Patent ID: 8205385
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: A01G,E04D,E04F,E06B,F24S,Y02A,Y02B,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A light-controlling transparent/translucent panel unit able to perform under load having a span s comprising: a pair of generally parallel transparent/translucent panels spaced apart a distance D mm and made of material having a deflection factor d; a plurality of light-controlling members with a maximum height h mm positioned between the panels, the light-controlling members having at least one substantially light-blocking surface; a plurality of flexible support members positioned between the generally parallel transparent/translucent panels and disposed perpendicularly to the axes of the light-controlling members, the flexible support members being spaced at intervals along the length of the light-controlling members; and the material of the panels chosen to have a deflection factor d, the span of the panel unit chosen to have a span of s mm, the light-controlling members chosen to have a height of no greater than h mm, and the panels of the panel unit spaced apart a distance of D mm to ensure that when the sum of s/d+h+f is taken the sum is less than D mm, where f is a deflection factor; and means for imparting rotary motion to the light-controlling members about their longitudinal axes to vary the level of light passing through the panel unit.