EP1045107B1 - Roller shutter with a roller supported by corner pieces - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a rolling shutter comprising a shaft winding of an apron held at its ends by fixing brackets capable of being added using fixing means, on angle supports provided with a connecting lug intended to extend and to be fixed in a lateral slide of the guide of said apron.

Such a rolling shutter is for example described in document EP-A 0 784 145.

The present invention relates to the field of roller shutters.

We already know many roller shutters meeting the above description, especially in the case where the entire winding mechanism of the deck of this rolling shutter is intended to take position in a box, not prefabricated, but masonry or carpenter type.

In particular, the procedure for installing a shutter rolling under these conditions consists in fixing, first of all, the lateral slides, as the case may be, on the masonry or on the external face of the uprights of a door-type joinery, window or the like, then report on the upper end of these lateral slides the support means of the shaft for winding the deck of this roller shutter.

In particular, such support means are often defined on the one hand, by a part called fixing bracket intended to cooperate, directly or through a mechanism drive, with one end of the winding shaft for maintain it. These support means comprise, on the other apart, a square support more particularly intended for guarantee the connection between the aforementioned fixing bracket and a side slide. Also, this angle support has a connecting lug intended to extend and to be fixed in a such side slide.

In this regard, several solutions have been used to make integral with this connecting tab of the slide. So, said connecting tab can be fitted with an elastic tongue intended to cooperate with an opening at the level of the wall defining the bottom of the slide to guarantee this relative immobility. In some cases it is still done, at said slide, a deformation likely to make them united. Ultimately, the most employed consists, quite simply, to spare in this paw of link an opening intended to be positioned on the right a corresponding opening in the wall defining the bottom of the slide, this in order to allow the passage of a screw fixation.

Insofar as the entry behind the scenes of the apron corresponding to the rolling shutter is carried out through tulips guide, these are very often mounted on the support square. As is already apparent from the description which precedes, it is generally advisable to report, in a first, the tulip on the square support even before come and insert the connecting tab of the latter in the slides. In some cases, the total insertion of this leg connecting in said slide again requires mounting, beforehand, square it on its support, this when the locking between these elements is ensured through the tulip.

Thus, within the framework of a known design implementing the aforementioned solution, the angle support has tabs hooking on which one comes to fit a wing, appropriate configuration, of said bracket. The set is, then, locked in position through a lug of lock precisely associated with the tulip and that one just engage, like a pin, in openings that we will have previously made to coincide, at the level of said support and of said square. As already indicated above, it is only at this moment when the connecting bracket bracket tab can be fully inserted into the slide to be immobilized there by an appropriate means.

Note, moreover, on this subject, that the installation of a screw fixing or having to print behind the scenes a deformation, are often difficult operations to lead, as far as accessibility at the end top of a slide is usually measured, in particular, due to the immediate proximity of the underside lintel fallout or the like.

It is also known to bring a square on its support, simply by fixing means of the screw-nut type.

In fact, as is apparent from the foregoing description, it so far, it is not possible to report a set square on its support without using a third part to lock their link.

However, this supposes that it is appropriate, in the process of laying this type of roller shutter, to report on the upper end side rails once these are fixed on the masonry or carpentry, on the one hand, the square support and, on the other hand, the square before coming to assemble, in situ, all parts of the shutter drive mechanism rolling, i.e. before coming to fix, in particular the ends of the winding shaft of the deck on said brackets, either directly or through a mechanism appropriate training.

If such a way of operating can be understood for shutters large wheelchairs insofar as the assembly successive parts makes it possible to limit the weight lifted by the operator, we will observe that it would be much easier, for smaller roller shutters, to be able to assembling the different parts at breast height or even in the workshop, rather than intervening in access conditions difficult with, for example, a reservation defined in the masonry for receiving this winding mechanism from the roller shutter.

Ultimately, the present invention is intended to provide a solution to this problem by allowing a operator to assemble, in anticipation, the entire mechanism of rolling up the apron of a rolling shutter and associating with ends of the winding shaft, fixing brackets, these being, then, able to come simply hang on brackets previously reported on the ends of the lateral guide slides of this flap rolling. Note that once this hanging operation has been carried out and therefore after he is relieved of the weight of the mechanism the roller shutter, the operator only has to lock items together with an action simple execution.

To this end, the invention relates to a rolling shutter comprising a winding shaft of an apron held at its ends by fixing brackets capable of being added using fixing means, on angle supports provided with a connecting lug intended to extend and to be fixed in a lateral guide slide of said apron, characterized by the fact that said fixing means consist of means of attachment associated with said fixing bracket and intended for cooperate with additional attachment means at the level angle support, these attachment means, in association with the additional attachment means, defining, of a part, means for immobilizing in horizontal translation and, on the other hand, means of rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the winding shaft, the angle of fixing relative to said angle support, so as to allow, under the effect of a rotation around said axis, in a specific direction, to auxiliary interlocking means that includes this bracket to engage on said support square, said fixing means being further supplemented by locking means capable of making integral, after hooking and nesting, the fixing bracket of said support square.

As will emerge, again, from the description which follows, the present invention also aims to provide a solution to the problem of fixing the angle support to the level of a lateral guide slide. In particular, the tulip contributing to guiding the apron behind the scenes lateral comprises, in combination, means of nesting on the end of a slide and locking means, under shape of a locking pin, capable of being pushed back, elastically, through an opening in the wall defining the bottom of the lateral guide slide, this blocking lug still being able to engage in a appropriate opening made in the support connection tab square to lock it with respect to said side slide.

• La figure 1 est une représentation schématisée partielle, en éclaté et en perspective d'un volet roulant conforme à l'invention ;
• Les figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 et 8 illustrent les différentes étapes intervenant pour la pose, sur l'extrémité supérieure d'une coulisse latérale de guidage, tout d'abord, d'un support d'équerre puis d'une équerre de fixation ;
• La figure 2A représente de manière schématisée et sous un autre angle la tulipe venant s'emboíter sur l'extrémité supérieure d'une coulisse, cette tulipe recevant les moyens de verrouillage permettant de rendre solidaire de ladite coulisse la patte de liaison du support d'équerre ;
• La figure 9 est une représentation schématisée et vue de l'arrière et représentant, en particulier, la manipulation à effectuer pour rendre actifs les moyens de verrouillage destinés à solidariser, rigidement, une équerre de fixation et son support d'équerre ;
• Les figures 10 et 11 correspondent à des représentations similaires, mais vues de l'arrière, des figures 7 et 8 et illustrent un autre mode de réalisation des moyens de verrouillage destinés à rendre solidaire, automatiquement, une équerre de fixation de son support après accrochage et emboítement.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, the understanding of which will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a partial schematic representation, exploded and in perspective of a roller shutter according to the invention;
• Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the different stages involved in the installation, on the upper end of a lateral guide slide, first of all, of a square support then a mounting bracket;
• Figure 2A shows schematically and from another angle the tulip coming to fit on the upper end of a slide, this tulip receiving the locking means for making integral with said slide the connecting tab of the support square;
• Figure 9 is a schematic representation and seen from the rear and showing, in particular, the manipulation to be performed to make active the locking means for rigidly securing, a fixing bracket and its support bracket;
• Figures 10 and 11 correspond to similar representations, but viewed from the rear, of Figures 7 and 8 and illustrate another embodiment of the locking means intended to make integral, automatically, a mounting bracket for its support after hooking and interlocking.

As shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, the present invention relates to the field of roller shutters and concerns, more particularly those whose mechanism of winding is intended to take position, not in a prefabricated trunk, but of masonry or carpenter type.

Thus, such a rolling shutter 1 comprises a winding shaft 2 an apron 3 designed by a juxtaposition of blades 4 whose lateral ends are caused to move during deployment and folding in lateral slides of the guide 5. These are, as appropriate, fixed, directly, on the masonry, at a recess, provided in the wall of a construction or made integral with the amounts of a carpentry corresponding to a door, window or similar implanted in such a recess.

Furthermore, as can be seen in this FIG. 1, the ends 6, 7 of this winding shaft 2 are maintained, ie directly, either through a drive mechanism, by fixing brackets 9 added using means of fixing 10, on angle supports 11 mounted on the ends 12 of the slides 5.

More particularly, such a square support 11, as visible in some of Figures 2 to 11, has a tab link 13 intended to extend in such a slide 5 for y be fixed. It should be noted, in this regard, that this slide 5, defined as a U-shaped structural profile comprising two parallel wings 14, 15 connected by a bottom 16 usually present on the back or front of this last, a channel 17 adjusted for the engagement of this leg of liaison 13.

On this end 12 of a slide 5 takes position, as visible in most of these figures 2 to 11, a tulip of guide 18 intended, in particular, to promote engagement blades 4 of the deck 3 during the deployment of the latter.

Ultimately, according to a feature of this invention, we imagined associating with this tulip 18 means locking 19 intended, precisely, to lock the tab link 13 once engaged in the slide 5. Also, this tulip 18 has nesting means 20 on the end 12 of a slide 5, while the locking means 19 are have the form of a locking pin 21 provided on the same, on the one hand, to extend through an opening 22 formed in the bottom 16 of this slide and, on the other hand, to engage in an opening 22A made in correspondence at the level of the connecting lug 13. It will be noted that through a shoulder 23 delimiting, with respect to the angle support 11, this connecting lug 13, shoulder 23 intended to bear on the upper edge of the slide 5, we come to check, exactly, the length of engagement of said connecting lug 13 behind the scenes 5 so as to ensure the correct positioning of its opening 22A at the right of the opening 22 in the background 16.

Preferably, the locking lug 21 is pushed back elastically in these openings 22 and 22A so as to be able fade, for the first time, when the tulip is engaged 18 on the upper end 12 of the slide 5 and, a second time when inserting into channel 17 of this last connecting lug 13. In particular, the lug blocking 21 is chamfered at its end for, precisely, ability to erase like a latch bolt, when the engagement of said connecting lug 13.

According to a preferred embodiment, the means socket 20 of the tulip 18 are in the form of a interlocking skirt comprising walls 201, 202, 203 suitable for extend parallel to the wings 14, 15 and to the bottom 16 internally at the slide 5, knowing that in the wall 202 coming to extend parallel to the bottom 16, it is cut, advantageously, an elastic blade 24 provided with the lug of blocking 21.

Such a tulip 18, in accordance with the invention is produced, preferably in molded synthetic material.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the fixing means 10 coming to connect a bracket 9 to its support 11 are defined under form of attachment means 25 associated with said bracket 9 and intended to cooperate with additional attachment means 26 at the angle support 11.

More particularly, these attachment means 25 in association with the additional fastening means 26 are thus designed to define, on the one hand, means of immobilization in substantially horizontal translation and, on the other hand, means of rotation about an axis 27 approximately parallel to the winding shaft 2, of said bracket 9 by relative to the angle support 11, this so as to allow, under the effect of this rotation around this axis 27 in a direction 28 determined, to nesting means auxiliaries 29, which comprises said bracket 9, to engage on said angle support 11.

Substantially, said angle support 11 includes a wing 30 extending parallel to the bottom 16 of the slide 5, that is, perpendicular to the plane of the deck 3. This wing 30 has, in its upper part, a cutout 31 corresponding to said additional attachment means 26 and at the level of which is intended to accommodate a hook 32 square 9, substantially defining the means hanging 25.

In particular, if this hook 32 has a tongue 33 able to extend on one side 34, preferably on the side external with respect to the median plane of the roller shutter 1, of the wing 30, the bracket 9 also comprises a blade 35 provided for even extend on the opposite side 36, therefore, preferably on the side internal, of this wing 30 of the angle support 11. This configuration allows said attachment means 25 and their additional fastening means 26 to ensure this stillness in translation of the square 9 once hung on the angle support 11.

It will be noted that the bottom 37 of the cutout 31 is produced, preferably, of convex shape whose vertex defines the pivot axis of the hook 32 which is housed therein and, therefore, the axis of rotation 27 of the bracket 9 relative to the support square 11.

This switchover will take place, ultimately, in a direction 28 allowing the interlocking means 29 to play their role. This direction 28 corresponds, in fact, to that in which is offset the winding shaft 2 relative to the plane behind the scenes 5. The purpose of such an offset is to facilitate, from the rolled up position of the deck 3, the engagement of the blades 4 in these lateral guide slides 5.

It will also be noted at the level of the wing 30 of the support square 11, the presence, above the cutout 31, of a hooking return 38 intended to extend, when in this cutout 31 is engaged the hook 32, above the latter of so as to prevent, by a leverage effect produced by this offset of the roller shutter 1 winding mechanism relative to the backstage plan 5, square 9 to unhook again from its support 11.

As for the auxiliary interlocking means 29, they are there still defined by a hook 39 associated with the square 9 and by similar configuration, while being angularly offset, at hook 32. Thus, this hook 39 engages on the wing 30 of the support 11 by rotation of the bracket 9 around the axis 27.

Note, as visible in particular in Figures 10, 11, that the wing 30 of the angle support 11 may have a flange support 40 with which is able to cooperate a shoulder 41 defined at square 9 above the hooks 32 and 39.

This set is advantageously supplemented by means of locking 42 intended, after, successively, hooking and interlocking of the bracket 9 on the bracket 11, to be connected rigidly these and prevent a reverse movement which does would not be voluntary.

If such locking means 42 can take the form of a fixing screw or the like, they arise, more advantageously, in the form of a locking tab 43. This is provided, as appropriate, at the support square 11 or square 9 so as to cooperate with a retaining rim 44 at the level of said bracket 9 or, respectively, of the angle support 11, to prevent, after hooking and pivoting around axis 27 in the direction 28, a pivoting in the opposite direction of the bracket 9 relative to the bracket 11.

If we refer to the embodiment corresponding to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the locking tab 43 can be seen, cut in wing 30, immediately above part 45 of the latter on which comes hook 39. So, once this nesting is done, we just push back said locking tab 43 via a tool T, such as a screwdriver as shown in Figure 9, above said hook 39 defining, substantially, the retaining flange 44.

As can be seen, in this figure 9, the amplitude of the deformation likely to be communicated to the tongue of locking 43 can be limited through a stop 46 any.

In fact, it is defined by another tab 47 cut in the shoulder 41 of the bracket 9 and pushed back into a position enabling it to fulfill the above-mentioned function. AT note that such a cut in this shoulder 41 of the tongue 47 makes the locking tab still accessible 43 by means of a tool T.

In the design according to Figures 10 and 11, the tongue of lock 43 is folded, at its free end 48, of so as to define a locking bolt 49 extending along a direction perpendicular to the wing 30, above the part 45 of the latter on which the hook 39. Thus, after hanging the bracket 9 on the angle support 11 and at the time of fitting, the hook 39 commands under the influence, on the one hand, of the elasticity of the locking tab 43 and, on the other part, on the side 50 intersected on the bias of this locking bolt 49, the decline of the latter until said hook 39 is fully fitted on part 45 of wing 30. At this time there, this locking bolt 49, under the elastic return of the locking tab 43, returns to its normal position lock in which it extends above said hook 39, defining, substantially, the retaining rim 44, this in order to prevent a reverse movement.

It should be noted that the bracket 39 adopts, preferentially, a symmetrical configuration with respect to its median plane longitudinal 51, which allows the reversal of this square 9 and use on the right or left of the shutter rolling 1.

Anyway and as it emerges from the description which precedes, we notice, first of all, that the different parts, namely the tulip 18, the angle support 11 and square 9, can be attached, individually and from separately on the upper end of a slide. In this context we will remember, in particular, that through a judicious combination of locking means 19 to said tulip 18, this greatly facilitates locking of a bracket 11 on a slide 5, avoiding all in particular, the fitting of a corresponding fixing screw, usually a tedious operation to perform, in particular, due to difficult access.

In addition, it is now offered to an operator ensuring the mounting this type of roller shutter 1, take the entire winding mechanism of the latter to hang it, in a single operation, above said slides 5 in especially when it comes to size roller shutters scaled down.

Claims (16)

1. Roller shutter including a winding-up shaft (2) for an apron (3) held at its ends (6, 7) by fastening comer irons (9) capable of being inserted by fastening means (10) onto right-angle supports (11) provided with a connecting lug (13) aimed at extending and being fastened in a side guiding groove (5) for said apron (3), characterised in that said fastening means (10) consist of coupling means (25) associated with said fastening comer iron (9) and aimed at co-operating with complementary coupling means (26) at the level of the right-angle support (11), these coupling means (25), in association with the complementary coupling means (26), defining, on the one hand, means for immobilising in horizontal translation and, on the other hand, means for rotating about an axis (27) substantially parallel to the winding-up shaft (2), the fastening comer iron (9) with respect to said right-angle support (11), so as to be capable of allowing, under the action of a rotation about said axis (27), in a determined direction (28), auxiliary encasing means (29) this comer iron (9) includes to engage onto said right-angle support (11), said fastening means (10) also being completed with locking means (42) capable of making the fastening comer iron (9) integral, after coupling and encasing, with said right-angle support (11).
2. Roller shutter according to claim 1, characterised in that the right-angle support (11) includes a wing (30) extending parallel to the bottom (16) of the side groove (5), i.e. perpendicularly to the plane of the apron (3), this wing (30) having, in its upper portion, a cut-off (31) corresponding to said complementary coupling means (26) and at the level of which is aimed at being accommodated a hook (32) of the comer iron (9) substantially defining the coupling means (25).
3. Roller shutter according to claim 2, characterised in that the hook (32) includes a tongue (33) capable of extending on one side (34) of the wing (30) of said right-angle support (11), the comer iron (9) also including a blade (35) designed capable of extending on the opposite side (36) of this wing (30).
4. Roller shutter according to any of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the cut-out (31) in the wing (30) of the right-angle support (11) has a bottom (37) of a convex shape the top of which defines the tilting axis for the hook (32) which is accommodated in it and, hence, the axis of rotation (27) of the comer iron (9) with respect to the right-angle support (11).
5. Roller shutter according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the wing (30) of the right-angle support (11) has, above the cut-out (31) aimed at receiving the hook (32) of the comer iron (9), a coupling bend (38) aimed at extending above said hook (32) so as to be capable of impeding said comer iron (9) from disengaging from its right-angle support (11).
6. Roller shutter according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the direction (28) in which the corner iron (9) is pivoted with respect to the right-angle support (11) in order to allow the auxiliary encasing means (29) to be encased onto said right-angle support (11) corresponds to the direction in which the winding-up shaft (2) is offset with respect to the plane of the side grooves (5).
7. Roller shutter according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the auxiliary encasing means (29) are defined by a hook (39) associated with the corner iron (9) so as to be capable of engaging onto a wing (30), extending perpendicularly to the plane of the apron (3), of the right-angle support (11), through rotation of the comer iron (9) about the axis (27).
8. Roller shutter according to claims 2 and 7, characterised in that the hook (39) has a configuration similar to that of the hook (32) while being angularly offset with respect to the latter.
9. Roller shutter according to any of claims 2 to 8, characterised in that the wing (30) of the right-angle support (11) includes a resting rim (40) which a shoulder (41) defined at the level of the corner iron (9) is capable of co-operating with.
10. Roller shutter according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking means (42) are in the form of a locking tongue (43) provided for, as the case may be, at the level of the right-angle support (11) or of the corner iron (9), so as to be capable of co-operating with a retaining rim (44) at the level of said corner iron (9) or of the right-angle support (11), respectively, in order to impede the corner iron (9), after coupling and pivoting about the axis (27) in the direction (28), from pivoting in the opposite direction with respect to the right-angle support (11).
11. Roller shutter according to claim 10, characterised in that the locking tongue (43) is designed capable of being pushed back so as to co-operate with the retaining rim (44) by means of an appropriate tool (T).
12. Roller shutter according to claim 10, characterised in that locking tongue (43) is defined of an elastic nature and is folded back, at its free end (48), so as to define a locking bolt (49) capable of being elastically pushed back when coupling the comer iron (9) to the right-angle support (11), while being capable of co-operating with the retaining rim (44) after rotation and encasing of said comer iron (9) onto said right-angle support (11).
13. Roller shutter according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the comer iron (9) is defined with a symmetrical configuration with respect to its longitudinal median plane (51), for a right-hand and left-hand use of the roller shutter (I).
14. Roller shutter according to any of the preceding claims, the side guiding grooves (5) of which include, at their upper end (12), a guiding bell (18) for the apron (3), characterised in that said bell (18) includes, in combination, means (20) for encasing onto said end (12) of a side groove (5) and locking means (19) in the form of a locking catch (21) capable of being elastically pushed back through an opening (22) provided for in a wall defining the bottom (16) of the side groove (5), while engaging into an opening (22A) provided for in correspondence at the level of the connecting lug (13) of the right-angle support (11).
15. Roller shutter according to claim 14, characterised in that the locking catch (21) is bevelled at its end, in order to be able to elastically retract, like a spring-bolt, when engaging said connecting lug (13) into the side groove (5).
16. Roller shutter according to any of claims 14 or 15, characterised in that the encasing means (20) of the bell (18) are in the form of an encasing skirt including walls (20₁, 20₂, 20₃) capable of extending parallel, and internally, to the wings (14, 15) and to the bottom (16) defining the side groove (5), while in the wall (20₂) extending parallel to the bottom (16) is cut out a springy blade (24) provided with the locking catch (21).

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