WO2018081865A1

WO2018081865A1 - Screening system

Info

Publication number: WO2018081865A1
Application number: PCT/AU2017/051210
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ben Tilley
Original assignee: CAPRAL Ltd; Capral Ltd
Current assignee: CAPRAL Ltd; Capral Ltd
Priority date: 2016-11-03
Filing date: 2017-11-03
Publication date: 2018-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2019-05-03

Abstract

A screening system comprising at least two post adaptors to be mounted in a parallel, spaced apart relationship so as to support a screen of slat members therebetween, the post adaptors each having a profiled recess along their length, wherein end parts of the slat members are respectively located in the profiled recess of each post adaptor; and spacers locatable in the profiled recesses for spacing apart the slat members, the spacers being profiled to key into the profiled recesses such that the spacers are laterally held within the profiled recesses. A method of assembling such a screening system is also described.

Description

SCREENING SYSTEM

[001 ] The present invention relates to screening systems, such as is used for fencing or privacy screens, and methods for assembling such screening systems.

BACKGROUND

[002] Current screen systems, including fencing, shading and privacy screens made of materials including timber, aluminium, steel, and the like are designed to be visually appealing by, for example, providing a clean look and hiding fasteners and fixings. The compromise with such systems is that they are costly in their complexity to produce and labour intensive to assemble.

[003] Fencing and other privacy screen systems using spaced apart horizontal slats in their basic form include two vertical post sections to which slats are individually fastened at the ends of the slats. In some arrangements the vertical post sections may include a "L" shaped channel so that the slat ends are located within the angle of the L channel and fastened therein thereby hiding from one side of the screen the fixings used to fasten the slats to the post sections. Even in these circumstances fixings may still be visible because a fastening screw necessarily needs to penetrate the slat and the post in order to secure the two.

[004] Furthermore every fixing hole on both the posts and the slats needs to be physically measured, levelled plumb, marked and drilled. Fixings are required at each end of every slat. This process in not only labour intensive but requires skill and attention to produce a well crafted and visually appealing screen with level slats and correct spacing between slats. Furthermore, such systems allow little flexibility for incorporating any creative design modifications such as variations in slat cross sections, slat spacing and angle of slat mount.

[005] It is against the above backdrop that the present invention has been devised. SUMMARY

[006] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a screening system comprising at least two post adaptors to be mounted in a parallel, spaced apart relationship so as to support a screen of slat members therebetween, the post adaptors each having a profiled recess along their length, wherein end parts of the slat members are respectively located in the profiled recess of each post adaptor; and spacers locatable in the profiled recesses for spacing apart the slat members, the spacers being profiled to key into the profiled recesses such that the spacers are laterally held within the profiled recesses.

[007] An advantage of the invention is that the resulting screen presents a strong unit that cannot be easily pulled apart by, for example a force applied to pull the post adaptors apart, or a force impacting normally against the face of the screen.

Furthermore, the corresponding keyed profiles between the interconnecting components means that fewer fixings and modifications are required to assemble the screen, greater tolerances are allowed and consequently the entire erection process of the screen is less labour intensive compared with other screening systems and also provides uniform spacings between slat members.

[008] In a preferred embodiment the spacers have an engagement function that holds the spacer against the slat. The spacers can thereby act as a connecting component between the post adaptor and the slat members (or specifically the end parts of the slat members). As the spacers are held in the profiled recess of one of the post adaptors, an engagement to hold or capture, to some extent, the slat end part creates a stable interconnection between slat end and the post adaptor.

[009] In one form the engagement function comprises engagement legs on the spacer that depend downwards and/or upwardly to capture the width of the slat end part between the legs. A fit tolerance between the legs, or some other form of resilience, (e.g. by way of the material property of the spacer) causes the legs to hug the end part of the slat immediately above or immediately below the spacer. This reduces the incidence of rattling of the slat in the post adaptor but also forms a stable chain of interconnected slat ends and spacers along the height of the screen.

[0010] In another form, or in addition to the above described form, the engagement function may comprise a fastener to more securely fasten the spacer to the slat end part. This could be in the form of an inclined fastener hole for receiving a fastener, such as a screw, and guiding the fastener at an inclination relative to the substantially horizontal slat. The fastener is driven through the spacer and into the slat end part to fasten the two together. [001 1 ] In a particular embodiment the post adaptor is a square or rectangular section with profiled recess of the post adaptor containing an internal ridge, or nib, that creates a retaining space into which a part of the spacer, and specifically shoulders of the spacer, locate in order to retain the spacer within the profiled recess thereby preventing lateral removal of the spacer from the profiled recess. The post adaptor is preferably formed by an extruded profile and includes fixing holes by which the post adaptor can be vertically mounted to a surface, such as a post or a wall, using screws or other fasteners.

[0012] End caps may be provided to close off and plug open ends of the post adaptors. The end caps may include a hole proved to receive a fixing screw for fixing the end cap to the adaptor post, and they may also have engagement legs similar to those described above in relation to the spacers to capture the end parts of the lowermost and uppermost slats in the screen.

[0013] The slat members can comprise a variety of forms according to aesthetic tastes. In its simplest form the slat member would be a rectangular extruded metal section or a solid timber slat. Other more irregular forms are also possible, including elliptical blades, for example formed by extrusion. Such irregular forms of slats may not be able to properly locate into the post adaptor's profiled recess because of their irregular shape, or if the slats (regular rectangular or irregular) are intended to be mounted angled to the face of the screen to create a louvre effect. In these circumstances, the end part of the slats are separate slat adaptors that connect to one end of the slat and are more suitably profiled to locate within the profiled recess of the post adaptor.

[0014] The end part of the slat, whether the actual end part of the slat or the slat adaptor, can simply locate in the profiled recess on top of the spacer below, or may itself be formed with a keyed end profile to slide into, and interconnect with, the profiled recess of the post adaptor.

[0015] The screening system could also include other components for providing screening in different applications, including corner post adaptors, corner stakes, upper and lower frame members to provide a surround frame, post connection brackets and post end caps and feet. [0016] In accordance with the present invention there is further provided a method of assembling a screen including:

mounting two post adaptors in a parallel and spaced apart orientation so as to support a screen of slat members therebetween, the post adaptors each having a profiled recess along their length;

positioning slat members between the post adaptors and locating end parts of the slat members and spacers into the profiled recesses of the post adaptors so as to space apart the slat members using the spacers, the spacers being profiled to key into the profiled recesses such that the spacers are laterally held within the profiled recesses.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment the assembly of the screen includes holding the spacer against the slat via an engagement function on the spacer.

[0018] A fixing tool can be used to assist in holding down a spacer when drilling a self drilling screw through the spacer and into the slat end part. The tool is shaped so as to clamp down on top of the slat and reach into the profiled recess to hold down the spacer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Embodiments incorporating all aspects of the invention, will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] Figure 1 is a front view of a screen assembled with the screening system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021 ] Figure 2 is a front view of a screen similar to that in Figure 1 but with an additional top and bottom surround frame;

[0022] Figure 3 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the screening system used a shade or privacy screen;

[0023] Figure 4 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the screening system depicted with a corner post; [0024] Figures 5(a), 5(b), 5(c) and 5(d) show a sequence of steps in assembling an embodiment of the screening system;

[0025] Figures 6(a) and 6(b) are isometric views of a small spacer and a large spacer used in a preferred embodiment of the screening system;

[0026] Figure 7 is vertical cross sectional view of one embodiment of the screening system;

[0027] Figure 8a is a plan cross sectional view of taken at section A-A of Figure 7;

[0028] Figure 8b is a plan cross sectional view of taken at section B-B of Figure 7;

[0029] Figure 9a is an isometric view of a particular embodiment of a slat member including a detachable end part;

[0030] Figure 9b is an isometric view of the end part of the slat member of Figure 9a;

[0031 ] Figure 10a is a vertical cross sectional view of a screening system using the slat member illustrated in Figure 9a;

[0032] Figure 10b is a rear isometric view of the post adaptor and slat end parts of the screening system shown in Figure 10a;

[0033] Figure 1 1 is a plan cross sectional view of the screening system illustrated in Figure 10a;

[0034] Figure 12a is an isometric, exploded view of a screening system similar to that shown in Figure 10a, but with a different spacing arrangement;

[0035] Figure 12b shows an assembly of an end part with a spacer; and

[0036] Figure 13 is an alternative embodiment of slat members assembled with post adaptors using end parts. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate four embodiments of a screen system 10 in accordance with the present invention. The embodiments are intended to show by way of example possible constructions of the screening system 10 to create a screen 12. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate minor variations of a screening system 10 that is suitable for a fence or a privacy screen, where embodiment of Figure 2 includes a surround frame 14 that is absent from the upper and lower parts of the screen 12 of the embodiment in Figure 1 . Figure 3 illustrates a short height screening system 10 that may be suitable for use as a window shade or privacy screen. Figure 4 illustrates the screening system 10 mounted to create a screened corner that could be useful on a balcony or at ground level as a surrounding fence. Further still, it is foreseeable that the screening system could be used as an overhead horizontal or angled screen such as an awning or with an open pergola.

[0038] The examples of the screens 12 are all created using the present screening system 10 which in a basic form comprises at least two post adaptors 16 that are mounted in parallel, often vertically, to be spaced apart for supporting between the post adaptors the screen 12 that is made up of slat members 13, hereinafter referred to as "slats".

[0039] The post adaptors 16 in a preferred embodiment are intended to be mounted to a vertical support such as a post 17, as shown in Figures 1 , 3 and 4, or a wall, support frame 14 as shown in Figure 2, or any other vertical surface. It is however understood that the post adaptors 16 may themselves form the post support if suitably constructed with the required strength and stability to be itself ground mounted, for example in concrete footing.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment it is understood that the post adaptors, while still parallel and in a spaced apart relationship to hold the slat members between them, could be mounted horizontally rather than vertically. In this case, and depending on whether the post adaptors are parallel in a Ύ" (horizontal) plane or in a "Z" (vertical) plane, the screen formed by the slat members can be aligned in a number of different orientations. Accordingly, the screen is a planar structure that can be oriented in an "X", Ύ" or "Z" plane, or at any plane angled there-between. [0041 ] The post adaptors 16 described herein are profiled aluminium extrusions that are profiled to have a roughly "C" sectional profile that creates a profiled recess 18 along the length of the post adaptor 16. The post adaptors 16 are screwed, riveted or bolted, or otherwise fastened (eg. by gluing), to a post 17, or other vertical surface, and arranged so that two post adaptors 16 are mounted spaced apart from each other with their profiled recesses 18 facing each other. This arrangement is illustrated in the plan section views of Figures 8a, 8b and 1 1 in which it can be seen that the post adaptors 16 are fastened by screws 19 to spaced apart posts 17 with their profiled recesses 18 facing each other. The post adaptors 16 support the slats 13 which are positioned with the end parts 20 of the slats inserted into the profiled recesses 18 of opposing post adaptors 16.

[0042] In the embodiment described above where the post adaptor is itself also the supporting post 17, then the single supporting post would be provided with the keyed profile recess for receiving the slat ends. The post may be shaped to be square, rectangular, elliptical, round, etc and be formed by extrusion, moulding or made of timber with the profiled recess being extruded, moulded or routered.

[0043] Figures 8a and 8b additionally show an optional slat brace 38 fixed vertically across the slats 13 to provide more strength to the screen. Slat brace 38 can be fixed using screws which are then plugged to prevent moisture entering the screw holes. Double sided adhesive tape and/or silicone adhesive/filler can also assist with mounting the slat brace across the slats 13.

[0044] Referring particularly to Figures 7 and 10, spacers 22 are inserted vertically between the slats, and more specifically between the end parts 20 of the slats, in order to vertically space apart the slats 13. Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show in closer detail the spacer 22 where Figure 6(a) illustrates a small, 10mm high spacer 22a, and Figure 6(b) illustrates a larger, 20mm high spacer 22b. The differently sized spacers can be used alone or in combination to create a variety of vertical spacings between slats. Figure 7 illustrates this where four slats 13 are spaced apart using different combinations of spacers. Specifically, the lower two slats 13 in Figure 7 are separated by two large spacers 22b and one small spacer 22a, whereas the upper two slats 13 are separated by one small spacer 22a and one large spacer 22b. The two middle slats are separated by two large spacers 22b. [0045] The spacers 22 are profiled to have a corresponding profile to the profiled recess 18 of the post adaptors 16 so that the spacers key into the profiled recesses to effectively interconnect into a locked engagement with the post adaptor. The keyed relationship between each spacer and respective post adaptor means that the spacer is laterally held within the profiled recess of the post adaptor and cannot be easily laterally removed out of the profiled recess 18. This locked lateral relationship together with the vertical stack of slats and spacers, results in a strong screen that will resist multidirectional forces against the screening system. Furthermore, as the spacers 22 are intended to slide from the top of the mounted post adaptor down the profiled recess and into position on top of a slat end part 20, the assembly of the screening system 10 requires far fewer fixings compared to current methods of erecting fences and screens.

[0046] Figure 8a illustrates a plan sectional view taken at A-A in Figure 7, namely taken horizontally through slat 13 so that the ends of slat 13 can be seen extending into the profiled recess 18. Figure 8b, taken at B-B in Figure 7, shows in plan view how the shoulders 30 of the spacer interact with the profiled recess 18 and the slat 13.

[0047] The spacers described herein are made of plastics material, or a composite, such as glass reinforced nylon. Alternatively, the spacer could be made of a non- corrosive material including aluminium, folded aluminium, zinc casting, folded zinc sheet, or other suitably coated cast or fabricated metal. Further suitable materials could also include PVC, ABS or other rigid engineered plastics, resins or fibreglass.

[0048] As illustrated in the drawings the spacers 22 also include an engagement function that holds the spacer against the slat next to which it is positioned, or against another spacer. The spacers thereby act as a connector that vertically connects with adjacent spacers and/or slats to create an integrated, or unified, column of stacked spacer/slate components that are also keyed in with, and therefore held firm against, the post adaptors. Such an arrangement provides consistent and measured spacings between the slats and a unitised screen firmly held between support posts 17 but can still provide sufficient lateral tolerances to allow for expansion and contraction of the slat and post adaptor materials.

[0049] Two types of spacer engagement functions are described herein that can be used either separately or in combination to interconnect the spacers and slats in a vertical sense. The first engagement function is in the form of engagement legs 23, 24 provided on the spacer body 25 as shown in Figures 6(a) and Figure 6(b). Each of the spacers 22a and 22b comprises a set of downwardly depending legs 23 and upwardly extending legs 24. Each of legs 23, 24 are intended to act as clips, or similar capturing means, to capture the width of the slat end part 20 between each pair of legs 23, 24. As can be seen in Figure 7, the legs 23 and 24 are adapted to extend across the width of a slat and capture, or hug, the narrow side edge of a slat.

[0050] Legs 23, 24 are made to have a tolerance fit between them in order to apply a holding force across the slat, which tolerance could be a result of a narrower spacing between each pair of legs and being shaped to capture the width of a slat edge, or alternatively the legs 23, 24 could comprise a resilience material to apply a holding force on the edge of the slat. Legs 23, 24 are also adapted to interconnect with adjacent spacers, which is why the downward legs 23 are spaced offset to the upward legs 24 in a vertical direction. In other words the upward and downward legs 23, 24 are not positioned directly one above the other but are offset so that the upward legs of a lower spacer can capture a lower part of the spacer body 25 of the spacer above it. The spacer body 25 has a width approximating the width of the flat end parts 20 that are inserted into the profiled recess 18.

[0051 ] The second type of engagement function comprises a more secure and permanent fastening involving drilling a self-drilling screw 53 (see Figure 12b) into a groove hole 32 provided through a top of the spacer body 25 through to the bottom of the spacer body from which the screw enters the flat, narrow edge on the end part of the slat. Screw hole 32 is provided at an inclination through spacer body 25 in order to allow better access for a user to reach inside the profiled recess 18 in order to secure the screw 53 between the spacer body and flat end part 20. Screw hole 32 is rebated so that the screw is recessed in the spacer body and will not interfere with the stacking arrangement of the spacers and slats and so will also be kept hidden from view by the slats or spacers stacked on top.

[0052] The post adaptor 16 is an extruded square or rectangular section. The profiled recess 18 of each post adaptor 16 includes a retaining space 27 defined by an internal ridge, or nib 28. The retaining space 27 with nib 28 forms the key profile into which the spacer 22, with a corresponding keyed structure, can be inserted and slid into position. Spacer 22 is provided with a pair of shoulders 30 at one end of the spacer body 25. With the shoulders 30 on the spacer body 25 facing inwardly of the profiled recess 18 the shoulders are hooked over nib 28 so that the shoulders locate in the retaining space 27 which will key and lock the spacer to the post adaptor 16. The remaining part of the spacer body not keyed into the retaining space 27 sits within a front space 31 of profiled recess. While the spacer may be able to slide along the length of the post adaptor it can only be removed by sliding out of one of the ends of the post adaptor. With the spacers locked in connection with the post adaptor the spacer and slat arrangement can be stacked one on top of the other to also form a vertical connection by way of legs 23, 25.

[0053] The "C" shape of the profiled recess of the post adaptor includes the internal retaining space 27 and the front space 31 . The profiled recess at the front space 31 also has lip 33 that reduces the opening of the profiled recess to approximate the width of the slat that extends therethrough (as well as approximating the width of the spacer body that locates toward the front of the recess 18. In this way the recess's opening through which the slats extend can be closed off by the stacked slats and spacers, thereby preventing, or at least discouraging, ingress of water and insects into the post adaptor's recess.

[0054] Figures 5(a) to 5(d) illustrate in four steps the method of assembling a screen

12 using the screening system 10.

[0055] Figure 5(a) shows a post 17 providing the vertical support for the screen. Post adaptor 16 is screwed into post 17 using fixing screws 19. Only one post and post adaptor is shown supporting one end of the slats but it is understood that a second post adaptor needs to be mounted to provide support for the other end of the slats.

[0056] An adaptor end cap 34 is fitted at the upper or lower end of the post adaptor and has a closed face to plug the open upper or lower end of the post adaptor. This prevents or reduces ingress of water, dirt and insects into the interior of the post adaptor (ie. into the profiled recess) from the upper or lower end of the post adaptor. The adaptor end cap 34 is screwed in place using a screw 17 through screw hole 35 that fixes the end cap to the post 17 and a hole plug 36 plugs the screw hole in the end cap. Similar to the spacer 22, adaptor end cap 34 is also provided with upward legs 24 or downward legs 23 to capture and engage with a slat 13 to be positioned above it.

[0057] Figure 5(b) illustrates a first slat 13 being positioned horizontally between two post adaptors (though only one post adaptor is shown in Figure 5(b)) where the end part 20 of the slat 13 is located inside the profiled recess 18 of the post adaptor. Slat

13 is positioned by sliding the slat from the open upper end of the post adaptor down into position on top of the lower end cap 34. If there is space, the slats can be assembled by simply inserting one end into one profiled recess and then sliding the second end into the opposing profiled recess of the opposite post adaptor.

[0058] A first spacer 22 is introduced in Figure 5 (b) from the open upper end of the post adaptor. The shoulders 30 on the spacer are positioned to be keyed into the retaining space 27 of the profiled recess and then the spacer too is slid down the profiled recess until it sits on top of slat 13 and the downward legs 23 of the spacer capture the top facing narrow edge of the slat. At this point the spacer and slat are more securely fastened together by screw fixing and, in this case, using self-drilling screws.

[0059] A fixing tool 40, shown in Figures 5(b) and 5(c), can be used to assist with the process of fixing together the spacer and slat as self-drilling screws would have a tendency to cause the spacer to lift. The fixing tool 40 is long and includes two arms 41 that reach into the recess 18 to sit on top of the spacer body on either side of the spacer screw hole 32. An elongated base 42 of the tool sits on top of the slat 13 and together with adjustable side wings 43 that clamp down on either side of the slat keep the tool support steady and clamped on top of the slat and holds the spacer down on top of the slat. A self-drilling screw can then be screwed through the spacer and into the slat end part 20 without the spacer lifting off the slat.

[0060] The remaining slats 13 to make the screen 12 are one by one inserted through the top of the post adaptor and slid down to stack on top of the spacer and slat combination below. Spacers 22 are inserted in any desired combination - large, small, single or multiple - between the slats and are fixed to the slat below.

[0061 ] While spacers 22 are described herein fixed to slats using fixing screws, it is understood that fixing screws may not be required for some applications and rather, an unfixed relationship may instead be desired between the spacers and slats in order to allow movement tolerances for expansion and contraction of the screening system materials.

[0062] Furthermore, other means for fastening or holding together the slats in the post adaptor with the spacers can be used. For example, double sided adhesive or silicone can be applied to the faces of the slat that bears against the post adaptor and/or the spacers. [0063] Figure 5(d) illustrates a series of slats (in part view) stacked and spaced by spacers located in the post adaptor to form a screen 12. Another adaptor end cap 34 is placed on top of the post adaptor and closes off its top open end in the same manner as the lower end cap.

[0064] Figures 9a to 12b illustrate an embodiment of the screening system 10 that incorporates a slat that in cross section is not able to locate into the front opening of the profiled recess 18. Specifically, this embodiment shows an elliptical-shaped cross section blade 45. Even if the blade could fit in cross section in the profiled recess, it is also desired that the blade be mounted at an angle to the vertical as shown in Figure 9a and 10a, and could further still be rotatable about the blade axis to vary the blade angle relative to the post 17. This could be desirable for improving privacy while at the same time allowing light/sunlight to pass through the screen.

[0065] To accommodate such an arrangement the end parts 20 of the previous embodiment that locate into the profiled recess, are not end parts of the slats in this embodiment, but are instead blade adaptors 48, and namely a separate part that connects to the blade and locates in the profiled recess as the end part of slat 13 would locate. In other words, where the term 'end part' is used herein it is understood that the end part of the slat in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8b constitutes the physical end of the slat, whereas in the embodiment of Figures 9a to 12b the end part is the detachable blade adaptor 48. Accordingly, in that embodiment the 'slat member' comprises the slat component/blade 45 as well as the blade adaptor 48.

[0066] Blade adaptor 48 is an elongated hollow component that can fit into the profiled recess of the post adaptor on one side and on the other side connects to the blade by a complementary connecting piece 49 via an interference fit or friction fit on an opposite side to secure engagement with the end of the blade. The connecting piece 49 is shaped to insert into an open end of the blade 45. A screw 19 that extends through the blade adaptor 48 and into a receiving aperture 47 in the blade 45 could also be used to assist in blade-to-blade adaptor engagement. The blade adaptors are profiled to be compatible to engage with the spacers and end caps, as shown in the exploded view of Figure 12a.

[0067] In the embodiment illustrated of the elliptical blade arrangement, spacers 22a and 22b are inserted between the blade adaptors 48 to create spacing between the blades, which can vary depending on which spacer, or combination thereof, is used. Similar to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8b, spacers 22 in the elliptical blade embodiment also have shoulders 30 to key into profiled recess 18, and have upward legs 24 and downward legs 23 that assist in holding the spacers against the blade adaptor.

[0068] Figure 12b illustrates the embodiment in which the self-drilling screw 53 is drilled into screw hole 32 of spacer 22 in order to secure the spacer 22 to the flat end part 20 of the slat, or in this case, of the elliptical blade adaptor 48. With the top of the upwardly legs 24 of the spacer 22 the next blade adaptor 48 to be positioned on top of the assembled blade adaptor/spacer shown in Figure 12b can engage with the spacer 22 by being captured by the legs 24.

[0069] In another embodiment that is not shown in the drawings, the blade adaptors 48 may themselves have incorporated into their structure a spacer component that acts as a spacer to space apart the blades and to key the blade adaptor into the profiled recess 18. Accordingly in this embodiment, the blade adaptor and spacer are formed as a single component.

[0070] It is understood that in addition to elliptical shaped blades, other cross sectional profiles could be employed including crescent-shapes, airfoil and any number of cross sections limited only by creativity and the limitation to form a structure approximating a slat. Furthermore, any cross-sectional profile could be used with an adaptor to form a tilt or angle of the slat.

[0071 ] For example, Figure 13 illustrates in a vertical cross section view end blade adaptors 54 for engaging with the rectangular slats 13 appearing in Figures 1 to 8b. The rectangular slats would be mounted at an angle to the post adaptors 16 via end the blade adaptors 54, which are similar to end blade adaptors 48 for the elliptical slats but this time end blade adaptors 54 are configured to engage with rectangular slats 13. In the embodiment shown in Figure 13 the angle of inclination achieved is

approximately 140° to the horizontal (or 50° from the vertical orientation illustrated in Figure 7.

[0072] Also shown in Figure 13 is the different combination of spacers used to create gaps of different sizes between the slats. Four end blade adaptors 54 to engage with rectangular slats are illustrated in Figure 13 mounted in a vertical line on post adaptor 16. Between the bottom two end adaptors 54 there are no spacers and hence there is a small overlap of the spacers when viewed in a horizontal direction. A 10mm spacer 22a is used between the middle two end adaptors 54 thereby creating a small gap of 7mm, and a larger spacer 22b of 20mm is positioned between the upper two end adaptors 54 which creates a larger gap of 17mm between the slats in a horizontal direction.

[0073] The system can also include other parts such as surround frames (upper and lower frame members 14) as shown in Figure 2, post connection brackets (not shown), post end caps 50 and post feet 52.

[0074] The blade adaptors, end caps and spacers can be made from a plastics material, or a plastics composite, such as a UV stabalised glass reinforced nylon. Alternatively, the blade adaptors, end caps and spacers could be made of a non- corrosive material including aluminium, folded aluminium, zinc casting, folded zinc sheet, or other suitably coated cast or fabricated metal. Further suitable materials could also include PVC, ABS or other rigid engineered plastics, resins or fibreglass.

[0075] The present invention provides an improved and aesthetically desirable screening system that will be less complex and easier to assemble correctly and plumb. The same basic components of the system can be used in a variety of combinations to create a number of different screening options including straight or corner screening, short heights for shade or high screens for privacy, louvered slats or straight slats, screens with graduated or variable slat spacing, etc. The system employs modular principles in that the vertical support post adaptors can be mounted in repeated sequences against any vertical surface, or may form the vertical surface itself, and the spacers can be stacked one a top the other to provide modular and consistent spacing options for the slats.

[0076] Furthermore, as the slats are interconnected or at least held in position by the spacers and/or the post adaptor, the slats are not prone to movement within the profiled recess which would otherwise cause wind-rattling. Visible fixings are reduced in the present system and crevices where insects could infest are plugged or avoided.

[0077] It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A screening system comprising at least two post adaptors to be mounted in a parallel, spaced apart relationship so as to support a screen of slat members therebetween, the post adaptors each having a profiled recess along their length, wherein end parts of the slat members are respectively located in the profiled recess of each post adaptor; and

spacers locatable in the profiled recesses for spacing apart the slat members, the spacers being profiled to key into the profiled recesses such that the spacers are laterally held within the profiled recesses.

2. A screening system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the spacers have an engagement portion that holds the spacer against an end part of an adjacent slat member.

3. A screening system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the engagement portion comprises engagement legs that depend downwards and/or upwards to capture the width of the end part of the adjacent slat member between the legs.

4. A screening system as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the engagement portion comprises a fastener received in a fastener hole on the spacer through which fastener is driven to fasten together the spacer and end part of the adjacent slat.

5. A screening system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fastener hole is inclined so as to guide the fastener into the end part at an angle to an upper surface of the end part.

6. A screening system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer is formed separately or integrally with the end part of the slat member.

7. A screening system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the post adaptor is a square or rectangular section profiled with an internal nib that creates a retaining space into which the spacer locates and is retained.

8. A screening system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the spacer comprises shoulders that correspondingly locate in the retaining space and are held by the internal nib against force that could pull the spacers away from the post adaptor.

9. A screening system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end part is an integral part of the slat member.

10. A screening system as claimed in any one claims 1 to 8, wherein the end part is a separate component detachable from the slat member.

1 1 . A screening system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the separate end part is an end adaptor that on one side engages with an end face of a slat member, and on an opposite side locates in the profiled recess of the post adaptor.

12. A screening system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slat members are profiled to have a rectangular or elliptical cross-section.

13. A method of assembling a screen including:

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, including holding the spacers against end parts of the slat members via an engagement function on the spacer.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, including using a fixing tool to assist in holding down a spacer when drilling a self drilling screw through the spacer and into the end part of the slat member.