External louvers

Abstract

To provide an outer louver that can secure suitable open feeling and lighting property while increasing the shielding at a lower side after facilitating production and installation by seeking simplification and rationalization of a configuration.SOLUTION: An outer louver 10 used installed outdoors is formed with a steel plate in a shape bent like a folding screen. The steel plate comprises: a folding screen-like shield part 10A formed at least at a lower part of the steel plate; multiple narrow transmission parts 10B formed by notching fold sides of valley-folding of an upper side than the shield part 10A; and multiple narrow shield parts 10C formed at fold sides of ridge-folding left between adjacent narrow transmission parts 10B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an exterior louver that is installed outdoors and used as a screen or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] The background art of the present invention includes, for example, a privacy fence having a panel made of corrugated steel plate with a plurality of through holes formed therein, in which the formation density or size of the through holes is gradually reduced from the bottom to the top of the panel, so that the upper side has higher shielding properties and the lower side has higher light transmission and breathability (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-46873 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Due to its structure, the privacy fence described in Patent Document 1 requires multiple base materials and supports to support the panels made of corrugated steel sheets in order to be installed with high strength, which makes its manufacture and installation time-consuming, and there is room for improvement in terms of making it easier to manufacture and install.

[0005] Furthermore, the privacy fence described in Patent Document 1 is configured so that the upper part has better shielding properties and the lower part has better light transmission and ventilation. Therefore, for example, if a building owner, depending on the purpose of use of the building and its location, requests that the lower part be able to adequately block views from inside and outside the building, while allowing good views from inside the building and the introduction of natural light into the room from the upper part, thereby ensuring a good sense of openness and light transmission, this request cannot be met, and there is room for improvement in terms of meeting such requests.

[0006] In view of this situation, the main objective of the present invention is to provide an external louver that is easy to manufacture and install by simplifying and streamlining its configuration, and that can ensure a suitable sense of openness and lighting while providing high shielding properties on the lower side. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A first characteristic configuration of the present invention is an exterior louver that is installed and used outdoors, The external louvers are formed by arranging a plurality of vertically elongated steel plates, which are bent in a mountain fold in a plan view, in a series on the upper surface of a bottom steel plate extending in the installation direction so that the ends of the vertically elongated steel plates are connected at their valley sides, and then welding the lower ends of the vertically elongated steel plates to the upper surface of the bottom steel plate. It is made of steel plates folded into a folding screen shape. The steel plate is provided with at least a folding screen-shaped shielding portion formed at the bottom of the steel plate, a number of narrow transparent portions formed by cutting out the valley fold side above the shielding portion, and a number of narrow shielding portions formed on the mountain fold side remaining between adjacent narrow transparent portions.

[0008] According to this configuration, the external louvers are formed in the shape of a structurally strong folding screen that can stand on its own, so even if lightweight thin steel plates are used as the steel plates, they can be easily installed outdoors with a simple and rational configuration using few materials that does not require base materials or supports. Furthermore, the external louvers are formed with at least their lower parts as shielding parts without cutouts, and are provided with a large number of narrow transparent parts and narrow shielding parts in the area above the shielding parts.Therefore, views from outside and the chaotic scenery near the road seen from inside the room can be effectively blocked by the lower shielding part and the large number of narrow shielding parts above the shielding parts, with high shielding performance on the lower side, and the view from inside the room and the introduction of natural light into the room can be effectively achieved through the large number of narrow transparent parts above the shielding parts. As a result, by simplifying and streamlining the configuration, it is possible to provide an external louver that is lightweight yet structurally strong, making it easy to manufacture and install, and that can ensure good shielding properties by increasing the shielding properties on the lower side, while providing a good view and lighting from the upper side, ensuring a good sense of openness and lighting.

[0009] The second characteristic configuration of the present invention is: An external louver that is installed outdoors and used, It is made of steel plates folded into a folding screen shape. The steel plate is provided with at least a folding screen-shaped shielding portion formed at the lower part of the steel plate, a number of narrow-width transparent portions formed by cutting out the valley fold side above the shielding portion, and a number of narrow-width shielding portions formed on the mountain fold side remaining between adjacent narrow-width transparent portions, The narrow shielding portion includes, at its lower side, a shielding width expansion region in which the shielding width of the narrow shielding portion is wider than the transmission width of the narrow transmission portion. According to this configuration, the external louvers are formed in the shape of a structurally strong folding screen that can stand on its own, so even if lightweight thin steel plates are used as the steel plates, they can be easily installed outdoors with a simple and rational configuration using few materials that does not require base materials or supports. Furthermore, the external louvers are formed with at least their lower parts as shielding parts without cutouts, and are provided with a large number of narrow transparent parts and narrow shielding parts in the area above the shielding parts.Therefore, views from outside and the chaotic scenery near the road seen from inside the room can be effectively blocked by the lower shielding part and the large number of narrow shielding parts above the shielding parts, with high shielding performance on the lower side, and the view from inside the room and the introduction of natural light into the room can be effectively achieved through the large number of narrow transparent parts above the shielding parts. As a result, by simplifying and streamlining the configuration, it is possible to provide an external louver that is lightweight yet structurally strong, making it easy to manufacture and install, and that can ensure good shielding properties by increasing the shielding properties on the lower side, while providing a good view and lighting from the upper side, ensuring a good sense of openness and lighting. Furthermore, according to this configuration, since each narrow shielding portion of the external louvers is formed on the mountain fold side by cutting out the valley fold side of the steel plate as a narrow transparent portion, in order to make the shielding width of the narrow shielding portion wider than the transparent width of the narrow transparent portion, it is necessary to make the depth of the cutout from the valley fold side to the mountain fold side shallower than the center position in the bending direction (inward / outward direction) of the external louvers. In this way, the narrow transparent portion is formed on the valley fold side of the center position in the bending direction of the external louvers, and accordingly, in the shielding width expanded region, both ends in the shielding width direction are located on the valley fold side of the center position in the bending direction of the external louvers, and the entire shielding width expanded region has the same shielding properties as when it is located on the valley fold side of the center position in the bending direction of the external louvers. Therefore, for example, if the external louvers are installed so that the fold side of the mountain fold (the side of the narrow shielding section) is located on the inside of the room, the same shielding properties will be obtained as if the entire shielding width expansion area were located on the outside of the center position in the folding direction, and conversely, if the external louvers are installed so that the fold side of the mountain fold (the side of the narrow shielding section) is located on the outside, the same shielding properties will be obtained as if the entire shielding width expansion area were located on the inside of the room of the center position in the folding direction. As a result, if the external louvers are installed so that the mountain fold side is located on the inside of the room, the upper side of each narrow shielding section will be closer to the inside of the room compared to when the external louvers are installed so that the mountain fold side is located on the outside, so the upper side of each narrow shielding section will have less blocking ability against natural light from outside, making it easier to let natural light into the room.In addition, the lower side of each narrow shielding section will have the same blocking ability as when the shielding width expansion area is located on the outside side, so the lower side of each narrow shielding section will have more blocking ability against views from outside, making it possible to more effectively block views from outside. Conversely, if the external louvers are installed so that the mountain fold side is located on the outside, the upper side of each narrow shielding section will be further away from the room than if the external louvers were installed so that the mountain fold side was located on the inside of the room. This means that the upper side of each narrow shielding section will have less ability to block views from inside the room, improving the view from inside the room. In addition, the lower side of each narrow shielding section will have the same shielding ability as when the shielding width expansion area is moved closer to the inside of the room, so the lower side of each narrow shielding section will have more ability to block views from inside the room, more effectively blocking out the cluttered scenery near the street that can be seen from inside the room. As a result, by selecting the installation state of the external louvers, it is possible to switch between a state in which more effective blocking of views from outside while ensuring more suitable lighting, and a state in which more effective blocking of the clutter of scenery near the street while improving the view from inside the room and ensuring a more suitable sense of openness, thereby improving the versatility of the external louvers.

[0010] A third characteristic feature of the present invention is that the narrow shielding portion extends upward from the shielding portion in a shape that is wide at the bottom and narrow at the top. With this configuration, simply by cutting out the crease side of the steel plate so that the bottom of each narrow shielding section is wider and the top is narrower, it is possible to improve the shielding performance at the bottom of the external louvers while increasing the transparency at the top of the external louvers. This allows the bottom of the external louvers to better block views from outside and the chaotic scenery near the street seen from inside the room, while still allowing for better views from inside the room and the introduction of natural light into the room from the top of the external louvers. As a result, it is possible to ensure a more suitable sense of openness and lighting while ensuring more suitable shielding properties without complicating the configuration.

[0011] The present invention Fourth A characteristic feature of the present invention is that the narrow shielding portion has an inverted V-shaped tapered portion that narrows toward the upper side.

[0012] According to this configuration, by simply cutting out the side of the valley fold of the steel plate so that each narrow shielding section has an inverted V-shaped tapered portion, it is possible to gradually change the shielding property and transparency of each narrow shielding section so that the shielding property becomes higher toward the bottom of the tapered section and the transparency becomes higher toward the top of the tapered section. This makes it possible to more effectively block views from outside and the chaotic scenery near the road seen from inside the room toward the bottom of the tapered section, while allowing for better views from inside the room and the introduction of natural light into the room toward the top of the tapered section. As a result, it is possible to obtain a state in which the shielding property on the lower side is high to ensure suitable shielding property, while the view and lighting from the upper side are good to ensure a suitable open feeling and lighting property, without complicating the configuration, and in a good state in which the change in shielding property and transparency between the lower side and the upper side is gradual. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1]Vertical cross section of the main part showing the exterior louvers installed on the eaves of the first floor of a complex building with the mountain fold side facing the interior. [Figure 2] A rear view of the main parts showing the configuration and support structure when the exterior louvers are installed with the mountain fold side facing the indoor side. [Figure 3] (a) is a plan view of the main parts showing the configuration and support structure when the external louvers are installed with the mountain fold side facing the indoor side, and (b) is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the shielding width expansion area when the external louvers are installed with the mountain fold side facing the indoor side. [Figure 4] A side view of the main parts showing the configuration and support structure when the exterior louvers are installed with the mountain fold side facing the interior side. [Figure 5] Rear view of the main part showing how the external louvers are supported by the support brackets [Figure 6] (a) is a plan view of the main parts showing the configuration and support structure when the external louvers are installed with the mountain fold side facing outward, and (b) is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the shielding width expansion area when the external louvers are installed with the mountain fold side facing outward. [Figure 7] A side view of the main part showing the configuration and support structure when the external louver is installed with the mountain fold side facing outward. [Figure 8] 10 is a rear view of the main part showing another embodiment of the external louver; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] As an example of a mode for carrying out the present invention, an embodiment in which an external louver according to the present invention is installed on the eaves of the first floor of a complex building, which is an example of a building, will be described below with reference to the drawings. The building in which the external louvers according to the present invention are installed may be other than a complex building, such as an office building, a commercial building, a hospital, a hotel, an apartment building, a single-story house, etc. The location in which the external louvers according to the present invention are installed may be other than the eaves on the first floor, such as the eaves on the second floor or higher, a garden, a terrace, a veranda, a balcony, or a rooftop.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 1, the complex building 1 exemplified in this embodiment is constructed so that the first and second floors have large, open spaces S1 and S2 with a high degree of publicity that are suitable for stores, lobbies, etc. The large space S1 on the first floor is used for multiple stores, and the large space S2 on the second floor is used as a lobby. External louvers 10, which are used for privacy purposes, are installed under the eaves 2 on the first floor along the windows on the second floor facing the road.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 , the external louvers 10 are formed from steel plates bent in a folding screen shape. Specifically, the external louvers 10 are formed by arranging a plurality of vertically elongated steel plates 12 made of thin steel plates bent in a mountain fold in a series on the upper surface of a bottom steel plate 11 extending in the installation direction so that their valley ends are connected, and then welding the lower ends of each vertically elongated steel plate 12 to the upper surface of the bottom steel plate 11, thereby forming a folding screen shape. The length (width) of the external louvers 10 in the installation direction is formed to a length that is easy to handle (for example, 1 m or less) taking into consideration transportability and the like. Then, depending on the length required at the installation location, the external louvers 10 are installed so that the required length is met by connecting multiple external louvers 10 in the installation direction.

[0021] 1 to 5, the external louver 10 is provided with a folding screen-shaped shielding portion 10A formed at the bottom of a vertically long steel plate 12, a number of narrow transparent portions 10B formed by cutting out the valley fold side above the shielding portion 10A, and a number of narrow shielding portions 10C formed on the mountain fold side remaining between adjacent narrow transparent portions 10B. Each vertically long steel plate 12 is cut out from both left and right ends (the valley fold side of the folding screen shape) to cut out the formation area of ​​each narrow transparent portion 10B, and then bent at the center of the left and right sides to form a mountain fold, thereby forming a shape having a part of the shielding portion 10A and a single narrow shielding portion 10C.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 2, each narrow shielding portion 10C extends upward from the shielding portion 10A in a shape that is wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, each narrow shielding portion 10C has, at its bottom, an inverted V-shaped tapered portion 10Ca that narrows toward its top, and, at its top, a narrow portion 10Cb where the shielding width Wc of the narrow shielding portion 10C is narrower than the transmission width Wb of the narrow transmission portion 10B.

[0023] 2 and 3, each tapered portion 10Ca is formed so that its shielding width Wc gradually narrows as it extends upward from the upper end of the shielding portion 10A from a maximum width Wmax spanning the adjacent mountain folds to a predetermined minimum width Wmin that is narrower than the transmission width Wb of the narrow-width transmitting portion 10B. As a result, each tapered portion 10Ca is formed at its lower side into an expanded shielding width region Ea, where the shielding width Wc of the narrow-width shielding portion 10C is wider than the transmission width Wb of the narrow-width transmitting portion 10B. Each narrow-width shielding portion 10C that has such a tapered portion 10Ca at its lower side includes an expanded shielding width region Ea at its lower side.

[0024] 1 to 3, each narrow portion 10Cb extends upward from the upper end of tapered portion 10Ca to a predetermined minimum width Wmin. A canopy steel plate 13 having a triangular shape in plan view is welded to the upper end of each narrow portion 10Cb, thereby ensuring the shape retention of the upper side of each narrow shielding portion 10C.

[0025] Furthermore, the vertical lengths of the shielding portion 10A, the narrow-width transparent portion 10B, and the narrow-width shielding portion 10C in the external louver 10, as well as the maximum width Wmax and minimum width Wmin of the narrow-width transparent portion 10B, can be changed in various ways depending on the purpose of use of the building, the location conditions, and the installation location of the external louver 10, etc.

[0026] As shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, the bottom steel plate 11 is provided with a plurality of first connecting steel plates 14 that are bolted to a plurality of support fittings 20 provided at the installation positions of the external louvers 10 on the eaves 2. Each first connecting steel plate 14 is welded to the bottom surface of the bottom steel plate 11 so that it hangs down from the bottom surface of the bottom steel plate 11 with its width direction aligned along a direction perpendicular to the installation direction of the external louvers 10 (hereinafter referred to as the inward / outward direction of the external louvers 10). Each first connecting steel plate 14 is provided at three locations, at both ends and the center of the bottom steel plate 11, or at two locations at both ends, arranged at a predetermined interval in the installation direction of the external louvers 10.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the lower side of the external louver 10 is provided with a plurality of second connecting steel plates 15 that are bolted to a plurality of bracing metal fittings 25 provided on a rising portion 3A of the second floor that rises from the eaves 2 of the first floor of the body 3 toward the window 4 (see Figure 1). The second connecting steel plates 15 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the installation direction of the external louver 10 and are welded to three mountain folds located at both ends and the center of the external louver 10, or to two mountain folds located at both ends of the external louver 10, so as to extend horizontally from the outer surface of the folds toward the bracing metal fittings 25 of the rising portion 3A.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 2 and 4 and 5, each support bracket 20 is arranged at an installation position of the external louvers 10 on the eaves 2 of the first floor, at a predetermined interval in the installation direction of the external louvers 10. Each support bracket 20 is equipped with an embedded steel plate 21 that is embedded horizontally in the eaves 2, a connecting steel plate 22 to which the first connecting steel plate 14 of the external louvers 10 is bolted, and a pair of anchoring steel bars 23 that are bent and formed into an L-shape.

[0029] As shown in Figures 4 to 5, in each support bracket 20, the embedded steel plate 21 is formed so that its longitudinal length is longer than the length of the external louvers 10 in the inward / outward direction. The embedded steel plate 21 is embedded in the eaves 2 in a horizontal position with its longitudinal direction aligned with the inward / outward direction of the external louvers 10. As shown in Figures 2 and 4 to 5, the joining steel plate 22 is welded to the upper surface of the embedded steel plate 21 at a central location in the installation direction of the external louvers 10 in an upright position with its width direction aligned with the inward / outward direction of the external louvers 10. As shown in Figures 4 to 5, a pair of anchoring steel bars 23 are oriented so that their lower portions extend toward the outside of the embedded steel plate 21 along the longitudinal direction of the embedded steel plate 21, and their upper ends are welded to the lower surface of the embedded steel plate 21 at a central location in the installation direction of the external louvers 10 and at both longitudinal end positions.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, each support fitting 20 is embedded in the eaves 2 on the first floor at a joint position with the external louver 10, with only the joining steel plate 22 protruding upward from the eaves 2.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the bracing metal fittings 25 are provided at the rising portion 3A of the second floor of the frame 3, arranged at predetermined intervals in the installation direction of the external louvers 10. Each bracing metal fitting 25 is constructed by welding together a first steel plate 26 fixed to the rising portion 3A of the second floor using post-installed anchors 5, and one or two second steel plates 27 to which the second connecting steel plates 15 of the external louvers 10 are bolted.

[0032] With the above configuration, as shown in Figures 1 to 5, by bolting each first connecting steel plate 14 provided at the bottom of the external louver 10 to the connecting steel plate 22 of each support bracket 20 provided on the eaves 2 of the first floor, and bolting each second connecting steel plate 15 provided on the lower side of the external louver 10 to the second steel plate 27 of each support bracket 25 provided on the rising portion 3A of the second floor, a predetermined number of external louvers 10 can be installed on the eaves 2 of the first floor along the windows on the second floor, with the mountain fold side facing inside the room.

[0033] In the external louvers 10, each vertical steel plate 12 is bent in a mountain fold and its lower end is welded to the top surface of the bottom steel plate 11, so that each vertical steel plate 12 is configured to be self-supporting.Furthermore, by arranging multiple vertical steel plates 12 configured to be self-supporting in a series so that their valley ends are connected, the external louvers 10 are formed into a structurally strong folding screen that is self-supporting.Therefore, even though thin steel plates are used for each vertical steel plate 12, it can be easily installed on the first floor eaves 2 with high strength ensured by a simple configuration using few materials that does not require multiple base materials or supports.

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, each support bracket 20 to which the bottom of the external louver 10 is bolted is embedded in the eave 2 in a horizontal position with the longitudinal direction of the embedded steel plate 21 aligned with the inward and outward direction of the external louver 10, and a pair of anchoring steel bars 23 are oriented so that their lower parts extend toward the outside of the embedded steel plate 21 along the longitudinal direction of the embedded steel plate 21, and their upper ends are welded to the center of the installation direction of the external louver 10 on the underside of the embedded steel plate 21 and at both ends in the longitudinal direction, thereby preventing the external louvers 10 from falling inward and outward due to wind loads, etc.

[0035] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 3-4, the lower side of the external louvers 10 is fixed to the rising portion 3A of the main body 3 via bracing fittings 25, which more reliably prevents the external louvers 10 from tipping inward or outward due to wind loads, etc.

[0036] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the external louvers 10 installed on the eaves 2 on the first floor have their lower parts formed into a shielding section 10A without any cutouts, and are provided with a large number of narrow-width transparent sections 10B and narrow-width shielding sections 10C in the area above the shielding section 10A.Therefore, the view looking up from the street toward the room on the second floor, and the cluttered scenery near the road that can be seen when looking down onto the road from inside the room on the second floor, can be effectively blocked by the lower shielding section 10A and the large number of narrow-width shielding sections 10C above the shielding section 10A, providing high shielding performance on the lower side.In addition, the view from inside the room on the second floor to the upper outside and the introduction of natural light into the room on the second floor can be effectively achieved by the large number of narrow-width transparent sections 10B above the shielding section 10A.

[0037] Furthermore, in the external louvers 10, each vertically elongated steel plate 12 can stand on its own, and no horizontal members are required to support each vertically elongated steel plate 12, so each narrow transparent portion 10B can be formed into a vertically elongated slit with excellent design that is not obstructed by horizontal members.

[0038] As a result, by simplifying and streamlining the configuration, it is possible to provide an external louver that is lightweight yet structurally strong, making it easy to manufacture and install, and that has a high design quality, ensuring good shielding properties on the lower side while providing good views and lighting from the upper side, ensuring a good sense of openness and lighting.

[0039] Furthermore, in the external louver 10, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower side of each narrow-width transmitting portion 10B is formed in a V-shape that becomes wider toward the upper side, and the upper side of each narrow-width transmitting portion 10B is formed uniformly with the maximum width at the lower side, so that each narrow-width shielding portion 10C has an inverted V-shaped tapered portion 10Ca at its lower side, and is formed in a shape having a narrow-width portion 10Cb at its upper side, where the shielding width Wc of the narrow-width shielding portion 10C is formed to a uniform width that is narrower than the transmission width Wb of the narrow-width transmitting portion 10B.

[0040] This allows the lower side of the external louvers 10 to have higher shielding properties, while the upper side of the external louvers 10 has higher transparency, so that the view looking up from the street toward the room on the second floor and the chaotic scenery near the street that can be seen when looking down toward the street from inside the room on the second floor are more effectively blocked by the lower side of the external louvers 10, while the upper side of the external louvers 10 allows for better views from inside the room on the second floor to the outside and allows natural light to enter the room on the second floor.

[0041] Furthermore, in the tapered portion 10Ca of each narrow shielding portion 10C, the shielding properties and transparency change gradually so that the shielding properties become higher toward the bottom of the tapered portion 10Ca and the transparency becomes higher toward the top of the tapered portion 10Ca. As a result, the view looking up from the street toward the room on the second floor and the miscellaneous scenery near the road that can be seen when looking down toward the street from inside the room on the second floor are more effectively blocked toward the bottom of the tapered portion 10Ca, while the view from inside the room on the second floor to the outside above and the intake of natural light into the room on the second floor are more effectively achieved toward the top of the tapered portion 10Ca.

[0042] This increases the shielding properties of the lower side of the external louvers 10, and more appropriately shields the view from the street looking up towards the room on the second floor, and the cluttered scenery near the street that can be seen when looking down onto the street from inside the room on the second floor, while improving the view and lighting from the upper side of the external louvers 10, thereby ensuring a more suitable sense of openness and lighting, and achieving a good state in which the change in shielding properties and transparency between the lower and upper sides of the external louvers 10 is gradual.

[0043] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, each narrow shielding portion 10C of the external louver 10 is formed on the mountain fold side by cutting out the valley fold side of the vertically elongated steel plates 12 connected in a folding screen shape as a narrow transparent portion 10B.Therefore, in order to make the shielding width Wc of the narrow shielding portion 10C wider than the transparent width Wb of the narrow transparent portion 10B, as shown in (b) of Figure 3, the cutout depth D from the valley fold side to the mountain fold side must be shallower than the center position (center line CL shown in Figure 3) in the inward / outward direction (folding direction) of the external louver 10. In this case, each narrow-width transparent portion 10B is formed closer to the valley fold than the central position in the inward / outward direction of the external louvers 10, and accordingly, in the shielding width expansion region Ea, both ends in the shielding width direction are located closer to the valley fold than the central position in the inward / outward direction of the external louvers 10, so that the entire shielding width expansion region Ea has the same shielding properties as when it is located closer to the valley fold than the central position in the inward / outward direction of the external louvers 10.

[0044] In other words, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 to 4, by installing the external louvers 10 on the eaves 2 on the first floor so that the crease side of the mountain fold (the narrow-width shielding portion 10C side) is located on the inside of the room, the same shielding performance can be obtained as when the entire shielding width expansion area Ea is located outside of the center position of the external louvers 10 in the inward / outward direction.As a result, compared to when the external louvers 10 are installed so that the crease side of the mountain fold is located on the outside, the upper side of each narrow-width shielding portion 10C is closer to the inside of the room, so the upper side of each narrow-width shielding portion 10C has less shielding performance against natural light from outside, making it easier to let natural light into the room on the second floor.In addition, the lower side of each narrow-width shielding portion 10C has the same shielding performance as when the shielding width expansion area Ea is closer to the outside, so the lower side of each narrow-width shielding portion 10C has more shielding performance against views looking up from the street into the room on the second floor, making it possible to block those views more effectively.

[0045] As a result, it is possible to more effectively block the view from the street looking up towards the second floor room, while ensuring more optimal lighting for the second floor room.

[0046] Furthermore, instead of each second connecting steel plate 15 extending horizontally from the outer surface of the mountain fold portion toward the brace fittings 25 of the rising portion 3A as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5, the external louvers 10 are configured so that each second connecting steel plate 15 extends horizontally from the inner surface of the mountain fold portion toward the brace fittings 25 of the rising portion 3A as shown in Figures 6 to 7, thereby allowing the installation state of the external louvers 10 to be changed from a state in which the mountain fold side (the narrow width shielding portion 10C side) is located on the indoor side (see Figures 1, 3 and 5) to a state in which the mountain fold side is located on the outdoor side (see Figures 6 to 7).

[0047] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, when the external louvers 10 are installed under the eaves 2 on the first floor with the mountain folds facing outward, as shown in Figure 6(b), the same shielding effect can be obtained as when the entire extended shielding width region Ea is located closer to the room than the center position (center line CL shown in Figure 6) of the external louvers 10 in the inward / outward direction. As a result, the upper side of each narrow shielding portion 10C is located further away from the room than when the external louvers 10 are installed with the mountain folds facing outward. As a result, the upper side of each narrow shielding portion 10C has less shielding effect against views from inside the room, further improving the view to the upper outside from inside the room on the second floor.In addition, the lower side of each narrow shielding portion 10C has the same shielding effect as when the shielding width expansion area Ea is moved closer to the inside of the room, so the lower side of each narrow shielding portion 10C has more shielding effect against views looking down onto the street from inside the room on the second floor, and can more effectively block the cluttered scenery near the road that can be seen when looking down onto the street from inside the room on the second floor.

[0048] As a result, by selecting the installation state of the external louvers 10 and changing the attachment position of each second joining steel plate 15 relative to the external louvers 10 according to that selection, it is possible to switch between a state in which the view looking up from the street toward the second floor room is more effectively blocked while more favorably ensuring natural lighting into the second floor room, and a state in which the view from the inside of the second floor room is more effectively blocked, such as the cluttered scenery near the street that can be seen when looking down toward the street from inside the second floor room, while improving the view from inside the second floor room and ensuring a more favorable sense of openness, thereby improving the versatility of the external louvers 10.

[0049] [Another embodiment] Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The configurations of the other embodiments described below are not limited to being applied alone, but can also be applied in combination with the configurations of the above-described embodiment or other other embodiments.

[0050] (1) In the above embodiment, an example was given of an external louver 10 having a shielding portion 10A at its lower part and a number of narrow transparent portions 10B and narrow shielding portions 10C at its upper side, but this is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 8, in addition to the above-mentioned shielding portion 10A, narrow transparent portions 10B, and narrow shielding portions 10C, an upper end fixing portion 10D may be provided that connects the upper ends of each narrow shielding portion 10C and enables fixing to the eaves 2 of the upper floor using a post-installed anchor (not shown) or the like. In this case, the external louvers 10 can be installed in a stable state by being erected on the eaves 2 of the upper and lower floors, which eliminates the need for a second connecting steel plate 15 or a bracing bracket 25 to fix the lower side of the external louvers 10 to the rising part 3A of the main body 3, thereby simplifying the configuration required to install the external louvers 10 and improving workability. In addition, in Figure 8, the upper end side of each narrow shielding portion 10C is shown as being formed in a tapered shape in which the shielding width Wc gradually widens from the aforementioned specified minimum width Wmin to the maximum width Wmax as it approaches the upper upper end fixing portion 10D, but this is not limited to this, and for example, it may be formed so as to extend to the upper end fixing portion 10D at the specified minimum width Wmin.

[0051] (2) In the above embodiment, the external louver 10 is exemplified as one in which the bottom and lower side are fixed, but this is not limited thereto. For example, if sufficient independence can be ensured by fixing the bottom, fixing the lower side may not be necessary.

[0052] (3) In the above embodiment, the external louvers 10 are exemplified as having an inverted V-shaped tapered portion 10Ca at the lower side of each narrow shielding portion 10C and a narrow portion 10Cb at the upper side of each narrow shielding portion 10C, but this is not limited thereto. For example, each narrow shielding portion 10C may be formed as a whole in an inverted V-shape that becomes narrower as it approaches its upper side. Furthermore, instead of having an inverted V-shaped tapered portion 10Ca at the bottom of each narrow shielding portion 10C, the narrow shielding portion 10C may have a wide portion formed to a constant width such that the shielding width Wc is wider than the transmission width Wb of the narrow transmission portion 10B. In this case, the entire wide portion is included in the bottom of each narrow shielding portion as the shielding width expansion region Ea. Furthermore, in addition to the wide portion at the bottom of each narrow shielding portion 10C, the upper side of each narrow shielding portion 10C may have, instead of the narrow portion 10Cb, an inverted V-shaped tapered portion in which the shielding width Wc gradually narrows from the shielding width Wc at the wide portion as it extends upward from the upper end of the wide portion. In this case, the entire wide portion and the lower side of the tapered portion are included in the lower side of each narrow shielding portion as the shielding width expansion region Ea.

[0053] (4) In the above embodiment, the external louvers 10 are formed into a folding screen-like folded shape by arranging a plurality of vertically elongated steel plates 12 made of thin steel plates bent in a mountain fold in a series so that the ends of the vertically elongated steel plates are connected together at their valley ends. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the external louvers may be formed, for example, by bending a single wide thin steel plate into a folding screen shape.

[0054] (5) In the above embodiment, the external louvers 10 are installed using support brackets 20 and bracing brackets 25, etc., as an example of an installation form for the external louvers 10. However, this is not limited to this. For example, instead of the first connecting steel plate 14 and the support brackets 20, the external louvers 10 may be installed using post-installed anchors that fix the bottom steel plate 11 to the eaves 2 of the first floor, etc. Furthermore, the support brackets 20 and bracing brackets 25 are not limited to the configurations exemplified in the above embodiments, but may, for example, be made up of angle steel, one side of which is bolted to the first connecting steel plate 14 or the second connecting steel plate 15 of the external louver 10, and the other side of which is fixed with a post-installed anchor or the like to the eaves 2 or the rising portion 3A of the building's main body 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 10 External louvers 10A shielding part 10B Narrow transparent part 10C Narrow shielding part 10Ca tapered part Ea Shielding width expansion area

Claims

1. An external louver that is installed outdoors and used, The external louvers are formed of steel plates bent like a folding screen by arranging a plurality of vertically elongated steel plates, which are bent in a mountain fold in a plan view, in a series on the upper surface of a bottom steel plate extending in the installation direction so that their valley ends are connected, and then welding the lower ends of the vertically elongated steel plates to the upper surface of the bottom steel plate. The steel plate is provided with at least a folding screen-shaped shielding portion formed at the bottom of the steel plate, a number of narrow transparent portions formed by cutting out the valley fold side above the shielding portion, and a number of narrow shielding portions formed on the mountain fold side remaining between adjacent narrow transparent portions.

2. An exterior louver for use by installing it outdoors, It is made of steel plates folded into a folding screen shape. The steel plate is provided with at least a folding screen-shaped shielding portion formed at the lower part of the steel plate, a number of narrow-width transparent portions formed by cutting out the valley fold side above the shielding portion, and a number of narrow-width shielding portions formed on the mountain fold side remaining between adjacent narrow-width transparent portions, The external louver includes a shielding width expansion region on the lower side of the narrow shielding portion, in which the shielding width of the narrow shielding portion is wider than the transmission width of the narrow transmission portion.

3. 3. The exterior louver according to claim 1, wherein the narrow shielding portion extends upward from the shielding portion in a shape that is wider at the bottom and narrower at the top.

4. 4. The external louver according to claim 1, wherein the narrow shielding portion has an inverted V-shaped tapered portion that narrows toward the upper side.

Images