FR2732067A1 - PROFILED BLADE FOR CURTAIN CLOSURE, CLOSURE CURTAIN COMPRISING SUCH BLADES, AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME - Google Patents

Abstract

Profiled blade for curtain closure, having at least one trapezoidal cross section and at least one flexible and inextensible joint strip (14, 14a), a trapezoidal section (2, 2a, 2b) having a large base (3) connected to a small base (4) by a first side wall (5), and a second side wall (6), a cylindrical housing (10) being located at the corner of the small base (4) and intended to receive a ring (15) of an adjacent strip, characterized in that said housing (10) has an opening (11) directed substantially parallel to the bases (3, 4) and opening out towards the first side wall (5), the wall of the housing (10) comprising two substantially diametrically opposed parts, free of any hindrance, allowing diametral support by a tool (28), intended to allow deformation of the housing (10) for the purpose of axially sliding blocking of a ring (15) ) cooperating with a housing (10), one of the bearing parts being accessible from the outside d e the blade to include part of the small base and the other of the interior thanks to the presence of a free space (8).

Description

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  PROFILED BLADE FOR CURTAIN CLOSURE, CLOSURE CURTAIN

  COMPRISING SUCH BLADES AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME

  The invention relates to a profiled blade for curtain closure, a closure curtain comprising

  such blades, its production process.

  There are already curtain closures comprising profiled blades having on a longitudinal edge a male articulation element in a closed cylinder and on the opposite longitudinal edge a female articulation element in an open cylinder. These two elements are adapted to cooperate with the corresponding elements of the adjacent blades so as to allow relative pivoting about the axis common to the two cooperating elements. When the curtain is closed, its front face is substantially flat, and the longitudinal front edges of two blades

  are separated only by a narrow slit.

  The blades of these curtain closures are relatively thin and their sections have low inertia. When you increase the thickness of the slats or change the shape of their sections to increase their inertia, you will notice that the rolling radius of the curtain

is significantly increased.

  Document EP-A-0 428 844 discloses a curtain closure comprising coextruded blades with flexible joint joints carrying at one end a mushroom-shaped rib and, at the other end, an opening forming a groove in view rigid fixing by

latching or sliding.

  This document describes a profiled blade for closing

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  curtain, produced by coextrusion of a strip of flexible material coextruded with a substantially trapezoidal section of rigid material and a rod of also rigid material, said strip of flexible material being located on the face of the curtain to be produced which is inaccessible from the outside. Also known from document EP-A-0 558 390 is a profiled blade for curtain closure. The blade section has a housing and a rod connected by a strip of flexible material at the corner of the small base and on an adjacent side of the blade. The presence of the rod at the angle of the small base and the second side generates significant friction forces. In this structure, the rod does not

  not pivot relative to the housing.

  A first object of the present invention is to provide a profiled curtain closure blade which overcomes the limits or drawbacks of those encountered in

the state of the art.

  A second object of the invention is to propose an articulated closing curtain which, in combination, has great flexibility of operation and of which

  use generates little noise.

  A third object of the invention is to propose an articulated closing curtain comprising profiled blades of the type in which the male and female association members are intended not to pivot relative to one another, the pivoting being provided by a flexible and substantially inextensible band. More specifically, to propose blades of the type whose structure allows the selective and easy positioning of a relative or reciprocal clamping or nipping tool of the association means.

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  blades between them without this tool slipping or being

  hindered by the blade. Such a clamping tool is intended -

  thanks to the pinching or & the local deformation of the means of association of the blades with each other which it allows to block the blades with respect to each other by

relative longitudinal sliding.

  A fourth object of the invention is to propose an articulated closing curtain, in particular for office cabinets, in which at least one blade and preferably several blades are mechanically blocked to prevent the longitudinal sliding of the blades relative to each other.

to others.

  To this end, the invention firstly relates to a profiled blade for curtain closure, having at least one trapezoidal cross section and at least one flexible and inextensible articulation band, a trapezoidal section having a large base connected to a small base by a first side wall and a second side wall, a cylindrical housing being located at the corner of the small base and intended to receive a rod of an adjacent blade, characterized in that said housing has a substantially directed opening parallel to the bases and opening towards the first side wall, the housing wall comprising two substantially diametrically opposite parts, free from any obstacle, allowing diametric support by a tool, intended & allowing a deformation of the housing for axial locking & sliding a rod cooperating with a housing, one of the support parts being accessible from the outside of the blade to understand part of the small base and the other part of the interior thanks to the presence of a free space.

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  The invention also relates to a profiled blade characterized in that the blade comprises at least two trapezoidal sections assembled by at least one flexible hinge band. The invention also relates to a profiled blade for curtain closure, having at least one trapezoidal cross section and at least one flexible and inextensible articulation band, a trapezoidal section having an upper part connected to a small base by a first side wall. , and a second side wall, a cylindrical housing being located at the angle of the small base and intended to receive a rod of an adjacent blade, characterized in that said housing has an opening directed substantially parallel to the bases and opening towards the first side wall, the wall of the housing comprising two substantially diametrically opposite parts, free of any obstacle, allowing a diametrical support by a tool, intended to allow a deformation of the housing with a view to the axial sliding locking of a rod cooperating with a housing, the two parts being accessible from the outside of the blade to understand e respectively part of the small

  base and part of the soul of the upper part.

  The invention also relates to a curtain comprising several blades as described and a method of locking with axial longitudinal sliding of the

  blades relative to each other.

  Finally, the invention relates to a method for producing such a curtain. This process is characterized in that, after cooperation of the blades, it is deformed by

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  pinching the wall of the housings to ensure the axial sliding locking of the blades with respect to each other and, & for this purpose, a tool is used whose jaws act on two accessible parts of the housing wall located substantially diametrically opposite. Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will be clearly understood on reading the

  description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings in

  which: - Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a profiled blade for curtain closure according to the present invention; - Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a profiled blade for curtain closure according to the present invention; - Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a special blade forming a handle according to the present invention; - Figure 4 shows a schematic view in partial cross section of an articulated closing curtain according to the invention, assembled from blades of Figures 2 and 3; - Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an articulated closure curtain according to the invention and illustrating a mechanical deformation according to the present invention; - Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of an articulated closure curtain according to the present invention; - Figure 7 is a schematic view, in cross section, on a larger scale, partial, illustrating

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  two neighboring blades assembled and the jaws of a tool in

  view of axial locking & sliding.

  With reference to FIG. 1, a profiled strip 1 for curtain closure according to the invention comprises at least one cross-section 2, of generally trapezoidal or pseudo-trapezoidal shape, hollow, made of a material having a certain rigidity to be self-supporting, by plastic example of the polychloride type

vinyl.

  Section 2 presents a large base 3 which, in a closing curtain incorporating the blade 1 is normally visible or turned outwards, connected to a small base 4 opposite to and opposite the large base 3, normally invisible or turned inward, by first and second side walls 5, 6. The two bases 3 and 4 are of general directions parallel to each other. The small base 4 has in the embodiment shown a curvature with convexity turned towards the inside of the blade 1 so as to slide in a suitable guide slide (not shown) extending transversely with respect to the blade 1 at its end, substantially at the point of rounded vertices limiting the small base 4 on either side by being

  adjacent to the side walls 5, 6.

  The two side walls 5, 6 are of directions

  general inclined to each other.

  Section 2 can also include one or more internal reinforcement partition 16, arranged

  so as to connect the two bases 3 and 4.

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  Section 2 presents and essentially forms inwardly a housing 10, profiled, cylindrical, intended to receive a rod 15 complementary to an adjacent blade of the same type. The housing 10 is located at the corner of the small base 4 and the first side wall 5. It incorporates the rounded tops of the small base 4. The housing 10 has an opening 11, extending longitudinally, directed substantially parallel at bases 3, 4 and

  opening into the first side wall 5.

  The wall of the housing 10 is formed of two zones or sections 10a, lob. Each of them is adjacent to the opening 11 and, in cross section, has

  substantially a semi-circular profile.

  The two zones or sections O10a, lob are therefore opposite one another with respect to the axis of the housing

  10. They are an extension of each other.

  This decomposition of the wall of the housing 10 into two zones or sections 10a, lob is intended only for a good understanding. Indeed, these two zones or sections 10a, lob are not formally separated one

  on the other except for the opening 11.

  The first loa zone comprises firstly the rounded top of the small base 4 adjoining the second side wall 5 and possibly the part of small base

4 adjoining this summit.

  Secondly, on one side, it includes the part of the side wall 5 between the small base

3 and opening 11.

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  It comprises thirdly, on the opposite side, a rounded wall 24, located inside the section 2 and extending in a direction substantially

  perpendicular to the small base 4.

  Thus, the wall of the housing 10 is tangent and partly common to the small base 4 in particular at its end top. The second zone 10b comprises firstly and on one side the wall 24. It comprises secondly and on the opposite side, a connection 25 limiting the opening 11, adjoining the side wall 5 and extending towards the interior of section 2 substantially parallel to

bases 3 and 4.

  The second zone 0lob comprises, thirdly and between the wall 24 by extending it - and the connection - via an angle 26 -, a wall 27 located substantially opposite the rounded top

small base correspondent 4.

  Due to the configuration which has just been described, it is possible to have access, to the first zone or section 10a, from the outside of the blade, in particular to the location of the top of the small base 4. And , as regards the second zone 0lob, from the inside of the blade, at the location of the wall 27. In fact, there exists between the wall 27 and the large base 3 located opposite a sufficiently large free space 8 . On the outside of the blade, the space 8 is limited by the wall 5. On the other side by the partition 16 if it is provided, or otherwise by the wall 6. The partition 16 is spaced from the wall of the housing 10 and in particular of the wall 24 so as not to clutter the space 8 and therefore not

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  not hinder the movement of an assembly tool partially housed in this space 8. The same applies to the

  wall 5 as described below.

  On the second side wall 6 is provided, towards the outside of the blade, a flexible and substantially inextensible band of articulation 14 coextruded with the body of the blade of rigid material and ending in a rod 15. The latter is also in rigid material, preferably identical to rigid material in

which is formed the blade.

  The start of attachment of the rod 15 to the wall 6 and the opening 11 are located in the same plane P which is substantially parallel to and placed between the mean planes of the bases 3 and 4, while being closer to the plane of the small base 4 than that of large base 3 and being slightly offset from the mean plane of small base 4. This structure is not only positive for the desired articulation function but also favorable - or at least not bothersome - to pinch the housing

described later.

  The first side wall 5 has a rib 12 projecting towards the outside of the blade, while the second side wall 6 has a hollow groove 13,

  of shape complementary to that of the rib 12.

  The rib 12 and projection 13 are located &

proximity to the large base 3.

  This arrangement of the rib 12, combined with the inclination of the side wall 5 resulting from the trapezoidal shape given to the blade makes it possible not to encumber or

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  restrict the space 8. For this purpose the rib 12 is interposed between a wall segment 7a, short, adjoining and substantially perpendicular to the large base 3 and a segment 7b adjoining the opening 11. The segment 7b is inclined on the small base 4 with an obtuse angle. Thus, the housing 8 has towards the side wall 5 a sort of extension towards the outside thanks to the rib 12 and

the inclination of the wall.

  The rib 12 of a first blade is intended to cooperate with and fit into a groove 13 of a second adjacent blade, when the rod 15 of the second blade is housed in the housing 10 of the first and that the two blades have their respective bases 3, 4 substantially coplanar which corresponds to the closed state of a curtain

made from these blades.

  The cooperation of the ribs and projections 12, 13 of the successive blades prevents the insertion, from the side situated towards the bases 3, of a cutting instrument capable of

cut or break the strip 14.

  The sections of the rod 15 and of the housing 10 are of complementary transverse shapes and have respective dimensions determined with sufficient clearance so that, when the closing curtain is mounted, the rod 15 can be slid with sufficient freedom in the housing 10 so to allow the curtain to be assembled in an inclined position substantially in the form of a parallelogram and then to straighten it out so as to put it in place without risk

  jamming in a guide rail.

  In FIG. 2, the reference numbers identical to those in FIG. 1 refer to

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  identical or similar elements to those already described in

relationship to Figure 1.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the blade 1a according to the invention is formed by assembling at least two trapezoidal sections 2a, 2b joined to one another by a flexible but inextensible band of articulation 14a coextruded with the rigid material of

two trapezoidal sections.

  Each of sections 2a, 2b derives from section 2

previously described.

  Section 2a includes, like section 2, a housing 10 and, in contrast, the strip 14a equivalent to the strip 14 of section 2. However, the strip 14a is devoid of a rod such as 15. Instead and place is section 2b. The latter is therefore devoid of

housing 10.

  The section 2b comprises, opposite the strip 14a, a strip 14 and a rod 15, like section 2. The two side walls facing the two sections, to which the strip 14a are fixed, are provided with rib 12 and projection 13 as described above. These rib and projection 13 can be directed in the same direction as described above in relation to Figure 1 and the blade 2, or in the opposite direction. The cooperation of the rib 12 in the groove 13 of these two opposite side walls prevents the insertion from the side located towards the base 3 of a cutting instrument capable of cutting or breaking the

flexible articulation band 14a.

  After mounting the curtain according to the invention, it

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  provision is made to subject the housing 10 to one or more blades 1 or the, and generally to all the housing 10, a mechanical deformation, by pinching with a tool 28 provided for this purpose (Figures 5 and 7). This mechanical deformation aims to block the blades with axial sliding relative to one another. It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the mechanical deformation undergone by the housing 10 has the effect of essentially deforming the areas 10a, 10Ob of a first blade as well as the rod 15 of an adjacent blade engaged in said first blade. The rod 15 thus wedged between the zones 10a, lo0b of the housing 10 is no longer capable of sliding axially relative to the

housing 10.

  The geometry of the blade described favors the positioning

tool 28.

  Indeed and first of all, there is a large positioning amplitude of the tool 28. This amplitude is illustrated in FIG. 7 by the dashed lines A and B which correspond substantially to the extreme contact planes of the internal jaws 29 and external jaws 30 of the tool 28

  with zones or sections 0lob, 10a, respectively.

  As a result, the positioning of the jaws 29, 30 is facilitated or, at least, less critical, especially when

this is manual.

  Secondly, the jaws 29, 30 are applied to two substantially diametrically opposite parts of the zones or sections O10a, 0lob. These parts are free of any hindrance. The diametral support on the zones or sections O10a, lo0b promotes the holding of the jaws 29, 30 by preventing their sliding on the wall of the housing 10. It

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  also allows effective clamping and therefore a suitable deformation of this wall which allows at the same time a blocking with satisfactory axial sliding, great cleanliness at the location of the deformation and a deformation just localized to what is strictly necessary. In particular, the side wall 5 is not affected by the deformation. Thirdly, the space 8 allows both the positioning and the positioning over a certain amplitude, in all directions, of the jaw 29, in particular without

  risk of affecting the large base 3 or the side wall 5.

  This also allows the opening of the tool 28 as well as its closing and promotes the penetration of the jaw 29 into the

blade.

  The invention also relates to an articulated closing curtain comprising an assembly of blades 1, 1_ as they have just been described. Such a curtain, intended more particularly for closing cupboards, especially office cabinets, is presented as shown in FIG. 6. It comprises an assembly of profiled blades 1, the and, if necessary, at least one blade 17 forming a handle making it possible to facilitate handling the curtain when opening or closing it. A gripping member 22 is also provided at one of the transverse free ends of the curtain corresponding to an end blade. The closing curtain is placed with the blades arranged with their longitudinal axes either horizontal

  (case) or vertical (not shown).

  For operation, the curtain is rolled up

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  or unwound on a winding cylinder 23 via a

relay cylinder 24.

  There are also provided guides (not shown) for guiding and sliding the parts.

free extremes of the blades.

  The blade 17 forming a handle has a structure allowing its assembly with a blade 1, the adjacent profile, its installation without risk of jamming in a guide slide, and, finally, its axial locking & sliding in a substantially analogous manner &

  but adapted from that of the blades 1 and the.

  To this end, the blade 17 forming a handle forms a transverse cross section 2c forming part of a trapezoid or pseudo-trapeze having an upper part 21 connected to a small base 4 by a first side wall Sa and a second side wall 6a . Section 2c presents a cylindrical housing 10 intended to receive a rod 15 of a profiled blade 1, the adjacent one. The housing 10 is located at the corner of the small base 4 and the first side wall 5a and has an opening 11 directed substantially parallel to the small base 44 and

  opening out to the first side wall 5a.

  We therefore find substantially the same configuration as the trapezoidal section 2, 2a of a profiled strip 1, la. However, the blade 17 forming a handle has the particularity of comprising, instead of the large base 3, an upper part 21 having a cross-section in the form of a cavity or groove in a U or pseudo-U shape which allows the positioning of hands

of a curtain user.

  The upper part 21 firstly has a one 31. This extends substantially parallel to the small base 4. It also has the particularity of including the part of the wall of the housing 10 located substantially diametrically opposite from the rounded top of the small base 4. The upper part 21 then comprises, on either side of the core 31, a first and a second branch 20, 18. These two branches 18, 20 extend in a substantially perpendicular direction

  & to and out of the blade 17.

  The first branch 20 joins the first side wall 5a via a section 32 of general direction substantially parallel to the large base 3. This section 32 is intended to extend the large base 3 from the

  blade adjacent to the handle 17 when the curtain is closed.

  On the wall 5a is provided a projecting rib 12.

  The second branch 18 joins the second side wall 6a by means of a substantially coplanar section but spaced from the section 32. This section has a return 18a substantially perpendicular and directed towards the small base 4, which defines with the branch 18 and the section a hollow groove corresponding to that 13 already described. It will be noted that the sections 32, occupy, in the blade 17 the same relative position as the large bases 3

in slides 1, la.

  With the blade 17 which has just been described, there are two parts accessible from the outside of the blade. One includes, as before, part of the small

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  base 4. The other includes a part of the soul of the part

  upper 32, namely that adjacent to branch 20.

  As regards the blade 17, there is therefore no closed free space corresponding to the free space 8 described above, but an open free space formed by the cavity or groove of

the upper part 21.

  According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method for producing a closing curtain in which the rod is made to cooperate, by relative axial sliding.

  of a blade with the housing 10 of an adjacent blade.

  After cooperation of the blades, the wall of the housings 10 is deformed by pinching to ensure the axial sliding locking of the blades with respect to each other and, for this purpose, a tool 28 is used whose jaws 29, 30 act on the two accessible parts of the housing wall 10 located substantially

  diametrically opposite and previously described.

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  RE! RDIXTIoN8 1. Hinged closing curtain comprising: - an assembly of profiled blades (1, la), having at least one trapezoidal cross section and at least one flexible and inextensible articulation band (14, 14a), a trapezoidal section (2, 2a, 2b) having a large base (3) connected to a small base (4) by a first side wall (5) and a second side wall (6), a cylindrical housing (10) being located & the angle of the small base (4) and intended to receive a rod (15) of an adjacent blade, the seal (15) of a blade cooperating with the housing (10) of the adjacent blade, - and, the if necessary, at least one profiled blade (17), having at least one trapezoidal cross section and at least one flexible and inextensible articulation band, a trapezoidal section having an upper part (21) connected to a small base (4) by a first side wall (5), and a second side wall (6), a housing (10) c cylindrical being located at the angle of the small base (4) and intended to receive a rod (15) of an adjacent blade, the seal (15) of a blade cooperating with the housing (10) of the adjacent blade, characterized in that said housing (10) has an opening (11) directed substantially parallel to the bases (3, 4) and opening towards the first side wall (5), the wall of the housing (10) comprising two substantially diametrically opposite parts , free of any obstacle, allowing a diametrical support by a tool (28), intended & allowing a deformation of the housing (10) for the axial sliding blocking of a rod (15) cooperating with a housing (10), l 'one of the support parts (10a) of the blade (1, la) being accessible from the outside of the blade to include a part of the small base and the other (10b) of

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  the interior thanks to the presence of a free space (8), while the two parts (O10a, 10b) of the blade (17) are accessible from the outside of the blade to respectively comprise a part of the small base (3) and part of the core (31) of the upper part (21). 2. articulated closing curtain according to claim 1, characterized in that the first side wall (5) of the blade (1, la) has a rib (12) projecting outwards and the second side wall ( 6) has a groove (13) in a hollow of complementary shape

to that of the rib (12).

  3. articulated closing curtain according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first side wall (5) of the blade (1, la) comprises a first segment (7a) adjoining and substantially perpendicular to the large base (3) and a second segment (7b) adjoining the opening (11), inclined on the small base (4) with an obtuse angle, the rib (12) being interposed between the

two segments (7a, 7b).

  4. Hinged closing curtain according to one

  any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that

  the articulation band (14, 14a, 14b) is located between the planes of the bases (3, 4), while being closer to the plane of the small base (4) but slightly offset from

  him, that of the plan of the large base (3).

  5. Closing curtain articulated according to one

  any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that

  the blade (1, la) comprises at least two trapezoidal sections (2a, 2b) joined by at least one strip

flexible joint (14a).

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  6. Hinged closing curtain, according to one

  any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that

  the blades are arranged with their horizontal longitudinal axis. 7. Hinged closing curtain, according to one

  any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that

  the blades are arranged with their longitudinal axis

vertical.

  8. Hinged closing curtain according to one

  any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that

  that it comprises at least one blade (1, la) and preferably several blades (1, la), the housing (10) of which is deformed by pinching to prevent relative axial sliding

  blades relative to each other.

  9. Hinged closing curtain according to claim 8, characterized in that all the housings

(10) are deformed by pinching.

  10. Method for producing a closing curtain

  according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in

  which is made to cooperate, by relative axial sliding, the rod (15) of a blade with the housing (10) of an adjacent blade characterized in that after cooperation of the blades the wall of the housings (10) is deformed by pinching to ensure the axial sliding locking of the blades relative to one another and, for this purpose, a tool (28) is used, the jaws (29, 30) of which act on two accessible parts of the housing wall (10 ) located

  substantially diametrically opposed.