EP3247858A1

EP3247858A1 - System for a rollable mosquito net of horizontal action

Info

Publication number: EP3247858A1
Application number: EP15804573.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anastasios TZIOTIS
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-10-31
Filing date: 2015-10-27
Publication date: 2017-11-29
Also published as: WO2016067059A1; GR1008699B

Abstract

System for horizontally rolling and unrolling a mosquito net which is activated through the movement of a vertical bar (I) by the user,the bar comprising at each of its ends a pulley (A). The system comprises a first mechanism installed at the upper and lower section, comprising a guiding rod (R) containing a support for the bar and a system of pulleys (P, Q) rotating when the bar (I) is moved by means of a timing belt (B) which passes around the pulley (A) and the pulleys (P,Q). A second mechanism in the bar is equipped with an axle (D) which connects the pulleys (A), an axle (H) for wrapping the net, and an axle (F) fitted with a spring of suitable elasticity that bears a retention system at its edge and which is adjusted inside the axle (H) so that when it is properly tensioned (wound), it ensures the tensioning of the net. Moreover, it is equipped with axles (G) that work as the basis for the pulleys (A).

Description

SYSTEM FOR A ROLLABLE MOSQUITO NET OF HORIZONTAL ACTION

This invention refers to the technology of external panels used in openings of buildings with the purpose of protecting the interior thereof against the penetration of insects, bugs, rodents, leaves, small animals, gravel, etc., while providing protection against solar radiation (DE 3730944 A1). These external panels are known in the market as mosquito nets.

A mosquito net is mainly comprised of the material used for averting penetration by insects, etc., which is the actual net, made of various materials (metals, polymers, or composites), suitably processed with the purpose of ensuring the best possible optical transparency, aeration, increased lifespan, beauty of form, etc. Its second component is the frame on which the net is installed, which must allow for the proper adjustment of the net (fixed or acting as a guide), offer mechanical strength and beauty of form; this can be made of metal, plastic (polymer), wood or of composite material that has been suitably processed. Its third component is the various accessories allowing the opening and/or closing and/or return of the net, so people or objects can pass through for a small or long period.

This invention refers to the design, manufacture, and use of special accessories, that allow a mosquito net of horizontal action to stabilise, without returning, at any interim point of its opening. No return spring is used, while ensuring the parallel movement of the moving bar. Depending on the function of the building's opening, a mosquito net can be installed with the option of being able to open and close, or it can be installed at a fixed position.

The fixed mosquito net is installed directly on the opening or through a use of frame, but does not allow the crossing of people or the passing of objects through the opening.

In most cases, the mosquito net used allows the crossing of persons or the passing of objects through the opening. To this end, various technologies have been developed and used, along with their respective accessories, which ensure the tensioning of the net, while allowing the opening and the close of the mosquito net (DE 202007008694 U1 , DE 4027006 C1 , DE10200901 1914 A1 ).

With regard to the horizontal action mosquito nets, the technologies used are based on two basic categories: Firstly, there is the standard horizontal action mosquito net with a return function, and secondly, there is the pleated-type mosquito net. The standard horizontal action mosquito net, where the net is rolled around an axle that remains filed on the side section of the wall and includes a suitable tensioning accessory (spring) (DE 3225359 A1 , 1007778). In this mosquito net, the user moves the moving bar from its position close to the axle, where the net is completely open, to its final position, on the other side of the opening (at its complete width), thus fully closing the net. At this point, through the use of suitable accessories, the moving bar is immobilized or locked. The bar and the net move within suitable guide rails, placed on the upper and lower part of the opening. In order to open the net, the user must first disengage / unlock the relevant accessories used for immobilizing the moving bar and then the spring shall return the moving to its initial position, thus opening the net and rendering the opening of the wall fully accessible. In certain applications, there is an option of fixing the net at interim positions, by locking the respective accessories at various position, while following the disengagement of the accessories, the net is automatically returned to is initial position (completely open), thanks to its spring.

The horizontal action mosquito net offers significant advantages, such as ease of manufacture and installation, numerous options for selecting the net, increased optical transparency, good aeration, beauty of form, etc.

The disadvantages of the standard horizontal action mosquito net include its inability to be fixed at any interim position or the difficulty at fixing it at interim positions, its abrupt and usually violent return to the initial position due to the spring, the changing tension exercised by the spring during the movement of the bar, which leads to malfunctions, etc. In addition, the movement of the moving bar can be performed by the user without actual control, and without being vertical against the guide rails, which causes instability and allows the escape of the net from the guide rails. These could lead to improper rolling for the net, which reduces the beauty of form and brings tearing, thus reducing the lifespan of the mosquito net. In certain occasions, its violent return may injure the user or bystanders, located close to the area of the net's operation. The pleated, or accordion-type, etc., mosquito net, which can be fitted with a suitable track at its lower side, can be fixed at any point of the opening. This mosquito net consists of a pleated net (also called accordion-type, etc.), where the user opens it by moving the bar and spacing out the pleats, or closes it by closing up the pleats. There is minimum tension on the net and the transfer of the forces is made through suitable ropes made of polymer (plastic) or composite material, suitably process, running across the net horizontally at more than two— three lines per sheet, passing through it and anchoring on the frame.

The basic advantage of this mosquito net is the ability of easily fixing the moving bar at any interim point, without any abrupt return to its initial position. The disadvantage of this mosquito net is the reduced, compared to the standard horizontal action net, optical transparency. Moreover, the materials for the net must allow the creation of permanent pleats, which are areas subject to increased friction wear, due to the remaining tensions, etc. To this end, these points are susceptible to UV radiation exposure, to humidity, etc., which leads to quick material aging and finally to the destruction of part of the net.

Through this invention, it is possible to manufacture a mosquito net of horizontal action that moves easily and allows the user to fix the moving bar at any interim point, without using additional accessories for locking, and without the bar returning automatically to its initial position. The rolling and unrolling of the net is made when the user moves the bar, without using a spring. The edges of the moving bar are synchronized, thus its movement is controlled, without a risk of loss of the parallel operation or of escape from the guide rails. This invention allows the cover of openings regardless of the width, using the same belt, while its use is not limited by the material of the frame or of the net, etc. This mosquito net preserves all the advantages of the standard horizontal action mosquito nets, such as easy installation, increased optical transparency, absence of pleats on the net, proper aeration, beauty of form, ability to use numerous colours, depending on the architectural requirements, etc. The mosquito net, whose basic drawing is presented in Figure 1 , consists of the following mechanisms and respective accessories:

I) Two mechanisms, which are placed at the upper and lower part, comprised of pulleys (A) and suitable timing belts (B). A general example of the above is provided is noted in Figure 2, and in detail in Figure 3. These two mechanisms consist of a guiding rod (R), in which a support operates (O), which contains an additional system of pulleys (P and Q). Pulley (P) moves inside this support (O), while the other two, smaller, pulleys (Q) are fixed. These two mechanisms, which are placed at the upper and lower section, are linked to an additional mechanism, described below (Figure 4). The mechanism noted in Figure 2 can be cut at any point, and it can be adjusted at the width of the opening, similar to the guides of a standard horizontal action mosquito net. The accessory (O) located inside this mechanism, and drawn in Figure 2 (profile), can move along the mechanism and stay at the desired point during installation. Figure 2 shows the position of the accessory for two different widths of openings. The pulley (P) in Figure 3 is also capable of moving, thus allowing the tensioning of the entire mechanism during installation. After the user has moved the bar (I), the pulley system (P and Q) rotates, which is followed by pulley (A) through the timing belt (B). Figure 3 shows in detail the extreme positions of the mechanism's pulley, from the complete opening of the net to the complete closing.

II) Vertical mechanism, an example of which is presented in Figure 4. This mechanism is equipped with an axle (D) which connects the pulleys (A), an axle (H) used for wrapping the actual net, another axle (F), fitted with a spring of suitable elasticity that bears a retention system at its edge, e.g. a clip, and is adjusted inside axle (H) so that when it is properly tensioned (wound), it ensures the tensioning of the net. Moreover, it is equipped with axles (G) that work as the basis for the pulleys (A).

These two mechanisms operate together as follows:

Following the movement of the bar (I) by the user, the pulley system (P and Q) of Figure 3 is set in action. The movement of these pulleys is transmitted through the vertical mechanism (Figure 4), thus synchronizing their rotation and movement, ensuring the verticality of the moving bard, which leads to always equal distances between J-K and M-L, as shown in Figure 1. A significant advantage of this system is that it may be applied in openings regardless of its width, using the same timing belt.

When the user stops moving the bar, the rotation of the pulleys stops simultaneously, fixing the bar at the point selected by the user. The spring preserves the net tensioned, without returning the bar to its initial position. This way, the movement of the two edges of the bar is made at the same pace (synchronized).

Claims

System used for rolling and unrolling the net without using a return spring, which is activated through the movement of the bar (I) by the user, comprising of two mechanisms. The first is installed at the upper and lower section, comprising of a guiding rod (R), which contains a support (O) that includes an additional system of pulleys (P and Q). After the user has moved the bar (I), the pulley system (P and Q) rotates, which is followed by pulley (A) through the timing belt (B). The second mechanism is equipped with an axle (D) which connects the pulleys (A), an axle (H) used for wrapping the actual net, another axle (F), fitted with a spring of suitable elasticity that bears a retention system at its edge and is adjusted inside axle (H) so that when it is properly tensioned (wound), it ensures the tensioning of the net. Moreover, it is equipped with axles (G) that work as the basis for the pulleys (A). With the help of the second mechanism, the net is rolled, while the pulleys (A) are synchronized, thus ensuring the verticality of the moving bar (I) and the controlled rolling / unrolling with accuracy, up to any point of the opening.

Timing system as per claim 1 for applications on external panels, such as mosquito nets, shading systems, tents, films, pergolas, etc., which allows application on openings regardless of the width of the opening, using the same timing belt.

System, as per claim 1 , operating with various timing mechanisms, such as belts, chains, bands, or a pulley system on the same or on a parallel axle.

Horizontal action mosquito net, with a system as per claim 1 , claim 2, and claim 3, which includes a mechanism allowing the timed movement of the bar at the upper and lower part, as per the example of Figure 2 and Figure 3. The accessories of the mechanisms are connected with another vertical mechanism, an example of which is provided in Figure 5, which contains a timing belt that allows the controlled, and always parallel to the fixed axle, movement of the bar, as shown in Figure 1. This mosquito net allows the easy fixing of the moving bar at any interim point, without any abrupt return to its initial position. The accessories ensure the smooth horizontal relocation of the moving bar, without any instability and without a risk of having the net escape from the guide rails due to non-verticality of the bar.

5. Horizontal action mosquito net, as per claim 4, where the movement can be performed with an electronically system of transmission along with the relevant advantages.

6. Mosquito net as per claim 4, which operates vertically, with the respective advantages. The motion can be enabled either by hand, or with an electrically controlled transmission system.

7. System of external panels, such as sun shade, tent, film, pergola, etc., where by using a mechanism, as per claim 1 , claim 2, and claim 3, the net or fabric or plastic film, etc. is rolled and unrolled by having the user move the bar manually or electronically, and opens and closes at any point, under control and parallel to the guide rails, and without returning.

8. Mosquito mesh system, according to claims 4-6, and system of external panels, as per claim 7, where the opening of the net is performed as per claim 1 and 2, which are intended for a specific opening width, without requiring any adjustments to the section of the mechanism described in Figure 2 and Figure 4 during manufacture or installation.

System for rolling and unrolling the net as per claim 1 and 2, where motion is transmitted to the rolling axle (Figure 4-A) through a system of pulleys and not directly from the timing belt.