EP1726231A2 - Guide for interconnecting two films provided with interengaging closure elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The guide (1) has two channels (10a, 10b) for receiving end of one of two films (F1, F2) equipped of engagement units (P1, P2). The channels have separate and convergent orifices along perpendicular direction towards an outlet having common chamber to receive the units (P1, P2) of films in assembled position, where the chamber is extended by two respective rabbets for receiving respective films.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of films or sheets equipped with fastening elements, in particular fastening profiles.

Such films are used in various fields and in particular in the field of display or manufacture of covers for the protection of objects.

Particularly in the field of the display, advertising support films folded on themselves in a closed loop are frequently used and thus connected, at their ends made adjacent, by the aforementioned elements or fastening profiles. These films are generally driven to move next to a window to change the range of information thus made visible.

The elements or fastening profiles can be the subject of many embodiments. It may be complementary hooks, complementary male / female structures or velvet type systems or loops / hooks, or any equivalent system.

So far, the attachment of these profiles is done in the factory or in situ, that is to say at the place of use. It is made by hand, or even using a wheel that is moved on the fastening elements of the two sheets to put them into engagement, after these elements have been pre-engaged at one of their ends. and placed in support on a support.

The means so far proposed do not, however, give complete satisfaction.

In particular, the commitment of the attachment means proves tedious. Moreover, the reliability of the fastening obtained leaves something to be desired. In fact, in the event of bad engagement of the elements or fastening profiles, there is a major risk of separation, under applied stress, and hence failure of the display system.

The same problem exists in the field of protective covers of objects.

It is now an object of the present invention to provide novel means having improved properties over the state of the art.

This object is achieved in the context of the present invention, thanks to a device forming a guide for the mutual attachment of the fastening elements respectively provided on two films whose ends are made adjacent, characterized in that the guide comprises two channels. adapted to respectively receive the end of one of the two films equipped with hooking elements, which channels have separate mouths and converge, in two perpendicular directions, to an outlet which has a common chamber adapted to receive the elements hooking of the two films in the assembled position and which is extended by two respective rabbets intended to receive a respective one of the films, each channel having a first dihedral shaped zone, designed to position the two fastening elements in a first direction , the first positioning zone having a constant width in a first direction and a gradually reduced height in a second direction, each channel further comprising a second centering zone in a second direction orthogonal to the positioning direction of the first zone, the second centering zone having a constant height in the second direction and a width gradually reduced in the first direction.

• la figure 1 représente une vue schématique en perspective d'un guide conforme à un premier mode de réalisation de la présente invention,
• la figure 2 représente une première vue latérale du même guide,
• les figures 3 et 4 représentent deux vues d'extrémités opposées du même guide, correspondant respectivement à l'embouchure et à la sortie des canaux,
• les figures 5, 6, 7, 8 et 9 représentent cinq vues en coupe du même guide selon les plans de coupe référencés V-V, VI-VI, VII-VII, VIII-VIII et IX-IX sur la figure 2,
• les figures 10, 11, 12 et 13 représentent quatre vues en coupe longitudinale du même guide selon les plans de coupe référencés X-X, XI-XI, XII-XII et XIII-XIII sur la figure 3,
• les figures 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 et 19 représentent six vues en coupe longitudinale selon des plans perpendiculaires à ceux des figures 10 à 13 selon les plans de coupe référencés XIV-XIV, XV-XV, XVI-XVI, XVII-XVII, XVIII-XVIII et XIX-XIX sur la figure 2,
• la figure 20 représente schématiquement la phase initiale d'engagement des deux extrémités de films dans le guide conforme aux figures 1 à 19,
• la figure 21 représente le processus d'engagement des profilés à une étape ultérieure d'avancement,
• la figure 22 représente une vue en perspective d'un guide conforme à une deuxième variante de réalisation de la présente invention,
• la figure 23 représente un exemple de réalisation d'éléments d'accrochage susceptibles d'être utilisés dans le cadre de la présente invention, avant accrochage,
• la figure 24 représente les mêmes éléments après accrochage,
• les figures 25 et 26 représentent deux variantes de réalisation d'éléments d'accrochage compatibles avec la présente invention,
• la figure 27 représente les films et éléments d'accrochage associés mis en oeuvre avec la variante de guide illustrée sur la figure 22,
• la figure 28 représente une vue agrandie d'un mode de réalisation de la chambre commune de sortie pour illustrer sa composition en deux sous chambres décalées entre elles, et
• la figure 29 représente la position des éléments d'accrochage dans la même chambre.

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, and with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples and in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a schematic perspective view of a guide according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
• FIG. 2 represents a first side view of the same guide,
• FIGS. 3 and 4 show two views of opposite ends of the same guide, respectively corresponding to the mouth and the outlet of the channels,
• FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 represent five sectional views of the same guide along the sectional planes referenced VV, VI-VI, VII-VII, VIII-VIII and IX-IX in FIG. 2,
• FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13 represent four views in longitudinal section of the same guide along the sectional planes referenced XX, XI-XI, XII-XII and XIII-XIII in FIG. 3,
• FIGS. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 represent six views in longitudinal section along planes perpendicular to those of FIGS. 10 to 13 according to the sectional planes referenced XIV-XIV, XV-XV, XVI-XVI, XVII- XVII, XVIII-XVIII and XIX-XIX in Figure 2,
• FIG. 20 schematically represents the initial phase of engagement of the two ends of films in the guide according to FIGS. 1 to 19,
• FIG. 21 represents the profile engagement process at a later stage of advancement,
• FIG. 22 represents a perspective view of a guide according to a second variant embodiment of the present invention,
• FIG. 23 represents an exemplary embodiment of fastening elements that can be used in the context of the present invention, before snapping,
• FIG. 24 represents the same elements after hooking,
• FIGS. 25 and 26 show two alternative embodiments of fastening elements compatible with the present invention,
• FIG. 27 represents the films and associated fastening elements implemented with the guide variant illustrated in FIG.
• FIG. 28 represents an enlarged view of an embodiment of the common outlet chamber to illustrate its composition in two sub-chambers offset from each other, and
• Figure 29 shows the position of the fastening elements in the same chamber.

As can be seen in the accompanying figures, the guide according to the present invention consists of a single piece 1. This part can be made for example of metal or material thermoplastic. In the latter case, it is preferably a rigid thermoplastic material.

Films equipped with elements or fastening profiles, may be used in the context of the present invention, may be subject to any suitable variant. It is advantageously thermoplastic films. In the accompanying figures, in particular in Figures 20 and 21, these films are referenced F1 and F2 respectively.

Similarly, the elements or attachment profiles fitted to the F1 and F2 films can be subject to any suitable embodiment. They are preferably made of thermoplastic material, for example polypropylene.

In Figures 20 and 21, these elements or fastening profiles are schematically illustrated under the general reference P1 for the film F1 and P2 for the film F2.

The elements or profiles P1, P2 can be made of material on the films F1, F2 or reported and fixed thereto by any appropriate means, for example by gluing or thermal welding. When the elements or profiles P1 and P2 are reported on the F1 and F2 films, they can for this purpose be provided with a veil provided with a self-adhesive tape.

Their configuration can be the subject of various embodiments.

FIGS. 23 to 27 show various non-limiting preferred embodiments.

FIGS. 23, 24 and 27 show a first embodiment according to which the fastening profiles P1 and P2 are formed of hook structures.

FIG. 25 shows a variant embodiment in which the profile P1 is formed of a male structure, while the profile P2 is formed of a complementary female structure.

FIG. 26 shows another variant embodiment in which the elements P1 are formed of structures loops, while the elements P2 are formed of structures in square brackets.

Note that according to the embodiments shown in Figures 23 to 27, the attachment elements P1 and P2 comprise webs V1 and V2 provided with an adhesive tape AU ensuring their attachment to the F1, F2 films.

For purposes of simplification, the description which follows will be made with reference to a reference system of orthonormal axes X, Y, Z shown in FIG. 1, in which the X axis corresponds to the average longitudinal direction of movement of the films. F1, F2 relative to the guide 1 for the engagement of the gripping elements P1, P2 and the Y and Z axes are orthogonal to the aforementioned X axis and will be called arbitrarily thereafter horizontal axis and vertical axis without these directions can be considered as limiting, as to the given orientation, in space, the guide during use.

As previously indicated, in the context of the present invention, the guide 1 comprises two channels 10a, 10b, intended to receive one of the attachment elements P1, P2. The two channels 10a, 10b are of identical configuration. In the following we will sometimes omit the indices a and b respectively allocated to the two channels 10a and 10b, to simplify the description, although these indices will sometimes be used in the drawings to distinguish the constituent elements of the two channels.

According to the embodiment given in Figures 1 to 21, the two channels 10a, 10b, have a symmetry with respect to a longitudinal central axis O-O of the guide, parallel to the axis X.

As indicated above, the two channels 10a, 10b have separate mouths 11a, 11b as seen in FIG. 1. These channels 10a, 10b converge beyond the mouths 11a, 11b in two transverse directions which coincide with the horizontal axis Y and the vertical axis Z, towards a visible output, particularly in FIG. 4. This output has a chamber 150 common to the two channels 10a, 10b, adapted to receive the gripping elements P1, P2 of the two films F1, F2 in the assembled position, which chamber 150 is extended by two respective rabbets 152, 154 intended to receive respectively one of the two films F1, F2.

According to the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 21, the two channels 10a, 10b having a symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis OO, the two channels 10a, 10b open on opposite side faces 20, 22 of the guide 1 .

For the remainder of the description, reference will be made, with reference to FIGS. 23 to 27, h1, to the individual thickness of the gripping elements P1 and P2 before assembly, considered perpendicular to the average plane of the films F1 and F2; I1, the individual width of the gripping elements P1 and P2, considered parallel to this mean plane; h2, the cumulative thickness of the gripping elements P1 and P2, after assembly and h3 the thickness of the films F1 and F2, where appropriate at their thickest, that is to say at their connection with the sails V1 and V2.

The mouths of the two channels 10a, 10b, open on an input face 24 of the guide 1 parallel to the YZ plane and orthogonal to the side faces 20, 22 above. The output of the channels 10a, 10b opens on an outlet face 26 opposite to the input face 24 and also parallel to the plane YZ and orthogonal to the side faces 20, 22.

The channels 10a, 10b are preferably split between their input and their output, in five zones referenced A, B, C, D and E in FIG. 2. Each of these zones is adapted to fulfill a precise function, namely a vertical centering, along the Z axis, a horizontal centering along the Y axis, an alignment of the gripping elements P1, P2, a clipping of the elements P1 and P2 and an anti-wear zone. These functions will be explained in more detail later.

Each of the five abovementioned sections A, B, C, D and E, of the channels 10a and 10b, is delimited by two generatrices, one parallel to the horizontal axis Y, the other parallel to the vertical axis Z.

The first section A of the two channels 10a, 10b has a constant width along the horizontal axis Y and a height, along the axis Z, which decreases towards the exit, that is to say when one moves in the channels 10a, 10b from the mouth 11 towards the exit face 26. The first section A has the general shape of a dihedron.

Thus, the first section A of each of the two channels 10a, 10b is delimited by two plane facets, one internal 110, parallel to the XY plane and the other 112 inclined with respect to this XY plane and converging towards the XY plane. median plane of the part, passing through the longitudinal axis OO and parallel to the XY plane, towards the exit.

The angle formed between the two facets 110, 112 is preferably between 15 ° and 60 °, very preferably of the order of 30 °.

The first section A of the two channels 10a, 10b opens in the form of a generally triangular opening on one of the lateral faces 20, 22. It is closed on the other side by a triangular facet 114 parallel to the plane XZ.

The second section B of each channel 10a, 10b has the function of performing the horizontal centering along the Y axis, gripping elements P1, P2. To this end, the second section B of each channel comprises a chamber 120 of constant height along the vertical axis Z but of progressively reduced width along the horizontal axis Y towards the outlet.

For this purpose, as can be seen for example in FIG. 16, the chamber 120 is delimited by two facets 120, 122 parallel to the vertical axis Z and which converge towards the exit.

By way of non-limiting example, the facet 122 adjacent to the closure face 114 has an angle with respect to the XZ plane between 10 and 40 °, typically of the order of 20 °. The second facet 124 adjacent to the side face 20 is in turn inclined preferably of the order of 15 to 60 ° relative to the same plane XZ, preferably of the order of 30 °.

The chamber 120 is further defined by two facets 126, 128 generally planar and parallel to the horizontal plane XY. The facet 128 extends the facet 110 and is coplanar with it. Facet 126 extends facet 112. The height of chamber 120, i.e. The distance separating the two facets 126, 128 is preferably complementary to the individual thickness h1 of the fastening elements P1, P2. Furthermore, at the outlet of the chamber 120, that is to say at the outlet of the horizontal centering zone B, the width of the chamber 120, that is to say the distance separating the facets 122, 124 is preferably complementary to the width I1 of the attachment profiles P1, P2.

Each chamber 120 also opens on the lateral face 20, 22 respectively of the guide 1 through a rebate 129 whose thickness is complementary to the thickness h3 of the film F1, F2.

At the outlet of the chamber 120, the two gripping elements P1 and P2 are superimposed in that they are generally parallel to the axis X and to a substantially identical dimension along the horizontal axis Y.

Each chamber 120 extends into the section C in the form of a generally rectilinear groove 130 having a height and width complementary to those h1 and I1 of the hooking elements P1, P2. These grooves 130 also open on the lateral faces 20, 22 of the guide 1 through grooves 139 extending the rabbets 129 above and also having a thickness complementary to that h3 of the films. The grooves 130 are inclined relative to the XY plane and gradually converge from the chamber 120 to the output of the alignment zone C. The inclination of the grooves 130 relative to the XY plane is preferably between 5 ° and 20 °, typically of the order of 10 °. At the output of the alignment zone C, the two grooves 130 belonging respectively to the channels 10a, 10b meet, as can be seen in FIG. 8.

At the clipping zone D, the two grooves 130 above, which maintain a constant width, 11, gradually merge. Their cumulative height is thus reduced progressively. At the exit from the clipping zone D, the two grooves 130 are thus combined and define in common a height along the axis Z equal to the height h2 of the profiles P1 and P2 engaged, when they open in the section E.

At this last section E, the channels 10a, 10b are in the form of a common chamber 150 adapted to receive the gripping elements P1, P2 of the two films F1, F2 in the assembled position. It will be noted that, as illustrated in FIGS. 28 and 29, this common chamber 150 may be formed of two sub-elementary chambers 1500, 1502 slightly offset from one another by an amplitude "of", along the axis Y, when the outer envelopes of the fastening elements P1 and P2 have such a respective offset in the assembled position. With this arrangement we obtain a precise guidance, without significant play, elements P1 and P2. This common chamber 150 is extended by two rabbets 152, 154 which open respectively to the side faces 20, 22 and whose height is adapted to be complementary to the thickness h3 of F1, F2 films.

Those skilled in the art will understand from reading the foregoing description that the vertical centering zone A makes it possible to center or position the two gripping elements P1 and P2 in the vertical direction of the Z axis and bring the two gripping elements P1, P2 to the desired height in the horizontal centering zone B. The horizontal centering zone B centers the two gripping elements P1, P2 in the horizontal direction along the Y axis. for this purpose that the width of the rabbets 129 through which the chamber 120 of the horizontal centering area opens outwardly, is sufficient to allow the passage of the films and webs of attachment elements P1 and P2 while being sufficiently limited to prohibit the exit of the attachment elements P1, P2 or in other words to constrain the position of these elements. At the output of the horizontal centering area B, the gripping elements P1, P2 are respectively arranged relative to each other to clasp properly.

The alignment area C has the function of defining a stress zone ensuring the parallelism of the two gripping elements P1, P2 along the axis O to allow a good clipping. Indeed, without this alignment zone C, at the exit of the horizontal centering zone B, the gripping elements P1, P2 would be well arranged one above the other but would not necessarily be parallel, which can generate problems of engagement of the gripping elements P1, P2 between them.

Clipping zone D is a zone with two close slopes for clipping the two gripping elements P1, P2 between them.

Finally, the anti-wear zone E is an area comprising parallel plates that hold the two profiles P1, P2 in the clipping position. This zone E makes it possible to guarantee, over a longer period of time, the clipping pressure despite a risk of natural wear of the output of the guide 1 which may appear in time to the threads of use.

Those skilled in the art will understand from the appended figures, and in particular from FIGS. 20 and 21, that it is not imperative to engage the films F1 and F2 in a precise position in the channels 10a and 10b. to obtain a suitable engagement of the gripping elements P1, P2. Indeed, the centering zones A and B are adapted to correctly position the F1 and F2 films and the attachment elements P1 and P2 at the input of the alignment zone C.

To simplify the illustration, the films F1, F2 and their associated attachment elements P1, P2, have not been shown in all the figures. In particular, they are shown in FIGS. 5 and 9 to illustrate their initial position, before commitment, and final, after engagement. But they are not shown in Figures 6 to 8.

As can be seen in FIGS. 23 to 26, with the guide 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 21, the films F1 and F2 are respectively positioned on either side of the fastening elements P1 and P2.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which has just been described but extends to any variant within its spirit.

According to the variant previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 21, the guide 1 comprises two channels 10a, 10b symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis OO and which open on opposite faces 20, 22. FIG. another variant of embodiment according to which the guide 1 comprises channels 10a, 10b, of structure strictly identical to those previously described, but opening onto a common side face 20. In this case the channels 10a and 10b have a symmetry with respect to the horizontal plane XY passing through the central longitudinal axis OO.

Of course, in this case, the two films F1 and F2, during the engagement of the gripping elements P1, P2 in the guide, are substantially adjacent and superimposed, as can be seen in FIG. 27.

Insofar as the channels 10a, 10b of the second variant illustrated in FIG. 22 are identical to those previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 21, the geometry of these channels will not be described in more detail below.

Those skilled in the art will also understand that the guide 1 is independent of the F1 and F2 films. In other words, once the hooking elements P1 and P2 are engaged, the guide 1 is totally removed and can be reused for another similar operation on other F1 and F2 films.

Claims (20)

Guide for the mutual attachment of fastening elements (P1, P2), in particular of fastening profiles, respectively provided on two films (F1, F2) whose ends are made adjacent, characterized in that it comprises two channels (10a, 10b) adapted to respectively receive the end of one of the two films (F1, F2) equipped with hooking elements, which channels (10a, 10b) have separate mouths and converge, in two perpendicular directions, towards an outlet which has a common chamber (150) adapted to receive the gripping elements (P1, P2) of the two films in the assembled position and which is extended by two respective rebates (152, 154) intended to receive the a respective one of the films (F1, F2), each channel (10a, 10b) having a first zone (A) in the form of a dihedron, designed to position the two gripping elements (P1, P2) in a first direction, the first positioning zone (A) having a constant argon in a first direction (Y) and a gradually reduced height in a second direction (Z), each channel (10a, 10b) further comprising a second centering zone (B) in a second direction (Y) orthogonal to the positioning direction (Z) of the first zone (A), the second centering zone having a constant height in the second direction (Z) and a progressively reduced width in the first direction (Y). Guide according to claim 1, characterized in that the first positioning zone (A) is defined by two facets (110, 112) inclined at an angle between 15 and 60 °, preferably of the order of 30 °. Guide according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the first positioning zone (A) has an output complementary height of the individual thickness of the fastening elements (P1, P2) before engagement. Guide according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second centering zone (B) has a chamber (120) in V. Guide according to claim 4, characterized in that the chamber (120) opens on the outside of the guide via a rabbet (129) whose thickness is complementary to that of the films (F1, F2) and less than the individual thickness (h1) of the fastening elements (P1, P2). Guide according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second centering zone (B) has facets (122, 124) inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (OO) of the guide. Guide according to claim 6, characterized in that one (122) of the facets of the chamber (120) has an inclination relative to the longitudinal axis (OO) of between 10 and 40 °, preferably of order of 20 °, while the second facet (124) has an inclination with respect to the same axis of between 15 and 60 °, preferably of the order of 30 °. Guide according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at the outlet of the second centering zone (B) the channels (10a, 10b) have a central section complementary to the height (h1) and the width (I1) individual gripping elements (P1, P2). Guide according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises an alignment zone (C) in which the channels (10a, 10b) have respective grooves (130) of complementary dimensions of the elements hooking (P1, P2), which converge progressively and which open on a lateral face (20, 22) of the guide by rabbets (139) whose thickness is complementary to that (h3) of the film and less than the height ( h1) gripping elements (P1, P2). Guide according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a clipping zone (D) in which the channels (10a, 10b) have respective grooves (130) which progressively fuse in the form of a common room (150) high complementary to that (h2) of the attachment profiles (P1, P2) in the engaged position. Guide according to claim 10, characterized in that the common chamber (150) opens on the outside of the guide via rebates (139) whose thickness is complementary to that of the films (F1, F2) and lower to the individual thickness (h1) of the fastening elements (P1, P2). Guide according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises at its output an anti-wear zone (E) of constant section defined by a chamber (150) whose dimensions are complementary to those ( 11, h2) engaging profiles (P1, P2) in the engaged position and two rabbets (152, 154) whose thickness is complementary to that of the films (F1, F2) and smaller than the individual thickness (h1) gripping elements (P1, P2), through which the chamber (150) open on the outside of the guide. Guide according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the two channels (10a, 10b) open on opposite sides (20, 22) of the guide. Guide according to claim 13, characterized in that the two channels (10a, 10b) have a symmetry with respect to a longitudinal central axis (OO). Guide according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the two channels (10a, 10b) open on a common face (20) of the guide. Guide according to claim 15, characterized in that the two channels (10a, 10b) have a symmetry with respect to a plane (XY) passing through a longitudinal central axis (OO). Guide according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it is made of metal. Guide according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it is made of thermoplastic material. Guide according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the channels (10a, 10b) are delimited by generatrices orthogonal to each other. Guide according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the common chamber (150) is formed of two sub-elementary chambers (1500, 1502) offset from one another by an amplitude (of), equal to the difference between the outer casings of the fastening elements (P1, P2), in the assembled position.

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