WO2017145061A1

WO2017145061A1 - A shutter

Info

Publication number: WO2017145061A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/050998
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacobus Johannes VAN DER WESTHUIZEN
Original assignee: Van Der Westhuizen Jacobus Johannes
Priority date: 2016-02-25
Filing date: 2017-02-22
Publication date: 2017-08-31
Also published as: ZA201805152B

Abstract

A door shutter 10 comprising a rectangular frame 12, a number of louvres 14 pivotally mounted within the frame and a pair of tensioning mechanisms 16.1 and 16.2. The frame comprises a bottom rail, a top rail and a pair of stiles wherein the left hand stile includes inner cover plates 30. The louvres define axes of rotation and are pivotally mounted between the stiles. The shutter includes two hand adjustment rails 28 which link the louvres to one another for pivotally displacing the louvres in unison between open and closed positions. The tensioning mechanisms tension the louvres via frictional engagement of the louvres with the stiles. Each tensioning mechanism includes a tensioning screw 34 for pivotally mounting the louvre associated therewith to the stile, a coil spring 32 within which the tensioning screw is received and a friction washer 36 located between the cover plate 30.2 and the coil spring. Tightening of the screw 34 increases friction between the louvre and the stile.

Description

A SHUTTER

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to shutters for window or door openings or for enclosing or dividing areas of a building structure.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

Shutters typically comprise an outer frame and a plurality of louvres which are pivotally mounted within the frame so as to be pivotally displaceable between an open position wherein the louvres define spaces between them permitting light to pass between the louvres and a closed position wherein the louvres block the passage of light. An essential feature of such shutters is the capability to adjust the amount of light passing through the louvres by adjusting the angular orientation of the louvres. Upon installation of such shutters, the louvres are typically individually tensioned by frictionally mounting the louvres to the outer frame or if provided, a louvre adjustment mechanism linking the louvres to one another so as to provide for displacement of the louvres in unison between the open and closed positions such that the louvres are held in frictional engagement with the frame / louvre adjustment mechanism so that upon displacement of the louvres between the open and closed positions, the louvres maintain their position relative to the frame / louvre adjustment mechanism. However, after a period of use, the frictional mounting of the louvres loosens, making it necessary to adjust the tension of the louvres so that the louvres maintain their position relative to the frame / louvre adjustment mechanism as desired.

This is clearly unsatisfactory and regular tensioning of louvres of such shutters to maintain the tension in the louvres is both inconvenient and time consuming. It is an object of the present invention to ameliorate the above problem associated with shutters of the type described above.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a shutter for window or door openings or for enclosing or dividing areas of a building structure, including: a frame which includes a pair of spaced apart stiles; a plurality of louvres which are arranged in a row adjacent one another so as to span the stiles, each louvre defining an axis of rotation and having a pair of opposite ends and a mounting pin at each end which is pivotally mounted to a particular one of the stiles of the frame in an arrangement wherein each louvre extends between the stiles and is rotatable about its axis of rotation, the louvres being pivotally displaceable between an open position wherein the louvres define spaces between them so as to permit light to pass between the louvres and a closed position wherein the louvres block the passage of light, the louvres being linked to one another so as to be displaceable in unison between the open and closed positions; and a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the mounting of at least one of the louvres to a particular one of the stiles, the tensioning mechanism including a resiliently compressible tensioning element which is located relative to the louvre and the said one stile in an arrangement wherein the tensioning element can be placed under tension so as to act between the louvre and the stile providing for a degree of frictional engagement between the louvre and the stile permitting pivotal displacement of the louvre relative to the stile yet sufficient to hold the louvre and the other louvres linked thereto, in a desired angular orientation relative to the stile. The tensioning element may be in the form of a coil spring and a tensioning screw which is screwed into the said one louvre replacing the mounting pin projecting therefrom, the screw fulfilling the pivotal displacement function of the mounting pin and being received within the coil spring, tightening of the screw compressing the coil spring and increasing frictional engagement between the louvre and the stile.

The tensioning screw may project through a hole defined therefor in the stile associated therewith, with the coil spring being located on a portion of the screw projecting from the stile.

The coil spring may be located on said projecting portion of the screw so as to be seated and act between a head of the screw and the stile.

The projecting portion of the screw may be received within a central passage defined within the coil spring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of a non-limiting example of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a door shutter in accordance with the invention, with part of one of the stiles removed to show hidden detail; Figure 1 A shows enlarged detail A of the door shutter of Figure 1 , with the coil spring of the tensioning mechanism in a tensioned state;

Figure 2 shows a fragmentary three-dimensional view of the tensioning mechanism of the door shutter of Figure 1 with the coil spring thereof in a relaxed state; and

Figure 3 shows a fragmentary side view of the tensioning mechanism shown in Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the drawings, a door shutter in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The door shutter comprises, broadly, a frame 12 having a rectangular outer profile, a number of louvres 14 which are pivotally mounted within the frame and a pair of tensioning mechanisms designated generally by the reference numerals 16.1 and 16.2. The frame is of extruded aluminium section and comprises a bottom rail 1 8, a top rail 20 and a pair of stiles 22.1 and 22.2 (an outer part of the stile 22.2 has been removed in Figure 1 in order to show hidden detail. Stile 22.2 otherwise has the same configuration as stile 22.1 ). The frame further includes a mid rail 24, a bottom spacer rail 26.1 and a top spacer rail 26.2.

The louvres 14 are arranged in a row adjacent one another so as to span the spaced apart stiles, with each louvre defining an axis of rotation having a pair of opposite ends having mounting pins projecting therefrom which are pivotally mounted to a particular one of the stiles in an arrangement wherein the louvres are pivotally displaceable between open positions wherein the louvres define spaces between them though as to permit light to pass between the louvres and closed positions wherein the louvres block the passage of light. The door shutter 10 includes two hand adjustment rails 28.1 and 28.2 which link the louvres to one another for pivotally displacing the louvres in unison between the open and closed positions. The louvres below the mid rail 24 form a set of louvres which are linked to one another by the hand adjustment rail 28.1 , while the louvres above the mid rail 24 form another set which are linked to one another by the hand adjustment rail 28.2. The hand adjustment rails 28.1 , 28.2 are pivotally connected to each of the louvres in the set of louvres associated therewith, by means of a screw 29.

The stiles 22.1 and 22.2 are of hollow extruded aluminium. The stile 22.2 includes inner cover plates 30.1 and 30.2 to which the louvres 14 are pivotally mounted. More specifically, the louvres below the mid rail 24 are pivotally mounted at one end to the inner cover plate 30.1 , while the louvres above the mid rail 24 are pivotally mounted at one end to the inner cover plate 30.2. Selected louvres 14.1 and 14.2 of each set of louvres are connected to the tensioning mechanisms 16.1 and 16.2, respectively, for tensioning the louvres via frictional engagement of the louvres with the stile 22.2 for frictionally holding the louvres and thereby the louvres linked thereto, in a desired angular orientation relative to the stile 22.2. As such, the tensioning mechanism 16.1 is configured for tensioning the mounting of the louvre 14.1 and thereby the other louvres linked to the louvre 14.1 , while the tensioning mechanism 16.2 is configured for tensioning the mounting of the louvre 14.2 and thereby the other louvres linked thereto.

More specifically, the louvres 14.1 and 14.2 have tensioning screws 34 instead of mounting pins by which the louvres 14.1 and 14.2 are pivotally mounted to the stile 22.2. The tensioning screws extend through apertures provided therefor in the inner cover plates 30.1 and 30.2, respectively. Each of the tensioning mechanisms 16.1 , 16,2 includes a particular one of the tensioning screws 34, and a tensioning element in the form of a coil spring 32 within which a projecting portion of the tensioning screw is received. More specifically, the projecting portion of the tensioning screw is received within a central passage defined by the coil spring. Tightening of the tensioning screw compresses the coil spring 32 thereby increasing frictional engagement with the stile 22.2 while loosening of the tensioning screw relaxes the spring. Each tensioning mechanism 16 further includes a friction washer 36 which is disposed between the inner cover plate 30 associated therewith and the coil spring 32. A tension force applied to the inner cover plate 30 by the coil spring is transmitted to the plate 30 via the friction washer. In use, by tightening or loosening the tensioning screws 34, friction between the louvres 14.1 and 14.2 and the stile 22.2 can be adjusted to a desired level. As the coil spring 32 remains in a compressed state, the springs will continue to exert a friction force on the stile maintaining the tension in the mounting of the louvres to the stile. As a result, it is not necessary to re-tension the mounting of the louvres after tensioning upon installation of the shutter door.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A shutter for window or door openings or for enclosing or dividing areas of a building structure, including: a frame which includes a pair of spaced apart stiles; a plurality of louvres which are arranged in a row adjacent one another so as to span the stiles, each louvre defining an axis of rotation and having a pair of opposite ends and a mounting pin at each end which is pivotally mounted to a particular one of the stiles of the frame in an arrangement wherein each louvre extends between the stiles and is rotatable about its axis of rotation, the louvres being pivotally displaceable between an open position wherein the louvres define spaces between them so as to permit light to pass between the louvres and a closed position wherein the louvres block the passage of light, the louvres being linked to one another so as to be displaceable in unison between the open and closed positions; and a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the mounting of at least one of the louvres to a particular one of the stiles, the tensioning mechanism including a resiliently compressible tensioning element which is located relative to the louvre and the said one stile in an arrangement wherein the tensioning element can be placed under tension so as to act between the louvre and the stile providing for a degree of frictional engagement between the louvre and the stile permitting pivotal displacement of the louvre relative to the stile yet sufficient to hold the louvre and the other louvres linked thereto, in a desired angular orientation relative to the stile.

2. The shutter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tensioning element is in the form of a coil spring and a tensioning screw which is screwed into the said one louvre replacing the mounting pin projecting therefrom, the screw fulfilling the pivotal displacement function of the mounting pin and being received within the coil spring, tightening of the screw compressing the coil spring and increasing frictional engagement between the louvre and the stile.

3. The shutter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tensioning screw projects through a hole defined therefor in the stile associated therewith, with the coil spring being located on a portion of the screw projecting from the stile.

4. The shutter as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coil spring is located on said projecting portion of the screw so as to be seated and act between a head of the screw and the stile.

5. The shutter as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said projecting portion of the screw is received within a central passage defined within the coil spring.