Jamb seal

Claim 2

In a louver assembly having a frame including a first top end frame member, a second bottom end frame member and two opposed mutually parallel side frame members, a plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel louver blades extending between said side frame members, louver blade pivot shafts integral with said blades along the longitudinal axes of each and extending outwardly from said blades, the louver blades and pivot shafts being pivotally mounted with respect to said side frame members for rotation about their longitudinal axes between open positions and a closed position wherein said blades are in sealing relation to each other and to said first and second end frame members, each louver blade having two transverse blade ends, one such blade end spaced from and facing each side frame member, and means for pivoting said blades between said open and closed positions; wherein said louver assembly includes a jamb seal for sealing the space between each side frame member and its associated louver blade ends, said jamb seal including: an elongated, rigid panel having a substantially flat face portion in facing, sealing, contacting relation to said louver blade ends at a first end of said blades when said blades are in said closed position, and a plurality of elongated, parallel, spaced apart, rigid ribs integral with and extending outwardly from said face portion in direction away from said louver blade ends to lie in supported relation to a first of said side frame members; said rigid ribs being provided with resilient cushioning and sealing means positioned between said rigid ribs and said side frame members; wherein said panel is provided with transverse slots positioned to receive said louver blade pivot shafts when said panel is assembled with the balance of said louver assembly between said side frame and said louver blade ends; wherein at least one of said ribs is in continuous sealing relationship with respect to said side frame member from said first top frame member to said second bottom frame member and such sealing relationship is not interrupted by said transverse slots; and means for sealing second ends of each of said louver blades with respect to a second of said side frame members.

Claim 3

In a louver assembly having a frame including a first top end frame member, a second bottom end frame member and two opposed mutually parallel side frame members, a plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel louver blades extending between said side frame members, louver blade pivot shafts integral with said blades along the longitudinal axes of each and extending outwardly from said blades, the louver blades and pivot shafts being pivotally mounted with respect to said side frame members for rotation about their longitudinal axes between open positions and a closed position wherein said blades are in sealing relation to each other and to said first and second end frame members, each louver blade having two transverse blade ends, one such blade end spaced from and facing each side frame member, and means for pivoting said blades between said open and closed positions; wherein said louver assembly includes a jamb seal for sealing the space between each side frame member and its associated louver blade ends, said jamb seal including: an elongated, rigid panel having a substantially flat face portion in facing, sealing, contacting relation to said louver blade ends at a first end of said blades when said blades are in said closed position, and a plurality of elongated, parallel, spaced apart, rigid ribs integral with and extending outwardly from said face portion in direction away from said louver blade ends to lie in supported relation to a first of said side frame members; said ribs including at least a pair of parallel spaced apart outer ribs each integrally connected to said face portion at an outer longitudinal edge of said face portion, and two inner ribs, parallel to and spaced from each other and from said outer ribs and located between said outer ribs; said rigid ribs being provided with resilient cushioning and sealing means positioned between said rigid ribs and said side frame member, said cushioning and sealing means consisting of elongated cushions in sealing relationship with outer edges of said rigid ribs throughout the length of said panel wherein the rigid panel is also flexible and; wherein said face portion of said rigid, flexible panel is slightly convexly bowed in cross section in its unstressed, unassembled state and is forced to a substantially flat condition when said jamb seal is positioned to form part of said louver assembly, said flat face portion being at least wide enough to positively seal the entire first end of each louver blade when said blades are in closed position; and means for sealing second ends of each of said louver blades with respect to a second of said side frame members.

Claim 4

In a louver assembly having a frame including a first top end frame member, a second bottom end frame member and two opposed mutually parallel side frame members, a plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel louver blades extending between said side frame members, louver blade pivot shafts integral with said blades along the longitudinal axes of each and extending outwardly from said blades, the louver blades and pivot shafts being pivotally mounted with respect to said side frame members for rotation about their longitudinal axes between open positions and a closed position wherein said blades are in sealing relation to each other and to said first and second end frame members, each louver blade having two transverse blade ends, one such blade end spaced from and facing each side frame member, and means for pivoting said blades between said open and closed positions; wherein said louver assembly includes a jamb seal for sealing the space between each side frame member and its associated louver blade ends, said jamb seal including: an elongated, rigid panel having a substantially flat face portion in facing, sealing, contacting relation to said louver blade ends at a first end of said blades when said blades are in said closed position, and a plurality of elongated, parallel, spaced apart, rigid ribs integral with and extending outwardly from said face portion in direction away from said louver blade ends to lie in supported relation to a first of said side frame members; said ribs including at least a pair of parallel spaced apart outer ribs each integrally connected to said face portion at an outer longitudinal edge of said face portion, and two inner ribs, parallel to and spaced from each other and from said outer ribs and located between said outer ribs; said rigid ribs being provided with resilient cushioning and sealing means positioned between said rigid ribs and said side frame member, said cushioning and sealing means consisting of elongated cushions in sealing relationship with outer edges of said rigid ribs throughout the length of said panel wherein the rigid panel is also flexible and; wherein said face portion of said rigid, flexible panel is slightly convexly bowed in cross section in its unstressed, unassembled state and is forced to a substantially flat condition when said jamb seal is positioned to form part of said louver assembly, said flat face portion being at least wide enough to positively seal the entire first end of each louver blade when said blades are in closed position; and means for sealing second ends of each of said louver blades with respect to a second of said side frame members.

Claim 5

The jamb seal according to claim 2 wherein said panel is provided with transverse slots positioned to receive said louver blade pivot shafts when said panel is assembled with the balance of said louver assembly between said side frame and said louver blade ends; and wherein at least one of said ribs is in continuous sealing relationship with respect to said side frame member from said first top frame member to said second bottom frame member and such sealing relationship is not interrupted by said transverse slots.

Claim 6

In a louver assembly having a frame including a first top end frame member, a second bottom end frame member and two opposed mutually parallel side frame members, a plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel louver blades extending between said side frame members, louver blade pivot shafts integral with said blades along the longitudinal axes of each and extending outwardly from said blades, the louver blades and pivot shafts being pivotally mounted with respect to said side frame members for rotation about their longitudinal axes between open positions and a closed position wherein said blades are in sealing relation to each other and to said first and second end frame members, each louver blade having two transverse blade ends, one such blade end spaced from and facing each side frame member, and means for pivoting said blades between said open and closed positions; wherein said louver assembly includes a jamb seal for sealing the space between each side frame member and its associated louver blade ends, said jamb seal including: an elongated, rigid panel having a substantially flat face portion in facing, sealing, contacting relation to said louver blade ends at a first end of said blades when said blades are in said closed position, and a plurality of elongated, parallel, spaced apart, rigid ribs integral with and extending outwardly from said face portion in direction away from said louver blade ends to lie in supported relation to a first of said side frame members; said plurality of ribs including at least a pair of parallel spaced apart outer ribs each integrally connected to said face portion at an outer longitudinal edge of said face portion; said rigid ribs being provided with resilient cushioning and sealing means positioned between said rigid ribs and said side frame members, said cushioning and sealing means consisting of elongated cushions in sealing relationship with outer edges of said rigid ribs throughout the length of said panel; wherein said cushions on said outer ribs each include a relatively thin flexible air seal flipper positioned to lie in intimate sealing relation to a portion of said side frame member spaced away from said panel along the entire length of said cushion; and means for sealing second ends of each of said louver blades with respect to a second of said side frame members.

Claim 7

In a louver assembly having a frame including a first top end frame member, a second bottom end frame member and two opposed mutually parallel side frame members, a plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel louver blades extending between said side frame members, louver blade pivot shafts integral with said blades along the longitudinal axes of each and extending outwardly from said blades, the louver blades and pivot shafts being pivotally mounted with respect to said side frame members for rotation about their longitudinal axes between open positions and a closed position wherein said blades are in sealing relation to each other and to said first and second end frame members, each louver blade having two transverse blade ends, one such blade end spaced from and facing each side frame member, and means for pivoting said blades between said open and closed positions; wherein said louver assembly includes a jamb seal for sealing the space between each side frame member and its associated louver blade ends, said jamb seal including: an elongated, rigid panel having a substantially flat face portion in facing, sealing, contacting relation to said louver blade ends at a first end of said blades when said blades are in said closed position, and a plurality of elongated, parallel, spaced apart, rigid ribs integral with and extending outwardly from said face portion in direction away from said louver blade ends to lie in supported relation to a first of said side frame members; said plurality of ribs including at least a pair of parallel spaced apart outer ribs each integrally connected to said face portion at an outer longitudinal edge of said face portion; said rigid ribs being provided with resilient cushioning and sealing means positioned between said rigid ribs and said side frame members, said cushioning and sealing means consisting of elongated cushions in sealing relationship with outer edges of said rigid ribs throughout the length of said panel; wherein said cushions on said outer ribs each include a relatively thin flexible air seal flipper positioned to lie in intimate sealing relation to a portion of said side frame member spaced away from said panel along the entire length of said cushion; and means for sealing second ends of each of said louver blades with respect to a second of said side frame members.

Claim 8

The jamb seal of claim 4 wherein said plurality of ribs also includes two inner ribs, parallel to and spaced from each other and from said outer ribs and located between said outer ribs.

Claim 9

The jamb seal of claim 5 wherein the rigid panel is also flexible and wherein said face portion of said panel is slightly convexly bowed in cross section in its unstressed, unassembled state and is forced to a substantially flat condition when said jamb seal is positioned to form part of said louver assembly, said flat face portion being at least wide enough to positively seal the entire first end of each louver blade when said blades are in the closed position.

Claim 10

The jamb seal of claim 6 wherein said means for sealing said second ends of said blades includes a second jamb seal as defined in claim 6.

Claim 11

The jamb seal of claim 6 wherein said face portion of said panel is made from a material substantially exhibiting the physical properties of rigid vinyl.

Claim 12

The jamb seal of claim 8 wherein said cushions are made from a material substantially exhibiting the physical properties of soft vinyl.

Claim 13

The jamb seal according to claim 6 wherein said panel is provided with transverse slots positioned to receive said louver blade pivot shafts when said panel is assembled with the balance of said louver assembly between said side frame and said louver blade ends; and wherein at least one of said ribs is in continuous sealing relationship with respect to said side frame member from said first top frame member to said second bottom frame member and such sealing relationship is not interrupted by said transverse slots.

Claim 14

The jamb seal of claim 10 wherein said means for sealing said second ends of said blades includes a second jamb seal as defined in claim 10.

Claim 15

The jamb seal of claim 11 wherein said face portions of said panels are made from a material substantially exhibiting the physical properties of rigid vinyl.

Claim 16

The jamb seal of claim 12 wherein said cushions are made of a material substantially exhibiting the physical properties of soft vinyl.