US20110030169A1

US20110030169A1 - Carriage for a Curtain Device

Info

Publication number: US20110030169A1
Application number: US12/988,438
Authority: US
Inventors: Beat Aebi; Renato Burkhart; Heinz Durig; Martin Indermaur
Original assignee: Silent Gliss International AG
Current assignee: Silent Gliss International AG
Priority date: 2008-04-25
Filing date: 2009-04-23
Publication date: 2011-02-10
Also published as: AU2009240759A1; EP2265154B1; WO2009129639A1; CN102014706A; DE202009005959U1; JP2011518009A; EP2265154A1; CN102014706B; JP5399473B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a carriage comprising a rail having a first end and a second end, and a fixing means extending between said ends. The fixing means is used to detachably fix a curtain to the rail. The rail is movably mounted on slides in a channel of the profiled element for the curtain. The rail is highly flexible such that it bends elastically accordingly in a curved section when the carriage is displaced.

Description

The invention relates to a carriage for a curtain device, comprising a rail which has a first end and a second end and a fixing means extending between these ends, which fixing means is used to detachably fix a curtain to the rail, and comprising slides with which the rail can be displaceably mounted in a channel of a curtain profile.
A carriage of this type has been disclosed in the prior art in CH-A-653 537 of the Applicant. This consists of a flat aluminum rail and slides, as well as driver cams fixed to the aluminum rail. The carriage is horizontally movable in a channel of a multichannel curtain profile. Attached to the side of the aluminum rail is a hook tape, to which a curtain, by an upper border, can be detachably fixed.
Further similar carriages have been disclosed in the prior art in DE-A-101 50 777 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,910. A carriage which consists of a plurality of links and is intended for a curved curtain profile is also known. However, this carriage is comparatively complex in its production and is suitable just for curtain profiles which have a bend with very large bending radius.
The object of the invention is to provide a carriage of said type which is easier to produce and which is also suitable for bends with comparatively small bending radius of, for example, less than 50 cm.
In a carriage of the generic type, the object is achieved by virtue of the fact that the rail is of highly flexible configuration, so that it bends with corresponding elasticity when the carriage is displaced in a bend of the curtain profile. It has been shown that such a carriage runs very smoothly and is also very quiet. Surprisingly, it is also suitable for bends which have a bending radius of just 10 to 20 cm and a bending angle of 90°. Moreover, it is also suitable for curtain profiles having a plurality of bends, for example for S-shaped curtain profiles. The production is comparatively cost-effective even when the carriage is comparatively long, for example is 1 m in length. As previously, actuation is possible, for example, by means of a draw rod.
According to one refinement of the invention, the carriage is made of flexurally elastic plastic or metal, for example aluminum. The rail is comparatively thin, for example 0.5 to 2 mm thick. A particularly suitable plastic is, for example, polypropylene, though other suitable plastics are also in principle conceivable.
According to one refinement of the invention, the rail is made of a laminate and, in particular, of a laminate of different materials. The sheets of the laminate can be plastics or, indeed, metal foils. This allows the production of a comparatively rigid and yet, with respect to the bending axis, highly flexible carriage.
According to one refinement of the invention, it is provided that the rail has in an upper region a row of holes for the fixing of slides and/or drivers. The holes of the row of holes are arranged with a comparatively small latch spacing, so that the slides can be fixed essentially at any chosen spot. For fixing, the slides respectively have on a support at least one protrusion, which engages in a hole of the row of holes. It is further provided that in the support there is arranged a latching tongue, which opposite said protrusion is latched into the same opening. This allows a very simple and yet secure fixing of the slides. The slides can have rollers in the usual way. Slides without rollers are also conceivable, however.
According to one refinement of the invention, it is provided that the carriage has at least one driver, which possesses on a bracket a protrusion, which engages in an opening in the row of holes. These drivers are fixed to one end of the rail and allow a plurality of carriages or curtains to be displaced together in packs.
According to one refinement of the invention, the rail has on a lower margin a tooth system. This serves for the fixing of the drivers and/or slides. These can be correspondingly fixed to the openings in the row of holes and to this tooth system. A particularly secure fixing is possible when the driver has at an upper end a fixing part, which can be placed around an upper edge of the rail. This fixing part preferably has at least one latching tongue, which can be latched into one of said holes of the row of holes.
According to one refinement of the invention, it is provided that the rail has a top part which is detachably connected to a bottom part. The top part is connected to slides and is displaceably guided with these in a channel of a profile. The bottom part serves for the fixing of the curtain, which can be sewn, for example, to the bottom part.
Preferably, the top part and the bottom part are elongated, plate-like parts, which are arranged essentially in one plane and which extend over the entire length of the rails. For washing of the curtain, the bottom part is detached from the top part. This is particularly simple when, according to one refinement of the invention, the top part and the bottom part can be released by a displacement in the longitudinal direction of the rail. The top part and the bottom part are respectively highly flexible.
The carriage is suitable, in particular, for a curtain device having a multichannel curtain profile. Such a multichannel curtain profile possesses a plurality of channels and a corresponding number of carriages. For example, such a curtain device can have 3, 4, 5 or even more carriages. Through displacement of the carriages around a bend, the curtains can be “parked” outside the window.
Further advantageous features emerge from the dependent patent claims, the following description and the drawing.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows schematically a three-dimensional view of a portion of a curtain device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through a mounted multichannel curtain profile,

FIG. 3 shows a section according to FIG. 2, but through a multichannel curtain profile having eight channels,

FIGS. 4 and 5 show views respectively of a profile,

FIG. 6 shows schematically the mechanical coupling of two profiles,

FIG. 7 shows a view of a multichannel curtain profile,

FIGS. 8 and 9 respectively show views of a curved multichannel curtain profile,

FIG. 10 shows a three-dimensional view of a carriage according to the invention, wherein individual parts are omitted,

FIGS. 11 to 13 show three-dimensional views of drivers,

FIG. 14 shows a three-dimensional view of a slide,

FIG. 15 shows a three-dimensional partial view of a curtain device according to the invention according to one variant,

FIG. 16 shows a three-dimensional view of a carriage according to one variant,

FIG. 17 shows a three-dimensional view of the top part and bottom part of the rail in the separated state,

FIG. 18 shows a three-dimensional view of a slide according to one variant,

FIG. 19 shows a three-dimensional view of a driver according to one variant,

FIG. 20 shows a three-dimensional view of a driver according to one variant,

FIG. 21 shows a cross section through a mounted multichannel curtain profile according to one variant,

FIG. 22 shows a three-dimensional view of a slide according to one variant,

FIG. 23 shows a three-dimensional view of a slide according to a further variant, and

FIG. 24 shows a three-dimensional view of a slide according to a further variant.

The curtain device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a multichannel curtain profile 2, here shown merely in sections, which can be fixed in front of a window, for example with brackets (not shown here), to the ceiling of a building. The multichannel curtain profile 2 can be arranged, according to FIGS. 2 and 3, recessed in a niche 10 of a wall 9. This is not absolutely necessary, however. On the multichannel curtain profile 2 are mounted five carriages 5, which are displaceably guided with slides 26 in a channel 13 respectively of a profile 12, which channel is shown in FIG. 2. Detachably fixed to each carriage 5 is a curtain 4, which is comparatively wide and extends vertically. The channels 13 are closed off at the end respectively with a latched-on cover 3. To the ends of the carriages 5, a driver 6, 6′ or 7 (FIGS. 11, 12 and 13) is respectively fixed. This allows displacement of the curtains 4 in groups. In FIG. 1, the foremost curtain 4 is omitted for diagrammatic reasons. The curtains 4 can be different. They can be configured, for example, as flat curtains, or, indeed, as gathered curtains.
As already mentioned, the multichannel curtain profile 2 consists of a plurality of profiles 12, which respectively possess a channel 13 extending in the longitudinal direction of the profiles 12. The channels 13 are respectively open at the bottom along a slot 15. In this slot 15, the slides 26 are guided. The profiles 12 are, in particular, aluminum profiles, which can be powder-coated or anodized. The profiles 12 can also, however, be made of another suitable bendable material. The profiles 12 are respectively fixedly connected to each other at the side and along their entire length. The connection between in each case two profiles 12 is preferably a mechanical connection and, in particular, a latching connection. For this purpose, the profiles 12 according to FIG. 5 possess on the left-hand side a laterally projecting latching rib 17 extending over the entire length of the profile 12 and, in a lower region, a gripping part 19, which likewise extends over the entire length and which is of hook-shaped configuration in cross section. On the right-hand side, the profiles 12 respectively possess in the upper region a downward-extending, comparatively short latching rib 16, arranged on an outer end of a web 14, and in the lower region a receiving fixture 18, which likewise extends over the entire length of the profile 12.
The multichannel curtain profile 2 according to FIG. 2 consists of five same profiles 12. The extreme left-hand profile can also be configured however, according to FIG. 4, as a profile 11. This profile 11 differs from the profile 12 by virtue of an outer plane surface 30, which forms an end surface.
FIG. 6 shows how a profile 11 is mechanically connected to a profile 12. First of all, the gripping part 19 is inserted into the receiving fixture 18. In the direction of the arrow 20, the profile 12 is now pivoted against the profile 11, so that the latching rib 17 slides along the latching rib 16 and finally back-grips the latter. The two profiles 11 and 12 are now fixedly connected along their entire lengths. At the same time, the profiles 11 and 12 can be mutually displaced in the longitudinal direction. The profiles 11 and 12 can thus slide relative to each other in the longitudinal directions. Transversely to the longitudinal direction, however, they are fixedly connected to each other. In place of the shown latching connection, another connection is also possible, for example a dovetail joint. This too allows a longitudinal displacement combined with simultaneous firm anchorage transversely to the longitudinal direction. The connection between two profiles 12 is of same configuration. The assembly is likewise realized according to FIG. 6. The profile 11 can correspondingly only be connected on one side, while the profiles 12 can respectively be connected on both sides to a further profile 12 or 11.
The multichannel curtain profile 2 consists of five profiles 12 and is thus five-tracked. The number of profiles 12 which are connected to one another is optional per se. For example, a multichannel curtain profile 2′ having eight profiles 12, as is shown in FIG. 3, is also conceivable. However, a multichannel curtain profile 2 having just two profiles 12 or 11 and 12 is also conceivable. The multichannel curtain profile 2″ shown in FIG. 7 is made of a profile 11 and four profiles 12.
The multichannel curtain profile 2 is preferably curved and possesses, for example, according to FIG. 8, a bend 2 a and a straight arm 2 b, as well as a second straight arm 2 c. The bend 2 a is, for example, a bend of 90° or less than 90° and having a bending radius of preferably less than 50 cm, in particular 10 to 20 cm. The longer arm 2 c is, in particular, that arm which extends horizontally above a window. The shorter arm 2 b extends by the side of the window at right angles away from this. The length of the arm 2 b roughly corresponds to the width of a curtain 4 or the length of a carriage 5. The carriages 5 can respectively be displaced along the multichannel curtain profile 2 between the two arms 2 b and 2 c. If the carriages 5 or the curtains 4 are located in the region of the arm 2 c, then they are in front of the window (not shown here). If the carriages 5 and the curtains 4, on the other hand, are displaced into the arm 2 b, then these free up the window. Of course, it is also possible for some of the carriages 5 to be located in the region of the arm 2 c and for the other carriages 5 to be located in the region of the arm 2 b or 2 a.
FIG. 9 shows a multichannel curtain profile 2′″, which, as can be seen, is curved in an S-shape. It thus possesses two bends 2 a′″ and 2 b′″. Apart from the shown angular configuration according to FIG. 8 and the S-shaped configuration according to FIG. 9, other forms, for example a U-shaped form, are also possible. Types having more than two bends are also possible.
The curved multichannel curtain profiles 2 and 2′″ according to FIGS. 8 and 9 are produced by firstly connecting the profiles 12 or 11 and 12 according to FIG. 6 to form a straight multichannel curtain profile. Next, this straight multichannel curtain profile is bent into the desired shape in a bending apparatus on a corresponding mold. The profiles 12 or 11 and 12 are here displaced in their longitudinal direction. At the ends, the profiles 12 or 11 and 12 must then be correspondingly shortened, so that plane end faces 31 and 31′ according to FIGS. 8 and 9 are formed. Finally, the still open channels 13 are closed off with the covers 3. Bending is effected transversely to the surface 30 shown in FIG. 4 and, of course, such that the channels 13 are in one plane and are arranged in parallel.
To enable the carriages 5 to be moved around the bends 2 a or 2 a′″ and 2 b′″, these are highly flexible in configuration, at least in the longitudinal direction. The carriages 5 respectively possess a flat and elongated rail 23, which is made, for example, of elastically bendable plastic or metal. In the bends 2 a or 2 a′″ and 2 b′″, the carriages 5 can bend with corresponding elasticity. Since the rails 23 are flexible, they respectively pass after a bend back into the straight form shown in FIG. 10. The rails 23 are comparatively thin and possess, for example, a thickness of 0.5 mm to 2 mm. They can be comparatively long and can have, for example, a length of 50 to 100 cm. As the metal, comparatively thin aluminum plate is suitable, for example. As the plastic, polypropylene, in particular, is suitable. The rails 23 can also be laminates of same or different sheets. A laminate of plastic and metal sheets is also conceivable. The height of the rail 23 measures, for example, 3 to 5 cm.
In an upper region, rectangular through openings 22 are incorporated in slots 23, which openings have a row of holes for fixing of the slides 26 and of the drivers 6, 6′ and 7 shown in FIGS. 11 to 13. The openings 22 can be rectangular, as shown, but can also have a different form, for example be round. The slides 26 can be easily mounted and latch-locked on the rail 23. A protrusion 2 of a support 29 hereupon engages in one of the openings 22. A latching tongue 33 engages in the same opening from the other side. The slide 26 is thus, in the intended position, detachably connected to the carriage 5. On the slide 26, rollers 28 can be mounted, which allow an almost frictionless movement of the carriage 5. The drivers 6, 6′ or 7 respectively possess laterally protruding wings 8, 8′ and 8″, which are formed onto a bracket 27. In a lower region, a holding part 35 is additionally formed onto the bracket 27, which holding part, for fixing of the driver 6, 6′ or 7, can be engaged with a tooth system 25 of the basic element 23. The tooth system 25 is configured in the same grid pattern as the openings 22. In an upper region, two protrusions 37 are formed onto the bracket 27, which protrusions can respectively be inserted into an opening 22. Above these protrusions 37, the brackets 27 respectively possess a fixing part 36, which can be bent through 180° about a film hinge 34. Formed onto the fixing part 36 is a latching tongue 38 (only partially visible in FIGS. 11 to 13), which, once the fixing part 36 is bent over, engages in one of the openings 22. The drivers 6, 6′ and 7 can thus be fixed very easily, and nevertheless securely, as well as detachably, to the carriage 5.
The rail 23 is arranged on the side of a fixing part 24 for the detachable fixing of the curtains 4. This fixing part 24 extends over the entire length of the rail 23 or of the carriage 5. The fixing part 24 is, for example, a barbed Velcro tape, which can be detachably connected to a smooth Velcro tape of the corresponding curtain 4. The fixing part 24 could alternatively, however, also be integrally incorporated in the rail 23. However, other connections are here, of course, also conceivable.
FIG. 15 shows a curtain device 1 having carriages 5′ which are respectively configured according to FIG. 16. These carriages 5′ possess a rail 23′, to which a plurality of slides 26′ are detachably fixed. The rail 23′ is likewise highly flexible and consists of a top part 39 and a bottom part 40. The top part 39 serves to guide the carriage 5′ in the multichannel curtain profile 2′ according to FIG. 21. The multichannel curtain profile can also, however, be configured as described above. The bottom part 40 serves for the fixing of a curtain 4. The curtain 4 can be sewn, for example, to the bottom part 40.
The top part 31 and the bottom part 40 are fully separable from each other. To this end, these two parts are displaceably connected to each other. The connection possesses a web 44 on the top part 39 and a web 45 on the bottom part 40. The two webs 40 and 45 respectively engage in a groove 47 and 46 of the other part. The bottom part 40 can be removed from the top part 39 by displacement in the longitudinal direction of the rail 5′. Correspondingly, the bottom part 40 with the, for example, sewn-on curtain 4 can be fixed again to the top part 39. In place of said displaceable connection, other detachable connections are also, however, conceivable. The essential point is that the top part 39 and the bottom part 40 are arranged in a common vertical plane. In this case, the weight of the curtain 4 generates no torque upon the carriage 5′.
For the fixing of the slides 26′ and of the drivers 53 and 55 shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the top part 39 possesses at regular intervals teeth 43, which respectively have a hole 41. Between the teeth 43, recesses 42 are provided. The holes 41 form a row of holes and the teeth 43 form a row of teeth. The slides 26′ are respectively fixed to two adjacent teeth 43. In the fixed state, a tooth 43 respectively reaches between two webs 48 and 50. These webs 49 and 50 are elastically deflectable. A cam 49, which is formed onto the far side of the web 48, engages in a hole 41 in the corresponding tooth 43. The axle 58 of the corresponding roller 48 is here located in a gap 42. The teeth 43 and the holes 41 respectively are likewise used for fixing of the drivers 53 and 55. The driver 53 possesses two cams 54, which are respectively inserted and, in particular, latched in place in a hole 41. The driver 55 possesses a cam 56, which is inserted or latched in place in a hole 41. This allows a simple and secure fixing of the drivers 53 and 55 to the top part 39.
The multichannel curtain profile 2′ shown in FIG. 21 differs from the multichannel curtain profile 2 in particular by the configuration of end profiles 51. These respectively possess an outside wall 52, which outside walls allow a particularly suitable termination, especially from the aesthetic aspect.
FIGS. 22 to 24 show slides 59, 60 and 61, to which a driver 62, 63 and 64 is respectively fixed. These drivers 62, 63 and 64 are thus not fixed directly to the rail 23 or 23′, but rather to the slide 59, 60 or 61. In the case of the slide 60 according to FIG. 23, the driver 63 is slipped onto a bracket 65 and latch-locked to one of a plurality of depressions 23. In the case of the slide 61, the driver 64 is slipped onto a bracket 66 and latch-locked to this by means of a latching tongue 67.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

1 curtain device
2 multichannel curtain profile
2 a bend
2 b arm
2 c arm
3 cover
4 curtain
5 carriage
6 driver
7 driver
8 wing
9 wall
10 niche
11 profile
12 profile
13 channel
14 web
15 slot
16 latching rib
17 latching rib
18 receiving fixture
19 gripping part
20 arrow
22 openings
23 rail
24 fixing part
25 tooth system
26 slide
27 bracket
28 rollers
29 support
30 surface
31 end face
32 protrusion
33 latching tongue
34 film hinge
35 holding part
36 fixing part
37 protrusion
38 latching tongue
39 top part
40 bottom part
41 hole
42 recess
43 tooth
44 web
45 web
46 groove
47 groove
48 roller
49 cam
50 web
51 end profile
52 wall
53 driver
54 cam
55 driver
56 cam
57 web
58 axle
59 slide
60 slide
61 slide
62 driver
63 driver
64 driver
65 bracket
66 bracket
67 latching tongue
68 depression

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. A carriage for a curtain device, comprising a rail which has a first end and a second end and a fixing means extending between these ends, which fixing means is used to detachably fix a curtain to the rail, and comprising slides with which the rail can be displaceably mounted in a channel of a curtain profile, wherein the rail is of highly flexible configuration, so that it bends with corresponding elasticity when the carriage is displaced in a bend.

20. The carriage as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rail is made of a flexurally elastic plastic or metal.

21. The carriage as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rail is made of polypropylene.

22. The carriage as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rail is a laminate of same or different materials.

23. The carriage as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rail has in an upper region, along an upper edge, a row of holes extending from the first to the second end for the fixing of slides and/or drivers.

24. The carriage as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rail has on a lower margin a tooth system extending over the entire length of the rail.

25. The carriage as claimed in claim 23, wherein the row of holes and the tooth system are configured in the same grid pattern.

26. The carriage as claimed in claim 25, wherein the drivers are respectively fixed to holes of the row of holes and to the teeth of the tooth system.

27. The carriage as claimed in claim 19, wherein the slides respectively have on a support at least one protrusion, which engages in a hole of the row of holes.

28. The carriage as claimed in claim 27, wherein on the support there is arranged at least one latching tongue, which opposite the protrusion is latched into said opening.

29. The carriage as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least one driver is provided, which has on a bracket a protrusion, which engages in an opening in the row of holes.

30. The carriage as claimed in claim 29, wherein the at least one driver has on a lower end a holding part, which is engaged with teeth of the tooth system.

31. The carriage as claimed in claim 29, wherein the at least one driver has on an upper end a fixing part, which can be placed around an upper edge of the rail.

32. The carriage as claimed in claim 31, wherein the holding part has a film hinge around which it can be placed.

33. The carriage as claimed in claim 19, wherein it is intended for a curtain device having a multichannel curtain profile which has at least one bend.

34. The carriage as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rail has a top part and a bottom part detachably connected to said top part, wherein the top part can be guided in the channel of the rail such that it is slidingly displaceable and a curtain can be fixed to the bottom part.

35. The carriage as claimed in claim 34, wherein the detachable connection between the top part and the bottom part has at least one groove, in which a web engages, so that the bottom part is detached from and connectable to the top part by a displacement in the longitudinal direction of the rail.

36. The carriage as claimed in claim 34, wherein the top part and the bottom part are of plate-like configuration and extend essentially over the entire length of the rail.