has to be changed, the entire frame has to be dissembled. Furthermore, the wind-up-material will always require an encircled frame to be stretch-mounted, which enhances the mounting time and material costs. An even further disadvantage is that this sunscreen cannot be mounted external on a building as the material is not strong enough to take the effects of changing weather.
Furthermore, a solar protection system for a window is known from FR 2 476 200 A . In this document, a system comprised of a plate which is slidably mounted in rails which are mounted on each side on a window opening is described. The plate is thus able to be displaced from a position outside the window to a position where it covers the window opening. The described plate may be a stiff construction in the form of a coloured glass plate which is displaced in a horizontal plane. When the plate is displaced to a position outside the window opening it is not able to function as a decoration from the outside. Furthermore, the mounting of the plate in horizontal rails on the wall on each side of the window opening and the connection with a tension rod for activating the plate will make it more difficult to handle and mount, respectively dismount the plate. Furthermore, the guard plate cannot be placed on a random position in the building opening in order to provide an efficient sun screen. The screen is only to be displaced entirely or partly over a window opening from its position outside the window opening during the displacement in the horizontal guides.

Object of the Invention

Thus, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a sun protection system, which system:

provides a possibility for partly screening the building opening,
may be used as decoration of a building opening,
is easy to assemble/mount/change and subsequently handle, and
ensures an efficient sun screening.

This is achieved with a system as described in the introduction of claim 1, and where said guard plate is comprised of at least a stiff plate which is displaceable in a horizontal or vertical plane.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a guard plate for use in a system as described in the present invention.
This is achieved with a guard plate as described in the introduction of claim 10 and where said guard plate is comprised of at least a stiff plate which is mounted with at least an edge list and/or a protection list, where the edge list is connected to a first part of a displacing system, and where said first part is designed to interact with a second part of said displacing system which is mounted in said building opening.

Description of the Invention

To achieve the purpose of the invention, the system is characteristic in that said building opening is wider than said plate; that said guard plate is mounted with at least an edge list and/or a protection list which is connected to a first part of a displacement system, and where said first part is designed to interact with a second part of said displacing system mounted in said building opening, thus providing the possibility to place said guard plate in the building opening such that the solar protecting effect will be as suitable as possible and that either said first part or said second part comprises a rail with preferably at least a longitudinal recess and/or projection.
The stiff plate implies that it is possible to provide guard plates without using an encircled frame, which results in reduced material cost and makes it easier to assemble a guard plate. Furthermore, the stiff plate ensures that the guard plate will remain stabile.
The stiff plate constituting the guard plate may be constructed of e.g. glass, wood, plexiglass, metal, etc. As most building openings are square or rectangular, the stiff plate will also be square or rectangular.
If the building opening is of a different form, the stiff plate constituting the guard plate may be constructed with side edges following the form of the building opening such that the guard plate, if placed at one side of the building opening, will cut off solar radiation completely.
Alternatively, the stiff plate constituting the guard plate may have different forms such as circular or ridged, which will result in a special design of the system when mounted in the building opening.
In order to displace the guard plates of the system, the guard plates are mounted with at least an edge list and/or a protection list which is connected to a first part of a displacing system, and where said first part is designed to interact with a second part of said displacing system which is mounted in said building opening.
As an edge list and/or a protection list may be mounted on the guard plate, the following configurations of guard plates exist:

an edge list in the top as well as in bottom of the guard plate,
an edge list in the top of the guard plate and a protection list in the bottom of the guard plate,
an edge list in the bottom of the guard plate and a protection list in the top of the guard plate,
a protection list in the top as well as in the bottom of the guard plate,
an edge list in the left side as well as in the right side of the guard plate,
an edge list in the left side of the guard plate and a protection list in the right side of the guard plate,
an edge list in the right side of the guard plate and a protection list in the left side of the guard plate, and
a protection list in the left side as well as in the right side of the guard plate,

The edge list is connected with a first part of a displacing system, and where said first part is designed to interact with a second part of said displacing system which is mounted in said building opening, thus resulting in that the guard plate may be displaced either vertically or horizontally.
The displacing system may thus be comprised of a first part and a second part, which e.g. comprise the following: wheel/projection, catch/recess or wheel/recess.
It should be noted that configurations where the first and second parts of the displacing system are reverse, i.e. projection/wheel, recess/catch or recess/wheel, may be applied with an equal advantage.
If a protection list is applied, it may be designed with an end part directly placed in the second part, which is constituted by a recess.
In order to obtain a better gliding effect of the guard plate, the edge list and/or protection list are made of a hard and durable material or a material which is treated with a hard and durable protective layer.
For example, the edge list and/or protection list may be made of plastic or metal, whereby the first/second part of the displacing system generally is able to glide without frictions in the second/first part of the displacing system, thus resulting in a simple handling of the guard plates in the system.
When using a protection list with an end part interacting with a recess in the building opening, it is possible to demount the guard plate easily and quickly, as there are not any parts directly engaging with each other. However, one has to make sure that the recess is deep enough for the guard plate to be moved sufficiently in order to release the opposite end of the guard plate. This configuration of the guard plate is most suitable when there is an edge list at the top of the guard plate, and a protection list in the bottom of the guard plate, or a protection list at the top as well as in the bottom of the guard plate.
Particularly when applying a system where the guard plates are displaced vertically, locking devices are necessary in connection with the displacing system, thus resulting in that the guard plates may be placed at any position in the building opening without sliding down due to the force of gravity.
A locking device may also be applied in connection with the displacing system, if a system where the guard plates are displaced horizontally is applied. Here the locking of the guard plate will ensure a particular placing in the building opening regardless outer influences of the guard plate.
According to the invention either said first part or said second part comprises a rail with at least one preferably longitudinal recess and/or projection.
If the rail is comprised by said second part, it will typically be mounted either as a top list and/or a bottom list in the building opening if the guard plates are displaced horizontally. Alternatively, the rail (said second part) will be mounted as side lists in the building opening if the guard plates are displaced vertically.
In order to displace the guard plates in the rails, the guard plates are provided with at least a preferably longitudinal recess and/or projection where either the first part, constituted by e.g. a projecting part, is able to interact with the longitudinal recess, or the first part, constituted by e.g. a wheel and/or gliders, is able to interact with the longitudinal projection, thereby holding the guard plate in place while being displaced.
If the system is provided with several guard plates, the rails may be designed with a number of parallel longitudinal recesses and/or projections resulting in that two guard plates which are placed in separate recesses or on separate projections, are able to be displaced past each other in the building opening. This results in a very flexible screening system where it is easy to provide the necessary screening profile in the room.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said building opening is wider than said guard plate, resulting in that there will always be a part of the building opening where there is solar radiation or vision.
Furthermore, this provides the possibility to place the guard plate in a desired position and only shield from the solar radiation in a certain area, which is an advantage if more than one person is present in the room where the building opening is placed.
As the guard plate is horizontally or vertically displaceable, it is possible to place the individual guard plate in the building opening such that the shielding effect is most suitable despite of the weather and movement of the sun across the sky during the day.
In a building opening where a system with several guard plates is installed, it is possible to displace the individual guard plates such that they either lap over or abut on each other, thus resulting in that there is a minimal shielding of solar radiation or a maximum shielding of solar radiation.
In an embodiment of the present invention, said guard plate is designed with decorative designs thus making it possible to decorate the building opening.
The decorative design may be printed on a foil which is placed on a surface area of the guard plate; alternatively the decorative design may be moulded in the guard plate or be directly placed on the guard plate, whereby it is possible either from the outside or the inside to look at the decorative design, e.g. a pattern, a picture, a town arms, a text, a logo, etc. If the guard plate is transparent, it is possible to see the decorative design from both sides.
If a building opening is provided with a system where there are several guard plates, it is possible to divide a decorative design on a number of guard plates, such that when joining them together it is possible to assemble the complete decorative design.
In one embodiment of the present invention, said guard plates are designed with a sun screening layer. This results in that the sun light completely or partly will be reflected such that the guard plate forms a shadow or heavily reduces the solar radiation in the building.
The sun screening layer may be a foil, which is placed on a surface of the guard plate. If the guard plate is transparent, the sun screening layer will be of the type, which is transparent from one side and reflecting from the other side, resulting in that it is possible to see through the guard plate.
A guard plate with a combination of decorative designs and a sun screening layer will fulfil the purpose of describing a system and/or decoration of a building opening where the guard plate may be turned when desired depending on whether it is the persons inside the building or passers by who are supposed see the decorative designs.
In one embodiment of the present invention, said decorative designs and/or sun screening layer are integrated in said guard plate, resulting in that said decorative designs and/or sun screening layer are not in direct contact with sun light or the elements, whereby the service life of said decorative designs and/or sun screening layer is increased substantially.
For example, the guard plate may be constituted by layered glass such that the decorative design and/or sun screening layer is placed between the two layers of glass. Alternatively, the decorative design and/or sun screening layer may be placed inside the guard plate, which as an example may be constituted by artificial glass.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the system further comprises a motor unit which is connected to said displacing system resulting in that it is possible to move the guard unit in the building opening by means of the motor unit.
The motor unit may either be operated by remote control or be activated by means of a unit which is electrically connected to the motor unit.
In a preferred embodiment said guard plate is comprised of at least a stiff plate which is mounted with at least an edge list and/or a protection list, which edge list is connected to a first part of a displacing system, and where said first part is designed to interact with a second part of said displacing system which is mounted in said building opening.

Description of the drawing

In the following, the present invention is explained in details with reference to the accompanying figures, where:

Fig. 1 illustrates a system according to the invention placed in a building opening.
Fig. 2 illustrates a cross section of a guard plate in a building opening.
Fig. 3 illustrates different configurations of displacing systems, and
Fig. 4 illustrates a bottom rail.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Fig. 1 illustrates a system 1 placed in a building opening 2 wherein there is a window 3. The guard plate 4 of the system 1 is rectangular and narrower than the window 3. By means of the displacing system (not shown) it is possible to displace the guard plate 4 horizontally along the window 3.
Furthermore, fig. 1 illustrates a system 5 placed in a building opening 9 wherein there is a window 8. The system 5 comprises two guard plates 6, 7, which respectively are narrower than the window 8. By means of displacing systems (not shown) it is possible to displace the guard plate 6, 7 horizontally along the window 8.
The guard plates 4, 6, 7 are here illustrated with a decorative design.
Fig. 2 illustrates a cross section of a guard plate 10 in a building opening 11 wherein there is a window 12. The guard plate 10 is illustrated on an internal side of the window 12. The guard plate 10 is illustrated as comprising a stiff plate 13 and an outer foil layer 14 on which there may be a decorative design.
Displacing systems 15, 16 are placed at the top as well as in the bottom of the guard plate, resulting in that the guard plate 10 easily may be displaced horizontally in building opening 11.
The displacing system 15 comprises a protection list 17 whose end part interacts with a recess 18 placed in a rail 19 which is mounted at the top of building opening 11. Recess 18 has a depth that makes it possible to lift the guard plate 10 sufficiently for the displacement system 16 to be released and thereby providing the possibility to remove the guard plate 10 from building opening 11.
The displacing system 16 comprises a protection list 20 which is designed with a catch 21 interacting with a recess 22 in a rail 13 which is mounted in the bottom of the building opening 11.
The guard plate 10 is here illustrated when placed in the building opening 11, but it should be noted that it might as well be placed between the floor 24 and the ceiling 25 in the room 26, which, however, does require a slightly taller stiff plate 13.
Fig. 3 illustrates different configurations of displacing systems 30, 40, 50, 60, where:

displacing systems 30 comprise a protection list 31 which is designed with a catch 32 interacting with a recess 33 in a rail 34.
displacing systems 40 comprise a protection list 41 whose end part 42 directly interacts with a recess 43 in a rail 44.
displacing systems 50 comprise a protection list 51 which comprises a wheel 52 interacting with a projection 53 on a rail 54.
displacing systems 60 comprise a protection list 61 which is designed with a catch 62 interacting with a recess 63 in a rail 64. Recess 63 has a depth that makes it possible to lift the guard plate 65 sufficiently for the displacement system 50 to be released and thereby providing the possibility to remove the guard plate 65.

Fig. 4 illustrates a bottom rail 70 with two longitudinal recesses 71, 72 and a longitudinal projection 73, thus providing, by means of this bottom rail 70, the possibility to place three guard plates (not illustrated) in this building opening (not illustrated).

Claims

System (1) for solar protection and/or decoration of a building opening (2,9,11), preferably a window (3,8), which system (1) comprises at least a displaceable guard plate (4,6,7,10,65), which is comprised of at least a stiff plate (13), which at least is displaceable in a vertical plane, characterised in that said building opening (2,9,11) is wider than said guard plate (4,6,7,10,65); that said guard plate (4,6,7,10,65) is mounted with at least an edge list (20,31,51,61) and/or a protection list (17,41) which is connected with a first part (21,32,52,62) of a displacing system (15,16,30,40,50,60) and where said first part (21,32,52,62) which is designed to interact with a second part (19,23,34,44,54,64,70) of said displacing system (15,16,30,40,50,60) which is mounted in said building opening (2,9,11), thus providing the possibility to place said guard plate in the building opening such that the solar protecting effect will be as suitable as possible, and that either said first part or said second part comprises a rail (19,23,34,44,54,64,70) with at least a preferably longitudinal recess (18,22,33,43,53,63,71,72) and/or projections (53,73).
System (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the said guard plate alternatively may be designed for displacement in a horizontal plane.
System (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said recess (18,22,33,43,53,63,71,72) is deep enough for the guard plate to be moved sufficiently in order to release the opposite end of the guard plate.
System (1) according to any of claims 1-3, characterised in that said guard plate (4,6,7,10,65) is constructed with decorative designs.
System (1) according to any of claims 1-4, characterised in that said guard plate (4,6,7,10,65) is constructed with a solar protecting layer.
System (1) according to any of claims 4-5, characterised in that said decorative designs and/or solar protecting layer is integrated in said guard plate (4,6,7,10,65).
System (1) according to any of claims 1-6, characterised in that the system furthermore comprises a motor unit which is connected to said displacing system (15,16,30,40,50,60).
System (1) according to any of claims 1-7, characterised in that said displacing system (15,16,30,40,50,60) comprises a locking device.
Guard plate (4,6,7,10,65) for use in a system (1) according to any of the claims 1-8, characterised in that said guard plates (4,6,7,10,65) are comprised of at least a stiff plate (13) which is mounted with at least an edge list (20,31,51,61) and/or a protection list (17,41) which is connected to a first part (21,32,52,62) of a displacing system (15,16,30,40,50,60), and where said first part (21,32,52,62) is designed to interact with a second part (19,23,34,44,54,64,70) of said displacing system (15,16,30,40,50,60) which is mounted in said building opening (2,9,11).