AU631222B2

AU631222B2 - Building element

Info

Publication number: AU631222B2
Application number: AU58001/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stoyan Ivanoff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-06-30
Filing date: 1990-06-28
Publication date: 1992-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-28
Also published as: AU5800190A

Description

AO0 0 16 /L- JUN 1989 SOUTH

AUSTRALIA

l~: Application Number: Lodged: Form COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952-62 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: TO BE COMP! ETED BY APPLICANT STOYAN IVANOFF Vineyards Motel, Stockwell Road, Angaston, South Australia, Australia STOYAN IVANOFF Care of R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES, 345 King William Street, Adelaide, South australia Actual Inventor: S, Address for Service: Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: "BUILDING ELEMENT" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.

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1 To: The Commissioner of Patents, Commonwealth of Australia.

R. K. MADDERN and ASSOCIATES, Citicorp House 345 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000.

4 FB 0419-0 IM 9185 This invention relates to a building element, suitable for use in the roofs and walls of greenhouses, conservatories and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is a need for a building element, for use in greenhouses and conservatories in particulaz, which will let in optimum amounts of light, whilst protecting plants etc.

from the damaging effects of direct sunlight.

In the past, corrugated building elements, having one side of each corrugation constructed from aluminium and the other side of each corrugation constructed from a transparent material, have been used for this purpose. However such elements are expensive, and also difficult to clean.

The building element according to the present invention is produced by a simple modification of commerciallyavailable naterials, and is therefore both cheap and versatile. For use in situations where cleaning may be difficult, it is produced with smooth surfaces, and is therefore easily cleaned, and has an attractive appearance.

tI It is also stronger than the prior art building elements.

5 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The building element of the present invention comprises a series of adjoining cells, which are either hollow or formed from transparent solid material, characterised in that S each of the said cells has a substantially square, 1 ,30 rectangular, triangular, rhombic, parallelepiped or r trapezoidal cross-section bounded by inner, transparent or opaque walls and outer, transparent walls, and the outer walls of the series of cells combine to form two substantially parallel surfaces, each one or a majority of said cells containing a planar opaque insert. Said substantially parallel surfaces can be either plar'- r corrugated.

-2- -67 The opaque inserts or opaque walls (if present) should be parallel to each other. They are formed from solid material which, i-n one embodiment, is a reflective material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS. AND SIMILAR BUILDI G ELEMENTS In order to further explain the present invention, preferred embodiments, and simil-i: building elements, are described hereunder in further detail and with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is an end view of various types of building element according to the invention, wherein the hollo cells contain inserts of opaque material.

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of one cell in a building element accoraing to Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 and 3 are end views of similar building elements, wherein the inner walls are constructed of opaque material.

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3 0 I L~ St C t I I Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a building element with triangular cells.

Fig. 4A is an end Jew of one cellinabldg emn according to Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is an end view of another similar building element. This building element is a solid sheet of transparent material, incorporating parallel metal or plastic gauze strips.

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Figs. 6 and 7 are end views of '.urther embodiments, wherein the cells are formed frora tr~vnsparent solid ,,iaterial, and either one or both of the outer surfaces ar6, corrugatedi.

-3- ~~aws~j,, In the building elements 10 of Fig. 1, the two surface walls (11 and 12) are interconnected by multiple inner walls 13. All walls are formed from transparent material, such as glass or plastic, the latter being solid or flexible (e.g.

polymenic, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, film) The plastic version is light and cheap, whereas the glass version is more durable. Strips of aluminium 14 are inserted into each cell (as shown in Fig. 1A), e.g. at an angle of 90". Other reflective materials may also be used, such as stainless steel (if extra strength is required), or silver-coloured or silver-coated opaque plastic. Other suitable opaque materials are any coloured, pictorial or advertising materials. For example, part of a picture may be displayed on the surface of each strip 14, so that the building element or combination of building elements, when viewed, presents a complete picture to the observer.

Type A is the basic model, wherein each cell is of substantially square cross-sectio.. When installed in the roof or walls of a greenhouse or the like, opaque strips 14 block out direct sunlight, but let in sunlight striking at e.g. a 30' 45' angle at substantially the angle of V the opaque strips). The bailding elements should be t positioned, therefore, acccrding to the angle at which the t Cr 25 sun hits.

The shape of the cell may be varied, depending on the Set latitude at which the building element is to be used. Type B, t cc ^Si -4having broader cells, with opaque strips inserted at a less acute angle, is suitable for use in Australia. Type C, having narrower cells, with opaque strips inserted at a sharper angle, is suitable for use in equatorial regions.

Figs. 2 and 3 depict two alternative Aem:bdiears wherein inner walls 13' are constructed from opaque material.

Therefore, there is no need for opaque inserts 14. The version of Fig. 2 is suitable if the building element is to be installed in north-facing walls of an Australian building, or is to be positioned un the roof, at a sharp angle.

0 4 A particularly preferred version of the embodiment of Fig.

to0 o. 3 has surface walls (11 and 12) constructed from UV stabilised S polypropylene film. Inner walls 13' are pressed metal or plastic gauze strips. The gauze is specially designed for controlling the amount of direct sunlight to be allowed through.

The embodiment of Figs. 4 and 4A, having triangular cells, can result in some savings of material.

Fig. 5 depicts a further alternativeA incorporating pressed metal or plastic gauze strips inside a solid glass or acrylic sheet.

For glass panes, in particular, it may be necessary to corrugate ,he surface so that the light is not diffused (as in a prism) or reflected, but allowed to go through when it is most needed. The embodiments of Figs. 6 and 7 are suitable for this purpose. Arrows indicate the direction of sunlight. In both Figs. 6 and 7, the individual cells are formed from solid transparent material. Inner walls 15 cf the Fig. 5 model have an opaque coating. The cells of the 'ig. 7 model contain opaque inserts 16.

While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments in order to facilitate better understanding of the invention, it should be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications within its scope.

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Claims

1. A building element comprising a series of adjoining cells, which are either hollow or formed from transparent solid material, characterised in that:. each of said cells has a substantially square, rectangular, triangular, rhombic, parallelepiped or trapezoidal cross-section bounded by inner, transparent or opaque walls and outer, transparent walls, and the outer walls of the series of cells combine to form two substantially parallel surfaces, each one or a majority of said cells containing a planar opaque insert, said inserts being solid sheets of material and being parallel to each other, S 15 and any of said inner walls which are opaque being parallel to each other.

2. A building element according to claim 1, wherein both surfaces are planar. S

3. A building element according to claim 1, wherein at least one surface is corrugated.

4. A building element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opaque inserts and opaque walls It (if present) comprise reflective material. A building element substantially as herein described, and with reference to any of the accompanying drawings. i t V i Dated this 5th day of August, 1992. STOYAN IVANOFF By his Patent Attorneys, R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES 2 %V1A