EP0669445B1 - Slat for a screen closure and furniture with such a screen - Google Patents

Abstract

The shutter consists of a series of linked vanes travelling in slideways, each vane (1) having a polygonal cross-section with two main walls (10,11) forming the outer and inner surfaces of the shutter, and two transverse walls (13,14) for connecting the vanes to one another. Each vane has a male coupling element (2) along one side and a female one (3) along the other. The shutter vane is made by coextrusion of two different plastic materials; a more valuable plastics for the portion of the shutter which is visible when closed, and another of a more economical, e.g. recycled, plastics for the remainder of the vane.

Description

The invention relates to profiled plastic blades for curtain closure for furniture. She also relates to furniture including such curtains.

As described in document EP-A-0 558 390, the profiled blades for curtain closure for furniture usually have a blade body of polygonal cross section comprising on its sides of male and female connection and articulation means respectively, ensuring a connection of each blade with its neighbors so that the blades can have a relative movement of rotation with respect to other.

The blade body can be provided in several modules each of polygonal cross section connected by hinges for example in flexible plastic.

When making a curtain, the blades are connected to each other by the connecting means and of articulation. This curtain is arranged at its two ends in slides fixed around the opening to be closed. When opening, we slide the curtain in the slides configured to cause the curtain to rotate backwards and ensure its storage out of the opening.

It is known to produce blades of the type considered by plastic extrusion.

We usually use a plastic material colored so as to offer curtains of different shades and to allow matching shades to those of furniture or other pieces of furniture.

Until then, the rigid part of the blades for curtain closure for furniture is made by extrusion of a single plastic material. The rigid part blades is therefore of a single color in all its mass. The plastic chosen must be of good quality quality to give a beautiful finish to the curtain, which leads to significant raw material costs.

This finish requirement is indeed decisive for furniture, especially as the client or the user can see or examine them while at proximity.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the range of colors, in terms of furniture is the most wide possible. Which is a source of complication.

We know documents DE-A-41 01 727 and DE-A-30 44 949 curtain blades for pool coverings formed by coextrusion of two materials, the part exposed to the outside being of a high material resistance to light. But the problem of colors and costs does not arise in such cases. The blades considered by these two documents have, due to the coextrusion implemented, a particular structure unsuitable in the case of application to furniture.

The present invention is specially intended for furniture type curtain blades. She aims therefore to overcome the drawbacks relating to the blades of curtains of this type.

To this end, the invention provides a profiled blade for furniture curtain closure according to claim 1.

According to other characteristics, the part of the blade made with the first plastic material is substantially consisting of the visible main wall and the adjacent primers of the transverse walls.

The part of the blade made with the first plastic material includes the visible main wall and the adjoining parts visible in the closed state.

The first plastic material constitutes the thickness of the visible part of the blade in position closed.

The first plastic material is of noble material and the second plastic material is economic material, including recovery.

According to one embodiment, the attachment means male comprises a cylinder rigidly connected to a wall transverse substantially to the edge of the wall main, by a curved arm extending the wall, a step separating it, a bracket adjoining the arm opposite the step, a semi-annular free space existing between the cylinder and the wall as well as the arm; the female attachment means comprises a sector of open cylinder of shape substantially complementary to that of the semi-annular free space; Wall main not visible, the setback, the arm and at least the primer of the transverse wall being made at least for their face up facing outward in the first noble plastic material.

In this embodiment at least the wall main not visible, the transverse wall, the stem, the cylinder, a substantial part of the transverse wall, and the open cylinder sector of the female means are realized in the second economical plastic material, in particular of recovery.

In another embodiment, the blade comprises one or more modules each of cross section transverse trapezoidal and one or more bands of connection of two neighboring modules; the means of attachment male include a cylinder connected to a transverse wall by a connecting strip; female attachment means include a cylinder; the main wall (s) being made of noble material, as well as at least the primers of the walls transverse while the rest of the blade is made in an economical material, especially recycled.

Using two different materials for the manufacturing the blades, we can reduce costs by reserving a noble raw material giving a beautiful appearance for visible parts and plastic economical for all other parties, including attachment means.

Advantageously and ecologically, we choose plastic recovery materials economical plastic, which further reduces costs and to reuse scrap material.

The invention also relates to a piece of furniture comprising a opening with a movable curtain, formed by the blades assembled together, the blades are found in the opening being in the closed position and those located outside the opening and invisible in open or closed position.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe transversale d'une première forme de lame selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe transversale d'une deuxième forme de lame selon l'invention,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe transversale d'une troisième forme de lame selon l'invention,
• la figure 4 est une vue frontale, en élévation, schématique d'un meuble comportant un rideau selon l'invention représenté fermé sur la demie-vue gauche et ouvert sur la demie-vue droite,
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique en coupe par un plan vertical selon la ligne V-V de la figure 4 illustrant le meuble et le rideau dont il est pourvu,
• la figure 6 et la figure 7 représentent deux lames adjacentes, en section droite transversale, respectivement en position dite fermée et dite ouverte.

The invention will be better understood from the description which follows, given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first form of blade according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second form of blade according to the invention,
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a third form of blade according to the invention,
• FIG. 4 is a schematic front view in elevation of a piece of furniture comprising a curtain according to the invention shown closed on the left half-view and open on the right half-view,
• FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view in section through a vertical plane along the line VV of FIG. 4 illustrating the piece of furniture and the curtain with which it is provided,
• Figure 6 and Figure 7 show two adjacent blades, in cross section, respectively in the so-called closed and said open position.

The blade shown in section in Figure 1 is formed of a module 1, hollow, of cross section generally polygonal or pseudo polygonal comprising two main walls 10, 11 connected in part and on the other by two transverse walls 13, 14.

The wall 10 defines, with regard to its face outside the visible part of the blade when it is incorporated in a curtain 50 of slats. The wall 10 is substantially flat. The wall 11, substantially parallel to and separated from the wall 10, present in the embodiment shown an inwardly facing convex profile of module 1.

The transverse walls 13, 14 also form those of the blade. They also have a profile general with convexity turned towards the interior of module 1.

Each of the transverse walls 14, 13 of the blade, and therefore of module 1, includes next to its part median attachment means, male 2 and female 3.

The male attachment means 2 comprises a cylinder closed axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of module 1 (i.e. perpendicular to the drawing plane). This closed cylinder 2 is mechanically and rigidly connected to the transverse wall 14, substantially towards the edge of the main wall 10, by a recess 23a, short, directed towards the wall 11 and substantially perpendicular to the wall 10. The cylinder 2 is also connected by an arm 23 which is directed towards the outside of module 1 according to a general direction substantially parallel to the wall 10. This arm 23 is curved with a concavity turned towards the side of the wall 11 and is located in extension of the wall 14, the recess 23a separating them. Finally, cylinder 2 is connected by a bracket 24 adjoining the arm 23, opposite 23a. The stem 24 is directed towards the angle of the transverse wall 14 and of the wall 11 as well as towards the axis of cylinder 2.

The wall 14, like the arm 23, are curved around the axis of cylinder 2 which is coaxial to them. Of plus, there is between cylinder 2 and wall 14 as well that arm 23 a closed semi-annular free space of a side by the bracket 24 and open on the opposite side.

The female attachment means 3 comprises a sector of open cylinder, of shape substantially complementary to that of the semi-annular free space surrounding the cylinder 2. Part of the cylinder area is formed by a portion 25 of the wall 13. The opening of the cylinder 3 is directed towards the extension of the wall 10.

In addition, the cylinder 3 is connected to the wall transverse 13, towards the edge of the wall 1C, first place by a first section 27a of the wall 13, of form complementary to that of arm 23 and in the same direction. And, secondly, by a second section 28a, adjoining the first section 27a and of form complementary to that of the gallows 24 and according to the same direction. The second section 28a adjoins the portion 25 of the wall 13. This portion 25 is connected to the main wall 11 by a third section 25 of the wall 13, which is inclined on the wall 11 to form with it an obtuse angle. The third section 26 is therefore directed substantially towards the axis of cylinder 3.

It will be observed that the male attachment means and female 2, 3 are of a type such that two neighboring blades assembled to each other by these attachment means cooperating with each other can pivot relatively relative to each other around the common axis of attachment means 2, 3 without possibility of sliding relative to each other along an axis orthogonal to the common axis of the fastening means 2, 3.

Two neighboring blades can be found one by relative to each other in two extreme positions.

In the so-called closed position of the blades (Figure 6), two neighboring blades have their two coplanar walls 10 and adjacent. The visible part of the blades is then formed by the main walls 10 and, more particularly, their outer faces. The visible part also includes the edges of the walls 13, 14 immediately adjacent to the walls 10. This position of the blades corresponds in particular to the closed state of the curtain or the curtain portion in the state closed.

In the so-called open position of the blades (Figure 7), two neighboring blades have their two inclined walls 10 one in relation to the other. This position corresponds to the or the rolled up portions of the curtain.

The rolled up portions of the curtain so the slats are, in the furniture produced, invisible or almost invisible.

The blades described are intended to be assembled by cooperation of the male and female means 2, 3 to form a movable curtain 50. This curtain presents the blades with their horizontal longitudinal axis (case) or vertical (not shown). The curtain 50 is intended for close the opening 51 of the cabinet 52. For this purpose, it is provided slides 53. These slides 53 define a part, in the opening 51, where the blades provide the closed and are in the closed position. A 54 elbow slides is hidden by a part 55 of the cabinet. The slides 53 also have a hidden part located under part 55 located near a roller winding 56. On the elbow 54 and the roller 56, the blades are in the open position. But then they are invisible.

The wall 10, and possibly the arm 23, is (are) made of a first material, while the rest of the blade, including the hooking means 2, 3, is made of another material.

In addition, there may be a slight overflow said first material beyond the visible part to closed state to avoid any visible demarcation of two materials.

We can thus reserve a noble material for the visible part of the blade in the closed position, at which it is necessary to give a high quality finish. This part can be of the desired color.

The rest of the blade remains invisible, including in the piece of furniture produced is made of less noble material, therefore more economical. This part can be, if necessary, of a neutral color.

In order to respect the environment, we can use for the rest of the plastics blade of recovery.

The two materials respectively constituting the visible part and the non-visible part of the blade are coextruded in a die to make the blade in one single operation.

In the drawing, the two materials are separated by broken lines 4, 5, 6 located as shown.

The noble material is used to make the visible main wall throughout its thickness.

Figure 2 shows a blade with two modules la, 1b, each of cross section trapezoidal or pseudo-trapezoidal and of dimensions substantially identical general.

Each of these modules 1a, 1b comprises two walls main 10, 11 substantially planar, forming respectively the large base and the small base of the trapezoidal section.

These main walls 10, 11 are limited by two transverse walls 13a, 13b and 14a, 14b which are each formed of two sections, namely a first section, short, adjoining and substantially perpendicular to the large base 10, and a second, longer section, adjoining the first and small base 11 while forming with it an obtuse angle.

At the junction between the first and the second sections, the transverse walls 13a and 13b of modules 1a and 1b include a groove 12a, 12b intended to receive a rib 15a, 15b projecting in shape located at the junction between the first and second sections of the transverse walls 14a and 14b.

The modules 1a, 1b are connected by their walls transverse, respectively 14a, 13b, by a strip of flexible and inextensible link 41 connecting the formed angles by the transverse wall 14a and the small base 11 of the module 1a on the one hand, and the transverse wall 13b and the small base 11 of module 1b on the other hand.

The strip 41 is of length substantially equal to the difference between the length of the large base 10 and that of the small base 11 of the module 1a, 1b, corresponding to the spacing between the walls 13b, 14a ..

In addition, in the closed position of the blades, the large bases 10 of the two modules 1a, 1b are supported one against the other by one of their edges due to a part, of the particular shape of the transverse walls 14a and 13b and on the other hand, the embedding of the ribs 15a and groove 12b of the walls 14a and 13b.

The walls 13a and 14b of the opposite modules 1a and 1b to the walls 14a and 13b connected by the strip 41, correspond to the transverse walls of the blade 1. From plus, the walls 10 of modules 1a, 1b are the visible part of the blade in the furniture.

Each of the transverse walls 13a, 14b of the blade has a hooking means, respectively female 32 and male 22.

The male attachment means 22 comprises at least one portion of cylinder with axis parallel to the axis of module 1b, that is to say perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. This portion of cylinder 22 is connected to the transverse wall 14b at the corner of the small base 11 of module 1b by a flexible and inextensible connecting strip 42 extending the small base 11.

The female attachment means 32 comprises a open cylinder, of shape substantially complementary to that of the cylinder portion 22, and the opening of which is directed in the corner of the small base 11 of module 1b and of the transverse wall 13a. This opening is tilted compared to the small base 11.

As indicated by the broken lines 7 and 8 to Figure 2, the blade is made of using two different plastics, one noble for the visible part and the other less noble and / or different color for the non visible part. And this in reference to the blade in the closed position.

In the case of Figure 2, in the closed position blades, the visible part corresponds to the two walls main 10, that is to say at the two major bases, two adjacent modules 1a, 1b.

We can also foresee a slight overflow of the noble material on the transverse walls 13a, 14a and 13b, 14b from the two modules 1a, 1b to the grooves 12a, 12b included.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention formed of a blade comprising a single module 1c of cross section substantially identical to that modules 1a, 1b of FIG. 2.

On its transverse walls 13c, 14c, which correspond to those of blade 1, this module 1c comprises respectively a groove 12 and a hooking means female 32; and a rib 15 and a male fastening means 22. The groove 12 and rib 15 are of shapes complementary and are located roughly the same places than for modules 1a, 1b in figure 2. There are is the same and respectively for the attachment means female 32 and male 22.

The broken lines 9 and 19 indicate the separations between the two coextruded plastics.

In the closed position of the blades, the part visible corresponds to the main wall 10.

Claims (7)

1. A profiled slat, for a curtain closure for a piece of furniture, of the type made from extruded plastics material, having at least one module (1) with a closed polygonal transverse cross-section, the said module having two main walls (10, 11) and two transverse walls (13, 13a, 13b, 14, 14a, 14b) with which there are associated attachment means, respectively male (2, 22) and female (3, 32), two male and female attachment means for two contiguous slats being able to cooperate with relative rotation with respect to the attachment means of a contiguous slat so that two contiguous slats can be situated in two extreme positions, respectively:

   a closed position of use in which, when the curtain or part of the curtain is in the closed state, only one (10) of their main walls, referred to as the visible wall, and the edges of the transverse walls (13, 14) immediately adjacent to the said main wall (10) are visible, the visible main wall (10) being adjacent to the corresponding visible main walls of the contiguous slats; and

   an open position of use in which the visible main wall (10) of the said slat is inclined with respect to the visible main wall of a contiguous slat, characterised in that the slat is produced by the coextrusion of two different plastics materials, the first plastics material concerns the entire thickness of the visible part of the slat in the closed position, namely the visible main wall (10) and at least the edges of the visible transverse wall in the closed position of use, and is opaque, whilst the second plastics material is made from a so-called economical material, notably a recovered material, and concerns the remainder of the slat.
2. A slat according to Claim 1, characterised in that the part of the slat produced with the first plastics material consists substantially of the visible main wall (10) and adjoining beginnings of the transverse walls (13, 13a, 13b, 14, 14a, 14b).
3. A slat according to either one of Clains 1 to 2, characterised in that the male attachment means (2) comprises a cylinder rigidly connected to a transverse wall (14) substantially towards the edge of the visible main wall (10) in the closed position of use, by a curved arm (23) extending the said transverse wall, a step (23a) separating the transverse wall (14) from the principal main wall (10) in the closed position of use, a bracket (24) being adjacent to the arm opposite to the step (23a), a semi-annular free space existing between the cylinder (2) and the transverse wall, as well as the arm (23); the female attachment means (3) comprising an open cylinder sector with a shape substantially complementary to that of the semi-annular free space; the step (23a), the arm (23) and at least the beginning of the transverse wall (13) being produced at least with regard to their visible face in the closed position of use from the first plastics material made from so-called noble material.
4. A slat according to Claim 3, characterised in that at least the non-visible main wall (11) in the open or closed position of use, the transverse wall (14), the bracket (24), the cylinder (2), a substantial part of the transverse wall (13), and the open cylinder sector of the female attachment means (3) are produced from the second plastics material in so-called economical material, notably recoverec material.
5. A slat according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it has one or more modules (1, 1a, 1b), each with a trapezoidal transverse cross-section, and one or more strips (41) connecting two adjacent modules (1a, 1b); the male attachment means comprising a cylinder (22) connected to a transverse wall by a connecting strip (42); the female attachment means comprising a cylinder (32); the visible main wall or walls (10) being produced from so-called noble material just like at least the beginnings of the transverse walls, whilst the remainder of the slat is produced from an economical material, notably recycled.
6. A curtain (50) for a piece of furniture, characterised in that it is formed by the assembly, by means of the cooperation of male (2) and female (3) attachment means, of slats according to any one of Claims 1 to 5.
7. A piece of furniture having an opening (51) and a movable curtain (50), according to Claim 6, the said opening being able to be closed by the said movable curtain (50).

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