EP2146044A1 - Curtain of a screening device, in particular for a roller blind - Google Patents

Abstract

The apron has a juxtaposition of fixed and orientable slats (2A, 2B), and a transmission unit for intervening on orientation of the orientable slat when the apron is in deployed position. The orientable slat is subjected to an elastic return unit (10) in alignment position in a plane of the apron. The orientable slat is connected to the fixed slat by a joint. The return unit is formed of a helical spring (11) interacting between the orientable and fixed slats.

Description

The invention relates to an obscuration device apron comprising a juxtaposition of blades of which at least some are steerable, said apron further comprising transmission means provided for, in the deployed position of the apron, to intervene on the orientation of said steerable blades. The invention also relates to a shutter type shutter device equipped with such an apron.

The invention is in the field of building closure systems, type of occultation systems, such as shutters, blinds blades or the like.

If there already exist building closure systems, more particularly aprons or blinds comprising steerable blades, these are maintained, individually, at their lateral ends by adjacent drive mechanisms or integrated to guide slides.

Through these drive mechanisms, said blades are capable of being oriented so as to extend substantially in the same plane while slightly overlapping each other to ensure perfect sealing against light or, on the contrary, to deviate from this plane and favor the passage of light.

In any case, it has been found that unless the blades are given a large section, such blades with adjustable blades can cover only a small width. Indeed, beyond a certain dimension the blades tend to bend under their own weight which is detrimental to the proper functioning of the system, as well as its aesthetics.

In all cases, these known solutions are not applicable to roller shutters, in other words to folding closure systems.

To remedy the aforementioned problems, it has been imagined to connect the different blades together by means of connecting cables which not only avoid their bending, but, moreover, advantageously constitute the transmission means through which these blades are likely to be oriented.

In addition to the very unsightly appearance of such cables, they are a source of malfunction as having a certain fragility. Moreover, they substantially increase the cost of assembly and assembly of these shading systems with adjustable blades.

Finally, it will be noted that the presence of these cables does not allow the application of such a solution to an apron capable of being wound.

Exactly, in this field of traditional roller shutters, the apron consists of a juxtaposition of blades interconnected by telescopic articulation means. The relative mobility of the blades in the direction of movement of the deck makes it possible to bring them into a joined or separated position. In this latter position, openings appear between these blades, more particularly at the height of their articulated connection. It is easy to understand that these openings can only provide a weak passage of air and light.

The advantage of such openings of reduced section, is that they avoid, at least significantly limit the passage of solar rays causing excessive heating of the house in summer.

It should be noted that conversely, the non-rollable devices with adjustable blades not only promote the passage of daylight, but in their open position, let the sunlight freely enter the dwelling and can not create a effective barrier to vision from outside in the home.

It is still known through the state of the art a blind apron or the like comprising blades divided in the longitudinal direction into two parts of blades articulated together. If the first blade portion is fixed in the sense that it can not tilt to deviate from the plane of the deck, the second blade portion can, on the contrary, pivot to confer this apron a perforated position. For this, said first blade is secured at its ends, first transmission means having a vacuum stroke relative to second transmission means which are secured to the ends of the second blades.

In this context, we know from the document DE-35 29,418 , a blind whose blades are subdivided into two portions of blades and foldable around a median fold line. These blades are secured at their ends, drive cables. More exactly, the upper portion of the blades is secured to a first pair of cables, while the second lower portion is fixed to a second pair of cables. Thus, under the effect of traction exerted on the second pair of cables, the blades, also immobilized by the first pair of cables, are caused to fold around their median fold axis.

We also know from the document DE-10 42 869 , a blind device comprising blades bearing at their ends, substantially in the extension of their central axis, pivots fixed on a pair of straps. Thus, these blades are pivotable about their median axis so as to occupy a first occultation position in which these blades are maintained substantially in the same vertical alignment or a perforated position in which, on the contrary, they are spaced from this plane by pivoting about their median axis. This pivoting is controlled by a second pair of straps which are secured, pivotally, said blades at their upper end edge.

The document DE-1,509,213 uses the same principle of pivoting blinds. However, in a particular embodiment, the blades are secured to the upper end edge and pivotally defined transmission means to allow relative mobility of the blades together in the direction of deployment or folding. Through this relative mobility, the blades may, depending on the case, be tightened or spaced from each other. Under the effect of the tightening of the blades, connecting rods, connecting a blade to a next blade, push the latter in a perforated position, spaced from the alignment plane occupied by these blades in the occultation position.

The document EP-460 521 discloses a shutter-type shutter device comprising blades, some of which are adjustable. The principle used to project in an open position, outside the plane of alignment of the other blades, steerable blades is equivalent to that described in the document DE-1509213 , except that the blades are not secured to specific transmission means. Here said blades are connected in pairs, each pair of blades having a fixed upper blade and a pivoting lower blade, the latter being connected, via a link, to the upper blade of the next pair of blades and thus right now. When the apron of this occultation device is under tension, the different blades are located in the same alignment plane. On the contrary, at the end of deployment of the deck and under the effect of a compression printed on the latter, the pivoting blades are pushed through the rods in an extended position. More precisely, under the effect of compression, the fixed blades of two pairs of blades that follow each other tend to approach what is made possible by the different links articulated between: orientable blades and fixed blades; fixed blades and links; connecting rods and adjustable blades.

We also know from the document DE-948443 an obscuration device such as roller shutter, blind or the like whose blades are secured at their ends, chains of drive links. Each link may consist of two blades, depending on the case, telescopic relative to each other or hinged together to give the apron of the occultation device a perforated position, either by spacing the blades between they or by tilting.

Finally, the document FR-1251335 discloses a roller shutter comprising an apron, some blades are likely to be inclined outside the plane of this deck. Thus, a tilting blade is necessarily pivotally mounted on a fixed blade, which is also connected to another fixed blade that follows and / or preceding through a staple. The pivoting blades are subjected to elastic return means pushing them in the plane of the fixed blades. These pivoting blades also bear at least one of their lateral end, a guide roller designed adapted to cooperate with a specific slide extending in front and parallel to the guide rails of the fixed blades of the deck. A suitable device, placed above the lateral guide slides makes it possible to push at will the pivoting blades outside the plane of the apron, against the action of the elastic return means. In this inclined position, the roller which it is equipped engages, not in the guide slide in which extends a fixed blade, but in the specific ensuring the subsequent maintenance in this inclined position of said blade. In short, it is at the moment of deployment of the roller shutter that it is necessary to decide if it is desired that the apron adopts a perforated position or occultation and it is not possible to move from one or the other position the rolling shutter apron once deployed.

As can be seen from the description of this state of the art, as the case may be, the steerable blades are pushed from their perforated position into their position of alignment of the apron exclusively by a spring or under the effect of the weight and traction exerted by the transmission means having previously allowed to push these orientable blades in their open position.

It is within the framework of a first inventive step that it has been found that such transmission means, in the form of traction means exert a return torque tending to bring the adjustable blades in the plane of the deck, torque which is proportional to the angle of inclination formed by these blades relative to this plane.

In other words, when these blades approach the plane of the deck and their angle of inclination tends to be zero, the restoring torque itself tends to cancel.

In addition, in a solution as described in the document DE-1509213 , For example, the manufacturing tolerances make the tensile force exerted on each of the steerable blades is not identical and some of the blades are to be pushed in the plane of the deck under the effect of a tensile force exerted on the transmission means which is higher compared to that applied to other orientable blades of the same deck.

It is in the context of a second inventive step that it has been found that the consequence of the above is that the orientable blades tend, in the occultation position, to present a certain clearance with respect to the blades. following or previous.

These blades therefore tend to beat the wind and provide a low degree of occultation forming light passage slots.

In the solution corresponding to the document FR-1251335 , the blades, if they are subjected to the action of a return spring which comes to maintain them in the plane of the deck, can be pushed back into the open position while the deck is being deployed through a technical solution requiring to double the lateral guide rails.

The present invention aims to overcome this drawback of the state of the art.

To this end, the invention relates to an obscuration device apron comprising a juxtaposition of blades, at least some of which are orientable, said apron further comprising transmission means provided for, in the deployed position of this deck, to intervene on the orientation. said steerable blades, this apron comprising in combination elastic return means in alignment position in the plane apron to which is subjected at least one of said adjustable blades.

Particularly to the invention, selection means are provided to stress or not the elastic return means acting on a steerable blade.

• la figure 1 est une représentation schématisée partielle et en élévation d'un tablier d'un dispositif d'occultation selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une représentation schématisée en perspective et en coupe d'une paire de lames composées d'une lame fixe et d'une lame orientable équipée, en extrémité, d'un embout constituant, substantiellement, des moyens de rappel élastique conformes à l'invention ;
• les figures 3, 4 et 5 illustrent, de manière schématisée et en coupe, le principe de fonctionnement des moyens de rappel élastique, ceux-ci étant illustrés, respectivement, dans une position relâchée, dans une position de mise sous contrainte par l'utilisateur et dans une position sous contrainte à même d'exercer leur fonction de rappel en position d'alignement de la lame orientable ;
• les figures 6 et 7 illustrent deux coupes selon A-A de la figure 4, montrant l'accessibilité des moyens de rappel élastique pour leur mise sous contrainte ;
• la figure 8 illustre de manière schématisée et en perspective des moyens de rappel élastique conçu selon un autre mode de réalisation, cette figure montrant également l'intégration du ressort un forme d'épingle dans un embout susceptible d'être inséré dans l'extrémité d'une lame orientable ;
• les figures 9 et 10 représentent l'interaction de ces moyens de rappel élastique définis par un ressort en épingle entre deux lames dont une est orientable.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows and in view of the accompanying drawings relating to an exemplary embodiment.

• the figure 1 is a partial schematic representation in elevation of an apron of a concealment device according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a schematic representation in perspective and in section of a pair of blades composed of a fixed blade and an orientable blade equipped, at the end, with a tip forming, substantially, elastic return means according to the invention ;
• the Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate, schematically and in section, the operating principle of the elastic return means, these being illustrated, respectively, in a relaxed position, in a position of stressing by the user and in a position under stress to even to perform their function of return in aligning position of the steerable blade;
• the Figures 6 and 7 illustrate two cuts according to AA of the figure 4 , showing the accessibility of the elastic return means for putting them under stress;
• the figure 8 schematically illustrates in perspective a resilient return means designed according to another embodiment, this figure also showing the integration of the spring a pin shape into a tip that can be inserted into the end of a blade orientable;
• the Figures 9 and 10 represent the interaction of these elastic return means defined by a pin spring between two blades, one of which is orientable.

The present invention relates, more particularly, an apron 1 for occultation system, roller shutter type.

As will become apparent in the description which follows, the invention also relates to a concealment device comprising such an apron 1.

Thus, it comprises a juxtaposition of blades 2, some of which at least 2B are orientable. In particular, in an exemplary embodiment, the blades 2 can be connected in pairs 2A, 2B, via a hinge 3 which can take a completely usual embodiment.

At its lower longitudinal edge, a blade 2A may be provided with a hooking groove 4 in which is provided adapted to engage longitudinally a hook 5 that includes, at its longitudinal upper edge, the next blade 2B.

Transmission means 6 are provided to intervene on the orientation of the steerable blades 2B, especially when the deck 2 is brought into its deployed position.

Such transmission means 6 may adopt various embodiments as known to those skilled in the art, particularly through the state of the art cited in the introductory part.

Preferably, these transmission means act on at least one of the ends 7, 8 of the blades 2A, 2B and are advantageously retracted in lateral slides along which is made to deploy the deck 1.

In particular, in these guide slides can be introduced the ends 7 of the fixed blade 2A.

If the transmission means 6 are able to intervene on the orientation of the blades 2B, they are therefore able, as the case may be, to bring them to a position spaced from the plane P of the deck 1 or, on the contrary, to the bring back into this plane.

However, according to the invention, it is provided that in combination at least one of said orientable blades 2B is subjected to elastic return means 10 in the alignment position in the plane P of the apron 1.

Substantially, such return means 10 are in the form of a spring 11 interacting between said swiveling blade 2B and the blade 2A to which it is connected by means of a hinge 3. This spring 11 is thus designed for, when the swivel blade 2B is spaced apart from the plane of the blade 2A and therefore the plane P of the deck, it systematically tends to push this orientable blade 2B in said plane P.

More particularly advantageously, in the alignment position of the blade 2B with respect to the blade 2A to which it is connected by the spring 11, it is in a prestressing position. In other words, this spring 11 remains under tension when the blades 2A, 2B are aligned.

Thus, this spring 11 is able to overcome the drawbacks usually resulting from the transmission means 6 which are not able to maintain, under certain constraints, an orientable blade 2B in the plane P of the deck 1. Preferably, the elsewhere, an orientable blade 2B comes, in this alignment position, overlapping the next blade 2, this for, unlike the perforated position, leave as little light as possible to enter the house and allow the deck to offer a good degree of occultation. Also under the action of these elastic return means, a steerable blade 2B can be pushed with a certain force of application on this next blade to ensure this waterproofness to light, but also to prevent it from beating in the wind.

As already defined above, the action of the spring 11 has the function of a return torque of the steerable blade 2 from its deployed position in its alignment position in the plane P.

In a first embodiment shown on the Figures 2 to 7 attached drawings, this spring 11 is of helical type preferably designed to extend in the thickness of a blade 2A, 2B, in this case in the illustrated embodiment, in the steerable blade 2B. So, this spring 11 cooperates, at one of its ends 12 and by means of a hook 13, with the latching groove 4 of the blade 2A while at its opposite end 14, it comes to cooperate, again preferentially with a hook hook 15 with the blade 2B.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the elastic return means 10 are associated with an end piece 18 that can be attached, preferably by interlocking, on a lateral end 7, 8, of a blade in this case 2B in the illustrated embodiment. This nozzle 18 advantageously comprises, in a non-visible manner in the drawings, an anchoring tongue through which it can be sealed by crimping and / or gluing on, preferably in this end 8 of the blade 2B, in particular when the It is designed in the form of a tubular section as is the case, very frequently, for the rolling shutter deck blades.

It will be observed, however, that the invention is not linked to such a specific connection of the tip 18 at one end of a blade.

Furthermore, in this nozzle 18 is provided a housing 19 extending relative to a blade 2B in the plane and in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the latter. This housing 19 opens out towards the blade 2A to which the spring 11 must be connected.

In addition, in the housing 19 are provided fastening means 20 with which is engageable with the hook 15 at the end 14 to be introduced into the housing 19 of the spring 11. These attachment means 20 is are in the form of a notch 20A along the wall of the housing 19 with which is able to cooperate the hook 15. Moreover, it is configured in the form of redan and provided adapted to engage elastically in said notch 20A when it is at the right of the latter. More precisely, at the time of the engagement of the spring 11 in the housing 19, this hook 15 is put under elastic stress, precisely in a manner adapted to come automatically engage in the notch 20A once positioned at the right of the latter.

If the hook 15, once brought into cooperation with the notch 20A, results in the tensioning of the spring 11, it is still provided, according to the invention, the apron 1 comprises selection means 21 to put under stress or not the elastic return means 10 acting on an orientable blade 2B.

In the embodiment corresponding to Figures 2 to 7 these selection means 21 consist of at least one second notch 20B in the housing 20 with which the hook 15 of the spring 11 can be brought in cooperation without being subjected to elastic stress.

Thus, during assembly of the shutter and the assembly of the deck, the spring 11 is engaged in the housing 19 so as to bring the hook 15 in cooperation with this notch 20B avoiding it escapes from this housing later. This spring 11 is not under stress at this time, it is easy to hang the hook 13 on the previous fixed blade 2A at the moment of fitting on the latter the swivel blade 2B.

In addition, only some of the swiveling blades 2B, may be subjected to elastic stress favoring their return to the plane P of the deck 1. In particular, if, through the transmission means 6, the blades in the upper part of the deck of the roller shutter are subjected to considerable traction under the effect of the weight of the deck, pulling usually resulting in the folding of the swiveling blades 2B in the alignment plane P, this folding can be favored for the blades steerable 2B in the lower part of the deck, less subjected to the pulling effect, this by the stressing of their elastic return means 10.

Said selection means 21 also advantageously consist of means 22 for gripping the spring 11 with a view to putting it under tension through the hooking of its hook 15 with the notch 20A.

More particularly, such means 22 may consist of at least one light 23 in the end piece 18 facilitating access by a suitable tool, in particular a screwdriver, to the spring 11 in the housing 19 to tension the spring 11 and to bring the hook 15, from its position of cooperation with the notch 20B, in its position of cooperation with the notch 20A. As visible in Figures 6 and 7 such a light can be made in the nozzle 18 so as to allow access to the spring 11 from the lateral end, in a longitudinal direction in the plane of a blade 2B or in a direction perpendicular to the latter.

It is thus very easy to select at any time or the orientable blades 2B that it is desired to submit to such elastic return means 10.

The Figures 8 to 10 illustrate another embodiment of these elastic return means 10, here in the form of a pin-shaped spring 11A, the elastic return resulting from the stressing of the two branches 24, 25 forming the spring 11A. Moreover, as in the previous embodiment, the end 12A of a first branch 24 may comprise a hook 13A designed adapted to cooperate with the attachment groove 4 of a previous blade 2A, while the 14A end of the second leg 25 has it, a hook 15A for holding and anchoring this pin-shaped spring 11A in an end 8 of a swivel blade 2B. Again, this pin-shaped spring 11A is associated with a fitting 18A can be fitted crimped and / or glued into one of the ends 8 of a swivel blade 2B. This endpiece comprises a housing 19A for receiving this pin-shaped spring 11A. One of the advantages of the latter is that it can be housed in the longitudinal direction in the thickness of the steerable blade 2B which, as already indicated above, is generally designed, tubular.

Only then emerges at the end 8 of the blade 2B, the hook 13A of the spring 11A in a manner adapted to cooperate with the attachment groove 4 of the previous fixed blade 2A.

Another advantage is that this pin spring 11A, apart from the fact that it borrows a simple design is likely to be associated and therefore mounted more easily on a tip 18A using automated means on a line of industrial manufacturing.

As visible in the figure 9 in the rest position, the pin-shaped spring 11A pulls the swiveling blade 2B in the direction of the fixed blade 2A while keeping them aligned in the same plane P. By pivoting the hook 5 of the swiveling blade 2B in the 4 attachment groove of the fixed blade 2A, it follows a traction exerted by this hooking groove 4 on the hook 13A of the pin spring 11A.

The advantages of the present invention consist, when the apron of the occultation device is in the occultation position, in a perfect retention of the orientable blades 2B, in the plane of this deck 1, whatever the traction force provided by the transmission means 6 for precisely deploying these orientable blades 2B.

Above all, they can be maintained at the height of their lower edge against a subsequent blade so as to provide a better degree of occultation.

In addition, in case of wind, these orientable blades 2B, perfectly maintained by the elastic return means 10 avoid beating by generating noise.

Claims (14)

Apron of concealment device comprising a juxtaposition of blades (2A, 2B) at least some of which (2B) are orientable, said apron further comprising transmission means (6) provided for, in the deployed position of this apron (1), acting on the orientation of said steerable blades (2B), characterized in that it comprises in combination elastic return means (10) in the alignment position in the plane (P) of the deck (1) to which is subjected to at least one of said steerable blades (2B). Apron according to claim 1, wherein an orientable blade (2B) is connected via a hinge to a next or previous blade (2A), characterized in that the elastic return means (10) are in form a spring (11; 11A) interacting between said steerable blade (2B) and the blade (2A) to which it is connected, spring (11; 11A) adapted to push said steerable blade (2B) in the plane (P) apron (1). Apron according to claim 2, characterized in that in the alignment position of the blade (2B) relative to the blade (2A) to which it is connected by the spring (11; 11A), it is in a prestressing position. Apron according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the spring (11) is of the helical type designed to extend in the thickness of a blade (2A, 2B) and having at each of its ends (12, 14) a hook (13, 15) designed adapted to cooperate with a blade (2A, 2B). Apron according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the elastic return means (10) consist of a pin-shaped spring (11A) having two branches (24, 25) provided at their end respectively (12A). 14A) of a hook (13A, 15A) adapted to cooperate with a blade (2A) and a blade (2B). Apron according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the spring (11) or (11A) is associated to a tip (18, 18A) may be reported, in particular by interlocking, on a lateral end (7, 8) of a blade (2B). Apron according to claim 6, characterized in that the tip (18, 18A) comprises an anchor tongue to be sealed, by crimping and / or gluing, in an end (7, 8) of a blade (2B ). Apron according to claims 4 and 6 or 7, characterized in that in the nozzle (18) is provided a housing (19) provided with hooking means (20) with which is engageable with the hook (15). ) at the end (14) to be introduced into this housing (19) of the spring (11), said housing (19) being still opening in the direction of the blade (2A) to which the spring (11) is to be connected . Apron according to claim 8, characterized in that the attachment means (20) are in the form of at least one notch (20A, 20B) along the wall of the housing (19) with which is able to resiliently cooperate the hook (15) configured redan form. Apron according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises selection means (21) for stressing or not the elastic return means (10) acting on an orientable blade (2B). Apron according to claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the selection means (21) consist of at least one second notch (20B) in the housing (20) with which the hook (15) can be brought in cooperation with it. ) of the spring (11) without being elastically stressed. Apron according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the selection means (21) are completed by means (22) for promoting the gripping of the spring (11) to power it. Apron according to claims 4 and 12, characterized in that the spring gripping means (22) (11) consist of at least one lumen (23) in the end piece (18) for access to the spring (11) in the housing (19) by a tool suitable, in particular a screwdriver, for tensioning the spring (11). Shutter type blind device comprising an apron (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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