FR2807785A1 - ROLLING SHUTTER BOX - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a roller shutter box (1) closed at its lateral ends (8, 9) by lateral flanges (6, 7) and of which at least one of the front (4) and rear (5) walls ) defines an inspection hatch. This box (1) is characterized in that this wall (5) forming an inspection hatch comprises, at its end edges (10, 11), a telescopic extension strip (12) provided with interlocking means (13), in particular in the form of a groove or a tongue (21), provided capable of cooperating with complementary interlocking means (14) associated with the lateral flanges (6, 7).

Description

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  The invention relates to a roller shutter box comprising a front wall, a rear wall, an upper wall, a lower wall and lateral flanges closing said box at its lateral ends, at least one of the front and rear walls defining a inspection hatch and being connected, by means of retractable connecting means at least to the

  upper wall and to the lower wall.

  The invention relates to the field of roller shutters and relates,

  more particularly, to the casing of these roller shutters.

  A roller shutter usually comprises a box taking position, most often in the upper part of an opening corresponding to a door, window or the like at a construction level. In this box is able to roll up the deck of this roller shutter under the control of a mechanism

appropriate training.

  Said box consists of a front wall, a rear wall, an upper wall, a lower wall and lateral flanges closing this box at its lateral ends. At least one of the front and rear walls defines an inspection hatch allowing access to the interior of this box and, in particular, to said drive mechanism of the deck. This inspection hatch is connected, by means of retractable connecting means, at least to the upper wall and to the lower wall. Very often, such retractable connecting means are in the form, on the one hand, of means for fitting the upper edge of said inspection hatch at the level of the upper wall of the box and, on the other hand, of means of 'hooking and fixing the lower edge of this hatch on the corresponding edge

from the bottom wall.

  If such means of interlocking or of attachment do not pose any problem, whether from the point of view of their mechanical strength or that of the airtightness of the box, between this inspection hatch and said lower and upper walls, it is not the same with regard to the interface

  between this same inspection hatch and the side flanges.

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  Very often these elements are not interconnected, precisely so as to be able to easily open said hatch. As for the lateral flanges, they are attached by fixing means, in particular screws, to the end edges of the lower and upper walls. Sealing with respect to the latter is usually ensured through a rebate at the level of these lateral flanges. In this regard, such a rebate can also be provided with respect to the wall defining the hatch

  visit, but turns out to be insufficient in most cases.

  In particular, under the effect of the wind leading to an increase in the pressure inside the box, this wall corresponding to the inspection hatch tends to deform, precisely because it is not retained relative to the side flanges. Air can then escape through the gap, thus formed between these flanges and the inspection hatch. This problem is particularly encountered in the case of material casings

synthetic, especially PVC.

  Another problem lies in the fact that it is quite difficult to design the walls of the box, including that corresponding to the inspection hatch, of strictly identical length. In this connection, it should be noted that these walls result from the cutting, in sections, of a section of very great length and necessarily intervene, during these cuts, the usual machining tolerances. Also, it frequently happens that the inspection hatch is longer or shorter than the walls with which it is brought to cooperate and there follows a gap, in all cases unsightly, between this inspection hatch and the lateral flanges. Likewise, a difference in length between the lower wall and the upper wall leads to an error in squaring the lateral flanges relative to these walls and, consequently, to a lack of parallelism between the end edges of the inspection hatch and said lateral flanges. Such a defect can come, more simply, from a wall cutting error corresponding to

the inspection hatch.

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  Note that during this cutting operation of the various walls of the box and, in particular, of the wall forming the inspection hatch, a squaring error may still occur between the cutting line and the longitudinal axis of these walls, which obviously leads to the same drawbacks as

those just mentioned.

  Ultimately, it will be observed that the box, once assembled, can undergo multiple deformations during its transport to the place of assembly at the level of a construction. These deformations can, here again, generate squareness defects between the walls and the lateral flanges, therefore of parallelism.

  between these flanges and the end edges of the inspection hatch.

  The aim of the solution according to the invention is to remedy all of the drawbacks mentioned above. In particular, it effectively responds to the problem of the deformation of this inspection hatch under the effect of the wind and, consequently, to the passage of air between this inspection hatch and the lateral flanges. In addition, if this solution corresponding to the invention does not prevent a lack of parallelism between these lateral flanges and the end edges of the hatch

  visit, it allows, at least, to make it unnoticed.

  To this end, the invention relates to a roller shutter box comprising a front wall, a rear wall, an upper wall, a lower wall and lateral flanges closing said box at its lateral ends, at least one of the front walls. and rear defining an inspection hatch and being connected, by means of retractable connection means, at least to the upper wall and to the lower wall, characterized in that said wall forming an inspection hatch comprises, at its edges end, a telescopic extension strip provided with interlocking means, in particular in the form of a groove or a tongue, provided capable of cooperating with interlocking means

  complementary to the side plates.

  According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the lateral flanges comprise, at the edge adjacent to an end edge of the inspection hatch, an obviously adjusted to the

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  width and height of the telescopic extension strip for

receipt of the latter.

  Consequently, once the telescopic extension strip is put in place, not only the risks of air infiltration are prevented, but, moreover, the telescopic nature of this strip makes it possible to make up for the differences in distance separating the edges of end of the inspection hatch and said lateral flanges, this so as to compensate for any defect in squareness. Other objects are advantages of the present invention

  will appear during the detailed description which follows

  relating to embodiments which are given only as

  indicative and non-limiting example.

  Understanding this description will be facilitated by

  referring to the attached drawing in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a roller shutter and in particular of its box; - Figure 2 is a partial schematic representation in perspective of the box according to the invention; - Figure 3 shows schematically and in partial section the connection between the inspection hatch and a side flange, the telescopic extension strip not being fitted in the corresponding side flange; - Figure 4 is a representation similar to Figure 3, the telescopic extension strip being, here, shown in a engaged manner in the complementary fitting means of said lateral flange; - Figure 5 is a schematic representation in partial section along V- V of Figure 1; As shown in Figure 1 the present invention relates to the field of roller shutters and relates, more

  in particular, to a box 1 for such shutters.

  This box 1 which overcomes, in certain cases, a carpentry of the door or window type taking position in an opening of a building, makes it possible to shelter there, once rolled up, the deck of this rolling shutter. Also, such a box i contains

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  also the drive mechanism to ensure deployment and

the folding of this apron.

  It also consists of a lower wall 2, an upper wall 3, a front wall 4, a rear wall 5 and, finally, lateral flanges 6,7 closing this box 1 to

  height of its lateral ends 8.9.

  At least one of the front 4 and rear 5 walls defines an inspection hatch allowing access to the interior of this box 1, so that it is connected by means of retractable connection means at least to the walls lower 2 and upper 3. These retractable connecting means are not described here, insofar as they are not the subject of the present invention, without

  count that they are known to those skilled in the art.

  Thus and by way of example, it is known to provide on the upper edge of the wall forming the inspection hatch, a tongue intended to be engaged in a groove which comprises, on the inner face of the box, the upper wall 3, while this inspection hatch itself has a groove at the bottom edge for receiving a tongue which, in turn, includes the edge of the bottom wall 2. The grooves and tongues are designed to prevent their dislocation unexpectedly, that is to say

  without operator intervention.

  To return to the lateral flanges 6,7, these are most often made integral with the lower 2 and upper 3 walls

  by means of fixing members, such as screws for example.

  Furthermore and according to the invention, the wall forming a hatch

  visit, identified in this description, but not so

  limiting, as being the rear wall 5, comprises, at its end edges 10, 11, a telescopic extension strip 12 provided with interlocking means 13, in particular in the form of a groove or a tongue, provided capable of cooperating with means

  complementary fitting 14 associated with the lateral flanges 6,7.

  Thus, this telescopic extension strip 12, hereinafter referred to as strip, is defined in height 15 substantially adjusted to the internal distance separating the bottom wall 2 from the wall

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  greater than 3, while being slightly less than this distance

to guarantee functional play.

  It further comprises a "U" shape, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, so as to be able to fit onto an end edge 10, 11 of the wall 5. Very particularly, when this wall 5 forming an inspection hatch is, in fact, in the form of two braced partitions 16,17, this telescopic extension strip 12 can be designed to fit only on the external partition 16. Thus, its U shape is defined by two wings 18,19 coming to extend, for one 19, on the internal side of this partition 16, while the other wing 18 comes, as

  to it, extend on the external side of the latter.

  Preferably, at least one of the two wings 18 and 19 is provided capable of coming to tighten elastically on an end edges 10, 11 of the wall 5, or even on the partition 16 of the latter, to prevent involuntary movement of the strip of

telescopic extension 12.

  The width 20 of these wings 18,19 and, therefore, the depth of the groove 20A which they delimit, determines the telescopic length of said strip 12 relative to an end edge 10,11 of the wall 5. The means d 'fitting 13 advantageously consist of a tongue 21 extending in a plane parallel to the wall 5, along the edge 22 of said strip 12 opposite the end edge 10 or 11 of

  this wall 5 on which it is engaged.

  As for the complementary fitting means 14, they are in the form of a groove 23, or even a simple hooking rim formed in correspondence at the side flanges 6,7. Thus this groove 23 or this hooking rim is located, as visible in FIGS. 3 and 4, on the face 25, internal to the box 1, of these lateral flanges 6,7 on the edge 26 coming to extend parallel to a end edge 10.11 of the

wall 5.

  It should be noted that it is also possible to associate the groove with the telescopic extension strip 12, while the lateral flanges 6,7 receive, under these conditions, a

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  tongue capable of coming to engage in this groove of a

  strip by moving and locking it.

  Preferably, at this border 26 the lateral flanges 6, 7 have a recess 27 extending along their peripheral edge 28 and designed to accommodate, in width 20 and in height 15, a telescopic extension strip 12, once fitted onto such a lateral flange 6,7. Through its wing 18, coming to be superimposed on the wall 5 externally to the box 1, this strip 12 necessarily creates an unsightly extra thickness 29 which is compensated for by this integration of said strip 12 in a lateral flange 6,7. In a way, the end edge of this wing 18 comes, after fitting, to be situated in the plane of the internal face 25 of these lateral flanges 6,7. Furthermore, the plane of this wing 18 and that of the peripheral edge 28

  comprising obviously 27 are, preferably, combined.

  As can be seen in FIG. 2, through this recess 27 there appear slots 30,31 between the ends 32,33 of a strip 12 and this peripheral edge 28 of a lateral flange 6,7. To prevent air from passing through these slots 30, 31, these lateral flanges 6, 7 have an internal rebate 34 at the level of this recess 27, as shown in FIG. 5. Note that means complementary interlocking 14 in the form of a groove 23 define, in part, said rebate

internal 34.

  Note that said slots 30,31 extend along the wall 5, through grooves 35,36 running

  parallel over the entire length of the latter.

  Preferably, a telescopic extension strip 12 is, moreover, able to move by sliding in parallel along an end edge 10, 11 of said wall 5 forming an inspection hatch. This allows you to precisely adjust the

  width of the slots 30.31 so that they are identical.

  It should be noted that, while remaining within the framework and the spirit of the present invention, one can imagine a construction whose kinematics are reversed with respect to that

having been described above.

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  It is, in fact, a question of associating a telescopic extension strip 12, then designed in the manner of a slide, with the lateral flanges 6,7. Thus by sliding in a direction perpendicular to such a lateral flange 6,7, the parallel wings 18,19 of this strip can be engaged and therefore locked on the end edges 10,11 of the wall forming a trap door, once this one in place. In the same way, to remove this inspection hatch, the slide or strip 12 is pushed back in the direction of the corresponding lateral flange, until the said said elements are released.

wings 18,19 of the wall 5.

  In such a design, the relative mobility of a strip 12 with respect to a lateral flange 6,7 is dependent on the length

  of the tongue 21, or even of the depth of the groove 23.

  In the end and as it emerges from the above, even in the context of this embodiment of reverse kinematics, we are in the presence of a strip which comes to extend the wall 5 telescopically, up to its end edges, 11. Also, the invention also extends to such an embodiment. As already explained above, the present invention effectively solves the problems encountered to date with regard to the junction between the side flanges of a box and the retractable wall provided to define

a inspection hatch.

  Thus, it is finally maintained at its end edges, which prevents it from deforming in the event of an increase in pressure inside the box due to the wind. The problems resulting from squaring faults have also been able to be mastered, so that the casing of a rolling shutter is now found to be watertight.

increased.

  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

  for this to move away from the framework and the spirit of the invention.

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Claims (8)

  1) Roller shutter box (1) comprising a front wall (4), a rear wall (5), an upper wall (3), a lower wall (21) and lateral flanges (6,7) closing said box (1) at its lateral ends (8, 9), at least one of the front (4) and rear (5) walls defining an inspection hatch and being connected, by means of retractable connecting means at least to the upper wall (3) and the lower wall (2), characterized in that said wall (5) forming an inspection hatch comprises, at its end edges (10,11), a telescopic extension strip ( 12) provided with interlocking means (13), in particular in the form of a groove or a tongue (21), provided capable of cooperating with complementary interlocking means (14) associated with the lateral flanges (6.7).   2) Box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a telescopic extension strip (12) has a height (15) substantially adjusted to the internal distance separating the bottom wall (2) from the top wall (3), while being slightly   less than this distance to guarantee functional play.   3) box (1) according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that a telescopic extension strip (12) has a "U" shape so as to fit onto an end edge (10,11) of the wall (5) and is defined by two wings (18,19) at least one of which is provided capable of coming to tighten elastically on said end edges (10,11), the width (20) of these wings (18,19) and, therefore, the depth of the groove (20A) which they delimit, determining the telescopic length of said strip (12) relative to this edge   end (10,11) of the wall (5).   4) box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, whose wall (5) forming inspection hatch is in the form of two braced partitions (16,17), characterized in that the telescopic extension strip (12 ) is designed for 0lo 2807785 fitting onto the external partition (16) of an end edge (10,11) of said wall (5).   ) Box (1) according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that the fitting means (13) consist of a tongue (21) or a groove extending in a plane parallel to the wall (5), along the edge (22) of said strip (12) , opposite the end edge (10) or (11) of the wall (5) on which it is engaged, the complementary interlocking means (14) being in the form of a groove (23), or even of a simple hooking rim, or, respectively, of a tongue formed on the face (25) internal to the box (1) of these lateral flanges (6,7) at the edge (26) coming to extend parallel to an edge end (10,11) of the wall (5).   6) box (1) according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that the lateral flanges (6,7) comprise, on their face (2) internal to the box (1) and at the edge (26) coming to extend parallel to an end edge (10,11) of the wall (5), a recess (27) extending along their peripheral edge (28) designed to accommodate, in width (20) and in height (15), a telescopic extension strip (12), a time   fitted onto such a lateral flange (6,7).   7) box (1) according to the preceding claim 6, characterized in that the side flanges (6,7) have a rebate   internal (34) at the level of the recess (27).   8) box (1) according to one of claims 5 or 6,   characterized in that between the ends (32,33) of a telescopic extension strip (12) and the peripheral edge (28) of a lateral flange (6,7) appear slots (30,31) extending , along the wall (5), through grooves (35,36)   running parallel over the entire length of the latter.   9) box (1) according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that a telescopic extension strip (12) is provided capable of moving by sliding parallel along an end edges (10,11) of said wall (5) forming inspection hatch. Il 1 2807785   ) Box (1) according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that a telescopic extension strip (12) is associated, in the manner of a slide, with the lateral flanges (6,7).