FR1450573A - Support bar for draperies, curtains, and the like - Google Patents

Description

 Support bar for draperies, curtains, and the like. The present invention relates to a support rod for panels and more particularly to a rod in which the main sliders are actuated by a motor housed in the rod itself.

The invention is more particularly in view of the transverse displacement of draperies, curtains, etc .; the following description will be made by taking such an example as an example. However, it is obvious that it can also be used to support, in this way, other portable panels, such as doors.

The utility of devices controlled by an engine, for example an electric motor, is recognized for a long time. In particular, in the case of very heavy, wide-width curtains, such as those used in many establishments, or where, as sometimes happens, the curtain is placed in a place which is not easily accessible, the The use of devices of this kind is advantageous and is widely used. In addition, it is frequently desirable to open and close the drapes automatically depending on the intensity of the ambient light, and photocells are used in this case to actuate the draper motors. However, in known systems, the device simply serves to move conventional pull cords, in the same way that they are manually operated. In other words, the rod and its pulling cords are essentially the same for manual or motor actuation, the latter simply serving to pull the cords in one direction or the other.

This solution is satisfactory enough with regard to operation, but raises serious maintenance problems due to friction between the control members and pull cords, which results in high wear of the latter. Replacing the drawcords is always a long operation and when a drive motor is planned, this replacement is even more complicated. In addition, this engine must be relatively powerful to overcome the considerable friction created by the pulling cords passing over the end pulleys and tension rods in conventional rods. In addition, the draw cords sometimes leave their location and get stuck on a pulley or cling to another part of the device. When this happens in a controlled device manually, the user feels resistance and is not. On the other hand, when this occurs in a motor device, it may be seriously damaged before the malfunction is detected. Although various safety devices, such as slip transmissions, can be provided, they have the defect of being complicated and expensive and hence undesirable. In addition, a large number of people consider that draw cords, whatever they are, are unsightly and, therefore, to avoid.

The main object of the invention is to avoid the disadvantages mentioned above.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, with reference to the appended drawing and in which FIG. 1 is a front view of a device according to the invention, the position of the stop blocks being indicated in dashes; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective of a portion of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section through III-III of Figure 1; Fig. 4 is an IV-IV section of Fig. 5 is a V-V section of Fig. 3; Figure 6 is a section through VI-VI of Figure 1; Fig. 7 is a section VII-VII of Fig. 6; Figure 8 is a section through VIII-VIII of Figure 1; Figure 9 is an IX-IX section of Figure 8; showing one of the main cursors approaching the central stop block.

In the embodiment shown, the rail 1 is intended to support and guide two main cursors 2. In the example, two main cursors are shown in order to obtain bidirectional operation, but it is clear that only one The main controller will be used for unidirectional operation. In addition, more than two main sliders could be provided at points along the rail. A driving unit 3 is mounted on each of the main sliders to drive it in both directions, along the rail 1, as required. Any controller, such as a three-position switch 6, may be provided to control each drive unit. The switch 6 may, for example, have a first position in which the cursor moves to the right, a second position in which it moves to the left and a third position where it is stopped.

In the embodiment shown, the rail I comprises two twin gutters 7 and 8, one of which is adapted to support the sliders bearing the tenure, while the other is adapted to support the actuating structure of the drive units 3 In this case, the channel 7, which is adapted to support the sliders, has a U-shape returns and wings 11 and 12 delimit a slot opening downwards to receive the support sliders 13 of the curtain, such as conventional nylon sliders, as well as the main sliders 2. In a variant, the slider supporting the sliders could be turned to the side, as shown in French Patent No. 1,34,5855.

The gutter 8, which is adapted to support the actuating structure of the power unit 3, comprises a block 14 of insulating material which is held in place by lips 15 and 15a. A number of conductors, normally three, 16, 17 and 18 are embedded in the block 14 where they are spaced vertically and isolated from each other. The conductors 16, <B> 17 </ B> and 18 have also isolated from the metal of the rail 1 by the block 14. When this rail is constituted by a non-conductive material, such as an extruded plastic material, the Block 14 may be part of the rail. The block 14 and the conductors 16, 17 and 18 can be assembled outside the rail before the block is slid into the latter. Alternatively, a layer of plastic material could be poured into the rail for in-situ molding. While the plastic is substantially fluid, the conductors may be embedded therein to be held firmly in position when the plastic has solidified.

Caps 21 and 21a are provided for closing the ends of the rail and support members 22 may advantageously be attached to the rail for supporting the rail in a structure of my appropriate size, such as a wall. The supports 22 may be of any conventional type and, where appropriate, be identical to those shown in U.S. Patent Application No. 433,539 filed February 8, 1965, in the name of James A. Ford.

The end cap 21 is provided with contact means with the conductors 16, 17 and <B> 18, </ B> means which can be elastic conductive strips 23, 24 and 26 which are mounted in the grooves of a The lamellae 23, 24 and 26 are connected to a suitable electrical hole by wires which are connected by a switch 6 to a suitable electrical source. One of the lamellae, here the lamella 24 constitutes the mass, while the other two are brought to an electrical potential that can be continuous or alternating. In the illustrated embodiment, cap <I> 21a </ I> has no electrical connection and merely serves to close the end of the bead wire.

In the embodiment shown, the two motor units 3 are wound opposite so that the switch 6 can be used to control the movements of the two halves of the curtain. However, this specific arrangement suggests many other possibilities that will arise in the minds of technicians.

The power unit 3 can take many forms, provided it is small enough and is able to propel itself along the rail and support and drive a main slider 2 which, in turn, supports a removable wall hanging. In the embodiment shown, the drive unit 3 comprises a carriage 31 supporting a reversible motor 32 whose shaft is connected, by a suitable gear 33, to a drive wheel 34. The drive wheel 34 may, advantageously, be covered with a friction material, such as rubber, to increase its traction relative to the wings Il and <B> 12 </ B> of the rail. The carriage 31 is also provided with a support wheel 36 which may, depending on the case, be driven or not.

Pads 41, 42 and 43 are superimposed vertically and offset longitudinally on a projecting arm 44 of the carriage 31 to contact the conductors 16, 17 and 18 respectively. The pads 41, 42 and 43 are shifted to prevent short circuits.

The pads 41, 42 and 43 are suitably connected to the motor 32 so that the energizing of the conductor 16 causes it to rotate in a certain direction, while energizing the conductor 18 causes it to rotate in the opposite direction. A support arm 46 extends from the carriage 31 to be connected, in a conventional manner, to a curtain. If necessary, the main slider 31 could also be supported by the arm 44 which extends through the slot of the trough 8 in the manner described in detail in US Patent Application No. 159,851. </ B>

To automatically interrupt the power supply of the motor units 3 when the curtains are closed, means have been provided for tomatically removing one of the runners 41, 42 and 43 from each driving unit 3, here the runner 41, from the driver 16. In the embodiment shown, this is achieved by means of a block 51 of insulating material disposed in the trough 8 at the place where the main sliders are close to each other. The block 51 is detachably fixed by a screw 52 and a washer 53. The block 51 has, in plan, a T shape and has three grooves 54, 55 and 56 which fit in the conductors 16, 17 and 18 the upper groove 54 forming the channel T. The surface of this cross member, which is opposite the groove 54, is shaped to form opposing cams 57 and 58 so that when the pads 41 they are applied to these, they deviate from the contact of the drivers 16. It is assumed that when the driver 16 is energized, the main cursors are moved towards each other, so that the The movement of these sliders ceases when the skids 41 go away from the driver 16. It should be noted that when this is the case, the skids 41, 42 remain in contact with the conductors 17 and 18, so that when the driver 18 is turned on, the main sliders 12 deviate.

It is also useful to discard the skates 4.3 of the driver 18 when the curtains have arrived in the open position. To this end, additional blocks 59 and 61 may be mounted in the rails near the opposite ends thereof. These blocks correspond, in all respects, to the block 51, except that they are returned so that their tra verses are arranged at the bottom, thus making it possible to discard the pads 43 of the conductor 18.

It should be noted that the blocks 59 and 61 can be adjusted along the rail 1 to compensate for the variations of the curtains and, in particular, to obtain the desired gathering thereof. Similarly, the block 51 can be adjusted longitudinally as required, for example when drapes of different lengths are connected to the two main sliders. It is obvious that the same techniques could be used with the necessary modifications, for unidirectional operation, or when more than two main cursors are used either in unidirectional operation or in bidirectional operation. It is also understood that the blocks 51, 59 and 61 could be suppressed when the switch 6 is at three positions, so that the user can de-energize the three conductors 16, 17 and 18 by acting on the switch. This is generally less desirable since this does not provide an automatic shutdown of the motors, but it may be useful to allow the draperies to be placed in intermediate positions. When the switch 6 is a two-position switch, the draperies necessarily move to the blocks 51, 59 and 61 before stopping.

In use, assuming that the draperies are open and the main sliders 2 are in the position shown in Figure 1, when it is desired to close the draperies, the switch 6 is operated in order to excite the driver 16. This, in turn, supplies power to the motor 32 to cause the driving wheels 34 to rotate, so that the main sliders 2 come closer to each other. When the pads 41 meet the cams 57 and 58 and stop being in contact with the driver 16, the engines stop, as well as the main sliders.

When it is desired to return the main sliders 2 to the position of FIG. 1, actuator 6 is operated to cause excitation of the magnet 18, which supplies the motors so that the sliders move away from one another. other. This lasts until the pads 43 meet the cams of the blocks 59 and 61, which moves them away from the slat 18, after which the movement of the main sliders ceases.

In the embodiment shown; both motor units can be operated simultaneously from a single switch, but it is obvious that by a relatively simple modification of the control system these two motor units could be made independent.

The motor 32 provided for the motor unit unit 3 is a rotary motor, but it is self-evident that other devices could be used, such as, for example; one of many known electromagnet rectilinear motors that are commonly used for doors.

It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (1)

SUMMARY The invention relates in particular to a support structure for draperies, curtains, etc., such that they can be moved longitudinally, which comprises an elongated rail on which is mounted a long-tudinal displacement a main driving unit characterized in that electrical conductors extend along at least a portion of the rail and are connected to an electric drive device mounted on the main power unit so that the latter can move along the rail in-response to the current sending of drivers. Embodiments of the structure defined under 1 may further include one or more of the following features taken singly or in combination with one another. Means are provided for disconnecting the main power unit from said conductors at predetermined points along the rail; b. The main power unit contains an electric motor to move it along the rail; c. The main power unit has elements sliding against the conductors and also has windings connected thereto to create an electric field causing movement of the main power unit along the rail; d. The rail is constituted by a hollow rod having a slot in at least one of its walls, the main power unit being mounted on this rod and having a portion extending through the slot to support a curtain, the electrical conductors being mounted inside the rod so as to cooperate with the main drive unit; e. The electrical conductors are elongated strips mounted on the inner wall of the rod and the main power unit is connected to these strips by sliding shoes; f. The rod is divided into two compartments by a partition, the strips being mounted in one compartment, while the slot communicates with the other compartment, a part of the main motor unit including the pads being mounted in the first compartment, while another part of the main slider is mounted in the other compartment so as to move along it; g. Fasteners are mounted at the ends of the bead wire, and at least one of these fasteners comprises other conductors slidably interlocking in the conductors housed inside the bead wire; h. Insulators are mounted at particular points within the bead wire, said members having cam surfaces for engagement with and disengaging the pads from said strips.