GB2484474A

GB2484474A - Solar-shading assembly with engagement device

Info

Publication number: GB2484474A
Application number: GB1017110.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Braybrook
Original assignee: Levolux AT Ltd
Current assignee: Levolux AT Ltd
Priority date: 2010-10-11
Filing date: 2010-10-11
Publication date: 2012-04-18
Also published as: GB201017110D0; FR2965831A1

Abstract

A solar-shading assembly 1 comprises an elongate louver member 10 having a louver support bracket 12 which is connectable directly or indirectly to a support mullion, and a discrete engagement device 14 for connecting the bracket 12 to a side of the louver member 10. The in use engagement device 14 is at least substantially hidden from view, and includes a peg element 36 on one of the bracket 12 and the louver member 10 and a socket element 34 on the other of the bracket 12 and the louver member 10. At least one of the peg element 36 and the socket element 34 has at least a tapering outer end portion 64, so that the peg element 36 can be initially slidably received into the socket element 34 at a non-coaxial angle. A press fit liner may be provided in the socket such that it creates a water tight seal with the peg element. A method of assembly and disassemble is also defined.

Description

Solar-Shading Assembly With Discrete Engagement Device The present invention relates to a solar-shading assembly for fastening to a support mullion, the assembly having a discrete engagement device, and to a method of installing such a solar-shading assembly, and to a method of removing a louver member of such a solar-shading assembly once installed.

Solar-shading is known, and is frequently used on the exterior of a building to prevent or limit directly incident solar energy on windows. Louvers are known which are supported at their lateral ends, and which can also be supported along their edge lengths.

The present invention relates primarily to such exterior solar-shading, but may also be applicable other kinds of solar-shading.

British patent application 0818750.2 suggests a solar-shading assembly with a hidden fastening device. This requires the use of a cap element on a longitudinal edge to cover the fastening device and thus provide a neat and high-quality external appearance.

However, this arrangement may not be suitable for wooden louver members. Exterior wooden louver members are frequently specified by architects and designers to provide a functional and yet distinctive external appearance for a building. Since a wooden louver member is not extruded, it is far more difficult if not impossible to form the louver member with a cap element to hide a bracket fastening. To this end, and to date, traditional means for supporting wooden louver members have been used, which involves providing a dedicated end edge cap which interconnects with a mullion bracket.

The problem with this traditional anangement is exactly as described in GBO8 18750.2, wherein the brackets and fastenings are fully visible. From an aesthetic point of view, architects prefer to have as few of the fixings and fasteners on view as possible. When a louver is held at the longitudinal edge, the rotational load is such that bracket locations must necessarily be very close to prevent catastrophic mechanical failure.

The prior art arrangements for holding wooden louver members to an exterior façade of a building are also bulky and reasonably complex, leading to increased manufacturing and customer costs.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems, which preferably can also be applied to louver members formed of other materials.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided solar-shading assembly comprising an elongate louver member having longitudinal front and rear sides and lateral end side, a louver support bracket which is connectable directly or indirectly to a support mullion, and a discrete engagement device for connecting the bracket to the louver member, the in use engagement device being at least substantially hidden from view and including a peg element on one of the bracket and the louver member and a socket element on the other of the bracket and the louver member, at least one of the peg element and the socket element having at least a tapering outer end portion, so that the peg element can be initially slidably received into the socket element at a non-coaxial angle.

Preferable and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 20, inclusive.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of installing solar shading using a solar-shading assembly in accordance with the first aspect of the invention and which includes a hidden or substantially hidden engagement device, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one socket element in at least one of an end edge and a longitudinal rear edge of a louver member; providing a peg element on a louver support bracket which is directly or indirectly connectable to a supporting mullion, at least one of the peg element and the socket element having at least a tapering outer end portion; sliding the louver member onto the peg element at initially a non-coaxial angle enabled by the said tapering outer end portion, providing a further bracket, socket element and peg element arrangement at the other end of the louver member, and centralising or substantially centralising the louver member via relative sliding of the peg elements in the socket elements.

Preferably, the method further comprises a subsequent step of inserting a lateral fastener laterally into the louver member to laterally interengage the respective peg element and the socket element.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of removing a single louver member of a solar-shading assembly in accordance with the first aspect of the invention forming part of a solar-shading installation, the method comprising the steps of cutting the or each peg element between the associated end edge of the louver member and the bracket, so that the respective end of the louver member can be angled laterally away from the bracket due to the tapering end portion of at least one of the socket element and the peg element thereby enabling longitudinal sliding removal of the peg element from its respective socket at the other end of the louver member.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic top plan view of a first embodiment of a solar-shading assembly having a discrete engagement device for connecting end sides of the louver members to an interposed support bracket; Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic top plan view of a second embodiment of a solar-shading assembly, similar to Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic top plan view of a third embodiment of a solar-shading assembly having a discrete engagement device for connecting a longitudinal rear side of the louver member to a support bracket.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a solar-shading assembly 1 which comprises rigid elongate louver member 10, a louver support bracket 12, and a discrete engagement device 14 for interconnecting the louver member 10 and the louver support bracket 12.

The louver member 10 is preferably formed of wood, such as cedar, oak, teak or other hard wood. Western red cedar at least is advantageous due to its inherent anti-fungal properties and robustness to insect attack.

Although the louver member 10 may be wood, in the present invention, louver members of other materials can be utilised, such as metal, like aluminium, or plastics. If extruded and hollow, then preferably a fixed and secure matching end cap would be utilised to close the side ends of the louver body.

Preferably, the louver member 10 has a generally elliptical lateral cross-section, terminating in narrow or thin edged front and rear longitudinal sides 16, 18. The louver member 10 also preferably has flat or substantially flat end sides 20.

Although typically mounted horizontally, the louver member 10 may be mountable vertically, and thus the solar-shading assembly 1 of the present invention is equally applicable in this case.

The louver support bracket 12 includes a rigid elongate bracket arm 22 and a bracket body 24. The bracket arm 22 interfaces with the discrete engagement device 14 to hold the louver member 10. The bracket body 24 is connectable to a bracket engagement portion 26 of a walling mullion 28, typically being on or part of an exterior of a building and between the lights of neighbouring windows. The bracket engagement portion 26 may include a fastening channel 30 in, on or over which the bracket body 24 is at least in part receivable. The bracket engagement portion 26 may be interposed between two neighbouring window pane mounting portions against which glass window panes captively bear.

The bracket body 24 is fastenable to the bracket engagement portion 26 of the walling mullion 28 preferably using one or more screw-threaded fastening devices 32, such as screws or bolts.

The discrete engagement device 14 comprises at least one and in this case two spaced socket elements 34 which are provided in the end sides 20 of the louver member 10, and two respective peg elements 36 which are provided on the bracket arm 22. Each socket element 34 includes a bottomed recess 38 which is formed in the end side 20 of the louver member 10, and a complementary liner 40 which is tight press fit insertable into the bottomed recess 38. The bottomed recess 38 is necessary in a wooden louver member 10, since such a louver member 10 is solid. However, if the louver member 10 is hollow, then simply an aperture opening in the end side 20 to allow for the liner 40 to be securely inserted would be sufficient.

The liner 40 in this case is formed of resilient moulded plastics, but other materials such as metal can be considered.

The liner 40 has an open outer end 42, a closed inner end 44, and its bore 46 is preferably smooth along at least a majority of its longitudinal extent. The closed inner end 44 is important if the louver member 10 is wood in order to prevent or inhibit moisture ingress. In other cases, the inner end may be open.

In this embodiment, the bore 46 which extends from the open outer end 42 to the closed inner end 44 of the liner 40 has a uniform or substantially uniform lateral cross-section along at least a majority of its longitudinal extent. In this case, the term majority' is intended to imply eighty percent, but may be fifty one percent.

The liner 40 also includes a flange 48 which is integrally formed as one-piece so as to extend outwardly from the outer end of the liner 40. The flange 48 is preferably continuous, for example, being circular. However, it may be discontinuous.

The flange 48 functions as a spacer element 50 which in use forms a standoff to space the bracket 12 and the louver member 10 thereby promoting airflow therebetween.

Alternatively, it is feasible that the bracket arm 22 can be formed with the standoff, or the standoff may be separate. However, it is generally simpler and more cost-effective to plastics mould the spacer element 50 as an integral part of the liner 40.

The peg element 36 is preferably a solid moulded plastics member having a non-uniform lateral cross-section along at least a majority of its longitudinal extent. The peg element 36 has an outer end 52 and an inner end 54, and is preferably smooth along at least its longitudinal extent to promote sliding receipt in the socket element 34. The outer end 52, in this embodiment, includes an at least substantially rounded nose 56, but the nose 56 may be flat or include a flat tip. The body of the peg element 36 divergingly tapers from the nose 56 of the outer end 52 to a position partway between the two ends 52, 54. This position, in this case, is substantially midway between the two ends 52, 54, but it may be spaced more towards one end than the other dependent on the length of the peg element 36.

From the position of maximum lateral extent, a body 58 of the peg element 36 convergingly tapers towards the inner end 54.

The taper is smooth, and may be arcuate in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

Alternatively, the taper may describe a flat frusto-conical surface.

The maximum lateral extent matches or substantially matches the diameter of the bore 46 of the liner 40, so that when fully interengaged, the peg element 36 provides substantially watertight contact against the bore 46 surface of the liner 40.

The peg element 36 is held to the bracket ann 22 by an interior rigid elongate connecting shaft 60. The connecting shaft 60 is preferably metal and extends laterally through a complementarily shaped aperture in the bracket arm 22. The peg element 36 is formed with an axially extending bore 62 which is also complementarily shaped to engage the connecting shaft 60. Preferably, the axial bore 62 and the connecting shaft 60 are matingly screw-threaded, but a tight push-fit engagement is entirely feasible.

To erect the solar-shading assembly 1, a first louver support bracket 12 is loosely attached to the bracket engagement portion 26 of the walling mullion 28. The first bracket 12 includes the peg elements 36 extending from the bracket arm 22. The louver member 10 having the socket elements 34 formed therein with the liners 40 in place is then offered into place with the peg elements 36 being slidably received in the liners 40 of the socket element 34. Due to the tapering outer end portion 64 of each peg element 36, initial coaxial alignment of the bore 46 of the liner 40 and the longitudinal axis of the peg element 36 is unnecessary, and thus the louver member 10 can be offered up to the bracket 12 at a non-perpendicular or non-coplanar angle. The maximum lateral dimension of each peg element 36 partway along its longitudinal extent matches or substantially matches the lateral bore dimension of the liner 40, thereby providing a watertight or substantially watertight fit between the peg element 36 and the liner 40 to prevent or limit moisture and water ingress during inclement weather.

With the louver member 10 held loosely at its first end, a second louver support bracket 12 can be loosely connected to the neighbouring walling mullion 28. The peg elements 36 pre-attached to the bracket arm 22 of the second louver support bracket 12, due to the loose connection of the louver support bracket 12 and the tapering outer end portions 64 of the peg elements 36, can be slid into the respective liners 40 in the second end side 20 of the louver member 10.

The fasteners engaging the first and second louver support brackets 12 with walling mullion 28 can then be tightened, and the louver member 10 can be centralised on the peg elements 36 to provide substantially equal gaps between the end sides 20 of the louver member 10 and the respective louver support brackets 12. Even if the louver member 10 is a reasonably close fit to the bracket arms 22, the spacer elements 50 of the liners 40 provide for an air gap to prevent or limit moisture retention and movement via capillary action, thereby reducing the likelihood of rotting or conosion issues.

A run of such louver members 10 can thus be installed on a building using a similar installation procedure of one or more loose brackets 12 and along with the benefit of the tapering outer end portions 64 of the peg elements 36.

Once installed, should a louver member 10 become damaged, which can occur if the solar-shading is erected on an exterior façade of a building, the invention enables only the single damaged louver member 10 to be removed without having to take down an entire run of louver members 10, as is presently the case with traditional known anangements.

The peg connecting shaft 60 at one end of the louver member 10 is cut by a cutting device, such as a hacksaw, inserted into the air gap between the end side 20 of the damaged louver member 10 and the face of the bracket arm 22. Due to the tapering inner and outer end portions 64, 66 of each peg element 36 at the other end of the louver member 10, the damaged louver member 10 can be angularly tilted laterally sufficiently away from a plane of the bracket arm 22, so that the bracket 12 can be cleared as the louver member 10 is slid longitudinally off the uncut peg elements 36.

The louver member 10 can be replaced by replacing the cut connecting shafts 60 with the peg elements 36 of the neighbouring undamaged louver members 10 remaining in their respective liners 40, or simply by tilting the undamaged louver member 10 to allow removal and replacement of the peg elements 36 and the connecting shaft 60.

Replacement peg elements 36 are attached to the other side of the connecting shaft 60.

With the louver support brackets 12 at each end of the missing louver member 10 loosened, a replacement louver member 10 can be offered into position and engaged with the peg elements 36 in an initially non-coaxial manner due at least in part to the tapering outer end portions 64. The louver support brackets 12 can then be retightened and the replaced louver member 10 centralised as before.

With the louver member 10 in place and supported by the louver support brackets 12 via the discrete engagement device 14, the louver member 10 is fixed by a lateral fastener, such as a grub screw, inserted through and recessed relative to the upper or lower major surface of the louver member 10. The lateral fastener engages the liner 40 and the peg element 36, whilst preferably projecting into the louver member 10 so as to prevent or limit relative movement between the parts. Preferably, the lateral fastener is inserted via the lower major surface to prevent or limit the ingress of water and moisture. By recessing the head of the lateral fastener, it remains largely out of view.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a second embodiment of the solar-shading assembly 1. Like references refer to like parts, and therefore further detailed description is omitted.

The solar-shading assembly 1 of this second embodiment comprises the louver member 10, louver support bracket 12 and discrete engagement device 14 for connecting the bracket to an end side 20 of the louver member 10. The discrete engagement device 14 again includes a socket element 34 in the end side 20 of the louver member 10 and having a liner 40, similar to the first embodiment, and a peg element 36 on the louver support bracket 12.

The peg element 36 in this embodiment has a uniform or substantially uniform lateral extent along at least a majority of its longitudinal extent, instead of having a smooth arcuate longitudinal extent. As such, the peg element 36 is or is substantially cylindrical, in this particular case. The tapering outer end portion of the peg element 36 is thus dispensed with, although the nose, which may be rounded, is retained.

The liner 40, however, now has non-uniform lateral extent along at least a majority of its longitudinal extent. The liner 40 thus has a waisted bore 68 which convergingly tapers from the open outer end 42 to partway between the ends, in this case being substantially midway, before then divergingly tapering towards the closed inner end 44. This thus provides the tapering outer and inner end portions 70, 72 to allow sliding insertion of the peg element 36 at an initial non-coaxial and/or non-coplanar angle.

In all other respects, the second embodiment of the solar-shading assembly 1 is similar to that of the first embodiment.

Refening to Figure 3, there is shown a third embodiment of the solar-shading assembly 1. Again, like references refer to like parts, and further detailed description is omitted.

The solar-shading of this third embodiment comprises the louver member 10, louver support bracket 12 and discrete engagement device 14 for connecting the bracket to the rear longitudinal edge or side 18 of the louver member 10, instead of the end sides 20 as with the first and second embodiments described above.

The discrete engagement device 14 includes the socket element 34 in the longitudinal edge or side 18 of the louver member 10, typically formed by drilling, for example, and having the liner 40, similar to the first embodiment. The engagement device 14 also includes the peg element 36 which in this case is integrally formed as one-piece with the louver support bracket 12. In this case, the louver support bracket 12 includes a bracket body 24 which is engagable with the walling mullion 28, and the peg element 36 is formed as the bracket arm 22.

The peg element 36 has the generally elliptical longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the first embodiment, thereby providing tapering inner and outer end portions 64, 66. The liner 40 of the socket element 34 has the cylindrical or substantially cylindrical bore 46, again similar to the first embodiment.

As with the first embodiment, with the louver support brackets 12 at least loosely in place on the walling mullion 28, due to the tapering inner and outer end portions 64, 66 of the peg element 36, the louver member 10 can be initially offered up and onto the peg elements 36 at a non-coaxial and/or non-coplanar angle, and taken down or removed in a similar manner.

With this third embodiment, the shapes of the peg element 36 and the liner 40 of the socket element 34 can of course be reversed as with the second embodiment.

With the above embodiments, it is entirely feasible to have both the peg element and the liner of the socket element with non-uniform lateral extents along at least a majority of their longitudinal extents. In other words, the peg element and the liner may both include tapering inner and outer end portions.

The smaller the region of maximum diameter between the tapering inner and outer end portions, the more the peg element can tilt within the liner, thereby allowing for greater relative angulation during installation and removal of the louver member.

Although a liner is suggested as part of the socket element, if for example the louver member is formed of a non-wood material, such as metal, the liner may not be necessary. The liner is particularly beneficial in stopping water and moisture ingress, as well as reinforcing the peg receiving opening. This is advantageous for wooden louver members, but may not be necessary in all cases for other materials. However, if the socket element were to have tapering inner and outer end portions, then these would have to be formed.

Although it is preferable to have tapering inner and outer end portions, the tapering inner end portion of the peg element and/or the socket element could be dispensed with lesser angulation were required during full insertion of the peg element into the socket element.

Although the lateral cross-sectional shapes of the peg element and the liner described above are preferably circular, complementary non-circular cross-sectional shapes can be considered. This would be advantageous if utilising only one support peg element and socket element at the end sides of the louver member, thus preventing or limiting longitudinal rotation of the louver member once installed.

The louver support bracket may be connected to a supplementary support element, which in turn is connected to the walling or other support mullion.

It would also be feasible to consider providing a louver support bracket with a larger lateral extent whereby the socket element could be provided in the bracket arm and thus the peg element provided on the louver member.

The louver member may be a composite which includes wood.

It is thus possible to provide a solar-shading assembly with a discrete engagement device which thus allows a louver member to be installed with its fixings and fastenings substantially hidden from view. The louver member of the invention thus does not require an unsightly end cap to enable engagement with a bracket or support. It is also possible to remove and replace a single louver member of the assembly in a run without having to remove neighbouring louver members.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. Solar-shading assembly comprising an elongate louver member having longitudinal front and rear sides and lateral end side, a louver support bracket which is connectable directly or indirectly to a support mullion, and a discrete engagement device for connecting the bracket to the louver member, the in use engagement device being at least substantially hidden from view and including a peg element on one of the bracket and the louver member and a socket element on the other of the bracket and the louver member, at least one of the peg element and the socket element having at least a tapering outer end portion, so that the peg element can be initially slidably received into the socket element at a non-coaxial angle.
2. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the louver member is devoid of an end cap.
3. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the louver member is at least in part wood.
4. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the peg element is on the bracket and the socket element is in the louvre member.
5. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the socket element is in a said lateral end side or the longitudinal rear side of the louver member.
6. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the socket element includes a press-fit liner.
7. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the liner includes an open outer end and a closed inner end.
8. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the liner includes an outwardly oriented flange at or adjacent to its in use outer end, the flange providing an integral spacer element which in use forms a standoff to space the bracket and the louver member thereby promoting airflow therebetween.
9. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the liner includes a bore of substantially uniform cross-section along at least a majority of its longitudinal extent.
10. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the liner includes a bore having a non-uniform cross-section along at least a majority of its longitudinal extent.
11. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bore of the liner is smoothly waisted partway along its longitudinal extent to provide the said tapering outer end portion.
12. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein a minimum diameter of the said bore matches or substantially matches a lateral extent of the peg element to provide at least a substantially water-tight fit for the peg element at least partway along its longitudinal extent.
13. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the peg element has a uniform or substantially uniform lateral extent along at least a majority of its longitudinal extent.
14. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the peg element has a non-uniform lateral extent along at least a majority of its longitudinal extent.
15. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein a lateral extent of the peg element smoothly increases from its outer end to a portion partway between its ends.
16. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein a lateral extent of the peg element smoothly decreases from the portion partway between its ends to its inner end.
17. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bracket includes opposing said peg elements, the opposing peg elements being interconnected together by an internal central connector.
18. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a lateral fastener which is receivable in the louver member to laterally engage the peg element and the socket element.
19. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the lateral fastener is recessable within a surface of the louver member.
20. Solar-shading assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the lateral fastener is recessable in an in use lower surface of a horizontal said louver member, so as to prevent or limit a water ingress path.
21. Solar-shading assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1, Figure 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
22. A method of installing solar shading using a solar-shading assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and which includes a hidden or substantially hidden engagement device, the method comprising the steps of providing at least one socket element in at least one of an end edge and a longitudinal rear edge of a louver member; providing a peg element on a louver support bracket which is directly or indirectly connectable to a supporting mullion, at least one of the peg element and the socket element having at least a tapering outer end portion; sliding the louver member onto the peg element at initially a non-coaxial angle enabled by the said tapering outer end portion, providing a further bracket, socket element and peg element arrangement at the other end of the louver member, and centralising or substantially centralising the louver member via relative sliding of the peg elements in the socket elements.
23. A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a subsequent step of inserting a lateral fastener laterally into the louver member to laterally interengage the respective peg element and the socket element.
24. A method of removing a single louver member of a solar-shading assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 forming part of a solar-shading installation, the method comprising the steps of cutting the or each peg element between the associated end edge of the louver member and the bracket, so that the respective end of the louver member can be angled laterally away from the bracket due to the tapering end portion of at least one of the socket element and the peg element thereby enabling longitudinal sliding removal of the peg element from its respective socket at the other end of the louver member.