WO2005111363A1

WO2005111363A1 - Curtain

Info

Publication number: WO2005111363A1
Application number: PCT/CH2004/000302
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Grützner; Heinz Dürig; Frans Van Der Wielen
Original assignee: Silent Gliss International Ag
Priority date: 2004-05-19
Filing date: 2004-05-19
Publication date: 2005-11-24

Abstract

The curtain comprises a number of panels (3) that are displaceably guided on a curtain track (2). A drive device (6) serves to displace the panels (3) along the curtain track (2). The panels (3) can each be folded in a V-shaped manner along a vertical line. Preferably, the panels (3) are each guided along the curtain track (2) on two interspaced sliding elements (9, 22). The curtain is a type of panel curtain that, however, has important advantages of a strip curtain.

Description

curtain

The invention relates to a curtain with several panels, with a curtain rail on which the panels are horizontally displaceable at an upper end and with a drive device for displacing the panels along the curtain rail.

Curtains have become known especially for the window decoration in numerous designs. With the so-called strip curtain, several strips can be rotated around a vertical axis and moved to form a package. By turning and moving the curtain strips, the window view can be changed essentially continuously. Designs of strip curtains are disclosed in EP 0 081 465 and EP 1 342 880 by the applicant. An endless drive element, for example a ball chain, which is in engagement with sliders serves as the drive for these strip curtains. These sliders are used to control the curtain strips and to store the curtain strips on the curtain rail.

So-called panel curtains are also known, each having a plurality of panels made of a textile, which are guided on a curtain rail and can be moved horizontally. However, the panels can only be moved horizontally. The swiveling around a vertical axis that is possible with the strip curtain is not possible here. The invention has for its object to provide a curtain that opens up further decoration options.

The task is solved in a generic curtain in that the panels are each foldable along a line in a V-shape. The curtain according to the invention is a type of panel curtain, but it has significant advantages of the strip curtain or lamella curtain. The panels act as a panel curtain in a closed curtain position and as a strip curtain in the folded position; in the folded state, the panels can be collected into a package similar to the strips of a strip curtain , The curtain according to the invention thus opens up decoration possibilities which were previously not accessible with strip curtains and panel curtains.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the panels are each guided on two sliding elements on the curtain rail that are spaced apart from one another. This enables a particularly simple control and guidance of the individual panels.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the curtain rail has two channels and that one of the two sliding elements of a panel is driven in one channel and the other in the other channel. The panels can be folded and unfolded by sliding the sliding elements in opposite directions in the two channels. This takes place in a particularly simple and reliable manner with an endless drive element, for example a ball chain, which is guided with a first strand in a first channel and with a second strand in a second channel.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the sliding elements each have a pinion which is in engagement with an endless drive element. In this case, the drive element can be, for example, a ball chain or a perforated belt. In this case, both the drive element and the sliding elements can be produced comparatively inexpensively and nevertheless a high level of functional reliability is guaranteed. According to a development of the invention, the sliding elements are engaged with the drive device via a slip clutch. This slip clutch is released when the sliding element is braked. Such a sliding element can be produced very inexpensively. A complex gear, for example a worm gear, is not required. Such a sliding element can be produced very inexpensively with a drive element, for example a pinion and a rotatable axis as a suspension part. Slip clutches also allow the curtain to be divided asymmetrically.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that every second sliding element is connected to one another by means of a spacer. This spacer is, for example, a cord or a band.

The panels are preferably made of a textile, for example a fabric. The panels can basically be made of any flexible and flat material. They do not necessarily have to be flat in the closed state, but can, for example, be curved in the closed state.

Further advantageous features result from the dependent claims, the following description and the drawing.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawing. Show it:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a partial spatial view of a curtain according to the invention, two panels being partially folded,

FIG. 2 schematically shows a partial view of a curtain according to the invention, the two panels shown being completely folded,

3a-3d schematically different positions of the curtain according to the invention, FIG. 4 schematically shows a spatial view of two sliders and an upper end of a panel,

FIG. 5 schematically shows a view of a curtain rail with an inserted slider and a ball chain and a section of a support for a panel attached to the slider,

FIG. 6 shows a view according to FIG. 5, but with a variant of a carrier and a perforated band as the drive element,

Figure 7 schematically shows a partially cut slider in a curtain track and

8a-8c schematically partial views of the curtain according to the invention.

The partial views of the curtain 1 according to the invention according to FIGS. 1 and 2 show the upper ends of two panels 3, each of which is guided in a curtain rail 2 with two sliders 9. An endless ball chain is used as drive means 6, which is felt around a deflection roller 7 at one end of the curtain rail 2 and around a deflection part 8 at the other end of the curtain rail 2. At an end 6a projecting downwards, the endless drive means 6 can be operated by hand. Motorized operation is also conceivable. Furthermore, the drive means 6 can be designed as a belt, for example as a perforated belt. A drive with shafts or the like is also conceivable, in particular a drive element according to DE 39 12 882 A, which is particularly suitable for a motor drive.

The curtain 1 has a plurality of panels 3, for example six panels according to FIGS. 3a to 3d. As can be seen, the panels 3 are strip-shaped and each are guided at the upper end with two sliders 9 on the curtain rail 2. They consist in particular of a flexible, flat material, in particular a textile, for example a fabric. At the lower end, the panels 3 can be weighted with an edge, not shown here. The panels are preferably free at the lower edge. They are therefore only at the top. Each panel 3 consists of two sections or areas 3a and 3d, which can be folded with a fold F around a vertical line. These folds F each run vertical and parallel to each other. 3a to 3d, it is explained below how the individual panels 3 can be folded and moved.

FIG. 3a shows the curtain 1 in the closed state with panels 3 arranged flat and thus essentially not folded. However, the panels 3 can be slightly folded. A window, not shown here, is completely covered by these panels 3. The panels 3 can each overlap somewhat at vertical edges 37 and lie essentially in one plane. If the drive means 6 is actuated at the end 6a, the panels 3 are each folded at the same time. By folding the panels 3, a strip-shaped view D is formed between two panels 3. These views D become wider with increasing folding. The folding whorl can be infinitely adjusted between about 180 ° and 0 ° by appropriate actuation. All intermediate positions are possible between the flat arrangement according to FIG. 3a and a complete folding according to FIGS. 2 and 3c. In FIG. 3c, the panels 3 are completely folded, as is the case with the arrangement according to FIG. 2. The views D 'are maximum here. The width of the views D 'essentially corresponds to the width of an unfolded panel 3 according to FIG. 3a. The field of view is thus much less restricted with fully folded panels 3 than with a conventional strip curtain. If the panels 3 are completely folded and the drive means 6 is actuated further, the panels 3 are put together to form packages P and P ', as shown in FIG. 3d. In this case, the packs P and P 'each consist of three completely folded panels 3. In principle, an embodiment is also conceivable in which all the panels 3 are shifted into a single package. The two-part curtain 1 shown here can thus also be in one part. Starting from the arrangement according to FIG. 3d, the panels 3 can again be unfolded as desired and brought into the flat arrangement according to FIG. 3a.

Each panel 3 consists of a strip-shaped curtain 33, for example a textile, and two plate-shaped supports 16a and 16b, to which the curtain 33 is attached to an upper edge 20. The detachable attachment is done with tapes, for example

18 and 19, which form a Velcro fastener. The curtains 33 can thus be a simple one Removed and reattached for cleaning. Other fastening means, which can be detachable or non-detachable, are also conceivable here.

The fastening parts 16a and 16b are, for example, profile sections made of metal or plastic. A tab 15 is fastened in the middle of each fastening part 16a or 16b, which is hooked into a hook 14 of a suspension part 13 of a slider 9. Each panel 3 is thus guided on two sliders 9.

The sliders 9 are all essentially the same. They have a body 10 which, according to FIG. 7, has two opposite grooves 32, on which the slider 9 is slidably guided in a slot 5 of the curtain rail 2. On the body 10, a laterally projecting axis 11 is formed, which rests on a free end 11a on an inwardly projecting shoulder 31 of the curtain rail 2. The axis 11 is thus firmly connected to the body 10. A pinion 12 is placed on the axis 11 and engaged in a locking groove 27. The pinion 12 has a plurality of teeth 30 on its periphery which are in engagement with the drive means 6. If the drive means 6 is a ball chain according to FIG. 3, a ball 6 b engages between two teeth 30. The pinion 12 can be rotated in both directions on the axis 11, a slip clutch R being set such that the pinion 12 is only rotated above a predetermined torque. Below this torque, the pinion 12 is firmly seated on the axis 11. The slip clutch R has an annular leaf spring 29 which is tensioned against the inside of a collar 28. The leaf spring 29 is also non-rotatably connected to the axis 11. When the pinion 12 is rotated, the leaf spring 29 thus grinds against the inside of the collar 28 and thus causes the torque mentioned. Slip clutches R are well known per se in sliders, and the aforementioned design with the leaf spring 29 is only one example of how such a slip clutch R can be realized.

The suspension part 13 (not shown in FIG. 7) is rotatably mounted in the body 10 about a vertical axis. The rotatability is preferably limited by stops, not shown here, and is preferably approximately 90 °. FIG. 6 shows a slider 22 according to a variant, which is actuated with a band, for example a perforated band with recesses 25. The slider 22 has a pinion 24 which is rotatable about a vertical axis 26. The pinion 24 is also provided with a slip clutch. The belt 23 is also an endless belt and thus an endless drive means. In principle, other drive means that are not necessarily endless are also conceivable here. The drive means could also be implemented here, for example, by drive shafts or the like.

To guide the drive means 6, the curtain rail 2 has two channels 34 which are arranged at a distance from one another and which are open at the bottom in accordance with FIG. As already mentioned above, each panel 3 is attached to two sliders 9. These sliders 9 have the same design, but are oriented such that, according to FIG. 5, one of the two sliders 9 projects into a channel 4a and the other slider 9 'into another channel 4b of the curtain rail 2. In the case of the slider 9, the pinion 12 is thus in the channel 4a and the pinion 12 'of the slider 9' in the channel 4b. The pinion 12 is thus in engagement with a first run 6c of the drive means 6 and the pinion 12 'with a second run 6d of the drive means 6. If the drive means 6 is actuated and the torque mentioned is not exceeded, the pinions 12 and 12 'only act as drivers. The two sliders 9 and 9 'are moved in opposite directions in the curtain rail 2. This causes the panel 3 to fold in one case and the panel 3 to unfold in the other case. When the drive means 6 is actuated, the sliders 9 and 9 'of a panel 3 are thus pushed toward or away from one another. This causes the panel 3 to perform the aforementioned folding movement.

Every second sliding element 9 is connected to one another with a spacer 17. The other sliding elements 9 are not connected. FIG. 1 shows a spacer 17, which is designed here as a flexible band. The slider 9 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the slider 9 '. The slider 9 in between is not connected. The spacer 17 ensures that the distances between the panels 3 in the arrangement according to FIG. 3a are always the same. As shown in FIG. 8a, one of the sliders 9 'is firmly connected to the spacer 17 in each panel 3. The other slider 9 is free. If the panels 3 are put together to form a package P or P ', the spacer 17 is folded several times, as shown in FIG. 8b. In the arrangements of the curtain 1 according to FIGS. 3a to 3c, the two spacers 17 are stretched.

So that the packets P and P 'can be formed, two precursors 21 and 21' are provided according to FIG. 8c, which have a higher torque of the slip clutch than the other sliders 9 and 9 '. The precursors 21 and 21 'here each consist of two sliders 9' and 9 "which are firmly connected to one another. The torque of the precursors 21 and 21 'is thus twice as high as the torque of a slip clutch of an individual slider 9 or 9. Alternatively, the forerunners 21 and 21 'can also be formed by one slider, which is designed with a stronger slip clutch and 9 'turn the slipping clutches R. If the packets P and P' are formed and the drive means 6 is actuated with increased force, the slipping clutches of the forerunners 21 and 21 'also turn through and 21 'in the directions of the arrows 35 and 36. If the drive means 6 is now actuated further with increased force, the slip clutches of the forerunners 21 and 21' rotate.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 panel curtain 17 spacers

2 curtain rails 18 bands

3 panel 19 tape

3a panel part (area) 20 edge

3b panel part (area) 21 forerunners

4a sliding channel 22 sliders

4b sliding channel 23 band

5 slot 24 pinion

6 drive means 25 recesses

6a end 26 axis of rotation

6b ball 27 locking groove

6c strand 28 collar

6d strand 29 leaf spring

7 pulley 30 teeth

8 deflecting part 31 paragraph

9 glides 32 groove

10 body 33 curtain

11 axis 34 channel

11a end 35 arrow

12 pinion 36 arrow

13 hanging part 37 edge

14 hooks D view

15 flap F fold

16a mounting part P package

16b fastening part R slip clutch

Claims

claims

1. curtain with several panels (3), with a curtain rail (2), on which the panels (3) are each guided horizontally at an upper end and with a drive device (6) for moving the panels (3) along the curtain rail (2), characterized in that the panels (3) can each be folded in a V-shape along a line.

2. Curtain according to claim 1, characterized in that the panels (3) are each guided on two spaced sliding elements (9, 22) on the curtain rail (2).

3. Curtain according to claim 2, characterized in that the curtain rail (2) has two channels (4a, 4b) and that the two sliding elements (9, 22) of a panel (3) each with a drive element (12, 24) in different Intervene channels (4a, 4b).

4. Curtain according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the sliding elements (9, 22) each have a pinion (12, 24) which acts as a driver when folding or unfolding the panels (3).

5. Curtain according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the sliding elements (9, 22) each have a slip clutch (R).

6. Curtain according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the panels (3) are each folded substantially in the middle, preferably somewhat off-center.

7. Curtain according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the panels (3) are each attached at an upper end to two fastening parts (16a, 16b) which are movable in a V-shape with respect to one another.

8. Curtain according to claim 7, characterized in that the fastening parts (16a, 16b) are each detachably connected to a curtain (33).

9. Curtain according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the fastening parts (16a, 16b) are provided with a Velcro fastener (18, 19).

10. Curtain according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it has a precursor (21, 21 ') at at least one end.

11. Curtain according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the panels (3) are each suspended at two spaced locations on the curtain rail (2).

12. Curtain according to claim 11, characterized in that the panels (3) are each foldable between said locations.

13. Curtain according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the panels (3) are each foldable by approximately 180 °, wherein in a first end position the panels (3) each form a substantially flat surface and in the other end position the panels (3) are each essentially completely folded.

14. Curtain according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the panels (3) each have a curtain (33) made of a flexible, flat material, in particular a textile.

15. Curtain according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the panels (3) are foldable about a vertical line.