US3438167A

US3438167A - Solar shade apparatus with splicing means

Info

Publication number: US3438167A
Application number: US621812A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charlie A Royston Jr
Original assignee: AIROTEC Inc
Current assignee: AIROTEC Inc
Priority date: 1967-03-09
Filing date: 1967-03-09
Publication date: 1969-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 1986-04-15

Description

April 15, 1969 c. A. ROYSTON, JR 3,438,167

SOLAR SHADE APPARATUS WITH SPLICING MEANS Filed March .2, 1967 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR. F1 5 E (mam/z I. Ron-704112.

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April 15, 1969 c. A. R'OYSTON, JR

SOLAR SHADE APPARATUS WITH SPLICING MEANS Sheet Filed March 9, 1967 FIE 823M Mada/um: 8M

8845} chwanly A rrazusrs United States Patent 3,438,167 SOLAR SHADE APPARATUS WITH SPLICING MEANS Charlie A. Royston, Jr., Smyrna, Ga., assignor to Airotec, Inc., Atlanta, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Filed Mar. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 621,812 Int. Cl. Etlf /08; E0411 1/48; E04c 2/42 US. Cl. 52-473 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A solar shade section has at least one vertical support member with a hollow interior and multiple slots in which a plurality of shade members are retained. An oilset portion of the shade member, within the hollow interior of the vertical member, interlocks each shade member with the vertical support. Multiple shade sections are independently suspended from horizontal stringer members so that expansion and contraction of the vertical supports is provided for by a sliding connection between adjacent sections which maintains the vertical alignment of the vertical support members. The method of making a sun shade includes providing at least one hollow slotted vertical member, inserting a shade member into each slot, and locking a portion of the shade member within the hollow interior to form a rigid interlock between the support member and the shade member.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to an improved solar energy control, screen wall construction and a method of mak ing such a solar energy control screen wall; and, more particularly, relates to a sun screen wall construction and method wherein the construction is adapted to shade an exterior building wall while at the same time permitting horizontal visibility from the building wall through the sun screen.

Others have proposed various shade screen structures for shading large window openings from the exterior. Many difierent patterns and designs of openings have been utilized in self-supporting masonry walls, and wood or metal constructions. Prior metal shade constructions utilizing a plurality of horizontally disposed shade members attached to a vertical support member have been difficult to manufacture and/or to assemble. Some have utilized an entire window size unit which is constructed from one piece or sheet of stock. Such shades must be transported in the final finished size and so are bulky and hard to manipulate. Others have been made from smaller strips of material which are bonded permanently together in a frame of the size required to fill the opening to be shaded. The bonding has been done, for example, by welding or riveting. Again such finished pieces are difiicult to transport. Still other prior art shade structures have utilized a series of shade members with holes drilled therein. Vertical rods are passed through the holes to maintain alignment and some means is required to keep the shade members spaced. Such a construction requires either a relatively diflicult bond or spacers 'be tween each of the shade members. Such constructions are diflicult to assemble because of either the number of pieces required or the difiiculty of bonding. Due to the above mentioned drawbacks, the prior art structures are difiicult, if not impossible, to assemble at a job site if desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus and method of the invention provides a sun screen with relatively few pieces which is extremely "ice simple to assemble and therefore low cost. The sun screen structure can readily be adapted to difierent size openings by choice of the proper length shade members before assembly and the proper number of independently suspended sections of shade structure. The shade structure of the invention includes one or more vertical support members each defining a hollow interior and a plurality of shade member receiving slots. Shade members are disposed in each of the slots and are locked in place by an otfset portion within the hollow interior of the vertical support member. The sections are formed by sliding a portion of the shade member, intermediate its ends, into one of the slots in the vertical support member, then looking the portion within the hollow interior of the support member to thereby create a rigid interlock between the shade member and the vertical member. In large openings, the shade apparatus is constructed of numerous independently suspended sections vertically aligned with one another and connected by a slidable splice which maintains the vertical alignment but allows for expansion and contraction of the vertical support members of each section independently one another.

In this specification, the term hollow interior includes that of members having, in cross-section, either a perimeter fully enclosing a cavity or a perimeter defining an interior cavity which communicates with the outside through an opening in the perimeter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a sun shade section utilizing the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view, from the building interior, or a portion of an installation of a plurality of sections like that of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of FIGURE 2 taken along the line 3-3;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of FIGURE 2 taken along the line 4-4;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-section of a portion of FIGURE 2 taken along line 55;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 5 taken along line 66; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of sun shade utilizing the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A single section of the sun shade will be described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 6. A sun shade section, generally designated 10, has at least one substantially vertical support member defining a hollow interior, which is here illustrated as a vertical member 11 having a substantially triangular cross-section with a longitudinal slot 12 extending the entire length of member 11 leaving a pair of inwardly extending

flanges

13 and 14 projecting from each

edge

15 and 16, respectively forming vertices of the triangular cross-section adjacent slot 12. An edge 17 forms the vertex opposite slot 12. The section portion shown in FIGURE 1 includes three such vertical support members 11. Rigidly interlocked with each of the vertical support members are a plurality of shade members, generally designated 20. Each shade member 20 has a longitudinal axis disposed substantially horizontally, a substantially planar major portion 21 and a substantially vertically disposed flange 22. Planar portion 21 may be interlocked with vertical member 11 at any angle to the vertical desired, preferred angles being 90, 60, and 45. In the embodiment shown, the angle is 45 as can be seen in FIGURE 3.

The mechanism of the interlocking arrangement between vcrtical member 11 and shade members 20 will now be described more fully. Vertical member 11 includes a plurality of shade member receiving slots 23 communicating with the hollow interior thereof. Slots 23 are substantially V-shaped, extending from the edge 17 toward edges and 16 at a predetermined angle to the horizon tal. Slots 23 are here shown as substantially planar, but they may take any form which corresponds to that of the surface of the shade member to be received therein, for example, that of a circular arc. Each of shade members has a first portion 24 engaging one slot 23 of vertical member 11. The manner of engagement is such that a region, generally designated 25, intermediate the ends of each shade member 20 lies within the hollow interior of vertical member 11. At least some of interior region 25 defines a second portion of shade member 20 which is offset from slot 23. The offset portion here shown contains a substantially triangular part 26 which lies outside the plane of slot 23. The offset portion will take different forms depending upon the shape of the vertical support member and the tool used to create the offset. For example, when a vertical support member having a rectangular cross-section and a longitudinal slot is used, the offset portion is normally substantially rectangular but can even be pyramidal.

Formation of an exemplary sun shade section 10 was accomplished in the following manner. Vertical support members 11 and shade members 20 were manufactured from aluminum extrusions. Vertical members 11 were slotted at a 45 angle by cutting. Before insertion, shade members 20, as shown in FIGURES 1 through 6, had major portion 21 substantially planar for its entire length so that they were easily slipped into slots 23. Each shade member 20 was slipped into one slot 23 of each of three vertical members 11 until the leading edge of member 20 engaged the back edges of slot 23. Members 11 and 20 were then retained in position while part 26 was offset from the plane of slot 23 with a pliers to lock members rigidly together.

The locking can be accomplished by bending or crimping part 26 with any of a wide variety of bending or crimping tools such as a long nosed pliers. The locking can also be done by welding or using a spring pin fastener within the vertical member. The locking process may be automated if it is desired to carry it out in the factory rather than assembling the screen at the job site.

Each sun screen section 10 is prepared for mounting in the space to be shaded by attaching it to a substantially horizontally disposed support member, here shown as a horizontal stringer 30, with any suitable fastening means like a bolt 31 or Tinnerman nut 32. Horizontal stringer is adapted to be attached to a substantially rigid vertical structure such as wall 40, at each end of the area to be shaded by any convenient attaching means, generally designated 33.

For greatest versatility in adapting the basic sun screen design to varied window sizes, the vertical members 11 are generally constructed to a standard length of approximately six feet. When large areas are to be shaded, several sections like 10 and 10' as shown in FIGURE 2 are independently suspended vertically over one another, aligned, and connected with a slide connection. Such construction provides substantial advantages. First, use of a standard length of vertical support members 11 reduces the inventory required of parts. Second, independent suspension of these standard length vertical support members 11 allows for independent expansion and contraction of each six foot vertical sun screen section 10 like 10 and 10' with temperature changes thereby simplifying the mounting. Third, independent suspension of the standard height sections allows lighter horizontal stringers 30 to be utilized than would be required if the entire weight of the entire sun screen were upon the horizontal stringer of the top of the structure.

The structure for maintaining vertical alignment of

adjacent sections

10 and 10" while allowing independent expansion and contraction includes a splicing means adapted to slidably connect adjacent

sun shade sections

10 and 10. The splicing means, as shown, includes a member 34, having a substantially V-shaped cross-section, which is adapted to fit snugly within the upper end of the hollow interior of each vertical support member 11. A member 34 is disposed in the upper interior of each vertical support member 11 with a portion of splicing member 34 extending upward from the upper end of vertical member 11. The upwardly extending portion of member 34 is adapted to slidably engage the lower interior of the vertical member 11 in the adjacent section 10' immediately thereabove. Member 34 is restrained from sliding downward into the vertical member 11 from which it extends upward by a restraining means such as a combination of Tinnerman nut 32 and the offset part 26 of the uppermost shade member 20. As shown, Tinnerman nut 32 extends substantially the entire distance across the interior of vertical member 11 between

edges

15 and 16. The lower edge of member 34 rests on the upper edge of nut 32. Member 34 is slotted with a V-shaped slot 35 adapted to receive a shade member 20. Slot 35 is aligned with uppermost slot 23 in vertical member 11 so that shade member 20 slides into both uppermost slot 23 and slot 35. Offset part 26 of uppermost shade member 20 locks splicing member 34, vertical member 11 and uppermost shade member 20 in fixed position with respect to one another.

The shade section 10' mounted immediately above splicing member 34 is positioned so that each member 34 slides into the lower interior of vertical support member 11 thereby aligning the vertical members 11' of the vertically adjacent sections 10 and 10'. The upper section 10' is mounted so that approximately one-eighth inch of space exists between the lower edge of the vertical member 11 in the upper section and the upper edge of the vertical member 11 in the lower section. This spacing provides an expansion joint. A splicing member 34 is positioned in the upper end of each vertical member of each section except the topmost.

The lower end of each vertical support member 11' of the bottom section 10 is fastened to a second horizontal support member here shown as another horizontal stringer 36, in the same manner as the top ends are connected to stringer 30. Stringer 36 is adapted to be rigidly attached to the wall 40 at each end of the area to be shaded in the same manner as is stringer 30. The sun shade structure thus provided is extremely strong, light weight esthetically appealing because of the artistic designs usable in vertical support members 11 without substantial additional cost, and readily expandable to different vertical heights by changing the number of independently suspended sections which are used. This novel sun screen is especially suited to using different colors within one design. For example, the vertical support members 11 and horizontal stringer 30 can be constructed of one color material and the shade members 20 of another color. Each separate shade member 20 also can be of a different color if desired.

Another modification contemplated is where each splicing member 34 has the side walls forming the V short enough in the horizontal direction that the edge where they meet to form the point of the V merely rests against the inner edge of the offset part 26 of uppermost shade member 20. Member 34 is not slotted in that modification and is restrained from sliding downward into the member 11 from which it projects upward by contact of its lower edge with nut 32 and contact of the edge forming the closed end of the V with the inner edge of offset part 26.

FIGURE 7 discloses a modified shade screen generally designated 110, utilizing the invention. Two vertical support members 111 are substantially triangular in crosssection and are substantially identical to members 11 of FIGURES 1 through 6 in construction. Each vertical member 111 contains a plurality of slots 123. A plurality of shade members 120 are interlocked with each of the vertical members 111 in a manne identical to that described with reference to FIGURES 1 tbrough'6. However, shade members 120 are of a difierent shape than shade members of FIGURES 1 through 6. Shade members 12.0 comprise a series of fiat portions 141, .142, 143 and 144, which are connected to form a wave-like design. Portions 141 and 143 have parallel substantially planar surfaces which are connected by intersecting portions 142 and 144.

Many other decorative forms have been used for the shade members in the apparatus and method of the present invention. Also, many forms are suitable for use as the vertical support member. For example, the vertical member can be substantially circular with a longitudinal slot extending the entire length of one side, or can be substantially rectangular with a longitudinal slot extending the entire length of one side. The shade member receiving slots in such constructions are in the form of a circular arc or a U, respectively. The longitudinal slot can even be eliminated if desired so long as the interior of the vertical member is hollow and provides access to the interior portion of the shade members for olfsetting them from the shade member receiving slots or otherwise locking them to the vertical members.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A sun shade apparatus comprising: a plurality of sections each separately supported, each section including (a) at least one substantially vertical support member defining a hollow interior,

(b) a plurality of shade members each having a substantially horizontally disposed longitudinal axis and being rigidly attached to the vertical member in spaced relation to the other shade members so that substantial shade is aflorded from sunlight and substantial visibility is retained through the section from the side opposite that exposed to the sunlight,

(c) a substantially horizontally disposed support member attached to the vertical member and attached to a substantially vertical structure :at each end of the area to be shaded, and

(d) fastening means attaching the horizontally disposed support member to the vertical member;

splicing means for slidably connecting adjacent sections to provide for expansion of the vertical members while maintaining vertical alignment thereof, the splicing means including a splicing member having a shape which substantially conforms to that of the interior of a vertical member partially disposed in the upper interior of each vertical member, except that of the uppermost section, a portion of each splicing member extending upward from the upper end of the vertical member and slidably engaging the lower interior of the vertical member immediately thereabove in the next higher section; and

restraining means restraining each of the splicing members from sliding downward into the vertical member from which it extends upward.

2. A sun shade apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

each section includes a plurality of vertical members each of which is substantially triangular in crosssection, has a longitudinal slot extending the entire length of the vertical member in one side thereof, and has a plurality of shade member receiving slotsextending from the edge of the vertical member forming the vertex of the triangle opposite the longitudinal slot toward the edges forming the vertices adjacent the longitudinal slot in substantially parallel planes at a predetermined angle to the vertical;

each shade member has a plurality of first portions each disposed in one slot of each vertical member, and a plurality of second portions each within the hollow interior of one of the vertical members and offset from the plane of the adjacent shade member receiving slot thereby substantially rigidly locking the shade member in a fixed position with respect to the vertical member; the splicing members are substantially V-shaped in cross-section and fit snugly within the interior of a vertical member and cooperate with the restraining means to prevent the splicing members from sliding downward; and the restraining means includes a portion of the fastening means constructed to extend substantially the entire distance across the interior of each vertical member between the vertices adjacent the longitudinal slot and cooperating with a lower edge of the splicing member disposed in the vertical member to prevent the splicing member from sliding downward. 3. A sun shade according to claim 2 wherein: each splicing member has a V-shaped slot extending from the closed end of the splicing member toward the open ends in a plane coinciding with that of the uppermost shade member receiving slot in the vertical member; and the shade member disposed in the uppermost shade member receiving slot of each vertical member has at least part of the second portion interior of the splicing member and oflset from the plane of the slot therein so that the shade member, vertical memher and splicing member are substantially rigidly locked in fixed position with respect to one another. 4. In a sun shade having at least one substantially vertical support member and a plurality of shade members each having a longitudinal :axis disposed substantially horizontally, the vertical member positioned intermediate the ends of the shade members and interlocked therewith in such a manner that substantial shade is afforded from sunlight while substantial visalbility is retained through the shade from the side opposite that exposed to the sunlight, the improvement comprising:

the vertical member defining a hollow interior and a plurality of spaced shade member receiving slots communicating therewith; each shade member having a first portion disposed in one slot of the vertical member and a second portion within the hollow interior of the vertical member cooperating with an interior surface of the vertical member to substantially rigidly lock the shade member in a fixed position with respect to the vertical member; additional vertical members each defining a hollow interior and a plurality of spaced shade member receiving slots communicating therewith, the vertical members being spaced from one another; additional first portions of each shade member each disposed in one shade member receiving slot of each additional vertical member and having additional second portions within the hollow interior of each additional vertical member cooperating with an interior surface of the vertical member to substantially rigidly lock all of the vertical members :and shade members in a fixed position with respect to one another; wherein each vertical support member is substantially triangular in cross-section, has a longitudinal slot extending the entire length of the vertical member in one side thereof, and has the shade member receiving slots extending from the edge of the vertical member forming the vertex of the triangle opposite the longitudinal slot toward the edges forming the vertices adjacent the longitudinal slot; and wherein each of the shade members has a substantially planar major portion and a flange extending substantially vertically downward from the major portion;

said sun shade further including:

a substantially horizontally disposed support member attached to each of the vertical members and attached to a substantially rigid vertical structure at each end of the area to be shaded;

fastening means attaching the horizontally disposed member to each of the vertical members;

splicing means connecting adjacent sun shade sections, the splicing means including a plurality of splicing members each with a substantially V-shaped crosssection of dimension to fit snugly within a portion of the hollow interior of a vertical member, one splicing member being partially disposed in the upper interior of each vertical member extending upward from the upper end thereof and disposed in engagement with the lower interior of the vertical member thereabove in an adjacent section; and

restraining means restraining each of the splicing members from sliding down-ward into the vertical member from which it extends upward.

5. In a sun shade having at least one substantially vertical support member and a plurality of shade members each having a longitudinal axis disposed substantially horizontally, the vertical member positioned intermediate the ends of the shade members and interlocked therewith in such a manner that substantial shade is afforded from sunlight while substantial visibility is retained through the shade from the side opposite that exposed to the sunlight, the improvement comprising:

the vertical member defining a hollow interior and a plurality of spaced shade member receiving slots communicating therewith;

each shade member having a first portion disposed in one slot of the vertical member and a second portion within the hollow interior of the vertical member cooperating with an interior surface of the vertical member to substantially rigidly lock the shade member in a fixed position with respect to the vertical member;

additional vertical members each defining a hollow interior and a plurality of spaced shade member receiving slots communicating therewith, the vertical members being spaced from one another;

additional first portions of each shade member each disposed in one shade member receiving slot of each additional vertical member and having additional second portions within the hollow interior of each additional vertical member cooperating with an interior surface of the vertical member to substantially rigidly lock all of the vertical members and shade members in a fixed position with respect to one another; and

wherein each vertical support member is substantially triangular in cross-section, has a longitudinal slot extending the entire length of the vertical member in one side thereof, and has the shade member receiving slots extending from the edge of the vertical member forming the vertex of the triangle opposite the longitudinal slot toward the edges forming the vertices adjacent the longitudinal slot;

said sun shade further including:

splicing means connecting adjacent sun shade sections, the splicing means including a plurality of splicing members each with a substantially V-shaped cross section of dimension to fit snugly within a portion of the hollow interior of a vertical member, one splic ing member being partially disposed in the upper interior of each vertical member extending upward from the upper end thereof and disposed in engagement with the lower interior of the vertical member thereabove in an adjacent section; and

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,752,644 7/1956 Mortrude 52-473 2,960,195 11/1960 Toth 52235 X 2,967,337 1/1961 Hedrick 52-473 3,266,210 8/1966 Grossman 52-235 X JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.