FR2774124A1 - ROLLER SHUTTER OR SIMILAR - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a roller shutter or similar apron composed of a juxtaposition of blades at least articulated with respect to each other and the ends of which are caused to move in lateral slides (5), the first (31) of which these blades being connected to a winding shaft (6), in particular through a self-locking device (8) capable of locking the apron (1) in the deployed position. According to the invention, at least the blade or blades (31, 32) disposed partially or totally above the side slides (5) when the apron (1) is in the deployed position, are made to cooperate with stop means provided capable of limiting the rotation of these blades (31, 32 ) between them or else with respect to the first link (9) of the self-locking device (8).

Description

The invention relates to an apron for a rolling shutter or the like comprising

  of a juxtaposition of blades at least articulated with respect to each other and the ends of which are caused to move in lateral slides, the first of these blades being connected to a winding shaft in particular through one or more links of a self-locking device capable of blocking the

apron in the deployed position.

  The present invention will find its application in the field of roller shutters and, more generally, in all types of

curtain closure systems.

  In order to better understand the objective of the present invention and the problems encountered through the state of the art, there is shown in FIG. 1 a diagrammatic and sectional view of a roller shutter, the deck of which is in the deployed position is in a configuration such that there can be rupture of the articulation means connecting two successive blades or

  again the first blade to a self-locking device.

  Recall, in this regard, that such self-locking devices otherwise known, have the function of preventing the apron of the roller shutter, when in the fully deployed position from going back into the box housing, usually, the shaft of 'winding, this under the action of a thrust exerted directly on this deck corresponding, for example, to an attempted break-in. We will already observe that if it has been shown, in this figure 1, a self-locking device also described in the unpublished French patent application No. 97.04179, the present invention is in no way limited to this design and will also find its application in the case of roller shutters equipped with self-locking devices in other embodiments. Thus, usually, such self-locking devices consist of one, two or more links connected by means of articulation means, knowing, moreover, that one of these links is pivotally mounted on the curtain winding shaft between a folded position around this shaft and a deployed position while another of these links is connected, by means of

  articulated connection to the first blade of the deck.

  In fact, these links of such a self-locking device have the ability, on the one hand, to come and fold around the winding shaft of the deck so as not to hinder the winding of this

  last inside the box and, on the other hand, to come arch

  to butt between this winding shaft and the first blade of the deck

  when the latter is in the fully deployed position.

  On this it should be observed that, as represented in FIG. 1, the number of blades A of the deck B is thus determined that, in the fully deployed position, the first blade Ai extends inside the box C over at least half, preferably two-thirds of its height. Consequently, this first blade Ai is located at least in part above the lateral slides D ensuring the guidance of the ends of said blades A during the deployment and folding maneuvers of the deck B. Since it is not possible to adjust precisely the number of these blades at the exact height of a rolling shutter, it may be that to satisfy the above condition, there is up to a blade and a half remaining inside the box when the deck is deployed. It is understood, of course, that in this deployed position of the deck, this or these blades remaining in the box are not maintained, at their ends, by means of the lateral slides. Can then arise the problem of the alignment of this or these first blades with respect to the other blades making up the deck when the action of the self-locking device occurs which consists, in fact, of a thrust exerted on the whole of this apron by means of said first blade. In fact, during this final phase of deployment of the deck, the various blades arranged inside the side slides come to rest, gradually, on each other. Also, the traction exerted on said first blades also connected to the winding shaft by the self-locking device decreases until it becomes negligible so that these first blades or the link or links making up the device. Self-locking systems tend, like a relaxed rope, to sag under their own weight at the space separating the entry from the side runners and the winding shaft. Under these conditions, and as shown in FIG. 1 of the attached drawings, the link F, connected by means of an articulation to the first blade A1, can pivot in a direction G opposite to that H taken, normally, during the winding phase of the deck around the winding shaft I, without ever returning to its alignment position with this first blade Ai. Now, precisely, in such a direction of rotation G of two successive blades or else of the link F relative to the first blade Ai the articulation means J, respectively K connecting the latter prove, very quickly, brittle under the effect of a pressure which is ultimately exerted by the winding shaft I, under the impulse of

  motorized or manual drive means.

  In the end, it is not uncommon for such a roller shutter curtain, moreover equipped with a self-locking device, whatever its embodiment, to break at its

first blades.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the problem set out above and therefore to avoid any breakage.

of the shutter of a rolling shutter.

  To this end, the invention relates to an apron of a rolling shutter or the like composed of a juxtaposition of blades at least articulated with respect to each other and the ends of which are caused to move in lateral slides, the first of these blades being connected to a winding shaft, in particular through one or more links of a self-locking device capable of locking the deck in the deployed position, characterized in that at least the first blade or blades, partially arranged or completely above the lateral slides when the apron is in the deployed position, are brought to cooperate with stop means provided capable of preventing the rotation of this or these blades relative to a next or previous blade or even relative to the first link of the self-locking device, in a direction opposite to that taken during winding around said winding shaft, this beyond a position in which these blades or the first blade

  and the link are located substantially in the same alignment.

  Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated upon

  reading of the description which follows relating to the drawings

  attached in appendix and in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the problem posed through the state of the art and set out above; - Figure 2 is a partial schematic representation in section of a roller shutter equipped with an apron according to the invention; - Figure 3 is a schematic representation and in

  perspective of the elements shown in figure 2.

  As shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings,

  the present invention relates to the field of roller shutters.

  In fact, it is a question here, more particularly, of an apron 1 of such a rolling shutter 2 which, moreover, is composed of a juxtaposition of blades 3 at least articulated with respect to each other and whose ends 4 are brought to

  move in side slides 5.

  It will be noted that the deck 1 is able to wind around a winding shaft 6 controlled in rotation by means of an appropriate drive mechanism, this winding shaft 6 being generally disposed at the interior of a box 7 under which extend, precisely, said slides

side 5.

  It is quite usual for the first blade 31 of the deck i to be connected to the winding shaft 6 by means of a self-locking device 8, an exemplary embodiment of which has been illustrated in FIGS. I to 3 of the drawings attached and corresponding to the invention described in the unpublished French patent application born 97.04179. However, the present invention does not particularly relate to such a self-locking device, it is in no way limited to this embodiment and will therefore also find its application in the context of roller shutters

  equipped with self-locking devices of a very different design.

  Anyway, it will be observed that such a self-locking device 8 generally consists of one or more links 9, 10, one of which 10 is made integral, by an articulation 11, with the shaft. winding 6 and of which the other 9,

  referred to in the following description as the first link, is connected,

  by means of articulation 12 to the first blade 31 of the deck 1. It will be understood, of course, that if this self-locking device 8 has only one link, it is, at the same time, made integral with the winding shaft 6 and said first blade 31 of this deck 1. Anyway, under these conditions, this or these links 9, 10 of the self-locking device 8 are able to wind around of said winding shaft 6 during the folding of the

  curtain 1 corresponding to the roller shutter 2.

  As already explained above and as visible in FIG. 2, the number of blades 3 of the deck 1 is thus determined that, in the fully deployed position of said deck 1, the first blade 31 extends inside the box 7 and , therefore, above the side slides 5 over at least half, preferably two thirds of its height. Since the number of blades 3 cannot be precisely adjusted to the exact height of a flap

  rolling, it is often the case that to meet the above condition

  above there is up to a blade and a half persistent inside the box 7 when the deck 1 is deployed, which is

  precisely visible in this figure 2.

  In this regard, it should also be noted that a hinge 13 connecting two successive blades 31, 32 allows, not only, the rotation of a blade 31 relative to the next 32 in a direction 14 which is that taken naturally by these blades being wound around the winding shaft 6, but

  also in a contrary direction 15.

  The same applies to the articulation means 12 connecting the first link 9 of the self-locking device 8, to the

first blade 31 of deck 1.

  Under these conditions, it is possible to encounter the problem illustrated in FIG. 1 and described in the introductory part which consists in that the blade or blades 31, 32, being kept in the box 7, are not located in the same alignment than the other blades 3 when pressure is exerted on the deck 1 under

  the influence of the self-locking device 8.

  Indeed, if, under these conditions, said blades 3 are not

  all aligned there may be a break.

  For this purpose and in accordance with the invention, at least the one or more

  first blades 31, 32, arranged partially or completely above

  above the side slides 5 when the apron 1 is in the deployed position, are brought to cooperate with stop means 16 provided capable of preventing the rotation of this or these blades 3i, 32 relative to a next blade, respectively 32, 33 or previous 3i or with respect to the first link 9 of the self-locking device 8, in a direction 15 opposite to that 14 taken during winding around the winding axis 6, beyond a position, shown in Figures 2 and 3, wherein these blades 3i, 32 or the first blade 31 and said first link 9 are located substantially in the same alignment. Ultimately, through such stop means 16, it is a question of preventing these first blades 31, 32 including the first link 9 of the self-locking device 8 from tilting, under the effect of their own weight and in end of deployment of said apron 1 towards the inside of the box 7, in a more particularly visible position in the

figure 1.

  Such abutment means 16 can be associated, directly, with the articulations 13 connecting these first blades 3i, 32 to each other or also with the articulation means 12 coming to link the first blade 31 to the first link 9 of the self-locking device 8. More particularly , such joints 13, 12 can be designed so that starting from a substantially aligned position of this link 9 and said first blades 31, 32, these are only able to pivot with respect to one another in a direction 14 authorizing their winding around the tree

winding 6.

  According to another embodiment, visible in Figures 2 and 3, these stop means 16 are in the form of an accessory part, more particularly in the form of a tongue 17, on the one hand, made integral at its end upper 18, of a

  link 9 or a blade 31, 32 and, on the other hand, extending between-

  below this or the latter, in a plane substantially parallel with respect to this link 9 or the corresponding blade 31, 32, this so as to bear, at its lower end 19, on the blade, respectively, 31, 32, 33 arranged immediately below. Thus, this tongue 17 comes to bear on the external side 20 of these blades 31, 32, 33, relative to the internal side 21 oriented in the direction of the plane 22 passing through the winding shaft 6. In fact, one can still imagine an inverted arrangement, that is to say that this tongue 17 can be made integral at its lower end with a blade 31, 32, 33 while coming to extend above the latter so as to be able to bear on the side outer 20 of the blade, respectively, 32, 31 or else of the link 9 disposed immediately above. However, such an orientation can, possibly, hinder the tightening of the various turns which describe the blades 3 around

  the winding shaft 6 during winding of the deck 1.

  In this regard, to prevent such a tongue 17 extending above or below a blade from hampering, ultimately, this winding of the deck around the winding shaft 6, it can be provided flexible while having sufficient rigidity to

  fulfill the function of stops described above.

  As for the means making it possible to secure such a tongue 17 to a blade 31, 32 or even to a link 9, they can be in the form of rivets or screws knowing that the solutions, such as welding or bonding are also possible. Ultimately, these fixing means can also take the form of clip means 23 making it possible to attach these tabs 17 by interlocking at at least one of the lateral ends 4 of the blades 31, 32 or even the end 24 of a link 9. Of course, these fixing means can also correspond to a combination of the solutions

previously described.

  It should be noted that certain roller shutters can be equipped with several self-locking devices 8 simultaneously connecting the first blade 31 of the deck 1 to the winding shaft 6. Under these conditions, it is sufficient that at least the link 9 d one of these self-locking devices 8 is provided with

  such stop means 16 to achieve the result.

  Finally, according to another embodiment of these stop means 16, these can be in the form of a single tongue made integral with the first link 9 of the self-locking device 8 and extending under this first link 9 to -from the first blade (s) 31, 32 extending totally or partially above the side rails 5 when the deck 1 is in the deployed position. Thus, such a tongue is perfectly capable of maintaining substantially aligned this first link 9 and the first blades 31, 32, with respect to the other blades 3 which, themselves, are introduced into the lateral slides 5. It may be that only one tongue causes the drawback of having a length such that it comes to abut, at its lower end, against the external wall 25 of the

  box 7 and hinder, then, the proper deployment of the deck 1.

  However, one can still imagine circumventing this problem at

  through the flexibility imparted to said tongue.

  As is apparent from the foregoing description, the present

  The invention makes it possible to effectively remedy the problem described above, this in a simple and inexpensive manner. It will be noted, in particular, that the solution proposed by the present invention is adaptable, as of now, to any rolling shutter

existing.

  Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is understood that it is in no way limited thereto and that it is possible to make various modifications to the forms, materials and combinations of these. various elements,

  without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (8)

Claims   1. Roller shutter apron or the like consisting of a juxtaposition of blades (3) at least articulated with respect to each other and the ends (4) of which are caused to move in lateral slides (5), the first blade (31) of these blades (3) being connected to a winding shaft (6), in particular through one or more links (9, 10) of a self-locking device (8) capable of blocking the deck (1) in the deployed position, characterized in that at least the first blade (s) (3a, 32), arranged partially or completely above the lateral slides (5) when the deck (1) is in the deployed position, are brought to cooperate with stop means (16) provided capable of preventing the rotation of this or these blades (31, 32) relative to a next blade (32, 33) or previous (31) or also relative to the first link (9) of the self-locking device (8) in a direction (14) opposite to that (15) taken during winding around said winding shaft (6), this beyond a position in which these blades (31, 32) or even the first blade (3i) and the link (9) are located   substantially in the same alignment.   2. Apron according to claim 1, characterized in that the abutment means (16) are associated, directly, with the articulations (13) connecting these first blades (3i, 32) together or even with the articulation means (12) coming to link the first blade (31) to the first link (9) of the self-locking device (8), these articulations (13, 12) being designed so that, starting from a substantially aligned position of this link (9) and of said first blades (31, 32), these are only able to pivot with respect to one another in a direction (14) allowing them to be   winding around the winding shaft (6).   3. Apron according to claim 1, characterized in that the abutment means (16) are in the form of a tongue (17), on the one hand, made integral, at its upper end (18), with a link (9) or of a blade (31, 32) and, on the other hand, It extending below this or the latter, in a plane substantially parallel with respect to this link (9) or the blade corresponding (31, 32), this so as to bear, at its lower end (19) on the blade, respectively, (31, 32, 33) disposed immediately below, on the external side (20) of the latter with respect to the internal side (21) oriented towards the   plane (22) passing through the winding shaft (6).   4. Apron according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop means (16) are in the form of a tongue (17), on the one hand, made integral, at its lower end, with a blade (31 , 32, 33) while coming to extend above the latter so as to bear on the blade, respectively,   (32, 31) or else on the link (9) disposed immediately above   above, on the outer side (20) relative to the inner side (21) oriented towards the plane (22) passing through the winding shaft (6). 5. Apron according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop means (16) are in the form of a single tongue made integral with the first link (9) of the self-locking device (8) and extending under this first link (9), in front of the first blade (s) (31, 32) extending totally or partially above the lateral slides (5) when the deck (1) is in the deployed position, so as to keep this first link (9) substantially aligned and the   first blades (31, 32) relative to the other blades (3).   6. Apron according to any one of claims 3 to 5,   characterized in that the tongue (17) is provided flexible while having a rigidity capable of fulfilling the stop function.   7. Apron according to any one of claims 3 to 6,   characterized in that a tongue (17) is made integral with a blade (31, 32) or even with a link (9) of the self-locking device (8) by means of fixing means, such   as rivets and / or screws and / or by welding and / or gluing.   8. Apron according to any one of claims 3 to 7,   characterized by the fact that a tongue (17) is made integral with a blade (31, 3z) or else with a link (9) by clipping means capable of attaching such a tongue (17) by fitting at the level at least one of the lateral ends (4) of said   blades (31, 32) or the end (24) of a link (9).