Ceiling louver structure and construction method

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a ceiling louver structure which has an excellent design and in which a louver member can be reused. [Solution] A ceiling louver 1 comprises a guide rail 2, a louver member 3, and a front-end cap 4F. The guide rail 2 has a base plate 21 which extends in the front-rear direction and rail parts 22 which protrude downwards from the base plate 21. The guide rail 2 is fixed to a ceiling. The louver member 3 is open at the top and at both ends in the front-rear direction. Hooks 34, 35 are provided to the inner surface of the louver member 3. The louver member 3 can slide on the guide rail 2 in the extension direction thereof. The rail parts 22 of the guide rail 2 have recessed grooves 28, 30 which extend in the front-rear direction and into which the hooks 34, 35 can enter. The front-end cap 4F is installed at the opening of the front-end portion of the louver member 3.

Description

Ceiling louver structure and construction method

[0001] The present invention relates to a ceiling louver structure and a construction method.

[0002] The building louver material disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a louver main body member and a louver tip member. The louver main body member has openings at the tip portions of both side surfaces. The louver tip member has a lid surface portion that covers the tip opening of the louver main body member. Flat portions are respectively arranged on the back surfaces of both side ends of the lid surface portion.

[0003] When the louver tip member is attached to the tip of the louver main body member, the flat portion of the lid surface portion enters the louver main body member. When attaching a decorative sheet to the lid surface portion, the flat portion serves as the attachment margin for the decorative sheet, and the decorative sheet is adhered to the lid surface portion. The flat portion is accommodated in the louver main body member in a state where the decorative sheet is attached.

[0004] Japanese Patent No. 7492792

[0005] A plurality of louver materials are attached to a ceiling or the like at a predetermined interval. If the interval between the louver materials is narrow, it becomes difficult or impossible to use power tools or the like used during construction. On the other hand, if the interval between the louver materials is wide, the design property is not good. Also, in repair work or the like, it is desirable that the louver material can be easily removed. Further, it is desirable that the removed louver material can be reused.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a ceiling louver structure that is excellent in design property and in which the louver material can be reused.

[0007] (1) The ceiling louver structure according to the present invention includes a guide rail fixed to a ceiling and a louver material slidable in an extending direction with respect to the guide rail. The guide rail has a base plate extending in the extending direction and a rail portion protruding downward from the base plate. The louver material has openings at both the upper side and both ends in the extending direction.

[0008] With the above configuration, the design property of the ceiling louver structure can be improved, and the louver material can be easily reused.

[0009] (2) The ceiling louver structure of (1) above is further provided with a cap that is attached to the opening at the end of the louver material in the extending direction.

[0010] (3) The ceiling louver structure according to (1) or (2) above further comprises an end guide rail fixed to the ceiling, an end louver material, and an end lower cap. The end guide rail has an end base plate extending in the extension direction and a support portion protruding downward from the end base plate. The end louver material is open at the top and at both ends in the extension direction and is fixed to the support portion. The end lower cap is magnetically attached to the lower end surface of the end louver material.

[0011] (4) In the ceiling louver structures described in (1) to (3) above, the louver material has a protrusion on its inner surface. The rail portion has a groove into which the protrusion can enter and which extends in the direction of extension.

[0012] (5) In the ceiling louver structures described in (1) to (4) above, the louver material has a fitting portion that protrudes from one end in the extension direction. The opening at the other end in the extension direction is into which the fitting portion can be fitted.

[0013] (6) The method for constructing the ceiling louver structure according to the present invention includes a first step, a second step, a third step, a fourth step, and a fifth step. The first step is to fix the base plate of a guide rail, which has a base plate extending in the extension direction and a rail portion protruding downward from the base plate, to the ceiling. The second step is to slide a louver material, which has openings at the top and at both ends in the extension direction, onto the guide rail in the extension direction. The end guide rail has an end base plate extending in the extension direction and a support portion protruding downward from the end base plate. The third step is to fix the end base plate to the ceiling adjacent to the base plate in the extension direction.

[0014] The fourth step is to fix the end louver material, which has openings at the top and at both ends in the extension direction, to the support part. The fifth step is to magnetically attach the lower end cap to the lower end surface of the end louver material.

[0015] According to the present invention, the aesthetic appeal of ceiling louver structures is improved. Furthermore, the louver materials are easier to reuse.

[0016] Figure 1 is an external perspective view illustrating a ceiling louver 1 attached to a ceiling surface 10. Figure 2(A) is an external perspective view showing the guide rail 2 of the ceiling louver 1. Figure 2(B) is an external perspective view showing the louver material 3. Figure 2(C) is an external perspective view showing the front end cap 4F. Figure 3(A) is an external perspective view showing the front end cap 4F. Figure 3(B) is an external perspective view showing the rear end cap 4R. Figure 3(C) is a plan view of the louver material 3 seen from above. Figure 4(A) is an external perspective view of the end louver material 7 seen from the upper left front. Figure 4(B) is an external perspective view of the end louver material 7 seen from the lower left front. Figure 5(A) is an external perspective view of the end guide rail 6 seen from the upper left front. Figure 5(B) is an external perspective view of the end guide rail 6 seen from the lower left front. Figure 6(A) is an external perspective view of the end lower end cap 8 seen from the upper left front. Figure 6(B) is an external perspective view of the lower end cap 8 for the end section, viewed from the lower left front. Figure 7 is an external perspective view illustrating the installation method for attaching the guide rail 2 to the ceiling surface 10. Figure 8(A) is an external perspective view illustrating the installation method for attaching the louver material 3 to the guide rail 2. Figure 8(B) is a cross-sectional view showing the guide rail 2 and louver material 3 after installation, perpendicular to the front-rear direction and including the axis of the screw 84. Figure 9(A) is an external perspective view showing the guide rail 2, louver material 3, and front end cap 4F before installation. Figure 9(B) is an external perspective view showing the guide rail 2, louver material 3, and front end cap 4F after installation. Figure 10(A) is an external perspective view illustrating the installation method for extending the ceiling louver 1. Figure 10(B) is a plan view illustrating the shape of the louver material 3 for extending the ceiling louver 1. Figure 11 is a side view illustrating an interior space combining an indirect lighting device 14 and the ceiling louver 1. Figure 12 is an external perspective view showing an installation method in which an end guide rail 6 is attached to the ceiling surface 10 by being added to the existing ceiling louver 1. Figure 13(A) is an external perspective view illustrating an installation method in which an end lower cap 8 is attached to the end louver material 7. Figure 13(B) is a cross-sectional view showing the section A-A in Figure 13(A) of the end unit attached to the ceiling surface 10.

[0017] The following describes in detail embodiments of the ceiling louver structure and its construction method according to the present invention, using ceiling louver 1 as an example. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present disclosure, and the embodiments can be modified as appropriate without altering the gist of the present disclosure.

[0018] The ceiling louvers 1 are single-slope louvers fixed to the ceiling surface 10. Multiple ceiling louvers 1 are fixed to the ceiling surface 10 at intervals and parallel to each other. Hereinafter, the direction perpendicular to the ceiling surface 10 will be referred to as the vertical direction. The direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and parallel to the multiple ceiling louvers 1 will be referred to as the front-to-back direction. The front-to-back direction may also be referred to as the extension direction. The direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the front-to-back direction will be referred to as the left-to-right direction. For the left-to-right direction, we define the right and left as viewed from the front.

[0019] [Configuration of Ceiling Louver 1] As shown in Figure 1, the ceiling louver structure has a plurality of ceiling louvers 1. As shown in Figures 2(A) and 2(B), the ceiling louver 1 has a guide rail 2 and a louver material 3. The guide rail 2 is attached to the ceiling surface 10. The louver material 3 is attached to the guide rail 2. The guide rail 2 and the louver material 3 extend in the front-rear direction.

[0020] Multiple louver members 3 are joined together in a row along the front-to-back direction. If the space between the row of louver members 3 and the wall 11 is too narrow in the front-to-back direction to install the louver members 3, an end unit 5 is installed. The ceiling louver structure has multiple rows of louver members 3 extending in the front-to-back direction. The multiple rows of louver members 3 are arranged parallel to each other in the left-to-right direction.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2(B), the louver material 3 has a U-shape with a cross section perpendicular to the front-to-back direction that opens upwards. The louver material 3 also has openings at both ends in the front-to-back direction. The louver material 3 has a left wall 31, a right wall 32, and a bottom wall 33. The left wall 31, the right wall 32, and the bottom wall 33 extend in the front-to-back direction. The material of the louver material 3 is not limited, but examples include steel plates and synthetic resins.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2(B), 3(C), 8(A), and 8(B), the left wall 31 has a plurality of hooking claws 34. The hooking claws 34 extend in the front-rear direction. In a cross-section perpendicular to the front-rear direction, the hooking claws 34 have a horizontal portion 34H and a vertical portion 34V. The horizontal portion 34H protrudes to the right from the right side surface 31R of the left wall 31. The horizontal portion 34H is rectangular when viewed from above.

[0023] The vertical section 34V extends downward from the right end of the horizontal section 34H. The vertical section 34V is rectangular when viewed from the right. The hooking claws 34 are hook-shaped when viewed from the front-to-back direction. Multiple hooking claws 34 are in the same position in the vertical direction. Multiple hooking claws 34 are spaced apart in the front-to-back direction. In this embodiment, four hooking claws 34 are located on one louver material 3.

[0024] The right wall 32 has a plurality of hooking claws 35. The hooking claws 35 extend in the front-rear direction. In a cross-section perpendicular to the front-rear direction, the hooking claws 35 have a horizontal portion 35H and a vertical portion 35V. They protrude to the left from the left side surface 32L of the right wall 32. The horizontal portion 35H is rectangular when viewed from above.

[0025] The vertical section 35V extends downward from the left end of the horizontal section 35H. The hooking claws 35 are hook-shaped when viewed from the front-to-back direction. Multiple hooking claws 35 and multiple hooking claws 34 are opposite each other in the left-to-right direction. Multiple hooking claws 35 are in the same position in the up-to-down direction. Multiple hooking claws 35 are spaced apart in the front-to-back direction. In this embodiment, four hooking claws 35 are located on one louver material 3. Hooking claws 34 and 35 are examples of protrusions.

[0026] The left end of the lower wall 33 connects to the lower end of the left wall 31. The right end of the lower wall 33 connects to the lower end of the right wall 32.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3(C), the thickness of the front end 3F and rear end 3R of the left wall 31, the right wall 32, and the lower wall 33 is thinner than the thickness of the central part 3C. On the left wall 31, there is a step between the left side surface 3FL of the front end 3F and the left side surface 31L of the central part 3C. The right side surface 31R of the left wall 31 is flush with the front end 3F and the central part 3C. On the right wall 32, there is a step between the right side surface 3FR of the front end 3F and the right side surface 32R of the central part 3C. The left side surface 32L of the right wall 32 is flush with the front end 3F and the central part 3C.

[0028] In the lower wall 33, there is a step between the lower surface 3FB of the front end 3F and the lower surface 33B of the central part 3C. The upper surface 33T of the lower wall 33 is flush with the front end 3F and the central part 3C. In the left wall 31, there is a step between the right side 3RR of the rear end 3R and the right side 31R of the central part 3C. The left side 31L of the left wall 31 is flush with the rear end 3R and the central part 3C. In the right wall 32, there is a step between the left side 3RL of the rear end 3R and the left side 32L of the central part 3C.

[0029] The right side surface 32R of the right wall 32 is flush with the rear end 3R and the central part 3C. In the lower wall 33, there is a step between the upper surface 3RT of the rear end 3R and the upper surface 33T of the central part 3C. The lower surface 33B of the lower wall 33 is flush with the rear end 3R and the central part 3C. The front end 3F is an example of a fitting portion. The front end 3F can be fitted into the rear end 3R.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2(A), the guide rail 2 has a base plate 21 and a plurality of rail sections 22. The base plate 21 has a plurality of screw holes 23. The plurality of screw holes 23 and the plurality of rail sections 22 are positioned so as not to overlap each other in the front-rear direction. The width of the base plate 21 in the left-right direction is narrower than the distance between the right side surface 31R of the left wall 31 of the louver material 3 and the left side surface 32L of the right wall 32. The rail section 22 has a U-shape that opens upward in a cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, four rail sections 22 are positioned at intervals in the front-rear direction on one base plate 21. The positions of the four rail sections 22 correspond to the positions of the four hooking claws 34 and 35. The length of the base plate 21 from the front end to the rear end is equal to the length of the louver material 3 from the front end of the central part 3C to the rear end of the rear part 3R.

[0031] As shown in Figures 2(A), 8(A), and 8(B), the rail section 22 has a left wall 24, a right wall 25, and a bottom wall 26. The upper ends of the left wall 24 and the right wall 25 are fixed to the base plate 21. The left wall 24 has a hook groove 28 on its left side surface 27. The hook groove 28 is located in the center of the left side surface 27 in the vertical direction. The hook groove 28 opens upward.

[0032] The hook groove 28 extends across the entire width of the left wall 24 in the front-rear direction. In the left-right direction, the width of the hook groove 28 is greater than the width of the vertical portion 34V of the hook claw 34 on the left wall 31 of the louver material 3. Therefore, the hook groove 28 is accessible to and engage with the hook claw 34.

[0033] The right wall 25 has a hook groove 30 on its right side surface 29. The hook groove 30 is located in the center of the right side surface 29 in the vertical direction. The hook groove 30 opens upward. The hook groove 30 extends across the entire width of the right wall 25 in the front-to-back direction. In the left-to-right direction, the width of the hook groove 30 is greater than the width of the vertical portion 35V of the hook claw 35 on the right wall 32 of the louver material 3.

[0034] Therefore, the hook groove 30 is accessible to the hook claw 35 and allows for engagement.

[0035] The front end cap 4F is attached to the opening at the front end of the louver material 3 in the front-rear direction. The rear end cap 4R is attached to the opening at the rear end of the louver material 3 in the front-rear direction. The front end cap 4F and the rear end cap 4R are examples of caps.

[0036] As shown in Figure 3(A), the front end cap 4F has a plate-like portion 41F and a fitting portion 4F1. The plate-like portion 41F has a notch 42F. The notch 42F is sized to allow the tip of a flathead screwdriver 91 to be inserted. The fitting portion 4F1 extends along the outer circumference of the plate-like portion 41F on the rear surface 41FR of the plate-like portion 41F. The fitting portion 4F1 protrudes rearward from the rear surface 41FR of the plate-like portion 41F. The fitting portion 4F1 is fitted onto the front end portion 3F of the louver material 3 shown in Figure 3(C).

[0037] As shown in Figure 3(B), the rear end cap 4R has a plate-shaped portion 41R and a fitting portion 4R1. The plate-shaped portion 41R has a notch 42R. The notch 42R is sized to allow the tip of a flathead screwdriver 91 to be inserted. The fitting portion 4R1 extends along the outer circumference of the plate-shaped portion 41R, inside the outer circumference of the front surface 41RF of the plate-shaped portion 41R. The fitting portion 4R1 protrudes forward from the front surface 41RF of the plate-shaped portion 41R. The fitting portion 4R1 is fitted into the rear end portion 3R of the louver material 3 shown in Figure 3(C).

[0038] [End Unit] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the end unit 5 includes an end guide rail 6, an end louver material 7, and an end lower cap 8.

[0039] As shown in Figures 4(A) and 4(B), the end louver material 7 has an H-shape with a cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction that opens upward and downward. The end louver material 7 also has openings at both ends in the front-rear direction. The end louver material 7 has a left wall 71, a right wall 72, and a middle wall 73. The left wall 71, the right wall 72, and the middle wall 73 are made of resin material and extend in the front-rear direction. The middle wall 73 has two screw holes 74 aligned in the front-rear direction. The middle wall 73 is mixed with iron powder and a magnet can be magnetically attached to its lower surface. The lower surface of the middle wall 73 is an example of the lower end surface of the end louver material 7.

[0040] As shown in Figures 5(A) and 5(B), the end guide rail 6 has an end base plate 61 and a support portion 62. The end base plate 61 has two screw holes 63. The two screw holes 63 are located in the front-rear direction, sandwiching the support portion 62. The support portion 62 has a U-shape with a cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction that opens upward. The support portion 62 has a left wall 64, a right wall 65, and a bottom wall 66. The upper ends of the left wall 64 and the right wall 65 are fixed to the end base plate 61.

[0041] The lower wall 66 has two screw holes 67 aligned in the front-to-back direction. The screw holes 67 in the lower wall 66 of the end guide rail 6 and the screw holes 74 in the middle wall 73 of the end louver material 7 are in corresponding positions when viewed from above. The width of the end guide rail 6 in the left-to-right direction is narrower than the distance from the right side of the left wall 71 of the end louver material 7 to the left side of the right wall 72.

[0042] As shown in Figures 6(A) and 6(B), the lower end cap 8 for the end section has a plate-like portion 81 and two magnets 82. The plate-like portion 81 has a notch 83 at one end in the front-to-back direction. The notch 83 is large enough to allow the tip of a flathead screwdriver 91 to be inserted. The two magnets 82 are flat, strip-shaped. The two magnets 82 are fixed to the left and right sides of the upper surface of the plate-like portion 81 by adhesive. The two magnets 82 extend parallel to each other in the front-to-back direction.

[0043] [Installation Method for Ceiling Louver 1] The installation method for ceiling louver 1 includes a first step and a second step. In the first step, the base plate 21 is fixed to the ceiling surface 10. In the second step, the louver material 3 is slid in the front-back direction and attached to the guide rail 2.

[0044] In the first step, as shown in Figure 7, the upper surface of the base plate 21 of the guide rail 2 is brought into contact with the ceiling surface 10. With the upper surface of the base plate 21 in contact with the ceiling surface 10, screws 84 are passed through the screw holes 23 of the base plate 21 and fastened with screws. In this way, the base plate 21 is fixed to the ceiling surface 10. The position in which the base plate 21 is fixed to the ceiling surface 10 is determined in advance by marking or the like.

[0045] In the second step, as shown in FIG. 8(A), the louver material 3 is attached to the guide rail 2 from below. When attaching the louver material 3, first, in the front-rear direction, the louver material 3 is positioned such that the catching claws 34 and 35 do not overlap with the rail portion 22. Next, the louver material 3 is lifted upward and placed over the guide rail 2.

[0046] In the state where the louver material 3 is placed over the guide rail 2, the louver material 3 and the guide rail 2 are displaced in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, when viewed from the front-rear direction, as shown in FIG. 8(B), the catching claw 34 of the louver material 3 and the catching groove 28 of the guide rail 2 are positioned at a position where they can be engaged. Also, it is a position where the catching claw 35 of the louver material 3 and the catching groove 30 of the guide rail 2 can be engaged. From this position, the louver material 3 is slid in the front-rear direction in the direction in which the displacement between the louver material 3 and the guide rail 2 in the front-rear direction is eliminated. By this sliding movement, the catching claw 34 of the louver material 3 and the catching groove 28 of the guide rail 2 are engaged.

[0047] Further, since the catching claw 35 of the louver material 3 and the catching groove 30 of the guide rail 2 are engaged, the louver material 3 is supported by the guide rail 2. In the front-rear direction, the louver material 3 is installed such that the rear end of the rear end portion 3R of the louver material 3 coincides with the rear end of the base plate 21 of the guide rail 2. Therefore, in the front-rear direction, the front end of the base plate 21 of the guide rail 2 coincides with the front end of the central portion 3C of the louver material 3. When the louver material 3 is not extended, as shown in FIG. 9(A), a front-end cap 4F is fitted to the front end portion 3F of the louver material 3. Since the front end of the base plate 21 of the guide rail 2 coincides with the front end of the central portion 3C of the louver material 3, the base plate 21 does not interfere with the fitting of the front-end cap 4F. Also, a rear-end cap 4R is fitted to the rear end portion 3R of the louver material 3. The fitting portion 4R1 of the rear-end cap 4R presses against the rear end portion 3R of the louver material 3 from above and from the left and right, and presses against the base plate 21 of the guide rail 2 from below and fits.

[0048] When the ceiling louver 1 is extended in the front-rear direction, the front-end cap 4F and the rear-end cap 4R are not fitted to the ends of the louver material 3 where the new louver material 3 is to be connected. As shown in Fig. 10(A), the rear end of the second guide rail 2 is adjacent to the front end of the first guide rail 2 fixed to the ceiling surface 10, and the second guide rail 2 is fixed to the ceiling surface 10. The first louver material 3 is fixed to the first guide rail 2. As shown in Fig. 10(B), the rear end portion 3R of the second louver material 3 fixed to the second guide rail 2 is fitted to the front end portion 3F of the first louver material 3. Instead of the above, the front end portion 3F of another louver material 3 may be fitted to the rear end portion 3R of the already fixed louver material 3. Also, after the necessary number of guide rails 2 are fixed to the ceiling surface 10, a plurality of louver materials 3 may be engaged with the corresponding guide rails 2.

[0049] [Construction method of the end unit 5] The process of attaching the end unit 5 includes a third process, a fourth process, and a fifth process. The third process is to fix the end base plate 61 adjacent to the base plate 21 in the front-rear direction to the ceiling surface 10. The fourth process is to fix the end louver material 7 to the support portion 62. The fifth process is to magnetically attach the end lower cap 8 to the lower end surface of the end louver material 7.

[0050] In the third process, with the ceiling louver 1 attached to the ceiling surface 10, the end unit 5 is additionally attached. As shown in Fig. 12, the ceiling louver 1 is attached to the ceiling surface 10. The louver material 3 of the ceiling louver 1 is not fitted with the front-end cap 4F. First, the end guide rail 6 is supported at a position where one end in the front-rear direction is adjacent to one end in the front-rear direction of the guide rail 2. In this supported state, by inserting the screw 85 into the screw hole 63, the end guide rail 6 is screwed to the ceiling surface 10. Note that the end guide rail 6 may be fixed to the ceiling surface 10 simultaneously when a plurality of guide rails 2 are fixed to the ceiling surface 10.

[0051] In the fourth step, as shown in Figures 13(A) and 13(B), the end louver material 7 is first placed over the end guide rail 6. With the end louver material 7 covering the end guide rail 6, screws 86 are inserted into the screw holes 74 in the middle wall 73 to fix it to the support portion 62 of the end guide rail 6.

[0052] In the fifth step, once the end louver material 7 is fixed to the end guide rail 6, the end lower cap 8 is magnetically attached to the lower surface of the middle wall 73. For aesthetic reasons, the end lower cap 8 is magnetically attached with the notch 83 facing away from the ceiling louver 1 in the front-to-back direction. If ease of removal is prioritized, the end lower cap 8 may be magnetically attached with the notch 83 facing closer to the ceiling louver 1 in the front-to-back direction.

[0053] [Effects of the Embodiment] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 8(A) and 10(A), the louver material 3 is moved along the guide rail 2 to the mounting position. That is, the louver material 3 is moved in the vertical and horizontal directions along the arrow 90, but not in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, no power tools are required when attaching the louver material 3 to the guide rail 2. Therefore, even if the distance between adjacent guide rails 2 in the horizontal direction is narrow, the louver material 3 can be attached to the guide rail 2.

[0054] The front end cap 4F is fitted onto the front end 3F of the louver material 3. Therefore, the front end cap 4F can be removed from the louver material 3 by inserting the tip of a flathead screwdriver 91 into the notch 42F of the front end cap 4F and prying it out. The same applies to the rear end cap 4R. The guide rail 2 and the louver material 3 are engaged. Therefore, by sliding the louver material 3 in the front-rear direction relative to the guide rail 2 using the reverse operation shown in Figure 8(A), the engagement between the guide rail 2 and the louver material 3 can be released. In this way, the guide rail 2, the louver material 3, the front end cap 4F, and the rear end cap 4R can be removed without being soiled and are therefore reusable.

[0055] For example, as shown in Figure 11, an indirect lighting device 14 may be provided in which a light-shielding section 12 and a light source 13 are arranged at the corner between the ceiling surface 10 and the wall 11. In the indirect lighting device 14, for design reasons, the end of the ceiling louver 1 may be extended above the light-shielding section 12. In that case, the ceiling louver 1 becomes an obstruction, making maintenance such as replacing the light source 13 difficult. Therefore, it becomes necessary to remove the ceiling louver 1 when maintaining the light source 13. However, if the parts of the ceiling louver 1 are soiled and replaced with new ones every time the ceiling louver 1 is removed for maintenance of the light source 13, the maintenance costs will be high.

[0056] To address these problems, the ceiling louver 1 according to this embodiment can be removed without damaging the parts. Therefore, as shown in Figure 11, even if the parts of the ceiling louver 1 are removed for maintenance of the light source 13, the removed parts can be reused, thus reducing maintenance costs.

[0057] When attaching the louver material 3 to the guide rail 2, it is necessary to shift the position of the louver material 3 in the front-to-back direction relative to the guide rail 2. However, in locations close to the partition wall 11 at the end of the ceiling surface 10, there may not be enough space to slide the louver material 3 in the front-to-back direction. With the end unit 5, the end louver material 7 can be fixed to the end guide rail 6 without having to shift the end louver material 7 in the front-to-back direction relative to the end guide rail 6. Therefore, the end louver material 7 can be attached even in locations close to the partition wall on the ceiling surface 10.

[0058] [Modification] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the end unit 5 is attached between the louver material 3 and the wall 11. However, instead of the end unit 5, a front end cap 4F or a rear end cap 4R may be attached. In designs where there is a gap between the louver material 3 and the wall 11, and there is sufficient space to install the louver material 3, the end unit 5 does not necessarily have to be used.

[0059] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the guide rail 2 has hooking grooves 28 and 30, and the louver material 3 has hooking claws 34 and 35. In this example, the louver material 3 may have hooking grooves instead of hooking claws 34 and 35, and the guide rail may have hooking claws instead of hooking grooves 28 and 30. Even with such a configuration, the same effects obtained in the above embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, the shapes of the hooking grooves 28 and 30 and the hooking claws 34 and 35 may be changed as appropriate.

[0060] Figure 1 shows an example in which the end unit 5 is placed at the front end of the ceiling louver 1, but the present invention is not limited to this example. The end unit 5 may also be placed at the rear end of the ceiling louver 1. Alternatively, the end unit 5 may be placed at both the front and rear ends of the ceiling louver 1.

[0061] In the above embodiment, an example of attaching the ceiling louver 1 to the ceiling surface 10 was described, but the present invention is not limited to this example. The guide rail 2 and the end guide rail 6 may be attached to the ceiling joist hangers. The ceiling joist hangers are suspended from suspension bolts. The suspension bolts are attached to the beams of the building using mounting members.

[0062] [Note 1] The ceiling louver structure according to the present invention comprises a guide rail fixed to the ceiling and a louver material that is slidable in the extending direction relative to the guide rail. The guide rail has a base plate extending in the extending direction and a rail portion protruding downward from the base plate. The louver material is open at the top and at both ends in the extending direction.

[0063] [Note 2] The ceiling louver structure described in Note 1 further comprises a cap attached to the opening at the end of the louver material in the extension direction.

[0064] [Note 3] The ceiling louver structure described in Note 1 or 2 further comprises an end guide rail fixed to the ceiling, an end louver material, and an end lower cap. The end guide rail has an end base plate extending in the extension direction and a support portion protruding downward from the end base plate. The end louver material is open at the top and at both ends in the extension direction and is fixed to the support portion, and the end lower cap is magnetically attached to the lower end surface of the end louver material.

[0065] [Note 4] In the ceiling louver structure described in Note 1 or 2, the louver material has a protrusion on its inner surface, and the rail portion has a groove that extends in the direction of extension into which the protrusion can enter.

[0066] [Note 5] The ceiling louver structure described in Note 1 or 2, the louver material, has a fitting portion that protrudes from one end in the extension direction. The opening at the other end in the extension direction is into which the fitting portion can be fitted.

[0067] [Note 6] The method for constructing the ceiling louver structure according to the present invention includes a first step, a second step, a third step, a fourth step, and a fifth step. The first step is to fix the base plate of a guide rail, which has a base plate extending in the extension direction and a rail portion protruding downward from the base plate, to the ceiling. The second step is to attach a louver material, which has openings at the top and at both ends in the extension direction, to the guide rail by sliding it in the extension direction. The end guide rail has an end base plate extending in the extension direction and a support portion protruding downward from the end base plate. The third step is to fix the end base plate to the ceiling adjacent to the base plate in the extension direction.

[0068] The fourth step is to fix the end louver material, which has openings at the top and at both ends in the extension direction, to the support part. The fifth step is to magnetically attach the lower end cap to the lower end surface of the end louver material.

[0069] 1...Ceiling louvers 2...Guide rails 3...Louver material 3C...Center section 3F...Front end 3FL, 3RL, 27, 31L, 32L, 72L...Left side 3FR, 3RR, 29, 31R, 32R, 71R...Right side 3R...Rear end 4F...Front end cap 4F1, 4R1...Fitting section 4R...Rear end cap 5...End unit 6...End guide rail 7...End louver material 8...End bottom cap 10...Ceiling surface 11...Wall 12...Shading section 13...Light source 14...Indirect lighting device 21...Base plate 22...Rail section 23, 63, 67, 74...Screw holes 24, 31, 64, 71...Left wall 25, 32, 65, 72...Right wall 26, 33, 66...Bottom wall 33B, 3FB...Bottom surface 33T, 3RT, 81T...Top surface 34, 35...Hooking claws 28, 30...Hooking grooves 34H, 35H...Horizontal section 34V, 35V...Vertical section 41F, 41R, 81...Plate-shaped section 42F, 42R, 83...Notches 61...End base plate 62...Support section 73...Middle wall 82...Magnet 84, 85, 86...Screws

Claims

1. A ceiling louver structure comprising a guide rail fixed to the ceiling and a louver material that is slidable in the extension direction relative to the guide rail, wherein the guide rail has a base plate extending in the extension direction and a rail portion protruding downward from the base plate, and the louver material has openings at the top and at both ends in the extension direction.

2. The ceiling louver structure according to claim 1, further comprising a cap attached to the opening at the end of the louver material in the extending direction.

3. The ceiling louver structure according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: an end guide rail fixed to the ceiling; an end louver material; and an end lower cap, wherein the end guide rail has an end base plate extending in the extension direction and a support portion protruding downward from the end base plate; the end louver material is open at the top and at both ends in the extension direction and is fixed to the support portion; and the end lower cap is magnetically attached to the lower end surface of the end louver material.

4. The ceiling louver structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the louver material has a protrusion on its inner surface, and the rail portion has a groove into which the protrusion can enter and which extends in the direction of extension.

5. The ceiling louver structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the louver material has a fitting portion protruding from one end in the extension direction, and the opening at the other end in the extension direction is such that the fitting portion can be fitted into it.

6. A method for constructing a ceiling louver structure, comprising: a first step of fixing the base plate of a guide rail having a base plate extending in the extension direction and a rail portion protruding downward from the base plate to the ceiling; a second step of attaching a louver material, which has openings at the top and both ends in the extension direction, to the guide rail by sliding it in the extension direction; a third step of fixing the end base plate of an end guide rail having an end base plate extending in the extension direction and a support portion protruding downward from the end base plate, to the ceiling adjacent to the base plate in the extension direction; a fourth step of fixing the end louver material, which has openings at the top and both ends in the extension direction, to the support portion; and a fifth step of magnetically attaching an end lower cap to the lower end surface of the end louver material.

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