Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
204951
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MOVABLE LOI~VRE CLAMP
The present invention relates to a structure
with moveable louvres and means for holding a set position
of the louvres.
Louvred structures such as louvred doors and/or
window shutters, etc. often include moveable louvres which
pivot through an angle of slightly less than 180n. In most
moveable louvre structures, the louvres are opened and
closed in unison with one another by a control bar attached
to the edges of the louvres. The control bar moves in an
up and down direction to open and close the louvres. This
control bar adds weight to one side of and imbalances the
louvres. When the louvres are closed and the control bar
is down as far as it will go, this does not present a
problem. However, when the louvres are opened, the weight
of the control bar provides a downward bias wanting to
close the louvres.
Traditionally, the means for holding a set
position of a moveable louvre is to provide strong
frictional resistance between the louvre and its supporting
frame. Typically, this is done by effectively clamping the
frame tightly against the outside edges of the louvre. In
certain constructions, and in particular, in vinyl
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constructions, it is neither desirable nor feasible to
provide sufficient frictional resistance between the louver
and the frame to hold a desired set louver position.
m ~AR~ OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides means
specifically for holding louvre position without producing
a binding action between the outside edge of the louvre and
the frame supporting the louvre. More particularly, a
louvred structure of the present invention comprises a
frame with opposing styles supporting a plurality of
pivotal louvres each having pivot pins fitted in pivot pin
openings of the styles. At least one of the styles is
provided with an interior flexible clamp extending
lengthwise along that style and gripping a plurality of the
pivot pins for holding a set position of the louvres.
The flexible clamp pin grip provided according
to the present invention is particularly suited for use in
the most up-to-date vinyl louvred shutters and doors.
BRTEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above as well as other advantages and
features of the present invention will be described in
greater detail according to the preferred embodiments of
the present invention in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shutter
having moveable louvers and including an interior louver
pin grip according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional exploded perspective
view of the shutter of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side view showing different louver
positions for the shutter of Figure 1;
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Figure 4 is a sectional view looking down
through the left hand assembled style and louvre set up of
Figure 2.
DETAr_rED DESCRTPTION OF TH PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
All of the structural components described below
in detail have a vinyl or other similar plastic resin
construction. However, it is to be appreciated that other
materials could also be used.
Figure 1 shows a shutter generally indicated at
1. This shutter is formed with a frame comprising styles
3, top and bottom headers 5 and a centre frame section 6.
Pivotal louvres 7 formed in two groups, one above and one
below the centre frame section are trapped between styles
3. The louvres in each group are moved by means of a
control bar 8 connected to each louvre in that particular
group. As will be seen in Figure 1, the upper group of
louvres is set to a closed position while the bottom group
of louvres is set to an open position. In the case of the
bottom group of louvres control bar 8 provides added weight
attempting to close the louvres and pull them away from
their set position. The frictional engagement of the frame
on the outside edges of the louvres particularly when they
are made of vinyl is generally not sufficient to hold a set
position of the louvres. In the present invention,
additional means interiorly of one of the styles is
provided for holding the set louvre position.
As best seen in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings.
each of the styles has a hollow interior construction.
Each louvre includes louvre pivot pins 9 and each style
includes a plurality of louvre pivot pin openings 11.
These openings penetrate to a defined hollow region 13
within each of the styles. Located within one of the
hollow regions 13 is a flexible plastic, e.g., vinyl pivot
pin clamp 15 extending the full length of the style.
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The pivot pin clamp 15 is in the form of a
substantially U-shaped channel member including a base 16
and opposing side walls 17. Each of the side walls
terminates with a slightly outwardly flared free end 19.
Clamp or grip 15 has as noted above a flexible
construction. The base 16 substantially completely spans
the width of hollow region 13 as best seen in Figure 4 of
the drawings. Side walls 17 of the clamp, when in their
normally set position, are set at a gap less than the width
of hollow region 13 and converge slightly towards one
another. The minimum span between the two clamp arms 17 is
less than the diameter across pivot pin 19 which, when
fitted into one of the pivot pin openings, engages within
clamp 15. The flared free ends 17 of the clamp provide a
caroming effect easing insertion of the pivot pin in the
grip, the arms of which have to expand or open to receive
the pivot pin. The clamp is therefore biased to close on
and frictionally engage the pivot pin.
The same clamping effect is provided on all of
the pivot pins on the clamp side of the structure. This
provides more than sufficient resistance directly on the
pivot pins to hold any desired set position for the
louvres.
This use of a single elongated clamp is
particularly efficient because it eliminates the need to
lhave an accurate vertical fitting of an individual clamp
at each louvre pin. The clamp extends past all of the pin
openings in the style so that it automatically lines up
with each pin opening to receive the louvre pins.
As can be seen from Figure 2 of the drawings,
each of the styles is equipped to accept one of the clamps
15 and therefore, if necessary, a clamp may be provided at
both sides of the structure. The overall symmetry of the
structure, including the louvres, louvre pins, louvre
receiving opens and hollow construction of the styles
allows for this feature.
Although the description above relates to a
louvred structure in which all of the louvres are moveable
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in unison by means of a common actuator, i.e., control rod
8, the same louvre pin grip can be used in a structure
where the louvres are not interconnected with one another
and set to their own individual desired positions.
Although various preferred embodiments of the
present invention have been described herein in detail, it
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that
variations may be made thereto without departing from the
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.
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