EP0797722B1

EP0797722B1 - Fly screen structure

Info

Publication number: EP0797722B1
Application number: EP95940407A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Denis Bettio; Loris Bettio
Original assignee: BETTIO Srl
Current assignee: Bettio Group Srl
Priority date: 1994-12-16
Filing date: 1995-12-11
Publication date: 1998-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2015-12-11
Also published as: IT1273922B; WO1996018796A3; WO1996018796A2; ZA9510656B; DE69503662T2; DK0797722T3; ES2121631T3; JPH11504402A; ATE168737T1; ITTV940139A0; EP0797722A2; DE69503662D1; ITTV940139A1; CN1175298A

Abstract

Improved fly screen structure, of the type offered to the public in an assembly kit, made essentially of a box-profile on the inside of which is previously inserted the winding roll of the net curtain and the corresponding recall spring preloaded; said box-profile providing, associated on one side, a type of plate placed for the engaging of the key of the charging pivot of the spring, on the other a disposable accessory made of a cross provided with means for the support of the other extremity of the roll and, by the interposition of spacers obtained longitudinally, of a handle bar, abreast and parallel along the box-profile to cut, characterized in that it provides at least one corresponding couple of battens fixable to the wall, each of which, in the sliding seat of the curtain edge, provides longitudinally at least one static and one dynamic brush, the last one with rigid and sparse bristles able to carry out a rotation in a sector preferably between 90 DEG and 180 DEG in respect to the wall batten anchorage of said brush.

Description

Technical Field

This invention has as object an improved fly screen structure (mosquito-net), of the type offered to the public in an assembly kit. The innovation finds particular even if not exclusive application in the sector of bricolage, regarding the (do-it-yourself) installation of an accessory for casings, which aim consists in protecting rooms from the entry of insects.

Background Art

In prior art different types of fly screen are known, as are sunscreens for rooms. Fly screens, can be subdivided substantially into two types, a first, considered as being the fly screen par excellence, is supplied to measure from the manufacturer exclusively to the installer. It is for this characteristic that it is generally of a quality decidedly higher than that found in others, which allows a reasonably good result. A second type of fly screen, to which the present invention refers, is actually present on the market in a decidedly more diffused manner. More in particular it uses the typical do-it-yourself concept, that even though adapting the known technology offers a product able to satisfy common needs but it obviously cannot be compared qualitatively with the made to measure solution types. In both the types cited, there are common constitutive elements, which substantiate in the box-profile, generally a profile in aluminium, inside which the winding roll of the net curtain joined to the corresponding preloaded recall spring is inserted coaxially. The ends of the box-profile, are then normally closed by suitable small plates and are supplied in two versions, either of the fixed or adjustable type. Naturally, variations are also known, all very similar to the described solution.

Some of these solutions use manual devices for the unwinding and vice versa of the relative curtain mosquito-net, others are motorized. As an example, rewinding devices of the first type provide, as a general rule, the preloading of a helical spring by twisting, whose unwinding force (resetting the shape) allows the rewinding onto a roll or shaft, of the curtain previously rolled. The shaft, as we have seen, is generally made up of a metallic tube, contained inside a structure associable to the fixture, the box-profile, which may be supplied in various sizes according to the needs of the installer, if of the made to measure type, or in standard version in the case of the kit. Finally, it is to be pointed out that between the two solutions, the kit is made to have differences on the frame, while the re-winding mechanism remains almost unaltered.

Italian patent N°1104369, discloses a winding tube, held in position by two pivots fixed to the frame which can be removed, said pivots having the shank that connects them to the frame, of a smaller diameter to that of the winding tube and remaining over the end of the same tube, on which said tube can rotate but not slide, the tube being of smaller length than the width of the net, and placed symmetrically so as to leave the net free at both ends, as well as a cylindrical spring, wound in a spiral manner, anchored with one end to one of the pivots that support the tube and having the other end anchored to a head inserted into the tube within which it can freely slide but not rotate.

Another solution, being Italian utility model N°204668 discloses a device for rewinding on a disappearing screening roll of doors and windows, which seems to be constituted from application on the inside of said roll of a couple, instead of one, of charging springs respectively one per side operating in contraposition, with the charging concept of the spring remaining unchanged.

Italian patent N°1234337 discloses heads of the profile and the threading means for the clamping of the extremities of the charging spring, as well as side box-profile closing means of the winding roll support.

A solution to the drawbacks of preceding disclosures is in providing a rewinding device particularly for mosquito-net screen, of the type comprising a box-profile fixable to support wall of a winding roll, as disclosed in the Italian Patent application N°TV91A000025; this solution discloses a mosquito-net structure formed by:

a tubular profile supported in correspondence of the extremities by a couple of heads of which at least one idle shaft on the relative integral supporting pivot to said box-profile;
a helical twisting spring placed coaxially to said tubular profile, in which while one end on one side engages to an internal support means to the profile free to slide longitudinally, the other engages integrally to a supporting core-pivot engaged to the box-profile constituting the preloading key;
a coaxial bar to said helical spring, on one side inserted in the support means, inside the profile, free to slide longitudinally, on the other being engaged in the supporting core-pivot engaged to the box-profile constituting the preloading key.

Traditionally in the packaging of the roller mosquito-net screen, the use of pre-assembled box-profiles defined in bars, having sizes that are standardised, gives the user the possibility to purchase a bar of desired size, measure the light on which they must intervene and finally cut the bar to the desired size to then proceed with the assembly. As far as regards the box-profile, being pre-assembled, the kit provides for the application on one side, at the head of the aluminium profile, of a plate in which the key of the winding pivot of the spring engages, while on the other it is preferable not to apply the pivot support plate, as the end will be destined to be discarded depending on the sizes of the opening to which the box-profile is to be applied. In the packaging, besides a small plate, the relative handle bar is supplied in addition and separately, as well as the accessories, amongst which may be included the gaskets to insert in the battens (side sliding net guides), and so on.

For this purpose, the European Patent Application EP-A-0 151 827 describes a support structure for every type of slidable curtain easily erectable on any window opening with a device associated to it for a rapid adjustment of the unwinding and the tension of said curtain. The characteristics cited, firstly provide a special hooking device applied on the side of the respective box-profile and which, consisting in an adjustable tooth, is made operative by the installer during the assembly phase. In practice the tooth engages a solid toothed wheel to a supporting pivot of the winding device inside the roll, determining in this way the best recall tension of the curtain according to the height of the window. Other teachings supplied by the above description, consist in providing a thickness in connection with a plate, to remove once the box-profile is installed, in order that between said plate and the roll there is sufficient distance for the free rolling movement of the same. Furthermore, other than a special hooking of the gripping cord, engaged inside each batten is a gasket of the brush type pressing the surface of the curtain against the wall opposite said batten. Finally, another characteristic that would have special importance, is given by the fact that the handle can be removed from the hooking bar of the curtain end, providing on both the elements to be coupled, a corresponding groove-and-tongue joint of the dovetail type.

However, drawbacks are also present in this umpteenth variation, and can be summarized in the difficulty of application and consequently in the working execution times. Additionally the device results very complex, as it is at present, inside the box-profile, the tension adjusting system of the curtain, involving particular processes and a substantial increase in the weight of the structure. Secondly, it is not possible to provide any valid solution that allows the optimal adaptation of the box-profile inside the opening concerned. A third, but not last drawback, comes from the fact that to anchor the so-called side guide battens of the handle bar and of the lateral edges of the curtain (net) to the wall, visible holes are provided in correspondence of the base to allow the introduction of the screws, which once applied can interfere along the edge with the sliding of said curtain (net), causing at least the wear. A summation of drawbacks that, other than being tied to the functionality, could determine an incorrect installation and therefore a bad functioning.

An improvement to a model of a mosquito-net screen reducible in size, particularly for do-it-yourself applications, concerns a box-profile and relative installation accessories, previously sizeable, which contains a curtain winding group, made up of:

a tubular profile supported in correspondence of the extremities by a couple of heads of which at least one idle shaft on the relative integral supporting means to said box-profile;
a helical twisting spring placed coaxially to said tubular profile, in which while one end on one side engages to an internal support means to the profile, free to slide longitudinally, the other engages integrally to a supporting core-pivot engaged to the box-profile constituting the preloading key;
a coaxial bar to said helical spring, on one side inserted in the support means, inside the profile, free to scroll longitudinally, on the other being sunken in the supporting core-pivot engaged to the box-profile constituting the preloading key;

and in which are provided:

registration means for the width of the box-profile with a head fitted to the latter, each one being constituted by a substantially box-shaped structure obtained monolithically, and comprising on the lower section a perpendicular wall anchorage tongue which is associated with an underlying and corresponding batten;
at least one batten obtained as an opposed double "C" shape, in which, between two opposite guides the vertical sliding seat of the curtain (net) edge is realized.

The guides provide longitudinal grooves for the engagement of gaskets, and realize a seat for the engagement of said tongue;

a profile also monolithic, comprising, along the upper edge, a groove obtained for the entire length anchoring the lower extremity of said curtain, and in which at least one side of said profile provides a longitudinal appendix as grip handle;
at least one closing means of an end of the box-profile and of support of the winding roll, applied on the opposite side to that of engagement of a spring charging key, said closure being provided all around the support of the winding roll, of a hollow containing the lateral extremities of a curtain so rolled.

Another accessory for fly screens of the type in an assembly kit, as in Italian Patent Application N°TV93A000004, concerns a disposable accessory formed by a cross provided with means for the support of the other end of the roll and of the handle bar being abreast externally along a side of said box-profile to be cut, to then be replaced by a dissociated plate for the support of the only roll engageable definitively to the new end of a made to measure box-profile so obtained.

A further mosquito-net screen actually available on the market, and mainly diffused abroad, is made only of a frame provided with protective fixed net. This solution differs from the preceding ones because it does not provide the rewinding of the curtain, which in this case remains constantly flat being firmly and uniformly engaged to said frame along the perimeter. However, apart from the characteristic of the product, it does not find wide approval on the market.

From this articulated panorama it is possible to summarize that:

the curtain, of the made to measure mosquito-net screen type is tensioned on both sides with buttons, engaged along the edges, and able to slide within the perpendicular battens (guides) that laterally define the opening to be closed;
in the mosquito-net screen (kit type), instead, the curtain (net) is not at all taut, as the corresponding edges are freely introduced along the lateral (side) battens, or alternatively is maintained taut by an adjustment complex device provided in the box-profile;
alternatively to the preceding solution, battens provided longitudinally with soft bristle brushes are known, opposite and fixed that also insist in correspondence of the net which, in a taut position, interposes (eg. DE,A,3405799). This function being without real efficiency, is practically secondary if compared to the real purpose of the small brushes. More particularly, they limit the friction of the extremities of the handle bar, so driven, facilitating the sliding and decreasing the noise.

The solutions mentioned above however, do not offer any guarantee in the hold of the net, above all in the kit versions, after which also owing to a slight pressure carried out on the surface of the same, as may be determined from the usual action of a gust of wind, the curtain could deform withdrawing from its position in the battens. Such deformation, determines temporary lateral openings, allowing the entry of annoying insects, making the presence of the mosquito-net screen useless.

Market needs have moved the attention of the operators of the sector towards this problem, proposing essentially two possibilities. A first provides the use of an ensemble of eccentric levers, in which one couple respectively over and under for each batten, which push on the curtain (net), pinching a minimum part. The drawbacks are obvious, on one side inconvenient, because it is necessary to intervene manually on said levers on every movement of the curtain, on the other because it causes a high wear and tear of the curtain in proximity to the pinched stitches, until it breaks. The third but not last aspect, a certain realizable complexity for the presence of numerous components.

A second solution of mosquito-net screen in kit form, actually present on the market, provides the use of battens commonly used in the made to measure solutions, from the different profile, and along which is introduced the edge of the curtain (net) provided with buttons associated in the installation phase. In this case, one resorts to the manual use along the edges of the net, of a kind of button, which concerns only a few stitches. Therefore creating zones of particular weakness, that besides determining sliding difficulty, can cause the break localised on the engagement areas of said buttons.

FR,A,2675194 (FRACE COMBI S.A.R.L.) October 1992, discloses a solution using a brush on one side of the fly-net and a groove on the opposite one.

FR,A,2675195 (FRACE COMBI S.A.R.L.) October 1992, better discloses the previous solution that provides a side net guide means (battens) having a fixed longitudinal brush acting as a dynamic brush, wherein at least some bristles of the brush penetrate into the mosquito net, the bristles of the brush being inclined and the engaged bristles being obliged to flex when the respective border net is pulled (eg. wind action) the extremities of the engaged bristles only acting as a block of the net, pushing it against an opposed groove realized by two standstills or rigid stoppers (fins).

This solution has a limited effectiveness because either the entire bristles of the brush are forcedly and continuously pushed against the net, resulting in a limited duration of the net and of the brush and hard to handle the net, or to avoid this drawback, only a limited number of bristles are angaged, but in this case an effective resistance to net escaping is not guaranteed.

Therefore these solutions do not solve the problem of obtaining a good performance of the apparatus, in particuclar because the fly-net is obliged to rub against the wall opposite to the brush, so the fly-net can be further obstructed by flies and even damaged by frequent up and down rubbing.

The aim of this invention is also that to avoid all the above-mentioned drawbacks for a mosquito net structure with the features mentioned in the introductory part of claim 1, which is described in DE-A-3 405 799.

This and other aims are reached with the present innovation by the characteristics of the characterising part of the included claim 1 solving the exposed problems. Advantageously the rotation of the dynamic brush is comprised in a sector included preferably between 90° and 180° in respect to the wall of batten anchorage of said brush.

In this way, through the notable creative contribution the effect of which realizes an immediate technical progress, different advantages are achieved. Firstly it allows, along the battens, to maintain constant the tension of the curtain (net), with a uniform lateral hold, carried out by the corresponding rotatable brushes, along the edges of same. Consequently the deformation is limited, also under the effect of pressures exercised with a particular force, preventing the respective edges to exit (escape) from the corresponding seats.

Another advantageous embodiment of the invention is described in dependent claim 3.

Finally, a mosquito-net screen apparatus of optimal quality and performance is obtained. Said results are reflected in a greater commodity, affordability and effectiveness of use.

These and other advantages appear further from the following specific embodiments with the help of the enclosed schematic drawings, the details of which are not to be considered limitative but only illustrative.

Figure 1, represents a sectional view of a batten (side guide net), along which brushes are engaged opposite of which, at least one rotatable.

Figure 2, represents a schematic application of said batten, in a sequence in which the curtain (net) appears in a stretched position.

Finally, Figure 3, represents a view still in section of said batten, but in which on the same curtain (net), a certain (wind) force (V) is applied, such to determine a deformation in the opposite direction. Also making reference to the figures, it is disclosed that a fly screen, particularly of the type prearranged in an assembly kit, provides at least two battens (A), to engage respectively one per side, along the walls of an opening to equip by the installation of the box-profile mosquito-net screen holder, in order to prevent the entry of insects into rooms. Each batten (A), seen in section, is of the type essentially formed as an opposed double "C". In this case the "C" slot, slightly deeper, comprises two sides, parallel and symmetric (1, 2), joined along one end by a base (3) that delimits the sliding seat of the edge of the net (4) and realizes on the opposite side a clamping means for the engagement to wall.

Along the side (2), a rectangular seat (5) is monolithically obtained, open on inside direction, able to contain a base parallelepiped flexible support of a static brush (6), said static brush being coaxially introduced, in which known soft bristles (6'), are sunken. Said static brush (6, 6') cannot move its base support (6), the bristles exit from the inner opening of the seat (5) in such a way to constantly and perpendicularly insist on the net (4).

A second seat (7), is obtained facing the side (2), at the inner end of or along the side (1), along which the dynamic type brush is freely rotatably engaged. In more detail, said dynamic brush, comprises a cylindrical core (8), introduced coaxially to said seat (7), with section essentially circular, and from which a series of bristles (8') protracts, of the soft and rigid type. The bristles exit from the asymmetric opening (7') made along the guide (7). In this case, the opening (7') concerns a sector comprised between 90° and 180°, preferably between 100° and 160°, in a way that in the net (4) engaging position all the bristles (8') are forced to direct perpendicularly in respect to the surface of the net (4), even before a pulling action they interfere slightly (Fig.3). In the opposite case, the position may be that illustrated in Figure 2, where the bristles (8'), being flattened, are laid on one side at the end of the stroke. To a force, exercised perpendicularly on the wide surface of the net (4), indicated for example with the arrow (V), an overstretching of the net (4) corresponds, determining simultaneously the recall of the edges (4') contained on the inside of the batten (A). Said recall towards the interior, imposes a progressive sinking of some of the rigid bristles (8') between the stitches of the edge (4') of the net (4), a penetration that will be as great as the intensity of the net edge displacement caused by the force exercised from (V). The recall of the net edge (4') towards the interior, once the bristles (8') have penetrated between the stitches, will cause the whole turning of the brush core (8) until placing all the bristles (8') and not only the ones previously enganged as in prior art, in a stop engaging position abutting against the opposed static flexible brush (Figure 3). The bristles (8'), as interpenetrated through the stitch of the net, and from which they exit, considering that they develop for the whole height of the batten (A), contrasting the exit of the edge (4') of the net (4) in an effective and uniform way, preventing the formation of openings that alter the protective function of the net (4), a soft stop is realized and net breakage is avoided because of the flexible abutting realised by the opposed static bristles of the brush against the rotatable dynamic brush bristles in a whole, not only in a part of them.

Claims

A mosquito-net structure, of the type offered to the public in an assembly kit, made essentially of a box-profile on the inside of which is previously inserted the winding roll of the mosquito-net and the corresponding recall spring preloaded; said box-profile providing, associated on one side, a type of plate placed for the engaging of the key of the charging pivot of the spring, on the other a disposable accessory made of a cross provided with means for the support of the other extremity of the roll and, by the interposition of spacers obtained longitudinally, of a handle bar, abreast and parallel along the box-profile to cut, wherein said mosquito-net structure has at least one corresponding couple of battens fixable to the wall, each of which, is the sliding seat of the mosquito-net edge, having longitudinally one dynamic brush, with rigid and sparse bristles, on one side of the respective fly-net (4) in order that during the pulling of the mosquito-net edge in an inside direction, the bristles of said dynamic brush pass through said mosquito-net in cooperation with an opposite stopper to stop the net to avoid escape of the net border, characterised in that :

said stopper is realized by a static brush (5,6,6') with respective bristles substantially orthogonal to said mosquito-net (4,4');

said dynamic brush (8') is free rotating (8, 7,7') from a full net-engaging position to a net-disengaging position.
A mosquito-net structure as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the core (8) of said dynamic rotatable brush (8') and its coupling seat, essentially circular, leave a bristle opening allowing a free rotation arc of the entire brush from 90° to 180° .
A mosquito-net screen structure as claimed in one of the previous claims, characterised in that said battens (A), are of the type essentially formed as an opposed double "C" profile, where the "C" slot, comprises two side parallel and symmetric opposed fins (1, 2), joined by a base (3) that delimits the sliding seat of the edge of the net (4), the opposite side of said base (3) realizing clamping means for the engagement to wall and wherein at the inner ends of said parallel and symmetric fins (1, 2) have the respective encasing "C" type grove of said brushes (5,7), one of them being semicircular in section (7,7') .