US3916774A

US3916774A - Adjustable vertical louver system

Info

Publication number: US3916774A
Application number: US526566A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert L Labrec
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-04-13
Filing date: 1974-11-25
Publication date: 1975-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-04

Abstract

An adjustable vertical louver system for providing privacy and wind deterrence when in a closed position, and allowing a free flow of air when in an open position. Louver slats are vertically disposed between a top support member and a bottom support member. The support members are secured to a permanent structure such as a house or wall member. One side of the slats is pivotally mounted between the support members. A draw bar is secured to one end of the louvered slats. A bracket is secured to the draw bar with opposite ends of a guy wire secured to the bracket. Pulleys are positioned on rigid extensions of the support members for providing a travel path for the guy wire. Movement of the draw bar enables the louver slats to be positioned between any opened and closed position. The slats can be moved to any desired position and are not displaced by gusts of wind due to spring loading of the guy wire.

Description

United States Patent LaBrec Nov. 4, 1-975 ADJUSTABLE VERTICAL LOUVER Primary Examiner-William F. ODea SYSTEM Assistant Examiner-Ronald C. Capossela [76] Inventor: Robert L. LaBrec 5428 Redlands Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Nilsson, Robbins, Bissell,

, Drive, San Diego, Calif. 92115 Dalgam Berlme [22] Filed: Nov. 25, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 526566 An adjustable vertical louver system for providing pri- Related US. Ap licati Dat vacy and wind deterrence when in a closed position, [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 350,842, April 13, 1973, f allowmg a free flow Open PO51 abandone tion. Louver slats are vertically dlsposed between a top support member and a bottom support member. [52] US. Cl. 98/107; 49/86; 49/88; The pp members are secured to 3 Permanent 9g 40 v 98/121 A structure such as a house or wall member. One side of 51 Int. (:1. F24F 13/11 the slats is pivetally mwmed between the pp 58 Field f Search 49 74 86 7 3; 93 10 members. A draw bar is secured to one end of the lou- 9 2 A, 40 V, 40 VM, 7; 160/344 vered slats. A bracket is secured to the draw bar with opposite ends of a guy wire secured to the bracket. 5 References Cited Pulleys are positioned on rigid extensions of the sup- UNITED STATES PATENTS port members for providing a travel path for the guy wire. Movement of the draw bar enables the louver gldfe r 49/86 slats to be positioned between y opened and closed 3590900 7/1971 3 22: 160/344 X position. The slats can be moved to any desired position and are not displaced by gusts of wind due to FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Spring l i of h guy wire,

702,712 l/l941 Germany 49/88 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 350,842, filed Apr. 13, 1973 now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The field of art to which the invention pertains includes adjustable privacy louver systems.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In areas where daily weather variations occur, it is desirable to have an adjustable louver system for enabling the flow of air through a particular portion of the home or yard. Simultaneously, at other times of the day, such as late afternoon when a chill factor may prevent use of a yard or interior portion of the home, it may be desirableto block the flow of air. While conventional adjustable louver systems are well known, the individuallouver slats of the system are normally not securely positioned, and sudden gusts of wind can displace the slats. It is possible for the wind to cause damageto both the area to be protected as well as to'the louver slats themselves. In addition, conventional louver systems may require a relatively complex adjustment system, which system can itself be damaged by the wind.

Known prior art includes US. Pat. Nos. 1,206,025; 1,589,057; 2,632,377; and 2,717,431.

The present invention provides an adjustable vertical louver system which can be easily adjusted into one of a plurality of positions with the louver slats remaining in the position chosen when large wind gusts occur. The system. can be mounted with relative ease in any window opening or fence. Adjustment of the louver slats from any one of a plurality of open positions to a closed position and vice versa is relatively simple. The vertical louver system can be easily manufactured at a relatively inexpensive cost. g

Specifically, the vertical louver system is formed of a plurality of vertically disposed louver slats which are mounted on one side between a pair of support members. A draw bar is secured to each of the louver slats. The louver slats may be adjusted from a closed to a plurality of open positions by the draw bar. A bracket is mounted on the draw bar and opposite ends of a guy wire are attached to the bracket. Pulleys are positioned on extensions of the support members for providing a travel path for the guy wire. The louver slats remain in a fixed position against the force of wind gusts due to spring loading of the guy wire.

The advantages of the invention, both as to its construction and mode of operation, will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vertical louver sys' tem illustrated mounted between a pair of support members; and

FIG. 2 is a side view taken along the line 22 of FIG. I in partial broken away form, illustrating the mounting of the louver slats between the support members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, the vertical louver slats of the louver system are illustrated mounted between a pair of fixed members. It should be understood that these fixed members could be positioned on an exterior window of a home, or could be integrally made as portions of a privacy fence of a yard. Further, the vertical louver system of the invention could be mounted in various parts of a home or building.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a vertical louver system constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. The louver system 12 is formed of a plurality of vertically mounted rectangular louver slats 14. Each of the rectangular louver slats 14 comprises a top end 16, a bottom end 18, a pivotable side 22, and a free side 24. The top and

bottom ends

16 and 18, of each of the louver slats 14, are mounted adjacent the pivotable side 22 between a top support member 26 and a bottom support member 28. Typically, the top and

bottom support members

26 and 28, respectively, are permanently affixed to the top and bottom surfaces of a window or fence by means of screws, bolts, or other conventional mounting devices (not shown). A pair of

end support members

32 and 34 extend from each end, respectively, of the top support member 26 in the plane of the support member. A bottom side support member 36 extends from one end of the bottom support member 28 in the plane of the support member A drawbar 42 interconnects each of the louver slats 14 at the top end 16 adjacent the free side 24. Referring to FIG. 2, a swivel cup 44 is fastened into the top end of each of the louver slats 14 adjacent its free side 24. A swivel pin 48, secured to the drawbar 42, is inserted into an opening 46 in the swivel cup 44. Movement of the drawbar along its axis causes each of the louver slats 14 to swivel with respect to adjacent slats and each of the slats 14 is positioned in parallel planes with respect to the other slats at all times.

A bracket 52 is secured to the center of the drawbar 42 by means of screws 54 or other conventional securing mechanisms. A pair of

openings

56 and 58 are formed in the bracket and the free ends of a guy wire 62 are each tied to one of the bracket openings. The end of the guy wire 62 in the opening 56 is wound around a first pulley 64 secured to the end member 32 and then is wound around a second pulley 66 secured to the end support member 34. The guy wire 62 is then wound around a third pulley 68. The pulley 68 is secured to a spring 72 fastened to the top surface of the end member 36. The guy wire then extends from the pulley 68 and is wound around a fourth pulley 74 secured to the end support member 34. The guy wire 62 then extends from the pulley 74 to the bracket opening 58.

Normally, the guy wire is made of steel cable, having a low coefficient of expansion and contraction, so that the louvers will not move with changes in temperature. In addition, due to the spring loading of the guy wire, should gusts of wind occur, the louvers will remain in their fixed predetermined position. It should be understood that the choice of spring tension can vary in accordance with normal sustained winds in a given area where the system is to be mounted.

The pivotable side 22 of each of the louvered slats 14 is positioned between the top and

bottom support members

26 and 28 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a mounting pin 80 is positioned in a bearing sleeve 82 in the top support member 26. The pin 80 is secured to the louver slat top end 16 by means of a threaded surface 84. In addition, a bearing spacer 86 can be positioned around a central portion 88 of the pin enabling relative movement between the louver slat top end 16 and the top support member bottom surface.

The bottom support member 28 contains a pivot cup 92 formed adjacent the bottom end 18 of the slat. A post 94 is movable in an opening 96 in the cup 92. The post 94 is also secured to the louver slat bottom end 18. Normally, the post 94 is axially adjustable by means of a nut 98 so that the louver slat 14 can be positioned between the

members

26 and 28. The tightening of the nut 98 provides the desired degree of movement between the support members and each of the slats 14.

Once the louver slats have been secured between the top and

bottom support members

26 and 28, respectively, and the guy wire secured to the bracket 52, and fastened around the

pulleys

64,66,68 and 74, movement of the louver slats 14 can be accomplished by either moving the drawbar 42 at the bracket 52 or by pulling the guy wire. Once the position of the louver slats has been set, little or no movement of the slats occurs.

A filler section 102 can be provided between the top support member 26 and the bottom support member 28. The filler section is positioned in the plane defined by the support members adjacent the intersection with the

end support members

32 and 34. When the louver slats 14 are pivoted in a plane parallel to the filler section 102, total closure is afforded. Further, rectangular bumper bars 104, 106 are provided between the

support members

26, 28 at each end thereof, to prevent the louver slats 14 from being rotated beyond the closure plane.

Additionally, a hand grip which can be attached in place of or to the guy wire could be utilized to move the louver salts to a desired position. Typically, such a devicecan be mounted at a higher level for the convenience of adults as well as a safety factor to prevent children from moving the louver slats.

4 It should be noted that the present invention enables the louver slats to be positioned so that when wind occurs, it can pass through the louver slats and not cause the slats to move. In addition, the slats could be closed to prevent wind movement through the area to be protected by the louver slats.

I claim: 1. An adjustable vertical louver system, comprising: a plurality of vertically disposed louver slats each slat defined by a top end, a bottom end, a pivotable side, and a free side; a top support member and a bottom support member; pivot means adjacent the pivot side of each of said slats for pivotally interconnecting said top support member and the top ends of said slats; pivot means adjacent the pivot side of each of said slats for pivotally interconnecting said bottom support member and the bottom ends of said slats; a drawbar spanning across the top ends of said plurality of slats; I pivot means adjacent the free side of each of said slats for pivotally interconnecting said draw bar and the top ends of said slats; and

means for adjusting the openings between said louver slats in a plane parallel to said drawbar in one of a plurality of positions, said means comprising guy wire attached to said drawbar, pulleys for providing a travel path for said guy wire, and a spring loaded pulley forming a continuation of said guy wire path.

2. A louver system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said guy wire is made of steel having a low coefficient of expansion and contraction.

3. A louver system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said louver slats are movable to an infinite number of positions from a plane perpendicular to a plane defined by said support members, to a plane parallel thereto, said louvers forming a single plane and thereby a closed surface when in a plane parallel to said support members.

4. A louver system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adjusting means additionally includes a bracket centrally secured to said drawbar to which opposite ends of said guy wire are attached.

Claims

1. An adjustable vertical louver system, comprising: a plurality of vertically disposed louver slats each slat defined by a top end, a bottom end, a pivotable side, and a free side; a top support member and a bottom support member; pivot means adjacent the pivot side of each of said slats for pivotally interconnecting said top support member and the top ends of said slats; pivot means adjacent the pivot side of each of said slats for pivotally interconnecting said bottom support member and the bottom ends of said slats; a drawbar spanning across the top ends of said plurality of slats; pivot means adjacent the free side of each of said slats for pivotally interconnecting said draw bar and the top ends of said slats; and means for adjusting the openings between said louver slats in a plane parallel to said drawbar in one of a plurality of positions, said means comprising guy wire attached to said drawbar, pulleys for providing a travel path for said guy wire, and a spring loaded pulley forming a continuation of said guy wire path.