US2947855A - Louver assembly - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 2, 1960 N. R. SCHWARTZ LOUVER ASSEMBLY Filed July 16, 1957 2,947,855 LOUVER ASSEMBLY Nathan R. Schwartz, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Naras Research Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York 7 p Filed July '16, 1 957, SenNo. 672,154

6 Claims. (Cl. 240-4639) This invention relates to a louver assembly, and more particularly to a louver assembly for the elimination of glare from lighting fixtures. The assembly herein contemplated comprises a plurality of straight louver strips assembledin an intersecting right. angle relationship within a round housing. Retaining means areincluded to secure the louver assembly to a round canopy housing for the light source and clip means are .also provided to secure a lens in place. The louver assembly is so constructed that all the parts thereof are positioned and maintained in place without the use of welds or fastening means such as screws or rivets.

.Prior art louver arrangements for eliminating the glare emanating from a light source, especially an incandescent light source, disposed in a round housing generally comprise a plurality of louver rings arranged concentric-ally with the open end of the light housing. The louver rings are maintained in spaced relationship'by cross members which are welded to the rings by means of two strip members which intersect at the center of the rings and are notched to receive the louver rings. With this arrangement only a small-portion ofthe assembly provides reasonable glare elimination, i.e. toward thev outside of the assembly the glare elimination properties decrease in that the spacing between the cross members is so arranged that a line connecting the bottom of one louver member States Patent Ofihce and the top of an adjacent louver member would be at an angle greater than with-respect to the axis of'the housing, therebymaking the viewers ,eye subject to the direct glare of the lighting source.

At the center of the assembly, the cross members and the louver rings are:so closely spaced thatnotonly is the glare eliminated but a good deal of the'illumination is also blocked out.

In the instant invention, a plurality of louver strips having slots cut therein are assembled in interlocking re- 7 lationship'to form a lattice work. The louver strips are retained in a ring like housing with the ends of the housing being inwardly bent to overlap the edges of the louver strips. With this arrangement glare'elimination is substantially equal for all areas of the louver assembly. The assembly is adapted to be mounted in a round canopy or a housing having a round opening in which the light source :is housed andis secured thereto by-a retaining means comprising a plurality of depressible buttons having individual biasing means associated therewith so that the buttons, while being positioned within the ring like housing, partially 'projectthrough circular openings .cut inthe housing. The biasing means. is aleaf spring having hooked ends bent over at right angles to the center portion and nesting in notches cut in theends of two parallel louver strips and-abutting the inside of. the ring likehousing. I

Clip means. are provided to secure a lens, usually colored andslit, to theassembly. The clip means ispositioned in a recess formed between two intersectingzlouver stripsand the inside ofthe ring likefhousing. .Outwardly Patented Aug. -2, 1960 projecting bosses are formed in the ring like housing in the portions thereof which form the recesses. While the formation of the. boss will result in an opening being formed in the ring like housing, light spill is eliminated in that the boss is positioned near the point of intersection of two louver strips. The bosses limit the inward travel of the louver assembly with respect to the canopy while the retaining means prevents the louver assembly from vibrating out of position.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a louver assembly for use with a round canopy housing a light source, wherein glare elimination is substantially uniform throughout the entire area of the assembly.

Another object is to provide a ring like housing for retaining a plurality of louver strips assembled in intersecting relationship to form a substantially square lattice work.

Still another object is to provide a louver assembly including retaining means and clip means wherein all the members are interlocked to form a mechanically stable unit thereby eliminating the necessity for welds and fastening means such as rivets or screws.

A further object is to provide a louver assembly having means for the positioning of the assembly with respect to the light source housing, with the means being positioned-so that light spill will be eliminated.

These and many other objects of the present invention will become more apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the louver'assembly comprising the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the louver assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is'a bottom view of the louver assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-section taken through lines 4-4 of Figure -1 and looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4.

Figure 5 is a cross-section taken through lines 55 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows 55.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the louver strips are assembled.

Referring to the drawings, the louver assembly 10 comprises a ring like housing 11 having inwardly turned edges 12, 13. A first plurality of louver strips 14-17 and a second plurality of louver strips 18-21 are assembled in intersecting relationship to'form a square lattice work,

municating with the upper 23 and lower 24 edges thereof. The inwardly turned edges 12, 13 of ring like housing 11 partially overlap the ends of louver strips 1-4-21 thereby retaining these strips within ring like housing 11.

Referring more particularly to Figure 5, resilient clip means 30 is positioned at the intersection of louver strips 14 and 18 with end 31 disposed within recess 32 formed by louver strips 14 and 18 in combination with ring'like housing 11. The bottom edges 24 of louver strips 14 and 18 rest against one side of clip means 30 while the other side of clip means 30 abuts turnedover edge 13 of housing 11, thereby preventing clip means 30 from moving vertically with respect to housing 11. Horizontal movement of clip means 30 with respect to housing 11 is preventedby the factthat the ends of louver strips 14 and 18 are spaced apart a distancesubstantially equal to the thicknessof clip means 30. Any attempted movement of clip means 30 to the right with respect to Figure 5 will be prevented since the spacing between louver members 14 and 18 decreases toward the intersection 33 thereof, while'leftward movement with respect to Figure 5 is prevented by end 31 which abuts the central portion 34.013

housing 11. Clip means 35-37 are secured in place in a manner similar to clip means 30.

Color lens 40 comprising a plurality of strips 41-44 retamed by frame 45 to prevent breakage due torapid expansion and contractiomis removably-secured in place by'clipmeans 30, 35, 36, 37.

-Louver assembly is positioned with respect to canopy 50, which forms the housing, for the light source (not shown) by means of bosses .51 which are formed by the outward impingement ofthe central portion 34'of ring like housing .11 at the points where housing 11 forms recesses 32 for the retention of clip means 30, 35, 36, 37. It is to be noted thatin the formation of bosses-51, openings '52 are formedin housing 11. .However, bosses 51 are 'soplaced-that'light spill through openings 52 is prevented in that light which otherwise might reach openings 52 from the light source is blocked by inwardly .turned edge 12 of housing 11 as well as the ends of theintersecting louver strips which form the recesses wherein .retaining means 30, 35, 36,37 are disposed.

Once positioned on canopy 55, by means of bosses 5.1, louver assembly 10 is retained therein by means of depressible buttons or spheres 60-63 which are centered with respect to an associated leaf spring 64 and biased outwardly thereby to partially project through openings 65 in' the central portion 34 of ring like housing 11. The hooked ends 66, 67 of each leaf spring 64 are turned substantially "at right angles with respect to the central portion of spring 64 which'bridges the space between parallel louver strips '15, 16. .Notches 68 are cut 'inithe ends of louver strips 15, 16 to receive leaf spring 64qan'd retain the same against vertical movement. The top 171 of inwardly turned canopy lip 70 *abutsbosses 51 while the bottom 72 of inwardly turned lip 70 is engaged by spheres 60-63 which are urged into contact therewith through the action of leaf springs 64 thereby 'firmly retaining louver assembly 10 to canopy 50. 7

Thus, a louver assembly is provided wherein all the parts thereof are interlocked thereby forming a mechanically stable structure. The construction is such that glare is reduced uniformly over the area of the louver assembly without any appreciable reduction in light output.

In the foregoing, this inventionhas been describedonly in connection with preferred embodiments thereof. Many variations and modifications of the principles of this invention within the scope of the description'herein are obvious. Accordingly, it is preferred to be bound no'tby the-specific disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

I claim:

1. A louver assembly :for the elimination of glare emanating from alight source, comprising 'a ring like housing and disposed within said ringlikehousing a lattice work comprising at least two groups of planar spaced apart intersecting louver'strips each substantially'parallel to the axis of the ring like housing, the louver strips of each group being positioned substantially parallel to each other, said ring like housing having inwardly-turned edges engaging each of said louver strips at both ends thereof thereby providing a mechanically stable unit; a plurality of clip means-adapted to retain a lens; a first end of each of said plurality of clip means being'enteredintoindividual recesses formed by said ring like housing and the ends of two louver strips, one from a first of said groups and the other from a second of said groups; a second end of each of said plurality of clip means .beingadapted .to removably secure a lens ,tosaid louver assembly.

2. ,A louver assembly for the elimination of glare emanating from a light source, comprising a ring like housing and disposed within said ring like housing a latticework comprising at least two groups of ,planar spaced apart intersecting louver strips each substantially parallel to the axis ofthe ring'likehousing, the louver strips of.

each group being positioned 'substa'ntiallyparallelto each other, said r'inglike' housing havinginwardly 'turned'e'dges engaging each of said louver strips at both ends thereof thereby providing a mechanically stable unit; a plurality of clip means adapted to retain a lens; a first end of each of said plurality of cli means being entered into individual recesses formed by said ring like housing and the ends of two louver strips, one from a first of said groups and the other from a. second of said groups; said ring like housing being outwardly impinged at the portions forming said recesses to form bosses which are adapted to locate said louver assembly'with respectto a' light source housing.

3. A louver assembly for the elimination of glare emanating from a light :source, comprising a ring like housing and disposed within said ring like housing a lattice work comprising at least two groups of planar spaced apart intersecting louver strips each substantially parallel to the axis of the ring like housing, the louver strips of each groupbeing positioned substantially parallel to each other, said ring likehousing having inwardly turned edges engaging each of said louver stripsat bothends thereof thereby providing a mechanically .stable unit; retaining means carried bysaid louver assembly and operatively positioned to engagea light source housingjforremovably retaining said louver assembly with respect to said light sourcehousing; said retaining means including a plurality of buttons positioned within 'said ring like housing; biasing means urging .said plurality of buttons 'to partially project through openings in said-ring like housing; said biasing means comprising a plurality 'o'flea'f'springs, one for each of said plurality of buttons; each ofsa'idplurality of-le'af springsbridgin'g the gap between the ends of two adjacent louver strips of the same group; each of said plurality of-button's being centered with respect toits associated leaf spring.

4. A louver assembly for the elimination of glare emanating from alight source, comprising a ring'like housing and disposed within said ring like housing a'l'at tice work comprising at least two groups of'planar-spaced apart intersecting louver 'strips each substantially parallel to the axis of the ring like'housing, athelouver strips of each group being positioned substantially parallel to each other, said ring like housing having inwardly turned edges engaging each of said louver strips at both ends thereof thereby providing a mechanically istable ,unit; retaining means carried by said louver assembly and operatively positioned to engage 'a light source housing for-removably retaining said louver assembly withirespect to 'saidlight source housing; said retaining means including a-p'lurality of buttonspositioned-withinsaidring likehousing; biasing means urging :said plurality of "buttons to partially project through openings in said ring like'housing; :said biasing means comprising a plurality of leaf springs, one for each 'of'said pluralityof buttons; each of-said plurality of leaf springs comprising a central portion and ho'oke'd ends; said hooked ends "of each of saidpluralityof leaf springs engaging the ends of two adjacent louverstfips of the same group.

5. A louver assembly for the elimination of glare emanating from 'a light source, comprising a ring like housing and disposed within 'said ring like housing a lattice work comprising at least two groups of planar spaced apart intersecting louver strips each substantially parallel to the axis of the 'ring'like housing, the louver stripsot each group being positioned substantially parallel to each group; 'a plurality of clip means adapted'to retain 'a lens; a first end of each of said'plurality of clip means being entered into individual'recesses formed by said ring like housing andthe ends of'twolouverstrips, one from a first of said groups and the other-fromasecond of said groups; retaining means carried by said louver assembly and operatively positioned to engage a light sourcehousing for removably retaining said louver assembly "with respect to said light source housing; said ring like house ing, said louver strips, said plurality of clip means, and said retaining means being constructed and positioned I in interlocking relationship to provide a mechanically stable unit.

6. A louver assembly for the elimination of glare emanating from a light source, comprising a ring like housing and disposed within said ring like housing a lattice work comprising at least two groups of planar spaced apart intersecting louver strips each substantially parallel to the axis of the ring like housing, the louver strips of each group being positioned substantially parallel to each other, said ring like housing having inwardly turned edges engaging each of said louver strips at both ends thereof thereby providing a mechanically stable unit; a plurality of clip means adapted to retain a lens; a first end of each plurality of clip means being entered into individual recesses formed by said ring like housing and the ends of two louver strips, one from a first of said groups and the other from a second of said groups; a frame and a lens retained thereby; said lens comprising a plurality of strips placed side by side; said frame being engaged by a second end of each of said plurality of clip means to thereby be removably secured to said louver assembly; said ring like housing being outwardly impinged at the portions forming said recesses to form bosses which are adapted to locate said louver assembly with respect to a light source housing; retaining means including a plurality of buttons positioned within said ring like housing; biasing means urging said plurality of buttons to partially project through openings in said ring like housing; said biasing means comprising a plurality of leaf springs, one for each of said plurality of buttons; each of said plurality of leaf spring bridging the gap between the ends of two adjacent louver strips of the same group; each of said plurality of buttons being centered with respect to its associated leaf spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,309,446 Otte July 8, 1919 1,590,310 Nelson June 29, 1926 2,046,184 Saaf June 30, 1936 2,430,472 Levy Nov. 11, 1947 2,437,522 Handler Mar. 9, 1948 2,510,873 Early June 6, 1950 2,785,291 Bernstein Mar. 12, 1957 2,833,915 1 Beecher May 6, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 183,274 Great Britain July 27, 1922 678,151 France Dec. 23, 1929

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