Movable or removable closures – Closures interconnected for concurrent movement – Louver-type closures
Patent
1991-05-01
1993-01-19
Kannan, Philip C.
Movable or removable closures
Closures interconnected for concurrent movement
Louver-type closures
49 51, 49 64, 49403, E05F 1700
Patent
active
051798026
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to louvre structures such as louvre doors and windows, hereinafter generally referred to as louvre windows, and more particularly to louvre windows with movable glass louvres.
The conventional louvre window comprises a, usually rectangular, frame and a plurality of louvres, normally parallel narrow panes of glass, arranged with their longitudinal edges overlapping. The louvres are usually mounted to be pivotable between a closed position of the window in which the overlapping edges of the louvres are in close contact and an open position in which the louvres are separated. The short edges of the louvres are generally supported in channel shaped holding members which are closed at the end which is lowest in the closed position, to prevent the louvres from falling out, which holding members are mounted for pivotal movement in the frame of the window, usually on a cylindrical boss which passes holding members through the frame on each side of the window. The bosses, at least on one side of the window usually carry a crank arm which is connected to a common activator means so that simultaneous movement of the louvres is achieved.
A serious security problem exists with such louvre windows in that, in order to prevent ingress of water the overlapping edge of one louvre over another must be on the outside of the window and thus, even when the window is closed the louvres can be removed by sliding them out of the holding members. By removing a number of louvres in this manner an opening that allows ingress into a building can be created without the risk of the sound of breaking glass raising an alarm.
This invention provides a louvre window structure that while it does not prevent removal or insertion of replacement louvres substantially overcomes this problem.
According to the invention the holding members for the louvres are carried on bars which extend across the frame and are pivotally mounted with respect to the frame so as to be axially rotatable relative to the frame and which cannot be removed from the frame, at least when the window is installed.
With the louvre structure of the invention, if the louvres are removed, the presence of the bars provides a barrier across the opening thereby preventing ingress through the opening without further effort in removing the bars. While a person determined to gain ingress could cut the bars this could be a time consuming and/or noisy operation. Moreover the presence of the bars can prevent removal of the louvres when the window is closed, since they may be positioned relative to the louvres as to limit the amount of movement of the louvres in their holding members,
The holding members, as in the prior art, preferably comprise a U channel section closed at the end which normally faces downwards and open at the other end so that the edges of a louvre can be slidably received in the channel sections of the holding members of a preformed assembly, which is for example necessary when replacing broken louvres.
Preferably the holding members are made up of two cooperating portions that together define the channel section and which are rivetted or otherwise connected together so that the two portions can be separated to replace a louvre and then readily rejoined.
In a preferred form of the invention the holding members have a lateral flange forming an extension of the base of the channel section and preferably extending from a point inward of the closed end of the channel section, at least to the open end of the channel section. The flange has an aperture, preferably at a point substantially midway along the length of the channel section to receive the bar.
The portion of the flange between the bar receiving aperture and the end of the flange provides a crank arm. A connection may be made between the flanges, at least on one side of the window, to allow simultaneous pivoting of the louvres by means of an actuating lever which may be either attached to one of the flanges or if the flanges are fixed apart rotation relative to the bars, which may be arran
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Hightons Arganisation Limited
Kannan Philip C.
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