GB2216647A

GB2216647A - A louvre panel

Info

Publication number: GB2216647A
Application number: GB8904746A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Joseph O'brien; Denis Joseph Foley
Original assignee: LONBET Ltd
Current assignee: LONBET Ltd
Priority date: 1988-03-04
Filing date: 1989-03-02
Publication date: 1989-10-11
Also published as: IE880610L; GB8904746D0; ZA891317B

Abstract

A louvre panel (1) comprises side members (3) joined by top and bottom members (4) and (5). A plurality of louvre slats (6) extend between the side members (3). Tongues (14) extending from the top and bottom members (4) and (5) and tongues (25) extending from the louvre slats (6) engage corresponding slots (16) and (26) respectively in the side members (3). The tongues (14) and (25) are bent to secure the assembly together. The corners of the frame (2) are retained at right angles by right angled brackets (20) of sheet metal which engage grooves (19) formed by a lip (18) on the side members (3) and top and bottom members (4) and (5). The components of the louvre panel (1) are supplied in knocked down kit form nested together for subsequent assembly on site. <IMAGE>

Description

A LOUVRE PANEL The present invention relates to a kit from which a louvre panel may be assembled, and to a louvre panel constructed from the kit. In particular, though not limited, the invention relates to a louvre panel of the type used for covering an outlet opening from an air conditioning or extraction system, and to a kit for assembling such a louvre panel.

Such louvre panels, in general, comprise a frame formed by a pair of side members joined by top and bottom members.

A plurality of louvre slats extend between the side members, and these are usually inclined outwardly downwardly to prevent the ingress of rain. It is normal to weld the side, top and bottom members of the frame together. The louvre slats may be secured in the frame by spot welding, or alternatively by self tapping screws.

The problem with such louvre panels is that they are, in general, relatively large and cumbersome, and accordingly take up considerable space when being stored or transported. This, it will be appreciated, leads to relatively high transportation and storage costs and furthermore, limits the number of louvre panels which may be transported in any single consignment.

There is therefore a need for a louvre panel which overcomes these problems.

The present invention is directed towards providing such a louvre panel.

According to the invention, there is provided a kit for assembling a louvre panel the kit comprising a pair of side members for mounting in spaced apart relationship, and a plurality of louvre slats for mounting between the side members, one formation of respective pairs of first interengagable complementary formations being provided on a respective louvre slat, and the other formation of the said pairs of first formations being provided on the side members for securing the louvre slats to the side members.

Preferably, one formation of a said pair of first formations is provided by a tongue and the other formation is provided by a slot engagable with the tongue.

Advantageously, a said tongue extends longitudinally from each end of each louvre slat, each tongue being engagable with a respective slot in the adjacent side member. In one embodiment of the invention, a pair of said tongues extend from each end of each louvre slat, each pair of tongues being engagable with a respective pair of slots on an adjacent side member.

Preferably, each tongue is deformable and may be bent to retain the tongue in the corresponding slot.

In another embodiment of the invention, a top and bottom member are provided for extending between the side members and'forming with the side members a frame.

Preferably, one formation of respective pairs of second interengagable complementary formations are provided on the top and bottom members, and the other formation of said pairs of second formations are provided on the side members for securing the top and bottoms members to the side members. Advantageously, one formation of said pair of second formations is a tongue and the other formation of said pair of second formations is provided by a slot engagable with the tongue. In one embodiment of the invention, a tongue extends longitudinally at each end of each of the top and bottom members, each tongue being engagable with a respective slot in the adjacent side member.

In another embodiment of the invention, each tongue of the second formations is of a deformable material and may be bent to secure the tongue in the slot.

In a further embodiment of the invention, right angle brackets are provided, the right angle brackets being engagable with a respective side and top or bottom member at respective corners of the frame to retain adjacent side and top or bottom members at right angles relative to each other. Preferably, the right angle brackets engage corresponding grooves in the side, top and bottom members.

Advantageously, each groove is formed by folding portion of the material of a side, top and bottom member over to form the groove.

Additionally, the invention provides a louvre panel assembled from the kit according to the invention, the louvre panel comprising a pair of side members and a plurality of louvre slats.

Further, the invention provides a louvre panel comprising a pair of spaced apart side members and a plurality of louvre slats extending between the side members, the louvre slats being secured to the side members by respective pairs of first interengagable complementary formations, one formation of a said pair of first formations being provided on a respective louvre slat, and the other formation of the said pairs of first formations being provided on the side members.

The invention also provides a side member for use in the louvre panel according to the invention, a top and bottom member for use in the louvre panel according to the invention and a louvre slat also for use in the louvre panel according to the invention.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of a louvre panel according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the panel of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of portion of the louvre panel of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another portion of the louvre panel of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a still further portion of the louvre panel of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the louvre panel of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is a rear perspective view of the detail of Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a number of the components of the louvre panel nested ready for shipping, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing others of the components of the louvre panel nested ready for shipping.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a louvre panel according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 constructed from a kit also according to the invention. The kit is discussed in detail below. The louvre panel 1 comprises a frame 2 having a pair of side members 3 joined by a top member 4 and a bottom member 5. A plurality of louvre slats 6 extend between the side members 3. The side members 3, top and bottom members 4 and 5 and louvre slats 6 are all constructed of sheet metal bent to shape. The side members 3 and top and bottom members 4 and 5, as can be seen, are of angle section having legs 8 and 9 with an inwardly directed strengthening lip 10 extending from the leg 8. The top and bottom members 4 and 5 respectively are secured to the side members 3 by pairs of second interengagable complementary formations.One formation of each pair of formations is formed by a tongue 14 which extends longitudinally at each end of the top and bottom members 4 and 5. The other formation of each pair is provided by a corresponding slot 16 in the legs 8 at the ends of the members 3. A projecting portion 17 extends from each end of the leg 8 of the side members 3 to form portion of the slots 16. The projecting portions 17 and tongues 14 are of sheet metal material formed integrally with the side members 3 and top and bottom members 4 and 5 respectively and are thus deformable so that on engagement of the tongues 14 with the slots 16 the tongues 14 and projecting portions 17 are bent through 900 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7 thereby clinching the tongues 14 and projecting portions 17 to retain the members 3, 4 and 5 together. The free ends of the legs 9 of the side, top and bottom members 3, 4 and 5 respectively are mitred at 45".

A free edge of the leg 9 of the side, top and bottom members 3, 4 and 5 is folded inwardly to form a lip 18 which forms with the leg 9 a groove 19. Right angle brackets 20 also of sheet metal with limbs 21 and 22 engage the grooves 19 and legs 8 of the side, top and bottom members 3, 4 and 5 as can be seen in Figs. 1 and 7 to retain the corners of the frame 2 at right angles.

The louvre slats 8 are secured to the side members 3 by pairs of first interengagable complementary formations.

One formation of each pair is provided by a tongue 25 extending longitudinally at the ends of the louvre slats 6 which is engagable with the other formation provided by a respective slot 26 in the leg 8 of the side members 3. In this case, two tongues 25 extend at each end of each louvre slat 6, each tongue 25 engaging a corresponding slot 26 in the adjacent side member 3. The tongues 25 are of sheet metal material formed integrally with the louvre slats 6 and are thus deformable. On the tongues 25 engaging the slots 26, the tongues 25 are bent through approximately 900, thereby clinching the tongues 25 against the side members 3, and retaining the louvre slats 6 secured to the side members 3. To facilitate water run off from the louvre slats 6, a longitudinal portion 27 at the front of each louvre slat 6 is bent downwardly at 28.

To facilitate airflow through the louvre panel 1, a longitudinal portion 30 at the rear of the panel of each louvre slat 6 is bent downwardly at 31.

In practice, the louvre panel 1 is fitted in an opening, for example, in a masonry wall (not shwon) or other partition, wall, housing or the like. The outwardly projecting legs 9 of the side members 3, and top and bottom members 4 and 5 extend over portion of the wall adjacent the opening to conceal the opening in the wall.

If desired, a suitable sealing strip may be bonded to the lip 18 to abut the wall, thereby preventing the ingress of moisture between the legs 9 of the side, top and bottom members 3, 4 and 5 and the wall. Such a strip may, for example, be a closed cell foam, rubber or plastics material strip, and may be provided with a self-adhesive backing or the like for bonding to the lip 18.

The side members 3 and top and bottom members 4 and 5 and louvre slats 6 are formed from sheet metal by punching and bending. The right angled brackets 20 are similarly formed by punching. The louvre panel 1 may then be assembled and subsequently shipped, if desired. However, in practice, to reduce the cost of storage and transportation of the louvre panel 1, in general, the louvre panel 1 is shipped to the site in knocked down kit form to be assembled on site. Each kit comprises two side members 3 and one top and bottom member 4 and 5 respectively together with the appropriate number of louvre slats 6, in this embodiment of the invention nine louvre slats 6. Four angle brackets 20 are supplied in each kit. The side members 3 and top and bottom members 4 and 5 are nested one into the other as illustrated in Fig.

9. The louvre slats 6 are likewise nested into each other, see Fig. 8. These along with the right angled brackets 20 are packed into a suitably shaped package, or alternatively wrapped in wrapping paper for storage and shipment. It will be appreciated that by virtue of the fact that the side, top and bottom members can be nested into each other, and similarly the louvre slats can also be nested into each other, the volume occupied by the packed, nested components is considerably less than the volume which would be occupied by a fully assembled louvre panel 1.

To assemble a louvre panel, the following steps are followed. A pair of angle brackets 20 are engaged in the groove 19 at the ends of one of the side members 3. The top and bottom members 4 and 5 and the louvre slats 6 are assembled into this side member 3 so that the tongues 14 and 25 engage the slots 16 and 26 respectively. As the top and bottom side members 4 and 5 are being assembled to the side member 3, the two angled brackets 20 are engaged in the corresponding grooves 19 of the top and bottom members 4 and 5. The remaining two right angled brackets 20 are assembled to and engaged in the grooves 19 of the remaining side member 3. This side member 3 is then brought into engagement with the top and bottom members 4 and 5 and the louvre slats 6 so that the respective tongues 14 and 25 engage the corresponding slots 16 and 26.The tongues 14 and 25 are bent through 90" as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7 thereby securing the top and bottom members 4 and 5 and louvre slats 6 to the side members 3. The projecting portions 17 of the side members 3 are then bent over through 900 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7 finally securing the louvre panel assembly together.

The advantages of the invention are many. In particular, by virtue of the fact that the louvre panel can readily easily be assembled on site, it can therefore be transported in knocked down kit form, thus leading to considerable saving in transportation and storage costs, and also enabling considerably greater quantities of louvre panels to be shipped in each consignment. A further, very important advantage of the invention is that all the components of the louvre panel can be individually painted prior to assembly, and in most cases they are painted prior to assembly. Thus, all surfaces of the components can be adequately painted, which is not always the case where louvre panels are painted after assembly.

It will be appreciated that while particular forms of interengagable complementary formations have been described for securing the members of the frame and louvre slats together, any other suitable interengagable complementary formations could be used. Indeed, it will be appreciated that where tongues and slots are used, any number of tongues and slots could be used. Further, in certain cases, it will be appreciated that a single tongue instead of two tongues may be provided at each end of the louvre slats. Further, in certain cases, it is envisaged that tongues may be provided on the side members for engaging corresponding slots in the louvre panels. In which case, it is envisaged that the tongues would be pressed out of the side members.Needless to say, where tongues are provided it is not necessary that they should be bent through 90" for securing, they may be bent at any suitable angle, twisted or deformed in any other way.

Indeed, where pairs of tongues are provided at each end of of a slot the tongues could be bent in opposite directions.

It is also envisaged in certain cases that the slots 16 in the portions 17 of the side members 3 may in certain cases be dispensed with and adjacent tongues may be provided on the side members and top and bottom members.

Further, it will be appreciated that in certain cases the right angle brackets 20 may be dispensed with, although it will be appreciated that these do have the advantage of retaining the frame rigidly at right angles.

Further, other shapes of side, top and bottom members could be used without departing from the scope of the invention and in certain cases the lips 18 may be dispensed with. Indeed, it is not necessary that the side members or top and bottom members should be of angle section, they could be provided by flat members.

Similarly, the louvre slats may be of other suitable or desired shape besides that illustrated.

Further while the side members and top and bottom members and louvre slats as well as the angle brackets 20 have been described as being of sheet metal material, they could be of any other suitable material, such as, for example, a plastics material or the like. The complementary interengagable formations may or may not be integrally formed or secured to the various components.

Claims

1. A kit for assembling a louvre panel, the kit comprising a pair of side members for mounting in spaced apart relationship, and a plurality of louvre slats for mounting between the side members, one formation of respective pairs of first interengagable complementary formations being provided on a respective louvre slat, and the other formation of the said pairs of first formations being provided on the side members for securing the louvre slats to the side members.

2. A kit as claimed in Claim 1 in which one formation of a said pair of first formations is provided by a tongue and the other formation is provided by a slot engagable with the tongue.

3. A kit as claimed in Claim 2 in which a said tongue extends longitudinally from each end of each louvre slat, each tongue being engagable with a respective slot in the adjacent side member.

4. A kit as claimed in Claim 3 in which a pair of said tongues extend from each end of each louvre slat, each pair of tongues being engagable with a respective pair of slots on an adjacent side member.

5. A kit as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4 in which each tongue is deformable and may be bent to retain the tongue in the corresponding slot.

6. A kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which a top and bottom member are provided for extending between the side members and forming with the side members a frame.

7. A kit as claimed in Claim 6 in which one formation of respective pairs of second interengagable complementary formations are provided on the top and bottom members, and the other formation of said pairs of second formations are provided on the side members for securing the top and bottoms members to the side members.

8. A kit as claimed in Claim 7 in which one formation of said pair of second formations is a tongue and the other formation of said pair of second formations is provided by a slot engagable with the tongue.

9. A kit as claimed in Claim 8 in which a tongue extends longitudinally at each end of each of the top and bottom members, each tongue being engagable with a respective slot in the adjacent side member.

10. A kit as claimed in Claim 9 in which each tongue of the second formations is of a deformable material and may be bent to secure the tongue in the slot.

11. A kit as claimed in any of Claims 8 to 10 in which portion of the side member defining the slot of a said second formation is deformable and may be bent to engage the respective top or bottom member.

12. A kit panel as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 11 in which right angle brackets are provided, the right angle brackets being engagable with a respective side and top or bottom member at respective corners of the frame to retain adjacent side and top or bottom members at right angles relative to each other.

13. A kit as claimed in Claim 12 in which the right angle brackets engage corresponding grooves in the side, top and bottom members.

14. A kit as claimed in Claim 13 in which each groove is formed by folding portion of the material of a side, top and bottom member over to form the groove.

15. A kit as claimed in Claim 14 in which each side member is of angle section, one leg of the angle section being provided with the slots, and the other leg of the angle section terminating along its free edge in the groove.

16. A kit as claimed in any of Claims 13 to 15 in wh-ich the top and bottom members are of angle section, one leg of the angle carrying the tongues and the other leg terminating along its free edge in the groove.

17. A kit as claimed in Claim 15 or 16 in which the groove is formed by bending the material of the said leg of the angle section towards the other leg.

18. A kit as claimed in any of Claims 12 to 17 in which each right angle bracket is formed by a flat plate bracket having two flat limbs extending at right angles to each other.

19. A kit as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 18 in which the top and bottom members are releasably engagable with the side members.

20. A kit as claimed in any preceding claim in which the louvre slats are releasably engagable with the side members.

21. A kit for assembling a louvre panel substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

22. A louvre panel assembled from the kit of any of Claims 1 to 21 in which the louvre panel comprises a pair of side members and a plurality of louvre slats.

23. A louvre panel as claimed in Claim 22 in which the louvre panel further comprises a top and bottom member extending between the side members.

24. A louvre panel substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

25. A side member for use in the kit of any of Claims 1 to 21.

26. A louvre slat for use in the kit of any of Claims 1 to 21.

27. A top or bottom member for use in the kit of any of Claims 1 to 21.

28. A side member substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

29. A louvre slat substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

30. A top or bottom member substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

31. A louvre panel comprising a pair of spaced apart side members and a plurality of louvre slats extending between the side members, the louvre slats being secured to the side members by respective pairs of first interengagable complementary formations, one formation of a said pair of first formations being provided on a respective louvre slat, and the other formation of the said pairs of first formations being provided on the side members.

32. A louvre panel as claimed in Claim 30 in which one formation of a said pair of first formations is provided by a tongue, and the other formation is provided by a slot engagable with the tongue.

33. A louvre panel as claimed in Claim 31 in which a said tongue extends longitudinally from each end of each louvre slat, each tongue being engagable with a respective slot in the adjacent side member.

34. A louvre panel as claimed in Claim 32 or 33 in which each tongue is deformable and may be bent to retain the tongue in the corresponding slot.

35. A louvre panel as claimed in any of Claims 31 to 34 in which the side members are joined by a top and bottom member which together with the side members form a frame.

36. A louvre panel as claimed in Claim 35 in which the top and bottom members are joined to the side members by respective pairs of second interengagable complementary formations, one formation of the said pair of second formations being provided on the top and bottom members, and the other formation being provided on the side members.

37. A louvre panel as claimed in Claim 36 in which one formation of said pair of second formations is a tongue, and the other formation of said pair of second formations is provided by a slot engagable with the tongue.

38. A louvre panel as claimed in Claim 37 in which a tongue extends longitudinally at each end of each top and bottom member, each tongue being engagable with a respective slot in the adjacent side member.