ES2343000A1 - System for enclosing and dividing spaces or cavities using tracks and curved flexible sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is intended for use in spaces or cavities in order to configure, without any restrictions on form, technical enclosure or division means in the manner of partitions, screens, furniture or other forms and uses through the use of flexible sheets that slide along guides or tracks forming curves. According to the invention, one or more sheets are used and, once inserted in the guides or tracks, said sheet(s) exploit the high strength characteristics of thin sheets curved owing to the manner in which they are deformed by the associated guides or tracks. The layout of the guides and/or tracks may consist of a single curve or a succession of segments with different curvatures. In addition, the invention can include perforated sheets, additional securing accessories or drive means for mounting the sheets on the guides.

Description

System of enclosure and division of spaces or gaps for rails and flexible arched sheets.

Technical sector

The invention that is protected in this Patent of invention, consists of a system of enclosure or division of spaces or gaps by means of flexible sliding sheets at long guides or rails that make up arched figures.

It is, therefore, a management system o enclosure of spaces and gaps by means of flexible sheets sliding along guides or rails, applicable to furniture, civil works, building, housing and private or public premises, and any type of open or closed spaces for all types of Uses and sizes

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Prior art

The use of technical management means and enclosure of spaces, both fixed and mobile, is already known and it is extended in works, buildings and open spaces (walls, screens, screens, blocks, etc ...) and for various uses (rooms, business premises, bathroom or kitchen areas, furniture, etc ...). However, the various structural assemblies of the systems vary depending on both technical aspects or Aesthetics as per your applications. To this end, with the present invention a rail and sheet closing system is achieved more advantageous compared to those already known because of their functional characteristics in order to its rapidity of assembly, to its adaptability to any position or its versatility of configurations (furniture, civil works, homes, spaces public, business premises, displays or display cases, packaging, etc ...).

At present, they are already known and used various systems and means of enclosure. So for example, the Spanish Utility Model ES191793 DURAL (1973) as an element of enclosure and separation for toilets and rooms on an articulated system of rectangular pieces, the Spanish Patent ES2285958 STUDYBOOK (2007) of a Screen for enclosure of spaces, like an anchor system. But they all present both operational and aesthetic inconveniences and also functional, especially for the type of configuration and the nature of the technical means employed - especially brick, glass, cement, or plastic - with which the use of media already developed always have certain limitations against the invention presented. Apart from these patents, the systems sliding mobiles along guides or rails for the enclosure or subdivision of known spaces or gaps may be cataloged in three large groups according to the degree of stiffness of the enclosure element:

Type A.- High rigidity systems, almost non-deformable for the planned actions in any plane of Considered section: As doors, gates, hatches, covers, screens, sliding partitions, sliding covers and other similar.

Type B.- High deformation systems in the section plane containing the direction vectors of the movement and high rigidity in the rest of sections: As the different types of existing blinds constituted by slats articulated with each other.

Type C.- High deformability or null systems stiffness in any section considered: For example, curtains, curtains, awnings and others similar.

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Technical problem

Next we analyze and evaluate the technical and operational problems and problems functional, which can be seen in the three grouped categories:

Type A.- High rigidity systems

Existing systems of this type have the inconvenience that the rigidity they need to meet their function is mainly achieved by increasing the amount of material used for the enclosure element, well incorporating rigid frames or creating an element of important thickness composed of a single material or several materials with different properties, some to provide rigidity and others as surface material. In any case, they have the disadvantage that stiffness is achieved by increasing costs of material and / or production costs.

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Type B.- Systems with high deformation in the section plane which contains the vectors of direction of movement and high stiffness in the rest of sections

The main systems currently used of this type, for being formed by a large number of pieces that they must articulate with each other and at the same time run along the guides have one or more of the following inconveniences:

one.

The the vast majority of models cannot be used for the enclosure of spaces or gaps in vertical planes with opening direction horizontal for any of the following reasons:

to.

They need the help of the strength of the gravity to close.

b.

The different frictional force that would occur at the ends opposite of the slats would cause the inclination of the slats and, with this, the system lock.

2.

He high number of joints and / or hinges increases the probability of defects of manufacture and assembly in addition to allowing the penetration of the dirt generating the need for maintenance.

3.

He made up of many independent pieces with shapes complex that must be coupled, increases its price compared to simpler solutions. Even more so in the models that promise acceptable operations in the sense of openness horizontal.

Four.

They have tightness deficiencies due to its high number of joints

Type C.- Systems of high deformation or zero stiffness in any section considered

These systems, although they have the power to Approximately adopt the form imposed by the guidelines or lanes and can divide or close large spaces and gaps with relatively low costs, have the disadvantage of having a absolute inability to absorb compression requests or flexion, therefore, cannot support most actions by insignificant, without accusing significant deformations.

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Technical solution

Taking into consideration the three groups or spatial planning categories by degree of relationship stiffness-deformation described above, the Solutions to each of them is as follows.

Solution to the problems posed by Type A systems. High rigidity systems

This invention takes advantage of high performance resistant of thin curved sheets. Resistance to actions will be obtained essentially by the proper way not flat imposed on the enclosure element instead of essentially by increasing the amount of material that incorporates This implies that for the same hole or space you can greatly reduce the amount of material of the element of enclosure and with it, its cost. It also reduces the cost of production because the enclosure element can be a sheet simple without the need for multiple processing and assembly pieces.

Solution to the problems posed by Type B systems. Systems with high deformation in the section plane containing the vectors of direction of movement and high rigidity in the rest of sections

one.

He enclosure element raised by this invention has for its laminar form, great rigidity in the direction of movement, so therefore, there is no possibility that before the moment they create the different friction forces in the lower and upper guide are produce undesirable turns and much less, blockages. Neither requires the intervention of gravitational forces, therefore, can be used in any spatial position and with any opening or closing address.

2.

The enclosure sheet can be completely continuous and, so Thus, it prevents dirt penetration, reduces the need for maintenance and also the probability of manufacturing defects or mounting.

3.

He system can be extremely simple, consisting exclusively in some cases, of a thin sheet and two guides or rails simple. This allows the costs to be significantly reduced compared to multi-piece systems that must be cut and assembled from successive way to constitute the closing element to.

Four.

Since the system has the possibility of incorporating a continuous enclosure element, the degree of tightness is markedly higher than in most systems of multiple articulated pieces.

Solution to the problems posed by Type C systems. High deformation systems or no stiffness in any section considered

As mentioned earlier, this invention takes advantage of the resistant performance of the sheets thin curves, including the ability to absorb stress of traction, compression and flexion. Therefore, the system will display low deformations if it has been conveniently sized for concrete application

Advantageous effects

Its main advantage lies in its functionality since its structure in rail and sheet, and in particular a thin or thin sheet facilitates its production, in addition to productive economy Another fundamental feature is its versatility - its dimensions, its materials and its arrangement, its Application to all kinds of curved angles. And finally, their aesthetic and signaling functions allowing spaces to be created closed decorated with two-dimensional prints (colors, drawings, light beams of optical fibers, etc.) or signage (exhibitors and displays, ...). As well as, separation and closing of spaces and gaps, such as commercial premises ( window dressing, decorative uses, ...), buildings or rooms congresses, exhibition halls, fairs, etc ...

In short, the system is innovative mainly because of its resistant mechanism, because it takes advantage of the high resistance features offered by thin sheets or low thickness that allows to form its curved or arched shape by its mere guided by rails, for use in the enclosure without need to arrange a previously shaped sheet.

How to carry out the invention

The invention presented is a mobile system sliding enclosure or division of spaces or gaps, based on a sheet of thickness proportional to the degree of arching or bending required, with the appropriate degree of flexibility-rigidity arranged in such a way that two of its parallel edges - or complementary accessories of character linear attached to the sheet and also parallel if available more than one - they fit into guides or lanes exclusively straight. These guides or rails allow, through application of a force on the sheet, its displacement in the address marked by such guides.

The layout of the guides or rails may be composed of a simple curve or several joined curves tangentially or alternating curves and straight sections and even have inflection points where the path of the sheet passes from concave to convex, with the condition that the guides are located in parallel planes and their curvatures are provided to the degree of flexibility-stiffness of the sheet.

The sheet, once inserted in the guides or rails can be geometrically assimilated to a surface ruled whose generatrices do not necessarily have to be perpendicular to the planes that contain the guides. In case of having formed the path with sections of different curvature, the sheet will change its own shape adapting to the shape that they impose the guides or rails while traveling along its path.

From the point of view of resistance mechanics, either against forces with motive purpose or forces external desired or unwanted, the system will respond effectively provided that the proportions of the sheet and the curvature imposed Be the right ones. However, the sheet may be reinforced in the areas where the limits are expected to be exceeded Tension or deformation acceptable for service, resulting thus a sheet of variable thickness, of variable material or of variable physical characteristics. These variations may also enter the sheet for reasons beyond its own resistance mechanics such as the response to environmental conditions, service or purely aesthetic Similarly, when the state is expected to Tension or deformation of the sheet will be below the limit allowed for the service, a sheet may be provided punched whenever the location, number and size of the perforations do not substantially alter your behavior laminate.

The system can be manufactured with different sizes and materials on condition that the thickness of the sheet (already be uniform or variable) keep the correct relationship with others dimensions to obtain the degree of adequate flexibility-rigidity and, in turn, save the Correct relationship with the curvature of the guides. The relationship existing between the curvature of the guides and the dimensions of the sheet will be specific to each material or composition of materials and, therefore, cannot be included in this description.

To achieve the necessary functionality of the system, the edges of the sheet parallel to the direction of the movement should run well inside some guides that allow a single degree of freedom of translation coinciding with the Desired path of travel, or by a lane. At Rail case, the edge of the sheet should be conveniently adapted so that when it is inserted in the rail, the two degrees of unwanted freedom of translation. Therefore, it will be it is necessary that the thickness of the sheet be greater than that of the rail or well attach to the cellar an accessory that links the sheet to the rail.

In case it is intended, due to the demands of the concrete application, leave the edges of the sheet free, it is it is possible to attach accessories of a linear nature to the sheet equally flexible that, arranged in parallel, are the ones that run inside the guides or link it to the lanes

For certain curvature conditions, elasticity, roughness of the materials and proportions of the sheet they can appear in the contact areas between guides and sheet, excessively high frictional forces in relation to the force motor and / or excessive noise level. Such inconveniences may remedied by adding coatings to the sheet or guides or both, that reduce the coefficient of friction or by incorporating bearings, wheels, lubricants or any other means used to such end

For the development of this invention have been made different models with the following combinations of materials:

one

These prototypes have shown a behavior and durability excellent. However, others may be used materials or combination of materials such as various plastics, metals, wood, paper, cardboard and any others that allow to form sheets with the appropriate degree of flexibility-rigidity for the intended application or manufacture guides or rails of sufficient strength.

Definitions specific to this invention are the following:

It is considered sheet for the purpose of this invention that continuous geometric body in which two of its dimensions remarkably predominate against the third regardless of material or materials with which it is manufactured or finished shallow you have.

Such sheet will have the appropriate degree of flexibility-rigidity for the purposes of this invention, when it admits the changing curvatures imposed by the guides without lose the features that make it suitable for the application planned during the set number of cycles.

For the purposes of this invention it is considered a guide that element or device that partially hugging the edge of the sheet or some complementary accessory added to the sheet, serves to force her to follow a path in her movement determined.

It will be considered lane that element or device that is hugged by the edge of the sheet or by some complementary accessory added to it and that serves to force it to Let him follow a certain path in his movement.

Best way to realize the invention

Since the invention is not about a product unique and concrete, but rather of a novel system of enclosure with countless shape configurations and possible combinations of materials, can also be used multitude of modes and devices of realization. As an example, those described to are described without limitation continuation:

When a solution is required for a concrete application and this is likely to be resolved by This system may proceed as follows:

FIRST.- It set the maximum travel range of the guides or rails in function of available space.

SECOND.- It choose the most suitable material or materials for the sheet and guides or lanes Sheets and rails of the existing ones in the market or manufacture totally new ones. This aspect is not object of the invention.

THIRD.- For The materials and products chosen will be studied analytically or by test, the function that relates the maximum curvature admissible with its dimensions. Then it will be fixed specifically the value of the maximum curvature and the exact thickness of the material of the sheet, as well as the type of guide or rail.

FOURTH.- Based on the data obtained in the previous steps, it will be designed a tour for the guides or lanes that you can understand simple curve, combinations of curves and straight lines or combinations of several curves, always taking into account that the route resulting must be flat and the curvatures of the path must not exceed the maximum calculated curvature. The designed form must be such that it gives the sheet sufficient resistance against planned actions.

FIFTH.- It They will have the guides or rails in their final place. Either with a precurvando or curving during placement.

SIXTH.- It will insert the flat sheet into the guides or rails, adopting the way it was designed.

SEVENTH.- It they will add to the system, the accessories and complements that allow transmit to the blade the driving and braking force necessary to its operation

Claims (7)

1. System of enclosure and division of spaces or gaps by rails and arched flexible sheets characterized by one or several sheets that will take advantage of once inserted into the guides or rails the high performance of thin sheets curved by the deformation that will be imposed on them by the guides themselves or lanes. 2. System of enclosure and division of spaces or gaps by rails and flexible arched sheets according to claim 1 characterized by using guides or rails with a path not exclusively straight in order to impose on the sheets a shape that gives the necessary strength against the planned actions. The layout of guides and / or rails may consist of a simple curve or the succession of sections with different curvatures. 3. System of enclosure and division of spaces or gaps by rails and flexible arched sheets according to claims 1 and 2 characterized by using additional accessories of linear and flexible or articulated character, attached to the sheets as a means to properly link them to the guides or lanes These accessories may be away from the edges of the sheets. 4. System of enclosure and division of spaces or gaps by rails and flexible arched sheets according to claims 1, 2 and 3 characterized by using elements attached to the sheet of linear or punctual character as a means to prevent it from penetrating excessively into the guides or lanes or you can get out of them. 5. System of enclosure and division of spaces or gaps by rails and flexible arcuate sheets according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 characterized by using perforated sheets as an enclosure element. 6. System of enclosure and division of spaces by rails and flexible arched sheets according to Claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 characterized by using driving mechanisms for the insertion of the sheets by the guides and / or rails. 7. System of enclosure and division of spaces by rails and flexible arched sheets according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 characterized by ornamental, advertising, or signage uses of the sheets.