US2572257A - Sheet metal panel - Google Patents

Description

Oct. ,23, 1951 E. G. GERNER EIAL SHEFT METAL PANEL Filed Aug. 27, 1946 7 INVENTOR 'WILLIAM H. GERNER EUGENE G. GERNER CB A- 7W ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 23, 1951 I AVAILABLE COPY H ESM L Eu ene GemenMm q q. and. William L.

- Y Geea. asa'lll:

This invention relates to metal awnings or.

shades, and encompassesfa m'e alsheet-whioh'may be utilized-as a'wall-cdveri'ng:

"An object oithe invention is the provision of a rnetahavvningwhich is'light in weightand sturdy of construction."

Another object of the invention is the prol 'Another object' is the 'pfovision of an awning madeof 'rnetal -sl ats, which is leak proof, with out the u's'ual overlapping featu'racustom'ary in awnings v m, x r 4 .i l

'Another feature the invention is the provision of a metal-awning wh'ichis noiseless when rolled.

The awning of our invention consists of a plurality of vertically disposed slats which are rolled on a roller, with its axis disposed transvers'ely of the slats.

A further feature is the provision of an awning composed of slats wherein there is limited relative'movement between adjacent slats, so that any stress imposed on any ofthe slats will not be transmitted to the others."

A further object of the invention is the attainment of unusual strength in the awning, resulting from the'vert ical disposition of. the slats, whichprevents sagging.

' A' stillfurther object of the invention is the attainment of increased 's'tren'gth,'which is accomplishedby forming theindividual slats arouate in cross-section.

The slats in the awning of the present invention are formed with projections and notches in their longitudinal edges, and are secured together by interlocking the projections and. notches in the meeting'edges of adjacent slats. Because qr this feature, the slats can be formed by simple stamping,' and need not' be provided with complicated and cumbersome hinged'joints. This overcomes aserious objection to' previous forms of metal awningsj Such previous forms of awnings, because'of their complicated hinged joints were required'to be rolled on an axis longitudinally of the slats. The cumbersome hinged joints required a great deal of space in rolling. In the present invention the locking means between the slats is flat and requires very little space in rolling.

A still further advantage of the invention is thatthe individual slatsmay beshipped to a user. andassembled onthe site into an awning and erected, without: the necessity of skilled:

Still anothercbject of the invention is-the provision ofan awni'n'g which can be applied'to standard awning fittings, and does not require a special type of roller'cr other fittings. "Still another object-is the provision of an economicalfmetal awning within the price range of nearly every potential'fiusr. A still'fui'thef'advahtag of the invention isthat. the device can be used: equally"well for out? ddor awnings "or forrindoor shades." Another'object birthe" invention is the pro-- vision of a metalawning in which the parts do not become loose'after 'c'ontinuedluse. Stillanother'great'adva'ntage is that the awn ing can beieasilyI-cleanedand painted or changed, whenever'th user desires." Still another advantage is that although the awning "can be IOH BdLOII an axis transverse to the slats, there is 'no spring-back in-ithe metal such as encountered. in rolling a solid sheet. This resu1ts 'froin"tl-ie fact that the"individ1'ial slats have a limited amount of movement 'fela'-' tive to each other.

With these andother objects in view, our invention consists in the'coris'truction', arrange ment and combinatioii ofthe various parts oi'tiiir device'whereby the bbje'cts contemplated are at tained'as h'rei-naf-terin'ore fully'set'forth, 5mm: ed out in"the"c1aim's', and illustrated'in"the"'ac companyin'g"drawingsfiifwhich'z" "Figi'lis'a er peetiveview of completed awn ing'i'nade amemmgre' oiir'invention;"""" 2 is anem a-reed View era portion of two slats showh'in pd'sition'for lockingtogether; 'Fig'. 3 is'jafieiviv diieirediicd scale "showing the slats "of Fig: 2' 'afte'r being'locked' together; this view shows a portionbi 'the undersurfa'ce of the awning? i Fig. 4 is a view of the reverse side of Fig. 3, and'shows a' portion ofthtop'surface of the ""Fig'f's is a greatly enlarged and exaggerated view of the portion included in 'thedot dash'area Figf6 'is a view taken on line 6-45 of Fig. 4 and Fig. *1 at fragmentary-viewer the under surraceer"th awiungshbmng asupplementaryreinrorifin flme Figflisl'iows' 'the awning element as a whole indicated at-12," and "compris plurality of maiviuuarnatsw4.' rhe'siaes"|4 it will be'noted', are"parallefaiid placd'side'byside, and: meatsposed vertically as contrasted with being disposed longitudinally along the length of the awning,

The awning includes a roller l6, supportedby brackets l8, which are secured to a vertical supporting surface. A pair of arms 20, one at each end of the awning, are secured by brackets 22 at their inner ends, which in turn are secured to the supporting surface. The outer ends of the arms 20 are interconnected by a cross-bar 24. The awning element 12 is secured at its up er edge to the roller l6 and at a point spaced a short distance upwardly from its lower edge to the cross-bar 24, by means of rivets or bolts fitted in holes in the slats, or other suitable means. The lower extremity of the awning element I2 is provided with a bar 26 forming a finished edge and acting as a weight for retaining the lower portion of the awning element in vertical position over the edge of the cross-bar 24.

Two individual slats l2 are shown in Fig. 2, and are given separate reference numerals, 28 and 30 respectively, for ease of identification. Each of the individual slats is provided on both of its longitudinal edges with alternate projections 32 and notches 34. The projections 32 are of considerable length longitudinally of the slat, as compared with their width transversely'of the slat, and diverge outwardly from the slat. At their inner portions each projection 32 in Fig. is formed with a straight portion for a short distance, as indicated at 36. This straight portion 36 extends perpendicular to the length of the slat and at the outer extremity of the straight portion the projection begins its diverging shape and becomes longer longitudinally of the slat. Intermediate the longitudinal extremities of each projection 32 is a V-shaped notch 38 extending nearly to a line forming a continuation of the marginal edge of the body of the slat. The notch 38 actually divides the projection 32 into two e ements; however, the elements on opposite sides of the notch 38 are to be considered together as a single projection, because the notch, or the separate elements as such, do not take part in the interconnection of the slats, as will be explained later.

Each notch 34 is formed by a pair of lu s 40 having a length laterally of the slat to the same extent as the projections 32. In each longitudinal extremity of each notch 34 is a smaller notch or cut-out portion 42, positioned at the inner end of the notch adjacent the marginal edge of the slat, and extending longitudinally along the edge of the slat. The cut-out portions 42 thereby form hook portions 44 on the lugs 40 and the hook portions 44 of each pair of lugs 40 are directed toward each other. The lugs 40 are spaced from adjacent projections 32 a distance approximately equivalent to the longitudinal dimension of the lugs 40, as indicated by the gaps 46. The lugs 40 are to be distinguished from the pairs of elements making up the projections 32; in the claims the elements 40 will be referred to as lugs, and each pair of elements on opposite sides of the notch 38, together will be referred to as a projection.

The longitudinal dimension of each notch 34 at its inner portion, that is, the dimension from the floor of one cut-out portion 42 to its companion, is equal to the longitudinal dimension of the projection 32 between its straight portions 36. To fit the slats together, the projections 32 on one slat are fitted into the notches 34 on the adjacent slat. Thus the notches 34 may be referred to as locking notches for purposes of identification. The longitudinal dimension of the projection 32 at its outer end is greater than the longitudinal dimensionof the inner end of the slot 34, and to lock the slats together they are positioned in planes roughly perpendicular to each other, and each projection 32 is flexed and snapped into the associated notch at such a point that the hook portions 44 pass over the straight portions 36 of the projection. Successive projections 32 along the meeting edge of adjacent slats are on opposite slats so that each projection 32 must .be forced into the associated notch in a direction different from the previous projection. There is no direct locking engagement between lugs in adjacent slats, since the straight edges thereof are in engagement, and there is no locking or hooking effect. The locking effect is ac-' complished by the engagement between the projections 32 and the notches 34. i

Fig. 3 shows the position of the various projections and notches of adjacent slats, when they are in locking engagement.

It will be noted from Fig. 6 that the slats are arcuate in cross-section. The arcuate shape of the slats imparts added strength to the awning element and prevents sagging thereof. The axis of the roller 16 is transverse to the slats and therefore rolling action is not obtained by means of hinges between the slats but by flexing and rolling the individual slats. When the awnin is lowered or outstretched, the slats assume their arcuate curvature, but when the awning is ro'led, obviously the slats cannot retain their arcuate curvature, but are fiat. The effective transverse dimension of each slat changes from its arcuate position to its flattened position, and therefore provision must be made to allow for a certain degree of play in the locking arrangement between the slats.

When the awning is outstretched and the slats assume their arcuate curvaure, there is a tendency for the slats to separate. The relative position between the slats is shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 5, where in dot-dash lines, the projection 32 is shown drawn outwardly of the notch 34 to its limit. The outer extremity of the straight portion 36 is in engagement with the transverse outer limit of the respective cut-out portion 42. When the awning is rolled, and the slats assume w their flattened position, the meeting edges between the slats are forced toward each other, and the inner extremity of the straight portion 36 is in engagement with the transverse inner edge of the cut-out portion 42. It will be understood, of course, that this condition is shown exaggerated in Fig. 5 for the purpose of illustration, and that the transverse movement between the slats does not take place to the extent indicated in this figure. In addition, the movement just described is an extreme condition, that is, the limits of the greatest amount of movement possible, and that in the construction and assembly of slats, as contemplated by this invention, such movement may be anywhere between the limits just described. In any event, the lon gitudinal dimension of the projection between the straight portions 36 is substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension between the floors of the cut-out portions 42, so that there is no space left in fitting these elements together.

Whether the slat are arcuate or flattened, each projection 32 bears against the transverse edges of the respective cut-out portions 42, so that any opening between the elements of the locking means is reduced to the absolute minimum, and

isno more-than acapillary opening. Thusthe awning is rendered waterproof,- since water runt lugs" 40 are of shorter longitudinal dimension,

and consequently the difficulty just described does not exist in connection with these lugs.-

As the slats become flattened in rolling onthe roller, the projections and lugs of the locking elements lie flat against the undersurface of the slats,=.reducing the total space required for the rolled awning to a minimum.

Thecurvature oithe'slats enables the awning to bemade of verylight gauge sheet metal, while possessing great strength, and because it-is made of light gauge metal, it occupies very little space on the roller, when it is rolled up. Accordingly,.

it is'much'more easy and simple to operate in the rolling up operation.

Reference to Fig. 4 will show the appearance ofthe upper surface of the finished awning. The line 4'8iindicates the meeting edge between adjacent slats,.and with the projections and lugs on the underside, there is nothing to be seen on top except a straight even line. Even with the adjacent slats slightly separated, this line does not become noticeably wider and the finished appearance of the awning element is simple and clear-cut.

In Fig. 7- a reinforcing strip 48 is shown secured across the underside of the slats l4 by means of rivets. The rivets may be secured to spaced slats and need not be secured to allthes'lats. The strip 48 is preferably of light gauge metal which is flexible so as to conform to the rollingaction. The openings for the rivets in the stripare large enough to permit slight movement of the rivets therein when the slats I 4- alternately flatten out and resume their arcuate curvature. Ordinarily, the strips 48 are not necessary, but if the awning should be of considerable vertical extent and be subjected to violent winds, one or more strips 48 may be employed for insuring that the slats remain locked together.

Itvvill-be seen from the foregoing that an; awning made according to the presentinvention can be applied to the fixtures and fittings usually furnished with standard awnings. The individual slats may be sent to the user unassembled, and the user can assemble them, and secure the assembled awning to the awning fixtures by a simple operation.

The slats of the present invention can be formed by a stamping operation in mass production and by high-speed methods. There has never been in existence as far as can be determined, a metal awning formed by stamped slats.- All previous awnings of this general nature were formed of slats, which in order to secure them together, were provided with large and cumbersome hinging mechanisms. Such items obviously were expensive and possessed other objections. In addition, never before has a metalawning been produced in which slats were indie" viduallyi rolled;

It: will be obviousfromnthe. foregoing that the article formed=is in-theformbf a sheet which may be utilized for coveringan expanse of wall,- ifdesir'ed.

While-we have herein shown a particular embodiment of our invention, it will be understood of-coursethat'we do not wishto be limited thereto since manymodifications may be made, and we-therefore contemplate by the claims appended hereto to cover any such modifications or substitut-ions of equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope or" our invention.

We claim:

1. A metal sheet comprising, a plurality of parallel metal slats, said sheet being rollable into a roll having an axis transverse to said slats,

each of said slats having a plurality of projections and notches formed in its longitudinal edges, each of said projections having a greater longitudinal dimension at its outer portion and each of said notches having a greater longitudinal dimension at its inner portion, the projec-- tionson each slat respectively fitting into the notches in adjacent slats for securing the slats together.

2. A metal sheet comprising, a plurality of parallel thin, sheet-like metal slats, each of said slats havingv a body portion and a plurality of projections and notches formed in its longitudinal edges, the body portion and projections of eachslat lying in a homologous surface, each of said projections having a greater longitudinal dimension at its-outer portion than at its inner portion, and each of said notches having a greater longitudinal dimension at its inner portion than at its outer portion, the longitudinal dimension of each projection at its inner portion being substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of each notch at its inner portion, the projections on each slat respectively fitting into the notches in adjacent slats for securing the slats together, the projections of each slat overlying the body portion of an adjacent slat when the slatsare secured together.

3. A metal sheet comprising, a plurality of parallel metal slats, said sheet being rollable into a roll having an axis transverse to the slats, each of said slats having a plurality of alternate projections and locking notches formed in its longitudinal edges, each of said. projections having agreater longitudinal dimension at its outer portion than at its inner portion and each of said locking notches having a greater longitudinal dimension at its inner portion than at its outer portion, each of said projections being cut transversely of the slat at a point intermediate the longitudinal extremities of the projection to form flexing notches, the projections on each slat respectively fitting into the locking notches in ad jacent slats for securing the slats together.

4. 'In a metal sheet, a plurality of parallel metal slats disposed side by side, said sheet being rollable into a roll having an axis transverse to said slats, each of said slats being arcuate in cross section, each of said slats having projections and notches formed in its side edges, the projections of each slat respectively interlockingly engaging the notches in adjacent slats for securing the slats together, the meeting edges of adjacent slats having limited relative movement toward and away from each other with said projections and notches in interlocking engagement.

5. Ina metal sheet, a plurality of slats disposed side by side, each of said slats having projections and notches formed in its longitudinal edges, the projections of each slat respectively interlockingly engaging the notches in adjacent slats for securing the slats together, each of said notches having a contiguous cut-out portion at each longitudinal extremity adjacent the edge of the body of the slat, the respective projections having binding engagement with the transverse edges of said cut-out portions when said projections and notches are in interlocking engagement.

6. In a metal sheet, a plurality of identical slats disposed side by side, each of said slats having alternate projections and notches formed in its longitudinal edges, each of said notches being formed by a pair of lugs, each pair of lugs being disposed between and spaced from successive projections, the projections on each slat respectively fitting into the notches in adjacent slats for locking the slats together.

7. In a metal sheet, a plurality of slats disposed side by side, each of said slats having alternate projections and locking notches formed in its longitudinal edges, each of said projections having a greater longitudinal dimension at its outer portion than at its inner portion and being cut transversely of the slat at a point intermediate its longitudinal extremities to form a flexing notch, each of said locking notches being formed by a pair of hook-shaped lugs, the hooks of the lugs forming each pair being turned toward each other, said lugs being spaced from adjacent projections, the projections on each slat respectively fitting into the locking notches in adjacent slats for locking the slats together.

8. In a metal awning, a plurality of slats disposed side by side, said slats each having projections and notches formed in their longitudinal edges, the projections of each slat respectively interlockingly engaging the notches in adjacent slats for locking the slats together, and a roller secured to said slats having its axis transverse to said slats.

9. In a metal awning, a plurality of slats disposed side by side, said slats each having interlocking portions in their adjacent longitudinal edges for securing the slats together, and a roller secured to said slats having its axis transverse to said slats.

10. A sheet metal slat, a plurality of which are used for making up a metal sheet, having alternate projections and notches formed in each of its longitudinal edges, each of said notches being formed by a pair of lugs, each pair of lugs being disposed between and spaced from successive projections a distance equal to the longitudinal dimension of each lug.

11. A metal awning comprising, a plurality of vertically disposed parallel metal slats, said awning being rollable into a roll having an axis transverse to the slats, each of said slats having a plurality of projections and notches formed in its longitudinal edges, the projections on each slat respectively fitting into the notches on opposing edges of adjacent slats for securing the slats together, said projections and notches having a close fit and a reinforcing strip extending transverselyof the slats and secured to certain of the slats, said reinforcing member being flexible in a direction about the axis of rolling of the slats.

12. In a metal sheet, a plurality of thin, sheetlike slats disposed side by side, said slats each having a body portion and projections and notches formed in their longitudinal edges,- said notches being cut through the material of the slats and said projections forming lateral extensions of the material of the slats, the body portion and projections of each slat lying in a. homologous surface, the projections of each slat respectively interlockingly engaging the notches in adjacent slats for locking the slats together, all of said projections all being disposed on one side of the sheet and adapted to lie substantially fiat against the sheet.

13. A metal awning comprising, a plurality of vertically disposed parallel metal slats, said awning being rollable into a roll having an axis transverse to the slats, each of said slats having a plurality of projections and notches formed in its longitudinal edges, the projections on each slat being interlockingly fitted respectively in the notches in adjacent slats, the outer portion of each of said projections having a greater longitudinal dimension than its inner portion, and the inner portion of each of said notches having a greater longitudinal dimension than its outer portion, said inner portions of said projections and notches having a close fit for securing the slats together, and a reinforcing strip extending transversely of the slats and secured to the awnmg.

14. A metal sheet comprising a plurality of elongated parallel metal slats, each of said slats having a plurality of spaced primary projections formed in the edges of the slat, each primary projection having a pair of opposite edges extending parallel to each other to an intermediate point spaced from the body of the slat, said opposite edges then diverging to form an outer portion of said primary projection of greater longitudinal dimension than the portion between said parallel edges, a plurality of secondary projections formed in the edges of the slat, a pair of adjacent secondary projections bounding the longitudinal edges of a notch, portions of each said secondary projection being spaced parallel to the body of the slat to bound the width of the notch, the primary projections on each slat fitting into the notches in adjacent slats for securing the slats together, and the distance between the body of the slat and said intermediate point on the primary projections being substantially equal to said width of said notch.

15. A metal sheet comprising a plurality of elongated parallel metal slats, s'aid sheet being rollable into a roll having an axis transverse to the slats, each of the slats being normally arcuate in cross-section and adapted to flatten when the awning is rolled, each of said slats having a plurality of spaced primary projections formed in the edges of the slat, each primary projection having a pair of oppositeedges extending parallel to each other to an intermediate point spaced from the body of the slat, said opposite edges then diverging to form an outer portion of said primary projection of greater longitudinal dimension than the portion between said parallel edges, a plurality of secondary projections bounding the longitudinal edges of a notch, portions of each said secondary projection being spaced parallel to the body of the slat to bound the width of the notch, the primary projections on each slat fitting into the notches in adjacent slats for securing the slats together, said intermediate points on the primary projections being adjacent the spaced parallel portions of the secondary projections on the adjacent slat when the slats are arcuate, and the body of the slat BEST AVAlLABLE COPY 2,572,257 9 10 being adjacent the spaced parallel portions of Number Name Date the secondary projections of the adjacent slat 230,511 Vogdt July 27, 1880 when the slats are flattened. 462,094 Fowler Oct. 27, 1891 EUGENE G. GERNER. 667,953 Ross Feb. 12, 1901 WILLIAM H. GERNER. 5 757,106 Gervais Apr. 12, 1904 819,866 Dobson May 8, 1906 REFERENCES CITED 1,061,297 Johnson May 13, 1913 The following references are of record in the 1106383 Holnagel file of patent: Dec. 29, 10 2,100,976 Norton Nov. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,204,363 Jenkins June 11. 1940 Number Name Date 58,451 Merrill Oct. 2, 1866

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