EP2014203A1

EP2014203A1 - Movable support for curtains and awnings

Info

Publication number: EP2014203A1
Application number: EP07425432A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Laura Zuterni; Angelo Cadei
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-13
Filing date: 2007-07-13
Publication date: 2009-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-13
Also published as: EP2014203B1

Abstract

The object of the present invention is a movable support for curtains, awnings and the like, comprising a hollow section (11) suitable for being fixed to a wall or to the ceiling, means for supporting the curtain (14, 15; 25), and at least one pair of cables (16, 17) rolling up/unrolling inside said section for allowing the lowering and lifting of said support means. The section is associated to spacer elements (20; 26) suitable for allowing the movement of said means for supporting the curtain in a vertical plane (α) parallel and advanced relative to the vertical plane whereon the front side (13) of the hollow section (11) lays.

Description

The object of the present invention is a movable support for curtains and awnings of the type with support pole or staff or of the ceiling type, also called American curtain.
It is known that mounting and/or removing curtains and awnings applied to the ceiling implies a series of operations not always easy since, for example, it is necessary to use even very high ladders, this sometimes causing dangerous situations for the operator's safety resulting from the risk of falls.
In some cases it is possible to operate with staffs that remove the curtain, but that in any case do not always allow correct replacement thereof.
Patent application for utility model no. BS2002U000081 proposes a support to be fixed to the wall or to the box of a rolling shutter (where existing) which is movable so as to be raised and lowered for treating the curtain.
In one embodiment, such support comprises a hollow section inside which there is suitably seated a staff actuable in rotation by a manual or electrical reduction unit, on said staff being keyed a plurality of drums whereon a cable connected to support arms of a curtain support pole is wound, said cable protruding from a hole made on the front side of the section.
While such support is suitable for solving the problem mentioned above of the difficult accessibility to the curtain support pole, in the practice it has shown the drawback that in some cases, in lifting the pole support arms for installing the curtain, these get stuck into the bottom side of the hollow section and it is not possible anymore to properly position them against the front of the section, where the cable passage hole is made.
In an embodiment variation of the movable support, the curtain is slidingly supported in a guide hung at the ends to a pair of cables rolling up into the hollow section and that protrude from respective holes made in the bottom side of such section.
This solution has the drawback that the curtain does not extend from the ceiling, as it would be desirable, but from the bottom side of the hollow section, leaving the latter exposed to sight.
The object of the present invention is to provide a movable support for curtains and awnings capable of obviating the disadvantages mentioned above.
Such object is achieved with a support according to claim 1.
Further details and advantages of the support according to the present invention will appear clearly from the following description of a preferred embodiment, made by way of an indicative non-limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:
figure 1 shows a perspective top view of the support for curtains according to the present invention in usage position;
figure 2 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the support, with a support arm of a curtain in a moving step;
figure 3 shows a partial cross section of the support with an arm in lowered position relative to the section;
figure 4 shows the movable support in an embodiment variation and in normal usage position;
figure 5 shows the support of the previous figure in moving step;
figure 6 shows a view similar to that of figure 3 according to an embodiment variation; and
figure 7 shows a side view of the support of figure 6 in normal usage position.
The movable support for curtains according to the invention comprises a hollow section 11 suitable for being fixed to a wall or to the ceiling, for example by expansion bolts 12. Said hollow section 11 exhibits a front side 13 and a lower or bottom side 13'.
The movable support further comprises means for supporting the curtain and handling means suitable for allowing the lowering and the lifting of said support means relative to said hollow section 11. More in detail, said handling means comprising at least one pair of cables 16, 17 rolling up/unrolling inside said section 11 and having an end fixed to said means for supporting the curtain.
According to the invention, said section is associated to spacer elements 20, 26 suitable for allowing, through said cables 16, 17, the movement of said means for supporting the curtain in a vertical plane α parallel and advanced relative to the vertical plane whereon the front side 13 of the hollow section 11 lays.
In one embodiment shown in figures 1-3, the means for supporting the curtain comprise at least one pair of support arms 14 that extend from the front side 13. A pole 15 for supporting a curtain, an awning or the like extends between said arms 14. Each arm 14 is suitable for resting against said front side 13 through a base 14' thereof.
In this embodiment, cables 16, 17 exit from section 11 guided by respective spacer elements 20 movable between an inactive retracted position, wherein they allow the support of arms 14 against the front side 13 of section 11, and an active advanced position wherein they guide the cables, and thus the respective arms, to vertically slide in an advanced position relative to said front side 13 of the section, at a suitable distance X therefrom.
In other words, the spacer elements 20, during the lowering and rise of arm 14, make cables 16, 17 slide in a vertical plane α parallel and advanced relative to the vertical plane whereon the front side 13 of section 11 lays.
Distance X between said vertical planes is selected so as to prevent that, in the rising step, the support base 14' of arms 14 to the front side 13 of section 11 interferes with the lower side 13' of section 11.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the spacer elements comprise, for each cable 16, 17, a plate or tab 21 hinged to the bottom of section 11 at a respective breakage 22 obtained in the front side 13 of section 11.
A hole 23 is obtained in said plate or tab 21 for the passage of cable 16, 17.
Said plate 21 is therefore capable of rotating about a horizontal pin 21' between an inactive position substantially vertical and an active position substantially horizontal, wherein it protrudes projecting from the front side 13 of section 11. When plate 21 is in substantially horizontal position, the position of hole 23 defines the distance of cables 16, 17 from the front side 13 of section 11.
Preferably, at each breakage 22, in the hollow section 11 there is provided a stopping element 24 suitable for locking a relative plate 21 in substantially vertical position.
Advantageously, moreover, each plate 21 is associated to a respective spring 50 suitable for pushing plate 21 in open position. For example, said spring 50 is wound about a horizontal pin 51 that extends from a support plate 52 provided in section 11.
Advantageously, base 14' of arms 14 has a support surface greater than the surface of plate 21 so that when the arms are lifted to be locked in usage position, base 14' abuts against the front side 13 of section 11 and it is not possible anymore to further wind cables 16, 17, but to the extent allowed by the tightening means, as described hereinbelow. In this condition, arms 14 are firmly locked to section 11, as in the case of a traditional fixed support.
Starting from the normal use position, unrolling cables 16, 17 causes the lowering of arms 14 by gravity and thereby the rotation to horizontal position of plate or tabs 21.
Arms 14 and thereby the curtain support pole can then be lowered to the desired height for a convenient removal of the curtain.
In one embodiment shown in figures 4 and 5, wherein the same parts of the previous figures are indicated by the same reference numerals, the curtain is slidingly supported, rather than by arms 14 and by pole 15, by a guiding track 25.
In this case, the spacer elements comprise at least one pair of brackets 26. Such embodiment is especially suitable for a curtain that extends from the ceiling, also called American curtain. The hollow section 11 is therefore provided for being screwed to the ceiling.
Brackets 26 extend projecting from the front side 13 of the hollow section 11 and have a free end, or distal relative to section 11, that carries a respective cable 16, 17 exiting from section 11. The end of cables 16, 17 is connected to the guiding track 25.
In other words, each cable 16, 17 exits from hollow section 11, for example through a hole 27, and is returned to the free end of brackets 26 before being fixed to track 25. Therefore, the latter extends between the ends of said brackets and is movable vertically below such ends. Also in this case, therefore, cables 16, 17 and thereby the guiding track 25 with the curtain are vertically sliding in a plane α parallel and at as distance X from the front side 13 of section 11.
Advantageously, brackets 26 have a shape of upturned L, with the horizontal side 26' suitable for being placed substantially in contact with the ceiling. Therefore in normal usage position, that is with the cables fully rolled up, said guiding track 25 at the top rests against said horizontal side of the brackets.
It should be noted that said horizontal side 26' of the guiding track 25 may have variable extension, for example according to the type and width of the track itself.
In one embodiment, also brackets 26 are crossed by a hole 28 for allowing the passage of cables 16, 17 to which the guiding track 25 is hung.
In this application, even though the curtain can be lowered for its removal, when it is in position of normal use it completely hides the hollow section to the sight.
According to a preferred embodiment, the means suitable for rolling up/unrolling cables 16, 17 comprise a pulley system controlled by a reduction unit with manual or electric actuation provided at an end of the hollow section 11 and friction means for ensuring correct tightening of cables 16, 17 upon the positioning of section 11 for use.
More in detail, the pulley system comprises a first and a second pulley 30, 31 with axis of rotation horizontal and orthogonal to the front side 13 of section 11, directly controlled in rotation by the reduction unit. Cable 16 in rolled up on the first pulley 30; cable 127 is rolled up on the second pulley 31. Of course the two pulleys 30, 31 can be replaced by a single pulley whereon the two cables 16, 17 are rolled up one next to the other.
Cable 17 rolled up on the second pulley is returned to the opposite end of section 13 by a third pulley 32 parallel to the first two.
By the first and third pulley 30, 32, cables 16, 17 are returned to friction means 40. Said friction means 40 comprise, for each cable 16, 17, an elastic element, for example a helical spring 41, having an end hooked to a pin 42 substantially fixed to the centre of section 13. The other end of each elastic element 41 is hooked to a fourth pulley 33 that receives cable 16, 17 from pulleys 30, 32 at the opposite ends of section 13.
By the fourth pulleys 33, cables 16, 17 are returned to fifth pulleys 34 with vertical axis of rotation, positioned at the spacer elements 21, 26. Said fifth pulleys 34 are suitable for deviating cables 16, 17 coming from the friction means towards holes 23, 27 of plates 21 or of section 11.
Advantageously, the cable in output from each fifth pulley 34 is supported and guided towards holes 23, 27 by a roll 54, for example pivoted to the support plate 52.
Moreover, there is provided a stopping rod 56, for example parallel and above roll 54, which holds and guides the cable in output from each fifth pulley 34 at the top.
Such system of pulleys and friction means allows the correct tightening of the cables during the normal use of the support for the curtain or awning and the perfectly synchronised movement of the cables and therefore of arms 14 or of track 25.
It should be noted that when arms 14 abut against the front side 13' of section 11, or when track 25 rests on brackets 26, the elastic elements 41 allow, by elastically deforming, further rolling up cables 16, 17 making the coupling between the support means of the curtain and the section or brackets steady and safe.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment shown in figures 6 and 7, the base of each arm 14 is fixed to a bracket 60 having a first portion 60a connected to cable 17 and that is suitable for overlapping, when the arm is in normal usage position, to plate 21 of the support. Bracket 60 comprises an intermediate portion 60b perpendicular to the first one and suitable for arranging on the upper side of section 11, and a third portion 60c, perpendicular to the intermediate portion, fixed to the base of arm 14. As is understood from figure 6, when the arm is in usage position, the third portion 60c of the bracket adheres to the wall the curtain support device is fixed to. Therefore, arms 14 extend directly from the wall, in more retracted position relative to the front side 13 of section 11, with the advantageous consequence that the curtain fixed to pole 15 almost completely hides the support device.
It is evident that a man skilled in the art may make several changes and adjustments to the movable support according to the present invention in order to meet specific and incidental needs, all falling within the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

Movable support for curtains, awnings or the like, comprising a hollow section (11) suitable for being fixed to a wall or to the ceiling and having a front side (13), means for supporting the curtain (14, 15; 25), handling means suitable for allowing the lowering and the lifting of said support means relative to said hollow section (11), said handling means comprising at least one pair of cables (16, 17) rolling up/unrolling inside said section and having an end fixed to said curtain support means, characterised in that said section is associated to spacer elements (20; 26) suitable for allowing the movement of said curtain support means in a vertical plane (α) parallel and advanced relative to the vertical plane on which the front side (13) of the hollow section (11) lays.
Support according to claim 1, wherein each handling cable (16, 17) is associated to a respective spacer element (20; 26) that acts as a guide for said cable.
Support according to claim 2, wherein each spacer element (20) is movable between an inactive retracted position, wherein the curtain support means are in normal usage position, and an active advanced position, wherein it guides the cable (16, 17) to vertically slide in said parallel and advanced plane relative to said front side (13) of the section.
Support according to claim 3, wherein said means for supporting the curtain comprise at least one pair of support arms (14) for a pole (15) for supporting the curtain, an awning or the like, said arms being suitable for resting on the front side (13) of the hollow section (11).
Support according to claim 3, wherein the hollow section (11) exhibits a lower or bottom side (13'), and wherein each arm (14) comprises a base (14') for resting on the front side (13) of the section (11), the distance between the vertical sliding plane of the cables and the plane defined by said front side (13) being selected so as to prevent that in the rising step, said support base (14') of the arms (14) interferes with the lower side (13') of the section (11).
Support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said spacer elements (20) comprise, for each cable (16, 17), a plate or tab (21) hinged at the bottom to the section (11), in said plate or tab there being made a hole (23) for the passage of a cable (16, 17) from inside out of the hollow section (11).
Support according to claim 6, wherein said plate or tab (21) is positioned at a respective breakage (22) obtained in the front side (13) of the section (11).
Support according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said plate (21) is suitable for rotating about a horizontal pin (21') between an inactive position substantially vertical, and an active position substantially horizontal, wherein it projects from the front side (13) of the section (11).
Support according to claim 8, wherein at each breakage, in the hollow section (11) there is provided a stopping element (24) suitable for locking the plate (21) in substantially vertical position.
Support according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the base (14') of the arms (14) exhibits a support surface greater than the surface of the plate (21) so that when the arms are lifted to be locked in usage position, the base (14') abuts against the front side (13) of the section (11).
Support according to claim 1, wherein said curtain support means comprise a guiding track (25).
Support according to claim 11, wherein said spacer elements comprise at least a pair of brackets (26) that extend projecting from the front side (13) of the hollow section (11) and having a free end that carries a respective cable (16, 17) exiting from the hollow section (11).
Support according to claim 12, wherein said brackets (26) exhibit a shape of upturned L, with the horizontal side suitable for being placed substantially in contact with the ceiling.
Support according to claim 13, wherein in normal usage position, that is with the cables fully rolled up, said guiding track (25) at the top rests against said horizontal side of the brackets.
Support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the handling means comprise a pulley system controlled by a reduction unit with manual or electric actuation provided at an end of the hollow section (11) and friction means suitable for ensuring correct tightening of the cables (16, 17).
Support according to claim 15, wherein the pulley system comprises at least a first and a second pulley (30, 31) with axis of rotation horizontal and orthogonal to the front side (13) of the section (11), directly controlled in rotation by the reduction unit for rolling up/unrolling respective cables for moving the curtain support means, a third pulley (32) for returning a cable to the opposite end of the section, fourth pulleys (33) for returning each cable to a respective friction means (40), and fifth pulleys (34) with vertical axis of rotation for deviating each cable coming from the friction means towards the spacer elements.
Support according to claim 16, wherein said friction means (40) comprise, for each cable (16, 17), an elastic element, for example a helical spring (41), having an end hooked to a pin (42) substantially fixed to the centre of the section (13) and the other end provided with a pulley (33) suitable for receiving and returning a respective cable.
Support according to any one of claims 4 to 17, wherein the base of each arm (14) is fixed to a bracket (60) having a first portion (60a) to which cable 17 is connected and that is suitable for overlapping, when the arm is in normal usage position, to the plate (21) of the support, an intermediate portion (60b) perpendicular to the first one and suitable for arranging on the upper side of the section (11), and a third portion (60c), to which the base of the arm (14) is fixed, perpendicular to the intermediate portion and suitable for resting on the wall the device is fixed to.