Patent Publication Number: US-2017362825-A1

Title: A Slatted Screen

Description:
PRIORITY 
     The present application is a U.S. National Stage patent application of International Application No. PCT/AU2015/050852, filed on Dec. 31, 2015, which claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2014905309, filed on Dec. 31, 2014, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a slatted screen. The screen has been developed primarily for outdoor use in fencing, as a partition, or to form an aesthetically pleasing enclosure to conceal various items, such as hot water storage tanks, air conditioning outdoor units, and the like, and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the presently disclosed screen is not limited to these uses and may also be used indoors or for other purposes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Typically, a slatted screen comprises a frame with a plurality of slats connected thereto. The slats are provided in spaced apart parallel relationship to one another and lie in a common plane. The slats have a fixed angle of inclination, as distinct from the blades of adjustable louvres or blinds, which have a variable angle of inclination. Most commonly, the slats have a zero degree angle of inclination with respect to their common plane. However, in some screens, the slats are angled relative to the plane at a common angle of inclination. 
     A disadvantage of such known screens is that they have a very uniform appearance in terms of geometry and shadow. The screens also exhibit very uniform colour unless different components of the screen are provided in different colours. Some people consider this uniformity aesthetically unappealing and lacking in character. 
     Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. 
     Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed herein is a slatted screen comprising: 
     a frame for holding a plurality of slats in spaced apart relationship to one another with their longitudinal axes parallel and with a fixed angle of inclination; 
     a plurality of slats held by the frame in spaced apart parallel to one another with their longitudinal axes parallel and with a fixed angle of inclination, the slats lying in a common plane and comprising a first end slat at a first end of the plurality of slats, a second end slat at an opposite second end of the plurality of slats, and intermediate slats between the end slats, 
     wherein the intermediate slats comprise at least two groups of one or more slats, wherein the slats of the groups are interspersed with each other, and wherein the slats of each group are angled relative to the common plane at different angle to the slats of the other group(s). 
     The difference between the angles at which each of the groups of slats is angled relative to the common plane may be at least 5 degrees, at least 10 degrees, at least 15 degrees, at least 20 degrees, at least 25 degrees, at least 30 degrees, at least 35 degrees, at least 40 degrees, at least 45 degrees, at least 50 degrees, at least 55 degrees, at least 60 degrees, at least 65 degrees, at least 70 degrees, at least 75 degrees, at least 80 degrees, at least 85 degrees or at least 90 degrees. The angles at which each of the groups of slats is angled relative to the common plane may be opposite in sign or of the same sign. 
     The first end slat may be angled relative to the common plane at the same angle as one of the groups of slats. The second end slat may be angled relative to the common plane at the same angle as one of the groups of slats. 
     The frame may be rectangular, comprising opposite end members and opposite side members. The slats may extend between the opposite side members and the opposite side members may comprise brackets or openings or otherwise be configured to secure ends of the slats. One or more intermediate struts may extend between the end members. The intermediate struts may comprise brackets or openings or otherwise be configured to secure intermediate portions of the slats. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       An embodiment of the presently disclosed slatted screen will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a slatted screen according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a side member of the screen of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an intermediate strut of the screen of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , there is shown a slatted screen  10  comprising a frame comprising first and second opposite side members  12  and first and second opposite end members  14 . Depending on the distance between the side members  12 , one or more intermediate struts  16  may be provided therebetween, with opposite ends of the struts being connected to the end members  14 . A plurality of slats  18  extend between the side members  12 . 
     The slats  18  lie in a common plane P and comprise a first and second end slats  18   a  at opposite ends of a plurality of intermediate slats  18   b.  The intermediate slats  18   b  comprise a first group of slats  18   b   1  and a second group of slats  18   b   2 , wherein the slats of the two groups are interspersed with each other. The slats  18   b   1  of the first group are angled relative to the common plane P at different angle to the slats  18   b   2  of the second group, such that the difference between the angles at which each group of slats is angled relative to the common plane is at least 5 degrees. In the illustrated embodiment, the slats  18   b   1  are angled at around −15 degrees and the slats  18   b   2  are angled at around +15 degrees, such that the difference between the angles is around 30 degrees. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the end slats  18   a  are angled relative to the common plane at the same angle as one of the groups of intermediate slats  18   b.  However, in other embodiments, the end slats  18   a  may be angled relative to the common plane P at a different angle to the groups of intermediate slats  18   b,  such as at zero degrees relative to the common plane P (i.e., the end slats  18   b  may be parallel to the common plane). 
     The side members  12  comprise openings  12   a  to secure ends of the slats  18 . Similarly, the intermediate struts  16  comprise openings  16   a  to secure intermediate potions of the slats  18 . Engagement of the slats  18  with the openings  12   a,    16   a  of the side members and struts holds the slats in spaced apart relationship to one another, with their longitudinal axes A parallel, and with a fixed angle of inclination corresponding with their respective angling relative to the common plane P. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the side members  12  and struts  16  are formed from steel and spacers, in the form of collars  20  formed from plastics material, are provided in each of the openings  12   a,    16   a  to space the slats  18  from the side members  12  and struts  16  to protect the slats  18  against being scratched by the side members  12  and struts  16  and to inhibit rattling of the slats in the openings  12   a,    16   a.    
     In the illustrated embodiment, the side members  12  are formed from a length of box-section and the end members  14  are formed from channel-section. The dimensions of the box-section are such that the ends of the side members  12  fit snugly in the channels of the end members  14 . 
     It will be appreciated that the differently angled slats  18  of the illustrated embodiment advantageously provide a screen  10  that exhibits variation in terms of geometry and shadow. Even if all of the slats  18  are of the same colour, the differently angled slats  18  also give the screen  10  the appearance of having slight variations in slat colour or tone. These variations in geometry, shadow and colour/tone add to the character of the screen  10 . 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Examples of possible variations and/or modifications include, but are not limited to:
         the openings  12   a,    16   a  being omitted and the side members  12  and intermediate struts  16  instead being provided with brackets or clips, or otherwise being configured for securing the slats  18 ;   the intermediate struts  16  being omitted, especially in screens wherein the spacing between the side members  12  is relatively small;   the different groups of intermediate slats  18   b  may be angled at other fixed angles relative to the common plane P, provided that the difference between the angles of the slats of the different groups is at least 5 degrees;   whilst in the illustrated embodiment the angles of both groups of intermediate slats  18   b  relative to the common plane P are of opposite sign, in other embodiments the angles may be of the same sign;   more than two groups of intermediate slats  18   b  may be provided, with the slats of the different groups being interspersed with each other, and wherein the slats of each group are angled relative to the common plane P at a different angle to the slats of the other groups, wherein the difference in the angles between the slats of the different groups is at least 5 degrees, such as about 30 degrees;   the side members  12  and struts  16  may be formed from any other suitable material, such as aluminium or another metal, or from a plastics material;   the spacers  20  may be omitted, especially if the side members  12  and struts  16  are formed from a material that is unlikely to scratch the slats  18 ; and/or   rather than openings  12   a  being provided in the side members  12 , the side members may be formed from channel section similar to that used for the illustrated end members  14 , and box-section struts, of corresponding shape to and with openings  12   a  as in the illustrated side members  12 , may be located in the channels of the side members.