FR2490712A3 - DEVICE FOR CLOSING AND OPENING BLINDS, SHUTTERS AND SWIVEL COMPONENTS OF WINDOWS IN GENERAL - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A DEVICE FOR CLOSING AND OPENING FROM THE INTERIOR OF A ROOM OR A CLOSED VOLUME, SHUTTERS, BLINDS AND SWIVEL ELEMENTS OF WINDOWS IN GENERAL. THE DEVICE INCLUDES A FIRST AND A SECOND LINKAGE 3, 4, 5, 6 EACH INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE FIRST LEVER 3, 4 ARTICULATED ON A SOLIDAR SUPPORT OF A ROOM WALL OR A WINDOW CHASSIS, AND AT LEAST ONE SECOND LEVER 5, 6 FUNCTIONALLY COUPLES AND COOPERATING WITH THE FIRST LEVER AND ARTICULATED ON A CORRESPONDING SHUTTER ELEMENT, THE FIRST AND SECOND LINKAGE BEING FUNCTIONALLY COUPLING WITH ONE ANOTHER, AN ACTUATION DEVICE 21, SERVING TO OPERATE THE DRIVERS TO SIMULTANEOUSLY PRODUCE AN OPENING OR CLOSING OF THE SHUTTER ELEMENTS, AS WELL AS A LOCKING MECHANISM ACTING TO LOCK THE SHUTTERS IN THEIR CLOSED POSITION.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for closing and

  open, from a room or a closed space,

  blinds, shutters and window swivel elements in general.

  ral. It is commonly required to be able to close and open, from within a room and without having to open a window, blinds, shutters, screens, pivoting elements of windows or the like. Until now, we have not found on the market of devices capable of meeting this requirement and operations closing / opening blinds or shutters consist of opening the windows first, which is obviously inconvenient

  for the operator, especially in bad weather conditions.

  c. The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device which allows the manual, or preferably automatic, execution of the closing or opening of blinds,

  shutters and pivoting elements of windows in general.

  As part of this general objective, it is possible to make the device of simple construction and can be arranged as a modular unit that can be conveniently attached to most types of blinds.

  and shutters, including existing types.

  It is further possible to ensure that the device confirms the invention offers the possibility of opening blinds and shutters of an adjustable degree, through several open positions, to thereby allow a

  variable admission of light in a room or a closed space.

  It is also possible to ensure that

  positive defined above is extremely safe operation

and virtually maintenance free.

  It is also possible to ensure that

  positive embodiment according to the invention is equipped with a locking mechanism acting to maintain blinds, shutters

  or the like blocked in a closed position.

  It is also possible to ensure that the device according to the invention comprises a minimum number of components and can be made from materials and / or elements that are conveniently available on the market, while

  by being relatively inexpensive.

  According to one aspect of the present invention,

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  there is provided a device for closing and opening, from within a room or a closed space, blinds, shutters and pivoting elements of windows in general, characterized in that it comprises a first and a second linkage each comprising at least one first lever articulated on a support means substantially integral with a wall of a room or a closed volume and / or a window frame, and at least one second lever operatively connected to the first cooperating with it and articulated on a corresponding blind or shutter element,

  said first and second linkages being operatively connected

  one actuator is also provided and arranged to actuate said linkages in a controlled manner so as to ensure substantially simultaneously the opening and the

  closing the blind or shutter elements.

  Other advantages and characteristics of the invention

  will be highlighted, in the rest of the description, given to

  As a non-limitative example, with reference to the appended drawing in which: Figure 1 is a general plan view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, showing the shutters in their closed condition; Figure 2 is a partial sectional side view of the device of Figure 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view and partly in section showing the left half of the device of Fig. 1, a shutter member being placed in the full open condition; FIG. 4 is a detail view showing the closure and opening assembly which is associated with the first embodiment of FIG.

  embodiment of the device according to the invention.

  FIGS. 5 to 7 are diagrammatic views showing the operation of the first embodiment of the device according to the invention, FIG. 5 showing more particularly the device in the process of completely closing the shutters, FIG. maintaining the shutters open by a preset angle, while Figure 7 shows the device according to the invention ensuring the opening of the shutters; Figure 8 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, in the condition o similar flaps (not shown in this particular figure) are placed in a partial open position; Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section and partly broken away, of the device of Fig. 8; Figure 10 is a bottom view of the device of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention; Figure 12 is a schematic plan view of a fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention; Figs. 13A and 13B are schematic views of a security mechanism that may be associated with the different modes

  embodiment of the device according to the invention.

  With reference to the drawing, and more specifically to FIG. 1, it will be seen that in general plan view there is shown a device for closing and opening shutters or the like which is arranged in accordance with the present invention. The device is designated as a whole by 1 and can be mounted either on the inside or the outside of the walls and, indifferently, near the upper part or the lower part of the window opening. As can be seen, the device covers essentially the entire width of the window opening, between the parts 2, 2 'of the wall. In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the device comprises first levers, designated respectively by 3 and 4, and second

  levers or connecting rods, designated respectively by 5 and 6.

  The levers 3 and 4 generally have an L-shaped configuration and are hingedly connected at one end, respectively designated 7 and 8, with the connecting rods 5 and 6 being articulated at their other ends by the intermediate: respective pivots 9 and 10, with respective supports which are substantially fixed with respect to, and / or solidarity with

  wall or window frame parts 2, 2 '.

  On the pivots 9 and 10, are further rotatably mounted pinions II and 12 which are integral with the levers 3 and 4 and

  on which passes a drive chain 13, which has an

  closed-loop type gating substantially in the form of "eight".

  Said chain 13, although shown only schematically, may be a drive chain of a conventional design such as a roller chain. Advantageously, the chain 13 is provided with an interrupted part which is replaced by a

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  spring 14, whose function will be explained later. The connecting rods 5 and 6 are pivotally connected by their other respective ends, as indicated at 15 and 16, to support blocks 17 and 18, which are substantially integral with the shutters or the like 19 and 20. To ensure the closure or the opening of said flaps 19, 20, there is provided an actuating assembly, designated by 21 and shown in detail on the

  FIG. 4. The actuating assembly 21 comprises an electric motor

  22 which ensures, by means of a gearbox 23 which may be of worm type and tangent wheel, driving a pinion 24 around which passes the chain 13. The figure shows that the assembly of 21 is placed between the two levers 3 and 4, close to the pivot 10 of the lever 4. However, in other embodiments of the device according to the invention, it can be placed in any other appropriate place, or we can

  provide two sets 21 each associated with a flap.

  Advantageously, there is also provided a torque limiter which comprises a lever 25 biased by a spring 26 calibrated appropriately. The lever 25 is pivotally mounted at 27, substantially at an intermediate position, and its end 28 is arranged to rest, under the pressure of the spring 26, on the chain 13. In practice, the spring-loaded lever 25 maintains the chain 13 on the pinion, thus offering the possibility of creating a torque limiter, the value of the torque being determined by the adjustment of the spring 26 and said limiter acting, when the torque is exceeded, to cause the pinion 24 to slip on the chain 13 by making sure that the chain moves backwards and

  wraps on the rollers of the chain.

  Accordingly, as those skilled in the art will be able to appreciate, the presence and complexity of end-of-travel elements arranged to detect the end of closing and / or opening of the window are eliminated. In addition, the spring-loaded lever 25 also serves to allow the opening and / or the manual closing of the window in the event of a break in service.

  current or failure of the electric motor 22.

  The following will describe the operation of the dis-

  positive according to the invention. More specifically, when the user excites the electric motor 22, for example by depressing an appropriately arranged push-button control switch (and not shown), which can be placed for example in the vicinity

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  from the window, the electric motor is rotated and the gearbox 23 drives the pinion 24 into rotation, which in turn drives the chain 23, thereby producing, as a function of the direction of rotation of the electric motor 22, the opening or closing of the shutter member 19 or 20, which is pushed in open condition and / or pulled in condition of

  closing by its respective connecting rod 5, 6.

  It should be noted that, during the closing and / or opening movements, the spring 14 acts as a chain tensioner and simultaneously allows the closure of a shutter element, for example the element 20, and then the another element 19, which abuts against the flap member 20. In FIG. 3, the flap member 19 is shown in its fully open condition, the linkage comprising the lever 3 and the connecting rod 5 being

  placed in the deployed condition In FIG.

  felt the device in the condition of closing shutters.

  As shown in particular in Figure 6, a characteristic of

  The particular feature of the present invention is to make it possible to establish for the shutters and / or the blinds several conditions of partial opening, so that it is thus possible to admit the desired degree of light in the room. This corresponds to a feature that can not usually be achieved with conventional flaps unless they are locked in position

  desired opening through fairly complicated means.

  We will now describe a second embodiment

  of the device according to the invention with reference to FIG. 8.

  The device according to the invention has been designated as a whole by IA and it can be installed either on the inner side,

  the outer side of the walls and also close indifferently

  on the upper or lower parts of the opening

  window, as for the embodiment described above.

  Obviously also in this case, the device IA covers

  the entire width of the window opening. In this second embodiment of the invention, which is in part similar to the first embodiment, the device 1A comprises, inside a chamber-shaped enclosure 2A, for example a metal enclosure, and provided with appropriate openings, first levers 3A and 4A and second levers or rods of

link SA and 6A.

  The levers 3A and 4A are generally configured

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  L-shaped and they are pivotally connected by one of their ends, designated respectively by 7A and 8A, with the connecting rods 5A and 6A, and at their other end, by means of pivots 9A and 10A, respectively with supports which are substantially fixed relative to and / or integral parts of a bearing wall (not shown). On the pivots 9A and 10A are also rotatably mounted pulleys l1A and 12A which are integral with the levers 3A and 4A, a drive cable 13A passing over said pulleys so as to control the flaps, this cable 13A having a loop configuration closed substantially in the shape of "eight". Advantageously, the cable 13A is provided with an interruption and the missing part is replaced by a spring 14A fulfilling a similar function

  to that of the spring 14 of the first embodiment of the invention.

  The connecting rods 5A and 6A are pivotally mounted at their other ends, respectively at 15A and 16A, on support blocks 17A, 18A, which are substantially integral with the shutters or the like. Until now, it should be noted that the device 14 is substantially identical to the device corresponding to the

first embodiment.

  According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided, for the execution of closing and opening flap operations, a torque limiting actuation or control assembly, which is designated by the reference 21A. This set

  an actuation or control device with torque limitation 21A,

  Scale enlarged in Figures 2 and 3, comprises an electric motor 22A provided with a shaft 23A which is oriented substantially horizontally and which carries, with possibility of sliding, a flap pivot unit 24A which will be described in the following . The shaft 23A of the motor 22A is rotatably supported at its other end by a cross member 25A which is integral with the box-shaped body 2A. The shaft is rotatably mounted on said cross member via a bearing generally designated by 26A and which will not be described by

  in detail because it is known.

  The flap pivoting unit 24A (FIG. 9) equipped with a torque limiter according to the present invention comprises a lower plate 26A and an upper plate 27A in which seats are formed arranged to receive appropriately inclined bearings. 28A, 29A, 30A. The bearing

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  The central ball 29A is pushed upward so that the inner surface of its inner ring engages the motor shaft 23A by a spring-loaded screw 31A which is housed in a corresponding receptacle formed in the lower plate 26A. . The adjustment characteristic established by the element 31A is such that the bearings 28A and 30A can fit on their own so as to come into contact with the shaft 23A by a part of their inner side, as shown in FIG. 9. Bearings 28A, 29A, 30A, as can be seen, are held in a common frame comprising said lower plate 26A and said upper plate 27A, which are fixed with bolts

appropriate 32A.

  There is provided a block 33A, integral with the plate su-

  27A and which has a hole in which passes said drive cable 13A, shown only in part in Figures 9 and 10. The cable 13A is secured to the block 33A, and by

  consequently of the assembly 24A, using a screw 34A.

  As mentioned above, and in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, the bearings 28A, 29A, 30A are set at a certain angle with respect to the motor shaft 23A 22A and, in particular, as a specialist in the material will realize, they can transmit only small driving forces for a given normal torque at the output of the motor 23A. Accordingly, when the motor is excited to rotate in one direction or the other, and depending on what is desired to close or open the flaps, the control assembly 24A, with its bearings "inclined" , moves horizontally along the shaft 23A of the motor and it pulls, directed to the left or right, on the cable 13A to close or open the flaps. It should be noted that also in this case, this consideration being equally applicable to the first embodiment of the invention, several flap opening positions can be obtained in order to vary in correspondence the quantity of light admitted through of the

window.

  On the contrary, when the linkages associated with shutters and / or blinds reach preset limits of closing or opening movement, for example by abutment of the chassis against the boss 34A provided on the motor shaft 23A, the assembly 24A can no longer transmit a force

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  drive and behaves like a clutch, producing an action similar to that of the device corresponding to the first embodiment described above, although the effect is obtained in this case without using chains, sprockets, levers loaded by spring and similar complex elements.

  Another important aspect of this second mode of

  tion is constituted by the closing system of at least one end of the box-shaped body 2A. In fact, considering Figure 9, it can be seen that at least one end, namely in this particular case the left end of the box-shaped body 2A shown fragmentarily, is provided with a closure assembly which allows the device to be conveniently adjusted for adaptation to a wide range of

  windows, by the simple manipulation of screws. For this purpose, the

  2A of the box-shaped body is closed by means of a first plate 38A which is, for example, welded to the body 2A, and on which two other plate-shaped parts 39A and 40A are fastened by screws. to overlap each other. The method of attachment involves two side screws 41A whose free ends are notched to receive for example a screwdriver adjustment, and another screw 42A. Consequently, by manipulation of the two screws 41A, the assembly comprising the two plates 39A and 40A can be moved closer together or apart, so that the device can be arranged to be applied against the wall. In particular, at least one of the plates 39A, 40A may be formed of a suitable material having a certain elasticity, in order to further improve the mounting of the device

  on the walls by applying a slight pressure.

  Consequently, thanks to the aforementioned characteristic, the second embodiment of the device according to the invention is also in the form of a modular unit which does not require, for its fixing on the inner side or on the outer side of the walls, and indifferently in close proximity to the upper or lower parts of the window opening, no masonry work, the installation falling within the capabilities

of the user himself.

  In Figure 11, there is shown a third embodiment of the invention. It should be noted that this embodiment is similar in principle to the previous one, except that said bearing assembly is replaced in this case by a worm assembly

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  and nut and that said drive cable is replaced by a chain, similar to that of the first embodiment of the invention. More specifically, this third embodiment of the invention comprises an electric motor 21A 'on the shaft of which is keyed a reduction gear 40A' which drives a worm 50A 'engaged with a nut 51A'. The other end of the auger drives a pair of bevel gears 52A ', shown schematically only and in which a hole 53A' is provided allowing the insertion of a handful of

crank 54A '.

  For the remaining part, the structure of this embodiment is, as indicated above, substantially similar to that of the first embodiment. FIG. 11 shows that this embodiment, in comparison with the previous ones, essentially presents the characteristics of allowing the actuation of the shutter opening and closing device, even in the case of a power cut, via of the aforesaid crank handle 54A '. For the rest, the operation is

  substantially similar to what has already been described above.

  Referring now to Figure 12, it will be seen that a fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention has been shown. This embodiment differs from the previous ones only in the arrangement of the assembly or control unit for opening and closing flaps P, which are shown in FIG. 12 in their closed condition. Consequently,

  to simplify the description, we will only give in the following

  the differences with the previous embodiments. Specifically, the torque limiting control assembly comprises a motor 22B on whose shaft is keyed a gear 40B which transmits the rotational movement, in one direction or the other, between the motor 22B and a torsion bar 50B extending substantially over the entire length of the device. The two ends of the torsion bar 50B are associated with two pairs of bevel gears 60B and 70B, the main gears of said pairs 60B

  and 70B being integral with the levers 3B, 4B already described above.

  above. Consequently, when the motor is rotated in one direction or the other to close or open the flaps, the movement of the motor is transmitted to the torsion bar 50B, which therefore drives the pairs of sprockets. conical 60B and 70B and which produces a retraction movement or a490712 deployment of the linkages. However, once the limit positions of the closing or opening movement have been reached, the torsion bar, acting as a torsion spring, prevents overloading of the motor, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Also, in this embodiment, the torque-limiting coupling and control mechanism has been greatly simplified with respect to the device

  the object of the first embodiment of the invention.

  It is obvious that in some of the embodiments described above, it is possible to provide a circuit for automatically switching off the power supply of the electric motor when reaching the limit displacement positions, which are detected by the assemblies. control and imitation torque described above. On the contrary, by appropriate control of the power supply of the motor, it is possible to block the flaps in any desired opening position so as to establish, in a very advantageous manner, a condition

  desired illumination of the room.

  Finally, there will be described with reference to Figs. 13A and 13B a security mechanism which is arranged according to the present invention and which may be associated, when desired, with any one of the four embodiments.

  of the device which have been described above.

  More specifically, with reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B, this safety mechanism comprises an electromagnet generally designated 100 and whose movable core 101 is connected, with the interposition of a return spring 102, to a set of

  block shut-off, designated by 103. It goes without saying that the electro-

  magnet 100 is fixed, by any appropriate means, on one of the flaps P. In particular, the locking assembly comprises two pins 104 and 105 which are respectively mounted in the upper and lower parts of a window opening and on which a retaining element, designated respectively 106 and 107, can tilt during a closing and opening opening; The retaining elements 106 and 107 are substantially integral with a conventional lock 108 to block the flaps of the interior, said latch itself being arranged to pivot integrally with the flaps, for example via

  consoles 109 and 110 and fixing screws.

  The operation of the locking mechanism is apparent from the

1 1 1 Z. 4 07 1

  description made above. In particular, as indicated by

  the double arrows A Fur Figure 13A, the excitation of the elec-

  130, synchronized by the actuation of the device

  closing and opening described above, causes a flip-flop

  of the retaining element 106, either in the counterclockwise direction, for unlocking the flaps, away from the element 106 relative to the pin 104, or in the direction of the needles of a shows, while ensuring the attachment of the retaining element 106 on the pin 104. During this movement, it should be noted that the element 106 tilts while remaining in sliding contact with its respective console ensuring the retention of the lock 108.

  It is obvious that, as mentioned above, the excitement

  The electromagnet 100 must be synchronized with the motor excitatfl of the closing and opening device previously described. The spring 102 ensures an automatic movement of the retaining element 106 into the locking position during a de-excitation of the electromagnet for closing the flaps. Consequently, the described mechanism introduces an additional security factor that makes it possible to fully satisfy, for example, the most stringent conditions imposed by insurers. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown; it is capable of numerous variants accessible to those skilled in the art, depending on the applications envisaged and without it being possible to

  departs from the spirit of the invention.

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Claims (20)

  1. Device for closing and opening, from within a room or a closed space, shutters, awnings and window pivot elements in general, characterized in that comprises a first and a second linkage each comprising at least one first lever articulated on a support means substantially integral with a wall of a closed room or volume and / or a window frame, and at least one second lever operatively connected to the first cooperating with it and articulated on a corresponding shutter or blind element, said first and second linkages being functionally connected to each other, an actuating means being also provided and arranged to actuate said linkages in a controlled manner in order to ensure substantially simultaneously opening and closing   shutter or blind elements.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each linkage comprises two levers articulated with each other by a respective end, the first lever having substantially an L shape and being articulated by its other end to said means of support substantially integral with the wall of the room and / or the window frame, while the second lever is constituted by a rectilinear connecting rod and is articulated by its other end at a point of articulation   substantially integral with the corresponding flap member.   3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first levers of said linkages are connected in an articulated manner, at their ends, to said support means, with the aid of a corresponding chain gear, a chain being arranged substantially in the form of a closed loop "E" around said pinions of said first levers and being actuated and / or driven by said actuating means so as to rotate said first levers by a preset angular distance to produce substantially simultaneously the closing   and / or the opening of the shutter elements.   4. Device according to any one of the claims   1 to 3, characterized in that said actuating means comprise an automatic actuation assembly comprising an electric motor and a speed reducer arranged to actuate, when driven by said motor, a pinion around which passes said chain. 13E4Z9O712   5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said automatic actuating assembly is placed between said first levers of said linkages substantially in the vicinity of said articulated connection support of one of said first levers.   6. Device according to any one of the claims   1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a torque limiting means arranged to prevent, for a pair of given value,   driving said pinion by said chain.   7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said torque limiting means comprises a spring loaded lever provided with a pivot placed substantially in its center and pushed by one end against said chain passing on said pinion by a spring of pushing against   the other end of said spring loaded lever.   8. Device according to any one of the claims   1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises another spring cooperating functionally with said actuating means to allow the closure of one shutter element and then the closure of the other shutter element so that it abuts against the first shutter element.   9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in   said other spring constitutes a part of said chain.   10. Device according to any one of the claims   1 to 9, characterized in that said other spring (14) is interposed   between said connecting rod and said shutter element.   11. Device for closing and opening, from within a room of a closed space, shutters, blinds and articulated elements of windows in general, according to any one of   Claims 1 to 10, comprising a first and a second   linkages interconnected and each provided with at least one first lever hingedly connected to a support means substantially integral with a wall of a room or a closed volume and / or a window frame, from less a second lever articulated on said first lever and on a respective shutter member a reversible drive electric motor that can be excited to actuate said linkages in order to substantially simultaneously produce a closure and an opening of said shutter elements, characterized in that that it also includes a   torque limiting control unit which is associated with   tionally to said first levers of said linkages, said assembly receiving its rotational movement from the shaft of said motor and controlling, in accordance with the direction of rotation of the motor, the movements of closing and opening by pivoting said flap, said assembly being simultaneously arranged to limit the torque exerted on the shaft when said flaps reach pre-set opening and / or closing limits. 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said torque limiting control assembly comprises a set of bearings said bearings being supported in common, with a pre-set inclination, on a support frame mounted on said motor shaft. each bearing having at least a portion of the inner surface of its inner ring in constant contact with said motor shaft, said bearings being arranged to apply a translational force to said frame while the torque of said motor has normal values, and to act as clutches when the torque of said engine tends to exceed said normal value   when said chassis reaches travel limit positions.   13. Device according to any one of the claims   11 and 12, characterized in that said torque limiting control assembly is coupled to said levers of said linkages   via a cable and pulley connection.   14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that said pulleys are integral with said first levers and in that said cable has a configuration substantially in the form of "eight", said cable passing around a corresponding pulley which is associated with the first respective lever and   which is substantially integral with a portion of said frame.   15. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said control assembly comprises a pair of worm and nut and is coupled to said first levers of said linkages via a chain drive. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that said torque limiting control assembly comprises a torsion bar system.   Device according to claim 16, characterized "4907   in that said torsion bar system is coupled to said first levers of said linkages via a   drive with pairs of bevel gears.   18. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that said torsion bar system is operably coupled to said shaft of said motor via a gear reduction gear. 19. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises an electromagnetic locking means arranged   to lock said flaps in their closed position.   20. Device according to any one of the claims   1 to 19, characterized in that said actuating mechanism comprises a manual actuating means having a crank handle.