GB2373533A

GB2373533A - Louvres and louvre systems

Info

Publication number: GB2373533A
Application number: GB0106843A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Braybrook
Original assignee: Levolux AT Ltd
Current assignee: Levolux AT Ltd
Priority date: 2001-03-20
Filing date: 2001-03-20
Publication date: 2002-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-20
Also published as: GB0106843D0; GB2373533B

Abstract

A solar shading or ventilation louvre 21 is slidably supportable in brackets 17 mounted in channels 14 of elongate support members 10. The louvre is of extruded metal, usually aluminium, and has a protrusion 27 engageable with a wall of one of the channels to prevent the louvre slidably disengaging from the bracket. A louvre system including such louvres is also disclosed.

Description

LOUVRES AND LOUVRE SYSTEMS This invention relates to solar shading or ventilation louvres and louvre systems.

Most solar shading or ventilation louvres attached externally to buildings are formed of metal extrusions, usually in aluminium. Typically, the louvres are attached to elongate support members by brackets mounted in C-shaped channels of the support members. The support members are often an integral part of a curtain walling mullion or a glazing bar. The louvres are slidably engaged with the brackets.

Aluminium has a high coefficient of expansion and it has been found that in practice the louvres"walk"over a period of time relative to the brackets owing to continued expansion and contraction of the louvres. In particular, the louvres tend slide in one direction relative to the brackets. This has become a problem as the louvres sometimes disengage from the brackets.

The present invention seeks to overcome this problem.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solar shading or ventilation louvre slidably supportable in brackets mounted in channels of elongate support members, the louvre being of extruded metal and having a

protrusion engageable with a wall of one of the channels to prevent the louvre slidably disengaging from the brackets.

Preferred and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 5.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a louvre system comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongate support members each of which includes a channel of substantially C-shaped cross-section, a plurality of brackets each having a base portion mounted in one of the channels and a mounting portion which projects from the base and through the opening of said one of the channels and a plurality of louvres according to the first aspect of the invention, the louvres being slidably supported by the mounting portions of the brackets and being disposed in the openings of the channels.

A preferred feature of the second aspect of the invention is set forth in claim 8.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a louvre system

according to the second aspect of the invention and including louvres each embodying the first aspect of the invention, Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the louvres, and Figure 3 is a section taken through the louvre system of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the louvre system shown therein comprises an elongate support member 10 which can be attached to a building in any convenient way. It is often formed as an integral part of a curtain walling mullion or as part of a glazing bar. The elongate support member 10 is of extruded aluminium and has a stem portion 11 and a head portion 12 which defines a C-shape channel 13 having a base 14, two side walls 15 and two interned flanges 16 extending towards one another from the free edges of the two side walls 16.

The louvre system also comprises a plurality of brackets 17. The brackets are often slidably engaged with C-shaped channels 13 and locked in place with screws.

However, they can alternatively be inserted into the channels and held in place as described in GB-A-9927832.7 or GB-A-9927835.0.

Each bracket 17 has a base 18 and a mounting portion in the form of first and

second formations 19 and 20 spaced apart along the base 18 for supporting solar shading or ventilation louvres 21.

The formations 19 and 20 project through the opening of the channels 13 and are hook-shaped at their free ends. The upper formation is relatively short, but the lower formation 20 is much longer and projects away from the elongate support member 10 at a downwardly inclined angle.

Each louvre 21 has two parallel generally planar edge portions 22 and 23 and an intermediate portion 24 which joins the two edge portions and which is inclined relative to the two edge portions. The free edge of the upper edge portion 22 has an out-turned lip 25 which engages in the hook-shaped formation at the free edge of the upper formation 19 of the bracket 17. The intermediate portion 24 has a hook-shaped lip 26 adjacent to the lower edge portion 23 for engagement with the hook-shaped free end of the lower formation 20 of the bracket 17.

Each louvre 21 has a protrusion 27 in the form of a pip pressed out of the plane of its upper planar edge portion 22. This protrusion 27 is disposed in the opening of one of the channels 13 and is engageable with the in turned flanges 16 to prevent inadvertent slidable disengagement of the louvre 21 from the brackets 17.

As shown, the protrusion 27 is ideally located adjacent to one end of the

louvre 21. It could, alternatively, be located between the ends of the louvre 21 for engagement in the opening of a channel 13 of an elongate support member 10 bridged by that louvre. However, by providing the protrusion 27 adjacent to the end of the louvre, the protrusions can be formed at the factory. There is only one protrusion per louvre, although additional protrusions could be formed if and as required on site.

The embodiment described above is 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.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A solar shading or ventilation louvre slidably supportable in brackets mounted in channels of elongate support members, the louvre being of extruded metal and having a protrusion engageable with a wall of one of the channels to prevent the louvre slidably disengaging from the brackets.
2. A louvre as claimed in claim 1, formed from extruded aluminium.
3. A louvre as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, having two parallel generally planar edge portions and an intermediate portion which joins the two edge portions and which is inclined relative to the two edge portions, the protrusion being formed in one of the two planar portions.
4. A louvre as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protrusion is adjacent to one end of the louvre.
5. A louver as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protrusion has been pressed out from the plane of the louvre.
6. A solar shading or ventilation louvre substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
7. A louvre system comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongate support members each of which includes a channel of substantially C-shaped cross-section, a plurality of brackets each having a base portion mounted in one of the channels and a mounting portion which projects from the base and through the opening of said one of the channels and a plurality of louvres each as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the louvres being slidably supported by the mounting portions of the bracket and being disposed in the openings of the channels.
8. A louvre system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mounting portions of each bracket comprises two formations which are spaced apart in use longitudinally of the channel.
9. A louvre system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.