ROLLER SHUTTER WITH ADJUSTABLE ROTATABLE SLATS

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] Object of the present invention is a new embodiment of a roller shutter with swinging slats, which is an improvement of previous shutters object of the European Patent EP2398993 and of the Italian Patent Application BA2013A000061, whose content is incorporated in the present description.

Prior art

[0002] At the state of the art there are known roller shutters with swinging slats or lamellae, as for example the ones described in the above cited patents. In case of roller shutters of great dimensions, an unsolved problem is represented by the slats inwards bending with consequent torsion of its elements and in particular of the coupling hook of the lower fixed profiles. Such problem has been faced and solved by means of the cited inventions, by provision of intermediate supports (EP2398993) or by stiffening the slats in swinging step (BA2013A000061), respectively. Other solutions are described in the patent applications:

• EP 1990501, in which the slat has a mobile part connected to a fixed part by an articulation edge, where the slat is moved along a path (C). The path is divided into different short paths. One of the paths controls pivoting of the mobile part with respect to the fixed part from an occulting position to an open position using a pivoting control unit. The parts are aligned in same plane in the occulting position. The mobile part is shifted from the plane of the slat in the open position. Another path over the former path permits hooking of the mobile part with following slat (1S);
• EP 2811103, which describes a roller shutter working both as a roll-up shutter and a jalousie, comprising a plurality of slats and a driving chain crosswise to which the plurality of slats is fastened. The driving chain comprises a plurality of driving links and a plurality of connecting links. Each driving link is fastened to at least one slat and is arranged to drive it in order to open and close a plurality of openings. Both the driving links and the connecting links extend along less than the half of the total width (W1) of the roller shutter;
• WO2006037594, which relates to a louvered roller blind, comprising bodies, each with a bar, provided with at least one window and a slat, with a first and a second hook in cross-section. The first hooks of the bar and the slat together form a hinge, permitting a relative pivoting movement of the bar and slat, from a closed position in which the slat covers the window and an open position in which the slat opens the window. The second hook of the slat forms a hinge with the second hook of the bar of an identical second body. The four hooks are each curved in the same direction;
• EP2039871, describing an element having a bar made of thermoplastic resin and a rib made of aluminum, which are pivotably connected with each other in a hinge. An outer hook of the rib is aligned to form another hinge with an outer hook of the bar. The rib has two inner hooks of opposite curvature, where one inner hook is engaged in an inner hook of the bar. Another inner hook of the rib extends around an outer side of the inner hook of the bar. The inner hooks of the rib have a surface concentric to a pivot axis of the former hinge. The pivot axis runs along a corner of the bar and/or the rib;
• DE1237289, describing roller shutters with horizontal slats, which are swung up about their upper longitudinal edges, when lateral guide movable link chains, of which every second link provides the support of a lamella, zigzagging occupy the release of the seated down roller shutter, characterized in that a longitudinal edge of each slat, preferably the upper, is attached on a roller shutter rod, whose ends are the blade associated with link chain links.

[0003] Anyway, such solutions do not allow to solve the problem due to the continuous stress of the intermediate supports which discharge the force on the hooks of the lower fixed profiles with consequent torsion of the same, and this occurs for shutters of considerable weight and dimensions; even if the possible addition of other intermediate supports improves the bending resistance it does not improve the torsional resistance of the hook in swinging step, since the movable lamella, divided in as many pieces as the empty spaces between a support and the next one, is provided with such a discontinuity that it determines continuous clearance of the hook with respect to the lower fixed profile, thus causing an inwards bending of the lamella at expense of the hook resistance and a continuous stress of the intermediate supports with consequent noises.

Summary of the invention

[0004] Therefore, aim of the present invention is to solve the problem of the torsion of the lower hook of the lower fixed profiles in shutters of great dimensions. In addition to solve the above described technical problem, the present invention according to the subject-matter of claim 1 allows a reduction of elements with respect to the ones used for the inventions described in the cited patents; moreover, it allows to use the same elements for roller shutters with box arranged both inside and outside the house with consequent simplification of the shutter assembly and assembly times.

Brief description of the drawings

[0005] These and other new features will be highlighted in the detailed description of the invention, which refers to the following figures 1/8 to 8/8, wherein:

- figure 1 shows the main elements of the slat: movable lamella, lower fixed profile and mono-wall support.

- figure 2 shows two coupled slats, one thereof being rotated of 900 in counterclockwise direction.

- figure 3 shows two coupled slats, one thereof being rotated of 900 in clockwise direction.

- figure 4 shows a portion of roller shutter, rolled in a box arranged inside the house.

figure 5 shows a portion of roller shutter, rolled in a box arranged outside the house.

- figure 6 shows an exploded view of a slat with two intermediate supports in which it is possible to note the fixing systems of the supports with the spring elements and the particulars of the intermediate and side supports;

- figure 7 shows an exploded view of a slat with the sole side supports;

- figure 8 shows an exploded view of a slat with the intermediate supports introduced in the same;

- figure 9 shows the fixing systems of the support to the lower fixed profile by means of punctual deformation of the same;

- figure 10 shows a side section of the movable lamella while opening, and in particular a side section of the lower fixed profile;

- figure 11 shows a side section of the movable lamella while closing, with the spring element and the gasket;

- figure 12 shows the particulars of the teeth of the movable lamella with the gasket introduced on the same;

- figure 13 shows the whole shutter with opened slats without intermediate supports;

- figure 14 shows the whole shutter with closed slats with intermediate supports.

[0006] Object of the present invention is a roller shutter with whole movable lamella swinging slats (figs. 13-14). Each slat 30, 30a (figs. 6, 7 and 8) is made up of a fixed frame 40, 40a and of a removable swinging fin 1. In particular, said fixed frame is formed by many elements: two or more supports 2 and 2a, a fixed lower profile 3 and plugs 5a and 5c, two alternative gaskets 6 or 6a.

[0007] The slat 30 is formed by a fixed frame 40 (having a couple of supports 2) and by a movable lamella 1. The slat 30 is provided with a straight section, without right or left convexity, as in the cited patents. The swinging movable lamella 1 is not subjected to interruptions any more because the intermediate supports 2 and 2a are arranged behind the same, and therefore the same does not represent a sole swinging movable fin. The side supports 2 do not rotate any more around a pin 4 as in the cited patents, and therefore they are not provided with a through hole 7 any more, on the contrary in the lower part they have a projection 8 of such shape to allow the coupling with the lower fixed profile 3 (fig. 1).

[0008] The removable swinging lamella 1 (figs. 1, 2 and 3) in the upper portion is provided with a hook 14 and a recess, for example a hole 15, outside the same. The hook 14 of the lamella 1 is coupled with the hook 10 of the lower fixed profile 3, thus allowing a rotation of the lamella 1 of 180° and not of 90°, as in the cited patents, thus allowing to provide a roller shutter with box arranged both inside and outside the house using the same elements (figs. 4 and 5).

[0009] The recess 15 receives the projection with circular section 4a of the supports 2 and 2a and does not receive the rotation axis 4 any more, as in the previous patents, and its opening faces always to the inner side of the roller shutter.

[0010] The walls of the supports, the side one 2 and the intermediate one 2a, are shaped in according to the inner projection of the movable lamella 1. The lower portion of the supports 2 and 2a, as in the previous versions, is provided with a projection 8 which engages the recess 9 of the fixed profile 3 and in order to avoid the shift of the side support 2 along the recess 9 it is used the plug 5a (fig. 6). The plugs 5b are no more needed because now the movable lamella 1 is entire.

[0011] The intermediate support 2a has the same shape of the side support 2. As in the previous version, it has the function to stiffen the slat in the intermediate portion and since it is arranged behind the movable lamella 1 it does not interrupt it and this gives more rigidity to the slat by avoiding the contained bending in the horizontal plane.

[0012] The supports 2 and 2a can be obtained by cutting an extruded structural in aluminum, by pressure die-casting of light alloys or by forging of sheets.

[0013] In order to avoid the support 2a shifting along the recess 9 it is possible to introduce a spring element 25 inside the recess of the hole 15 of the movable lamella 1, owing to friction such element constraints the intermediate support 2 and 2a in the optimal position. The intermediate support 2a can be constrained using two of these elements 25 or only one 25 introduced in the intermediate recess of the upper wall 25a of the intermediate support 2a obtained by removing material (fig. 6). For the side support 2 it is enough the usage of only one spring element 25, the other end is blocked by the plugs 5a. In alternative to the spring support 25, it can be obtained a projection 26 mechanically, directly from the fixed profile 3 which blocks the supports 2 and 2a (fig. 9). Yet in alternative, it can be limited the sliding of the side supports 2 with a projection 5d which engages a hole 27 of any shape obtained on the vertical wall of the support 2 and by a bearing one 5e (fig. 6).

[0014] The supports 2 and 2a can be both obtained by pieces of extruded profiles and by molded pieces of various materials, as for example aluminum alloys or the like.

[0015] Instead, the fixed lower profile 3 (fig. 3) has the following basic features:

• in the upper portion it can be provided alternatively with an encasing 9;
• the lower portion 10 allows the upper portion 11 of the swinging fin 1 to be coupled and to rotate without unhooking;
• there are provided holes lid for fixing elements;
• a spacer 12, portion of the plug 5a, which blocks the extraction of the movable lamella 1 along the longitudinal axis;
• allows the lamella 1 to rotate of 180° both in clockwise and counterclockwise rotation;
• a gasket 6 to be introduced in the recess 9. By joining firmly the side supports 2 to the lower fixed profile 3 there is obtained a frame 40. The two supports 2, the lower profile 3, the movable lamella 1 as a whole represent the classic functioning of a little projecting fin (fig. 2). Since the hook 14 of the movable lamella 1 can be coupled to the lower fixed profile 3, the weight of the lower profile 3 of the upper slat acts as a lever and causes the movable lamella 1, belonging to the lower next slat, to rotate without the use of mechanisms (gears, chains or the same); on the contrary in pulling step, the weight of the underlying profiles closes, by squeezing, the lower portion of the lamella 1 towards the gasket 6. As an alternative to the gasket 6 of the lower fixed profile 3, the movable lamella 1 can be provided with a gasket 6a in the inner portion of the lamella 1 in order to deaden the noise in falling step.

[0016] In order to avoid light, water and powders infiltrations, the movable lamella 1 is provided with blocking teeth lla, lib and 11c (figs. 1 and 10), the tooth llc being now vertical instead of horizontal as in the cited patents.

[0017] Simply speaking, the arrangement of the invention, for example the assembly of slats made up of a fixed portion and a movable one, which make up together the screen of the shutter, the shutter by sliding in suitable guides 13 protects, aerates or closes hermetically the openings of the windows.

[0018] The up and down rolling of the shutter screen around the roll can be manual or motorized.

[0019] As yet said, the opening of the movable portions of the slats part of the invention, is obtained by the transmission of the weight force of the upper slats on the lower ones by means of a lever, obtained purposely by offsetting the position of the upper portion 11, 14 of the movable lamella 1 with respect to the center of the hole 15. The rotation of the fins begins from the bottom of the shutter upwards. The opening of the movable lamella 1 in the projecting window mode occurs by contacting the surfaces 14a on the oblique section 4b of the supports 2 and 2a (fig. 1), and this allows the opening of the movable lamella 1 up to 60° (figs. 1 and 10).

[0020] In addition to the embodiments of the invention, as above described, it is to be intended that there exist many other variants. Further, it is to be intended that said embodiments are only example and do not limit the object of the invention and its possible application or configurations. On the contrary, even if the above described description allows the experts in the field to carry out the present invention at least according an embodiment thereof, it is to be intended that many variations of the elements above described are possible without departing from the object of the invention, encompassed by the appended claims, literally interpreted and/or according to legal equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. Roller shutter comprising a plurality of slats (30, 30a) so that it is realized a screen sliding in a couple of sliding guides (13), said slats (30, 30a) comprising a fixed frame (40, 40a) and at least a swinging movable lamella (1) with blocking teeth (11a, 11b, 11c), wherein said fixed frame (40) comprises two or more supports (2, 2a), a fixed lower profile (3), a series of plugs (5a), a gasket (6), so that the weight of the fixed lower profile (3) of the upper slat, by acting as a lever, rotates the movable lamella (1) which is configured to carry out a rotation of 180° and belongs to the next lower slat, without using any guide mechanism, and as a whole and orthogonal with respect to the horizontal plane, in the upper portion is provided with a first hook (14) which is introduced in a second hook (10) of the fixed lower profile (3) and is further provided with a recess (15), outside the walls of the same lamella, apt to receive an element (4a) of the supports (2, 2a); characterized in that the recess (15) accommodates a spring element (25).

2. Roller shutter according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (2a) is provided with a recess (25a) which accommodates the spring element (25).

3. Roller shutter according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixed profile (3), in the lower portion, is provided with a tooth (26) obtained mechanically, which fixes the supports (2 and 2a).

4. Roller shutter according to claim 1, characterized in that the hook (14) is provided with a contact surface (14a) on the oblique section (4b) of the supports (2 and 2a) which allows the movable lamella to be opened up to 60°.

Ansprüche

1. Rollladen mit einer Vielzahl von Metallstreifen (30, 30a), so dass dieser eine in einem Paar von Gleitführungen (13) gleitende Blende darstellt, wobei die Metallstreifen (30, 30a) einen festen Rahmen (40, 40a) und mindestens eine schwenkbare bewegliche Lamelle (1) mit Sperrzähnen (11a, 11b, 11c)) aufweisen, wobei der feste Rahmen (40) zwei oder mehr Stützen (2, 2a), ein festes unteres Profil (3), eine Reihe von Stiften (5a) und eine Kopplung (6) umfasst, so dass das Gewicht des festen unteren Profils (3) des oberen Metallstreifens durch Hebelwirkung die bewegliche Lamelle (1) dreht, die so ausgelegt ist, dass sie eine Drehung um 180° ausführt und zum nächsten unteren Metallstreifen ohne Verwendung eines Führungsmechanismus passt, und die als Ganzes und orthogonal zur Horizontalebene im oberen Teil mit einem ersten Haken (14) versehen ist, der in einen zweiten Haken (10) des festen unteren Profils (3) eingeführt wird, und die außerdem außerhalb der Wände derselben Lamelle mit einer Aussparung (15) versehen ist, die geeignet ist, ein Element (4a) der Träger (2, 2a) aufzunehmen; dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Aussparung (15) ein Federelement (25) aufnimmt.

2. Rollladen nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Träger (2a) mit einer Aussparung (25a) versehen ist, die das Federelement (25) aufnimmt.

3. Rollladen nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das feste Profil (3) im unteren Teil mit einem mechanisch hergestellten Zahn (26) versehen ist, der die Träger (2 und 2a) fixiert.

4. Rollladen nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Haken (14) an dem schrägen Abschnitt (4b) der Träger (2 und 2a) mit einer Kontaktfläche (14a) versehen ist, die es ermöglicht, die bewegliche Lamelle bis zu 60° zu öffnen.

Revendications

1. Volet roulant comprenant une pluralité de lames (30, 30a) de telle sorte qu'un écran coulissant est réalisé dans une paire de guides coulissants (13), lesdites lames (30, 30a) comprenant un cadre (40, 40a) fixe et au moins une lamelle (1) mobile oscillante comportant des dents (11a, 11b, 11c) de blocage, ledit cadre (40) fixe comprenant au moins deux supports (2, 2a), un profilé (3) inférieur fixe, une série de bouchons (5a), un joint (6) de telle sorte que le poids du profilé (3) inférieur fixe de la lame supérieure, en agissant en tant qu'un levier, fait tourner la lamelle (1) mobile, laquelle est conçue pour effectuer une rotation de 180 ° et laquelle appartient à la lamelle inférieure suivante, sans utiliser de mécanisme de guidage, et dans son ensemble et orthogonalement par rapport au plan horizontal, laquelle, dans la partie supérieure, est pourvue d'un premier crochet (14), lequel est introduit dans un deuxième crochet (10) du profilé (3) inférieur fixe et lequel est en outre pourvu d'un évidement (15), à l'extérieur des parois de la même lamelle, apte à recevoir un élément (4a) des supports (2, 2a) ; caractérisé en ce que l'évidement (15) reçoit un élément ressort (25).

2. Volet roulant selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le support (2a) est pourvu d'un évidement (25a), lequel reçoit l'élément ressort (25).

3. Volet roulant selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le profilé (3) fixe, dans la partie inférieure, est pourvu d'une dent (26) obtenue mécaniquement, laquelle fixe les supports (2 et 2a).

4. Volet roulant selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le crochet (14) est pourvu d'une surface de contact (14a) sur la section oblique (4b) des supports (2 et 2a), laquelle permet à la lamelle mobile d'être ouverte jusqu'à 60 °.

Drawing