TECHNICAL SECTOR
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The present invention relates to the sector of siding roller blinds.
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In particular, it relates to a novel upright for a sliding roller blind and to a sliding roller blind which comprises such an upright.
PRIOR ART
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Numerous sliding blinds designed to provide shading from the sun for windows or openings in the facades of buildings or on balconies or in arcades are known. In particular, roller blinds comprising a cloth, a top roller, a bottom bar and two lateral uprights are known. The top roller is typically housed inside a box. When the roller is rotated in a first winding direction, the cloth is wound up, partially or completely, around the said roller; when the roller is rotated in a second unwinding direction (opposite to the first winding direction), the cloth is unwound so as to cover partially or completely the window opening. The bottom bar helps tension the cloth in the vertical direction.
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Italian patent No. 102018000007221 in the name of the same Applicant discloses a guiding and tensioning device for a sliding blind. The guiding and tensioning device comprises an upright and a sliding guide; the upright has a substantially constant cross-section along the sliding direction of the blind; the upright defines a housing for the sliding guide; the housing has a longitudinal channel facing a tensioning direction t perpendicular to the sliding direction of the blind; inside the housing, the sliding guide is free to translate in the tensioning direction, from the inside towards the outside and vice versa; the sliding guide comprises, viewed in cross-section, a C-shaped portion which is open in the tensioning direction in the form of a longitudinal slit; the sliding guide comprises at least one elastic element distributed along the sliding direction of the blind; the housing defines at least one guiding wall and at least one contrast wall; the sliding guide comprises at least one contact wall which rests on the guiding wall so as to be able to freely slide in the tensioning direction; the elastic element rests on the contrast wall, generating a reaction which opposes the translation of the sliding guide from the inside towards the outside of the housing defined by the upright; and wherein the elastic element is integral with the sliding guide and comprises notches distributed along the sliding direction of the blind.
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Therefore, the solution according to
IT 102018000007221 advantageously provides for tensioning of the cloth also laterally.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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The solution described in
IT 102018000007221 is extremely advantageous and efficient.
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According to
IT 102018000007221 , each upright comprises a first fixed profile and a second profile, which can be coupled to the first fixed profile, so as to form a housing for the sliding guide. Typically, the first profile is fixed to a vertical wall.
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Coupling together of the first profile and the second profile is performed by means of a plurality of screws. For each joining screw, a hole is formed in one face of the second profile.
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The holes for the screws may be made at the factory or directly by the installation worker during assembly of the blind.
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In the first case, it is possible that, when cutting an upright to the size of the window on which the blind is to be mounted, a hole coincides with the cutting line or in any case is very close thereto. This situation is not acceptable from an aesthetic point of view.
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In the second case, the formation of holes which are aligned or equally spaced is difficult and time-consuming to achieve. Moreover, it is highly likely that the installation worker may make a mistake and therefore cannot use the upright provided with holes which have not been precisely formed.
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The Applicant has defined the object of providing an upright for a sliding roller blind which overcomes the aforementioned problem and which is such that the first fixed profile may be coupled together with the second profile in an easy and reliable manner.
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According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing recessed snap-on coupling members and a cover configured to be snap-engaged onto the coupling members.
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Advantageously, with the present invention, the screws which join the second profile to the first profile are not visible and this represents an advantage from an aesthetic point of view.
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According to a first aspect, the present invention provides an upright for a roller blind, comprising:
- a first fixed profile and a second movable profile, which is attachable to the first profile so as to form an open, longitudinal, front chamber configured to house a sliding guide, wherein the first profile comprises a U-shaped groove comprising two knurled inner walls;
- at least one snap-on coupling member which is configured to be attached to the first fixed profile, wherein the second movable profile is interposed between the at least one snap-on coupling member and the first fixed profile; and
- a cover configured to snap-engage with the at least one snap-on coupling member.
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According to embodiments, the second movable profile comprises an outer wall, an inner wall and a dividing wall connecting the outer wall to the inner wall.
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According to embodiments, the dividing wall, comprises a longitudinal notch, for example triangular in cross-section, and/or a longitudinal rib, for example triangular in cross-section.
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According to embodiments, the longitudinal notch and/or the longitudinal rib lie(s) in a plane which corresponds to the median plane of the U-shaped groove with knurled walls.
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According to embodiments, the snap-on coupling member comprises a base and legs projecting from the base, wherein the base comprises a hole for a screw, wherein the screw is configured to engage with the knurled inner walls of the U-shaped groove.
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According to embodiments, the dividing wall comprises a hole and the screw passes through the hole in the dividing wall.
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According to embodiments, the projecting legs terminate in half-arrowhead ends and wherein the cover comprises two side walls with half-arrowhead ends configured to engage with the ends of the ends of the projecting legs so as to lock the cover to the snap-on coupling member.
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According to embodiments, the base of the snap-on coupling member comprises a longitudinal rib, for example triangular in cross-section.
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According to embodiments, the first profile and the second profile are at least partially made of a metallic material, such as aluminium or aluminium alloy, or a plastic or thermoplastic material such as polyvinyl chloride PVC, polypropylene PP or polycarbonate PC.
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According to embodiments, the snap-on coupling member is at least partially made of a plastic or thermoplastic material such as polyvinyl chloride PVC, polypropylene PP, polycarbonate PC, polyoxymethylene copolymer, nylon, aliphatic polyamides or aromatic polyamides.
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According to embodiments, the sliding guide comprises a plate with a substantially flat back face, a front face with a projecting central C-shaped part defining a slit, and two whiskers on either side of the projecting central part, wherein each whisker extends longitudinally in a continuous manner.
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According to another aspect, the present invention provides a roller blind comprising two uprights and a cloth between the two uprights, wherein at least one upright is an upright according to any one of the preceding claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
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- Fig. 1 shows in schematic form a sliding blind which can be rolled up into a configuration where the cloth is partially wound up;
- Fig. 2 shows an axonometric view of an upright and a cloth according to an embodiment of the invention;
- Fig. 2.1 is a cross-sectional view of the upright shown in Fig. 2;
- Fig. 3 is an axonometric view of a fixed upright according to an embodiment of the present invention;
- Fig. 3.1 is a cross-sectional view of the fixed upright shown in Fig. 3;
- Fig. 4 is an axonometric view of a movable upright according to an embodiment of the present invention;
- Fig. 4.1 is a cross-sectional view of the movable upright shown in Fig. 4;
- Fig. 5 and Fig. 5.1 are axonometric views of a snap-on coupling member according to an embodiment of the present invention;
- Fig. 6 is an axonometric view of an embodiment of the closing cover according to the present invention;
- Fig. 6.1 is a top plan view of the cover according to Fig. 6;
- Fig. 7 is an axonometric view of a sliding guide according to an embodiment of the present invention;
- Fig. 7.1 is a top plan view of the sliding guide according to Fig. 7;
- Fig. 8 is an axonometric view of a cloth according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
- Fig. 8.1 is a top plan view of the cloth according to Fig. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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Fig. 1 shows a roller blind 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The roller blind 1 comprises two uprights M and a cloth T which can be wound up (and unwound) onto/from a roller. Typically, the roller is housed inside a box C. The roller blind may also comprise a bottom bar F which extends along the bottom edge of the cloth T.
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Typically, the uprights M are fixed to two opposite walls which define the opening of a window.
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Fig. 2 shows an upright M according to an embodiment of the present invention. The upright M is fully assembled. A portion of a cloth T is also shown as being laterally tensioned between the upright M and a similar opposite upright (not shown). Fig. 2.1 shows a cross-sectional view of the upright M according to Fig. 2.
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The upright M according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a first fixed profile 30 and a second movable profile 40. The term "fixed" refers to the fact that the first profile 30 is configured to be fixed to a wall. Fixing may for example be performed by means of rawl plugs and screws 38 (Fig. 2.1). Other known fixing systems may be used, also depending on the material of the wall. The adjective "movable", used for the second profile 40, refers instead to the fact that the second profile 40 is configured to be coupled/uncoupled to/from the first profile 30. In other words, the second profile 40 may be separate from the first profile 30. When the second profile 40 is coupled to the first profile 30, it completes the first profile 30 and forms, in fact, a single profile. When the first profile 30 is coupled to the second profile 40, it forms a substantially quadrangular shape in cross-section.
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The first profile 30 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 3 and 3.1, while the second profile 40 will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 4.1. According to embodiments, the first profile 30 and the second profile 40 are made of a metallic material, for example aluminium or aluminium alloy. According to embodiments, the first profile 30 and the second profile 40 are obtained by means of extrusion.
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In other embodiments, the first profile 30 and the second profile 40 are at least partially made of a thermoplastic material, for example polyvinyl chloride PVC, polypropylene PP or polycarbonate PC or other plastic materials.
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The first profile 30 comprises a rear wall 31, a front wall 32, a first side wall 33, a second side wall 34 and a U-shaped groove 35. According to embodiments, the U-shaped groove 35 comprises a closed wall 351 and two knurled inner walls 352, 353, facing each other. According to embodiments, the groove 35 is delimited by a portion of the second side wall 34.
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According to embodiments, the first profile 30 comprises a first, outer, longitudinal slot 36 in the vicinity of the corner edge between the rear wall 31 and the second side wall 34.
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According to embodiments, the first profile 30 comprises a second, inner, longitudinal slot 37, in the vicinity of the inner wall 352 of the U-shaped groove 35.
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According to embodiments, the front wall 32 extends over a short distance and is folded so as to form an "L" 321 directed towards the rear wall 31.
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With reference to Figures 4 and 4.1, the second movable profile 40 will now be described. The second profile 40 comprises an outer wall 44, an inner wall 43, a dividing wall 41 which connects the outer wall to the inner wall, and a front wall 42, which is substantially symmetrical with respect to the front wall 32 of the first profile 30.
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According to embodiments, the outer wall 44 of the second profile 40 terminates in an end 441 configured to engage with the first slot 36. According to embodiments, the outer wall 43 of the second profile 40 terminates in an end 431 configured to engage with the second slot 37. The outer wall may comprise an inner spur 45, the spacing function of which is clear with reference to Fig. 2.1.
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According to embodiments, the dividing wall 41 is perpendicular to the outer wall 44 and to the inner wall 43 of the second profile 40 and forms a kind of H shape.
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According to embodiments, the dividing wall 41 comprises a rib 411, which is for example substantially central. The rib 411 is configured to reinforce the dividing wall 41 and define a boring line for fixing one or more snap-coupling members 50, shown in Figures 5 and 5.1. A longitudinal notch 412 may be provided opposite the rib 411. The notch 412 may have a substantially triangular form in cross-section.
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As mentioned above, Figures 5 and 5.1 show an embodiment of a snap-on coupling member 50. According to the embodiment shown, the snap-on coupling member 50 comprises a flat base 51 and a pair of legs 52. Each leg 52 terminates in a half-arrowhead end 521. In other embodiments, there could be only one pair of legs 52 or more than two pairs of legs 52.
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According to embodiments, the legs 52 open out in a V shape away from the base 51. In other words, the half-arrowhead ends 521 of the legs 52 are splayed. The legs 52 form an open channel, which is closed at the base 51.
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According to the embodiment shown, the base 51 comprises a through-hole 53, for example in a part between the two pairs of legs 52. In other embodiments there could be several holes 53.
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According to embodiments, as shown in Fig. 5.1, the base comprises a rib 54 projecting from the bottom face 511, namely from the face of the base 51 opposite to that from which the legs 52 project. The rib 54 may be substantially triangular in cross-section or in any case complement the notch 412 in the dividing wall 41 of the second profile 40.
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The snap-on coupling member 50 is configured to be firmly locked to the second profile 40. In particular, the bottom face 511 of the base 51 is configured to be arranged facing the dividing wall 41 of the second profile 40. The rib 54 of the snap-on coupling member 50 is configured to engage with the notch 412 in the dividing wall 41. In this way, the snap-on coupling member 50 is centred with respect to the second profile 40. For fixing purposes, a hole is formed in any position along the notch 412 of the dividing wall 41. A screw 48 (Fig. 2.1) is then inserted through the hole 53 of the base 51 and the hole formed in the dividing wall 41. In this way, the snap-on coupling member 50 is firmly centred longitudinally with respect to the second profile 40. The legs 52 of the snap-on coupling member project towards the front face of the profile M.
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As shown in Fig. 2.1, the notch 412 and the rib 411 on the dividing wall 41 lie in a plane which corresponds to the median plane of the U-shaped groove 35 with knurled walls. Therefore, the threaded shank of the fixing screw of the snap-on coupling member engages with the knurled walls 352, 353 of the U-shaped groove 35 which form in fact a thread. Therefore, locking the snap-on coupling member 50 to the dividing wall 41 of the second profile 40 results in locking of the second profile 40 to the first profile 30. The two profiles 30, 40 are therefore firmly locked together.
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The snap-on coupling member 50 may be made of any material, but preferably is made of a thermoplastic material, such as polyoxymethylene copolymer (POM-C) commonly known as acetal resin, for example available under the tradename Delrin.
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In other embodiments, the snap-on coupling member 50 is at least partially made of a thermoplastic material, for example nylon or other aliphatic or aromatic polyamides.
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Obviously, two or more snap-on coupling members 50 may be firmly locked to the second profile 40. The distance between them may be substantially the same or may be different. As will be understood from the description below, the legs 52 of the snap-on coupling members 50 form coupling points for the screw-covering profile 60 which will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 6.1.
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With reference to Fig. 6 and to Fig. 6.1, an embodiment of a screw-covering profile 60 is described. The screw-covering profile 60 according to the embodiment shown is substantially in the shape of an "E" when viewed in cross-section. The screw-covering profile 60 comprises a front wall 62 and two side walls 63, 64. Advantageously, it may comprise a central reinforcing wall 65 between the two side walls 63, 64.
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The side walls 63, 64 preferably have ends in the form of half-arrowheads (631, 632). Advantageously they have a rounded tip.
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Owing to the form and the size of the side walls 63, 64 of the screw-covering profile 60, the latter may be removably coupled to the legs 52 of the snap-on coupling members 50, which are in turn locked to the first and second profiles 30, 40 by means of screws 48.
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Advantageously, the position in which the holes for locking the first profile 30 to the second profile 40 are formed is not of importance since the holes are not visible when the upright M is completed with the screw-covering profile 60. The second profile 40 may therefore be provided with holes which are formed beforehand at the factory or made by the installation worker when performing assembly.
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The front wall 61 of the screw-covering profile 60 is substantially in line with the front wall 31 of the first profile 30 and with the front wall 41 of the second profile 40.
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As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 2.1, when the upright M is assembled, a chamber CM open at the front for housing a sliding guide 70 is created, as shown in Figures 7 and 7.1.
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According to an embodiment, the sliding guide 70 has a symmetrical form and comprises a plate 71 with a substantially flat rear face 711. The plate 71 comprises a front face 712 with a projecting central C-shaped part 72 which defines a slit 721. Two whiskers 73 are provided on either side of the projecting central part 72. Each whisker 73 preferably comprises a straight part and a part curved towards the outside. The part curved towards the outside may have a smaller thickness than the straight part.
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Advantageously, the sliding guide 70 may be at least partially (or entirely) made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and/or polycarbonate (PC). Advantageously, each whisker 73 is continuous along the whole length of the sliding guide 70.
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The ends of the whiskers 73 are configured to engage with respective corners of the open chamber CM inside which the sliding guide 70 is housed. The whiskers 73 are deformable so as to laterally tension the cloth T when it is arranged in position. The cloth comprises an enlarged edge T1, as shown in Figures 8 and 8.1. The enlarged edge T1 is configured to be inserted and retained inside the longitudinal slit 721 of the central C-shaped part. A system may be provided for engaging the enlarged edge T1 of the cloth so that the cloth T is wound up onto the roller or the cloth T is unwound from the roller. The enlarged edge T1 could have a plurality of teeth T11 for engagement by a system of gears.
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Obviously, although the present invention has been described in detail only with reference to a blind, the scope of protection is not limited to a blind, but also includes a blackout shade, a mosquito net, or the like. Therefore, the term "cloth", for the purposes of the present description and the claims, must be understood as including a meshwork (for example for a mosquito net), a blackout fabric or a screen for image projection. Similarly, the expression "roller blind" must be understood as comprising also a mosquito net which can wound up or a screen for image projection which can be wound up. Moreover, the present invention relates to sliding blinds designed to provide not only a sunshade for windows, but also a screening for the openings in building facades, on balconies or in arcades.