GB2055935A - Shutter capable of admitting light and air - Google Patents

Abstract

A shutter capable of admitting sunlight and air has a number of elongate slats coupled to one another. Each slat has a lower channel-shaped section 21 open at the end 27 and with the opposite side walls 23 thereof having inwardly directed supports 26. Each slat also has an upper section 22 provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced rectangular windows or openings 25. These slats are coupled to one another by coupling members passed through respective openings in the upper section of the immediately lower sat unit and supported on the inwardly directed supports. The upper and lower sections of each slat may be separate members pivotably coupled to each other, and in this case the diameter of the shutter take-up shaft can be reduced. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shutter capable of admitting light and air This invention relates to shutters and, more particularly, to shutters which can admit sunlight and external air to the interior of buildings or houses in the closed state.

Hitherto, various types of shutters, which can admit sunlight and air into the interior of buildings and houses, when the shutters are closed, have been proposed. However, these prior-art shutters have often been unsatisfactory in view of ease and cost of manufacture, mechanical strength, amount of light and air admitted, and so forth. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior-art shutter capable of admitting light and air. It comprises a number of slats A formed by rolling metal sheet and connected to one another. Each slat A has a channel-like lower section C having an opening B at the lower end, an upper section E extending from the top of the lower section C and formed with windows or openings D and a hook section F integral with the top of the upper section C.The hook section F is inserted in and retained within the interior of the channel-like lower section C of the slat A immediately above, so that the upper section C with the openings D can be retracted into and pulled out from the lower section C of the upper slat A. In this shutter, however, the weight of each slat A is not equally shared between the opposite side walls A' and A" of the lower section C of the upper slat A but is all borne by the side wall A'. Therefore it is difficult to obtain smooth movement of the shutter, and also the shutter can only be wound up on a spindle in one direction.If the hook section F is formed so as to have a T-shaped sectional profile instead of the inverse U-shaped one, the weight is simultaneously applied to both the side walls A' and A", and this has an effect of pushing the side walls A' and A" outwardly, so that the hook section F is liable to be detached from the lower section C of the upper slat A. Consequently, it has been inevitable to make the upper section E small in height and make the openings D small.

According to the invention, there is provided a shutter comprising a plurality of elongate slats, each slat including a first section having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and being provided on the insides of the opposite side walls adjacent to the edges thereof with respective opposed support means, a second section extending from the first section opposite the open edge thereof and provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced rectangular openings, and a plurality of coupling members each having a length no greater than the dimension of said openings along the length of the slat and passing through the respective openings in the second section of one slat and having opposite edge portions supported on the respective opposed support means in an adjacent slat.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a prior-art shutter; Figure 2 is an elevational view showing a shutter embodying the invention; Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a section of the embodiment of Figure 2 taken along a line X-X from Figure 2; Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-section through the embodiment of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a coupling member in the embodiment of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a sectional view showing a modification of the embodiment of Figure 2; Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a stage in the operation of the modification of Figure 6; Figure 8 is an elevational view showing a second embodiment of a shutter according to the invention;; Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 8; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a coupling member in the embodiment of Figure 8; Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified upper member of the slat assembly; Figure 13 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a stage in the operation of the embodiment of Figure 8; Figure 14 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing a third embodiment of a shutter according to the invention; Figure 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 14; and Figure 16 is a pictorial perspective view showing the embodiment of Figure 14.

The shutter generally designated 1 in Figure 2 comprises a number of elongate slats 2 coupled one after another. As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, each slat 2 has a symmetrical sectional profile, and may be formed by rolling a metal sheet in a rolling mill. Each slat includes a channelshaped lower section 21 and an upper section 22.

The channel-shaped lower section 21 has opposite spaced side walls 23 facing each other, and at the top, these side walls are bent so as to be in close contact with each other and to extend upwards as the upper section 22. At the top of the upper section 22, these walls join each other as a folded edge 24. The upper section 22 is provided with a number of rectangular windows or openings 25 spaced apart at a desired interval in the longitudinal direction. The opposite side walls 23 of the lower section 21 each have inwardly bent lower edges 26, between which an opening 27 is defined. The width of the opening 27 is selected such that when coupling the individual slats 2 one after another the upper section 22 of each slat 2 can be inserted and taken out through the opening 27 of another slat 2.Figure 4 shows a coupling member 3 for coupling the lower edges 26 of the opposite side walls 23 of the lower section 21. The coupling member 3 consists of a plate member corresponding in length to the length of the openings 25 and with opposite bent edges 31 conforming in shape to and adapted to be embraced by the corresponding lower edges 26 of the slat 2.

To assemble the shutter 1 the slats are moved longitudinally relative to each other. A coupling member 3 is fitted, with its bent edges 31 directed downward, through each opening 25 of a slat 2, so that as the slat is slid into a slat above, the coupling members bridge the opening 27. The bent ends 31 of the coupling members 3 are received in the corresponding inwardly bent lower edges 26 of the upper slat 2. In this way, the required number of slats 2 are coupled successively. Then, a trim piece 11 of shaped sectional profile is mounted, if necessary, in the lowermost slat 2, and the uppermost slat 2 may be coupled to a shutter take-up shaft S for raising and lowering the assembled shutter 1.

The operation of this shutter will now be described, starting with the shutter 1 wound up on the shutter take-up shaft S (Figure 7). When the shutter is gradually unwound and lowered, the lowermost slat falls until its upper edge 28 is supported by the coupling members 3. The openings 25 are thus exposed. Until the lowermost slat reaches the floor or a sill, all the slats unwound from the shaft S will be supported by their upper edges 28 with their openings exposed. When the lowermost slat has reached an abutment P, and the shutter continues to be unwound, the upper slats will in turn drop over the lower slats so as to rest on the top faces of the lower sections and conceal the openings 25.

When the shutter has been lowered so that the lowermost section reaches the abutment P, the total exposed area of openings can be adjusted by winding more or less of the shutter onto the shaft S, so that some of the openings 25 are exposed and some concealed.

It will be understood that the shutter will work in a similar way if the slats are inverted or arranged so that individual slats extend vertically.

The slats can be simply formed merely through a process of rolling a metal sheet. Also, in case of forming them by extrusion molding an aluminum alloy, there is no need of coupling them one after another at their upper and lower edges.

With the construction shown, the opposite side walls of the channel-shaped lower section are never pushed outwards since their lower bent edges are coupled together by the coupling members. Furthermore, while the prior-art slat (Figure 1) has a hook section formed at the top of an upper section and requires troublesome processing, no hook section is required in the embodiment of Figure 2, and the weight of the entire slat is supported by the upper frame edge resting on the coupling members 3. This also means that the weight of each slat is equally shared between the opposite side walls of the lower sections, which makes it easier to smoothly lower and raise the shutter and take up the shutter in either leftward or rightward direction.Still further, with the opposite side walls of the channel-shaped lower section of the slat coupled together by the coupling members the slat has a perfectly box-like form, so that it has improved mechanical strength against external forces such as wind pressure during high winds and can withstand long use. Moreover, the coupling members never obstruct the movement of the upper section relative to the associated lower section. Thus, it is possible to provide very large openings so as to improve the amount of light admitted and rate of air flow for keeping the interior of the building or house bright and comfortable. In particular, with the upper sections completely accommodated within the respective channel-like lower sections, good sound and thermal insulation effects can be obtained.

Figure 6 shows a modification of the preceding embodiment. In this modification, coupling members 3' having channel-shaped opposite edges 31' are used, and the opposite side walls of the lower section have respective inwardly bent channel-shaped edges 26', to which the corresponding edges 31' of the coupling members are coupled.

As in the previous embodiment, the slats 2 are vertically coupled one above another, and similar effects can also be obtained by coupling them side by side, that is, in a horizontal row, or coupling them in the inverted state.

In the shutters so far shown, each slat comprises a channel-shaped lower section A and an upper section B integrally extending therefrom, as shown in Figure 7. Pivotal movement is provided only at a point C where the lower section A of each slat and the upper section B of the lower slat are coupled to each other. The extend of this pivotal motion is limited by various factors.

Therefore, it is inevitable that the radius R (and hence diameter) of a shutter take-up shaft S be large, so that a large space is required for shutter storage in the ceiling, restricting the utility of the available space for other purposes.

Figures 8 to 11 show a second embodiment of the shutter according to the invention. Thus shutter 1 comprises a number of elongate slat assemblies each including a channel-shaped lower member 4 having a channel-shaped section 41 and an upper member 5 having windows or openings 51. These members are formed by rolling a metal sheet or by extrusion. The channelshape lower member 4 has opposite side walls 42 respectively having inwardly bent channel-shaped lower edges 43, between which an opening 44 is defined. At its top, the opposite side walls 42 join each other, and also at its top a hook portion 45 of an arcuate sectional profile is provided. The upper member 5, which is pivotably coupled to the lower member 4, is formed from a single metal sheet. It is formed with rectangular windows or openings 51 and has an upper edge portion 52 of a circular sectional profile and a lower edge hook portion 53, which is coupled to the hook portion 45 of the upper member 4. While in the instant embodiment the upper member 5 has an upper edge portion 52 of a circular sectional profile, it may be replaced with an upper member 5' (Figure 12) having a folded upper edge 52' or an edge constituted by mere termination of metal sheets lapped over each other. Figure 11 shows a coupling member 6 corresponding in length to the length of the openings 51 and having opposite channel-shaped edges 61 adapted to be coupled to the corresponding channel-shaped lower edges 43 of the channel-shaped lower member 4.

To assemble the shutter 1, each slat assembly is first assembled by coupling the hook portion 45 of the channel-shaped lower member 4 and hook portion 53 of the upper member 5 such that the lower and upper members 4 and 5 are pivotable with respect to each other via the hook portions 45 and 53 and that these hook portions 45 and 53 do not detach from each other. Then, the coupling members 6 are fitted through the respective openings 51 of the upper member 5 so that they traverse the respective openings 51, and in this state the upper member 5 and the hook portion 45 of the lower member 4 of the slat assembly thus formed is inserted sidewise into the channel-shaped lower member 4 of the upper slat assembly similarly formed such that the coupling members 6 are progressively coupled to the lower edges 43 of the upper slat assembly.In this way, a required number of slat assemblies each including the upper and lower members 5 and 4 pivotably coupled to each other are coupled successively.

Then a trim piece 11 of an I-shaped sectional profile is mounted in the lower member 4 of the lowermost slat assembly, and the upper end of the shutter 1 thus assembled may be coupled to a shutter take-up shaft S provided in the ceiling of a building or a house for raising and lowering the shutter 1.

This shutter is wound up and down as already described for the previous embodiment. As the shutter is wound up, pivotal motion is provided at two points for each slat assembly, namely at the point of coupling between the hook portion 45 of the lower member 4 and hook portion 53 of the upper member 5, and at the point of coupling between the upper edge portion 52 of the upper member 5 and the coupling member 6 of the upper slat assembly, as shown in Figure 13, so that the radius R of the shutter take-up shaft S can be reduced relative to that of the preceding embodiment.

Figures 14 to 16 show a further embodiment of the shutter according to the invention. This shutter again comprises a plurality of slat assemblies each including elongate lower and upper members 7 and 8. The lower member 7 has a substantially U-shaped sectional profile and is provided on its opposed inner side walls adjacent to its open end 71 with respective support portions 72 having flanges directed away from the opening 71 and also retainer portions 73 extending on the side of the support portions 72 away from the opening 71. These support and retainer portions 72 and 73 extend longitudinally over the entire length of the lower member 7. Further, the lower member 7 is provided at its end opposite the opening 71 with a hook portion 74 having an arcuate sectional profile open at one side and longitudinally extending over its entire length.The upper member 8 has the same length as the lower member 7 and is provided at its upper and lower edges with respective guide portions 81 and 82 of a circular sectional profile and also provided with arcuate fins 83 projecting from its opposite sides and in the vicinity of the lower guide portion 82.

These guide portions 81 and 82 and fins 83 extend longitudinally over the entire length of the upper member 8. The upper member 8 is further provided with rectangular windows or openings 84 longitudinally spaced apart at a constant interval and extending between the upper guide portions 81 and fins 83. Each slat assembly consists of the lower and upper members 7 and 8 and coupling members 9 corresponding in number to the number of the openings 84. The coupling member 9 corresponds in length to the length of the opening 84 and has a channel-shaped sectional profile.

To assemble this shutter, each slat assembly is first assembled by coupling the hook portion 74 of the lower member 7 and the guide portions 82 of the upper member 8 such that the lower and upper members 7 and 8 are pivotable with respect to each other about the hook portion 74 and guide portion 83 without the hook portion 74 and guide portion 83 becoming detached from each other.

Then, the coupling members 9 are fitted through the respective openings 84 of the upper member 8, and in this state the upper member 8 is inserted lengthways into the inner space of the lower member 7 of another slat assembly such that the opposite edges 91 of the coupling members 9 are progressively received in the spaces defined by the support and retainer portions 72 and 73. In this way, a required number of slat assemblies are successively coupled together such that they do not detach from one another. The shutter 1 thus assembled may be coupled at its upper end by hinge members H or the like to a shutter take-up shaft S mounted in bearings B provided in the ceiling of a building or a house and driven from a motor M via sprocket wheels W and a chain C for raising and lowering the shutter 1, as shown in Figure 16.

The operation of this embodiment is the same as for the preceding embodiment.

Claims (8)

1. A shutter comprising a plurality of elongate slats, each slat including a first section having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and being provided on the insides of the opposite side walls adjacent to the edges thereof with respective opposed support means, a second section extending from the first section opposite the open edge thereof and provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced rectangular openings, and a plurality of coupling members each having a length no greater than the dimension of said openings along the length of the slat and passing through the respective openings in the second section of one slat and having opposite edge portions supported on the respective opposed support means in an adjacent slat.

2. A shutter according to claim 1, wherein said opposite side walls of said first section have respective curved opposite edges, and each coupling member has curved opposite edge portions supported on said respective curved opposite edges of said first section.

3. A shutter according to claim 1, wherein said opposite side walls of said first section have respective inwardly bent channel-shaped opposite edges, and each coupling member has channelshaped opposite edge portions engaging with said respective inwardly bent channel-shaped opposite edges of said first section.

4. A shutter according to claim 1, wherein each coupling member has a channel-shaped crosssectional profile, and said opposite side walls of said first section are provided on the inner side with respective opposed support portions formed with grooves respectively complementary in shape to the opposite edge portions of each coupling member.

5. A shutter according to any preceding claim, wherein said first and second sections each have, along their common edges, hook-shaped portions which engage each other to pivotally connect the first and second sections.

6. A shutter according to claim 5, wherein said hook-shaped portions have arcuate crosssectional profiles.

7. A shutter according to claim 5, wherein the hook-shaped portion on the first section has an arcuate cross-sectional profile, and the hookshaped portion on the second section consists of a round rod-like portion and fin-like portions of arcuate cross-sectional profile projecting from the opposite sides of said second section in the vicinity of said round rod-like portion such as to partly surround said round rod-like portion.

8. A shutter substantially as herein described with reference to any one embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.