AU676405B2 - Retractable panel for a roof structure or the like - Google Patents

Description

-1-

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 GREGORY BRENDON HUMMELSTADT, ROSS EDMUND HUMMELSTADT, and WAYNE FRANCIS HUMMELSTADT

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT a *4 C Invention Title: Retractable panel for a roof structure or the like C The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2

INTRODUCTION

The present invention relates to a roof structure, curtain wall or the like having a plurality of retractable panels and which allows the user to move the panels between a closed position generally completely closing an area and an open position wherein one or more pazts of the area are open.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION It is known to provide roof structures for patios or the like which can be selectively moved between open and closed positions as described above. One such roof structure is in the form of a plurality of pivotal louvres each forming a section of the roof and which extend i generally horizontally and interengage along their side 15 edges in the closed position so as to provide a continuous cover. The louvres can be pivoted about respective spaced horizontal pivot axes so as to extend generally vertically "and be spaced apart from one another in the open position. In the closed position, lips extending along 20 the side edges of each louvre are intended to interengage with each other so as to provide a generally weatherproof cover. A difficulty with this known arrangement is ensuring that the lips along the side edges of each louvre o are aligned with, and properly interengaged with, the lips of the side edges of the adjacent louvres in the closed position. That is, it is not uncommon for the side edges to be misaligned whereby water can drip between the side edges of the louvres.

Another disadvantage of such louvres is that they are not transparent to light. As such, in the closed position, the arrangement generally completely blocks the light such that rooms adjacent the covered area can be adversely affected by being deprived of the natural light.

It would be desirable to provide a roof structurewhich is able to be moved between open and closed 3 positions and which can avoid or alleviate the abovementioned problems of the prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION In one broad form the present invention provides apparatus for a roof structure, curtain wall or the like, comprising: a support frame comprising a pair of spaced apart ends; a plurality of retractable sections each having first and second side edge means generally parallel and spaced from one another which are supported by the frame, and a flexible generally planar material extending between, and being connected to, the first and second side edge means; wherein one or more of the second side edge means 15 is/are selectively movable with respect to its associated first side edge means, along the ends of the frame, between a closed position of the retractable section(s) wherein the or each second side edge means is immediately adjacent the first side edge means of the adjacent 20 retractable section, and an open position of the retractable section(s) wherein the or each second side edge means is spaced away from the first side edge means of the adjacent retractable section and closer to its associated first side edge means; whereby the planar material of the respective retractable sections cooperate so as to be generally continuous over an area between and along the ends of the support frame in the closed position of the retractable sections, and wherein the planar material of each retractable section is deformed into a generally semi-tubular shape when the retractable sections are moved to their open position.

Preferably, the roof structure further comprises a gutter means fixed along the ends of the frame and which extends beneath end edges of the retractable sections.

4 Preferably, there is a plurality of other gutter means which are positioned beneath respective adjacent first and second side edge means of adjacent retractable sections in the closed position of the sections. The other gutter means are each preferably affixed along the one side edge means of each retractable section and are arranged so that, in the closed position of the sections, they are positioned directly under the respective second side edge means; and wherein the other gutter means are formed to define drainage channels which collect any water falling between the respective adjacent side edge means and discharge the water into the gutter means at the ends of the frame.

Preferably, the side edge means are in the form of 15 elongate members, opposite ends of which are rotatably supported by the ends of the frame; and wherein the planar material is generally rectangular in plan with opposite end edges being adjacent the ends of the frame, and with side edges being affixed along the respective elongate members.

Preferably, the planar material is corrugated in cross-section with the corrugations extending generally parallel to the elongate members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, S* wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in the closed position; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in the open position; Figure 4 is a detailed side view of the connection between the slidable side edge member and the end of the 5 frame; and Figures 5 and 6 are detailed sectional views of a retractable panel in the closed and open positions showing the relative positions of the other gutter.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION There is shown a retractable roof structure including a support frame 11 and a plurality of roof sections 12 each of which are movable between a closed position wherein they cooperate with adjacent roof sections to provide a generally continuous cover between the sides 13 and ends 14 of the frame 11, and an open or retracted position wherein opposing parts of adjacent roof sections 12 are spaced apart from one another The support frame 11 has a generally rectangular 15 construction. The ends 14 of the frame 11 have guide tracks 14a and the sides 13 extend between the ends 14 so as to maintain the ends 14 in a generally parallel spaced apart configuration.

The respective roof sections 12 comprise two side 20 edge members 15, 16 which are generally parallel to one another and spaced apart. Both side edge members 15, 16 are rotatably supported at their ends by the guide tracks 14a of the support frame 11. That is, members 15, 16 are supported so that they can be rotated about their respective longitudinal axes.

More particularly, the edge members 15,16 are received in a short tubular member 30 at each end. The tubular members 30' associated with the one side edge members 15 are fixed to the guide track 14a of the frame 11. The tubular members 30" associated with the other side edge members 16 are slidably received in the guide tracks 14a of the frame 11 so as to be slidable along the guide tracks 14a towards and away from their associated one side edge members A flexible planar material 18 such as corrugated 6 polycarbonate sheeting having a rectangular shape has its respective side edges 19 affixed to the edge members 16. In the closed position of the apparatus 10, each slidable side edge member 16 is positioned furthest away from the fixed side edge member 15 of that roof section 12, and is immediately adjacent the fixed edge member of the adjacent roof section 12. The planar material 18 is resilient and, in the closed position, it slightly convex when viewed from above.

The slidable edge members 16 can be selectively slid along the guide tracks 14a of the frame 11 towards the respective associated fixed side edge members 15 whereupon the planar material 18 will be caused to bow upwards. To accommodate the bowing of the planar material 18, the edge 15 members 15, 16 will simultaneously rotate relative to the frame 11. In the open position, the slidable side edge members 16 are spaced away from the fixed side edge members 15 of the adjacent roof section 12 so as to provide openings in the roof structure 10. The resiliency of the planar material 18 will tend to urge the roof sections 12 towards their closed positions.

The slidable side edge members 16 of each roof section 12 are interconnected by fence members 21 which are generally rigid and extend normal to the side edge members 15, 16 immediately adjacent the opposite ends thereof. In this way, all of the roof sections 12 (or selected roof sections 12) will move between their open and closed positions in unison.

The fence members 21 project upwardly away from the side edge members 15, 16 and are spaced a short distance away from the end edges 22 of the planar material 18.

When the roof sections 12 are in the open position with the planar material 18 bowed and projecting upwardly with a semi-tubular form, the fence members 21 substantially close the end openings 23 formed by the semi-tubular I 7 planar material 18. As such, leaves and other debris are generally prevented from entering through the openings 23.

The slidable side edge members 16 are slid along the guide tracks 14a of the frame 11 by a cable pulley arrangement 24. More particularly, a bracket 25 is attached to each of the fence members 21 and cables 26 are connected to the respective brackets The cables 26 extend around pulleys (not shown) so that the cable 26 can be conveniently pulled by the user.

The cables/pulleys are arranged so as to simultaneously pull each end of the fence members 21 in order to resist jamming of the slidable side edge members 16.

Alternatively, the cables 26 extend around pulleys 1 (not shown) at the ends and towards the sides of the frame 15 11 so as to form respective loops, and are controllably driven by a motor (not shown) to selectively move the slidable edge members 16 by, for example, the push of a button which controls the motor. Further, the motor can be controlled in such a way that the slidable side edge 20 member 16 can be stopped at any desired position between the opened and closed positions of the retractable sections 12.

In this way, the slidable edge member 16 can be i selectively moved away from the closed position against the bias force imposed by the resilient planar material 18 and can be retained in the open position or a partly open position.

The frame 11 is also provided with drainage gutters 28 which extend along the ends 14 of the frame immediately under the end edges of the planar material 18 of each roof section 12. The gutters 28 are positioned to collect water running longitudinally of the planar members 18.

Any water passing between the slidable side edge members 16 of one roof section 12 and the fixed side edge member 16 of the adjacent roof section 12 (when the 8 retractable sections are in their closed position) is collected by another gutter 30 which is affixed along the length of the fixed side edge member 16 and which discharges into the gutters 28 at the ends of the frame 11.

Referring to figures 5 and 6, there is shown the interaction of the other gutter 30 and the side edge members 15, 16. As shown, the gutter 30 is affixed to an underside 31 of the fixed side edge member 15 and is generally semi-circular in cross-section. In the closed position of the retractable section 12 (refer Figure the gutter 30 extends downwards and laterally away from the fixed member 15, under and beyond the slidable side edge member 16, and upwards to its distal edge 32 which is 15 at a higher level than the lower most part 33 of the S. slidable side edge member 16. In this way, the semi-circular form of the gutter 30 forms a drainage •..channel which will collect virtually all water which may fall through the small gap 34 between the members 15 and 20 16. Further, in the closed position, the gutters generally hide the side edge members 15, 16 from view from below.

When the slidable member 16 is moved away from the fixed side edge member 15 of the adjacent section 12, the members 15, 16 will simultaneously rotate about their S'respective longitudinal axes which causes the gutter 30 to pivot so that the distal edge 32 moves downwards and away from the path of the slidable member 16. In the open position of the slidable member 16, the gutter 30 projects generally directly downwards so as to be unobtrusive when viewed from below.

Accordingly, the roof structure 10 will be aesthetically pleasing in either the open or closed positions of the roof sections 12. Further, any leaves or debris trapped in the gutter 30 will tend to automatically

-I'

9 fall out from the gutter 30 in the open position Whilst we have described the preferred embodiment as a roof structure for use as a cover for a patio area or the like, it is envisaged that the present apparatus would be useful as, for example, a curtain wall.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specifc embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the inention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

ft *~e eeoc eeo e

,I

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus for a roof structure, curtain wall or the like, comprising: a support frame comprising a pair of spaced apaic ends; a plurality of retractable sections each having first and second side edge means generally parallel and spaced from orc another which are supported by the frame, and a flexible generally planar material extending between, and being connected to, the first and second side edge means; wherein one or more of the second side edge means is/are selectively movable with respect to its associated first side edge means, along the ends of the frame, between a closed position of the retractable section(s) wherein the/or each second side edge means is immediately adjacent the first side edge means of the adjacent retractable section, and an open position of the retractable section(s) wherein the or each second side edge means is spaced away from the first side edge means of the adjacent retractable section and is closer to its associated first side edge means; whereby the planar material of the respective retractable sections cooperate so as to be generally continuous over an area between and along the ends of the support frame in the closed position of the retractable sections, and wherein the planar material of each retractable section is deformed into a generally semi-tubular shape when the retractable sections are moved to their open position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a gutter means fixed along at least one of the ends of the frame and which extends beneath end edges of the retractable sections.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a 11 plurality of other gutter means which are positioned beneath respective adjacent first and second side edge means of adjacent retractable sections when the retractable sections are in their closed position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the other gutter means is in the form of a gutter affixed along the one side edge means of each retractable section, each other gutter means being arranged so that, in the closed position of the retractable sections, it is positioned under the second side edge means so as to collect any water falling between the adjacent side edge means and discharge the water into the gutter means at the ends of the frame. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the 1 side edge means are in the form of elongate members, opposite ends of which are rotatably supported by the frame; and wherein the planar material is generally rectangular in plan with opposite end edges being adjacent the ends of the frame, and opposite side edges being 20 affixed along the respective elongate members.

S

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the planar material is corrugated in cross-section with the corrugations extending generally parallel to the elongate members.

7. Apparatus for a roof structure, curtain wall or the like as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ef DATED this 19th day of December 1994 GREGORY BRENDON HUMMELSTAD ROSS EDMUND HUMMELSTAD and WAYNE FRANCIS HUMMELSTAD Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F.B. RICE CO. ,b 12 ABSTRACT A roof structure for selectively covering an area and sheltering the area from precipitation, and for partly uncovering the area to allow ventilation and direct sunlight to pass therethrough. The roof structure has a plurality of retractable roof sections with one or more of the roof sections being moveable between a closed position wherein flexible planar members of each roof section co-operate to virtually fully cover the area, and an open position wherein the planar members bow upwards to allow side edges thereof to be positioned so as to create spaces therebetween so as to partly open the area. The roof structure is also provided with gutters to collect any water falling between the roof sections and/or draining *from the ends of the roof sections in the closed position. os* *9 *0* fees 0 *000 00 0