Tubular motor with support for a fixing element

Abstract

 A tubular motor for operating curtains or blinds comprising a tube (3) and a head (1) at one end of the tube (3), wherein a clamp (2) adapted to receive and restrain an external pin (40) for fixing the tubular motor is integrated in the head (1).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a tubular motor.

Background art

[0002] As known, tubular motors for domotic applications are used, for instance, in automation systems for blinds and curtains (the latter especially for outdoor applications), and the name "tubular motor" results from their configuration suited to allow them to be inserted into the winding tube of the blinds or curtains.

[0003] The blinds allow to close, in use, an opening defined in a masonry structure; they are thus installed in a specific niche obtained in a portion of said structure, in particular in the upper part which defines the opening itself. A frame for blinds, comprising two plates, to one of which the head of the tubular motor is fixed, is inserted into this niche.

[0004] According to another solution, the blinds are similarly installed in a box fixed to the masonry structure. The same installation solutions may be adopted for curtains.

[0005] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a known solution, in which a firm fastening is obtained by coupling the tubular motor to one of two fastening plates by means of an anchoring support applied to the first plate and a bracket defined on the second one.

[0006] The operator installing blinds or curtains provided with tubular motor should then firstly arrange the fastening of the plate and the tubular motor, i.e. mount the bracket and the anchoring support, respectively; afterwards, the operator should insert the tubular motor (with the winding tube) into the niche or box, and finally fix the tubular motor to the plate.

[0007] The head of the tubular motor may be fixed to the plate by applying screws (or other similar elements) or by snap-fitting (as in the known solution shown in figure 1), thus taking advantage of the conjugate configuration of the bracket on the plate and of the anchoring support on the motor head. Thereby, the possible angular fixing positions of the tubular motor (and the winding tube) are predetermined.

Summary of the invention

[0008] The Applicant realized that the prior techniques, partially described above, prevent having a tubular motor which may be installed in a simple, quick manner.

[0009] In order to install a tubular motor, several preliminary operations are needed to arrange the various components, thus extending the installation time; such a situation is disadvantageous, especially when several tubular motors need to be mounted in a given interval of time (e.g. the tubular motors in an apartment in just one working day). Furthermore, the operator needs to carry out the installation close to the opening in the masonry structure, with potential safety risks. A long installation time may therefore extend the likelihood of occurrence of an undesired event detrimental to the installer's safety.

[0010] The limited, predetermined angular fastening positions of the tubular motor can make the installation inconvenient and indeed under these conditions accessing some components may be difficult for the installer.

[0011] Furthermore, a given number of components needed for correct installation (the bracket on the plate, the anchoring support, screws or bolts) are included. The shape and size of these components needs to be suited to the various installation constraints; therefore several components of the same type with different size and shape may be needed according to the installation type. This situation is disadvantageous for tubular motor manufacturers, who must keep many versions of fastening components to be provided with sold products on stock; moreover, such a solution is equally disadvantageous for installers, who must take the various installation constraints into account to have the exact components to be assembled with them.

[0012] It is the main object of the present invention to provide a tubular motor for blinds or curtains which allows to solve the problems illustrated above in a simple, cost-effective manner.

[0013] The specific object of the present invention is to provide a tubular motor for blinds or curtains which may be fixed directly onto the plate.

[0014] The inventive idea underlying the invention consists in fixing the tubular motor to the plate by means of a different, original head of the motor itself.

[0015] In general, a tubular motor for domotic applications, in particular for operating curtains or blinds, according to the present invention, comprises a tube and a head at one end of the tube, wherein a clamp adapted to receive and restrain an external pin for fixing the tubular motor is integrated in head.

[0016] Further advantageous technical features of the present invention are set forth in the dependent claims which form an integral part of the present invention.

List of drawings

[0017] For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment will now be described by way of mere non-limitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• figure 1 is a perspective view of the known embodiment of a tubular motor;
• figure 2 is a perspective view of a tubular motor according to the present invention;
• figure 3 is a perspective view of the head of a tubular motor according to the present invention;
• figure 4 is a side view of the head in figure 3;
• figure 5 is a front section view of the head in figure 3;
• figure 6 is a front view of the head in figure 3;
• figure 7 is a front view of the clamp integrated in the head in figure 3;
• figure 8 is a perspective view of the clamp in figure 7.

Detailed description of the invention

[0018] The description and drawings are merely provided for illustrative, non limiting purposes; therefore, the present invention may be implemented according to other, different embodiments; moreover, it should be considered that such drawings are at least partially diagrammatic and simplified.

[0019] In the embodiment in figure 2, reference numeral 5 indicates as a whole a winding roller for curtains or blinds obtained by means of an internally hollow, hexagonal section member; thereby, roller 5 may accommodate the tubular motor for domotic applications comprising a tube 3 and a head 1 at one end of the tube 3 itself in addition to other components.

[0020] Tube 3 comprises an internally hollow cylinder, adapted to contain a plurality of devices functional to actuating the winding roller. These devices (not shown in the figure) may include: the electric motor, the limit stop unit, the ratio motor and the roller feeding cap. In particular, the latter is coupled to the winding roller 5 and turns while feeding the roller therewith when responding to the actuation of the electric motor.

[0021] The term "tubular motor" thus means the assembly of tube 3, head 1 and the functional actuating devices contained in tube 3.

[0022] The winding roller 5 and the tubular motor are fixed at their respective ends to the two sides of the frame 4 for blinds, the latter being applied in the housing niche or box in which the blinds or curtains will be installed.

[0023] In particular, the side of frame 4 comprises a pin 40 for anchoring the tubular motor thereto by means of head 1, as clearly shown in the following description. Head 1 at the end of tube 3 integrates a clamp 2 adapted to receive and restrain pin 40 in order to fix the tubular motor to the side of frame 4.

[0024] A preferred embodiment of head 1 is shown in figure 3, the head 1 comprising:

a first side 1a, at tube 3 (i.e. proximal to the tube when the tubular motor is assembled), and a second side 1b, opposite to the first, at pin 40 (i.e. proximal to the pin when the tubular motor is installed) and provided with a flat surface; clamp 2 being adjacent to said flat surface. It is worth noting that the term "flat surface" in this description means a surface obtained with one or more surfaces contiguous and parallel to a single reference plane.

[0025] In this sense, it is worth noting that head 1 is defined in one piece and that the flat surface of side 1b comprises, in turn, a first surface and a crown which surrounds the mentioned first surface defined in relief therewith. Furthermore, the first surface includes a seat (e.g. an appropriately shaped cavity) to accommodate clamp 2: the latter is adjacent to the first surface itself when it is inserted within it. The crown is shaped so as to allow a simple assembly of the tubular motor; moreover, it comprises appropriate holes to allow electric wires to pass, which from the outside need to reach the tubular motor for powering purposes.

[0026] As mentioned, head 1 comprises a seat which has a conjugate shape with respect to the shape of the clamp, so as to be able to accommodate it inside.

[0027] Figure 3 again shows a preferred embodiment of the tubular motor according to the present invention, wherein clamp 2 perfectly mates with the seat on the second side 1b of head 1; according to this embodiment, the seat houses clamp 2 completely so that it does not protrude from head 1. Furthermore, figure 3 (as well as figure 6) shows an opening for inserting/extracting clamp 2 in/from head 1; the opening is located at the above mentioned flat surface of head 1 so that it is easy to insert and extract clamp 2 for its replacement or its arrangement according to the appropriate mode or manner (see below).

[0028] Figure 5 shows the head 1 of the tubular motor according to the present invention, where clamp 2 is associated with a screw 13, the latter comprising a threaded shank 13a and a head 13b adjacent to the threaded shank; thereby, the clamp 2 itself can be restrained to pin 40, when the screw is fastened.

[0029] In this sense, the clamp comprises an arched anchoring portion 2a adapted to receive and surround pin 40 and restraining portions 10a, 10b spaced apart form each other with respective holes 12a, 12b. According to a preferred embodiment, only one of these two holes (preferably, a first hole 12b) is threaded, while the other (preferably, a second through hole 12a) is functional to the passage of the threaded shank of the screw, so that it can be fastened in said mentioned first threaded hole 12b. Inserting the threaded shank 13a into the second through hole 12a is facilitated by the nominal diameter of the second shank which is slightly larger than the first. The holes 12a and 12b collimate and are indeed aligned along the same axis 60. Furthermore, the threading of the first hole 12b is characterized in one direction (e.g. leftwards) coinciding with that of screw 13. According to the described configuration, the threaded shank is inserted into the second through hole 12a and screw 13 is then fastened in the threaded hole 12b in order to restrain clamp 2 to pin 40. Thereby, screw 13 is engaged by means of the threaded shank 13b within hole 12b, even crossing the through hole 12a. Fastening screw 13 causes the flexion and/or bending of the anchoring portion 2a and the approach of the first portion 10a to the second portion 10b.

[0030] According to the present invention, the seat on the head 1 of the tubular motor advantageously allows to accommodate clamp 2 in two different modes; in the first mode, the position of the clamp is turned by 180° with respect to the position in the second mode. Therefore, when the tubular motor is installed with head 1 applied to an opposite end with respect to a previous case, agreement between the direction of the threading of hole 12a and that of screw 13 is maintained.

[0031] Thereby, the tubular motor can be simply fixed to the pin both on the right side and the left side of frame 4 by means of the same head. These two alternatives are possible by extracting clamp 2 from its seat in the head, turning it by 180° and finally inserting it again into the seat.

[0032] Figures 7 and 8 show a preferred embodiment of the clamp according to the present invention. As partially mentioned above, it comprises a first arched anchoring portion 2a adapted to receive and surround the pin, and two restraining portions 10a and 10b joined to the ends of the first anchoring portion, respectively. The two restraining portions 10a and 10b comprise a first and a second tab, respectively: the first tab comprises, in turn, a through hole, while the second comprises a threaded hole to allow the above-described screw to pass and be restrained, respectively. Furthermore, it is worth noting the presence of notch 14 at the end of clamp 2. As mentioned, fastening screw 13 in the threaded hole of the second tab produces a slight flexion of the second tab itself which thus approaches the first tab. This operation allows the anchoring portion 2a to restrain pin 40 by tightening itself about it. The mentioned notch 14 facilitates the flexion of the tab and the consequent restraining of pin 40.

[0033] It is worth noting that the head of a tubular motor is the stationary reaction member when the latter turns feeding the winding tube therewith. Therefore, restraining it to the pin very firmly is very important. In this sense, and again with reference to figures 7 and 8, it is worth noting that the inner surface 10, which is the surface in contact with pin 40 in use, has a plurality of radial protrusions. Thereby, when clamp 2 is restrained, such protrusions exert a greater radial force on the surface of pin 40. The radial protrusions 11 preferably comprise a knurling.

[0034] Moreover, the symmetry axis 50 of the anchoring portion 2a of clamp 2 coincides with the symmetry axis of the tubular motor.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, head 1 comprises at least a first passage 6 and at least a second passage 7, both conceived to make the first threaded hole 12b and the second threaded hole 12a on the restraining portions 10b and 10a accessible from the outside, respectively. Thereby, regardless of the adopted installation configuration (i.e. right side or left side of the frame), screw 13 can be introduced into the specific hole (6 or 7) and then, by means of a screwdriver, it can be fastened thus restraining clamp 2.

[0036] This configuration, in addition to the clamp which may be repositioned by 180° in the seat of head 1, allows the motor to be positioned in any angular position, with evident advantage in terms of installation simplicity and rapidity.

[0037] The embodiment in figure 4 shows a head according to the present invention, in which from the side position of the tubular motor, i.e. the typical position in which the tubular motor is fixed in the niche or box, the access to screw 13 is direct. According to a further preferred embodiment shown in figure 5, the first passage 6 and the second passage 7 on head 2, and the first threaded hole 12a and the second threaded hole 12b of the restraining portions 10a and 10b are aligned along an axis 60. Thereby, screw 13 can be inserted into the appropriate hole and thus be directly accessed to restrain clamp 2.

[0038] According to a further preferred embodiment, head 1 is made of plastic material, while clamp 2 is made of metal material, in particular steel, obtained by means of a sintering process, for instance.

[0039] A metal clamp 2 ensures good keeping of pin 40, in terms of restraint of pin 40 and holding of screw 13 fastened into the corresponding threading. The metal knurling allows to exert a good radial force on pin 40, the threading obtained on hole 12b (when the latter is made of metal material) ensures better reliability and safety in the operation of fastening screw 13. Furthermore, both features ensure good durability of a head for a tubular motor according to the present invention over time.

[0040] The tubular motor thus conceived is susceptible to a number of changes and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all details may be replaced by other technical equivalents. In practice, any material or contingent size or shape may be used according to needs and prior art.

Claims

1. Tubular motor for domotic applications, in particular for operating curtains or blinds, comprising a tube (3) and a head (1) at one end of said tube (3), characterized in that it comprises a clamp (2) adapted to receive and restrain an external pin (40) for fixing the tubular motor, wherein said clamp (2) is integrated in said head (1).

2. Tubular motor according to claim 1, wherein said head (1) comprises:

- a first side (1a) at said tube (3), and

- a second side (1b), opposite to the first one, at said pin (40), provided with a flat surface;
wherein said clamp (2) is adjacent to said flat surface.

3. Tubular motor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said head (1) comprises a seat adapted to accommodate said clamp (2), and wherein said seat has a conjugate shape in respect of the shape of said clamp (2).

4. Tubular motor according to claim 3, wherein said seat houses said clamp (2) completely so that it does not protrude from said head (1).

5. Tubular motor according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said head (1) has an opening for inserting and extracting said clamp (2), wherein said opening is located at said flat surface.

6. Tubular motor according to claim 3 or 4 or 5, wherein said seat is adapted to accommodate said clamp (2) in a first manner and in a second manner, and wherein in said first manner the position of said clamp (2) is turned over by 180° in respect of the position of said clamp (2) in said second manner.

7. Tubular motor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said clamp (2) is associated to a screw (13), said screw (13) being adapted to restrain said clamp (2) when it is fastened.

8. Tubular motor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said clamp (2) comprises a first anchor portion (2a) having arched shape adapted to receive and surround said pin (4) and two restraining portions (10a, 10b) respectively joined at the ends of said first anchoring portion (2a), wherein each of said restraining portions (10a, 10b) respectively has a first through hole (12a) and a second threaded hole (12b) for inserting and coupling with said screw (13).

9. Tubular motor according to claim 8, wherein the symmetry axis (50) of said first anchoring portion (2a) coincides with the symmetry axis of the tubular motor.

10. Tubular motor according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said first anchoring portion (2a) comprises an inner surface (10), wherein said inner surface (10), in contact in use with said pin (40), has a plurality of radial protrusions (11).

11. Tubular motor according to claim 8 or 9 or 10, wherein said head (1) comprises at a first side at least one first passage (6) adapted to make said first through hole (12a) and said second threaded hole (12b) of said restraining portions (10a, 10b) accessible from the outside.

12. Tubular motor according to claim 11, wherein said head (1) comprises at a second side, opposite to the first side, at least a second passage (7) adapted to make said first through hole (12a) and said second threaded hole (12b) of said restraining portions (10a, 10b) accessible from the outside.

13. Tubular motor according to claim 12, wherein:

- said first passage (6) and said second passage (7) and said head (1), and

- said first through hole (12a) and said second threaded hole (12b) of said restraining portions (10a, 10b) are aligned along an axis (60).

14. Tubular motor according to claim 13, wherein said axis (60) is perpendicular to the axis of said tube (30) and/or the axis of said pin (40), and wherein the axis of said tube (30) and the axis of said pin (40) preferably coincide.

15. Tubular motor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said head (1) is made of plastic material and said clamp (2) is made of metallic material, in particular steel.

Drawing