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(11) | EP 0 596 389 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Sectional shutter |
| (57) A sectional shutter, in particular for furniture, of the type comprising a plurality
of substantially rigid slats. The shutter comprises at least one support element (1,
1 A, 1 B) comprising for the slats (4, 4A) a plurality of substantially rigid retention
means (6, 6A) cooperating with counter-retention means (3, 15) provided on said slats.
Said retention means (6, 6A, 6B) of the support element (1, 1 A, 1B) are connected
together by flexible joints (5, 5A). |
[0001] This invention relates to a sectional shutter, in particular for furniture, of the type comprising a plurality of substantially rigid slats or strips hinged together.
[0002] Shutters of the aforesaid type have been known for some time and are also used in the furniture field as a replacement for door panels or doors in general.
[0003] In traditional shutters the component slats are hinged together by joints which enable the shutter to be moved or rolled up.
[0004] The assembly and construction of shutters of the stated type are however lengthy and difficult. In addition said joints do not allow a substantially flat surface to be obtained when the shutter is unrolled. This favours the accumulation of dust and dirt in general between one slat and the next, particularly when the shutter is used in furniture, and does not result in an overall pleasant appearance.
[0005] To at least partly obviate the aforesaid drawbacks and in particular facilitate shutter assembly, it has been thought to form a plurality of modular elements which can be connected together to form a shutter of the desired dimensions, each element comprising a plurality of slats and hinging joints between one slat and the next. The joints are formed integrally with the slats themselves, and in particular are co-extruded therewith (see for example patents EP0368695 and DE G8706209.7- U1).
[0006] Shutters of the aforesaid construction simplify shutter assembly but do not completely solve the aforesaid problems.
[0007] Specifically, when rolled up, the shutter of patent DE G8706209.7-U1 forms between one slat and the next a recess which is difficult to clean and in which dust and dirt in general tend to accumulate.
[0008] In addition, in shutters of the aforesaid construction the thickness of the slats of each modular element cannot be varied, and it is hence not possible to provide shutters with thicker or thinner slats to make them heavier and stronger or lighter in order to satisfy different requirements.
[0009] The uniform thickness of the slats of shutters of this construction has considerable drawbacks, especially in the furnishing field, because the same type of shutter with identical weight, overall size and strength characteristics has to be used for the different applications.
[0010] In addition if one of the slats undergoes breakage or deterioration the entire modular element comprising not only the damaged slat but also other slats still in good condition has to be replaced.
[0011] Known "modular" shutters have proved to be little resistant to frontal impact, especially in the case of large-dimension shutters.
[0012] Finally, known "modular" shutters are not easy to move, in that the surface of the slats and the generally rubber connection joints between one slat and the next exert considerable friction against the guide channels in which the shutter slides when it is to be opened or closed.
[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a sectional shutter of the aforesaid type which can be quickly and easily assembled, which is quick and simple to maintain and clean, and which has a pleasant appearance.
[0014] A further object of the present invention is to provide a shutter the slats of which can be of variable thickness to enable shutters of different weight, strength and/or colour and material to be formed according to the requirements of the furniture item with which the shutter is associated or of the customer, and a shutter in which the slats can be easily replaced if damaged and/or deteriorated.
[0015] A further object of the invention is to provide a robust shutter able in particular to withstand strong frontal impact and which is easily removable.
[0016] These and further objects which will be apparent to the expert of the art are attained by a shutter in accordance with the accompanying claims.
[0017] The present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings, which are provided by way of non-limiting example and in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a first portion of a shutter according to the invention and a handle for its movement;
Figures 2, 3 and 4 are schematic sectional views of three slats of different thickness which can be associated with a shutter according to the invention;
Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view of a slat support element of a shutter according to the invention;
Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view of a portion of a shutter according to the invention;
Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of a shutter according to the invention;
Figure 8 is a schematic sectional view of a third embodiment of a support element.
[0018] With reference to Figures 1-6 a shutter according to the invention comprises a plurality of slats 4 connected to support elements 1 (only one support element is shown in Figures 1-5, whereas two are shown in Figure 6). Each support element comprises a plurality of substantially rigid members 6 for retaining the slats 4 (four are shown in the example) and flat flexible joints connecting together the retention members 6 for the slats 4.
[0019] Both the slat retention members 6 and the joints 5 have a length substantially equal to the length of the slats 4.
[0020] The retention members 6 have a double T cross-section and comprise a flat bar 16, from one face 16A (Figure 5) of which there extends a guide 2 of T cross-section with its head 2B (Figure 6) arranged to slide in a seat 3 provided in the slats 4, so as to retain these latter on said members 6.
[0021] Opposite the T-shaped guide 2 on the face 16B of the retention members 6 there is provided a projecting rounded portion 100.
[0022] At the ends of each support element 1 (indicated by the arrows A and B in Figure 5) there are provided specular T-shaped half-guides 11, 12. The half-guides 11, 12 are shaped such that when two different support elements are associated with each other, the opposing ends of the two elements form a T-shaped guide equal to the guides provided on each support element (as indicated by the arrow C of Figure 5).
[0023] In this manner two different support elements can be connected together by sliding a slat 4 onto the T-shaped guide formed by the facing ends of the two elements.
[0024] The slats 4 have a main part 8, which can be a flat bar (Figure 2) or a hollow parallelepiped element of for example trapezoidal cross-section (Figures 3 and 4), on that face thereof facing the support element there being provided the seat 3 for the T-shaped guide 2.
[0025] One of the major edges (Figures 2-4) of the main part 8 of the slats 4 comprises an inclined portion 8A whereas the other major edge comprises a recessed portion 8B shaped such as to act, when the shutter is extended, as a support for the inclined portion 8A of an adjacent slat (see Figures 6 and 1).
[0026] The seat 3 of the slats 4 has a substantially C-shaped cross-section and is formed such that the head 2B of the T-shaped guide 2 can be inserted into it and such that the free edges 3A (Figures 2, 3, 4) rest on the base 2A (Figure 5) of the T-shaped guide 2 and on the face 16A of the flat bar 16 of the support element 1.
[0027] As stated, the main part 8 of the slats 4 can be of different shapes and dimensions so that although using the same support element 1, shutters of different robustness and weight can be formed in accordance with specific requirements.
[0028] Figure 1 shows a support element, with one end of which there is associated a handle 112 for moving the shutter. The handle 112 comprises three parts of hollow parallelepiped shape 12A, B, C which have in common a wall 102 projecting a certain distance 102A from the handle. This projecting portion comprises along its free edge a half- guide 12 so as to be able to connect the handle to one of the modular elements.
[0029] Along the upper edge 13 of the part 12A of the handle 112 there is provided a projection 13A arranged to engage in the corresponding seat 8B of the adjacent slat.
[0030] Advantageously both the slats 4 and the support elements are constructed of plastics material, such as rigid PVC for the slats 4 and retention members 6 and flexible PVC for the flat joints 5, however said elements could be constructed of any other suitable material known to the expert of the art.
[0031] If of plastics construction the shutter can for example be produced by extrusion, in particular the joints 5 being co-extruded with the retention members 6.
[0032] It should be emphasized that the double-T cross-section of the retention members 6 makes the shutter of the invention particularly robust and in particular able to withstand even considerable frontal impact without the risk of being pierced.
[0033] The shutter of the invention is also simple to open and close, in that that surface of the support element 1 which makes contact with the shutter sliding guide channels (not shown but conventional) is limited to the rounded projecting portion 100. The friction surface between the shutter and guide channel is therefore very small, and a small force is sufficient for opening or closing the shutter.
[0034] Finally, the slats 4 can be easily replaced if deteriorated or damaged. In addition, slats of different material and/or colour can be used in one and the same shutter to form "personalized" shutters in accordance with the requirements of the client or for a particular aesthetic effect.
[0035] Figure 7 shows a first modification to the described embodiment. Those elements common to the two embodiments will not be further described and are indicated by the previous reference numerals plus the letter A. In said modified embodiment the connection between the slats 4A and the retention members 6A is a snap-connection, for which purpose the retention members 6A comprise a seat 26A of substantially C cross-section with an aperture into which a hollow head 15 provided on the slats 4A is forcibly snap-inserted.
[0036] The base of the retention members 6A is advantageously arcuate so as to limit the sliding surface of the slat within the sliding guide channels at the edges 100A and facilitate "light" movement of the shutter within these guides, under low friction.
[0037] As in the preceding case, these slats can be of different shape and dimensions in order to form shutters of different weight and strength.
[0038] In this second embodiment a usual male-female connector 17A, B is used to connect one support element to another.
[0039] Figure 8 shows a second modification to the embodiment shown in Figures 1-6. Those elements common to the two embodiments will not be further described and are indicated by the previous reference numerals plus the letter B. The slats are omitted in Figure 8 as they are identical to those shown in Figures 2-4. The slats are fitted onto the guides 2B in the aforedescribed manner. The retention members 6B are of substantially U cross-section with their base 120 arcuate so that the surfaces which make contact with the sliding guide channel for the shutter are represented only by the rounded edges 100B. The flexible joint 5B between one retention member and the next is advantageously provided half way along the lateral walls 121 of the retention member, on the free edge 122 of these latter there resting the slats 4 when connected to the element 1 B.
1. A sectional shutter, in particular for furniture, of the type comprising a plurality
of substantially rigid slats, characterised by comprising at least one support element
(1, 1 A, 1 B), said support element comprising for said slats (4, 4A) a plurality
of substantially rigid retention means (6, 6A, 6B) cooperating with counter-retention
means (3, 15) provided on said slats, the retention means (6, 6A, 6B) of the support
element (1, 1 A, 1 B) being connected together by flexible joints (5, 5A, 5B).
2. A shutter as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said retention means (6,
6A, 6B) and said flexible joints (5, 5A, 5B) of the support element are co-extruded.
3. A shutter as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said flexible joints (5,
5A, 5B) are substantially flat.
4. A shutter as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said support element (1,
1 A, 1 B) comprises means (11, 11 B; 12, 12B; 17, 17B) for connecting a number of
support elements together.
5. A shutter as claimed in claim 1 of the type slidable within guides, characterised
in that that part of said support element cooperating with said guides comprises projecting
portions (100, 100A, 100B) to limit the sliding surface between the shutter and guides.
6. A shutter as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said retention means (6)
have a substantially double-T cross-section.
7. A shutter as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said retention means (6)
comprise a substantially flat part (16), from one face (16A) of which there extends
a guide (2) of T cross-section arranged to slide within said counter-retention means
provided on said slats (4) so as to connect these latter to the support element (1),
said counter-retention means comprising a hollow seat (3) of shape substantially complementary
to that of said guide (2).
8. A shutter as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that said support
element comprises on its free major edges (A, B) half-guides specularly arranged one
to the other (2), said half-guides (11, 12) cooperating with said counter-retention
means (3) for the slats (4) and enabling two support elements (1) to be connected
together.
9. A shutter as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said first flat part (16)
comprises, on that face of said flat part (16) opposite said face (16A) from which
said guide (2) extends, at least one rounded projecting portion (100) arranged to
cooperate with the guides within which the shutter slides.
10. A shutter as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said slats (4) comprise
a main part (8) comprising said counter-retention means (3), said main part being
a flat bar.
11. A shutter as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that said main part is a hollow
parallelepiped element.
12. A shutter as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that said hollow parallelepiped
element (8) is of trapezoidal cross-section.
13. A shutter as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said slats (4) comprise
an inclined portion (8A) along one of their major edges, along their other major edge
they comprising a recessed portion (8B) shaped to act as a support for said inclined
portion (8A) of an adjacent slat.
14. A shutter as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said support element (1)
comprises on one of its major edges a handle (112) for moving the shutter.
15. A shutter as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that said handle comprises,
on the wall facing the first slat (4) connected to the support element (1), a projecting
portion (13A) arranged to cooperate with the recessed portion (8B) of said slat.
16. A shutter as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said retention means (6A)
comprise a hollow seat (26A) of substantially C cross-section arranged to snap-cooperate
with counter-means (15) provided on said slats (4A).
17. A shutter as claimed in claim 16, characterised in that said counter-means (15)
are of hollow parallelepiped shape with a substantially trapezoidal cross-section
and having its major base recessed in the direction of the slats so as to limit the
sliding surface of the support elements (1 A).
18. A shutter as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the retention means (6B)
comprise a first part of substantially U cross-section and a second part of T cross-section
arranged to cooperate with the counter-means (3) provided on the slats (4), the second
part extending from the inner face of the base (120) of the first part.
19. A shutter as claimed in claim 18, characterised in that the flexible joints (5B)
are provided along the lateral walls (121) of the first U-shaped parts of the retention
means (6B), the base (120) of the first C-shaped parts being recessed in the direction
of the slats so as to limit the sliding surface of the support elements (1 B).