EP2305943A2 - Curtain assembly for an architectural opening - Google Patents

Abstract

The arrangement has a head rail (2), a lower rail (4) and an intermediate rail (6) arranged between the head and lower rails. A curtain (8) is arranged between the lower and intermediate rails, and operating shafts (12, 12') are arranged in an area of the head rail. A safety coupling (40) is arranged between the shafts and connects the shafts with one another in a torque-proof manner in a blocking position with respective to a relative rotating direction, where the lower and intermediate rails are arranged at a minimum distance to each other in the blocking position.

Description

The invention relates to a curtain arrangement for an architectural opening such as window or door opening, with a fixed rail, a first movable rail, a second movable rail between the fixed rail and the first movable rail, with a first and a second actuating shaft, in the or In the region of the fixed rail are arranged, wherein between the first movable rail and the second movable rail, a curtain can be arranged, and wherein the first actuating shaft operatively connected to the first movable rail and a rotation of the first actuating shaft movement of the first movable rail to Consequence, and wherein the second actuating shaft is operatively connected to the second movable rail and a rotation of the second actuating shaft has a movement of the second movable rail result in, as for example from the US 7,063,122 or the US 2008/0053626 A1 is known.

In such a curtain arrangement safety devices are known which prevent unwanted automatic adjustment of a rail when no operation is done from the outside.

However, with an upward actuation of the first movable rail or the lower rail, it may happen that, after the curtain between the first and lower and the second movable rail or intermediate rail has moved completely together, the intermediate rail upwards entrains, which can lead to the intermediate rail associated traction means except guiding engagement with deflecting and / or drive rollers or winding elements and then no longer ordered order or unwind. In addition, such an operation may result in the curtain collapsed to a package becoming excessively compressed and / or overloading the traction means associated with the movable rails.

The object of the invention is to develop a generic curtain arrangement to the effect that the disadvantages mentioned are eliminated.

This object is achieved in a generic curtain arrangement by the measure that between the first and second actuating shaft, a safety clutch is arranged, which rotatably connects the actuating shafts in a blocking position with respect to a first relative rotational direction corresponding to a decreasing mutual distance of the movable rails the first movable rail and the second movable rail are in this blocking situation at a predetermined minimum distance from each other.

Starting from the blocking position, the safety clutch then allows a relative rotational movement of the actuating shafts in an opposite second direction of relative rotation, detects their magnitude and, starting from this, allows a relative rotational movement in the first relative rotational direction in each case only until reaching the blocking position.

The safety coupling thus blocks a mutually directed movement of sub and intermediate rail at a predetermined minimum distance, even before a blockage starts due to the fact that the rails resulting due to the blocking effect of the compressed therebetween to a package hanging, which would go hand in hand with a considerable burden of hanging and traction means , which is avoided according to the invention. In addition, an undesirable entrainment of the intermediate rail is avoided by the lower rail when it is moved upwards against the intermediate rail.

Conveniently, the actuating shafts are arranged one behind the other and have matching axes of rotation.

Each actuating shaft may be connected directly or via a gearbox with an actuating means such as actuating crank, operating cord, actuating chain or with an electric motor. The transmission may be a reduction gear, which is connected on the input side with an actuating means, for example via an actuating wheel with a strand-shaped actuating means, and the output side is connected to the respective actuating shaft, so that the actuating wheel has a higher rotational speed than the actuating shaft. Such a gear design, due to the friction conditions, ensures that, when the intermediate rail is moved downwards, when the safety clutch is locked, the lower rail is not caused to move down, and vice versa, when the lower rail is moved upwards, it does not undesirably take the intermediate rail up ,

In a preferred embodiment it can be provided that the safety coupling comprises two cooperating threaded elements, wherein a first threaded member having a first stop surface and rotatably connected to the first actuating shaft and a second threaded member has a second stop surface and is rotatably connected to the second actuating shaft.

The first threaded element may have an internal thread and an adjoining hollow-cylindrical receiving region, and the second threaded element may be a Having external thread, wherein the second threaded member is receivable in the receiving area.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the first actuating shaft is associated with a first end stop, which blocks a rotation of the first actuating shaft beyond a first end position in which the first movable rail is in a predetermined upper end position. Furthermore, it can be provided that the first actuating shaft to a second end stop is arranged, which blocks a rotation of the first actuating shaft beyond a second end position, in which the first movable rail is in a predetermined lower end position.

Accordingly, it may be provided that the second actuating shaft is associated with a first end stop, which blocks a rotation of the second actuating shaft beyond a first end position, in which the second movable rail is in a predetermined upper end position. Furthermore, it can be provided that the second actuating shaft is associated with a second end stop, which blocks a rotation of the second actuating shaft via a second end position in which the second movable rail is in a predetermined lower end position.

Conveniently, each end stop on two cooperating threaded elements, one of which is rotatably connected to the respective actuating shaft and a rotationally fixed relative to the fixed rail is guided.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorhanganordnung in einer ganz zusammengefahrenen Stellung zeigt, in der die Zwischenschiene gegen die Kopfschiene anliegt und die Unterschiene sich in einem geringstmöglichen Abstand zur Zwischenschiene befindet, mit dazwischen paketförmig zusammengeschobenem Behang,
• Fig. 2 eine Stellung zeigt, in der die Zwischenschiene gegen die Kopfschiene anliegt und die Unterschiene weitestmöglich heruntergefahren ist, wobei der Behang vollständig geöffnet ist,
• Fig. 3 eine Zwischenstellung zeigt, in der die Unterschiene ganz heruntergefahren ist und die Zwischenschiene eine mittlere Stellung zwischen Kopf- und Unterschiene einnimmt,
• Fig. 4 eine Stellung zeigt, in der Zwischen- und Unterschiene ganz heruntergefahren sind und der Behang paketförmig dazwischen angeordnet ist,
• Fig. 5 eine Stellung zeigt, in der Zwischen- und Unterschiene einen kleinstmöglichen Abstand mit paketförmig dazwischen angeordnetem Behang aufweisen und sich in einer Zwischenstellung zwischen Kopfschiene und unterster Stellung nach Fig. 4 befinden,
• Fig. 6 einen ersten und zweiten Endanschlag einer Betätigungswelle zeigt,
• Fig. 7 eine perspektivische Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Sicherheitskupplung in auseinandergefahrener Stellung zeigt,
• Fig. 8 eine perspektivische Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Sicherheitskupplung unmittelbar vor Erreichen der Blockierstellung zeigt, und
• Fig. 9. eine perspektivische Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Sicherheitskupplung in Blockierstellung zeigt.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment, reference being made to a drawing in which

• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a curtain arrangement according to the invention in a completely compressed position, in which the intermediate rail rests against the head rail and the lower rail is located at a minimum distance from the intermediate rail, with packet-shaped curtain pushed together in between,
• Fig. 2 shows a position in which the intermediate rail abuts against the head rail and the lower rail is shut down as far as possible, the curtain is fully open,
• Fig. 3 shows an intermediate position, in which the lower rail is completely shut down and the intermediate rail occupies a middle position between the head and bottom rail,
• Fig. 4 shows a position in which the intermediate and lower rails are completely shut down and the curtain is arranged in a package shape between them,
• Fig. 5 shows a position in the intermediate and lower rail have a smallest possible distance with packet-shaped arranged therebetween curtain and in an intermediate position between the head rail and the lowest position after Fig. 4 are located,
• Fig. 6 shows a first and second end stop of an actuating shaft,
• Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the safety coupling according to the invention in the extended position,
• Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the safety coupling according to the invention immediately before reaching the blocking position, and
• Fig. 9 , a perspective view of the safety coupling according to the invention in the blocking position shows.

In the Fig. 1 to 5 illustrated curtain assembly is used for the selective covering or shading of an architectural opening such as door or window and has a fixedly mounted, horizontal fixed rail or head rail 2, a relatively movable in the vertical direction first rail or bottom rail 4 and a second movable rail or intermediate rail 6 arranged therebetween who are also in Vertical direction relative to the head rail and independently of the lower rail 4 is movable.

Between sub and intermediate rail a curtain 8 is arranged, which is designed in the illustrated embodiment as a pleated curtain. Optionally, there may be another curtain between head and intermediate rail, which may consist of the same or a different material than the curtain 8, so that different Lichtdurchlass- or shading options and / or hanging colors are possible.

The up and down movement of the lower rail 4 via a first actuating shaft 12 which is rotatably mounted in the head rail 2 and are rotated via an unillustrated gear and cooperating with this, led out of the head rail 2 actuating chain 14 in one or the other direction can. On the operating shaft 12 sitting in a rotationally fixed connection therewith three conical bobbins 16a, b, c, around which in a conventional manner pull cords 18a, b, c looped and unwound and unwound, the pull cords on arranged within the head rail deflections to the lower rail are guided and carry these.

Two first end stops 20, 22 are rotatably connected at a predetermined mutual distance a with the first actuating shaft 12 so that they rotate with this. In particular, the end stops 20, 22 are clamped on an externally threaded portion 24 which is non-rotatably seated on the actuating shaft 12 and on which a provided with a corresponding internal thread stop body 26 is arranged threadably, sa Fig. 6 ,

With each revolution of the first actuating shaft 12, with the male threaded portion 24 also rotating, the stopper body 26 translates according to its threaded engagement with the male threaded portion 24 by a pitch in one or the other direction towards the first or second end stop 20, 22. The default The axial positions of the end stops 20, 22 on the male threaded portion 24 is in this case made such that the stopper body 26 in a predetermined upper end position of Lower rail 4, as in Fig. 1 is shown in abutment against the first end stop 20, so that a further rotation of the first actuating shaft 12 in a lower rail 4 lifting direction of rotation is not possible. Said upper end position of the lower rail 4 is predetermined so that there is still a minimum distance between the head rail 2 and lower rail 4 and between the intermediate rail 6 and the lower rail 4, which allows an unobstructed reception of the folded into a package curtain 8, without this excessively compress.

Conversely, the stop body 26 runs at completely lowered bottom rail, if this in accordance with their predetermined lower end position Fig. 2 is against the second end stop 22 and blocks further rotational movement of the first actuating shaft 12 in a direction corresponding to a further lowering of the lower rail.

In order for a blocking effect of the stopper body 26 with respect to the first end stops 20, 22 angle accurate and without distortion or jamming of the threaded cooperating parts 20, 24 and 26, the stopper body 26 is on both sides and the end stops 20, 22 at its the stopper body 26 facing Each side provided with a stepped blocking approach 28. The locking lug has a height h which corresponds to the thread pitch or the thread progress per revolution of the actuating shaft or is slightly smaller, and a stop surface 30 which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the actuating shaft. When abutment of the stopper body 26 against one of the end stops 20, 22, the abutment surfaces 30 of the blocking lugs 28 against each other, so that a precise angle and thus very precise blocking of the actuating shaft is guaranteed. With opposite rotation of the actuating shaft, the blocking lugs 28 move during a first revolution from the blocking position by an axial distance from each other, which corresponds to a pitch, so that the blocking lugs 28 can just be moved past each other.

The movement of the intermediate rail 6 is carried out in the same manner as described above for the lower rail 4, wherein a second actuating shaft 12 'is rotatably mounted in the head rail 2 and an actuating chain 14' and not shown in detail Actuator can be rotated from the outside in rotation. Conical bobbins 16'a, b, c, which are rotatably connected to the second actuating shaft 12 ', serve the winding and unwinding of pull cords 18', which are connected via disposed within the head rail 2 deflections with the intermediate rail 6 and carry them.

First and second end stops 20 ', 22' are rotatably connected to the second actuating shaft 12 'and arranged at predetermined positions with a fixed mutual distance, wherein between the end stops a male threaded portion 24' is arranged, on which a corresponding internally threaded stop body 26 ' is arranged in threaded engagement.

As well as the stopper body 26 is the stopper body 26 'rotatably, but axially displaceably guided in the head rail 2 and is displaced in a rotation of the second actuating shaft corresponding to the threaded engagement with the male threaded portion 24', which rotates with the second actuating shaft 12 'in the axial direction , The stopper body 26 'is as well as the stopper body 26 provided on both sides with step-shaped locking lugs 28' of height h (threading corresponding to 28), and also the end stops 20 ', 22' are each provided with a blocking lug 28 ', wherein all blocking approaches a substantially axially extending stop surface 30 'in order to ensure a rotational angle exact blocking position of the second rotary shaft 12' without distortion of the threaded parts.

In the illustrated curtain arrangement is thus ensured on the basis of the first and second end stops and the cooperating stop body on the actuating shafts that the lower and intermediate rail can not be operated above a predetermined lower or upper end position, the actuating shafts upon reaching a preset end position not simply be blocked by the fact that the rails themselves, for example, against the head rail or against each other.

However, in such an arrangement, there is still the risk that, for example, the second operating shaft when lowering the. By excessive operation

Intermediate rail against the lower rail located in an intermediate position the drawstrings 18 'are excessively far from the bobbins 16' unwound and problems arise when rewinding. Conversely, there is a risk that the lower rail is raised excessively far against the intermediate rail located in an intermediate position and the intermediate rail is taken up, which also problems in the area of the drawstrings 18 'can occur.

To solve this difficulty, the curtain system according to the invention on a safety coupling 40 which is disposed between the first 12 and second actuating shaft 12 '. Regardless of the position of the lower and intermediate rail, the safety coupling allows a collapse of the two rails only up to a predetermined mutual minimum distance and blocks upon reaching this minimum distance, a downward movement of the intermediate rail and / or an upward movement of the lower rail.

This blocking takes place in the described embodiment, characterized in that the safety coupling rotatably interconnects the actuating shafts with respect to a first relative rotational direction, which corresponds to a decreasing mutual distance of the lower and intermediate rail. Starting from this blocking position, the safety coupling allows a relative rotational movement between the first and second actuating shaft in an opposite direction of relative rotation, d. H. a movement of the lower and intermediate rail away from each other, detects the amount of such a relative rotational movement and then leaves it starting a relative rotational movement back in the first direction of relative rotation only until reaching the blocking position, d. H. to a position in which lower and intermediate rails have approached again to the specified minimum distance.

Fig. 7 and 8th illustrate an embodiment of the safety clutch 40. A first threaded member 42 has a mounting collar 43 which is fixed by a fixing screw 44 rotatably and axially immovably to the first actuating shaft 12. Two bridges 46 are connected on the one hand with the mounting collar 43 and on the other hand with a threaded nut 48, so that between the webs 46, a receiving area 49 is formed.

The threaded nut 48 carries a stepped blocking lug 50 which forms an axially extending first stop surface 52 having a height h (such as 30, 30 'at 28, 28').

In threaded engagement with the threaded nut 48 is provided with an external thread 53 second threaded member 54 which is rotatably and axially displaceably connected to the second actuating shaft 12 'and in the receiving area 49 is receivable. The second threaded member 54 carries a positionally adjustable held stopper body 56 which is held with fixing screws 58 adjustably on the second threaded member 54. The stop body 56 carries a stepped blocking lug 60, which forms a second stop surface 62 extending in the axial direction.

The stopper body 56 is positioned on the second threaded member 54 so that in an adjacent position of lower and intermediate rail, approximately in accordance with Fig. 1 . 4 and 5 in which they are at a minimum distance from each other, the safety clutch 40 a position according to Fig. 9 occupies ( FIG. 8 shows a position immediately, ie a revolution of the actuating shafts, before reaching the blocking position), in which the stopper body 56 is immediately adjacent to the threaded nut 48 and the stop surfaces 52, 62 abut against each other. In this position, no further approximation between lower and intermediate rail is possible. Neither the first operating shaft 12 can be rotated in the direction of raising the lower rail, as it is blocked by the stopper body 56, nor conversely, the second actuating shaft 12 'can be moved in the direction of lowering the intermediate rail, as it passes through the threaded nut 48 with blocking approach 50th is prevented from rotating in this direction. In other words, the safety coupling 40 connects the two actuating shafts with respect to a first relative direction of rotation, which corresponds to a decreasing mutual distance between the lower and the intermediate rail, rotatably with one another, or blocked with respect to this first relative rotational direction, provided that each associated with the actuating shafts gear do not allow a "reverse drive".

Starting from this blocking position ( Fig. 9 ) allows the safety clutch relative rotational movement between the actuating shafts 12, 12 'in an opposite direction of relative rotation of course, ie for a movement of lower and intermediate rail away from each other, which after a relative rotation between the actuating shafts to a position after Fig. 8 and after several turns to a position approximately according to Fig. 7 leads.

In this position, the threaded nut 48 has on the externally threaded 53 second threaded member 54 due to a corresponding relative rotation between the first and second actuating shaft 12, 12 'away by a certain distance from the stopper body 56. This distance between the threaded nut 48 and the stopper body 56 is proportional to the mutual distance between the lower rail 4 and intermediate rail 6 and also to the number of relative rotations between the first and second actuating shaft in a relative to the first (closing) relative rotational direction opposite direction of relative rotation. The safety clutch 40 has detected in this way the amount of relative rotational movement in the second (opening) Relativdrehrichtung and can be based on a relative rotational movement of the actuating shafts back in the first direction of relative rotation only until reaching the blocking position Fig. 9 to, ie to a position in which the lower and intermediate rails have approached to the preset minimum distance.

Fig. 1 to 5 allow the respective position of the stopper body 26, 26 'with respect to the associated end stops 20, 22 and 20', 22 'and also recognize the position of the safety clutch 40. In Fig. 1 . 4 and 5 Both sub and intermediate rail are moved together as far as possible, so that the safety clutch 40, the two actuating shafts 12, 12 'in the first direction of relative rotation (corresponding to a movement of the two rails) rotatably connected to each other, which is equivalent due to the friction conditions in the actuators a blockage.

Fig. 3 shows an approximately middle position of the safety coupling, wherein the lower and intermediate rail are at a middle distance from each other. The threaded nut 48 occupies a mean distance from the stopper body 56.

According to Fig. 2 the curtain 8 is fully open, and the bottom rail occupies a maximum distance from the intermediate rail. Consequently, the threaded nut 48 is at a maximum distance from the stopper body 56th

With respect to the end stops of the actuating shafts shows Fig. 1 the reaching of the first end stop 20, which is assigned to the first actuating shaft 12, by the stopper body 26, which corresponds to an upper end position of the lower rail 4. Fig. 2 shows the reaching of the second end stop 22 by the stopper body 26, which corresponds to the lower end position of the lower rail 4. Fig. 5 shows a middle layer of the lower rail 4, wherein the stopper body 26 is located approximately centrally between the two end stops 20, 22.

Fig. 1 and 2 show the achievement of the first end stop 20 ', which is associated with the second actuating shaft 12', by the stopper body 26 ', which corresponds to the upper end position of the intermediate rail 6. Fig. 4 shows that the stopper body 26 'has reached the second end stop 22', which corresponds to the lower end position of the intermediate rail 6. Fig. 3 and 5 show a middle layer of the intermediate rail 6, and consequently also the stopper body 26 'of the second actuating shaft 12' is located approximately centrally between the associated end stops 20 ', 22'. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 2 headrail 4 bottom rail 6 intermediate rail 8th curtain 12 first actuating shaft 12 ' second actuating shaft 14, 14 ' operating chain 16 a, b, c Winding body (winding device) 16'a, b, c Winding body (winding device) 18, 18 ' Pull cords (traction means) 20, 22 first end stop 20 ', 22' second end stop 24, 24 ' Externally threaded section 26, 26 ' stop body 28, 28 ' blocking lug 30, 30 ' stop surface 40 safety clutch 42 first threaded element 43 mounting collar 44 fixing screw 46 web 48 threaded nut 49 reception area 50 blocking lug 52 first stop surface 53 external thread 54 second threaded element 56 stop body 58 fixing screw 60 blocking lug 62 second stop surface a distance H height

Claims (10)

Curtain arrangement for an architectural opening such as a window or door opening, comprising a fixed rail (2), a first movable rail (4), a second movable rail (6) between the fixed rail (2) and the first movable rail (4), with a first and a second actuating shaft (12, 12 ') which are arranged in or in the region of the fixed rail (2), wherein a curtain (8) is arranged between the first movable rail (4) and the second movable rail (6) ), and wherein the first actuating shaft (12) is operatively connected to the first movable rail (4) and rotation of the first actuating shaft (12) results in movement of the first movable rail (4), and wherein the second Actuating shaft (12 ') operatively connected to the second movable rail (6) and a rotation of the second actuating shaft (12') has a movement of the second movable rail (6) result, characterized gekennzei that between the first and second actuating shaft (12, 12 ') a safety clutch (40) is arranged, which corresponds to the actuating shafts (12, 12') in a blocking position with respect to a first relative rotational direction corresponding to a decreasing mutual distance of the movable rails rotatably connected to each other and the first movable rail and the second movable rail are in this blocking situation at a predetermined minimum distance from each other. Curtain assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating shafts (12, 12 ') are arranged one behind the other and have matching axes of rotation. Curtain assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each actuating shaft (12, 12 ') directly or via a transmission with a Actuating means such as operating crank, operating cord, actuating chain (14, 14 ') or connected to an electric motor. Curtain assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the safety coupling (40) has two mutually cooperating threaded elements (42, 54), wherein a first threaded element (42) has a first stop surface (52) and rotationally fixed to the first actuating shaft (12). is connected, and a second threaded member (54) has a second stop surface (62) and rotationally fixed to the second actuating shaft (12 ') is connected. Curtain assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the first threaded element has an internal thread and an adjoining hollow cylindrical receiving portion and the second threaded member has an external thread, wherein the second threaded member is receivable in the receiving area. Curtain arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first actuating shaft (12) is associated with a first end stop (20, 26), which is a rotation of the first actuating shaft beyond a first end position, in which the first movable rail (4). in a predetermined upper end position, blocked. Curtain arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first actuating shaft (12) is associated with a second end stop (22, 26), which is a rotation of the first actuating shaft beyond a second end position, in which the first movable rail (4). in a predetermined lower limit position is blocked. Curtain assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second actuating shaft (12 ') is associated with a first end stop (20', 26 '), which comprises a rotation of the second actuating shaft via a first End position in which the second movable rail (6) is in a predetermined upper end position blocked. Curtain assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second actuating shaft (12 ') is associated with a second end stop (22', 26 '), the rotation of the second actuating shaft (12') beyond a second end position in which the second movable rail (6) is in a predetermined lower end position blocked. Curtain system according to one of claims 6 - 9, characterized in that each end stop (20, 22, 20 ', 22') has two mutually cooperating threaded elements (24, 26, 24 ', 26'), one of which (24, 24 ') in rotation with the respective actuating shaft (12, 12') is connected and one (26, 26 ') rotatably relative to the fixed rail (2) is guided.

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