AU2012358726B2

AU2012358726B2 - Sun protection device

Info

Publication number: AU2012358726B2
Application number: AU2012358726A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ulrich Clauss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-12-21
Filing date: 2012-10-24
Publication date: 2017-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 2032-10-24
Also published as: JP6113184B2; SG11201402994VA; SI2607602T1; EP2607602B1; AU2012358726A1; JP2015506424A; EP2607602A1; DE102011056773A1; ES2475195T3; WO2013091948A1; HRP20140863T1

Abstract

According to the invention the sun protection device (1) comprises a rollable sun protection curtain (2) on a shaft (3). The sun protection curtain (2) is comprised of an arrangement of fins (4) connected in succession in the rolling direction by means of joint connections (9), each of the fins having a multiple arrangement of fin segments (5) and being rigidly formed such that said arrangements retain their shape when rolling up on the shaft (3).

Description

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SUN PROTECTION DEVICE

The invention concerns a sun protection device. A sun protection roller blind is known from document DE 10161 159 AI. This sun protection roller blind forms a sun or light protection device, which is installed in particular on windows 5 of buildings. The sun protection roller blind described there includes a fabric which can be rolled and consists of a plurality of rods forming lamellae lying parallel to each other, which held together by connection means in the form of stainless steel bands. The rods consisting of synthetic material or metal respectively lie at a certain distance with respect to each other, so that a distance is maintained between two adjoining rods as to form a light slit. The rods are of 10 tubular construction and designed in such a way that each rod forms a continuous surface on its external side. The stabilisation elements which connect the rods are designed in such a way that the fabric is flexible around axes parallel to the longitudinal axes of the rods.

Thanks to the flexible arrangement of the stabilisation elements, the fabric can be rolled up on a shaft and unrolled therefrom again. 15 The advantage of this arrangement is that the sizes of the light slits can be result front selection of the distances between the rods.

The shortcoming is that the closed tubular design of the rods requires a large quantity of material for its production. PCT 217 4 0211 2

Another shortcoming is the time required for the production of the fabric is undesirably large. The rods must be produced first of all as separate parts. Then, the individual rods must be oriented in such a way that they lie exactly parallel at a distance from each other. To do so, the rods must be connected to each other by the means of connection, in particular through laser welding or gluing operations. A further sun protection roller blind is known from DE 20 2009 033 437 A, which presents a fabric which can be rolled up on a shaft, with a multiple arrangement of lamellae, whose longitudinal axes extend at a distance parallel to each other and transversal to the roll-up direction of the fabric. Light slits are provided between two neighbouring lamellae. A corrugated sheet is provided to form the arrangement of lamellae, a sheet which extends in longitudinal direction, i.e. in the roll-up direction over the whole length of the fabric. The structure of lamella is embedded into the corrugated sheet. The light slits are punched into the corrugated sheet between the lamellae. Corrugated sheets can be arranged alongside each other to obtain larger widths of fabrics in such a way that each lamella extends over all corrugated sheets. To do so, all the corrugated sheets extend over the full width of the fabric.

The shortcoming here is that the connection of individual corrugated sheets requires a large amount of construction work.

To be able to roll up the fabric so formed on a shaft, the corrugated sheets must be flexible so that they can be laid around the shaft. After a plurality of roll-up and unroll operations carried out, there is the danger that the corrugated sheets deform permanently and hence lose their target shapes, which cannot only influence the sun protection function but also the roll-up ability of the fabric.

To prevent this effect, stabilisation elements in the form of stainless steel bands can be installed on the back of the fabric, for example by laser welding, which extends over the whole length of the corrugated sheet. The result is that the I lAftiuUnicruwcnVNKI'iiilNUX'CWXWU HWWOM.. I docx-VJ )/2016 2012358726 08 Nov 2016 3 lamella structure of the fabric is kept also after a plurality of roll-up and unroll operations. The shortcoming here is however that the installation of the stabilisation elements involves an undesirable surplus of construction and increased amount of material, which raises the manufacturing cost of the fabric. 5 The object of embodiments of the invention is then to provide a sun protection device of the type above mentioned, which can be produced rationally and cost-efflciently with high functionality.

The invention provides a sunscreen device with a sunscreen curtain which can be rolled up on a shaft and which comprises an arrangement of slats which are one behind the other in rolling-10 up direction and connected by articulated connections and with each comprise a multiple arrangement of slat segments and are constructed to be intrinsically stiff so that these retain their shape when rolled up on the shaft, wherein each slat segment comprises a first part-segment with an arrangement of light slots, wherein connected with the upper edge of the first part segment is a second, light-impermeable part-segment, protruding outwardly beyond the 15 first part-segment wherein the part-segment comprises a rectangular profile member facing the incident sunshine, and has a section communicating therewith and extending at an inclination upwardly, wherein each slat has at its upper edge a first articulated element and at its lower edge a second articulated element complementary with the first articulated element, wherein for formation of an articulated connection the first articulated element at the upper edge of a 20 slat and the second articulated element of the adjoining slat interengage.

The sun protection device includes a sun protection curtain which can be rolled up on a shaft. The sun protection curtain consists of an arrangement of lamellae connected one after the other over joint connections in the roll-up direction, which respectively exhibit a multiple arrangement of lamella segments and are of rigid construction so that they keep their shape 25 when being rolled up on the shaft. The same goes accordingly for unrolling the sun protection curtain from the shaft.

The basic idea of embodiments of the invention hence consists in structuring the sun protection curtain in such a way that only the joint connections between the individual lamellae are mobile and can then ensure the necessary adaptation of form of the sun protection I l\w*>Iiiii:rwivirtiV'iRI,oriM\IX'<Awxw\l I Joot-i/i 1/201« 2012358726 08 Nov 2016 4 curtain when it is roiled up on or unrolled from the shaft. The individual lamellae conversely are of rigid construction and consequently dimensionally stable, i.e. they do not deform during the roll-up or unrolling operation.

Thanks to the dimensional stability of the lamellae, said elements present high inherent 5 stability without additional stabilisation elements so that even after a plurality of roll-up and unrolling operations carried out, their shapes are preserved perfectly and are consequently not exposed to wear-induced malfunctions. The joint connections between the lamellae perform movements during the roll-up and unrolling operations, which are also wear-free, i.e. even the joint connections remain unchanged after a plurality of roll-up and unrolling operations and 10 are not exposed to any malfunctions. The sun protection curtain hence presents a heavy-duty, long-term stable construction.

Another essential advantage consists in the possibility of manufacturing the sun protection curtain at reduced production costs, rationally and cost-efficiently.

Important is here that the lamellae exhibit a high inherent stability thanks to their robustness 15 and consequently must be stabilised by additional elements such as metal bands or similar. The sun protection curtain exhibits thereby a small number of individual parts and can thus be produced cost-efficiently.

Particularly advantageously, the lamella are formed as a single piece and extend over the full width of the sun protection curtain. 20 This enables further reduction of the number of parts of which the sun protection curtain is composed.

In a variation of the invention, each lamella consists of an extruded part, whereas in such a case, each lamella consists of synthetic material or aluminium.

In a second variation of the invention, each lamella consists of a shaped and punched part, 25 whereas in such a case, each lamella consists of stainless steel or of aluminium.

Both these variations enable a rational and cost-efficient production of the lamellae. PCT 217 4 0211 5

Particularly advantageously, each lamella exhibits on its upper edge a first joint connection and on its lower edge a second joint connection, complementary to the first joint element, whereas the first joint element on the upper edge of a lamella and the second joint element of the connecting lamella mesh into one 5 another to form a joint connection.

Since the joint elements are designed as a single piece with the respective lamellae to form the joint connection, the number of individual parts of the sun protection curtain is further reduced, whereby the manufacturing costs necessary to the production of the sun protection curtain are particularly low. Par-10 ticularly advantageously is here that in addition to the complementary joint connections at the lamellae to form the joint connection there is no need to provide further fastening means for coupling the joint elements. Far more, the complementary joint elements only need to be inserted into one another, which provides a particularly straightforward and rapid assembly of the sun protection 15 curtain.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, all the lamellae are designed identically.

To do so, the whole sun protection curtain can be assembled by the multiple use of only one part. This enables a particularly rationally manufacture of the 20 sun protection curtain, whereas also the costs can be kept small for the bearing bracket and the logistics during the manufacture of the sun protection curtain.

Particularly advantageously, not only the individual lamella are designed identically. Furthermore, each lamella exhibits a multiple arrangement of identical lamella segments. 25 To do so, a constant sun protection curtain of the sun protection curtain is provided over the whole length of the sun protection curtain. 2012358726 08 Nov 2016

Particularly advantageously, each lamella segment exhibits a first partial segment with at least one light slit, whereas a second light impervious partial segment is connected to the. tipper edse of the first partial segment, which protrudes outwardly over the hrsf partial segment

Since the light slits of the lamella segments are shielded by the second protruding partial 5 segments arranged thereon and outwardly, be. in the direction ol the incident sunlight, direct solar radiation through the light slits is prevented and only rays of sunlight can penetrate through the light slits in a narrowly limited angular sector, whereby only a limited, controlled quantity of light flows through the light slits.

The present invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with 10 reference to the accompanying drawings as briefly described below:

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the sun protect ion device.

Figure 2 shows a section of the sun protection curtain of the sun protection device according to figure 1. IS Figure 1 shows the essential components of the sun protection device I, which can be used in particular as a sun protection on windows of buildings and similar.

The sun protection device 1 includes a sun protection curtain 2 which can be rolled up and unrolled on a shaft 3, Figure. 1 shows the sun protection curtain 2 roiled up on the shaft 3, The sun protection curtain 2 is than oriented on a vertical plane and lies in the opening of a 20 window or similar.

The sun protection curtain 2 consists of a multiple arrangement of individual lamellae 4. Figure 2 shows two lamellae coupled PCT 217 4 0211 7 together 4, which are oriented on the vertical plane of the sun protection curtain 2 rolled up on the shaft 3, as represented in figure 1.

The lamellae 4 are respectively of rigid construction i.e., they exhibit such a great material thickness that they are dimensionally stable and not flexible. 5 The lamellae 4 may consist of extruded parts according to a first embodiment. The lamellae 4 consist of synthetic material or aluminium in such a case.

Alternately, the lamellae 4 may consist of shaped and punched parts. In such a case, the lamellae 4 consist of aluminium or of stainless steel.

In such a case, the lamellae 4 are designed as a single piece and extends over 10 the full width of the sun protection curtain 2, which typically can be equal to one or even several meters. The maximal widths which can be produced are typically up to three metres. Lamellae 4, consisting of extruded parts, can be produced in widths up to approx, six metres.

The heights of the lamellae 4, i.e. their elongations in the y-direction, are con-15 siderably smaller than their widths. Typically, the heights of the lamellae 4 lie in the region between 30 mm and 60 mm.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the sun protection curtain 2 consists of a multiple arrangement of lamellae 4 designed identically. Each lamella 4 consists again of a multiple arrangement of lamella segments 5 designed identi-20 cally. Figure 3 shows an enlarged individual representation of such a lamella segment 5.

Each lamella segment 5 includes a first partial segment 6, which is arranged in the arrangement according to figure 2 to extend on a vertical plane (y-z-plane). This partial segment 6 comprises an arrangement of light slits 7 which extend 25 substantially over the full width of the lamella 4. The individual light slits 7 can be separated by webs which are parts of the partial segment 6. PCT 217 4 0211 8 A second partial segment 8, designed as completely light impervious, is connected to the light slit 7 above the first partial segment. As can be seen in particular on figure 3, the second partial segment 8 consists of a section 8a, extending in the x-direction, connected to the upper edge of the first partial seg-5 ment 6, to which is connected a section 8b situated in the y-direction. A section 8c extending in the y-direction is again connected to this section 8b. These three sections 8a-8c form a rectangular profile piece on the external side of the lamella 4, which is facing the incident sun rays (represented with S in figure 2). A section 8d of the second partial segment 8, extending obliquely upwards, 10 emerges before this rectangular profile piece and continues up to the lower edge of the first partial segment 6 of the following lamella segments 5.

This configuration of the lamella segments 5 vastly prevents direct solar radiation through the light slits 7. Far more, the incident sunlight only reaches a narrow angular sector after reflection on the boundary surfaces of the lamella 15 segment 5, in particular of the section 8d of the second partial segment 8, through the light slits 7. This specific configuration of the structure of the lamella segments 5 enables to keep the incidence of light through the light slits 7 under control.

In the previous instance, the lamella segments 5 are sized in such a way that the 20 heights, i.e. the elongations in the y-direction of the first partial segments 6 are equal to approx. 1.5 mm and those of the second partial segments 8 approx. 5 mm. The depths of the lamella segments 5, i.e. their elongations in the x-direction are equal to approx. 4 mm.

As can be seen in figure 2, the individual lamella 4 are arranged behind one 25 another in the y-direction and hinged connected to one another via joint con nections 9. A first joint element 10 is provided on each lower edge of a lamella 4 to form the joint connections, whereas a second joint element 11, complementary to the first joint element 10, is provided on the upper edge of the lamella 4. Η !SWliiicntmcn-MRPcvIbl'-Dri'’GW·llKWH» I doc\.4-JhK· 2012358726 08 Nov 2016 9

The joint elements 10, 11 are designed as a single piece with the respective lamella 4 and extend preferably over the full width of the lamella 4, whereas the cross-sections of the joint elements 10, 11 remain constant over the i'ull width.

The first joint element 10 exhibits a substantially circular cross-section whereas the joint 5 element 10 encloses a cavity, which presents an exit discharge on the lower side. Alternately, the first joint element 10 may be hook-shaped.

The joint element 11, which is to do so of complementary design, exhibits at a free end a circular cross-sectional widening.

To obtain the joint connection 9, the circular cross-sectional widening of the second joint 10 element 11 is pushed into the cavity of the first joint element 10. The result is the joint connection 9, so that the two lamellae 4, which are connected this wav, can be swung against one another on the x-y-plane.

Due to their robustness, the lamellae 4 remain dimensionally stable when rolling up the sun protection curtain 2, so that they do not bend during the roll-up operation. During the roll-up 15 operation, only the joint connections 9 will move, whereby the sun protection curtain 2 is wound around the shaft 3. The same goes during unrolling the sun protection curtain 2 from the shaft 3.

Metal bands or similar, running in the roll-up direction, can be fixed to improve the rolling-up and unrolling of the sun protection curtain 2 on the shaft 3. Alternately clips or similar can be 20 snapped into the cavities of the individual lamella segments 5.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the 25 invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires 2012358726 08 Nov 2016 H KW hilCIWOKH SRPiWtl’i IXC GW I IH'JVMi'J J ik%\-l 11 >n|f* 10 otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or 5 to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

List of reference signs 10 (1) Sun protection device (2) Sun protection curtain (3) Shaft (4) Lamella (5) Lamella segment 15 (6) Partial segment (7) Light slit (8) Partial segment (8a) Section (8b) Section 20 (8c) Section (8d) Section (9) Joint connection (10) Joint element (11) Joint element 25

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. Sunscreen device with a sunscreen curtain which can be rolled up on a shaft and which comprises an arrangement of slats which are one behind the other in rolling-up direction and connected by articulated connections and with each comprise a multiple arrangement of slat segments and are constructed to be intrinsically stiff so that these retain their shape when rolled up on the shaft, wherein each slat segment comprises a first part-segment with an arrangement of light slots, wherein connected with the upper edge of the first part segment is a second, light-impermeable part-segment, protruding outwardly beyond the first part-segment wherein the part-segment comprises a rectangular profile member facing the incident sunshine, and has a section communicating therewith and extending at an inclination upwardly, wherein each slat has at its upper edge a first articulated element and at its lower-edge a second articulated element complementary with the first articulated element, wherein for formation of an articulated connection the first articulated element at the upper edge of a slat and the second articulated element of the adjoining slat interengage.
2. Sunscreen device according to claim 1, wherein the slats are of integral construction and extend over the entire width of the sunscreen curtain.
3. Sunscreen device according to claim 2, wherein each slat comprises an extruded part.
4. Sunscreen device according to claim 3, wherein each slat comprises plastics material or aluminium.
5. Sunscreen device according to claim 2, wherein each slat comprises a shaped and punched part.
6. Sunscreen device according to claim 5, wherein each slat comprises stainless steel or aluminium.
7. Sunscreen device according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein all slats are of identical construction.
8. Sunscreen device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each slat comprises a multiple arrangement of identical slat segments.