EP4685329A1

EP4685329A1 - Movable closure

Info

Publication number: EP4685329A1
Application number: EP25190542.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ian Watkins
Original assignee: Galebreaker Group Ltd
Current assignee: Galebreaker Group Ltd
Priority date: 2024-07-25
Filing date: 2025-07-18
Publication date: 2026-01-28
Also published as: GB2642974A; GB202410888D0

Abstract

A movable closure 10 for an opening in a building or like enclosure, the movable closure comprising a screen 12 of supple material affixed at one end to a rolling tube 14, a pair of guide rails 18 affixable, for use, to respective fixed structures relative to a said opening, said rolling tube 14 being affixable at an upper end of the guide rails 18, and drive unit for, in use, rotating said rolling tube 14 to selectively raise or lower said screen 12; wherein:
said screen 12 comprises a plurality of sections of said supple material, coupled together at their adjacent upper and/or lower edges by a respective tension bar 22 extending horizontally across said screen, wherein, at each end of each said tension bar 22, there is provided an anchor device 24, each said anchor device 24 comprising a body coupled to said tension bar 22 and a slider 27 coupled to said body, said slider 27 extending beyond the respective side edge of said screen;
a generally tubular guide runner 34 and a funnel assembly 38 is provided at the top of each guide rail 18, each funnel assembly 38 defining a path into a respective guide runner 34; and
the movable closure 10 is arranged and configured such that as, in use, said rolling tube 14 is rotated to lower the screen 12, the respective sliders 27 of the anchor devices 24 on each end of a tension bar 22 as it is rotated off the rolling tube 14, are picked up and captured by a respective funnel assembly 38 and guided thereby into a respective guide runner 34 such that the body of each said anchor device sits within a respective longitudinal channel of the respective guide runner, and each said slider 27 can move vertically along a respective guide runner 34;
the movable closure 10 further comprising a bottom tube 21 affixed along the free end of the screen 12, wherein weights are provided in or on said bottom tube 21.

Description

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a movable closure and mor particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to a movable closure for buildings and like enclosures.

Background of the Invention

A livestock building based upon the principles of natural ventilation acts to decrease incidents of respiratory diseases, environmental mastitis in case of dairy cattle, influenza, and minimise condensation within the building. However, whilst it is important to ensure there is sufficient incoming fresh air, it is vital to avoid draughts, ad the latter can also cause influenza, coughing and mastitis in dairy cattle.
In recent years, it has been clearly demonstrated that, in order to obtain optimal conditions in a naturally ventilated building, windbreak material should cover open areas equally disposed on both sides of the building. Accordingly, rollerdoors have been used to control the ventilation in such a building.
Manually operated doors, with a gearbox, based on a top rolling system are known. Such doors often utilise a screen of weaved polyester with a PVC coating, and have been in production for many years. However, there is also a demand for electrically driven doors.
Electrically and manually driven doors of this type typically comprise a top rolling system with side guide rails. However, there is a need to prevent billowing by the wind, both when the door is fully closed and when it is partially opened. Accordingly, there is a need:

a. for a manually/electrically operated blocking mechanism to prevent billowing in the wind when the screen/door material on the guide bars; and
b. to avoid chafing of the screen/door material on the guide bars, as this results in wear on the material, causing damage to the screen/door.

Some known doors utilise wind bars affixed, and extending horizontally across, the screen in longitudinally spaced apart relation. These wind bars withstand wind load due to its stiffness in bending, and are supported where the ends engage with the side guide rails. The distal ends of the wind bars engage with the guide rails via respective wind bar caps, thereby avoiding chafing of the side edges of the screen. However, such systems require a locking catch to maintain the fabric tension. Such locking catches are complex and require a gap under the door for operation, which can cause draughts. Also, the wind bar caps are prone to damage, and doors of larger widths can blow out at high wind speeds.
It has also been proposed to utilise tension bars instead of wind bars. Such tension bars operate such that the wind loading is transferred to the side (guide) rails through tension by being laterally held at its ends in the side guide rail mechanism. However, in order to ensure that the door can be easily and smoothly raised and lowered, a trolley like component is provided at each distal end of the each tension bar, the trolley wheels engaging within a recess defined by the guide rails, such that the tension bars are retained within the guide rails, as well as enabling the screen/door to be smoothly raised and lowered as required.
However, the trolley-like components at each end of each tension bar may be prone to failure. Depending on the size of the door, the system may include several tension bars and respective pairs of trolleys, which can create additional friction, as well as making the installation of the door complex. Additionally, the number of moving parts (i.e. the wheels of each trolley) inevitably increases the risk of failure and need for maintenance. Still further, as there is nothing firmly retaining the trolleys within the guide rails, they can pop out in very high winds.
It is an object of the invention to address at least one or more of thee issues.

Statements of Invention

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a movable closure for an opening in a building or like enclosure, the movable closure comprising a screen of supple material affixed at one end to a rolling tube, a pair of guide rails affixable, for use, to respective fixed structures relative to a said opening, said rolling tube being affixable at an upper end of the guide rails, and drive unit for, in use, rotating said rolling tube to selectively raise or lower said screen; wherein:

said screen comprises a plurality of sections of said supple material, coupled together at their adjacent upper and/or lower edges by a respective tension bar extending horizontally across said screen, wherein, at each end of each said tension bar, there is provided an anchor device, each said anchor device comprising a body coupled to said tension bar and a slider coupled to said body, said slider extending beyond the respective side edge of said screen;
a generally tubular guide runner, comprising a longitudinal open channel of width substantially similar to the smallest dimension of said body of each anchor device, is mounted within each guide rail, the inner dimensions of said generally tubular guide runner being substantially similar to the outer dimensions of each slider;
a funnel assembly is provided at the top of each guide rail, each funnel assembly comprising curved, convex and face-to-face inner walls defining a funnel opening therebetween, said funnel opening being larger at the top than the bottom and defining a path into a respective guide runner; and
the movable closure is arranged and configured such that as, in use, said rolling tube is rotated to lower the screen, the respective sliders of the anchor devices on each end of a tension bar as it is rotated off the rolling tube, are picked up and captured by a respective funnel assembly and guided thereby into a respective guide runner such that the body of each said anchor device sits within a respective longitudinal channel of the respective guide runner, and each said slider can move vertically along a respective guide runner.

Beneficially, the body of each anchor device may be substantially flat.
In an embodiment, the lateral cross-sectional shape of each guide runner may be substantially square or rectangular.
Optionally, each said guide rail may define an open longitudinal channel therein, the open portion of said channel facing said screen, and wherein a longitudinal slot corresponding to said longitudinal slot in said guide runner is provided in an end wall of said channel.
The outer profile of the slider of each anchor device may, beneficially, be substantially cylindrical or semi-cylindrical. In any event, the slider of each anchor device may be elongate, having a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the side edges of the screen.
The guide runner and/or each anchor device may, beneficially be formed/moulded of a plastic material.
In a preferred embodiment, each tension bar may comprise a flat elongate bar of resiliently flexible material (e.g. aluminium), having a longitudinal channel portion along its upper and/or lower edge.
The screen may comprise PVC-coated polyester, which may be non-permeable or may, for example, be woven.
In one exemplary embodiment, the drive unit may comprises a manually operated gearbox linked to a manual operator device.
In another exemplary embodiment, the drive unit may comprise an electric motor (e.g. a tubular electric motor). In this case, the movable closure may further comprise an anti-fallback device and a brake shaft coupled to the drive shaft of said electric motor.
The movable closure may, beneficially, comprise a bottom tube affixed along the free end of the screen. Weights may be provided in the bottom tube to aid in lowering the screen.
These and other aspects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

Brief Description of the Invention

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a movable closure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a partial view of a side edge of the movable closure of Figure 1, and an exploded view of an anchor device for use therein;
Figure 3 is a partial view of a top of a guide rail of the movable closure of Figure 1 and a funnel assembly for coupling therewith;
Figure 4A is a partial view of a bottom side edge of the movable closure of Figure 1, illustrating a mount bracket therefor;
Figure 4B is a partial view of a side edge of the movable closure of Figure 1, illustrating a mount bracket therefor;
Figure 5 is a schematic partial view of a top end of a manually-driven movable closure according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
Figure 6A is a schematic partial view of one end of a rolling tube of an electrically-driven movable closure according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
Figure 6B is a schematic partial view of the other end of the rolling tube of the movable closure of Figure 6A;
Figure 7A is a schematic partial view of the rolling tube of an alternative electrically-driven movable closure according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 7B is a schematic partial view of the other end of the rolling tube of the movable closure of Figure 7A.

Detailed Description

In the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of examples and illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that variations and modifications may be made, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limited sense.
The specification may refer to "an", "one" or "some" embodiment(s) in some parts. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature applies to only one embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to make another embodiment.
As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "includes", "comprises", "including" and/or "comprising", when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, operations, steps, elements, components and/or groups thereof As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the associated listed items.
Directional descriptors such as upper, lower, left, right, clockwise, anti-clockwise, front, rear and other similar adjectives are used for clarity and refer to the orientation of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, however it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the invention may not always be oriented as illustrated and the invention is not intended to be limited in this regard.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a movable closure 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises a screen 12 of flexible/supple material is mounted on a rolling tube 14 which is affixable over an opening in an enclosure, preferably at its upper end, by means of a pair of brackets 16 in which the ends of the rolling tube 14 are retained. A pair of guide rails 18 are, in use, affixed along the side edges of the opening. In use, the screen 12 can be raised or lowered as required by (manual or electrical) rotation of the rolling tube 14 to wind or unwind the screen 12. In the (manually-driven) embodiment illustrated, a gear drive 56 is provided at one end of the rolling tube 14 to enable manual winding and unwinding of the screen 12, with the assistance of a spring assist mechanism (not shown). A bottom tube 21 is mounted along the lower (free) edge of the screen 12. Weights are beneficially provided in the bottom tube 21 to assist in lowering the screen 12, in use. No locking catch is required and, as such, no gap is required to be provided between the bottom tube 21 and the ground when the screen 12 is fully closed.
Referring additionally to Figure 2 of the drawings, the screen 12 is provided in sections of, for example, PVC-coated polyester (which may be non-permeable or may be permeable, e.g. woven), each section being coupled to the adjacent section by a tension bar 22. The number of sections and respective tension bars 22 will, of course, depend on the size of the opening in the enclosure. Each tension bar comprises a rigid (e.g. metal) flat bar having, on each long edge, an integrated channel of substantially C-shaped cross-section with the opening in the channel 23 facing outward (from the body of the tension bar 22), the channel being configured to receive and retain an edge of a section of the screen 12. In an embodiment, the tenson bars 22 may comprise aluminium double Keder slimline profiles, for example.
An anchor 24 is mounted at each end of each tension bar 22. Each anchor 24 comprises a flat elongate portion 26 that is coupled to the respective tension bar 22 and sits flat against the tension bar 22 between the respective channels 23. Each anchor 24 also comprises an integrated slider 27 in the form of an elongate, rounded portion that extends beyond the side edge of the respective tension bar 22 and screen sections. The anchor 24 may be formed of a plastic material. The slider 27 may be of generally cylindrical or part cylindrical outer profile, with the longitudinal axis thereof, when the anchor 24 is mounted to the tension bar 22, extending orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the tension bar 22. If the slider 27 of part/semi cylindrical outer profile, the curved outer wall portion will face outwardly from the side edges of the screen 12 (toward the respective guide rail 18). Each anchor 24 may be moulded of nylon, for example.
Referring now additionally to Figure 3 of the drawings, each guide rail 18 comprises an elongate, rigid and generally rectangular (e.g. aluminium) bar. The bar is profiled such that a longitudinal recess 28 is defined along its 'inner' edge (the edge that will face the screen, in use. A generally square or rectangular channel 30 is provided within the bar, along its length. An elongate slot 32 is defined along one edge of the channel 30 (the edge facing the screen, in use). A generally rectangular, tubular guide runner 34, preferably formed of a plastic (e.g. nylon) material, is mounted within the channel 30. The guide runner 34 defines an elongate, open slot 36 along its length, which corresponds with the slot 32 in the channel 30 of the guide rail 18. In use, a respective slider 27 will slide smoothly along the inside of the guide runner 34, as the screen 12 is raised and lowered, and the flat elongate portion 26 of respective anchor device 24 will pass freely through the slots 32, 36 in the guide rail 18 and the guide runner 34. As such, the inner dimensions of the guide runner 34 can be substantially similar to the outer dimensions of the sliders 27, and the width of the slot 36 in the guide runner 34 can be substantially similar to the smallest dimension of the flat elongate portion 26 of the anchor device 24 (which is smaller than the outer dimensions of the slider 27), thereby limiting free movement of the anchor devices 24 in all but the vertical (up/down) directions, and not only helping to prevent billowing of the screen 12, but also helping to ensure that the sliders 27 do not 'pop out' of the guide runner/guide rail during high winds.
A funnel assembly 38 is mounted at the top of each guide rail 18, the inner profile of each guide rail being such that it is shaped and configured to receive and retain the funnel assembly 38 therein. The funnel assembly 38 comprises a generally rectangular support 40 having an outer wall 40a, and a pair of side walls 40b, an elongate recess being defined between the outer wall 40a and the side walls 40b. The outer wall 40a may be formed of, for example, aluminium, whereas the side walls 40b are beneficially formed of a plastic (e.g. nylon) material. On each of the side walls 40b, there is provided an integral curved inner wall 42, each curved inner wall being extending from an inner surface of each respective side wall, each curved inner wall 42 curving outwardly and extending beyond the top edges of the support 40. The curved inner walls 42 have a convex outer profile and are facing each other such that the space between the two curved inner walls 42 is narrowest at the bottom of the assembly (when the system is oriented for normal use, as illustrated in the drawings) and widest at the top in the general manner of a funnel.
A brush strip 44 may be provided to seal the gaps around the ends of the screen.
Referring to Figures 4A and 4B of the drawings, each guide rail 18 may be mounted to a fixed structure surrounding an opening in an enclosure by means of respective mount brackets 45, 45'.
Referring to Figure 4A of the drawings, the mount brackets 45 used on each side of the enclosure at the base of the system (nearest the bottom tube 21 when the screen 12 is fully closed) each comprise a first plate 46 and an integral second plate 48 extending substantially orthogonally thereto (such as to form a general L-shape). The first plate 46 incorporates two open recesses 50 in side by side, spaced apart relation, at its upper edge (when the system is oriented for normal use), by which the mount bracket 45 is coupled to the outer side edge of a respective guide rail by means of a pair of respective bolts or screws 52 (or similar coupling means) that extend through the recesses 50 into a pair of respective corresponding apertures 54 in the guide rail 18. The mount bracket 45 extends around the outer edge of the guide rail 18 such that the second plate 48 (by which the mount bracket 45 can be affixed to a fixed structure adjacent the opening in the enclosure) sits behind the rear face of the guide rail 18.
Referring to Figure 4B of the drawings, the mount brackets 45', used between the above-described mount brackets 45 at the base of the system and the top brackets 16, are substantially the same as those described above, but used in a different orientation. Thus, once again, the first plate 46' is affixed to the guide rail 18 by means of a pair of bolts or screws 52' extending through the recesses 50'. However, in this case, the orientation of the bracket 45' is such that the second plate 48' extends outwardly from the side edge of the guide rail 18, substantially parallel to, and in-line with, the rear face of the guide rail 18.
In its assembled form, the screen 12 (including the tension bars 22), is provided on the rolling tube 14, and the rolling tube 14 (with the screen wound around it) is mounted at the top edge of an opening in a building (say). A pair of guide rails 18 is mounted along the side edges of the opening, such that the funnel assembly 38 on each guide rail 18 is located adjacent to the ends of the rolling tube 14. The sliders 27 of the tension bar at the distal end of the screen will thus be located adjacent to the opening defined between the curved mouldings of the funnel assembly, the funnel defined between the curved inner walls 42 of the funnel assembly acting as a guide for the sliders 27 of the anchors 24. The radius of curve of the curved mouldings 42 in the funnel assembly is designed such that, as the radius of the roll of screen 12 increases or decreases (as the screen 12 is rolled up or down), the sliders 27 are picked up and captured at a different point along the funnel. Thus, when the screen 12 is fully rolled up, the sliders 27 will be picked up and captured at, or near to, the narrowest part of the funnel and, as it is unrolled (to lower the screen 12), the sliders 27 will be picked up and captured further and further up the funnel.
The rolling tube 14 may be rotated about its longitudinal axis, in either direction (to open or lower the screen 18) by manual or electrical drive means.
Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, in a manually driven system, a gear drive 56 may be provided at one end of the rolling tube 14, adjacent one of the top mounting brackets 16. The gear drive 56 is mechanically coupled to a manual operating mechanism (not shown), for example, a rotating handle or wheel. A spring assist mechanism (not shown) may be provided within the rolling tube 14, at the opposite end of the gear drive 56, to aid manual operation of the system. In the case of the manually driven system, and in the case, of the electrically driven systems to be described hereinafter, rollers 58 may be provided at each end of the rolling tube 14, each coupled at one end to a respective top mounting bracket 16, to ensure that the screen 12 is uniformly rolled onto or off the rolling tube 14 as it is rotated.
In the case of an electrically driven system comprising a motor and drive shaft for rotating the rolling tube 14, the drive shaft can either be provided externally, and coupled to the rolling tube 14, or it can be provided within the rolling tube 14 itself.
Accordingly, referring to Figures 6A and 6B of the drawings, a motor 60 (having a manual override) may be mounted on the guide rail 18, below a respective top mounting bracket 16, at a first end of the rolling tube 14, and the drive shaft 62 thereof coupled, via a bearing 64 at its distal end, to the rolling tube 14, the bearing 64 engaging with the inner surface of the rolling tube 14 at the above-referenced first end. An anti-Fallback device 66 may be mounted on the top mounting bracket 16 adjacent the second, opposite end of the rolling tube 14, and a brake shaft 68 thereof coupled, via a bearing 70 at its distal end, to the rolling tube 14, the bearing 70 engaging with the inner surface of the rolling tube 14 at the above-referenced second end. The drive shaft 62 and brake shaft 68 are, in this case, effectively coupled together by the rolling tube 14.
Referring to Figures 7A and 7B of the drawings, in an alternative embodiment, a tubular coupling motor 72 may extend through the rolling tube 14, from the first end to the second end, with the distal end of the tubular motor 72 being mechanically coupled to the brake shaft 68 of the anti-fallback device 66 mounted at the second end of the rolling tube 14. The tubular motor 72 engages, at its distal end, with the inner surface of the rolling tube 14 by means of a bearing 74.
It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art, from the foregoing description, that modifications and variations can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A movable closure for an opening in a building or like enclosure, the movable closure comprising a screen of supple material affixed at one end to a rolling tube, a pair of guide rails affixable, for use, to respective fixed structures relative to a said opening, said rolling tube being affixable at an upper end of the guide rails, and drive unit for, in use, rotating said rolling tube to selectively raise or lower said screen; wherein:
said screen comprises a plurality of sections of said supple material, coupled together at their adjacent upper and/or lower edges by a respective tension bar extending horizontally across said screen, wherein, at each end of each said tension bar, there is provided an anchor device, each said anchor device comprising a body coupled to said tension bar and a slider coupled to said body, said slider extending beyond the respective side edge of said screen;

a generally tubular guide runner, comprising a longitudinal open channel of width substantially similar to the smallest dimension of said body of each anchor device, is mounted within each guide rail, the inner dimensions of said generally tubular guide runner being substantially similar to the outer dimensions of each slider;

a funnel assembly is provided at the top of each guide rail, each funnel assembly comprising curved, convex and face-to-face inner walls defining a funnel opening therebetween, said funnel opening being larger at the top than the bottom and defining a path into a respective guide runner; and

the movable closure is arranged and configured such that as, in use, said rolling tube is rotated to lower the screen, the respective sliders of the anchor devices on each end of a tension bar as it is rotated off the rolling tube, are picked up and captured by a respective funnel assembly and guided thereby into a respective guide runner such that the body of each said anchor device sits within a respective longitudinal channel of the respective guide runner, and each said slider can move vertically along a respective guide runner.
A movable closure according to claim 1, wherein said body of each anchor device is substantially flat.
A movable closure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lateral cross-sectional shape of each guide runner is substantially square or rectangular.
A movable closure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each said guide rail defines an open longitudinal channel therein, the open portion of said channel facing said screen, and wherein a longitudinal slot corresponding to said longitudinal slot in said guide runner is provided in an end wall of said channel.
A movable closure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer profile of the slider of each anchor devices is substantially cylindrical or semi-cylindrical.
A movable closure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the slider of each anchor device is elongate, having a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the side edges of the screen.
A movable closure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said guide runner is formed of a plastic material.
A movable closure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each anchor device is moulded of a plastic material.
A movable closure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each tension bar comprises a flat elongate bar of resiliently flexible material, having a longitudinal channel portion along its upper and/or lower edge.
A movable closure according to claim 9, wherein each said tension bar is formed of aluminium.
A movable closure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said screen comprises PVC-coated polyester.
A movable closure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the drive unit comprises a manually operated gearbox linked to a manual operator device.
A movable closure according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein said drive unit comprises an electric motor.
A movable closure according to claim 13, wherein said drive unit comprises a tubular electric motor.
A movable closure according to claim 13 or claim 14, further comprising an anti-fallback device and a brake shaft coupled to the drive shaft of said electric motor.
A movable closure according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a bottom tube affixed along the free end of the screen.
A movable closure according to claim 16, wherein weights are provided in or on said bottom tube.