EP1306515A1 - Locking device for the apron of a roller shutter and a roller shutter box incorporating said device - Google Patents

Abstract

The connector consists of a channel (18) on the inside of the hollow driven shaft, forming an external projecting rib with a base (3a) and two perpendicular side walls (13, 14). The side walls have holes (25) in them to receive projections (23) on a plastic or metal link (19a) connected to the shutter by additional pivoted links and which clips onto the rib.

Description

The present invention relates to an apron lock device shutter or the like.

More particularly, the invention relates to a lock device automatic, which ensures, on the one hand, the blocking of the deck when it is in completely lowered position (ie the last blade of the apron rests on the shelf of the window opening or the door sill as well fitted with the shutter) and, on the other hand, the impossibility of reassembling the deck from the fully lowered position, by any external action (for example, attempted break-in) other than a normal action on a maneuvering device that caused his downward movement, this operating device that can be of the type for example winch, or motor electric.

EP-A-0 937 859 describes an example of a lock device automatic which comprises, in addition to the set of at least two links articulated, mounted between the winding tube of the deck and the latter, and specific to this document, a winding tube for shutter apron, at least one of the ends of the tube is adapted to be driven by rotation about an axis of rotation by a drive device, within a shutter box.

This winding tube is provided with several grooves of stiffening, each of substantially semicylindrical shape projecting towards the inside of the tube and extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the tube in substantially perpendicular to the outer surface substantially cylindrical conforming the tube, the fastening to at least one link attached to the rolling shutter deck being provided by a metal staple and a locking pin that gets stuck in slots in a portion of the cylindrical outer surface of the tube.

Such a locking device for shutter apron gives all satisfaction from the point of view of its operation, but nevertheless presents the disadvantage of having a large winding diameter; indeed, the Links of the latch are wound on the periphery of the tube.

The present invention is intended to overcome this disadvantage.

For this purpose, according to the invention, a lock device of the kind in question is characterized in that the winding tube is provided with a single groove, extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the tube, and protruding radially outwardly with respect to a cylindrical tube portion circular section of substantially constant radius with external surface extending over most of the circumference of the tube, the groove being delimited by a bottom wall extending over an arc-shaped portion outside the outer surface of the tube, between two side walls at a time perpendicular to the bottom wall and to said outer surface conforming to the tube at their connections to said bottom wall and surface the lateral walls extending in planes passing through the axis of rotation and outwardly of said outer surface so as to give the groove an undercut shape for securing with minus one attachment link connected to the apron of the shutter, said portion arc-of-circle of said bottom wall having a length of rope greater than the complementary rope length defined by the perimeter of the outer surface of the tube.

Thanks to these provisions, the first links of the automatic lock connected to the tube are wound on a portion of tube of diameter less than diameter at the groove, guaranteeing a small footprint roller shutter box when the apron is fully wound on the tube.

• l'une au moins, mais de préférence chacune des parois latérales de la cannelure comporte une pluralité d'ouvertures adaptées pour permettre l'accrochage d'ergots appartenant au moins au maillon d'accrochage reliant le tablier du volet roulant au tube d'enroulement,
• le tube est obtenu par profilage d'un feuillard dans lequel sont formées deux parois latérales orientées sensiblement radialement vers l'extérieur de ladite surface externe du tube et s'étendant sensiblement dans des plans diamétraux passant par l'axe de rotation du tube, et chacune comportant l'un respectivement de deux rabats réunis au niveau d'une zone d'agrafage,
• la zone d'agrafage du tube est positionnée sensiblement au niveau d'un plan médian sensiblement équidistant des parois latérales de la cannelure,
• le maillon d'accrochage comporte un évidement sur sa face interne, tournée vers le tube, et dont le profil est conformé de manière à s'adapter, de préférence par clipsage, sur au moins une portion de la cannelure du tube.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following provisions may also be used:

• at least one, but preferably each of the side walls of the groove comprises a plurality of openings adapted to allow the attachment of lugs belonging at least to the attachment link connecting the apron of the roller shutter to the winding tube ,
• the tube is obtained by profiling a strip in which are formed two side walls oriented substantially radially outwardly of said outer surface of the tube and extending substantially in diametrical planes passing through the axis of rotation of the tube, and each having respectively one of two flaps joined at a staple zone,
• the staple zone of the tube is positioned substantially at a median plane substantially equidistant from the side walls of the groove,
• the hooking link comprises a recess on its inner face, facing the tube, and whose profile is shaped to fit, preferably by clipping, on at least a portion of the groove of the tube.

According to another aspect of the invention, it also aims at a component wheel having a casing intended to be recessed in an opening made in a wall or to be mounted on the wall, this box housing, on the one hand, a winding and unwinding tube of an apron of rolling shutter, and, on the other hand, a lock device as referred to previously, this lock device to ensure solidarity between the rolling shutter deck and the winding and unwinding tube said apron around the tube.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in during the following description of one of its embodiments, given in As a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective schématique d'un caisson de volet roulant dont la liaison entre le tablier et l'arbre tubulaire ou tube d'enroulement et de déroulement du tablier est assurée par le dispositif de verrou objet de l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective du tube d'enroulement avec les premiers maillons du dispositif de verrou en position arc-boutée,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective du dispositif de verrou représenté de manière éclatée.

On the drawings:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a rolling shutter box whose connection between the deck and the tubular shaft or winding and unwinding tube of the deck is provided by the locking device which is the subject of the invention;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the winding tube with the first links of the latch device in an end-to-end position,
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lock device shown exploded.

In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

FIG. 1 shows a roller shutter 1 which comprises a box 2 intended to be embedded in an opening made in a wall or wall-mounted on the wall to create a window bay. This mounting is known per se, and will not be described in more detail.

This box 2 is intended to house, on the one hand, a winding tube 3 and unwinding an apron 4 consisting of a plurality of plastic blades or metal 5, and, secondly, a drive device 6 allowing to ensure the winding and unwinding of the apron 4 around the tube 3, the connection between the tube 3 and the apron 4 being provided by a lock device 7 automatic, of the general type described in EP 937 859, EP 684 362, EP 833 035, and more particularly as described in EP 937 859 for this which concerns the structure and the articulations of the links which are when the apron 4 is fully deployed.

Thus, in the inner part of the box 2 and at the height of its ends 8, 9 are provided support cheeks 10, only one of these cheeks being visible in FIG. 1. Each of these cheeks 10 integrates a bearing 11 into which is rotatably mounted on the side of the end 8, the free end said winding tube 3 and, at the other end 9, the device 6 mechanically secured to the other end of the tube winding 3.

In the example shown, the drive device 6 is an engine mostly fitted inside the tube 3. Alternatively, no shown in the figures, the training device 6 could be consist of a gear winch and bevel gear, operated by a cord or a crank, or a strap maneuver.

FIG. 2 shows the winding tube 3, which is produced by profiling from a metal strip 12 of thickness between 0.5 and 1 mm and whose width is greater than the average perimeter of the tube 3 measured at its average diameter, due to the formation of a single groove 18 oriented axially and projecting radially towards outside, as explained below.

Flaps 15, 16 are formed by counter-folding or stamping at the ends of two side walls 13, 14 of the strip 12, which are themselves made by folding the strip, substantially radially towards outside, relative to the rest of the strip 12 which is profiled in tube cylindrical circular section of outer surface 3b constant radius on the most of its circumference, around the axis of rotation X. The walls 13, 14 extend substantially in two diametrical planes, passing the axis X, so as to give the groove 18, projecting outwards, a form slightly undercut relative to the outer surface 3b. The edge each of these flaps 15, 16 is folded so as to conform lips 17 of a stapling system, these lips 17 being taken one into the other.

These lips 17 together form with the flaps 15, 16 a bottom wall 3a which extends parallel to the axis of rotation X of the tube 3 and thus achieves with the side walls 13, 14 a groove 18 (visible in Figure 3), the stapling system lying substantially in a median plane P equidistant from the side walls 13, 14.

The bottom wall 3a thus extends in a portion in an arc-of-circle radially outside the outer surface 3b, between the two side walls 13, 14 which connect substantially perpendicular to the surface external 3b as at the bottom wall 3a at the conformation folds said side walls 13, 14 in the strip 12.

Thus, the rope underlying the arc-of-circle of the bottom wall 3a is of a length greater than the string underlying the arc-circle between the ends of the outer surface 3b, at the base of the side walls 13, 14.

The groove 18 allows the hooking, in particular by clipping, of the automatic locking device 7 to the winding tube 3. This device for latch 7 comprises at least two links 19a, 19b articulated to each other as described in EP 937 859 to which reference will be made for further details on this subject.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lock device has three links 19a, 19b, 19c, and allows to connect the tube winding 3 to apron 4.

Thus the first link 19a, called "hooking tube" is realized in plastic or metallic material and is in the form of a plate curved rigid, in order to adapt as precisely as possible to the curvature of the groove 18 made undercut on the winding tube 3, the makes the difference in diameter between the surface 3b and the bottom wall 3a and the inclination of the side walls 13, 14.

For this purpose, the tube hook 19a, shown in FIG. has, at its inner face (facing the tube 3), a recess 20 by which the link 19a is intended to bear against the contour in projection of the groove 18, and is held in position by clipping on the tube 3, via, on the one hand, a tongue 21 located on an edge transverse 22 of the link 19a, and oriented substantially radially towards inside the tube 3, to press against the outside of a lateral face 13 or 14 and, on the other hand, thanks to pins 23 mounted on elastic devices spring type.

These lugs 23 protrude from the other transverse edge 24 of the link 19a which delimits the recess 20, on the opposite side to the tongue 21, and these lugs 24 cooperate, after interlocking of the tongue 21 on the wall 13 of the groove 18, with a plurality of orifices 25 made in the other side wall 14 of the groove 18, and in which the lugs 24 are engaged.

Preferably, the groove 18, which corresponds to a section raised, extends over an angular sector of approximately 45 ° defined by the two sidewalls 13, 14 inclined at V with respect to each other, for allow, by elastic deformation of the link 19a, its locking on the groove 18. To remove the lock, simply drag a tool such as screwdriver under the tongue 21 of the link 19a and lift it for unlock this link 19a and release it from the tube 3.

So that the lock device can be mounted on the tube winding 3 in a wide variety of mounting configurations of the rolling shutter box 1, holes 25 are made in each of side walls 13, 14 so that one can immobilize the link hooking 19a on the tube 3 on one side or the other of the groove 18 by simple pivoting of the tube hook 19a.

The other links 19b, 19c (visible in FIG. 2 and respectively one intermediate link 19b and an apron link 19c) which also belong to the lock device 7 are also, like the fastening link 19a, made of plastic or metallic material and each extend in the form of a curved rigid plate to fit as precisely as possible to the curvature of the winding tube 3. The edges lateral parts of these links, parallel to the axis of rotation X of the tube 3, comprise connecting devices to ensure the mechanical connection articulated hinge between two adjacent links.

Thus, between the tube hook 19a and the link 19b and between the link 19b and the link 19c, the connection is obtained by a hinge. In variant not shown in the figures, this connection could be obtained by any equivalent means that allows two consecutive links to rotate one relative to each other so that they marry as precisely as possible the outer surface 3b of the winding tube 3, with the exception of the first link 19a which covers the groove 18.

According to the size of the casing 2 of the shutter 1, the user adapt lock device 7 by adding or removing one or more links 19b between the links 19a and 19c.

The connection between the link 19c and the first blade 5 of the apron 4 of the shutter rolling is obtained by a groove 26 formed on the edge of the link 19c.

The operation of the lock device 7 is as follows:

We understand that when the apron 4 is completely unwound and that the end blade 5 of the apron 4 rests on the window shelf or the threshold of door, any inadvertent lifting of the apron 4 which is not consecutive to a normal maneuver of the drive device 6 causes an arching-butement links 19a, 19b, 19c at their respective hinges. This bracing at the level in particular of the hinge between the links 19b and 19c generates a mechanical blockage in the normal kinematics winding of the apron 4 and makes impossible any rotation of the tube winding 3 in the direction of raising the apron 4. We design by other than this bracing between two consecutive links offers the advantage to also constitute a safety organ for the rolling shutter.

Indeed, if the amplitude of the bracing exceeds the limits allowable mechanical hinge, the latter breaks, thus preventing to deteriorate the whole winding and unwinding mechanism apron 4 integrated in the box 2.

Moreover, we can notice that for the maintenance of the caisson 2 of rolling shutter 1, it is thus easier to reconnect the links 19a, 19b, 19c between them to have to intervene within box 2 to change broken or damaged parts.

The connection according to the invention between the tube 3 and the fastening link 19a tube provides, on the one hand, a small footprint, optimizing the capacity winding of the chests or boxes 2, and, secondly, a great facility of implementation, without part or additional tools.

Claims (6)

Automatic locking device (7) comprising a winding tube (3) for rolling shutter apron (4), at least one of the ends of the tube (3) is adapted to be rotated about an axis of rotation (X) by a drive device (6) within a casing (2) of roller shutter, characterized in that the winding tube (3) is provided with a single groove (18), extending parallel to the axis of rotation (X) of the tube (3), and protruding radially outwardly with respect to a cylindrical tube portion of circular section of substantially constant radius with an outer surface (3b); extending over most of the circumference of the tube (3), the groove (18) being delimited by a bottom wall (3a) extending over an arcuate portion external to the outer surface (3b) of the tube (3), between two lateral walls (13, 14) both perpendicular to the bottom wall (3a) and to said outer surface (3b) confor the tube (3) at their connections to said bottom wall (3a) and outer surface (3b), the side walls (13, 14) extending in planes passing through the axis of rotation (X) and to the outside of said outer surface (3b) so as to give the groove (18) an undercut shape allowing the fastening with at least one attachment link (19a) connected to the deck (4) of the shutter said arcuate portion of said bottom wall (3a) having a chord length greater than the complementary chord length defined by the perimeter of the outer surface (3b) of the tube (3). A latch device according to claim 1, wherein one least, but preferably each of the side walls (13, 14) of the spline (18) has a plurality of apertures (25) adapted to allow the hooking of lugs (23) belonging at least to the said link hooking (19a) connecting the deck (4) of the roller shutter to the winding tube (3). Locking device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the tube (3) is obtained by profiling a strip (12) in which are formed two side walls (13, 14) oriented substantially radially outwardly of said outer surface (3b) and extending substantially in diametrical planes passing through the axis of rotation (X) of the tube (3), and each having one respectively two flaps (15, 16) gathered at a staple area (17). Lock device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the staple zone (17) of the tube (3) is positioned substantially at a substantially equidistant median plane (P) of the side walls (13, 14) of the groove (18). Lock device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the hooking link (19a) has a recess (20) on its inner face, turned towards the tube (3), and whose profile is shaped so to fit, preferably by clipping, on a portion of the groove (18) of the tube (3). Roller shutter (1) comprising a box (2) intended to be recessed in an opening made in a wall or to be surface-mounted on the wall, this box (2) housing on the one hand, a tube (3) of winding and unwinding of an apron (4) of the shutter, and, secondly, a locking device (7) for securing the connection between the deck (4) of the shutter and the tube (3). winding and unwinding said apron (4) around the tube (3), characterized in that said latch device (7) is according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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