US3049203A - Multiple panel space divider structure - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 1962 H. BAYER MULTIPLE PANEL SPACE DIVIDER STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 13, 1959 Aug. 14, 1962 H. BAYER 7 3,049,203

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Mm Cw? United States Patent M 3,049,203 MULTIPLE PANEL SPACE DIVIDER STRUCTURE Herbert Bayer, Aspen, Colo. Filed Apr. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 806,141 2 Claims. (Cl. 189-62) This invention relates to improvements in a multiple panel space divider structure, and more particularly to a panelled screen having irregular shaped panels that will close to the wind, open to the breeze, reflect the sun and enclose or divide space.

Screens involving a construction of pivoted rectangu lar louvers are old, but are disinteresting, present no construction problem and are perhaps less desirable aesthetically.

A more interesting situation results where the panelled screen entails a series of louvers of sharply irregular shapes, wherein the side edges run in directions which are not at all places parallel with the axis of rotation of the pivoted louver, and wherein such extremities rotate about said axis on radii of unequal length. An embodiment of this invention, incorporating the use of a multiplicity of color combinations with particular irregularly shaped louvers, is shown in my co-pending design application, Serial No. D.53,430, filed November 19, 1958.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a new and improved panelled screen for use in alternately enclosing and dividing space in the home, patio, garden, store, or other preferred area.

It is, more particularly, an object of this invention to provide a new and improved space divider in which a plurality of irregularly-shaped pivoted louvers are spaced equidistantly along a frame.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved space divider, having irregularly shaped louvers, in which the perimeter of each louver complements the perimeter of the adjoining louver where it comes in closely spaced relation therewith, so that when the panels lie in the same plane a contiguous wall is produced.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved space divider in which the perimeter of each louver is defined by unequal radii, and, for any point along the axis of rotation, the sum of the radius of one panel plus the radius of an adjacent panel equals the distance between the respective axes of rotation of said panels.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved space divider having a plurality of louvers mounted on spaced, aligned axes within a frame consisting of a base member, in which one extended end of the respective axes is pivotally seated between a thrust bearing and an annular bearing spaced from said thrust bearing, and a top support member, spaced from said base by means of said louvers, in which the opposite end of the respective louver axes is seated, whereby each louver is pivotable within a framework characterized by the absence of side support members.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description thereof especially when considered with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partially broken side elevational view of a space divider in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a broken perspective view of a space divider showing the louvers in an open position;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of a space divider, along the lines 33 of FIGURES 1 and 2, showing only the end louver in an open position;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a space divider showing the louvers in open position;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged end view of the base section, as shown in FIGURE 3, broken away to show the hand wheel used for turning the louvers in unison; and

3,049,203 Patented Aug. 14, 1962 FIGURE 6 is an enlarged broken side elevation of the base structure as shown in FIGURE 1.

It will be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the multiple panel space divider structure includes a frame 10, consisting of a base section 11 and a top support member 12, which may be of any suitable construction, and a plurality of irregularly shaped pivoted louvers 13 closely spaced from each other at regular intervals along said frame 10. Each of the louvers 13 is rotatably pivoted along an axis 14 by means of an upper pivot member or trunnion 15, which nests within a socket 16 in the top support member 12 and a lower pivot member or trunnion 17, which nests within a recess 18 in an upper plate or channel member 19 in the top of the base section 11. A common drive shaft 20, having a hand wheel 21, is connected to a spindle 22 by means of a worm 23 on the drive shaft 20 and a worm wheel 24 on the spindle 22. The spindle 22 is an extension of the lower trunnion 17 and is saddled in a thrust bearing 25, mounted on the base plate or lower channel member 19' of the base 11, and is pivotally supported at the top of the base 11 by a bearing 26, which is attached by any suitable means to the upper channel member 19 in alignment with the recess 18 therein. Each of the louvers 13 has an irregularly shaped perimeter or edge 27 which is defined by radii, indicated variously at reference points 28, 29 and 30, of unequal length. Radius 28 complements radius 28' of the adjacent louver 13 at corresponding points 31 and 31' on the axes 14 and 14' thereof, and radius 30 likewise complements radius 30" in the opposing adjacent louver 13" at the corresponding points 32 and 32" on the axes 14 and 14" thereof, so that the sum of the complementary radii of adjoining panels is equal to the distance between the adjoining axes thereof.

In the operation of this invention, manipulation of the hand wheel 21 on drive shaft 20 turns the trunnion 17 by means of the worm gear 23, 24 and connecting spindle 22, so as to rotate in unison the louvers 13 on their axes '14 within the frame 10 from a closed or first position as shown in FIGURE 1 to a second or open position as shown in FIGURE 2. When the louvers 13 lie in the same plane, as in the first position, a contiguous wall is produced.

It will thus be seen that a novel and useful structure lies in the combination of the spaced, aligned louvers 13 and the framework in which they lie. There are no side supports to the frame 10. The individual axes 14 are pivotally supported between the thrust bearing 25 and the upper bearing 26 within the base 11. The louvers are in effect cantilevered from the base, although an additional support is provided at the top support bar 12, when the respective axes 14 of the louvers 13 are pivotally seated in spaced, aligned sockets 16 therein. Other than by the louvers themselves, there is no connection be tween the base 11 and the top bar 12.

In accordance with the above description there has been provided herewith a new and improved multiple panel space divider structure, having many applications. An obvious use would be as a screen to divide a room or a patio. In a warm climate it may well serve as a Wall in a private house, where upon opening the panels one could step therethrough into an outside patio. Another embodiment would be as a roof to a porch or solarium in order to control the entrance of sunlight thereto.

While the arrangement of the invention described herein is at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that variations and modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims 3 all such variations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A space divider comprising frame means, a plurality of louver members mounted on said frame means, each of said louver members being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis of rotation, said axes of rotation extending generally parallel to each other, each of said axes of rotation lying substantially in a single plane, each of said louver members having a periphery which is geometrically irregular in the plane of said louver memher, the adjacent peripheries of adjoining louver members having complementary irregular peripheries such that a continuous, substantially solid wall is formed by said louver members when all of said louvers members lie in said one plane, said louver members also extending generally parallel to each other when they do not lie in said one plane, the interlocking adjacent peripheries of adjoining louver members cooperating, when said louver members lie in said one plane, to present an irregular boundary pattern between said louver members and tend to prevent deformation of said divider in said one plane, and means for rotating said louver members about their corresponding axes.

2. A space divider comprising frame means, said frame means including a lower frame member and an upper frame member, a plurality of louver members mounted between said lower frame member and said upper frame member and being the only connection between said frame members, each of said louver members being mounted for generally parallel to each other when they do not lie in said single plane, the interlocking adjacent peripheries of adjoining louver members cooperating, when said louver members lie in said single plane, to present an irregular boundary pattern and tend to prevent deformation of said divider in said one plane, and means forv rotating said louver members about their corresponding axes.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 486,220 Shure Nov. 15, 1892 1,374,921 Houston Apr. 19, 1921 1,718,754 Molina June 25, 1929 1,725,225 Swan Aug. 20, 1929 2,185,712 Rowley Jan. 2, 1940 2,208,881 De Land July 23, 1940 2,789,792 Davis Apr. 23, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS.

1,043,818 France Nov. 12, 1953

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