Bracket for a weather louvre

Abstract

A weather-louvre bracket 10 for supporting an architectural weather louvre (WL, fig 5) relative to a building element. The bracket comprises a body 12 positioned at or adjacent to an exterior surface

Description

The present invention relates to a bracket for mounting a weather louvre relative to a building, and more particularly but not necessarily exclusively to a bracket with improved strength that maintains adequate flex for louvre snap-fit engagement. The invention further relates to a method of mounting a weather louvre to said bracket. Modern buildings are typically designed to have permanent ventilation, to allow airflow for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems or to simply allow for natural ventilation to a room. To prevent the ingress of water, weather louvres are often installed to cover an opening to a building. A weather louvre is an elongate blade typically laterally aligned with the opening of the building, allowing the passage of air while inhibiting the passage of moisture during rainy days. These weather louvres are typically mounted either via their lateral ends or along their edge lengths via brackets. Driven by improvements in the understanding of airflow dynamics, louvres have evolved to have increasingly complex profiles in order to better optimise the airflow to a building while minimizing water ingress. Such improvements have in some cases led to increases in the weight of louvres, and existing systems of mounting weather louvres have become bulkier and more complex to compensate for the higher weight load. The need for increased strength in louvre brackets has led to increased manufacturing cost, while often making the mounting of louvres to brackets more unwieldy due to bulkier and more complex components. Increases in the strength and thickness of louvre brackets typically also come at the cost of aesthetic considerations. An example of a weather-louvre bracket known in the art is shown in Figure 1. The known weather-louvre bracket 10’ of Figure 1 includes a body 12’ and a louvre-support arm 14’ projecting from the body 12’, as well as a receiver 16’ having a nose element 18’ and a lip element 20’. Deformation, particularly at and around the meeting point X’ of the louvre-support arm and body, is a known problem with such weather louvre brackets. In particular, the large distance in a rearwards to forwards direction from the body to the free end of the louvre-support arm means that when a weather louvre is received there is a large amount of leverage. The large leverage means that a significant torque is imparted at the meeting point of the body and louvre-support arm. This is especially the case when attempting to install the louvre to the bracket via a snap-fit arrangement, which requires for force to be applied to the bracket. The significant torque causes deformation, which is to say plastic deformation or inelastic deformation, of the bracket resulting in permanent misalignment of the louvre support arm and thus misalignment of the attached louvre with respect to adjacent louvres. Such misalignment of louvres can be visually obvious, and thus creates the impression of a poorly installed system. It is an object of the present invention to solve or substantially obviate the aforementioned problems. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a weather-louvre bracket for supporting an architectural weather louvre relative to a building element, the weather-louvre bracket comprising: a body for positioning at or adjacent to an exterior surface of a building element; a louvre-support arm which projects from the body and which in use supports a forward-facing portion of the weather louvre; and a receiver at or adjacent to the louvre-support arm and the body, the receiver in use receiving a rearward-facing portion of the weather louvre; the receiver comprising a nose element and a lip element which is spaced-apart from the nose element, a distalmost portion of the nose element relative to the body and a distalmost portion of the lip element relative to the body defining a plane; an undersurface of the louvresupport arm and the body meeting forwards of the said plane, so as to strengthen a proximal end of the louvre-support arm whilst maintaining adequate flex for louvre snap-fit engagement. The structure of such a bracket allows for improved strength, particularly at the proximal end of the louvre-support arm, due to the louvre-support arm meeting the body further forward than in a typical arrangement. In effect, a portion of the bracket at the proximal end of the louvre-support arm, which is typically the weakest point of the weather-louvre bracket due to a greater lever effect caused by the large distance from the load, has been thickened and / or reinforced. This effectively means that the distance from the free end of the louvre-support arm to the body is reduced, which in turn reduces the moment or torque imparted on the bracket at the point where the louvre-support arm and body meet. This provides good support for a mounted louvre while still providing suitable flex in the bracket to allow for a louvre to be more readily mounted via a snap-fit engagement, without a substantial increase in material or manufacturing costs. Preferably, the lip element has a convex outer surface with a radius of curvature of at least 8mm. A convex lip element with a relatively large radius of curvature of at least 8mm allows for weather louvres to be more easily mounted to and removed from the bracket when compared to a more sharply curved lip element. The shape of the lip element provides improved strength, with the lip element starting to rise closer towards the body of the bracket, better distributing the weight of a mounted weather louvre throughout the bracket and to the body. Additionally, the increased curvature prevents or reduces any points of weakness, inhibiting the weather-louvre bracket from plastically deforming near the proximal end of the louvre-support arm. This has been a problem with known brackets. Optionally, the nose element has an overhang portion defining a recess for receiving the rearward-facing portion of the weather louvre. A recess corresponding to the rearward facing portion of a weather louvre provides a convenient means of mounting a weather louvre to the weather-louvre bracket. This allows for the mounting of a louvre quickly and easily, without requiring, or reducing the requirement of, more permanent fixing means such as screws. In one preferable embodiment, the receiver further comprises a substantially planar connecting portion interconnecting the nose element and the lip element. Advantageously, the lip element and the connecting portion may meet at least 3mm from an apex of the lip element. Such an arrangement better distributes the weight of a mounted weather louvre throughout the bracket and to the body. This shifts the weight of the lip element towards the body, reducing torque due to the weight of the lip element and thus allowing the bracket to carry more weight. Preferably, the body includes a mounting portion for attaching the weather-louvre bracket to a surface and a buttress portion for supporting the louvre-support arm. A mounting portion allows for the bracket to be attached or connected to a building or the like. The buttress portion, or brace, provides greater support to the louvre-support arm and can be shaped to distribute weight load towards the mounting portion, improving the strength of the bracket. Beneficially, the undersurface of the louvre-support arm and the body may meet at least 30mm from the mounting portion. The body meeting the louvre-support arm further forwards from the mounting portion provides greater support to the proximal end of the louvre-support arm, improving the strength of the weather-louvre bracket. In one optional embodiment, the buttress portion is or is substantially swan-neck shaped. Furthermore, the or a further buttress portion may conveniently be archshaped with a concave undersurface. Arch-shaped or swan-neck shaped buttress portions provide strong support to the louvre support arm and distribute the load very effectively. A swan-neck shape may provide for greater flexibility than the arch-shape. The lip element meeting the connecting portion at a point 3mm or more from its apex better distributes the weight of a mounted weather louvre throughout the bracket and to the body. The weight of the lip element is thereby shifted towards the body, reducing torque due to the weight of the lip element and thus allowing the bracket again to carry more weight. Preferably, the body further includes two end formations each interengageable with a complementary end formation of an adjacent like said weather-louvre bracket. This allows for such a weather-louvre bracket to be connected to adjacent like weatherlouvre brackets, with the interengagable end formations allowing a user to easily align and connect adjacent weather-louvre brackets. The complementary nature of the end formations allows for a more precise connection and reduces misalignment between adjacent weather-louvre brackets. Preferably, one of the end formations is formed as a hook and the other end formation is formed as a recessed formation complementarily shaped to receive the hook. More preferably, one of the end formations at least in part extends rearwards of the body. A hook and a corresponding recessed formation provide a convenient means to connect weather-louvre brackets to adjacent like weather-louvre brackets, as the hook can be simply and easily pivotally engaged in the recessed formation of an adjacent like weather-louvre bracket by hand and without requiring any additional tools. Advantageously, the louvre-support arm is arcuate with a concave upper surface and a convex undersurface. An arcuate louvre-support arm is stronger than an equivalent straight louvre-support arm and less liable to plastically deform or break due to improved distribution of load. Preferably, the louvre-support arm includes a protrusion at or adjacent to a free end of the louvre-support arm for engaging with the forward-facing portion of the weather louvre. More preferably, the protrusion has a base extent of 3mm in a forward to rearward direction. A protrusion on the louvre-support arm can better engage with the forward-facing portion of the weather-louvre, providing a strong engagement with a mounted louvre. Due to the improved strength of the weather-louvre bracket, a larger protrusion can be provided than is typical or known, providing even greater support to a mounted louvre. In one preferable embodiment, a plurality of louvre-support arms and a complementary number of receivers are provided, each receiver comprising a nose element and a corresponding lip element which is spaced-apart from the nose element, a distalmost portion of each nose element relative to the body and a distalmost portion of each corresponding lip element relative to the body defining a separate plane, and each louvre-support arm meeting the body forwards of the said plane. Optionally, two, three or more louvre-support arms are provided, which may be equidistantly spaced. Preferably, where two louvre support arms are provided, the lower buttress portion is or is substantially swan-neck shaped and the upper buttress portion is or is substantially arch-shaped with a concave undersurface. Multiple support arms and receivers allow for the mounting of multiple weather louvres to the same weather-louvre bracket, which can save on manufacturing costs and improve the speed of installation when compared to using multiple weather-louvre brackets with a single louvre-support arm and receiver. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a bracket assembly comprising two or more interengaged weather-louvre brackets in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. A bracket assembly comprised of multiple weather-louvre brackets allows for larger openings to be covered when associated weather louvres are mounted on the brackets. As more brackets can be easily added depending on the size and shape of an opening, a weather-louvre bracket assembly can be tailored to fit the specific measurements of a given opening in a building. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a weather-louvre bracket for securing an architectural weather louvre relative to a building element, the weather-louvre bracket comprising: a body for positioning at or adjacent to the building element; a louvre-support arm projecting from the body and having a protrusion at or adjacent to a free end of the louvre-support arm, the protrusion for engaging with a first portion of the architectural weather louvre; and a receiver at or adjacent to the louvresupport arm and the body, the receiver for receiving a second portion of the architectural weather louvre; the louvre-support arm having a concave surface at least part way between the receiver and the protrusion, a lip between the concave surface and the receiver having a radius of curvature of at least 8 mm. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of mounting a weather louvre, the method comprising the steps of: i) providing a weather-louvre bracket according to the first aspect of the invention; ii) engaging a forward-facing portion of the weather louvre with a louvre-support arm of the weather-louvre bracket; and iii) engaging a rearward-facing portion of the weather louvre with a receiver of the weather-louvre bracket. Weather louvres may be quickly and easily mounted to the bracket of the present invention via snap-fit and without requiring specialist tools. A secure connection can be provided thanks to the weather louvre being engaged at both a forward-facing portion and a rearward-facing portion, and the bracket provides excellent support for the weather louvre once mounted. The present weather-louvre bracket provides improved strength and support while maintaining enough flexibility to easily allow for weather louvres to be mounted thereon. For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a portion of a prior art weather-louvre bracket; Figure 2 shows a side view of a portion of a first embodiment of a weatherlouvre bracket in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the weather-louvre bracket of Figure 2, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 4 shows a side view of the weather-louvre bracket of Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a side view of the weather-louvre bracket of Figure 2, in combination with a weather louvre mounted thereon; Figure 6 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of a weather-louvre bracket, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 7 shows a side view of the weather-louvre bracket of Figure 6; and Figure 8 shows a side view of the weather-louvre bracket of Figures 6 and 7, in combination with two weather louvres mounted thereon. Referring to Figures 2 to 4, there is shown a first embodiment of a weather-louvre bracket 10. The weather-louvre bracket 10 has a body 12, a louvre-support arm 14 projecting from the body 12 and a receiver 16 at or adjacent to the louvre-support arm 14 and the body 12. The receiver 16 includes a nose element 18 and a spaced apart lip element 20. The body 12 of the weather-louvre bracket 10 includes a mounting portion or mounting surface 22. The mounting portion 22 is the rear surface of the body, and is substantially planar to facilitate connection to a planar supporting surface. This allows for the weather-louvre bracket 10 to be easily attached to a supporting surface such as the exterior surface of a building element, such as a building wall or curtain walling mullion or transom. The body 12 additionally includes a buttress portion 24, which provides support to the louvre-support arm 14 and distributes the load through the weather-louvre bracket 10 and to a supporting surface, mitigating the risk of plastic deformation at the proximal end of the louvre-support arm 14 . The buttress portion 24 is swan-neck shaped, which provides good support to the louvre-support arm 14 and additionally allows slight flexing towards the mounting portion 22 of the weather-louvre. This accommodates elastic flexing of the louvre-support arm 14. Since the buttress portion 24 can flex slightly, less flexing of the louvre-support arm 14 is required, which works to keep the deformation of the louvre-support arm 14 in the elastic limit. In sum, the buttress portion 24 can help mitigate the risk of permanent deformation at the proximal end of the louvre-support arm 14, as well as potentially permitting easier snap-fit installation. The body 12 portion further includes two end formations 26, 28, which are each interengageable with a complementary end portion of an adjacent weather-louvre bracket 10. One end formation is formed as a hook 26, and the other is formed as a complementary recessed formation 28. This allows for adjacent like weather-louvre brackets to be engaged by pivoting the hook 26 of one weather-louvre bracket 10 into the recessed formation 28 of an adjacent weather-louvre bracket 10. Of course, other structures for the end formations may be considered, such as a tongue-and-groove connection. The recessed formation 28 has a convex rounded surface corresponding to a concave surface on the hook 26. This allows the end formations 26, 28 of two adjacent weatherlouvre brackets 10 to be engaged by pivoting the lower bracket relative to the upper bracket such that the hook 26 of the lower bracket engages with the recessed formation 28 of the upper bracket. The convex rounded surface of the recessed formation 28 can then sit in or mate with the concave surface of the hook 26. In this manner, multiple weather-louvre brackets may be connected to form a weatherlouvre bracket assembly comprising two or more inter-engaged weather-louvre brackets. As can be best seen in Figure 5, the weather-louvre bracket 10 is configured for supporting a weather louvre WL. The receiver 16 of the weather-louvre bracket 10 is configured to receive a rearward-facing portion RP of the weather louvre WL and the louvre-support arm 14 is configured to receive a forward-facing portion FP of a weather louvre WL. The lip element 20 of the receiver 16 is spaced apart from the nose element 18 of the receiver 16 by a distance such that in-use the rearward-facing portion RP of the weather louvre WL can be received between the nose element 18 and lip element 20. The distance between the lip element 20 and nose element 18 may vary depending on the dimensions of the desired weather louvre WL to be fit. The nose element 18 has an overhang portion 30 which defines a recess 32 for receiving a first end of the rearward-facing portion RP of the weather louvre WL. The overhang portion 30 is curved, with a convex outer surface and a substantially planar inner surface which may abut the rearward-facing portion RP of a mounted weather louvre WL. The recess has substantially the same height as a height of the first end of the weather louvre WL which provides a tight fit with the first end of the weather louvre WL, ensuring that the weather louvre WL is securely retained by the weather-louvre bracket 10. The nose element 18 and lip element 20 are interconnected by a substantially planar connecting portion 34, which provides a surface for abutting the rearward-facing portion RP of the weather louvre WL. The lip element 20 and connecting portion 34 together define a notch 36 for engaging with a second end of the rearward-facing portion RP. Preferably, the lip element 20 and the connecting portion 34 meet at least 2mm from an apex 38 of the lip element 20. More preferably, the lip element 20 and the connecting portion 34 meet at least 3mm from the apex 38 of the lip element 20. In other words, the apex 38 is spaced by at least 2mm or 3mm from the connecting portion 34. In prior art arrangements such as the weather louvre bracket of Figure 1, the lip element and an upper surface of the buttress portion meet the connecting portion substantially symmetrically about a plane of the connecting portion. By contrast, the lip element meets the connecting portion at a position which is offset from a plane defined by the upper surface of the buttress portion. In effect, there is a step between the upper surface of the buttress portion and the upper surface of the lip element. Effectively, the portion of the bracket adjacent to the louvre-support arm 14 has been thickened, relative to the buttress portion, providing greater strength. The lip element 20 is configured to retain a second end of the rearward-facing portion RP of the weather louvre WL. The lip element 20 is arcuate with a convex outer surface, configured to support and abut the second end of the rearward-facing portion RP of the weather louvre WL. The shape of the lip element 20 additionally provides improved strength to the weatherlouvre bracket 10 and particularly to the louvre-support arm 14, better distributing the weight of a mounted weather louvre WL compared to a lip element 20 with sharper curvature due to having fewer points of weakness because of the more even weight distribution. Preferably, the radius of curvature of the lip element 20 is at least 6mm. More preferably, the radius of curvature of the lip element 20 is at least 7mm. Most preferably, the radius of curvature of the lip element 20 is at least 8mm. The relatively large radius of curvature of the lip element 20 allows for the weather louvre WL to be more easily engaged into the receiver 16 by sliding the rearward-facing portion RP of the weather louvre WL over the lip element 20 and into the notch 36 and recess 32. In effect, the broader lip element 20 provides a lower and smoother barrier to insertion of the weather louvre WL, compared to prior art arrangements. The weather-louvre bracket 10 is further configured to support the forward-facing portion FP of the weather louvre WL at a free end of the louvre-support arm 14. The louvre-support arm 14 is arcuate with a concave upper surface and a convex undersurface. The curved structure of the louvre-support arm 14 better distributes load when carrying a weather louvre WL and is less liable to plastically deform or break compared to a straight or substantially straight louvre-support arm 14. The concave surface of the louvre-support arm 14 means that the forward-facing portion FP of the weather louvre WL engages with the louvre-support arm 14 at an incline, preventing or inhibiting the weather louvre WL from slipping out of engagement with the weather-louvre bracket 10. Additionally, the arcuate structure of the louvre-support arm 14 allows the louvresupport arm 14 to flex more easily without breaking or deforming. This allows for easier engagement of the weather louvre WL with the weather-louvre bracket 10 via a snap fit, where the louvre-support arm 14 can be slightly flexed downwards to more easily engage the weather louvre WL. The louvre-support arm 14 includes a protrusion 38 at a free end of the louvre-support arm 14 for engaging with the forward-facing portion FP of the weather louvre WL, which has attachment means complementarily shaped for receiving the protrusion. The protrusion 38 is wedge shaped with a substantially triangular cross section. The protrusion 38 is wider than in conventional brackets known in the art, which is achievable in part because of the greater support afforded to the louvre-support arm 14. The larger size of the protrusion 38 makes it less liable to break and additionally improves the secureness of the connection to a mounted weather louvre WL. Preferably, the protrusion has a base extent of 3mm in a forward to rearward direction. The protrusion may feasibly be differently shaped or sized, or omitted entirely, depending on the associated attachment means of the weather louvre. The structure of the weather-louvre bracket 10 means that the louvre-support arm 14 meets the body 12 further forwards than conventional weather-louvre brackets, which provides greater support to the proximal end of the louvre-support arm 14. This provides much greater support to the louvre-support arm 14, which increases the maximum weight which can be supported by the weather-louvre bracket 10. The difference can be best seen by comparison of the present weather-louvre bracket 10 to the prior art weather-louvre bracket 10’ shown in Figure 1 and specifically with reference to a plane P defined by a distalmost portion of the nose element 18 relative to the body 12 and a distalmost portion of the lip element 20 relative to the body 12. In the prior art bracket 10’, the undersurface of the louvre-support arm 14’ meets the body 12’ at a meeting point X’ rearwards of the plane P’, which necessitates a thicker buttress portion 24’ to provide adequate support to the louvre-support arm 14’. By comparison, due the differences in structure of the lip element 20 and louvre-support arm 14 of the present invention, the undersurface of the louvre-support arm 14 meets the body at a meeting point X forwards of the plane P. This provides greater support to the proximal end of the louvre-support arm 14, which allows for greater performance of the bracket 10 and greatly reduces the risk of the bracket and particularly louvresupport arm 14 plastically deforming, while still allowing sufficient flexibility to facilitate snap-fitting of the or a weather louvre WL to the weather-louvre bracket 10. Preferably, the louvre-support arm 14 meets the body 12 at least 20mm from the mounting portion 22. More preferably, the louvre-support arm 14 meets the body 12 at least 25mm from the mounting portion 22. Most preferably, the louvre-support arm 14 meets the body 12 at least 30mm from the mounting portion 22 in a rearward to forward direction. Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, a second embodiment of a weather-louvre bracket 110 is shown. Identical or similar reference numerals will be used to refer to identical or similar components, and further detailed description is omitted for brevity. The weather-louvre bracket 110 has a body 112, an upper louvre-support arm 114a and a lower louvre-support arm 114b projecting from the body 112 and an upper receiver 116a and lower receiver 116b at or adjacent to the respective louvre-support arms 114a, 114b and the body 112. Each receiver 116a, 116b includes a nose element 118a, 118b and a spaced apart lip element 120a, 120b. The body 112 of the weather-louvre bracket 110 again includes a substantially planar mounting portion 122 and two interengagable end formations 126, 128, with similar structure and functionality as in the first embodiment discussed above. The weather-louvre bracket 110 has two buttress portions 124a, 124b, each supporting one of the respective louvre-support arms. The lower buttress portion 124b has a swan-neck shaped structure similar to that discussed for the first embodiment, further discussion of which is omitted for brevity. The upper buttress portion 124a is archshaped with a concave undersurface, and is continuously formed with the nose element 118b of the lower receiver 116b. The arch shape of the upper buttress portion 124a provides strong support for the upper louvre-support arm 124a and effectively distributes load. As shown in Figure 8, the weather-louvre bracket 110 of this embodiment is configured to support two weather louvres WL. Each receiver 116a, 116b of the weather-louvre bracket 110 is configured to receive a rearward-facing portion RP of the respective weather louvres WL and each louvre-support arm 114a, 114b is configured to receive a respective forward-facing portion FP of a weather louvre WL, allowing for multiple weather louvres WL to be mounted to a single weather louvre bracket 110. While the embodiments shown discuss weather-louvre brackets with one or two louvresupport arms and a complementary number of receivers, it is to be understood that the specific number of louvre-support arms and receivers is not limited by the present disclosure and may be greater. In particular, in addition to the embodiment described above, weather-louvre brackets with three, four, five or more louvre-support arms may be provided, with a complementary number of receivers. Preferably, the weather-louvre bracket is formed via extrusion for ease of manufacture. This additionally allows for the lateral extent of the weather-louvre bracket to be customised according to specific requirements. Alternatively, other manufacturing means such as die casting could be utilised. It is therefore possible to provide a weather louvre bracket which has improved strength capable of carrying greater weight while mitigating the likelihood of permanent deformation, while still allowing for adequate flexibility for engaging weather louvres by snap fitting. The words ‘comprises / comprising’ and the words ‘having / including’ when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or 5 in any suitable sub-combination. The embodiments described above are provided by way of example only, and various changes and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A weather-louvre bracket for supporting an architectural weather louvre relative to a building element, the weather-louvre bracket comprising:a body for positioning at or adjacent to an exterior surface of a building element;a louvre-support arm which projects from the body and which in use supports a forward-facing portion of the weather louvre; anda receiver at or adjacent to the louvre-support arm and the body, the receiver in use receiving a rearward-facing portion of the weather louvre;the receiver comprising a nose element and a lip element which is spaced-apart from the nose element, a distalmost portion of the nose element relative to the body and a distalmost portion of the lip element relative to the body defining a plane;an undersurface of the louvre-support arm and the body meeting forwards of the said plane, so as to strengthen a proximal end of the louvresupport arm whilst maintaining adequate flex for louvre snap-fit engagement.

2. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lip element has a convex outer surface with a radius of curvature of at least 8mm.

3. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nose element has an overhang portion defining a recess for receiving the rearward-facing portion of the weather louvre.

4. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver further comprises a substantially planar connecting portion interconnecting the nose element and the lip element.

5. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lip element and the connecting portion meet at least 3mm from an apex of the lip element.

6. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body includes a mounting portion for attaching the weather-louvre bracket to a surface and a buttress portion for supporting the louvre-support arm.

7. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in claim 6, wherein the undersurface of the louvre-support arm and the body meet at least 30mm from the mounting portion.

8. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the buttress portion is or is substantially swan-neck shaped.

9. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the or a further buttress portion is arch-shaped with a concave undersurface.

10. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body further includes two end formations each interengageable with a complementary end formation of an adjacent like said weather-louvre bracket.

11. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in claim 10, wherein one of the end formations is formed as a hook and the other end formation is formed as a recessed formation complimentarily shaped to receive said hook.

12. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein one of the end formations at least in part extends rearwards of a longitudinal axis of the body and the other end formation extends at least in part forwards of the longitudinal axis of the body.

13. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the louvre-support arm is arcuate with a concave upper surface and a convex undersurface.

14. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the louvre-support arm includes a protrusion at or adjacent to a free end of the louvre-support arm for engaging with the forward-facing portion of the weather louvre.

15. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of louvre-support arms and a complementary number of receivers are provided, each receiver comprising a nose element and a corresponding lip element which is spaced-apart from the nose element, a distalmost portion of each nose element relative to the body and a distalmost portion of each corresponding lip element relative to the body defining a separate plane, and each louvre-support arm meeting the body forwards of the said plane.

16. A weather-louvre bracket as claimed in claim 15, wherein three or more equidistantly spaced louvre-support arms are provided.

17. A weather-louvre bracket assembly comprising two or more inter-engaged weather-louvre brackets as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

18. A weather-louvre bracket for securing an architectural weather louvre relative to a building element, the weather-louvre support comprising:a body for positioning at or adjacent to the building element;a louvre-support arm projecting from the body and having a protrusion at or adjacent to a free end of the louvre-support arm, the protrusion for engaging with a first portion of the architectural weather louvre; anda receiver at or adjacent to the louvre-support arm and the body, the receiver for receiving a second portion of the architectural weather louvre;the louvre-support arm having a concave surface at least part way between the receiver and the protrusion, a lip between the concave surface and the receiver having a radius of curvature of at least 8 mm.

19. A method of mounting a weather-louvre, the method comprising the steps of:i) providing a weather-louvre bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16;ii) engaging a forward-facing portion of the weather-louvre with a louvresupport arm of the weather-louvre bracket; andiii) engaging a rearward-facing portion of the weather-louvre with a receiver of the weather-louvre bracket.s

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