GB2105839A - Louvre assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

A louvre assembly includes at least two sheet metal mullions (32) having lateral projections (38) each supporting a louvre (12) having a snap-on connection with a part (40) of the projection (38). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Louvre assemblies This invention relates to louvre assembles for permanent incorporation in buildings.

For certain purposes it is desirable that louvre assemblies of the kind incorporated permanently in buildings shall have an external appearance in which supporting mullions are invisible and such louvre assembles have been produced which can be themselves assembled together to form louvre openings of indefinite width and height.

In prior proposals the louvre assembles are entirely secured together by rivets and this has the disadvantage that the smooth louvre surfaces are interrupted and thus less aesthetically acceptable and, moreover, the cost of construction and assembly is higher than is desirable.

According to the present invention, there is provided a louvre assembly comprising at least two sheet metal mullions having generally lateral projections each arranged to support a louvre and each louvre having clip means engaging parts of the projections of the mullions.

An embodiment of a louvre assembly in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a louvre assembly in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the assembly as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a detail; Figure 4 is an end elevation illustrating a louvre head member and a cill; Figure 5 is a perspective view from the rear illustrating a modification to the construction of Figure 3; and Figure 6 is a plan view illustrating an arrangement of the louvre assembly at an end thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, a plurality of louvre members 10 of aluminium or aluminium alloy sheet is shown in Figure 1 and as will be apparent each louvre member 10 has a central plane portion 12, a dependent, outer, flange 14 and an upstanding, inner, flange 16 terminating in a horizontal edge flange portion 18 as shown in Figure 2. The dependent; outer, flange 14 has an upturned edge portion 20 having notches 22 at intervals along its length.

Each notch is of generally rectangular shape. The edge portion 20 is not parallel to the portion 12, but extends towards the latter.

Each mullion 30 comprises two back-to-back angle members 32 each including an inner flange 34 and a louvre support portion 36 cut at intervals to form angled arms 38 each having at its outer end a tab 40 extending parallel to the inner flange 34 of the corresponding member. These outer tabs 40 of the mullions engage against the inwardly-directed faces of the dependent flanges 14 of the louvres and also provide an engagement location for the upturned edge flange portions 20 of the louvres so that a clipping or locking action is provided.

An upper edge 42 of each arm 38 has an inclination corresponding to the desired inclination of the louvres and each tab 40 lies in a vertical plane and has a vertical height such that when the flange portion is snapped over the tab, a tight fit is provided so as to avoid wind forces setting up oscillations.

Although in some constructions it may be convenient to terminate louvres at a mullion, in general the louvres will extend past the mullions and to enable this, the louvres will have a slot in the central plane portion 12 aligned with each notch 20 so that the louvre can engage around the forwardly-extending portions of each pair of members 32 where the portions 36 of the members 32 are not divided to form the arms 38. To ensure that each louvre is firmly secured to each mullion 30, rivets 44 are.used to secure each flange 16 to one or both of the flanges 34 of two angles members 32 which form the compiete mullion. The edge flange portion 18 of each louvre serves a stiffening purpose, and also prevents moisture being blown over the flange 16 and into the building.

In the case of the uppermost louvre 10 a somewhat modified construction could be used with the upstanding inner flange 16 terminating short of the vertical inner flange 34 of the corresponding mullion 30 and having an upper horizontal flange portion 18 which extends inwardly and which is riveted to one arm 50 of an unequal channel section member 52, the other arm 54 of which effectively forms an extension of the central portion 12 of the louvre, the base 56 of the channel being used to secure the unequal channel section member 52, to the vertical flange 34 of the mullion by rivets 58 and hence, indirectly to secure the louvre 10 as a whole to the mullion 30 at the inner edge. By this modification the rivet-free external appearance of the louvre assembly is maintained over the whole height of the assembly. If desired this blade construction may be used for each louvre member.

The assembly illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 may conveniently include a louvre head member and a louvre cili member as illustrated in Figure 4. Like parts to those of Figures 1 to 3 have been given the same reference numerals. The louvre head member 60 is of unequal, inverted, generally channel section with the base 62 uppermost, the longer limb 64 being secured at intervals along its length by pop rivets 66 to the upstanding, inner, flange 16 of the uppermost louvre. The shorter limb 68 of the louvre head member has an upturned end portion 70 similar to the upturned end portions 20 of the louvres.

The arms 38 in this construction have, in addition to the tabs 40, a return 72 but are otherwise similar to the arms of Figures 1 to 3. The uppermost arm 38' has a horizontal upper edge and this is defined by a flange 74 which abuts, at its inner end the horizontal edge flange portion 18 of the uppermost louvre.

The louvre cill member 80 has a central portion 82, sloping slightly as installed, a dependent front flange 84 with turned-up edge portion 86, and an upstand ing, rear flange 88 which terminates at its upper edge in a short forwardly-extending extension 90. At each end the cill member 80 has an upstanding transverse plate 92.

It will be readily appreciated that when viewed from the front both the head and cill members have a similar appearance to that of the louvres.

Figure 5 further illustrates the modified construction of Figure 4 in as far as it shows the return 72 of one tab 40 and the provision of a notch 94 additional to the notch 22. The end portion 70 of the head member is similarly notched.

Figure 6 illustrates the arrangement at one end of a louvre assembly of the modification of Figures 4 and 5. The half mullion is riveted to a continuous flat plate 96 by pop rivets 98.

The half mullion with the return 72 acts as an invisible jamb member and the plate 96 provides additional rigidity for the assembly.

As for the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the modifications of Figures 4 to 6 also present a louvre assembly with a rivet free appearance. In addition a frameless appearance is given at the jambs and the head and cill members appear as louvres. The jamb construction enables good bedding and pointing.

The louvre assembly hereinbefore described has a number of advantages over similar assemblies currently-proposed and available. No external rivets are visible, the securing and mounting means are not visible from the outside of the assembly, it is possible to manufacture the assemblies without any frame or to provide a frameless appearance with the head and cill members showing as blades or louvres, or if desired conventional head, cill and jambs may be provided. The absence of a frame represents a material saving and in the preferred embodiment the absence of approximately 50% of the rivets conventionally used reduces labour time by approximately 25%.

Claims (10)

1. A louvre assembly comprising at least two sheet metal mullions having generally lateral projections each arranged to support a louvre and each louvre having snap-on clip means engaging parts of the projections of the mullions whereby at least partially to hold the assembly together.

2. A louvre assembly comprising at least two spaced sheet metal mullions, each mullion incorporating a plurality of generally laterally-extending projections, a plurality of louvres and snap-on clip means provided on the louvres and on the projections enabling locking interengagement of the projections and the louvres in the assembled condition.

3. A louvre assembly comprising sheet metal mullions each including two angle-section members, one limb of each angle-section member abutting the corresponding limb of the other member, said abutting limbs extending in the form of lateral projections of the mullion, louvres supported by the projections and means provided both on the louvres and on the projections which enable a snap on assembly and retention of the parts in assembled condition during use.

4. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each louvre has a generally inclined, central portion complementary to an inclined edge surface of the corresponding projection of each supporting mullion and carrying at its lower end a portion of the snap-on means.

5. An assembly according to Claim 4 wherein the snap-on means includes an edge portion of each louvre inclined at an angle in relation to the central inclined portion such that a continuation of the edge portion will intersect the plane of the inclined portion if continued beyond its physical edge at a line inwardly of the free edge of that louvre.

6. An assembly according to Claim 4 or 5 wherein the snap-on clip means comprises a tab at the end of each projection of each mullion remote from the upright portions of the mullion said tab forming another part of said snap-on clip means.

7. An assembly according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein each louvre includes an upstanding flange secured in the assembled condition to the mullions by rivets or other fastening means.

8. An assembly according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein each louvre extends across at least two mullions and the assembly as a whole when viewed from the front does not indicate the presence of any such mullion.

9. An assembly according to any one of the preceding Claims comprising an uppermost louvre having an upstanding upper vertically-extending flange, means for securing this flange to the mullions, said means comprising a channel section member and rivets.

10. A louvre assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings;