GB2300473A

GB2300473A - Louvre assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2300473A
Application number: GB9508986A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Nicholas Savidge
Original assignee: LBJ PROFILES Ltd
Current assignee: LBJ PROFILES Ltd
Priority date: 1995-05-03
Filing date: 1995-05-03
Publication date: 1996-11-06
Also published as: GB9508986D0

Abstract

A louvre assembly comprises one or more elongate frame members (1), a plurality of blade supports (5), and a plurality of blades, wherein guide means (3) are provided such that the blade supports are mountable on the frame and movable along the longitudinal axis thereof. The louvre assembly can be provided as a multi-component system for assembly on-site. The blades are a push-fit engagement on the blade supports.

Description

LOUVRE ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a louvre assembly and in particular to a louvre assembly provided as a multi-component system which can be assembled on site.

It is known to provide louvres in buildings for ventilation and for aesthetic effect. A known louvre assembly comprises an elongate frame member having a plurality of apertures and a plurality of blade supports each being secured to a blade and having one or more apertures. In use, a blade support is attached to a frame member by aligning their respective apertures and passing a fastener therethrough to fasten them together.

Thus, conventional louvres are assembled much like brackets for shelving.

A consideration problem with known louvres is that they are unsuitable for assembly on site because their assembly is awkward and time consuming.

This is a particular problem in inclement weather. Most louvres are therefore assembled in the factory where they are manufactured. This in turn creates transportation problems because the assembled or partassembled louvres are bulky. Moreover, they are difficult to manoeuvre on-site. For large louvres, cranes or other complicated and expensive lifting equipment is often required. However, in windy conditions it is often unsafe to operate the equipment.

The present invention aims to overcome these and other problems of known louvres.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a louvre assembly comprising one or more elongate frame members, a plurality of blade supports, and a plurality of blades wherein guide means are provided such that the blade supports are mountable on the frame and movable along the longitudinal axis thereof.

The provision of guide means makes the louvre assembly of the invention simple to assemble.

The louvre assembly of the invention is advantageous because its components can be manufactured and transported separately in a nonassembled condition, if desired, and assembled easily on-site. This overcomes the transportation and assembly problems of known louvres.

Preferably, the guide means comprises flanges on the frame member which define walls of a channel in which a portion of a blade support can slide.

Conveniently, the portion of the blade support is substantially T-shaped.

Preferably the walls of the channel are angled toward one another and the upper surface of the arms of the T-shaped portion of the blade support is inclined.

Advantageously, the walls of the channel and the upper surface of the blade support are slideably engageable.

It will be appreciated that the above preferred components of the guide means could be provided in the opposite configuration. In other words, the flanges could be provided on the blade support and the portion could be provided on the frame member.

The advantages of the present invention are conferred by either of the above guide means configurations.

Preferably, the blade support and the blades are associated by push-fit means whereby the blades are releasably supported by the blade supports.

The above arrangement provides a simple and releasable method of installing louvre blades.

Whilst the above push-fit means is described in combination with other features of the first aspect of the present invention, in a second aspect, the invention provides a conventional louvre which is characterised by the provision of push-fit means for associating the blade support and blades as described herein.

Preferably, the frame member is provided with movable fixture means.

Conveniently, the movable fixture means comprises a spring loaded nut arrangement. Such fixture means can be used to fasten together aligned lengths of frame members to form a frame member of any desired length, or to attach the frame members to a building.

In a further aspect the invention provides a method of assembling a louvre comprising: providing one or more elongate frame members, a plurality of blade supports, and a plurality of blades; associating the frame member and blade supports by guide means whereby the blade supports are mounted on the frame member and movable along the longitudinal axis thereof; and supporting the blades on the blade supports.

An important advantage of the present method over known methods is that the blade supports are effectively self-positioning as they can move along the longitudinal axis of the frame member under gravity when the frame member is substantially vertical.

By using the assembly method of the invention, assembly times of less than two-thirds of the assembly time of a known louvre of the same size can be achieved.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a blade support mounted to a frame member in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of a blade support according to the invention; Figure 3 is a section on the line X-X of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the bifurcated latching means in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a front elevation of a further blade support of the invention; Figure 6 is a section on the line X'-X' of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a section through a blade according to the invention; Figure 8 is an enlarged section view showing the latching means of the blade; Figure 9 is a section through a frame member according to the invention; Figure 10 is a partial side elevation of an assembled louvre assembly of the invention; and Figure 11 is a section on the line A-A of Figure 10 showing alignment of the blade supports.

A preferred louvre assembly of the invention comprises an elongate frame member 1, a plurality of blade supports 5 and a plurality of louvre blades 6.

The frame member l is preferably formed as a metal extrusion. As shown in Figures 1 and 9, the frame member is in the form of a substantially C-shaped housing 2. The outer face of the housing includes inclined flanges 3 defining walls of a channel.

As shown in Figures 2 and 5, a portion 4 of the blade support 5 is substantially T-shaped and an upper surface of the arms of the T is inclined at an angle whereby the walls of the channel and the upper surface are slideably engageable.

As shown in Figure 4, the louvre blade 6 includes means for push-fit engagement with complementary means on the blade support 5. As shown, the means on the blade support 5 comprise a recess 6a for receiving a side 7 of a louvre blade and a latch finger 8 for latching with a corresponding latch 9 on the other side of the blade. Preferably the blade support 5 is made of a resilient material such as nylon or another plastic and the latch finger 8 is preferably provided as part of a bifurcated portion 8a of the support at the end distant from the recess.

The latch 9 on the blade side is preferably part of a hook arrangement 9a, as shown.

The above arrangement provides for a simple push-fit engagement of the blade and blade support. A side 7 of the blade can be pushed into the recess 6a whereby the hook arrangement 9a of the other side deflects the latch finger of the bifurcated portion 8a of the support until it passes over the widest part 8b of the latch finger. Further movement causes the latch finger to spring back to its original position and thereby latches the blade and support together.

In use, the T-shaped portion 4 of the blade supports 5 are simply slid into the channel defined between the flanges 3 of the frame member. The blades 6 are push-fitted into engagement with the recesses 6a of the blade supports. When the frame members are vertical the T-shaped portions of the blade supports slide to abut one another in the channel under the force of gravity, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. The length of the portions determines the gap between the blades of the louvre assembly.

Hence, the present invention provides a louvre assembly whose components can be transported separately if desired, and which is simple to assemble on-site.

Claims

1. A louvre comprising one or more elongate frame members, a plurality of blade supports, and a plurality of blades; wherein guide means are provided such that the blade supports are mountable on the frame member and movable along the longitudinal axis thereof.

2. A louvre assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the guide means comprises flanges on the frame member which define walls of a channel in which a portion of a blade support can slide.

3. A louvre assembly as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the portion of the blade support is substantially T-shaped.

4. A louvre assembly as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the walls of the channel are angled toward one another and the upper surface of the arms of the T-shaped portion of the blade support is inclined.

5. A louvre assembly as claim in Claim 4 wherein the walls of the channel and the upper surface of the blade support are slideably engageable.

6. A louvre assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein said flanges are provided on the blade supports and said portion is provided on the frame member.

7. A louvre assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the blade supports and the blades are associated by push-fit means whereby the blades are releasably supported by the blade supports.

8. A louvre assembly comprising one or more elongate frame members, a plurality of blade supports and a plurality of blades; wherein the blade supports are mountable on the frame member and the blade supports and the blades are associated by push-fit means whereby the blades are releasably supported by the blade supports.

9. A louvre assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the frame member is provided with movable fixture means.

10. A louvre as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the movable fixture means comprises a spring loaded nut arrangement housed in the frame member.

11. A method of assembling a louvre comprising: providing one or more elongate frame members, a plurality of blade supports, and a plurality of blades; associating the frame member and blade supports by guide means whereby the blade supports are mounted on the frame member and movable along the longitudinal axis thereof; and supporting the blades on the blade supports.

12. A louvre assembly substantially as described herein with reference to one or more of the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of assembling a louvre substantially as described herein with reference to one or more of the accompanying drawings.