GB2140356A

GB2140356A - Modular decorative arch for garden or interior use

Info

Publication number: GB2140356A
Application number: GB08412694A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Nichols Sanders
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-05-19
Filing date: 1984-05-18
Publication date: 1984-11-28
Also published as: GB8412694D0

Abstract

A decorative arch for garden or interior use comprises a plurality of panels 10 joined together, each panel being cast in metal or moulded of plastics material and comprising a peripheral frame portion 12 surrounding a filigree ornamental structure 14. The edges of the arch are finished by the application of strip elements 18 which serve to impart structural rigidity to the arch. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Modular decorative arch for garden or interior use This invention relates to a modular decorative or ornamental arch for garden or interior use.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a decorative arch for garden or interior use, comprising a plurality of panels joined together, each panel being cast in metal (particularly aluminium or aluminium alloy) or moulded of plastics material and comprising a peripheral frame portion surrounding a filigree or filigree-like ornamental structure.

All the panels may be identical, for example square or rectangular, with the panels over the crown of the arch being of a curved profile, for example being bent to this profile either by the person carrying out the assembling process, or in the factory.

Each panel may be moulded of plastics or cast in aluminium or aluminium alloy and then coated (for example by dipping) in plastics, or painted. The filigree or filigree-like ornamental structure may be a floral design, or a geometric, abstract or other design.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a decorative arch for garden or interior use; and Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail of the arch.

Referring to Fig. 1, the garden arch is formed of a plurality of panels 10 joined together. In the example shown, all panels are identical rectangular panels, with the four panels at the crown of the arch being of an appropriate curved profile. Each panel consists of a peripheral frame portion 1 2 surrounding an open-work filigree-like decorative structure 14 which, in the example shown, is in the form of a floral design. Each panel may be a one-piece casting from aluminium, subsequently painted white or coated with white plastics. The decorative structure is in relief on both sides of each panel.Where the panels are one-piece castings or mouldings, the panels at the crown of the arch may be cast flat (as the other panels) and then bent to their curved profile, either in the factory or by the person assembling the arch: alternatively they may be cast in the required curved profile. Instead each panel may comprise a number of smaller castings or mouldings welded or otherwise fixed together, for example a number of castings to make up each filigree structure and castings to make up the frame: then for the panels at the crown or the arch, the pieces of filigree structure may be case flat, fixed together and then bent to curved profile, whilst the relevant frame elements are cast in their curved profile.Adjacent panels are joined together by means of bolts extending through holes provided, in the factory, in the frame side elements: one such bolt is shown at 1 6 in Fig. 2.

The edges of the arch are finished by the application of strip elements 1 8. Each element 1 8 comprises an elongate channel portion 1 8a for engaging around the upright frame elements of the panels, and an open-work filigree-structure flange 1 8b projecting outwardly of the arch (perpendicular to the plane of the adjacent panels). The lowermost strip elements extend half way up the lowermost panels, and the other strip elements each extends from half way up one panel to half way up the next panel, thus bridging the junction between the two panels. The channel portions of the strip elements form a halved overlap with each other, as shown in Fig. 2, and a bolt 20 passes through aligned holes 22 inthe overlaps and engages in a threaded bore 24 in the panel frame at its mid point.

Further bolts 26 secure each strip element to the respective panels adjacent their junction, as also shown in Fig. 2. The strip elements applied at the crown of the arch are appropriately curved as shown in Fig. 1. All strip elements are formed in the same manner and of the same materials as the panels, and preferably the outer or front of the channel portion is embossed with a decorative design.

The strip elements applied to the edges of the arch enhance the ornamental effect of the arch but also serve to impart structural rigidity to the overall arch construction.

1. A decorative arch for garden or interior use, comprising a plurality of panels joined together, each panel being cast in metal or moulded of plastics material and comprising a peripheral frame portion surrounding a filigree or filigree-like ornamental structure.

2. A decorative arch as claimed in claim 1, in which all the panels are identical but with the panels over the crown of the arch being of a curved profile.

3. A decorative arch as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which adjacent panels are joined together by bolts extending through holes provided in the frame side elements.

4. A decorative arch as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising strip elements applied to the edges of the arch and serving to impart structural rigidity to the overall arch construction.

5. A decorative arch as claimed in claim 4, in which each strip element comprises an elongate channel portion engaging around the upright frame elements of the panels and a decorative flange projecting outwardly of the arch.

6. A decorative arch as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which each adjacent pair of panels is

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Modular decorative arch for garden or interior use This invention relates to a modular decorative or ornamental arch for garden or interior use. In accordance with this invention there is provided a decorative arch for garden or interior use, comprising a plurality of panels joined together, each panel being cast in metal (particularly aluminium or aluminium alloy) or moulded of plastics material and comprising a peripheral frame portion surrounding a filigree or filigree-like ornamental structure. All the panels may be identical, for example square or rectangular, with the panels over the crown of the arch being of a curved profile, for example being bent to this profile either by the person carrying out the assembling process, or in the factory. Each panel may be moulded of plastics or cast in aluminium or aluminium alloy and then coated (for example by dipping) in plastics, or painted. The filigree or filigree-like ornamental structure may be a floral design, or a geometric, abstract or other design. An embodiment of this invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a decorative arch for garden or interior use; and Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail of the arch. Referring to Fig. 1, the garden arch is formed of a plurality of panels 10 joined together. In the example shown, all panels are identical rectangular panels, with the four panels at the crown of the arch being of an appropriate curved profile. Each panel consists of a peripheral frame portion 1 2 surrounding an open-work filigree-like decorative structure 14 which, in the example shown, is in the form of a floral design. Each panel may be a one-piece casting from aluminium, subsequently painted white or coated with white plastics. The decorative structure is in relief on both sides of each panel.Where the panels are one-piece castings or mouldings, the panels at the crown of the arch may be cast flat (as the other panels) and then bent to their curved profile, either in the factory or by the person assembling the arch: alternatively they may be cast in the required curved profile. Instead each panel may comprise a number of smaller castings or mouldings welded or otherwise fixed together, for example a number of castings to make up each filigree structure and castings to make up the frame: then for the panels at the crown or the arch, the pieces of filigree structure may be case flat, fixed together and then bent to curved profile, whilst the relevant frame elements are cast in their curved profile.Adjacent panels are joined together by means of bolts extending through holes provided, in the factory, in the frame side elements: one such bolt is shown at 1 6 in Fig. 2. The edges of the arch are finished by the application of strip elements 1 8. Each element 1 8 comprises an elongate channel portion 1 8a for engaging around the upright frame elements of the panels, and an open-work filigree-structure flange 1 8b projecting outwardly of the arch (perpendicular to the plane of the adjacent panels). The lowermost strip elements extend half way up the lowermost panels, and the other strip elements each extends from half way up one panel to half way up the next panel, thus bridging the junction between the two panels. The channel portions of the strip elements form a halved overlap with each other, as shown in Fig. 2, and a bolt 20 passes through aligned holes 22 inthe overlaps and engages in a threaded bore 24 in the panel frame at its mid point. Further bolts 26 secure each strip element to the respective panels adjacent their junction, as also shown in Fig. 2. The strip elements applied at the crown of the arch are appropriately curved as shown in Fig. 1. All strip elements are formed in the same manner and of the same materials as the panels, and preferably the outer or front of the channel portion is embossed with a decorative design. The strip elements applied to the edges of the arch enhance the ornamental effect of the arch but also serve to impart structural rigidity to the overall arch construction. CLAIMS

6. A decorative arch as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which each adjacent pair of panels is bridged by a said strip element along each edge of the arch, this strip element extending from half way up one panel to half way up the other panel of the said pair.

7. A decorative arch as claimed in claim 6, in which the channel portions of adjacent strip elements form a halved overlap with each other and a fixing bolt passes through aligned holes in the overlaps to engage in the respective panel frame at its mid-point.

8. A decorative arch for garden or interior use, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.