GB2255629A - Louvre systems. - Google Patents

Abstract

A louvre system for buildings, comprises a plurality of slats 10, at least two brackets 11 for supporting each slat at a required angle relative to a framework structure 12 of a building, and at least one clip 13 of resilient material for connecting each slat to each of its associated brackets. The underside of each slat 10 has at least one elongate formation 25 with which a first portion 28 of each clip can be slidably engaged and each bracket has at least one formation 19 with which a second portion 29 of each clip can be snap-fillably engaged. Each bracket 11 has projections (16) (Fig 2) for snap-fitting engagement in slots of a vertical member 15 secured to framework 12. A mesh guard 31 prevents entry of birds and/or vermin, or alternatively, mesh guards (32) (Fig 3) fit between individual slats 10 and the members 15. <IMAGE>

Description

Louvre Systems This invention relates to louvre systems for buildings.

Louvre systems are used in the construction of buildings to provide ventilation while protecting against rain and wind. The slats of known louvre systems are connected to the framework structure of a building in various ways which are not entirely satisfactory for one reason or another.

According to the present invention, there is provided a louvre system for buildings, comprising a plurality of elongate slats, at least two brackets for supporting each slat at a required angle relative to a framework structure of a building, and at least one clip of resilient material for connecting each slat to each of its associated brackets, wherein each slat has at least one elongate formation with which a first portion of each clip can be slidably engaged and each bracket has at least one formation with which a second portion of each clip can be snap-fittably engaged.

Preferably, the or each elongate formation on each slat is in the form of an elongate channel with inwardly directed lips extending from the side walls of the channel, and the first portion of each clip is of plate-like shape dimensioned to fit in the channel of a slat.

Preferably, the or each formation on each bracket is of generally cylindrical shape and the second portion of each clip is in the form of a socket of Cshaped cross-section.

Advantageously, each bracket has two of said formations, and in this case, each bracket may have a plate-like portion for connection to the framework structure of a building, and two limbs which extend from the plate-like portion and which each have one of said formations at its free end. Conveniently, the two limbs are braced by a cross-member.

Preferably, the elongate formations are provided on the undersides of the slats. In this case, each slat may have an upstanding channel formation along its uppermost edge and each bracket may have a depending leg arranged in use to fit into the channel provided at the uppermost edge of the slat immediately below the slat which the bracket is to support.

Preferably, the or each formation on each bracket is provided with a slot which, when the bracket is connected to a slat, extends perpendicularly to the general plane of the slat, the sides of the slot being of ridged formation so that they constitute a partly formed screw-thread tapping.

The louvre system may also comprise mesh guards for fitting between adjacent slats. In this case, it is preferable, if the elongate formations are provided on the undersides of the slats, that each guard has a first portion slidably engageable with the at least one elongate formation on the underside of one slat and a second portion dimensioned to fit in the upstanding channel formation at the uppermost edge of an adjacent slat.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through one embodiment of a louvre system according to the invention, the section being taken through the slats and through brackets which support the slats of the louvre system.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through a modified bracket and a single slat, an enlarged scale, and Figure 3 is a vertical section through an alternative embodiment of a louvre system according to the invention, the section in this case being taken through the slats at a position intermediate the supporting brackets of each slat.

Referring to the drawings, the louvre system shown therein comprises a plurality of slats 10, at least two brackets 11 for supporting each slat 10 at a required angle relative to a framework structure 12 of a building, and two clips 13 for connecting each slat 10 to each of its associated brackets 11.

Each bracket 11 has a plate-like portion 14 for connection to a vertical support 15 secured to the framework structure 12. The bracket as shown has two projections 16 which extend from the plate-like portion 14 and which snap fittably engage in slots (not shown) in the vertical support 15. However, the plate-like portion 14 could be connected to the vertical support 15 in any other convenient manner, such as by screws, bolts or rivets.

Each bracket 11 also has two limbs 17 and 18 which extend from upper and lower edges of the platelike portion 14 and which are each provided at its free end with a generally cylindrical formation 19. The upper limb 17 extends at an obtuse angle to the platelike portion 14 and the lower limb 18 extends at a right angle to the plate-like portion 14 but has a double kink near its free end so that the free ends of the two limbs 17 and 18 are parallel to one another. The two limbs 17 and 18 may, as shown in Figure 2, be braced by a cross-portion 20.

The lower limb 18 of each bracket 11 has a depending leg portion 21 for a purpose which will become apparent later.

Each cylindrical formation 19 is provided with an outwardly directed slot 22 aligned with the free end of its respective limb 17, 18. The sides of the slot 22 are of ridged formation so that they constitute a partly formed screw-thread tapping.

The slats 10 are supported by the brackets 11 at a required angle of inclination relative to the framework structure 12 and each slat 10 has a depending lip 23 along it lowermost edge and an upstanding channel formation 24 along its uppermost edge.

The underside of each slat 10 is provided with two parallel, elongate formations in the form of channels 25 each with inwardly directed lips 26 extending from the side walls 27 of the channel.

The slats 10 are typically extruded in aluminum or plastics material.

The clips 13 are of resilient plastics material and each clip has a plate-like portion 28 dimensioned to be slidably received in one of the channels 25 of a slat 10, and a socket portion 29 of Cshaped cross-section for snap fittable engagement with one of the generally cylindrical formations 19 of a bracket 11.

The louvre system also includes a base member 30 having a formation 24 along its uppermost edge, and some means for preventing birds and/or vermin from entering the building via openings between the slats 10.

This could take the form of a single mesh guard 31 (see Figure 1) trapped between the brackets 11 and the vertical supports 15. However, in the preferred embodiment the louvre system has a plurality of mesh guards 32 (see Figure 3), each of which has a first portion 33 dimensioned to fit in one of the channels 25 on the underside of one slat 10 and a second portion 34 dimensioned to fit in the channel defined by the formation 24 of an adjacent slat.

In order to install the preferred embodiment of the louvre system on a building under construction, the vertical supports 15 are first secured to the framework structure 12. The base member 30 is then connected to the vertical supports 15. The brackets 11 which are to support the lowermost slat 10 are then installed. To do this, the depending leg portions 21 of the brackets 11 are slotted into the channel defined by the formation 24 of the base member 30 and the projections 16 of the brackets are then snap fittably engaged in corresponding slots in respective vertical supports 15.

The appropriate number of clips 13 and mesh guards 32 are then slidably engaged with one channel 25 of the slat 10 and the appropriate number of clips 13 are slidably engaged with the other channel 25 of the slat 10. The portions 34 of the mesh guards 32 are then slotted into the channel defined by the formation 24 of the base member 30 and the clips 13 are snap fittably engaged with the formations 19 of the brackets 11. Further slats 10 are then added one at a time and finally a head member 35 is engaged with the formation 24 of the uppermost slat 10.

The number of brackets 11 required to support each slat 10 will depend on the length of the slats 10.

If only two brackets 11 are required, one at each end of the slat, then only one mesh guard 32, extending between the two brackets 11, will be required. However, in some cases, it will be necessary to support the slats 10 at intermediate positions and more than one guard 32 will then be required.

In most circumstances, no additional fixing of the slats 10 will be required. However, should such additional fixing be desirable, for example, because excessive wind loadings are expected, self-tapping screws (not shown) can be fitted through holes drilled in the slats and the clips so that they project into the slots 22 in the formations 19 and engage with the ridged formations on the sides thereof.

The above embodiments are given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the channels 25 on the underside of the slats 10 could be replaced by ribs of dove-tailed cross-section and a groove of complementary shape could be provided in the plate-like portion 28 of each clip 13. Also, each slat may be connected to an associated bracket with only one clip, particularly if the clip is provided with two C-shaped sockets engageable with respective cylindrical formations on the bracket. It may even be possible to do away with one of the formations on each bracket, particularly if the remaining formation is designed to co-operate with the clip to hold the slat at a required angle.

Claims (12)

1. A louvre system for buildings, comprising a plurality of elongate slats, at least two brackets for supporting each slat at a required angle relative to a framework structure of a building, and at least one clip of resilient material for connecting each slat to each of its associated brackets, wherein each slat has at least one elongate formation with which a first portion of each clip can be slidably engaged and each bracket has at least one formation with which a second portion of each clip can be snap-fittably engaged.

2. A louvre system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each elongate formation on each slat is in the form of an elongate channel with inwardly directed lips extending from the side walls of the channel, and the first portion of each clip is of plate-like shape dimensioned to fit in the channel of a slat.

3. A louvre system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the or each formation on each bracket is of generally cylindrical shape and the second portion of each clip is in the form of a socket of C-shaped crosssection.

4. A louvre system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each bracket has two of said formations.

5. A louvre system as claimed in claim 4, wherein each bracket has a plate-like portion for connection to the framework structure of a building, and two limbs which extend from the plate-like portion and which each have one of said formations at its free end.

6. A louvre system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two limbs are braced by a cross-member.

7. A louvre system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate formations are provided on the undersides of the slats.

8. A louvre system as claimed in claim 7, wherein each slat has an upstanding, channel formation along its uppermost edge and each bracket has a depending leg arranged in use to fit into the channel provided at the uppermost edge of the slat immediately below the slat which the bracket is to support.

9. A louvre system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each formation on each bracket is provided with a slot which, when the bracket is connected to a slat, extends perpendicularly to the general plane of the slat, the sides of the slot being of ridged formation so that they constitute a partly formed screw-thread tapping.

10. A louvre system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising mesh guards for fitting between adjacent slats.

11. A louvre system as claimed in claim 10 when dependent on claim 8, wherein each guard has a first portion slidably engageable with the at least one elongate formation on the underside of one slat and a second portion dimensioned to fit in the upstanding channel formation at the uppermost edge of an adjacent slat.

12. A louvre system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.