EP1323887B1 - Roller shutter box - Google Patents

Abstract

The case comprises a hollow body (1) with branches (1C,1D) ending in a longitudinal external edge (1C1,1D1) and a panel (2,3) fixed to the body. The panel and the branches have couplings which engage one another by lateral clipping. The panel and the branches comprises sections (4,16) able to separate the branches from each other during engagement of the panel on the body hollow (1E).

Description

The present invention relates to a roller shutter box which comprises a substantially U-shaped hollow body whose branches each end with a longitudinal end edge, and at least one cheek adapted to be fixed to said profiled body.

Roll shutter boxes of the above kind are known, one cheek of which is fixed at each end to the body by means of nails and screws.

To avoid the use of nails or screws, it has been proposed to provide the heel of the cheeks of several projecting parts, said parts being snapped into profile orifices fixed to the body. The holding of the cheek to the body depends solely on the resistance of the protruding part. The projecting portion further has a portion of smaller section, this portion to take up vertical forces, longitudinal and transverse, this portion constituting a weak point.

Finally, it has also been proposed to use a separate heel for securing the cheek to the body, this heel serving as a support for the lower edge of the cheek and having projections intended to be driven into the body. Such a system should be used by experienced personnel to ensure proper placement of the parts together and to prevent bursting of the body upon depression of the protrusion.

The present invention relates to a trunk comprising a body and at least one cheek attached to said body by clipping or snapping, avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages and ensuring a better holding of the cheek, while allowing a quick and easy attachment of the cheek without tools particular.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the fact that the cheek and the branches have attachment means intended to cooperate with each other by clipping or latching side, and that the cheek and / or the branches comprise or are associated with a means adapted to move the branches away from each other during the engagement of the cheek in the hollow of the profiled body sufficiently to ensure the clipping or clipping of the cheek hooking means and branches.

According to one embodiment, in which the branches of the body of the box each have an inner face facing the hollow of the body and an outer face opposite to the inner face, each branch advantageously has on its inner face near its extreme edge, a recess or groove for receiving a finger or a section of the cheek and / or a finger or a profile intended to be engaged in a recess or a groove of the cheek, the recess or groove and the finger or profile being adapted to ensure clipping or clipping of the finger or profiled in the recess or groove.

Preferably, each branch has on its inner face near its extreme edge, a recess or groove for receiving a finger or a section of the cheek, the recess or groove and the finger or profile being adapted to ensure clipping or clipping of the finger or profiled in the recess or groove.

Each of the branches of the body is provided with a covering profile at least partially covering the end edge of the branch, the recess or groove for receiving a finger or a section of the cheek and / or the finger or the profile intended to be engaged in a recess or groove of the cheek, being located in or on this covering profile.

According to one embodiment, the cheek has two opposite fingers or profiles having a face adapted to spread the branches of the body during movement of the cheek in the hollow of the body by a movement perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the body.

In another embodiment, in which the body has an opening located between the end edges of the legs which is rotated in one direction, in particular downwards, the cheek has one or more fingers or sections intended to be engaged in a recess. or groove of each branch, said fingers or profiles having at least one hollow open in the direction of the opening of the body, said hollow being adapted to receive a protuberance located in the recess or groove of a branch or protuberance defining an edge or wall of the recess or groove.

Said fingers or profiles may have at least two recesses, one open in the direction of the opening of the body, the other open in the opposite direction, said recesses being adapted to each receive a protuberance located in the recess or throat a branch or protrusion defining an edge or wall of the recess or groove.

In a box according to the invention, the means for spacing the branches from one another and the means for clipping or snapping can be different means and distant from each other.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the cheek or the branches comprise means cooperating with each other to limit or prevent or oppose longitudinal movements of the cheek near the extreme edges of the branches.

In particular, the cheek has a first fin arranged to be engaged in a slot or recess of a first branch of the body and a second fin arranged to be engaged in a slot or recess of the second branch of the body.

Preferably, said first and second fins serve as means for spreading the branches of each other during movement of the cheek in the hollow of the body.

According to one possible embodiment, the cheek has a first fin arranged to be engaged in a first branch of the body and a second fin arranged to be engaged in the second branch of the body.

Advantageously, the chest according to the invention comprises two cheeks, said cheeks preferably closing the ends of the body.

To ensure optimal clipping or snapping, it is advantageous to provide each of the legs of the body, with a cover profile at least partially covering the end edge of the branch, said section having a finger or projecting portion or a groove or recess.

The cheek advantageously has an element cooperating with a portion of the covering profile to separate the branches from one another.

• la figure 1 est une vue éclatée en perspective d'un coffre pour volet suivant l'invention;
• la figure 2 est une vue à plus grande échelle d'un détail d'une joue de la figure 1;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe montrant le mouvement de la joue dans le creux du corps;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe montrant l'encliquetag de la joue sur le corps; et
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe similaire à celle de la figure 4, mais se rapportant à une autre forme de réalisation du coffre.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the example of a roller shutter box according to the invention, described below by way of illustration and not restrictive, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a shutter box according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a larger-scale view of a detail of a cheek of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a sectional view showing the movement of the cheek in the hollow of the body;
• the figure 4 is a sectional view showing the snap of the cheek on the body; and
• the figure 5 is a sectional view similar to that of the figure 4 , but referring to another embodiment of the trunk.

• un corps profilé 1 présentant deux côtés extrêmes 1A,1B et deux branches 1C,1D définissant entre leurs faces intérieures 19 un creux 1E, lesdites branches 1C,1D se terminant chacune par un bord extrême 1C1,1D1; et
• deux joues 2,3 destinées à obturer le corps 1 au voisinage de ses extrémités 1A,1B, chaque joue présentant un rebord 18 destiné à prendre appui sur un côté extrême 1A,1B.

The chest represented at figure 1 is a trunk for shutters. This chest features:

• a profiled body 1 having two end sides 1A, 1B and two branches 1C, 1D defining between their inner faces 19 a recess 1E, said branches 1C, 1D each terminating in an end edge 1C1, 1D1; and
• two cheeks 2,3 intended to seal the body 1 in the vicinity of its ends 1A, 1B, each cheek having a flange 18 for bearing on an end side 1A, 1B.

Each end edge 1C1, 1D1 is covered with a covering profile 4 which has a longitudinal groove 5, the opening 6 (facing the hollow 1E) is defined between the flat 7 and a protuberance formed by the end 8 an elbow 9.

The cheek 2,3 comprises a heel 10 carrying an element 11 whose contour is adapted to match the shape of the hollow 1E, said element 11 having pins 12 for holding in place the upper part of the element 11 in the hollow. The cheek 2,3 presents also a bearing surface 18 intended to touch an end face 1A, 1B of the body 1.

The heel 10 has on each of its longitudinal edges, a profile 14 projecting, the section 14 having a recess or a groove 15 facing downwards.

The element 11 has, along each of its lateral faces 11A, 11B, a fin 16 with a ramp 16A and an abutment 16B, the height H of the ramp 16A of the fin relative to the face varying from zero to the height. of 16B. The maximum height of the fin corresponds substantially to the height H1 of the profile 14.

During the movement of a cheek 2 in the hollow 1E of the body 1 (arrow M to the figure 3 ), the ramps 16A of the fins 16 touch the bend 9 of the covering profile 4. During this contact, the branches or wings 1C, 1D undergo a slight pivoting P with respect to the body so as to spread the extreme edges 1C1,1D1 l one of the other.

When the cover profiles 4 rest on the bearings 16B of the fins, the wings or branches of the body 1 deviate sufficiently from one another to allow the passage of the heel 10 with the profiles 14 between the branches 1C, 1D hollow body 1.

In the embodiment shown in figures 1 , 3 and 4 , the body 1 is made of a material which can easily be perforated or in which a part can easily be inserted, while the fins 16 are made of a material capable of being inserted into the body, for example by pressure. The fins are therefore made of a material of greater hardness than the material of the body 1.

The cover profile 4, and more particularly its plate 7 has a side bearing surface 4A on which the fin 16 bears during the movement of the cheek in the hollow 1E of the body 1, before clipping or snapping the profile 14. The bearing face 4A has a hardness at least substantially equal to that of the fin 16, preferably greater than that of the fin. As soon as the fin 16 no longer bears on the bearing face 4A, the fin 16 enters the body 1 by the spring effect due to the separation of the branches 1C, 1D and / or by a force applied to branches 1C, 1D.

At the same time, the profile 14 enters the groove 5 and the latching is performed. When snapping, the end 8 of the elbow 9 of the cover profile 4 is introduced into the groove 15 of the profile 14. The profile 14 of the heel 10 is then supported on a portion of the cover profile 4. The profiles 14 thus serve as locking means preventing the movement of the cheek 2.3 to the outside.

The depression of the fin 16 in the body 1 is completed (and is substantially total in the example shown), when the clipping or snap is completed. (see figure 4 ). The fin 16 pressed into the body 1 then has an edge 16C adjacent or touching a flat 4B connected to the bearing face 4A and inserted into the body 1. This plate 4B thus forms a stop for the fin 16, so to oppose a downward movement of the cheek relative to the body 1.

The fin 16 also provides a force opposing a longitudinal movement (in the axis L of the hollow 1E) of the cheek. The fins therefore also serve as locking means preventing movement of the cheek 2.3 to the outside.

Instead of having to push the fin 16 into the body 1, one or more slots in the body 1 can be provided to receive the fin. For example, the body 1 has on the inner faces of the branches 1C, 1D a series of parallel slots (for example perpendicular to the axis L) and distant from each other for example by a predefined distance, such as for example 1cm .

The body 1 is for example made of an expanded material, such as polyurethane, polystyrene, etc. advantageously reinforced by one or more reinforcements or reinforcement, such as welded mesh. The outer faces of the branches (possibly all the longitudinal outer faces of the body 1) are advantageously provided with a coating 17 (outer face of the branch or branches), in particular of an agglomerated coating, such as based on fibers (wood, glass, etc.) and a binder (cement or other).

The profile 4 is for example made of aluminum.

The cheeks 2,3 are for example made of plastic preferably injected.

In one possible embodiment, the cheek is not provided with the wall 18, so that the cheek can be inserted into the recess 1E of the body between its ends 1A, 1B, so as to form internal walls or partitions or so as to divide the hollow into several separate chambers.

Yet another embodiment is shown in the figure 5 . This embodiment differs from that shown in Figures 1 to 4 in that the protruding profile 14 on each side of the heel 10 of a cheek 2 or 3 has two depressions or grooves, i.e. a groove 15 facing downwards and a groove 15A facing upwards and the section 14 therefore ends in a point. The plate 7 of the covering profile 4 has, at the top of the opening of the groove 5, a protuberance 7A directed towards the end 8 of the elbow 9. The distance between the protuberance 7A and the end 8 is slightly less than the largest thickness of the profile 14.

The implementation of a cheek 2 or 3 is performed as described above, but when snapping, the tip end of the section 14 is forced between the protuberance 7A and the end 8 in the groove, by elastic deformation of the profile 14 and / or the profile 4.

Once snapping finished, the end 8 is in the groove 15 and the protuberance 7A is in the groove 15A. The cheek 2 or 3 is then blocked both outwardly and inwardly. An inward locking could be useful since otherwise a movement of the cheek 2 or 3 inwards, possible due to play between the cheek and the body 1, could spread branches 1C and 1D.

It is obvious that many modifications can be made to the examples described above, without departing from the scope of the invention, as described in the claims below.

Claims (12)

1. Case for a roller blind, comprising a hollow, profiled body (1) which is predominantly U-shaped whose ribs (1C,1D) each end in a longitudinal far edge (101,101) and at least one sidepiece (2,3) which can be fixed to said profiled body (1), characterised in that the sidepiece (2,3) and the ribs (1C,1D) have coupling means (5,14) designed to work in conjunction with one another by means of lateral snapping or locking, in that said coupling means consist of a recess or a groove in the inner side of the rib turned towards the cavity, near the far edge, designed to receive a section or a finger of the sidepiece and/or a finger or a section on the rib which is to mesh in a recess or groove of the sidepiece, and in that the sidepiece and/or the ribs comprise or are connected to a means (4,16) which can move the ribs (1C,1D) away from each other as the sidepiece (2,3) meshes in the cavity of the profiled body in such a way that the snapping or locking of the coupling means (5,14) of the sidepiece (2,3) and the ribs (1C,1D) is guaranteed.
2. Case according to claim 1, characterised in that each rib (1C,1D) has on its inside (19) near its far edge (1C1,1D1) a recess or a groove (5) for receiving a finger or a section (14) of the sidepiece (2,3), whereby the recess or groove (5) and the finger or section (14) is arranged so as to guarantee the snapping or locking of the finger or section (14) in the recess or groove (5).
3. Case according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the sidepiece (2,3) has two opposite fingers or sections (14,16) with a face which is arranged so as to move the ribs (1C,1D) of the body (1) away from each other during the movement (M) of the sidepiece (2,3) in the cavity (1E) of the body.
4. Case according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the body (1) has an opening situated between the far edges (1C1,1D1) of the ribs (1C,1D) which opening is directed in a particular direction, in particular towards the bottom, characterised in that the sidepiece (2) has fingers or sections (14) to be engaged in a recess or groove (5) of each rib (1C,1D), whereby said fingers or sections (14) have at least one cavity (15) which is open in the direction of the opening of the body (1), whereby said cavity (15) is arranged so as to receive a protrusion situated in the recess or groove of a rib or a protrusion (8) defining an edge or wall (9) of the recess or groove (5).
5. Case according to claim 4, characterised in that said fingers or sections (14) have at least two cavities (15,15A), one of which is open in the direction of the opening of the body (1), the other one of which is open in the opposite sense, whereby said cavities (15,15A) are arranged so as to each receive a protrusion situated in the recess or groove of a rib or a protrusion (8,7A) defining an edge or wall of the recess or groove (5).
6. Case according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that each of the ribs (1C,1D) of the body (1) is provided with a cover section (4) covering the far edge (101,101) of the rib, the recess or the groove (5) designed to receive a finger or a section (14) of the sidepiece (2,3) and/or the finger or the section designed to be engaged in a recess or a groove of the sidepiece at least partially, whereby the latter is situated in or on said covering section (4).
7. Case according to claim 6, characterised in that the sidepiece (2,3) has an element (16) working in conjunction with a part (9) of the covering section (4) so as to move the ribs (1C,1D) away from one another.
8. Case according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means (16) for moving the ribs away from one another and the means (5,14) to provide for the snapping or locking are different means situated at a distance from each other.
9. Case according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sidepiece and/or the ribs comprise means (16) working in conjunction between the sidepiece and the ribs so as to restrict, prevent or counteract any longitudinal movements of the sidepiece near the far edges (1C1,1D1) of the ribs (1C,1D).
10. Case according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the sidepiece (2,3) has a first wing (16) which is arranged so as to be pushed in or engaged in a first rib (1C) of the body, and a second wing (16) which is arranged so as to be pushed in or engaged in the second rib (1D) of the body.
11. Case according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said first and second wings (16) serve as means to move the ribs (1C, 1D) away from one another during the movement of the sidepiece (2,3) in the cavity (1E) of the body by a movement which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the body.
12. Case according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises two sidepieces (2,3), whereby said sidepieces (2,3) advantageously seal the far ends (1A,1B) of the body.

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