EP0251962B1 - Device for the protection and/or decoration of openings in walls, windows or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Protective and/or decorative device (1) for openings (2) in walls, windows or the like, used in particular for protection from light, from insects, to protect one's privacy, or for aesthetic reasons, comprising at least : - a foldable or raisable screen (3), constituted by at least two retractable curtains (5, 6), having different functions, placed one after the other, - means (4) for folding up or rasing the screen (3) for each of the curtains, constituted by first means (11) for raising the first curtain (5) and second means (12) for raising the second curtain (6), characterized by the fact that the said curtains (5, 6) are each controlled separately and/or simultaneously by means of a common operating device (7) having at least two control systems (20, 21) : - the first A (20) acting on the said first means (11) for folding up or raising the said first curtain (5), - the second B (21) acting on the said second means (12) for folding up or raising the second curtain (6), - the said first (20) and second (21) control systems being independent of one another but nonetheless suitable for being combined to permit control of the folding up or raising the two curtains (5, 6) simultaneously in a single operation.

Description

The invention relates to a protection and / or decoration device for openings in walls, windows or the like.

It will in particular have a domestic or industrial use to protect against light, insects, or to protect privacy, or for aesthetic reasons. It will find its application in the construction of blinds, liftable curtains or the like.

Generally, to protect openings in walls, windows or the like, to protect against the sun, daylight and even against insects or to protect the privacy of the interior or even for purely aesthetic reasons, it is common to use all types of blinds, curtains, draperies or the like, retractable, in order, nevertheless, to be able to clear the said opening at certain times.

In the field of protection against light, it is common to use lifting devices such as blinds, Venetian blinds, or blinds with a flexible protective screen pleated advantageously in accordion. It should also be noted that these same types of devices are used to protect privacy.

On the other hand, with regard to protection against insects, it is common to use retractable rigid devices, generally called mosquito nets, which are constituted by a rigid frame adapted to the dimensions of the opening to be protected, inside which is stretched a flexible ventilated material letting diffuse the light but blocking the passage to the insects.

Finally, there are also known decorative devices whose functions are purely aesthetic. For example, these are curtains and / or draperies hung at their upper part on small carriages which slide inside a guide rail arranged horizontally above the opening to be protected. However, in certain cases, systems similar to those described above are used for protection, the screens used then being decorative and no longer functional.

If the user wishes to combine several functions, for example protection against light or protection against insects, protection against light or protection of privacy, protection against insects or decoration, etc., it is necessary to use several devices adapted to the desired functions, these devices being successively placed substantially parallel to each other facing the opening in question.

These systems currently give good results, however, they require the installation of two separate devices which increases the space occupied and indirectly the cost of protection and / or decoration.

In some cases, the installation of such devices in "parallel" is not possible because the space is too large or the mounting is unsightly. In addition, in certain constructions such as for example a transportable house, mobile home, caravan, boat, in addition to the concept of space occupied, there is a concept of cost price which should not be overlooked.

It is also known from the German document DE-A 2 934 122 a window protection device constituted by the combination of a blind with slats and a mosquito net. However, these two curtains are independent and are placed respectively one at the top of the opening and the other at the bottom of the opening.

As stated above, this German device requires the installation of two separate devices. In addition, no control device is proposed to authorize an advantageous order separately and / or simultaneously.

However, it is also known from American document US-A 2,646,144, a Venetian blind which has two curtains arranged one after the other, each of them comprising an automatic winding drum.

According to this technique, the operation of the curtain is done manually by action on the lower part of the latter. However, no common operating device is described there to enable the different functions to be controlled each separately and / or simultaneously.

The object of the present invention is to provide a protection and / or decoration device for openings in walls, windows or the like, in particular used to protect against light, insects, or protect privacy, or for reasons aesthetic, which overcomes these various drawbacks by proposing a multi-function device whose size remains similar to those of single function and whose cost can be lowered vis-à-vis a traditional "parallel" assembly .

One of the aims of the present invention is to provide a protection and / or decoration device for openings in walls, windows or the like, which allows in the same device to combine several functions for example: protection against light and / or insects, protection against light and / or protection of privacy, creation of two or more decorative patterns.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protection and / or decoration device for openings in walls, windows or the like, which, by means of a common operating device, makes it possible to control the different functions each separately and / or simultaneously.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protection and / or decoration device for openings in walls, windows or the like, which allows different intermediate positions, which allows the user for example to partially protect himself against light on a certain surface of the opening, the rest being able to be protected for example against the penetration of insects.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which follows, which is however given only for information, and which is not intended to limit it.

According to the present invention, the protection and / or decoration device for openings in walls, windows or the like, in particular used to protect against light, insects, or protect privacy, or for aesthetic reasons, comprising at least: a folding or lifting screen, constituted by at least two retractable curtains, of different functions, placed one after the other, means for folding or lifting the screen for each of the curtains, constituted by first means for lifting the first curtain and second means for lifting the second curtain, is characterized in that the said curtains are each controlled separately and / or simultaneously by means of a common operating device which has at least two control systems: the first A acting on the said first folding means or raising the first curtain, the second B acting on the said second folding or lifting means of the second curtain, the said first and second control systems being independent one from the other but nevertheless capable of being joined together to authorize the command to fold or lift the two curtains simultaneously by a single operation.

• La figure 1 représente un dispositif de protection et/ou de décoration selon la présente invention équipant une ouverture dans les murs.
• La figure 2 montre une vue en coupe du dispositif représenté à la figure 1 montrant le principe de fonctionnement du dit dispositif.
• La figure 3 représente en détail et en coupe les moyens de guidage et le dispositif de manoeuvre du dispositif de protection et/ou de décoration de la présente invention.
• La figure 4 représente une vue de côté du dispositif et plus précisément une vue en coupe selon les flèches IV-IV de la figure 1.
• Les figures 5a à 5d montrent différentes positions possibles du dispositif de protection et/ou de décoration multi-fonctions de la présente invention.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the following description accompanied by the accompanying drawings which form an integral part thereof.

• Figure 1 shows a protection and / or decoration device according to the present invention fitted with an opening in the walls.
• Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1 showing the operating principle of said device.
• FIG. 3 shows in detail and in section the guide means and the device for operating the protection and / or decoration device of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 represents a side view of the device and more precisely a sectional view according to the arrows IV-IV of FIG. 1.
• FIGS. 5a to 5d show different possible positions of the multi-function protection and / or decoration device of the present invention.

The invention relates to a protection and / or decoration device for openings in walls, windows or the like.

First of all, it should be noted that the designation openings in walls, windows or the like, is to be taken in the broad sense because they may be traditional masonry walls but it may also be a question of composite walls such as they are found in the construction of caravans, boats, transportable houses or others. In addition, although having been more specially developed to equip these transportable constructions, the protection and / or decoration device of the present invention can quite find its application in traditional housing or even have an industrial use.

Up to now, to protect or decorate such an opening and when several protection or decoration functions are required, there are as many "adapted" devices in front of the opening as there are desired functions.

In other words, to obtain the first function, a first protection and / or decoration device is provided in the plane of the opening or parallel to it, and to obtain the second function, a second suitable device is provided, placed parallel to the first, each of the devices having a control system authorizing the control of each device separately.

The device of the present invention makes it possible to escape this bulky and expensive traditional arrangement.

In fact, according to the present invention, and as the various figures show, the protection and / or decoration device 1 is placed in the opening 2 of the wall, windows or the like, or parallel to it, and comprises at least one folding or lifting screen 3 as well as means 4 for folding or lifting the screen 3.

According to the main characteristic of the present invention, the folding or lifting screen 3 is constituted by at least two retractable curtains 5, 6, of different functions, placed one after the other, each controlled separately and / or simultaneously by means of a common operating device 7. So we have a sort of "series" rather than "parallel" mounting.

According to different possible embodiments, the retractable curtains 5, 6 can be in the form of blinds or curtains, foldable, with slats, or with accordion strips. The latter type is illustrated in particular in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5.

Furthermore, the figures represent blinds or curtains placed on a vertical plane but whose folds of the deck are arranged horizontally.

However, the characteristics of the present invention could be transposed to blinds with slats or accordion strips, the folds of the apron of which are arranged vertically supported by a horizontal guide bar disposed above the opening in question.

The blinds or curtains can likewise be placed on a horizontal plane (roof sash, ceiling windows, skylights, etc.).

In the latter two cases, the blind no longer deploys under the action of the weight of ballast bars since these will move horizontally. To remedy this, there will be a system of return cables adapted to the existing operating device but of reverse function so as to move the ballast bars in one direction or the other. In other words, the operating device will act to fold the curtain (s) while the return cables will have the function of closing the curtain (s).

As mentioned above, the curtains 5, 6 are placed one after the other in the same plane which can either be confused with that of the opening or, offset and parallel to the latter. One of the ends 8 of the first curtain 5 is integral with said opening 2 to be protected and / or to be decorated, or at least fixed relative thereto. The other end 9, that is to say in the case of the figures, the lower end of the first curtain 5, will be made integral with the upper end 10 of the second curtain 6. We have so in a way a "series" rather than a "parallel" montage.

Furthermore, it should be noted that in the case of curtains with horizontal operation, the means 4 for folding or lifting will advantageously be of the rigid ballast bar type which will make it possible on the one hand to ballast the lower end of the curtains 5 and 6 and to authorize their lifting, either by bringing the slats closer in the case of a blind with ribbed slats, or by closing the folds of the curtains in the case of curtains with accordion strips.

Thus, the device 1 comprises first lifting means 11 of the first curtain 5, substantially constituted by a ballast bar made integral with the lower end 9 of the first curtain, and comprises second lifting means 12 of the second curtain 6, constituted substantially by a second ballast bar secured to the other end 13, called the lower end, of the second curtain 6.

According to the present invention, to place the curtains 5, 6 in "series" one after the other, the curtains are advantageously made integral as shown in Figure 4 on either side of the first bar ballasting and lifting 11.

Thus, by selective action on the first and second lifting means 11 and 12, considering these last two lowered, by raising the bar 11, the curtain 5 will be raised and the second curtain 6 will be unfolded, or then by raising the second bar 12, the curtains 5 and 6 will be raised simultaneously if the curtain 5 has not already been raised or only the curtain 6 if the curtain 5 has already been raised.

These different possibilities are illustrated in particular in FIGS. 5. FIG. 5a shows the two ballast bars 11 and 12 in the low position, in this case, the curtain 5 is unfolded and the curtain 6 is folded between the two bars 11 and 12. On therefore has the function of curtain 5.

FIG. 5b shows the second function of the device of the present invention, that is to say that of the curtain 6. In fact, the bar 11 is raised and the curtain 5 is folded between the bar 11 and the top of the opening 2. On the other hand, the bar 12 is in the low position and therefore the curtain 6 is unfolded between the bars 11 and 12.

Figure 5c shows an intermediate position among others that can take the two curtains 5 and 6 to combine their function. For example, the bar 12 is in the low position and the bar 11 in the intermediate position. Therefore, between the bar 11 and the top of the opening 2, the curtain 5 offers the first function while between the bar 12 in the low position and the bar 11 in the intermediate position, the curtain 6 allows a second function.

Finally, FIG. 5d shows the screen 3 of the device 1 completely raised and the two curtains are folded respectively between the top of the opening 2 and the bar 11 then between the bar 11 and the bar 12. Thus, the opening is completely free and is no longer subject to the effects of the protection and / or decoration device of the present invention.

By way of nonlimiting example, the device 1 of the present invention, in particular intended to equip windows of caravans or the like, comprises a first curtain 5 which is in the form of an opaque blind pleated in accordion arranged horizontally to allow mainly a protection against light, and / or the second curtain 6 is in the form of a tight mesh fabric pleated in an accordion horizontally to mainly allow protection against insects and / or a decorative effect.

Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the retractable curtains 5, 6 being arranged horizontally, the device 1 comprises lateral guide means constituted for example by slides 14, 15, in U-shaped profile, arranged in on both sides of the lateral sides of the curtains 5, 6, and in which the ends of the ballast and lifting bars 11, 12 slide, of the said curtains. These arrangements, particularly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, are made according to techniques known to those skilled in the art.

In addition, the lateral guide means comprise a rigid rod or a flexible guide cable 16, 17, disposed on each side at the level of the guide rails 14, 15 respectively. In this case, the retractable curtains 5, 6 and / or the ballast and lifting bars 11, 12 will have on the lateral sides a plurality of guide holes 18, 19 capable of being traversed so that the curtains and / or the bars slide around said rods.

• - relevage séparé du premier rideau 5 de première fonction, et par suite dépliage du deuxième rideau 6 de deuxième fonction,
• - relevage séparé du deuxième rideau 6, le premier rideau 5 ayant été préalablement relevé,
• - relevage simultané des deux rideaux 5 et 6 ensembles, le premier rideau 5 étant déplié alors que le deuxième 6 est replié,
• - relevage simultané des rideaux 5 et 6, ces deux derniers étant en une position intermédiaire,
• - descente du deuxième rideau 6 séparément, le premier rideau 5 restant en haut de l'ouverture 2,
• - descente du premier rideau 5 séparément, le deuxième rideau 6 ayant été préalablement abaissé,
• - descente simultanée des deux rideaux pour autoriser la fonction du premier rideau, le deuxième rideau 6 étant replié à la partie basse 9 du premier rideau 5,
• - descente simultanée des deux rideaux en autorisant une position intermédiaire première fonction- deuxième fonction.

According to another important characteristic of the present invention, the device 1 comprises a common operating device 7 which makes it possible to control the curtains 5, 6 each separately and / or simultaneously. In other words, it allows:

• - separate lifting of the first curtain 5 of first function, and consequently unfolding of the second curtain 6 of second function,
• - separate lifting of the second curtain 6, the first curtain 5 having been previously raised,
• - simultaneous lifting of the two curtains 5 and 6 together, the first curtain 5 being unfolded while the second 6 is folded,
• - simultaneous lifting of the curtains 5 and 6, the latter two being in an intermediate position,
• - descent of the second curtain 6 separately, the first curtain 5 remaining at the top of the opening 2,
• - lowering the first curtain 5 separately, the second curtain 6 having been lowered beforehand,
• - simultaneous descent of the two curtains to authorize the function of the first curtain, the second curtain 6 being folded back at the lower part 9 of the first curtain 5,
• - simultaneous descent of the two curtains, allowing an intermediate position for the first function - second function.

In this regard, the operating device 7 has at least two control systems 20, 21, independent of each other, the first, called A and identified 20, acting in particular on the said first folding or lifting means 11 of the first curtain 5, the second, known as 8 and marked 21, acting on the second folding or lifting means 12 of the second curtain 6.

In addition, said first and second control systems, respectively marked 20 and 21, are able to be combined to authorize the command to fold or lift the two curtains 5, 6 simul temporarily by a single operation as specified above.

According to the embodiment described so far, cited by way of nonlimiting example, the device 1 having two retractable curtains 5, 6, being in the form of protective blinds with slats or accordion strips, and / or protective and / or decorative curtains with accordion strips, said strips or strips being arranged horizontally relative to the opening. The control systems 20, 21 are essentially constituted by a set of cables, ropes, cords, ribbons, or the like, for lifting provided with operating handles.

More specifically, the first control system 20 comprises a set of lifting cables 22, integral with one side of said first ballast bar 11 of the first curtain 5 and having, on the other side, a first operating handle 23.

The second control system 21 is constructed in a similar manner and comprises a set of lifting cables 4, integral with one side of said second bar 12 of curtain 6, and having on the other side a second operating handle 25.

However, it should be noted that the second operating handle 25 is capable of guiding and allowing the said lifting cables 22 of the first control system 20 to slide freely, and that the length of the lifting cables 22, 24 of the said first and second control systems 20, 21 is such that when the two curtains 5, 6 are completely lowered, the first unfolded and the second folded back, the said first and second handles 23 and 25 are approximately in abutment against one another.

In the device shown, in particular in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the lifting cables 22, 24 of the said first and second control systems 20, 21 are arranged at the level of the guide rods 16, 17 and pass through the said guide holes 18, 19.

In addition, each set of cables 22 and 24 is constituted by a cable, rope, cord, ribbon or the like, hung on either side of the bars 11 and 12 at the level of said orifices 19. These cables are then stretched vertically along the guide bars 16, 17 then pass through a series of orifices 26, 27 and 28 to direct them towards the outside of the opening 29 then are then directed towards the operating handles 23, 25 and joined to them.

In this regard, the operating handles are in the form of tassels each traversed by at least one orifice 30 allowing the cables to pass through and to join them to the two tassels.

Furthermore, the second control gland 25 has an additional orifice 31 which allows the guide and free sliding of the lifting cables 22 of the first control system 20.

In addition, the length of the lifting cables 22 and 24 will be adjusted such that the first control system A 20 comes into abutment on the second control system B 21, substantially at the level of the upper part of the device 1 but not necessarily , when the screen 3 is completely lowered, that is to say that the ballast bar 12 is at the level of the lower part of the opening to be protected or to be decorated, that the ballast bar 11 of the first curtain 5 is in the low position and that the second curtain 5 is completely folded between the bars 11 and 12. This is notably shown in FIG. 1.

Thus, by operating the system B due to its abutment on the system A, the curtains 5 and 6 will be raised simultaneously.

Furthermore, although more specifically intended to operate in a horizontal position, one could completely envisage the device of the present invention with operation in a vertical position and obtain a foldable curtain system with several functions. The transposition will be within the reach of those skilled in the art.

Claims (9)

1. Protective and/or decorative device (1) for openings (2) in walls, windows or the like, used in particular for protection from light, from insects, to protect one's privacy, or for aesthetic reasons, comprising at least:

- a foldable or raisable screen (3), constituted by at least two retractable curtains (5, 6), having different functions, placed one after the other,

- means (4) for folding up or rasing the screen (3) for each of the curtains, constituted by first means (11) for raising the first curtain (5) and second means (12) for raising the second curtain (6), characterized by the fact that the said curtains

(5, 6) are each controlled separately and/or simultaneously by means of a common operating device (7) having at least two control systems (20, 21):

- the first A (20) acting on the said first means (11) for folding up or raising the said first curtain (5),

- the second B (21) acting on the said second means (12) for folding up or raising the second curtain (6),

- the said first (20) and second (21) control systems being independent of one another but nonetheless suitable for being combined to permit control of the folding up or raising the two curtains (5, 6) simultaneously in a single operation.

2. Protective and/or decorative device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the retractable curtains (5, 6) take the form of foldable blinds or curtains with slats or strips arranged concertina fashion, one of the ends (8) of the first curtain (5) being integral with the said opening (2) to be protected and/or decorated, the other end (9) of the first curtain (5) being integral, on one hand, with the first means (11) for raising the first curtain (5) and, on the other hand, with one of the ends (10) of the second curtain (6), the other end (13) of the second curtain (6) being at least integral with the second means (12) for raising the second curtain (6) and/or the two curtains (5, 6) as a whole.

3. Protective and/or decorative device according to claims 1 and 2 taken in conjunction, the retractable curtains (5, 6) taking the form of protective blinds with slats or strips arranged concertina fashion, and/or of protective and/or decorative curtains with slats or strips arranged concertina fashion, the said slats or strips being disposed horizontally in relation to the opening, characterized by the fact that the said first and second raising means (11, 12) each take the form of a rigid integral horizontal weighting bar placed at the lower end (9, 13) of each blind and/or curtain (5, 6), the upper end (10) of the second curtain (6) being integral with the first bar (11).

4. Protective and/or decorative device according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that:

- the first control system (20) comprises a set of raising cables, cords, ribbons or the like (22), integral at one end with the said first weighting bar (11) of the first curtain (5) and having at the other end a first operating handle (23),

- the second control system (21) comprises a set of raising cables, cords, ribbons or the like (24) integral at one end with the said second weighting bar (12) of the second curtain (6) and having at the other end a second operating handle (25), the said second handle (25) being suitable for guiding the said raising cables (22) of the first control system (20) and allowing them to run freely,

- the length of the raising cables (22, 24) of the said first and second control systems (20, 21) being such that, when the two weighting bars (11, 12) of the two curtains (5, 6) are completely lowered, the said first and second handles (23, 25) are approximately in abutment with one another.

5. Protective and/or decorative device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it has means for laterally guiding the retractable curtain or curtains (5, 6).

6. Protective and/or decorative device according to claim 5, the retractable curtains (5, 6) being arranged horizontally, characterized by the fact that the lateral guide means are constituted by slides (14, 15) having U sections, arranged on either side of the lateral ends of the curtains (5, 6), through which slide the ends of the weighting and raising bars (11, 12) of the said curtains (5, 6).

7. Protective and/or decorative device according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the lateral guide means comprise a rigid rod or a flexible guide cable (16, 17) arranged on either side in the region of the guide slides (14, 15), the retractable curtains (5, 6) and/or the weighting bars (11, 12) having on their lateral ends a plurality of guide orifices (18, 19) suitable for being passed through so that they slide about the said rods (16, 17).

8. Protective and/or decorative device according to claims 4 and 7, characterized by the fact that raising cables (22, 24) of the said first and second control systems (20, 21) are arranged in the region of the guide rods (16, 17) and pass through the said guide orifices (18, 19).

9. Protective and/or decorative device according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the said first curtain (5) takes the form of an opaque blind arranged horizontal concertina fashion primarily to permit a light excluding function and/or the said second curtain (6) takes the form of a close meshed fabric horizontally pleated concertina fashion primarily to permit protection from insects.

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