AU655367B2 - Screen and element therefor - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act. 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Original Original 6Aft MM TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT *a e NAME OF APPLICANT: o 4 44 0 *o 4 4ett "ACTUAL INVENTOR(S): 4 4 So ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: to INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO(S): Love- z, ?-ts (ACN 008 607 181) ROBERT ROY KNIGHT Peter Maxwell Associates Blaxland House, Suite 10, 5 Ross Street, NORTH PARRAMATTA NSW 2151 SCREEN AND ELEMENT THEREFOR i!

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PL 4381 filed 22nd July, 1992 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it know to me:- -2-

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ft I, This invention relates to protective screens for windows and like openings. The term "protective screen" is to be considered as having a wide interpretation and includes those screens which provide control over unauthorised entry through the window or part of a wall and control over climatic elements such as wind, rain, sun and the like. The screen may even constitute the entire wall.

There have been many screens developed over the years for one or other of the above forms of protection but the present invention provides a screen which is able to provide protection in many of the above senses. The screen thus has wide application, fr-om the protection of premises against burglars, to the deflection of the rays of the sun away from the window of an area which needs to be kept cool, to the deflection of wind to prevent it from entering the window or alternatively to divert wind through a window. The screen is also designed to provide protection for the window or opening during violent rain storms and hail storms and during more violent weather conditions, such as cyclones.

In one broad formn of the invention there is provided a blade element for interacting with like blades to form a protective screen; said blade comprising a central tubular portion fromn which extend in generally opposite directions relative to a longitudinal axis of said central tubular portion a first wing element and a second wing element and wherein an internal panel extends generally longitudinally through said central tubular portion so as to interconnect and reinforce opposed sides of said central tubular portion.

ii I J I7 -3- Preferably said wing elements extend respectively from~ walls of said central tubular portion.

Preferably said central tubular portion is not circular in an internal. cross-section lying perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

Preferably said central tubular portion has an internal cross-section perpendicular to said longitudinal axis in the f ft f C ft C ff fli CliffS 'Ct.

lx 4 21 d4 shape of an offset eye.

Preferably each offset wing elements forms one half of said central tubular portion.

Preferably each said wing element has a longitudinal cross-section throughout generally in the shape an S.

Preferably the free ends of said first wing element and said second wing element in~clude a C shaped channel longitudinally therealong.

Preferably the free ends of said first wing element and said second wing element include a sealing leg extending longitudinally therealong adapted to seal against a flap inserted in said C-shaped channel when a free end of a first wing element of a first blade is longitudinally juxtaposed ;against a second wing element of a second blade.

Preferably a double seal results along said longitudinally juxtaposed first wing element of a first blade and a second wing element of a second blade.

In a further broad formn of the invention there is provided a screen comprised from a plurality of blade elements as defined above.

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*t 46 4 r #14144 Itt1j 10 4 A #4* A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a front view of a screen incorporating blade elements according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is an end section view of two blade elements of the screen of Fig. 1 in an engaged (or closed) condition, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an end of a blade element of Fig. I together with a plug for insertion thereinto, anid Fig. 4 is a perspectitve view of components of the screen of Fig. 1 adapted for mountinag the blade elements therein, Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the screen of Fig.

1 showing detail of the blade element rotation mechanism, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of part of the casing for the mechanism of Fig. Fig. I illustrates a screen 30 defined by a framne with four sides 1, 2, 3, 4 and having blade elements 5 pivotally

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-1 9I I I mounted in the frame. The blade elements are shown as closed and being in a vertical orientation but it is to be understood that the blades can be oriented horizontally within the frame.

The blade elements 5 have a particular configuration and one configuration is shown in Fig. 2 which is a cross Ssection of two abutting blades. Each blade element comprises a central tubular part 6 and two oppositely extending wings 7 and 8. The central tubular part 6 in this embodiment has a cross-section which can be likened to an offset "eye" shape. The shape has been selected for several reasons.

One reason is aesthetics, so that when the blade element is viewed edge-on the part 6 has streamlined silhouette and there is a corresponding reduction in the impression of the bulk of the part 6. Another reason is the ability to insert a firmly or tightly fitting plug in the I I 1 I I 4 4 41 11i i 4 t o t L I bore of the part 6 and the shape will allow substantial turning torque to be applied to the blade element 5 with the loads being applied to the mating contours of the wings 7, 8 and thus relieving any fixing between the engaged blade elements from the loads arising out of the applied turning torque.

yni Uq' "'L Tubular part 6 includes a continuous integral internal panel 6a which substantially strengthens the part 6 against crushing or bending. The inclusion of the panel 6a permits the wall thickness of the part 6 to be substantially thinner than would be the case if the panels 6a was not used. It is -6i

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to be noted that there is a saving in resultant cost because the amount of metal in the panel 6a is less than amount saved by the reduction in the wall thickness of the part 6.

The wings 7 and 8 are complementarily profiled and form continuations of opposed sides of the part 6. The profiling gives the wings a pleasing appearance, strength and facilitates the provision of special edge shaping of the wings. Along the free edge of each wing 7 and 8 there is a C shaped channel 9 in which the bead member 10 of a rubber or like sealing element 11 is mounted. The sealing element 11 comprises the bead 10 and a flap 13. There is also a sealing leg 14 on the wings 7 and 8 adjacent the channel 9 and as will be seen from Fig. 2 there is a sealing interaction between the flap 13 and the sealing leg 14 when the blade elements 5 are disposed in the closed condition.

As will be readily understood the form of the blade elements 5 is such that they can be readily formed as an extrusion, in say, aluminium. From Fig. 3 (which is a fragmentary view of portion of a blade element 5 and a plug 15) it will be seen that where the plug 15 is inserted in the part 6, portion of the panel 6a has been removed.

The pivotal mounting of the blades and their movement control can be achieved in a number of ways. It is therefore to be understood that the following description is merely a presently preferred arrangement and is not to be considered as limitive.

As :Illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, each plug 15 has a shaped driving part 16 engaged in the central tubular part 6 ill A -7and a pivot pin 17. There is a bearing block 18 for each pivot pin 17 and the bearing block includes a pair of opposed edge grooves 19 adapted to receive the edges defining a mounting slot 20 extending into the top and bottom rails from their back edges. In this way the top and bottom ends of the blades are readily pivotally mounted and supported by the top and bottom sides 2 and 4. The bearing blocks 18 can be secured in place by any number of means or can be held against escape from the slots 20 by the surfaces of the wall around the window opening when the frame is fixed to a wall or findow surround.

Fig. 5 illustrates a portion of screen 30 wherein plugs within wing elements 5 are rotatably urged between opened and closed positions of the blade elements 5 by respective ":15 cogs 31. Each cog is rotatably urged by a respective worm drive (not shown) and mounted on drive shaft 32. Each cog and worm assembly for each wing element 5 can be individually adjusted to ensure correct alignment of all blade elements o comprising screen 30 such that, in the closed position, the Q* 20 respective longitudinally abutting free edges of the wings 7, 8 all seal snuggly.

Fig. 6 shows a portion of the casing 33 within which the drive shaft 32 and corresponding cog and worm assemblies reside.

In an alternative arrangement of screen 30, the blades are interconnected by a control bar (not shown) with pins (not shown) upstanding from one face of the control bar. The bar pins are adapted by size to engage in the ends of the C

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*0#90 'Ao channels 9. The pitch of the bar pins is the same as that of the bearing slots 20 in the frame top and bottom sides 2 and 4. It is clear that by moving the control bar in a suitable manner the blade elements 5 can be pivoted together through a substantial arc thereby allowing the objectives set out above to be achieved. Any suitable control bar moving means may be used. It may be internally operated, externally operated and may or may not have a locking device for the blade bar.

Circumstances of location and user requirements will determine these factors.

By way of further explanation, it is clear from Fig. 2 that when the blade elements 5 are closed the end result is a sealed total coverage of the window opening. When the blades are in an open "edge on" condition the window (or covered :15 opening) is exposed to maximum light and there is a significant amount of clear window available for a person inside the window or opening to look out. It is to be noted that the spacing of the blades, which depends on the width of the blade elements 5, is such that an intruder would not be able to squeeze between the blade elements. The strength of the blade elements is such as to make bending of the blade elements by an intruder in order to squeeze therebetween impractical without specialised equipment.

The foregoing description is of preferred arrangements and it is to be understood that changes may be made to the components and their interaction without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed. By way of example, the part 6 of the blade 5 need not be of the streamlined shape i L. p -9shown but may be other cross-sectional shape, however, it is preferred that the shape is such as to provide the torque resisting characteristics, discussed herein thereby relieving a fixing between the part 16 of the plug 15 and the blade part 6 of torque loadings as the blades are pivoted.

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Claims (12)

1. A blade element for interacting with like blades to form a protective screen; said blade comprising a central tubular portion from which extend in generally opposite directions relative to a longitudinal axis of said central tubular portion a first wing element and a second wing element; and wherein an internal panel extends generally longitudinally through said central tubular portion so as to interconnect and reinforce opposed sides of said central tubular portion.

2. The blade element of claim 1 wherein said wing elements extend respectively from walls ci said central tubular portion.

3. The blade element of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said central tubular portion is not circular in an internal cross- section lying perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

4. The blade element of any preceding claim wherein said central tubular portion has an internal cross-section perpendicular to said longitudinal axis in the shape of an offset eye.

5. The blade element of any preceding claim wherein each offset wing elements forms one half of said central tubular portion.

6. The blade element of any preceding claim wherein each said wing element has a longitudinal cross-section throughout generally in the shape of an S.

7. The blade element of any preceding claim wherein the Z uz -1 1- 'I fE 'I, I I I. I I I I I II free ends of said first wing element and said second wing elev ent include a C shaped channel longitudinally therealong.

8. The blade element of any preceding claim wherein the free ends of said first wing element and said second wing element include a sealing leg extending longitudinally therealong adapted to seal against a flap inserted in said C- shaped channel defined in zlaim 7 when a free end of a first wing element of a first blade is longitudinally juxtaposed agcinst a second wing element of a second blade.

9. The blade element of claim 8 wherein a double seal results along said longitudinally juxtaposed first wing element of a first blade and a second wing element of a second blade.

10. A screen comprised from a plurality of blade elements as defined in any preceding claim.

11. A blade element as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to what is shown in Fig. 2.

12. A screen comprised of blade elements as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to what is shown in the accompanying drawings. II I, I I J Dated this 27th day of September, 1994. LOUVER SHIELD PTY. LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys PETER MAXWELL ASSOCIATES 4 c i ABSTRACT A screen 30 comprised of a plurality of blades adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof so as to define an open condition for the screen 30 wherein wing elements 7, 8 are not longitudinally engaged and a closed condition wherein said wing elements 7, 8 are sealingly longitudinally engaged. Each blade 5 comprises a central tubular part 6 from which extend the wings 7, 8. t t r t I