EP0081465A1 - Slat blind - Google Patents

Abstract

The strip curtain has a plurality of glide elements which are guided by a curtain rod and connected with each other by separation-limiting devices. The free hanging curtain strips are suspended from vertical pivot axes with limited excursion. Operation of the pivot axis is by a pinion which engages a bead chain that is slidably guided by the curtain rod. The pinion is connected to the pivot axis by a worm drive, a slip coupling being provided between the pinion and the worm drive. The bead chain serves as common drive for producing pivotal movement and sliding movement of the curtain strips. The strip curtain is of simple construction and therefore reliable in operation and inexpensive and suitable for mass production.

Description

The invention relates to a strip curtain of the type defined in claim 1.

Such a curtain is known from FR-PS 2,293,569, in which a toothed rack is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the curtain rail. The gearwheels connected to the swivel axes for the curtain strips each engage in the toothed rack, so that when the same is moved, the freely hanging curtain strips can be pivoted accordingly. A cable is provided to move the rack.

In order to be able to align the curtain strips parallel to one another, the carriers of the curtain strips are rotatably inserted into the hollow pivot axis, these carriers being rotated by the pivot axis due to the friction present. This storage of the curtain strips forms a slip clutch, which not only allows the curtain strips to be aligned, but also prevents damage if the curtain strips collide when the curtain is closed by pivoting the curtain strips into the curtain plane.

The main disadvantage of this known construction is that the curtain cannot be pushed open and closed.

In a further development of the generic strip curtain, a curtain system has become known from CH-PS 608.858, in which, in addition to the pivoting movement of the curtain strips, their displacement is also ensured, only one operating element being required for both movements.

Instead of the rack, a drive belt is provided that can be moved over the full length of the curtain. In order for the shifting movement to be initiated automatically after the curtain strips have been pivoted, it must be ensured that the gearwheels cannot rotate under certain friction conditions.

The stops arranged on the swivel axis, which strike the curtain rail, prevent the swivel axes from rotating in the stop position, so that the gearwheels held with the swivel axes are carried along by the drive belt, in which they constantly engage, with a displacement of the sliding elements for the curtain strips. If the sliding elements hit each other when the curtain is pulled up, or if the sliding elements are held in place when the curtain is pulled up by the spacing limiting element which connects the sliding elements to one another because they have already reached their end position, then the rotatability of the gear wheels on the swivel axes must be ensured in order to prevent damage avoid. The gears are consequently supported on the swivel axles via a slip clutch, the slip clutch being engaged in this way It must be ensured that the moment caused by the sliding resistance of the curtain is safely transmitted in order to ensure the sliding of the curtain.

The strip curtain according to CH-PS 608.858 is relatively strong and is particularly suitable for large systems that can also have curved curtain rails. Very high demands are placed on the accuracy of the drive belt, since even a slight flexibility leads to an uneven pivoting of the individual curtain strips. It has also been shown that the curtain strips can adjust in the event of strong air drafts or accidental contact, which is aesthetically unsatisfactory.

The object of the invention is now to create a strip curtain which is structurally less complex than the known strip curtain according to the Swiss patent specification and can therefore be produced more cheaply, but without reducing the quality standard. The principle of mono operation for moving and pivoting the strips should be adhered to. The before hang is said to be particularly suitable for mass production. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features defined in the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

The ball chain, which is cheap to manufacture, forms a non-slip actuating element that serves both for moving the strip package and for pivoting the individual strips. The gear meshing with the ball chain is no longer connected directly to the swivel axis, but via a worm drive. A reduction is achieved in this way, which compensates for the negative effect of a possible slight stretching of the cord of the ball chain. The worm drive blocks unintentional adjustment of the strips when touched.

zusammengeschlossen, wobei die Zahnräder entweder mit

vor oder dem rücklaufenden Abschnitt der in Eingrift stohen. So ist es möglich, die Gleitelemente um Kurven zu führen und in jeder Lage zu verdrehen. Auch die Montage des Streifenvorhanges an Dachschrägen ist ohne weiteres möglich.In an advantageous embodiment of the invention. is the flexible sphericity to an end this

joined together, the gears either with

before or the receding section of the stole in inscription. So it is possible to use the sliding elements to make curves and twist in any position. The strip curtain can also be easily installed on sloping ceilings.

The strip curtain has a simple design and is therefore reliable and inexpensive compared to the known solution. Combined with various assembly facilities, the strip curtain is particularly suitable for mass production.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht der durch die Abstandsbegrenzungsorgane miteinander verbundenen Gleitelemente eines Streifenvorhanges, wobei zur besseren Veranschaulichung die Vorhangschiene weggelassen ist,
• Fig. 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines einzelnen Gleitelementes gemäss Figur 1 in grösserem Massstab,
• Fig. 3 einen Querschnitt durch ein Vorhangprofil eines Streifenvorhanges,
• Fig. 4 einen Querschnitt durch die Vorhangschiene gemäss Figur 3 mit darin gelagertem Gleitelement gemäss Figur 2,
• Figur 5 eine Ansicht des Gleitelementes gemäss Figur 2, wobei zur besseren Veranschaulichung einzelne Linien des Gehäuses weggelassen sind,
• Figur 6 das Gleitelement gemäss den Figuren 2 und 5 in auseinandergezogener Darstellung,
• Fig. 7 + 8 eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Gleitelementes in Vollansicht (Figur 7) bzw. in Ansicht mit teilweise weggelassenen Linien (Figur 8),
• Fig. 9 - 12 schematische Seitenansichten verschiedener Kombinationsmöglichkeiten von Streifenvorhängen mit dem Monoantrieb,
• Fig. 13 eine schematische Draufsicht auf einen Streifenvorhang mit Bogenführung,
• Fig. 14 das Detail eines Schneckentriebes bei einem Gleitelement, welches durch ein Band angetrieben wird,
• Fig. 15 die Ansicht "A" auf den Schneckentrieb gemäss Figur 14,
• Fig. 16 die Ansicht "B" auf den Schneckentrieb gemäss Figur 14,
• Fig. 17 eine Vorhangprofilschiene für eine Bandführung,
• Fig. 18 eine Ansicht auf die Distanzplättchen zwischen den einzelnen Gleitelementen,
• Fig. 19 eine Draufsicht auf die Distanzplättchen gemäss Figur 18, und
• Fig. 20 die Kugeln der Kugelkette.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• 1 is a perspective view of the sliding elements of a strip curtain connected to one another by the distance limiting members, the curtain rail being omitted for better illustration,
• 2 shows a perspective view of an individual sliding element according to FIG. 1 on a larger scale,
• 3 shows a cross section through a curtain profile of a strip curtain,
• 4 shows a cross section through the curtain rail according to FIG. 3 with the sliding element according to FIG. 2 stored therein,
• FIG. 5 shows a view of the sliding element according to FIG. 2, individual lines of the housing being omitted for better illustration,
• 6 shows the sliding element according to FIGS. 2 and 5 in an exploded view,
• 7 + 8 a further embodiment of a sliding element in full view (FIG. 7) or in view with partially omitted lines (FIG. 8),
• 9-12 show schematic side views of different possible combinations of strips hang with the mono drive,
• 13 is a schematic plan view of a strip curtain with a bow guide,
• 14 shows the detail of a worm gear in a sliding element which is driven by a belt,
• 15 the view "A" on the worm drive according to FIG. 14,
• 16 shows the view "B" of the worm drive according to FIG. 14,
• 17 a curtain profile rail for a tape guide,
• 18 is a view of the spacer plates between the individual sliding elements,
• 19 is a plan view of the spacer plates according to Figure 18, and
• 20 the balls of the ball chain.

The strip curtain has a curtain rail 1 to be fastened to a ceiling or wall, in which sliding elements 2 are guided so as to be longitudinally displaceable. On the vertical pivot axis 3 of each sliding element 2, a curtain strip 4 is removably attached in a manner known per se. For this purpose, the upper end of the curtain strip 4 is provided with a hem 5, into which an elongate stiffening plate 6 is inserted. The plate 6 has a raised holder 7 in the middle with a recess 8 and with two projections 9 which cooperate with a corresponding cam 10 or a downwardly projecting rib 11 on the pivot axis 3 in order to snap the curtain strip 4 with the sliding element 2 connect.

So that the individual curtain strips 4 fall properly when assembled, weighting plates 13 are inserted into the lower seams 12. The curtain strips do not have to be connected to one another at the bottom, as is necessary, for example, with other vertical lamella arrangements. This is decoratively more advantageous and ensures free passage even when the curtain is closed. However, if such a connection is desired, it can be made easily.

Since the curtain strips can be snapped in and out in a simple manner, cleaning and repair are facilitated, and changing spatial design requirements can also be met by exchanging the strips. The strips can, for example, be made of plastic, textile materials or plexiglass.

According to FIGS. 3 and 4, the curtain rail 1 has an essentially square hollow profile made of light metal, in which there are two symmetrically opposite guide channels 14, 15 arranged in a vertical plane for a ball chain 39. The edges of the guide channels 14, 15 encompass the Balls of the ball chain 39 partially so that the latter cannot fall out of the channels. The balls 69 are seated fed up on the relatively low stretch cord. Conveniently, they have the profile shape of a gear toothing (Figure 20).

At the bottom, the curtain rail 1 is provided with a longitudinal slot 16 through which the pivot axes 3 of the sliding elements 2 project downwards. Furthermore, a plurality of longitudinal ribs 17, 18, 19 are present in the interior of the curtain rail for guiding the sliding elements 2.

Each sliding element 2 comprises a housing 20 in which a pivot part 21 is mounted. The curtain holder 48 is inserted into the hollow pivot axis 3 of the pivot part 21. The pivoting part 21 also carries a worm wheel 22 with vertical pins 23 which mesh with a worm 24. This sits freely rotatable on a horizontal dent 25 on which a gear 26 is attached. The curtain holder 48 and the pivoting part 21 could also be formed in one piece.

Between the gear 26 and the worm 24 there is a spring 27 under tension which transmits the torque from the gear 26 to the worm 24. When a certain torque is exceeded, which depends on the spring characteristic, the effect Spring as a slip clutch, and the gear 26 can rotate freely when the worm 24 is blocked.

The end positions of the worm gear 22, 24 are given by two wider pins 49 on the worm wheel. In the end position, one or the other end of the worm gear lies against the wider pins 49. A jamming in the end position is excluded.

The shaft end 28 with the gear 26 rests on the rib 19 of the curtain rail 1 after the sliding element has been installed. The worm 24 is provided with a circumferential groove 29 into which the edges of the opening 31 of the housing 20 penetrate, so as to form a bearing for the worm 24. The worm 24 is fixed on the shaft 25 by means of the spring washer 32. The end 33 of the shaft which is more distant from the gearwheel is held in a further lateral opening 34 in the housing wall 35.

The two openings 31, 34 are slit-shaped and open on one side, so that the shaft with the

Worm can be pushed into the housing can. Inside, the openings 31, 34 are somewhat expanded to form the actual bearings. The assembly is done by pushing the shaft or worm into the bearing and "latching". It is easy and time-saving.

The lateral housing walls 35, 36 are each provided with two parallel grooves 37 and 38, which run in the longitudinal direction of the curtain rail and are arranged one above the other and into which the two inner ribs 17, 18 of the curtain rail 1 are intended to penetrate. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the sliding element 2 can be pushed into the curtain rail in such a way that the ribs 17, 18 penetrate either into the lower housing groove 37 or into the upper housing groove 38, the gearwheel 26 with the lower section 52 in the first case , in the second case, combs with the upper section 53 of the ball chain 39.

In order to ensure reliable guidance in the curtain rail 1, the slide 20 is on the side of the housing Mente 2 two extension arms ₄₀ arranged, the ends provided with sliding surfaces 41 touch the inner wall of the curtain rail 1 and thus stabilize the sliding element 2. On the opposite side, the housing 20 carries at the top a block-shaped part 42, in which a leaf spring 43 is clamped, which resiliently abuts the adjacent inner wall of the curtain rail.

In addition to the stabilizing function, the spring 43 and the sliding surfaces 41 act as a brake for the sliding element. The spring 43 brakes the sliding element 2 in the curtain rail 1 only to such an extent that the pivoting movement of the strips 4 is also possible in an intermediate position of the sliding elements 2. The spring 43 brakes a little more than the friction of the gear 26 to the worm 24, which is generated by the spring 27. The two springs 43, 27 solve the problem of different friction in a simple and practical way.

The block 42 also has a slot 44 in which the end 45 of an elongated spacing plate 46 is anchored, the other end of one Cam 47 carries. When assembling the sliding elements 2, the free part of each spacer plate is inserted into the slot 44 of an adjacent sliding element 2. In each slot 44 there are therefore two plates 46, namely the one which is assigned to the own sliding element 2 and is firmly anchored, and the one which belongs to an adjacent sliding element 2 and can be displaced in the slot as far as possible.

The self-contained ball chain 39 is guided endlessly, the two sections ₅ 2, ₅ 3 always being in the same guide channels 14, 15. At one end of the curtain rail 1, the ball chain is placed around a deflection roller 55, and at the other end two deflection surfaces ₅ 6 are provided to form the actuation loop 54. The deflection points 55, 56 are arranged in a manner not shown in housings, which at the ends the curtain rail 1 are mounted. Instead of a loop, two deflection rollers could also be provided, which can be driven by a crank or by a motor, the drive being able to take place at one or the other end of the curtain rail. For higher loads you could also use both ends one motor each is attached.

The embodiment of the sliding element 2 'according to FIGS. 7 and 8 does not differ significantly from the first embodiment. The main difference lies in the worm gear 59, which is designed as a helical gear. Here, too, the stops are determined by the end positions of the worm gear. The sliding element 2 'is designed to be somewhat stronger than that according to FIGS. 2 and 4 and serves primarily as a tension element which is connected upstream of the other sliding elements 2, as shown in FIG.

In order to ensure clear, non-jammable end positions, the worm drive of the sliding elements can generally be configured as shown in FIGS. 14 to 16. The toothed collar 60 of the worm wheel sitting on the swivel axis 3 is toothed only in the working area 61, not toothed in the remaining area 62. The ends 63, 64 of the worm gear 65 of the worm 66 are stepped. In the end positions of the worm gear, the gear ends 63, 64 of the worm of from above or from below to the toothless area 62 of the worm wheel.

In this embodiment, the drive member is an endless belt 68 provided with recesses 67, which meshes with the gear 26. The curtain profile (FIG. 17) is equipped with corresponding guide grooves 14 ', 15' for the band 68.

In a further embodiment of the invention, instead of the brake springs 43 resting on the curtain profile, the spacer plates themselves can be provided with brake means. As can be seen from FIGS. 18 and 19, the end of each plate 46 is equipped with an inwardly protruding knob 68 which rests on the adjacent plate 46. When the sliding elements are pulled apart, the friction generated by the knobs and the elastic deformation of the plates effects the desired braking function. Here, too, the friction of the slip clutch 27 must be smaller than the friction of the knobs 70 in order to ensure the correct operation of the curtain.

The strip curtain described works as follows:

When the curtain is open, the curtain strips 4 are pulled aside to form a narrow package. If the operating loop 54 is now pulled to close the curtain, the forward and returning sections 52, 53 of the ball chain 39 move in opposite directions in their guide channels 14, 15 in the curtain rail 1. The section which engages with the gear wheels 26 the chain 39 first causes a pivoting of all axes 3 of the sliding elements 2. The pivoting movement is limited by the end positions of the worm drive.

When pulling on the loop, the strip package is now displaced by the ball chain 39 in the longitudinal direction of the curtain rail. After reaching the distance from the rail end given by the plate 46, the last sliding element remains, then the second last, etc., until the entire curtain is pulled apart and the first sliding element is present at the other end. As soon as a sliding element stops in its predetermined position, its gearwheel 26, which is in engagement with the ball chain, rotates freely as a result of the slip clutch.

When the curtain is drawn in, all curtain strips 4 are first pivoted in an analogous manner and then the sliding elements are shifted to the other side to form the package. It should be noted that, due to the spring brake 43, the elements can be pivoted at any time in any extended position of the curtain by correspondingly actuating the loop 54. Since each strip 4 can be controlled in any position, pivoting in a curved curve is also possible.

The use of the strip curtain is excluded neatly versatile and can be adapted to all window sizes and rooms, both as sun protection or for purely decorative purposes. Due to the interchangeability of the strips, special design effects can be achieved quickly and without any major changeover effort.

With the same mono drive, it is possible to construct one-part, multi-part and bent curtain systems, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 13.

FIG. 9 again shows a one-piece design, the curtain rail again being labeled 1, the curtain strips 4 and the drive 57.

In the two-part embodiment according to FIG. 10, the gear wheels 26 mesh on one side with the upper chain section 53 and on the other side with the lower chain section 52 of sliding elements against each other or from each other.

In Figure 11, three one-piece designs are connected to one another in series, again only a single ball chain being required for the drive. FIG. 12 shows a two-part design similar to that according to FIG. 10, but the two parts are asymmetrical, e.g. to cover windows of different widths.

FIG. 13 shows a curtain rail with a curved rail section 58. The drive 57 or the loop 54 can again be attached to one or the other end of the rail. The curtain rail could also be composed of several, arbitrarily curved rail sections, certain limits being set solely by the minimal radius of curvature.

Claims (15)

1.strip curtain with sliding elements which are guided in a curtain rail and connected to one another by distance-limiting members and which carry the freely hanging curtain strips on vertical swivel axes which can be rotated by a drive device, each drive device having a gear wheel which is connected to the respective swivel axis via a slip clutch, and wherein the gear meshes with a drive element which is displaceably guided in the curtain rail, characterized in that the drive element meshing with the gear (26) is a ball chain (39) or a belt (68), that the gear (26) is connected via a worm drive ( 22, 24, 59, 61, 66) in the swivel axis (3), and that the slip clutch is arranged between the gear (26) and the worm drive (22, 24, 59). 2. Curtain according to claim 1, characterized in that the worm (24) of the worm gear is freely rotatably mounted on the horizontal gear shaft (25) and engages in a worm wheel (22, 59) arranged on the pivot axis (25), and that Slipping clutch is a spring (27) clamped between the gear (26) and the worm (25) and seated on the shaft (25). 3. Curtain according to claim 1, characterized in that the stops of the pivot axis (3) through the end positions (63, 64) of the worm gear (22, 24, 59, 61, 66) are determined. 4. Curtain according to claim 1, characterized in that the ball chain (39) or the band (68) is connected to form an endless train, the forward and returning sections (52, 53) of which are each in an upper or lower guide ( 14, 15; 14 ', 15') are housed in the curtain rail, and that the sliding elements (2) so in of the curtain rail are inserted so that their gears (26) mesh with either the lower or the upper chain section (52 or 53). 5. Curtain according to claim 4, characterized in that the curtain rail has mutually opposite, inner longitudinal ribs (17, 19), and that each sliding element (2) is provided with two pairs of guide grooves (37, 38) arranged one above the other, optionally the lower or upper guide groove is pushed onto the ribs (17, 18). 6. Curtain according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding element (2) laterally has a leaf spring (43) pressed against an inner wall of the curtain rail (1), which acts as a friction brake. 7. Curtain according to claims 2 and 6, characterized in that the friction of the slip clutch (27) is smaller than the friction of the leaf spring (43). 8. Curtain according to claim 2, characterized in that the gear shaft (25) and the worm (24) can be latched into a housing (20) of their sliding element (2). 9. Curtain according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance limiting member is an elongated plate (46) with an anchor (45) and an end stop (47), wherein in each sliding element a plate (46) is fixedly mounted and its protruding part to slidably to a stop in a slot (44) of an adjacent sliding element (2). 10. Curtain according to claim 9, characterized in that each plate (46) is provided with at least one inwardly projecting, adjacent to the adjacent plate knobs ( ₇₀ ), the whole in such a way that a braking effect is generated when moving the plate (46) . 11. Curtain according to claims 2 and 10, characterized in that the friction of the slip clutch (27) is smaller than the friction of the knobs ( ₇ 0). 12. Curtain according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding elements consist of a reinforced rein element (2 ') and adjoining follow elements (2). 13. Curtain according to claim 1, characterized in that the ball chain (39) in addition to its function as a drive member also forms a handy actuating loop (54). 14. Curtain according to claim 1, characterized in that the balls (69) of the ball chain (39) have the profile shape of a gear toothing. 15. Curtain according to claim 3, characterized in that the worm wheel is toothed only in the working area (61), and that the ends (63, 64) of the worm gear (65) are stepped and in abutment against the toothless area (62) of the Worm wheel come to rest.

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