GB2201984A

GB2201984A - Apparatus for greenhouse lining

Info

Publication number: GB2201984A
Application number: GB08800508A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Terrence Williams; Patricia L May Williams
Original assignee: Creative Display Ltd
Current assignee: Creative Display Ltd
Priority date: 1987-03-10
Filing date: 1988-01-11
Publication date: 1988-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2008-01-11
Also published as: GB8800508D0; GB8705647D0; GB2201984B

Abstract

An internal lining for a greenhouse comprises sheet material (22) preferably stiff plastics extending between upright bars (10) of the framework and at least one rod (24) threaded through an aperture on the material and supported on brackets (12). The brackets may be generally U-shaped and secured at a desired height from a T-slot in the bar (10). <IMAGE>

Description

Title Apparatus for Greenhouse Lining Field of the invention This invention relates to apparatus for internally lining a greenhouse, more especially for the purpose of shading plants from direct sunlight but possibly also for insulation purposes in cold weather.

Background to the invention It is well known to provide greenhouses with a lining, for example shading plants from direct sunlight. The lining may be provided internally or externally, preferably the former. As the lining, often covering only a part of the internal area of the greenhouse such as the roof and upper parts of the walls, is only required periodically, it is desirable that apparatus for the purpose should be easy and quick to fit, and be non-destructively removable so that it can be re-used. It is an object of this invention to provide greenhouse lining apparatus with this aim in view.

The invention According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for internally lining a greenhouse having an internal framework, which comprises fluted sheet material readily cuttable to size, a rigid rod readily cuttable to length and of a cross-sectional dimension to thread through tthe sheet material along the fluting thereof, and a pair of brackets attachable to said internal framework, said brackets being shaped so that the pair of brackets fitted in aligned positions will receive and support the two ends of said cut-to-length rod projecting from opposite edges of the fluted sheet material through which said rod is threaded.

It will thus be appreciated that a sheet of the lining material can be fixed in position by the use of two lengths of rod, threaded through the sheet at or adjacent opposite end edges thereof, and four brackets. If necessary, more than two rods and four brackets can be used to fix a single sheet in position. Alternatively or additionally, in the case of a long span between two rods, a rigid plastics edging strip may be provided for pushfitting over the edges of the sheet to extend generally from one rod to the other or next.

Preferably, push-fit stops, for example of plastics sleeving, are provided for fitting to the ends of a cut rod after it has been threaded through the fluted sheet.

The fluted sheet may be of cardboard or more preferably a moulded plastics board. For the purpose of shading it will generally be opaque, typically being red or green.

Fluted sheet is relatively stiff, but plastics fluted sheet is generally stiffer than cardboard sheet, and therefore may enable less rods and brackets to be used and/or avoid the requirement for a rigid plastics edging strip. Fluted cardboard or plastics board may readily be cut with a knife.

The rod is preferably of aluminium, and of round crosssection. It may readily be cut to length with a pair of pliers.

The brackets may be of aluminium and/or plastics, and preferably comprise an apertured back wall and one or more parts projecting forwardly thereof to provide a rod support, together with a bolt having a rectangular or cropped head in use located behind the back wall in the Tgroove which is available on the inside of a conventional greenhouse framework, and a nut which can be screwed into and tightened to fix the bracket in position along the length of the T-groove. The bracket may be generally Ushaped, when fixed in position to provide an upstanding front wall of lesser height than the back wall (readily to enable tightening of the nut and bolt) or it may be of a U-shape to be fixed in position with forwardly extending side walls, with upright or inclined slots in said side walls for receiving and supporting the end of a rod.

Brief description of drawings The greenhouse lining apparatus in accordance with the invention is exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a transverse cross-section through one bar of a conventional greenhouse framework and showing the assembly thereto of a lining supporting bracket; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing part of one bar of a greenhouse framework and a bolt to be fitted thereto; Figure 3 shows the bracket fixed in position; Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views showing a fluted sheet with support rod threaded therethrough; Figure 7 shows an edging strip for the fluted sheet; and Figures 8A, 8B and 8C show three other possible bracket constructions.

Description of embodiment Referring first to Figure 1, the reference 10 denotes a bar forming part of a conventional greenhouse framework.

The glass is referenced 11. The bar 10 can also be seen in Figures 2 and 3. A U-shaped bracket 12 (see Figure 3) is fixed to the bar 10 by means of a bolt 14 having a cropped head 16 (see Figure 2). The cropped head 16 is inserted in the T-groove 18 which exists in the bar 10 (in a conventional greenhouse framework) and the bracket is fixed in position in the longitudinal direction of the groove 18 by a nut 20 fitted to and tightened on the bolt 14.

Fluted sheets 22, 22A preferably of relatively stiff plastics fluted board, have aluminium rods 24 threaded along the internal fluting thereof (see Figures 4, 5 and 6). The plastics fluted sheeting is cut to size to fit between adjacent bars of the greenhouse framework and the rods are cut to length to end through a cut sheet with ends projecting beyond the side edges of the sheet 22.

End stops 26 in the form of plastics sleeving are fitted to the projecting rod ends.

If the span of plastics fluted board 22 between adjacent rods 24 is greater than a predetermined distance, for example 45 cm, rigid plastics edging strip 28 (see Figure 7) may be cut to length and fitted to the side edges of the sheet 22 between the adjacent rods. Alternatively, additional brackets and support rods may be used, but this will sometimes not be possible or at least be inconvenient.

The rod end stops 26 are inserted into and held in the channel 30 of the bracket 12, whereby to support the sheets 22, 22A in position as a lining on the interior of the greenhouse. For shading purposes, these sheets 22, 22A will be opaque, for example coloured red or green.

Figures 8A to 8C show modified constructions of bracket.

The U-bracket 32 of Figure 8A has a rounded bottom channel 36, while the bracket 34 has side walls formed with inclined slots 38 for receiving the rod ends.

The bracket 40 of Figure 8C is somewhat similar to the bracket 12, except that its apertured back wall is downwardly dependent relative to the front wall. This allows the bracket 40 to be more easily and cheaply manufactured.

Various further modifications of the above-described embodiment are possible within the scope of the invention hereinbefore defined.

Claims

1. Apparatus for internally lining a greenhouse having an internal framework, which comprises fluted sheet material readily cuttable to size, a rigid rod readily cuttable to length and of a cross-sectional dimension to thread through the sheet material along the fluting thereof, and a pair of brackets attachable to said internal framework, said brackets being shaped so that the pair of brackets fitted in aligned positions will receive and support the two ends of said cut-to-length rod projecting from opposite edges of the fluted sheet material through which said rod is threaded.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which at least two rods and four respective brackets are used to fix a single fluted sheet in position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which a rigid plastics edging strip is provided for push-fitting over the edges of the fluted sheet to extend generally from one rod to the other or next rod.

4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which push-fit stops, for example of plastics sleeving, are provided for fitting to the ends of a cut rod after it has been threaded through the fluted sheet.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the fluted sheet is of cardboard or of a moulded plastics board.

6. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim in which the fluted sheet is generally opaque, and is coloured (eg red or green).

7. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim in which the rod is of aluminium, and of round crosssection.

8. Apparatus according to any one claim in which the brackets are of aluminium and/or plastics.

9. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim in which the brackets each comprise an apertured back wall and one or more parts projecting forwardly thereof to provide a rod support, and including a bolt passing through the aperture in the back wall and having a rectangular or cropped head located behind the back wall in a T-groove on said framework, and a nut which can be screwed and tightened on the bolt to fix the bracket at a desired position along the length of the T-groove.

10. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim in which each bracket is generally U-shaped in section so that when fixed in position it provides an upstanding front wall of lesser height than the back wall.

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 in which each bracket has a pair of forwardly extending side walls, with upright or inclined slots in said side walls for receiving and supporting the end of a rod.

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in which each bracket comprises an apertured back wall which is downwardly dependent relative to a forwardly projecting portion which provides a rod support.

13. Apparatus for internally lining a greenhouse substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.