GB2403206A

GB2403206A - Roller shutter installation aid

Info

Publication number: GB2403206A
Application number: GB0312537A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham John Broom
Original assignee: RSL BRISTOL Ltd
Current assignee: RSL BRISTOL Ltd
Priority date: 2003-05-31
Filing date: 2003-05-31
Publication date: 2004-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-31
Also published as: GB0312537D0; GB2403206B

Abstract

A device 1 for aiding the installation in a building of a roller shutter assembly 4 which includes a roller shutter. The device has a plurality of rotatable rollers 5, 5' for supporting the roller shutter in its wound up state with the axis of the wound up shutter being substantially horizontal, and a framework 3 for supporting the rotatable rollers and for use in lifting the shutter into its desired position in the building. The roller shutter can then be easily unrolled and connected to a drive shaft for operating the shutter. Preferably, the device 1 is mounted on a frame 7 which can be raised by a forklift truck via fork slots 13.

Description

1 2403206 Roller Shutter Assembly Installation This invention concerns the

installation of roller shutter assemblies and more particularly support devices to aid in their installation.

Roller shutters assemblies, for example used as security devices in buildings, typically consist of a motor driven shaft which is secured relative to an aperture in a building which is to be closed by a flexible shutter, and the flexible shutter which in use is wound onto and off the shaft to open and close the shutter across the aperture in the building.

Such shutter assemblies could be installed complete by suitably positioning them relative to the aperture in the building and securing them to the building. However, particularly with large and heavy roller shutter assemblies, it is more usual to install the motor driven shaft in the correct position in the building, and then to attach the flexible shutter to the motor driven shaft, the shutter being wound on to the shaft using the motor. - 2 -

Even so, the weight of the flexible shutter can be sufficiently high that it takes many men to lift it into position.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for aiding the installation in a building of a roller shutter assembly including a roller shutter, the device comprising a plurality of rotatable rollers for supporting the roller shutter in its wound up state with the axis of the wound up shutter being substantially horizontal, and a framework for supporting the rotatable rollers and for use in lifting the shutter into its desired position in the building.

The invention further provides a method of installing a roller shutter assembly in a building, the method comprising rolling up the roller shutter of the assembly, placing the rolled up shutter on a device according to the present invention, lifting the device and roller shutter into a position where the shutter can be installed in the building, and unrolling the shutter from the assembly into its desired position in the building.

An embodiment of support device for aiding the installation of a roller shutter assembly into a building will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the embodiment; Fig. 2 is a front view of the embodiment; Fig. 3 is an underneath view of the embodiment; Fig. 4 is an end view of the embodiment; Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 with the embodiment mounted on a carrying frame; and Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4 with the embodiment mounted on a carrying frame. - 3 -

The illustrated support device consists of six vertical support plates 1 connected by two substantially horizontal braces 2 and by two further substantially horizontal braces 3. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the plates 1 are substantially rectangular with a substantially semicircular cut-out 4 for receiving a rolled up roller shutter illustrated schematically in Fig. 4 at 14.

Disposed around the substantially semicircular cut-out 4 is a plurality of rollers 5 which are pivotal in the plates 1 about horizontal axes, three sets of rollers 5 being positioned between alternating pairs of plates 1. As shown in Fig. 4, the rollers 5 are arranged such that two pairs rotate about substantially parallel and horizontal axes, with a fifth positioned below them. A sixth roller 5' is rotatable about an axis above that of the other rollers 5.

In Fig. 3, obscured portions of the rollers 5 and 5' are shown with broken lines.

Pairs of substantially square section pegs 6 at each end of the device enable the device to be connected to a carrying frame 7 shown generally at 7 in Figs. 5 and 6.

As can be seen from Figs. 5 and 6, the device in accordance with the present invention is shown connected to the carrying frame 7 by insertion of the pegs 6 on the device into substantially square section tubes 8 suitably positioned on the frame 7.

The frame 7 has four vertical legs 9, two adjacent legs being in the form of an inverted "U" which form the two ends 10 of the frame 7. The two ends 10 are interconnected by two pairs of horizontal members 11, cross braces 12 serving to strengthen the structure.

Beneath and connecting the two lower braces 11 are two horizontal boxsection members 13 for receiving the forks of a fork lift truck. - 4

The device shown in Figs 1 to 4 can be used on its own to support a roller shutter prior to and during connection of the shutter to its drive shaft. In which case with the rolled up shutter 14 placed on the device it can be lifted into position to make the connection, for example using a fork lift truck.

The shutter 14 can then be unrolled from its position resting on the rollers 5 and 5', connection to the drive shaft being made as desired.

However, the use of the support frame 7 has the advantage that the lift required by the fork lift truck is reduced, and this can be a particular advantage where headroom is restricted.

In the case of the illustrated device, it is preferable to place the shutter 14 on the rollers 5 and 5' with it wound in a clockwise sense as shown in Fig. 4, the rollers 5' serving to provide additional support to the shutter 14 to resist its being pulled off the rollers 5 as it is unwound.

Claims

Claims 1. A device for aiding the installation in a building of a roller

shutter assembly including a roller shutter, the device comprising a plurality of rotatable rollers for supporting the roller shutter in its wound up state with the axis of the wound up shutter being substantially horizontal, and a framework for supporting the rotatable rollers and for use in lifting the shutter into its desired position in the building.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable rollers are arranged in pairs in substantially horizontal planes and the roller shutter when placed thereon is supported by opposing roller of the pairs.
3. A device according to claim 2, including a roller which is rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to that of the other rollers but does not have an opposing partner.
4. A device for aiding the installation in a building of a roller shutter assembly including a roller shutter, the device being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
5. A method of installing a roller shutter assembly in a building, the method comprising rolling up the roller shutter of the assembly, placing the rolled up shutter on a device according to any of the preceding claims, lifting the device and roller shutter into a position where the shutter can be installed in the building, and unrolling the shutter from the assembly into its desired position in the building.