IL98503A - Mechanism for manipulating shutters slats and the like - Google Patents

Description

MECHANISM FOB MANIPULA TING OF SHUTTERS. , SUA T3 AND THE LIKE The invention to be described in Lhe Following relates to sliding. shutters for doors find windows nnd structures enclosing balconies and verandahs. Shutters of that type comprise a multiple number of slatswhich extend horizontally within the confines of a four sided frame and which are turnable from a closed position to an open position. The slats are functionally connected to a vertical rail extending across one end of the slats. By moving the said rail up or down the slats are turned through substantially 90°. In their closed position all slats in an individual shutter are close to one another and form n practically uninterrupted plane. In the open position all slats while still extending horizontally face edgewise the space inside and the outside of the respective shutter, thus creating relatively wide gaps between vicinal slats.

The turning movement of the slats is brought about by means of a short lever which actuates, i.e. moves the said rail which is connected with the slats. This lever juts out from the plane of the slats and thus does not permit the sliding movement of the shutter in the conventional constructions. The said arrangement is generally known and does not require further elucidation.

It is the main object of the invention to provide a mechanism which does not impede the sliding movement of a shutter, no matter whether it is in the "close" or "open" position of the slats.

The manipulation of shutters and/or the slats is described in Israeli Patent No. 20543 and German Patent 2659741 which refers to a costly mechanism which is operated by a lever acting on one slat provided with a toothed wheel and two parallel racks.

The present invention differs from the above as will become apparent from the following description.

In a practical embodiment of the invention the mechanism operating the closing and opening of the shutter comprised a toothed wheel accomodated in a. vertical member of the frame in which the slats are turnably held, the said wheel meshing with a rack, the rack being functionally connected with the rail to which the shutters are connected. The said toothed wheel is turnable by a hand wheel positioned in a recess of the said four sided frame at the plane of the. frame, thus permitting unimpeded sliding movement of the shutter.

To make the operation of .moving the slats from "close" to nopen" £OT from "open" to "close") position even more convenient to the actuating person, the movement (turning) of the slats is assisted by spring power.

In that construction the rack is attached at one of its ends to a spatial, helical spring which becomes tensioned (expanded) at the manual activation of the small hand wheel by means :of which the toothed wheel meshing^ with the rack is worked. The rack has a second row of teeth which at the end of the rack's movement becomes engaged by a pawl holding the rack and maintaining the expanded condition of the spring. Means are provided to .shift the pawl from engagement with that second row of teeth on the rack, such that the spring contracts returning the rack into its initial position and so turning all slats in the shutter from one (say the closed) position to the opposite (say the open) one.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference, to the annexed drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows in an elevational , fractional view a. sliding shutter of the type referred to in the above introductory paragraph, with the externally visible parts of the operating mechanism for turning the slats.

Fig. 2 is a schematical , perspective view of the said mechanism.

Fig. 3 shows a detai 1.

Fig. is a perspective view of the rack, and Fig. 5 a frontal, elevation of a rack with two rows of teeth.

Fig. 6 is a fractional, perspective view of the mechanism of Fl9- 2· ni Turning first to Fig. 1, the conventional shuttpr comprises a four · sided frame having two uprights 1 between which turnably extend slats 2. All slats 2 are connected at one of their ends to a rail 3. To the rail 3 is connected in parallel a rod 4 from the end of which extends a helical contraction spring 5, the free end of which is affixed at 6 to the . upright 1. The rod 5 is connected via a short arm 7 with a rack 8 (Fig. 4). This rack is slidingly movable in guide slots 9 provided in a block shaped casing 10. The casing 10 is accommodated in the hollow upright 1, the arm 7 extending towards the slats 2 (see Fig. 1). Also in the casing 10 is located a toothed wheel 11 in a position to mesh with teeth 12 of rack 8. From the wheel 11 extends an axle 13 which is passed out of the interior of upright 1 and carries at its outer, free end a hand wheel 14 which lies in a depression 14' on the face of the upright 1. A diametrically extending rib 15 on hand wheel 13 permits the turning of that wheel.

It can easily be seen that by turning the hand wheel (13/ he rack 8 is moved slidingly up or down n slots 9 of casing 10. The rack being connected via arm 7 with rod 4 and so with rail 3 transmits its movement to the slats, turning them from one' position to the other one.

As has been stated above, the movement of the slats can be broguht about in one direction by spring power. To this end a spring 5 extending from the end of rod 4 and being connected at 6 to upright 1 rcan be provided. The manual turning of hand wheel 14 and consequent movement of rack 8 causes the spring to expand and to become tensioned. Where this means is employed the rack 8 is provided with a second row of teeth 16 which is engaged by a spring loaded pawl 17 (Fig. 6) immobilizing the rack 8 and so maintaining the tensioned condition of spring 5. The pawl 17 pressed into engagement with teeth 16 of rack 8 by a small spring 18 can be broguht out of engagement with teeth 16 by a small pressure knob 19 which is accessible on the face of upright 1. This causes t e spring 5 to contract pulling rod 4 along together with rail.3 and turning the slats. i ■ I ! ' ' 1 It is obvious that the new mechanism does hot .Include out- jutting levers or other parts which make the movement of the shutters impossible unless these out-jutting parts are first swung into the plane o the slats proper. This however is frequently forgotten or overlooked the results being • i' bending or breaking of these parts. This undesirable effect is eliminated by!the new arrangement described above and illustrated by the drawings. i

Claims (4)

CLAIMS:

1. A mechanism for operating and imparting turning movement to slats of sliding shutters which are held in horizontal position in a fou sided frame, such mechanism comprising a toothed wheel accommodated in a vertical member. of the frame in which the slats are turnablyj held, the said wheel meshing with a rack, the rack being functional l connected with the rail to which the shutters are connected, the said toothed wheel being turnable by a hand wheel positioned in a recess of the said four sided frame at the plane of the frame.

2. The mechanism claimed in claim 1, characterised thereby that the movement (turning) of the slats is assisted by spring power.

3. The mechanism claimed in claim 2, wherein the rack is attached at one of its ends to a spatial, helical spring which becomes tensioned (expanded) at the manual activation of the small hand wheel by means of which the toothed wheel meshing with the rack is worked, the rack has a second row of teeth which at the end of the rack's movement becomes engaged by a pawl holding the rack and maintaining the expanded condition of the spring, means are provided to shift the pawl from engagement with that second row of teeth on the rack.

4. Shutters, whenever including a mechanism as claimed in the preceding claims.