[0001] The invention relates to a profile with a generally prismatic form, comprising a
central part and two side parts which extend at least more or less in transverse direction
relative thereto and the free end zones of which are directed toward each other while
leaving clear a gap.
[0002] Such a profile is known in many embodiments and serves for instance to accommodate
provisions for lowering and raising for instance a roller blind, pleated blinds or
the like, or for displacing along the profile slides to which vertical slats, curtains
or the like are or can be attached.
[0003] It is an object of the invention to embody a profile such that it can be fixed to
and removed from a supporting construction in exceptionally simple manner, while the
strength with which the profile is fixed to this supporting construction is more than
sufficient for, among others, the purpose of use described briefly above.
[0004] The invention provides in this respect a profile of the type stated in the preamble
which has the feature that the central part has on its outside two ribs lying substantially
in one common plane and oriented in opposing directions, which ribs serve for co-action
with at least one resilient fixation member having two protrusions displaceable over
the free ends of the ribs in hookable manner and/or while deforming elastically and
subsequently co-acting therewith in clamping and/or hooking manner, which fixation
member can be fastened to a supporting construction by means of fastening means.
[0005] A preferred embodiment has the special feature that the free end zone of each rib
is situated above a recess present in the profile. The recesses can serve to receive
at least a part of the protrusions.
[0006] A preferred embodiment has a recess situated on the upper side of the profile for
receiving parts of fastening means, for instance the head of a screw or bolt extending
through the or each fixation member.
[0007] According to an important aspect of the invention, the profile has the feature that
the profile has on at least one side a standing edge which extends at least roughly
in transverse direction relative to the ribs and which after fastening of the profile
to a supporting construction conceals the or each fixation member and any fastening
means which may be present.
[0008] The profile can be manufactured in diverse ways. The profile preferably has the feature
that the profile is manufactured by extrusion.
[0009] This latter embodiment can be particularly embodied such that the profile is manufactured
from aluminium or a plastic.
[0010] The invention further provides a combination of a profile according to the above
stated specifications and a resilient fixation member having two protrusions displaceable
over the free ends of the ribs in hookable manner and/or while deforming elastically
and subsequently co-acting therewith in clamping and/or hooking manner.
[0011] Finally, the invention provides a fixation member adapted for co-action with a profile
according to the above stated specifications, comprising two protrusions displaceable
over the free ends of the ribs in hookable manner and/or while deforming elastically
and subsequently co-acting therewith in clamping and/or hooking manner.
[0012] The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a profile according to the invention in a first
exemplary embodiment;
Fig. 2 shows a view corresponding with Fig. 1 of the profile with a fixation member
co-acting therewith;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the combination of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 shows the cross-section IV-IV of Fig. 2 on enlarged scale;
Fig. 5 shows a cross-section corresponding with Fig. 4 of a second exemplary embodiment;
Fig. 6 shows a perspective view corresponding with Fig. 2 of an assembled profile
from which vertical slats can be suspended; and
Fig. 7 is a perspective view from the underside of the profile in the assembled state
as according to Fig. 6.
[0013] Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show a profile 1 with a generally prismatic form, i.e. the
profile has the same cross-section at any longitudinal position. Profile 1 comprises
a central part 2 and two side parts 3, 4 which extend at least more or less in transverse
direction relative thereto and the free end zones 5, 6 of which are directed toward
each other while leaving clear a gap 7. The central part 2 has on its outside, in
the figures the upper side, two ribs 8, 9 which lie substantially in one common plane
and are oriented outward in opposing directions, and which serve for co-action with
at least one resilient, for instance spring-steel, fixation member 10 having two protrusions
11, 12 displaceable over the free ends of ribs 8, 9 in hookable manner and/or while
deforming elastically and subsequently co-acting therewith in clamping and/or hooking
manner. Each fixation member can be fastened to a supporting construction and has
for this purpose a through-hole 13 through which can extend a fastening screw 14 which
can be coupled in screwing manner to the supporting construction, which screw 14 has
a head 15 which is wider than the dimensions of through-hole 13 so that, in the manner
shown in Fig. 2, 3 and 4, fixation member 10 can be firmly connected to a supporting
construction.
[0014] After the screw 14, 15 placed through hole 13 has been screwed fixedly to the supporting
construction, profile 1 can be attached thereto in snap-on and clamping manner by
first placing the outer end of ribs 9 into the cavity defined by protrusion 12 and,
while tilting and pressing, then displacing the outer end of ribs 18 in snapping manner
over the undercut protrusion 11 until the hooking and clamping coupling as drawn in
Fig. 4 has been effected.
[0015] Profile 1 can be removed from the clamping co-action with fixation member 10 by moving
the profile with a sufficient force in the opposite direction. The described tilting
movement can particularly take place in reverse direction, whereby one of the undercuts
defined by protrusions 11, 12 functions temporarily as pivot point, and the ribs located
opposite can be released with force from the relevant undercut.
[0016] Standing edges 31, 32 conceal fixation member 10, 12 and screw 14. It is noted that
lip 19, which serves for easy placing and removal of the profile, protrudes and cannot
therefore be concealed by edge 32. However, a profile is generally fixed in a position
such that there is only one visible side. It would then in principle be possible to
suffice with standing edge 31. For the sake of a symmetrical construction however,
the structure is recommended which is shown clearly in Fig. 2, in which the profile
takes a strictly symmetrical form and therefore has two standing edges 31, 32.
[0017] The fixation member can for instance be manufactured from a steel having sufficient
strength and elastic quality. It consists of a modelled strip of this material. It
will be apparent that use will generally be made of a minimum of two fixation members
to fix the profile to a supporting construction.
[0018] As will be particularly apparent from Fig. 4, central part 2 has a recess 16 for
receiving the head 15 of screw 14, 15.
[0019] Profile 1 further has two undercuts 17, 18 into which can be pushed components of
the curtain or sunblind structure of the system. Profile 1 further possesses a number
of inward directed protruding portions which serve similar purposes, but which are
not relevant in the context of the invention.
[0020] Fig. 4 shows particularly clearly the form of fixation member 10. This member has
on one side a protruding part 19 which can be useful in placing and removal of the
profile. The protruding part can be moved upward as according to arrow 20, thereby
decreasing and even completely releasing the clamping force of protrusion 11 relative
to ribs 8 such that profile 1 can be readily displaced and removed.
[0021] Fig. 5 shows an alternative. The profile 1' shown herein has a form which partly
corresponds to that of profile 1 of Fig. 4. The components in question are designated
in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 with the same reference numerals. These components, which have
a corresponding function but have another form or position, are designated in Fig.
5 with the same reference numeral, which is however provided with an accent.
[0022] The difference between profiles 1' and 1 is that ribs 8' and 9' are directed toward
and not away from each other, and that fixation member 10' comprises protrusions 11'
and 12', the form of which is adapted to the placing and direction of ribs 8', 9'.
[0023] Fig. 6 shows profile 1 in the assembled situation, in which it is supported by two
fixation strips 10, which are for instance fastened to the ceiling or the upper horizontal
beam of a window frame by means of respective screws 14. The supporting construction
in question is not shown in the drawings for the sake of clarity.
[0024] In the assembled situation the open ends of profile 1 are closed by means of respective
covers 33, 34.
[0025] Protruding on the underside of profile 1 are suspension hooks 35 to which vertical
slats can be clampingly connected so as to be suspended from rail 1. These suspension
hooks/clips are movable along the profile by means of slides. The sliding displacement
takes place along the free end zones 5, 6. The slides and hooks 35 extend through
the gap 7.
1. Profile with a generally prismatic form, comprising a central part and two side parts
which extend at least more or less in transverse direction relative thereto and the
free end zones of which are directed toward each other while leaving clear a gap,
characterized in that
the central part has on its outside two ribs lying substantially in one common
plane and oriented in opposing directions, which ribs serve for co-action with at
least one resilient fixation member having two protrusions displaceable over the free
ends of the ribs in hookable manner and/or while deforming elastically and subsequently
co-acting therewith in clamping and/or hooking manner, which fixation member can be
fastened to a supporting construction by means of fastening means.
2. Profile as claimed in claim 1,
characterized in that
the free end zone of each rib is situated above a recess present in the profile.
3. Profile as claimed in any of the foregoing claims,
characterized by
a recess situated on the upper side of the profile for receiving parts of fastening
means, for instance the head of a screw or bolt extending through the or each fixation
member.
4. Profile as claimed in any of the foregoing claims,
characterized in that
the profile has on at least one side a standing edge which extends at least roughly
in transverse direction relative to the ribs and which after fastening of the profile
to a supporting construction conceals the or each fixation member and any fastening
means which may be present.
5. Profile as claimed in any of the foregoing claims,
characterized in that
the profile is manufactured by extrusion.
6. Profile as claimed in any of the foregoing claims,
characterized in that
the profile is manufactured from aluminium or a plastic.
7. Combination of a profile as claimed in any of the foregoing claims and a resilient
fixation member having two protrusions displaceable over the free ends of the ribs
in hookable manner and/or while deforming elastically and subsequently co-acting therewith
in clamping and/or hooking manner.
8. Clip adapted for co-action with a profile as claimed in any of the claims 1-6, comprising
two protrusions displaceable over the free ends of the ribs in hookable manner and/or
while deforming elastically and subsequently co-acting therewith in clamping and/or
hooking manner.