Solar window shade
First Claim
1. An apparatus for shading a first window of a building from the sun, the building having an exterior, and the first window having a top, the apparatus comprising in combination:
- a. a first awning frame having first and second opposing ends, the first end of the first awning frame being pivotally connected to the exterior of the building above the first window, the first awning frame pivoting about a substantially horizontal axis, said horizontal axis being proximate to the top of the first window, the second end of the first awning frame being spaced apart from the first end of the first awning frame and spaced apart from the first window;
b. a frame drive system coupled to the exterior of the building and coupled to the first awning frame, the frame drive system selectively causing the second end of the first awning frame to pivot upwardly or downwardly about the first end of the first awning frame in accordance with a current position of the sun;
c. a plurality of louvers, each of the plurality of louvers being disposed proximate the second end of the first awning frame, and each louver within the plurality of louvers being rotatably supported about its own pivot axis relative to the second end of the first awning frame, the pivot axes of the plurality of louvers each being substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal pivot axis of the first awning frame, the plurality of louvers including a plurality of inner louvers and a plurality of outer louvers, the plurality of inner louvers generally being disposed closer to the first window than the plurality of outer louvers; and
d. a louver drive system supported at least in part by the first awning frame and coupled to the plurality of louvers for selectively rotating the plurality of louvers in accordance with the position of the sun.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solar window shade includes a frame for supporting louvers for shading at least one window of a building. Preferably, the frame is pivotally connected to the building above the window, and a frame drive system selectively pivots the frame upwardly or downwardly in accordance with the elevation of the sun. A louver drive system rotates the louvers within the frame to track east-to-west movements of the sun. The louvers are preferably provided as outer and inner louvers interlaced with each other, and such louvers nest with one another when the sun is hidden, or approaches from an acute angle, to maximize passage of indirect light rays to light the interior, while minimizing obstruction of the view through the window. The device is modular and is easily applied to aligned rows of windows and/or windows on multi-story buildings, with central control of the associated frame drive and louver drive systems.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. An apparatus for shading a first window of a building from the sun, the building having an exterior, and the first window having a top, the apparatus comprising in combination:
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a. a first awning frame having first and second opposing ends, the first end of the first awning frame being pivotally connected to the exterior of the building above the first window, the first awning frame pivoting about a substantially horizontal axis, said horizontal axis being proximate to the top of the first window, the second end of the first awning frame being spaced apart from the first end of the first awning frame and spaced apart from the first window; b. a frame drive system coupled to the exterior of the building and coupled to the first awning frame, the frame drive system selectively causing the second end of the first awning frame to pivot upwardly or downwardly about the first end of the first awning frame in accordance with a current position of the sun; c. a plurality of louvers, each of the plurality of louvers being disposed proximate the second end of the first awning frame, and each louver within the plurality of louvers being rotatably supported about its own pivot axis relative to the second end of the first awning frame, the pivot axes of the plurality of louvers each being substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal pivot axis of the first awning frame, the plurality of louvers including a plurality of inner louvers and a plurality of outer louvers, the plurality of inner louvers generally being disposed closer to the first window than the plurality of outer louvers; and d. a louver drive system supported at least in part by the first awning frame and coupled to the plurality of louvers for selectively rotating the plurality of louvers in accordance with the position of the sun. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for shading at least one window of a building from the sun, the building having an exterior, the at least one window having an uppermost edge extending along a substantially horizontal window axis the apparatus comprising in combination:
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a. a frame coupled to the exterior of the building proximate to the at least one window; b. a plurality of outer louvers rotatably supported by the frame, each such outer louver being rotatable about its own pivot axis; c. a plurality of inner louvers rotatably supported by the frame each such inner louver being rotatable about its own pivot axis, the plurality of inner louvers generally being disposed closer to the at least one window than the plurality of outer louvers; d. the pivot axes of each of the plurality of outer louvers, and the pivot axes of each of the plurality of inner louvers, being substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal window axis; and e. a louver drive system supported at least in part by the frame and coupled to the plurality of outer louvers and to the plurality of inner louvers for selectively rotating the plurality of outer louvers and the plurality of inner louvers in accordance with a position of the sun. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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Specification