LOUVER ROOF STRUCTURE
20230212857 · 2023-07-06
Inventors
Cpc classification
E04F10/10
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
International classification
Abstract
A louver roof system having a simplified assembly and installation methods. The louver roof system is constructed with multi-functional mechanical components by means of pre-molded parts to reduce skilled installation time. Louvers of the roof system each include a louver body defining an integrally formed channel configured to direct water internally from the louver body, through the integrally formed channel of the respective louver, within a frame, and out of the louver roof system when the louvers are in a closed position. The louver body of each of the louvers includes a top surface with an uppermost portion of the top surface that defines, when in the closed position, a non-perpendicular angle relative to the vertical direction such that water is directed to the integrally formed channel of the respective louver Thus, a water drainage path is an integral part of the main structural assembly.
Claims
1. A louver roof structure comprising: a plurality of louvers positioned within an upper portion of a frame and that are actuatable from an open position to a closed position, wherein each louver of the plurality of louvers includes a louver body defining a channel configured to direct water internally from the louver body, through an interior of the respective louver, within the frame, and out of the louver roof structure; and the frame including: vertically oriented posts, with each of the vertically oriented post having a first end and a second end with the first end configured to directly contact a surface underneath the louver roof structure and support the louver roof structure thereon, a plurality of crossbeams, with at least one of the crossbeams positioned between and directly connected to the second end of two of the vertically oriented posts, wherein: the louver body of each of the louvers includes a top surface with an uppermost portion of the top surface that defines, when in the closed position, a non-perpendicular angle relative to the vertical direction such that water is directed to the integrally formed channel of the respective louver, and the frame includes internal portions configured to receive water from the plurality of channels formed by the plurality of louvers when in the closed position and direct water internally within the louver roof structure through the crossbeams of the frame internally into at least one of the vertically oriented posts of the frame.
2. The louver roof structure of claim 1, wherein the uppermost portion of the top surface of the louver body of each of the louvers extends from a first end to a second end between a first edge and channel edge, along which the integrally formed channel extends, and wherein the first edge is positioned higher in the vertical direction than the channel edge in the closed position such that the louver body defines the non-perpendicular angle.
3. The louver roof structure of claim 1, wherein the uppermost portion of the top surface of the louver body of each of the louvers defines, when in the closed position, a convex shape relative to the vertical direction from the first edge to the channel edge in cross-section.
4. The louver roof structure of claim 1, wherein the uppermost portion of the top surface of the louver body of each of the louvers is a semi-cylindrical shape, when viewed in cross-section, and extends along a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end and extends along spanwise direction from a first edge to a channel edge.
5. The louver roof structure of claim 4, wherein an apex of the semi-cylindrical shaped uppermost portion of top surface defined by the louver body of each of the louvers is positioned mid-span between the first edge and the second edge.
6. The louver roof structure of claim 4, wherein the uppermost portion of the top surface of the louver body of each of the louvers defines a variable slope from the first edge to the channel edge in cross-section, and wherein the louver body of each of the louvers further includes an inner channel wall extending longitudinally along the channel edge of the respective louver body, the inner channel wall configured to extend, when in the closed position, along the vertical direction between the channel edge and a bottom of the integrally formed channel of the respective louver body.
7. The louver roof structure of claim 6, wherein the inner channel wall is further configured to extend, when in the closed position, along the vertical direction from the channel edge to a bottom of the integrally formed channel of the respective louver body.
8. The louver roof structure of claim 4, wherein a vertical distance between the first edge and the channel edge of the uppermost portion of the top surface of the louver body of each of the louvers defines a first height difference, when in the closed position, and wherein, in the open position, the vertical distance between the first edge and the channel edge of the top surface of the louver body of each of the louvers defines a second height difference, the second height difference greater than the first height difference.
9. The louver roof structure of claim 1, wherein the louver body of each of the louvers extends along a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, and wherein the louver body of each of the louvers defines an arc between the first end and the second end.
10. The louver roof structure of claim 9, wherein the louver body of each of the louvers defines an arc from the first end of the louver to the second end.
11. The louver roof structure of claim 1, wherein each of the louvers extends along a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, and wherein each louver includes a cable drum coupled to the first end.
12. The louver roof structure of claim 11, wherein each of the louvers further includes an end cap integrally formed with the cable drum.
13. The louver roof structure of claim 12, wherein each louvers further includes an additional cable drum coupled to the second end.
14. The louver roof structure of claim 13, wherein each of the louver further includes an additional end cap integrally formed with the additional cable drum.
15. The louver roof structure of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises: a vertically oriented splash shield affixed to one of the crossbeams and extending along the longitudinal axis of a first sequential louver of the plurality of louvers, wherein the vertically oriented splash shield and the first sequential louver are configured to selectively produce a seal therebetween when the first sequential louver is in the closed position.
16. A louver roof structure assembly comprising: a plurality of louvers configured for positioning within an upper portion of a frame that move from an open position to a closed position, the plurality of louvers form a plurality of channels are configured to direct water internally within the frame and out of the louver roof structure when the plurality of louvers are in the closed position; and the frame including: vertically oriented posts, with each of the vertically oriented posts having a first end and a second end with the first end configured to directly contact a surface underneath the louver roof structure and support the louver roof structure thereon, a plurality of crossbeams, with each cross beam configured for positioning between and directly connected to the second end of two vertically oriented posts, and a vertically oriented splash shield affixed to one of the crossbeams and extending along a longitudinal axis of a first sequential louver of the plurality of louvers, wherein the vertically oriented splash shield and the first sequential louver are configured to selectively produce a seal therebetween when the first sequential louver is in the closed position, and wherein the frame includes internal portions configured to receive water from the plurality of channels formed by the plurality of louvers when in the closed position and direct water internally within the louver roof structure through at least one of the crossbeams of the frame internally into at least one of the vertically oriented posts of the frame.
17. The louver roof structure assembly of claim 16, wherein the frame further comprises: an additional vertically oriented splash shield affixed to another one of the crossbeams and extending along a longitudinal axis of a last sequential louver of the plurality of louvers, wherein the additional vertically oriented splash shield and the last sequential louver are configured to selectively produce an additional seal therebetween when the last sequential louver is in the closed position.
18. The louver roof structure assembly of claim 16, wherein the vertically oriented splash shield extends along the longitudinal direction of the first sequential louver of the plurality of louvers and from a first end of the vertically oriented splash shield to a second end, and wherein the vertically oriented splash shield defines an arc between the first end and the second end.
19. The louver roof structure assembly of claim 18, wherein the first sequential louver of the plurality of louvers extends along the longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end and defines an arc between the first end and the second end.
20. The louver roof structure assembly of claim 19, wherein the vertically oriented splash shield and the first sequential louver are configured to selectively produce the seal therebetween along an entire length of the arc defined by first sequential louver.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to companying drawings. Implementations of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be better understood when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the included drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, and in which some features may be exaggerated and some features may be omitted or may be represented schematically in the interest of clarity. In the drawings:
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[0065] Like reference numerals in the drawings may represent and refer to the same, analogous, or similar elements, features, or functions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0066] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully, hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the representative embodiments set forth herein. The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make, use and practice the invention. Like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the various drawings. Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains.
[0067] Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Unless described or implied as exclusive alternatives, features throughout the drawings and descriptions should be taken as cumulative, such that features expressly associated with some particular embodiments can be combined with other embodiments. It is envisioned that other embodiments may perform similar functions and/or achieve similar results. Any and all such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the appended claims.
[0068] The terms “coupled,” “fixed,” “attached to,” and the like refer to both direct coupling, fixing, or attaching, as well as indirect coupling, fixing, or attaching through one or more intermediate components or features, unless otherwise specified herein.
[0069] The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make, use and practice the invention. The louver roofs, louver roof structures, and louver roof structures disclosed herein may vary in size and dimension but are preferably used for outdoor purposes (e.g., patios).
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[0076] In some embodiment and as shown particularly in
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[0078] To provide power to move the louvers, the cable return clamp 19 is connected to the plunger 58 side of linear actuator 18 by means of inserting cable return clamp 19 into actuator plunger aperture 52 on linear actuator 18 and retaining said clamp with clamp retainer 50. To mount and bias linear actuator 18 to the system, pin 49 placed through linear actuator mounting pin aperture 62 on actuator housing 46, through actuator mounting aperture 51 on linear actuator 18 and retained by pin retainer 61. As the plunger 58 moves in direction 28, the louvers are driven to the open position.
[0079] Power for linear actuator 18 is provided by power cable 24 entering the drive module 3 through a bulkhead cable seal 45 on actuator housing 46. Power is controlled and actuator direction is determined by an “H” bridge switch (not shown) on control printed wiring board 48. This board also contains a remote-control receiver and temperature sensor (not shown). Control printed wiring board 48 is mounted in actuator housing 46 by means of a plurality of control model screws 55 secured into control module bosses 56. The louvers can be controlled by radio remote control switch (not shown) or an open pushbutton switch 11 and a close pushbutton switch 12 located on control panel 53. Circuit breaker 47 is also located on control panel 53 as a safety feature. Control panel screws 54 secure the control panel 53 to actuator housing 46 and to one of the posts 4.
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[0081] In some embodiments, the louver body 32 of each of the louvers may define an arc between the first end and the second end thereof (e.g., along the longitudinal direction and in addition to or as an alternative to any arc or semi-cylindrical shape defined by the louver body 32 when viewed in cross-section). Additionally or alternatively, the vertically oriented splash shield (e.g., the lower longitudinal splash shield 42 and/or the upper longitudinal splash shield 43) may define an arc between the first end(s) of the vertically oriented splash shield and the second end(s) of the same. In additional or alternative embodiments, the vertically oriented splash shield(s) and the first sequential louver (and/or the last sequential louver, respectively) may be configured to selectively produce the seal therebetween along at least a portion of an arc defined by the respective first/last sequential louver and/or the vertically oriented splash shield(s). For example, the first sequential louver and/or the last sequential louver and associated longitudinal splash shield 42 and/or the upper longitudinal splash shield vertically oriented splash, and/or the associated louver seal(s) 33, 34 may define the same, similar, or complementary arcs such that the seal may be selectively produced along an entire length of the arc defined by first sequential louver (and/or along the entire length of the arc defined by the last sequential louver).
PARTS LIST
[0082] 1 main structure [0083] 2 louver assembly [0084] 3 drive module [0085] 4 post(s) (vertically oriented posts) [0086] 5 beam(s) (crossbeams) [0087] 6 self-tapping screw [0088] 7 debris/UV cover [0089] 8 bearing [0090] 9 hanger [0091] 10 cable [0092] 11 open pushbutton switch [0093] 12 close pushbutton switch [0094] 13 cable sheath [0095] 14 clamp screw [0096] 15 clamp screw nut [0097] 16 cable retainer plate [0098] 17 sheath retainer [0099] 18 linear actuator [0100] 19 cable return clamp [0101] 20 pulley [0102] 21 pulley retainer nut [0103] 22 pulley retainer screw [0104] 23 cable return clamp screw [0105] 24 power cable [0106] 25 left louver cap [0107] 26 right louver cap [0108] 27 cable drum [0109] 28 open direction [0110] 29 seal channel [0111] 30 thread forming screw [0112] 31 screw [0113] 32 louver body [0114] 33 louver seal [0115] 34 louver seal channel [0116] 35 splash skirt [0117] 36 bearing boss [0118] 37 sealing channel [0119] 38 water channel [0120] 39 gutter(s) on inner portion of crossbeam(s) [0121] 40 downspout in post(s) [0122] 41 bezel [0123] 42 lower longitudinal splash shield [0124] 43 upper longitudinal splash shield [0125] 44 lower longitudinal splash shield seal [0126] 45 bulkhead cable seal [0127] 46 actuator housing [0128] 47 circuit breaker [0129] 48 control module [0130] 49 pin [0131] 50 clamp retainer [0132] 51 actuator mounting aperture [0133] 52 actuator plunger aperture [0134] 53 control panel [0135] 54 control panel screw [0136] 55 control module screw [0137] 56 control module boss [0138] 57 pulley screw aperture [0139] 58 plunger [0140] 59 bearing receiver [0141] 60 structural wall [0142] 61 pin retainer [0143] 62 linear actuator mounting pin aperture [0144] 63 aperture