Architectural structure comprising pivoting suspended tiles
An architectural structure comprises a grating panel ( 1 ), wherein said grating panel comprises securing means for securing said grating panel to a building or other structure, which when installed comprises substantially horizontal bars ( 8 ) and tiles ( 3 ) suspended from and pivotable on the axes of said horizontal bars, wherein said tiles cannot assume a position of stable equilibrium other than the position in which the tiles are suspended freely from said bars. The tiles may be part of tile assemblies, such that said tile assemblies comprise tile portions and locating portions which secure the tiles to the gratings.
1 . An architectural structure comprising a grating panel, wherein said grating panel comprises securing means for securing said grating panel to a building, the grating panel comprising substantially horizontal bars and tiles suspended from and pivotable on axes of said horizontal bars, wherein said tiles cannot assume a position of stable equilibrium other than the position in which the tiles are suspended freely from said horizontal bars wherein the securing means contains a portion configured to abut a tile before the tile is able to rotate to such an extent as to rest on said securing means.
2 . The architectural structure of claim 1 , comprising at least 20 of said grating panels.
3 . The architectural structure of claim 1 , wherein the architectural structure is cladding for a building.
4 . The architectural structure of claim 1 , wherein said tiles are part of tile assemblies, and wherein said tile assemblies comprise tile portions and locating portions which secure the tiles to the gratings.
5 . The architectural structure of claim 4 , wherein the locating portions comprise hooks or barrels which at least partially surround the horizontal bars, and which are rotatable around the horizontal bars.
6 . The architectural structure of claim 4 , wherein tile portions and locating portions are integrally formed.
7 . The architectural structure of claim 4 , wherein tile assemblies are shaped by one or more of forming, folding and/or extruding.
8 . The architectural structure of claim 5 , comprising sleeves intermediate the horizontal bars and the hooks or barrels.
9 . The architectural structure of claim 4 , wherein a stop is provided on a tile assembly so that said stop abuts a securing means when only partial rotation of the tile has occurred, thereby preventing the tile from rotating to the extent of achieving a stable equilibrium in which the tile rests against the securing means.
10 . The architectural structure of claim 9 , wherein said stop is a member projecting from the tile assembly.
11 . The architectural structure of claim 1 , wherein said portion prevents said tile from rotating more than 180 degrees from its equilibrium hanging position.
12 . The architectural structure of claim 1 , comprising substantially planar, rectangular tiles.
13 . The architectural structure of claim 1 , comprising metal or plastic tiles.
14 . The architectural structure of claim 13 , wherein the metal is steel.
15 . A building comprising the architectural structure of claim 1 .
16 . The architectural structure of claim 1 , wherein the portion is configured to abut a face of the tile before the tile is able to rotate to such an extent as to rest on said securing means.
17 . The architectural structure of claim 1 , wherein the securing means comprises a fixing plate.
18 . The architectural structure of claim 17 , wherein the portion is configured to abut a face of the tile before the tile is able to rotate to such an extent as to rest on said fixing plate.