Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A louver assembly comprising: a frame including vertical side jambs, a head, a sill, and a central opening; a plurality of vertically-spaced, substantially-straight horizontal louver members extending longitudinally across said central opening between said side jambs, each of said louver members including a closing section and an actuating section, and each of said closing sections including upper and lower longitudinal edges; means for pivotally mounting each of said louver members on said side jambs about respective pivot axes; actuating means attached to the actuating section of each of said louver members for pivoting said louver members between open and closed positions, so that in said closed position, the lower longitudinal edge of an upper louver member overlaps the pivot axis of the adjacent lower louver member so that the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the closing section of said louver members are completely supported along their longitudinal lengths by said pivot axis at the upper longitudinal edge thereof and by the pivot axis of the adjacent lower louver member at the lower longitudinal edge thereof; in said closed position, each of said actuated sections form a trough which receives any fluid which penetrates said louver assembly; and said side jambs cooperate with said louver members in their closed positions to form vertically extending drainage channels connecting the ends of said troughs to provide drainage of fluid away from said troughs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
A louver assembly comprising: a frame including vertical side jambs, a head, a sill, and a central opening; a plurality of vertically-spaced, substantially-straight horizontal louver members extending longitudinally across said central opening between said side jambs, each of said louver members including a closing section and an actuating section, and each of said closing sections including upper and lower longitudinal edges; means for pivotally mounting each of said louver members on said side jambs about respective pivot axes; actuating means attached to the actuating section of each of said louver members for pivoting said louver members between open and closed positions, so that in said closed position, the lower longitudinal edge of an upper louver member overlaps the pivot axis of the adjacent lower louver member so that the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the closing section of said louver members are completely supported along their longitudinal lengths by said pivot axis at the upper longitudinal edge thereof and by the pivot axis of the adjacent lower louver member at the lower longitudinal edge thereof; in said closed position, each of said actuated sections form a trough which receives any fluid which penetrates said louver assembly; and said side jambs cooperate with said louver members in their closed positions to form vertically extending drainage channels connecting the ends of said troughs to provide drainage of fluid away from said troughs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A louver assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said means for pivotally mounting said louver members is mounted off center with respect to said louver members so that said closing section is larger than said actuating section, such that exterior wind conditions operate to close said louver members more tightly against inclement weather.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A louver assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said actuated sections are constructed to form a trough when in said closed position which causes any fluid which penetrates said louver members to flow away from said louver assembly, said trough formed between the actuating section of one louver member and the closing section of an adjacent louver member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A louver assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said pivot axes includes reinforcing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A louver assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said reinforcing means of the pivot axis of each of said louver members includes a steel reinforcing member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A louver assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said reinforcing means of the pivot axis of each of said louver members includes a reinforcing bead member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A louver assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein said reinforcing bead member is hollow for receiving supporting rivets at each end thereof for supporting said louver member on said vertical side jambs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A louver assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said louver members is provided on its closing section with longitudinally-extending channel members adapted to slidingly receive inserts within said longitudinally-extending channel members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A louver assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said at least one of said louver members has a portion of its closing section deleted to allow light to pass therethrough, said deleted portion adapted to be covered by said insert.