WO2010076820A1

WO2010076820A1 - Motorised blind kit

Info

Publication number: WO2010076820A1
Application number: PCT/IT2008/000808
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlo Rizzi; Gabriele Pinton
Original assignee: Pellini S.P.A.
Priority date: 2008-12-30
Filing date: 2008-12-30
Publication date: 2010-07-08

Abstract

The present invention refers to a motoiϊsed blind kit (1), comprising an automatic stop system of the blind in the open and closed positions that is particularly precise and reliable, which essentially comprises a movable blind (2), a frame including a box-shaped casing (3) supporting the blind (2) and a plurality of frame elements, motorised means (4) for moving the blind (2), and at least a first and a second reed sensor (9a, 9b) respectively positioned at the open and closed positions of the blind, electrical connection means for electrically connecting the reed sensors (9a, 9b) to the motorised means (4), and a permanent magnet (10) integral with the movement of the blind for the excitation of the reed sensors (9a, 9b).

Description

Title: "Motorised blind kit"

DESCRIPTION Field of application

The present invention refers in its most general aspect to a blind kit to be associated with a window opening, and in particular to a motorised blind kit comprising a blind that is movable between a first position or open position in which the blind is gathered or packed, and a second position or closed position in which the blind is extended.

More in particular, the invention refers to a blind kit of the abovementioned type, essentially comprising a folding blind, or a pleated blind, or a roller blind or a Venetian blind, blind movement means of motorised type, a frame comprising a box-shaped casing supporting the blind and a plurality of frame elements.

The blind kit according to the invention is particularly but not exclusively indicated for being inserted in a double glazing.

Prior art

In the field of motorised blinds, in particular in the case of a blind associated with a window opening, there is a great need to have a reliable blind-moving system. This is even more important in the case of motorised blind housed in a double-glazing, hence not directly user-accessible.

As is known, a blind of the abovementioned type is moved by a motor, through a shaft and drive members comprising two or more blind lifting/ lowering cords, between two limit positions, a so-called top position, in which the blind is closed or packed, and a so-called bottom position, in which the blind is open or extended.

In order to not damage the blind, it is necessary that its movement, and in particular its stopping in the aforesaid two positions, is as reliable and precise as possible. A first solution provided in the prior art provides for a blind stop system of amperometric type, which while advantageous does not lack drawbacks including an excessive sensitivity to temperature variation, which causes an inaccuracy of the activation amperometric threshold of the stopping system itself.

A second solution provided in the prior art provides for a stop system comprising an encoder that calculates, for example, the revolutions of the drive shaft which moves the blind.

This solution, while advantageous, suffers the drawback due to possible calculation errors that can occur, for example, due to the inertia of the blind movement shaft.

A third solution provides for an electrical stop system, for example micro- switches arranged in the box-shaped casing with contacts that switch off the power supply of the blind. Also this solution, while advantageous, does not lack drawbacks, and in fact is considerably affected by length variations of the blind movement cords and is quite inaccurate.

The aforesaid drawback, fortuitous but not infrequent in the blinds field such that it can negatively condition also the abovementioned solutions, is particularly felt in the case of cord shortening; this involves an excessive and early wear of the entire movement system, with irreversible damages and undesired shortening of the operating lifetime of the blind itself.

Summary of the invention

One object of the present invention is to provide a motorised blind kit comprising a folding blind, or a pleated blind, or a roller blind or a

Venetian blind which allows a reliable movement of the blind between a first position or open position in which the blind is gathered or packed, and a second position or closed position in which the blind is extended, and in particular a motorised blind kit which allows a particularly precise automatic stopping of the blind in the aforesaid first and second positions.

Such object is achieved, according to the invention, by a blind kit of the aforesaid type, particularly but not exclusively indicated for being associated with a double glazing, essentially comprising a frame including a box- shaped casing supporting the aforesaid blind and a plurality of frame elements, motorised means for moving the blind, which is characterised in that it further comprises a first and a second reed sensor associated with at least one frame element of the aforesaid frame and respectively positioned essentially at the aforesaid first and second positions, electrical connection means for electrically connecting the aforesaid reed sensors to the aforesaid motorised means, and a permanent magnet integral with the movement of said blind between the aforesaid first and second positions, for the excitation, in opening or closing, of the aforesaid first and second reed sensors.

Advantageously, the aforesaid frame elements together with the aforesaid box- shaped casing form a frame with closed perimeter; the frame elements comprise at least one pair of lateral spacing ducts, at least one bottom spacing duct and at least four connection elements or closure angle bars that are substantially L- shaped.

Preferably, the aforesaid movable magnet is composed of, or supported by, a bottom element, substantially rod-like shaped, advantageously associated with an end portion of the blind opposite the aforesaid box- shaped casing.

Preferably, the aforesaid first and second reed sensor are associated with a first and a second closure angle bar respectively, preferably still on a same side of the blind kit, while the aforesaid movable magnet is associated with the aforesaid bottom element advantageously at one end thereof oriented towards the reed sensors.

Advantageously, the aforesaid frame of the present blind kit comprises means apt to adjusting or regulating the aforesaid first reed sensor in a position comprised in a prefixed extension section.

Preferably, said means apt to adjusting the position of said first reed sensor consists of a guide track or of a groove provided in the aforesaid first closure angle bar.

Advantageously, the aforesaid motorised means for moving the blind include a gear motor group, a drive shaft and drive members including at least one pair of lifting/ lowering cords of the blind, and possibly at least one motor-controlling circuit board connected to the aforesaid reed sensors.

Preferably, the aforesaid electrical connection means are integrated in the aforesaid frame, the aforesaid spacing ducts and the aforesaid box-shaped casing being advantageously made at least in part of electrically conductive material, while preferably each of the aforesaid closure angle bars is provided with integrated electrical contacts at each substantially linear portion or wing of the L-conformation. Advantageously, the aforesaid second closure angle bar comprises an electrical insulation arranged between the aforesaid integrated electrical contacts.

Advantageously, the blind kit according to the invention can also comprise a photovoltaic panel for generating electrical energy and transmitting it to the aforesaid motor.

Preferably, the aforesaid photovoltaic panel is connected with the aforesaid electrical contacts of the aforesaid second closure angle bar.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be clearer from the description of several preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a motorised blind kit of the type considered above, illustrated as indicative and non-limiting purposes with reference to the attached drawings.

Brief description of the figures

- Figure 1 schematically shows a front view with separated parts of a motorised blind kit in accordance with the present invention; - Figure 2 shows, in enlarged scale, a detail of the blind kit of figure 1;

- Figures 3a-3c show, in enlarged scale, a further detail of the blind kit of figure 1 , respectively according to a side view, front view and rear view.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to the aforesaid figures, a motorised blind kit according to the present invention is indicated in its entirety by 1. The blind kit 1 is particularly but non exclusively recommended for use in a double glazing of known type, i.e. to be housed in the hermetic interspace defined by two glass surfaces, not illustrated in the figures; without however excluding the possibility to install the blind kit according to the invention directly on the glass, for example, of a window.

The blind kit 1 essentially comprises a blind 2 of known type, a frame including a box- shaped casing 3 supporting the blind 2 and a plurality of frame elements, and motorised means 4 for moving the blind 2.

The blind 2 is movable between a first position or open position in which the blind is gathered or packed, and a second position or closed position in which the blind is extended, and it is illustrated, as an example, as an open (extended) Venetian blind; without however excluding the possibility to provide, according to the invention, a folding, or a roller or a pleated blind. The aforesaid frame comprising the box- shaped casing 3, further comprises spacing ducts and connector elements or closure angle bars which together constitute the aforesaid frame elements, assembled, for example snapped together, in order to form a frame with closed perimeter.

In particular, the blind kit 1 comprises a pair of lateral spacing ducts 6, a bottom spacing duct 7 and four connector elements or closure angle bars 8, substantially L-shaped and thus each having two substantially linear or wing portions.

According to the invention, the blind kit 1 also comprises a first and a second reed sensor, respectively indicated with 9a and 9b, essentially positioned at the aforesaid first and second portions, electrical connections means for electrically connecting such reed sensors to the motorised means 4 and a permanent magnet 10, integral with the movement of the blind between the first and second positions, for the excitation, in opening or closing, of the reed sensors 9a, 9b. The reed sensors 9a, 9b and the permanent magnet 10 in practice constitute a stop or end-stop system of the blind 2, which allows an automatic, very precise and reliable stopping in the aforesaid first and second open and closed positions of the blind, as will be clearer below. Advantageously, the first and the second reed sensor 9a and 9b are respectively associated with a first closure angle bar and with a second closure angle bar, illustrated in detail in the examples of figures 2 and 3 in which they are respectively indicated with 8a and 8b; without however excluding the possibility to provide reed sensors associated with other frame components of the present blind kit.

The permanent magnet 10 is instead associated with a bottom element 5 provided in the present blind kit, which is preferably associated with an end portion of the blind 2 opposite the aforesaid box-shaped casing 3.

In particular, the permanent magnet 10 is advantageously provided at an end portion of the bottom element 5, for example at a closure cap thereof, and is oriented towards the first and second reed sensor 9a, 9b, which as shown in the example of figure 1 are preferably arranged on a same side of the blind kit 1.

Alternatively, the aforesaid permanent magnet 10 can also be constituted by, or provided integral with, the bottom element 5, that is made integral therewith or in any case it can be provided integral with the blind 2.

In accordance with a further characteristic of the invention, the blind kit 1 also comprises means 1 1 apt to the adjustment (or regulation) of the first reed sensor 9a in a position comprised in a predetermined extension section of a frame element of the aforesaid frame, advantageously the first closure angle bar 8a.

Preferably, such means apt to the adjustment of the position of the first reed sensor 9a consist of a guide track or of a groove provided in the aforesaid first closure angle bar 8a, at which a support plate 12 of the first reed sensor 9a is fixed, in a pre-selected position essentially corresponding to the open position of the blind.

The possibility of adjusting the position of the first reed sensor 8a, hence of substantially regulating its height in the blind kit, advantageously enables to define a constant and predetermined packing height of the blind, which allows, in the case of several closely placed blinds, for example in a building faςade, to halt them all at the same predetermined and desired position, thus improving the aesthetic impact of the faςade. Analogous to that stated above, also the second reed sensor 9b is supported by a plate 12 by means of which it is advantageously fixed to the respective second closure angle bar 8b.

Regarding the aforesaid motorised means 4 which allow moving the blind, it should be noted that they essentially comprise a gear motor group 13, a drive shaft 14 and drive members including at least two lifting/ lowering cords of the blind, and a motor-controlling circuit board 15, electrically connected to the reed sensors, which are advantageously supported by the first closure angle bar 8a and housed inside the box-shaped casing 3. In accordance with a further characteristic of the invention, the aforesaid electrical connection means are made integrated in the aforesaid frame, which is advantageously composed at least in part of an electrically conductive material.

In particular, in accordance with the invention, the box-shaped casing 3 and the lateral 6 and bottom 7 spacing ducts are provided in intrinsically electrically conductive material, for example aluminium, while the closure angle bars are equipped, at each wing of the L-conformation, with integrated electrical contacts, in the examples of the figures illustrated with 16. In particular, the contacts 16 are preferably composed of a pair of metal elements, in the form of a plate, wire section or spring, provided in each linear portion of a closure angle bar.

The above advantageously allows connecting the second reed sensor 9b to the motorised means directly by means of the frame of the blind kit 1, without using electric cables.

In practice, the second reed sensor 9b is electrically connected to the motorised means by the electrical contacts 16 integrated in the second closure angle bar 8b, on one side by means of a first lateral spacing duct 6, and on the other side by means of the bottom spacing duct 7, the other lateral spacing duct 6, that is that one opposite the aforesaid first lateral duct, the box-shaped casing 3 and the remaining closure angle bars 8 comprised between the spacing ducts and the box-shaped casing . In this manner, it is not necessary to carry out any wiring in the present blind kit, nor prearrange customised electric cables, in particular where the length of the spacing ducts can be provided with different sizes in relation to the size of the window opening to which the blind kit is associated, with considerably economical as well as installation time savings.

In order to allow the functioning of the second reed sensor, the second closure angle bar 8b is advantageously provided with an electrical insulation 17, interposed between the electrical contacts 16 integrated in each wing of the L-conformation.

With regard to the first reed sensor 9a, it is electrically connected to the motorised means through the aforesaid electrical contacts integrated in the first closure angle bar and set electric cables, advantageously of limited pre-established extension, which can therefore already be provided in the present blind kit.

In this manner, the electrical continuity is assured, i.e. the electrical connection, between each of the reed sensors and the motorised means by means of respective circuits, through which it is possible to transfer the contacts made by the same reed sensors, and operated in opening and closing by the permanent magnet, to the motorised means, as will be better described below.

In accordance with a further characteristic of the invention, the blind kit 1 can further comprise a photovoltaic panel for generating electrical energy.

Such photovoltaic panel, not shown in the figures, is preferably arranged in the lower end of the blind kit, for example at the bottom spacing duct, then possibly intended for being housed inside a double glazing.

The photovoltaic panel is electrically connected to the aforesaid electrical contacts, advantageously to the integrated electrical contacts 16 of the second closure angle bar 8b.

In such a manner, the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panel can be directly transmitted to the motorised means, supplying them with power, without using electric cables or wires but rather by exploiting the conductive properties of the frame of the present blind kit, as considered above.

The functioning of the present blind kit, already clear from the present description, is summarised below with a brief mention also to the reed sensors.

As is known, a reed sensor is generally composed of two ferromagnetic material thin plates, which make an electrical contact, which are hermetically sealed in an inert gas atmosphere.

The two thin plates subjected to a magnetic field, i.e. the magnetic field generated by the aforesaid permanent magnet, are attracted to each other or repel each other, closing or opening the electrical contact.

Therefore, the closure or opening of the contacts of the reed sensors, actuated by the magnetic field of the magnet integral with the movement of the blind, causes the stopping of the blind itself upon reaching its position, respectively the first open position or the second closed position.

The above is managed by the aforesaid motor-controlling circuit board, which manages the signals sent by the reed sensors and by external blind control buttons, not illustrated in the figures, provided for to complete the present blind kit, with determination of the movement, of the stopping or of the motion reversal of the blind itself.

Advantageously, moreover, the motor-controlling circuit board slows the movement of the motor in the first starting instants, in order to facilitate the orientation of the blind.

There are multiple advantages of the present invention, in particular consisting of the possibility of having a motorised blind kit equipped with a blind stop system (end stop) in the open or closed positions that is particularly accurate in terms of precision and repeatability of the opening and closing operations; such system is not affected by a possible undesired length change of the blind movement cords, in particular of a possible shortening of such cords.

This advantageously allows avoiding excessive stresses of the motorised means, and excessive undesired tensions of the blind movement cords. The above is attained thanks to the use of two reed sensors associated with the frame of the blind kit and arranged on the internal side thereof, thus advantageously hidden in the spacing ducts which constitute frame elements of the same frame. A reed sensor, in fact, is particularly wear resistant, also because it is protected from atmospheric agents such as dust and moisture and, generally, it is characterised by having a very long operating lifetime, greater than that normally required for a blind, even 50 times greater.

In addition, the reed sensors do not require electrical power supply and hence do not suffer long rest periods; nor do they impair the energy efficiency of the motor-controlling circuit board.

A further advantage of the present invention also lies in the possibility to have a blind kit which, although motorised, does not require cabling in its installation; it essentially results free of electric cables for making extended connections and is therefore particularly simple to mount and install.

The present blind kit, in fact, can be provided with an intrinsically electrically conductive frame, i.e. it is already made ready to be mounted without having to prearrange customised electric cables for realising the connections and in particular for connecting the reed sensors to the motorised means, with considerable economical savings and mounting time savings.

Advantageously, moreover, the absence of electric cables for connecting the second reed sensor to the motorised means frees up space inside the frame, in particular the space inside the spacing ducts, which is thus useful for housing a large quantity of hygroscopic salts, with an increase of the quality and of the lifetime of the present blind kit if associated with a double glazing.

Also advantageously, in addition to the aforesaid possibility to obtain a transfer of the signals of the reed sensors (reed contacts) to the motor- controlling circuit board, the present blind kit also allows advantageously to transfer electrical energy from any point of the frame up to the aforesaid circuit board or to the motor itself. This characteristic is particularly advantageous in the case of blind kit comprising a photovoltaic panel for generating electrical energy, which makes the blind kit essentially independent with respect to an external energy power supply.

A man skilled in the art can make numerous modifications to the above- described blind kit according to the invention, and to its illustrated embodiments, in order to satisfy specific and contingent needs; all of which however fall within the scope of protection of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. Motorised blind kit (1) comprising a blind (2) movable between a first position in which said blind is packed and a second position in which said blind is extended, a frame including a box-shaped casing (3) supporting said blind (2) and a plurality of frame elements, motorised means (4) for moving said blind (2), characterised in that it comprises at least a first and a second reed sensor (9a, 9b) essentially positioned at said first and second positions respectively, electrical connection means for electrically connecting said first and second reed sensors (9a, 9b) to said motorised means (4), and a permanent magnet (10) integral with the movement of said blind between said first and second positions for the excitation, in opening or closing, of said first and second reed sensors (9a, 9b)

2. Blind kit according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of frame elements comprises at least one pair of lateral spacing ducts (6), at least one bottom spacing duct (7) and at least four substantially L-shaped closure angle bars or connection elements (8), that can be assembled with said box- shaped casing to form said frame having a closed perimeter.

3. Blind kit according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a bottom element (5) associated with an end portion of said blind (2), said bottom element constituting or supporting said permanent magnet.

4. Blind kit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said first and second reed sensors (9a, 9b) are associated with a first and with a second closure angle bar (8a, 8b) respectively.

5. Blind kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second reed sensors (9a, 9b) are arranged on a same side of said blind kit.

6. Blind kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said frame comprises means (11) suitable for the adjustment of said first reed sensor (9a) in a position comprised in a predetermined extension section.

7. Blind kit according to claim 6, wherein said means (11) suitable for the adjustment of the position of said first reed sensor (9a) are composed of a guide track or of a groove provided in said first closure angle bar (8a) .

8. Blind kit according to any one of the preceding claim, wherein said motorised means comprise a gear motor group (13), a drive shaft (14) and drive members comprising at least two lifting/ lowering cords of said blind (2) and possibly at least a motor-controlling circuit board (15).

9. Blind kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said electrical connection means are integrated in said frame.

10. Blind kit according to claim 9, wherein said spacing ducts (6, 7) and said box-shaped casing (3) are at least partially made of electrically conductive material.

11. Blind kit according to claim 9 or 10, wherein each of said closure angle bars (8) is provided with respective integrated electrical contacts (16).

12. Blind kit according to claim 11, wherein said second closure angle bar (8b) comprises an electrical insulation (17) interposed between said integrated electrical contacts (16).

13. Blind kit according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a photovoltaic panel for generating and transmitting electrical energy to said motor.

14. Blind kit according to claim 13, wherein said photovoltaic panel is connected to said electrical contacts of said second closure angle bar.