EP0670409A1

EP0670409A1 - Improved blind roller tape casing

Info

Publication number: EP0670409A1
Application number: EP94500169A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Francis Guillen Chico
Original assignee: Forjas del Vinalopo SL
Current assignee: Forjas del Vinalopo SL
Priority date: 1994-03-03
Filing date: 1994-10-28
Publication date: 1995-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-28
Also published as: GR3025107T3; DE69404625T2; DE69404625D1; EP0670409B1; ES2112103B1; ES2112103A1; ATE156233T1

Abstract

It is formed by four large elements, two identical side caps (1), a front wall element (3) and a U-shaped central element (2) with a double bend, incorporating the cord openings (4), while the central element (2) is articulated on a triangular prismatic shape of the caps (1), in order to enable it to bend sidewards with respect of an inner cylinder (6) incorporating flanges and spring which passes through the front element.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention which is the object of this report refers to a blind roller tape casing characterized because it is formed by four strong outer elements, of which both side elements are exchangeable, the central element has a "U" shape with a double bending and the front element is fixed to the wall. The remaining three elements are fixed to this latter and turn around it after both side elements have been bolted.
It is also characterized by a remarkable reduction in the number of internal elements, that have been limited to the braking lever and the guiding socket of the tape, apart from the necessary means to fix the front element to the wall and to articulate it.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, these casings have a truncoprismatical rectangular shape, with rear symmetrical recesses which can be identical or not, and with slightly rounded edges.
The usual design of the casings traditionally optimizes the volume occupied by the tape, by scarfing or rounding the free edges. The side element close to the wall is no bevelled due to the fact that it is generally used to incorporate inside it the tape roller itself and the inner braking device of the blind roller tape.
There are solutions available in the market to fix the side elements of the casings, which take advantage of the previously mentioned scarfs of the bottom of the casing, which usually incorporate a series of fixing flanges made as an extension of one of the bigger sides of the casing, forming a plate which occupies a part of the space available, with an even or uneven trapezoid shape the larger base of which is resting on the bevel edge.
It has been noticed that this solution does not allow a permanent fixing when the blind roller is handled in an undue way, for example, when the user subjects the tape to sudden impacts.
Indeed, in these cases, the impact provoked by the sudden fall, as well as in those cases where the user does not manipulate the blind roller orthogonally, provokes a side shock in the fixing point which makes it to fly off since this fixing only affects to the opposite inner ends, represented by the flanges.
The applicant has different models presenting diverse solutions aimed to solve this problem and, specifically, in the case of absorption of side efforts and sudden impacts, a recent application named: "Brake Casing for the incorporation of a driving clutch system for roller blind systems" that can absorb sudden impacts of 80 kg and more.
This solution incorporates the barking element of the tape on a U-shaped profile the flanges of which are opened by the impact. This enables that, after slightly opening both halves of the casing body they can be closed manually again, and they are not broken as it was the case before.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The casing claimed in this invention does not incorporate the customary layout of two elements symmetrical to the short front side, but incorporates four large elements: two of them are lateral elements corresponding to the larger faces of the casing, and the two remaining elements are a U-shaped central body and a wall front with a rectangular prismatic uneven shape. Any of the larger faces of the casing can be located rightwards or leftwards, by simply turning it 180°.
The "U" formed by the central body is double bent so that their ends form another U-shaped section, obviously of a greater size. At the free ends and the inner part of the initial U, and to the beginning of the flanges, a notch has been made, with a rectangular section at each end.
It is also characterized by a notable reduction of the inner elements, that have been limited to the braking lever and the guiding socket of the tape, as far as the conventional section of the casing is concerned.
However, in order to reduce the number of minor elements, it has been necessary to reinforce the structure of the four large plastic elements that form it, to make thicker the cylindrical guiding pivots that support the sliding of the socket and the braking lever and incorporate large teats to the casing body, which are located at the free ends of the large "U".
The front section of the casing is independently articulated on the front ends of the faces or larger side elements of it. These have a prismatic shape with a triangular section, to enable the side bending of the casing when it is not used.
For this purpose, they turn around a side fixing structure located at the base or at the inner face of the prism, which passes through the body of the fourth large outer element of the casing, fixed to the wall and with the shape of a semi-cylinder at the opposite end. Its axis correspond to the bending axis.
For this purpose, inside the body formed by the side faces of the casing, a series of deep grooves have been located where a cylindrical body with opposite side flanges slides. The flanges are introduced inside these grooves of each face.
One of the ends of the cylinder passes through the upper and lower sides of the body of the front element of the casing, while at the other end there is another cylindrical casing which incorporates a shaft and a conventional spring at one of the ends.
Both elements protrude towards the inner part of the casing, and are opposed to another set of similar elements after the spring braking at an angular protrusion of the inner face of the triangular prism of the face, which is pierced by its inner shaft, which is the one housed inside the hollow external cylinder. Therefore, it can travel longitudinally.
These small elements complete the articulation of the front element with respect to the remaining three elements of the casing, and define the bending axis.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement this description and in an effort to better understand the main characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to this descriptive report forming an integral part of it and where, as an illustration and without limitation, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of the assembled casing, incorporating the articulation and bending means, showing schematically through a dotted line the theoretical displacement of the rolled tape or when this latter is prepared to the imminent braking.
Figure 2 shows a cross section of the casing, with the opposed central teats to fix and turn the rolling means of the tape, which is normally performed by means of a rolling spring.
Figure 3 shows another cross section representing the notch through which the tape passes, the layout of the caps formed at one of its ends to bend it over the fourth element of the casing, which fixes it to the masonry element.

PREFERRED EXECUTION OF THE INVENTION

In the light of the above mentioned figures, it can be seen how the invention claimed consists of a casing formed by four large elements, two identical side caps (1) a central U-shaped body (2) and a wall front element (3).
The U of the central body (2), which is double bent, presents at the free ends and within its section a series of rectangular notches (4).
The front body (3) is independently articulated on the basis of a series of prismatic ends (5) with triangular section of the caps (1) to enable the side bending of the casing when it is not used, by turning around a cylinder incorporating a series of fixed flanges (6) fixed on a series of deep grooves (7) which are introduced inside the cap notches.
One of the ends of the cylinder (6) passes through the front body (3) of the casing, while the other end incorporates a housing with a shaft (8) and an outer spring (9) protruding from the inner part of the casing, and opposed to another similar device after the spring braking on an angular protrusion (10) of the inner face of the triangular prims of the cap (1). Thus, the shaft (8) may travel free longitudinally, therefore defining the bending axis.
The turning section of the casing body is detached from the wall fixings by pressing both ends of the opposite flanged cylinders (6).
The braking lever of the tape (11), which turns around the opposite cylindrical teats of each cap incorporates a curved convex flange supported by a wide area of the guiding socket (12) made of bronze. The lever is very thick and the other flange ends in a hammer shape which covers almost completely the width of the notch (4).
The above mentioned facility to disassemble the front body of the casing from the fixing front element anchored to the masonry, and the exchangeability of both identical side elements enables not only to change the blind roller tapes easily, but also the side elements themselves, in this latter case for the purpose of decorating the rooms where the casings are located. These operations can be easily performed by the user.
These operations are facilitated by the configuration of the ends of the cylinder (6) guided inside the body of the wall front (3) and which incorporates a series of retention means to prevent its spontaneous fly off during normal operation or side bending.
It is not the intention to describe further this invention since any expert on the subject will be able to understand it easily on the basis of the information provided to appreciate the scope of this invention and its advantages and to reproduce it.
It is understood that, provided that the essentials of this invention are not altered, any variations in the materials or in the shape, size and layout of the elements can be introduced.
The terms used in this description as well as their meaning should always be considered as non-limitative.

Claims

Improved blind roller tape casing, of the type incorporating an inner central helicoidal spring, essentially characterized because the casing is formed by four large elements, two side caps (1) identical and complementary, a wall front (3) and a central U-shaped body (2) with a double bending, presenting at its free ends and inside it a series of rectangular-section notches (4), while the central body (3) is independently articulated on the basis of a series of prismatic ends (5) with triangular section of the caps (1) to enable the side bending of the casing when it is not used, by turning around a cylinder incorporating a series of flanges (6).
Improved blind roller tape casing, according to the previous claim, characterized because the flanges of the cylinder (6) are fixed on a series of deep grooves (7) located inside of each cap (1), wile one of the ends of the cylinder (6) protrudes through the front body (3) of the casing, while the other end incorporates the housing, incorporating a shaft (8) and an outer spring (9) protruding from the inner part of the casing, and opposed to another similar device after the spring braking on an angular protrusion (10) of the inner face of the triangular prims of the cap (1). Thus, the shaft (8) may travel free longitudinally, therefore defining the bending axis. Furthermore, the turning section of the casing body is detached from the wall fixings by pressing both ends of the opposite flanged cylinders (6).
Improved blind roller tape casing, according to the previous claims, characterized because it incorporates a strong braking lever of the tape (11), which turns around the opposite conventional means located at each cap and which incorporates a curved convex flange supported by a wide area of the guiding socket (12). The other flange ends in a hammer shape which covers almost completely the width of the notch (4).
Improved blind roller tape casing.