The present invention relates to a box for roll-up awnings.
In order to cover the openings of buildings, such as doors, windows, skylights and the like, it is known to use awnings constituted by a covering sheet which can be rolled up onto a roller which is accommodated rotatably in a respective box arranged above the opening. The sheet is associated by means of its upper end with the roller and is connected by means of its lower end to a transverse bar for grip on the part of the user; each one of the two lateral edges of the sheet can be guided or not slidingly by an appropriate rail of a provided guiding assembly associated with the opening to be covered. Such guiding assembly notoriously comprises two vertical posts which have a substantially U-shaped transverse cross-section and are fixed so as to face each other on the open side of said U-shape. In a practical example of installation, the posts are fixed to the internal sides of an opening by way of appropriate screw means inserted in corresponding holes.
If the covering sheet rolls up incorrectly, or if a foreign object becomes interposed between two successive layers of rolled-up sheet, it is necessary to work inside the box in order to remove the fault.
Further, in order to perform operations for replacing the sheet or the actuation device and for modifying and adjusting the stroke limit of the roll-up action, it is essential to access effectively the inside of the box.
Currently commercially available boxes require the disassembly of fixed parts in case of maintenance. Moreover, it must be noted that in order to allow such disassembly and reassembly, it is necessary to provide appropriate slots in the closure housings which will be removed, such slots allowing to remove the housings without having to also disassemble the actuation element (generally a winch, which can be actuated by means of a rod provided with a crank at one end and with a hook at the other).
An example of a box with with roll-up awning that can be disassembled is available from the document
The aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned shortcomings and meet the mentioned requirements, by providing a box for roll-up awnings which can be opened easily for maintenance without the aid of specific tools.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device which is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation, and has a relatively low cost.
This aim and this and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a box for roll-up awnings, according to the present invention that has the features of claim 1.
A method for fixing a laminar element to a box for roll-up awnings, according to the present invention, which has the steps of claim 9.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a box for roll-up awnings, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a box for roll-up awnings.
The box 1 for roll-up awnings comprises a fixed frame 2 for the longitudinal support of a roller 3 for rolling up the awning: the roller 3 is supported so that it can rotate about its own axis of symmetry, so that by rotating it allows to roll up and and unroll the awning.
Inside the box 1 an actuation element 4 is also provided, which is associated with the roller 3 by way of a transmission assembly; the actuation element can be a hand winch 4a, the rotating sprocket of which is engaged on a head of the roller 3, rigidly coupling its movements (in this case, manual actuation performed by means of an appropriate rod equipped with an end crank, not shown in the figure, which engages in the hand winch 4a), or a small electric motor 4b, which is coupled to the roller 3 in order to drive its movement and is constituted by a motor body 5.
At the front, the box 1 has a sort of closure housing, which is constituted by a laminar element 6 provided with appropriate longitudinal folding lines, which form a substantially L-shaped profile thereof.
The laminar element 6 is provided, at the upper anchoring end 7, with a crest 8, which is perpendicular to its profile and is directed toward the inside of said profile.
Below the end 7 there is a flat portion 9, whose height is substantially equal to the total height of the entire box 1; such portion in turn ends by connecting to a bottom 10, which is also flat and substantially perpendicular to the portion 9.
At the connection between the portion 9 and the bottom 10 there is a rib 10a, which is directed toward the inside of the L-shape (laminar element 6) and perpendicular to the portion 9 and mates with a respective protrusion provided inside appropriate end closure means, described subsequently, and further helps to stiffen the laminar element 6.
The fixed frame 2 is provided with an upper front seat 11, whose shape is conveniently complementary to the shape of the upper anchoring end 7 of the lamina 6; the profile has a first substantially curved portion 12, which is connected to the frame 2 at an abutment border 13 and ends by blending with a second flat portion 14, which is substantially parallel to the upper face 15 of the frame 2; at the end of the second portion 14 there is a connection to a third angular portion 16 (the surface 17 connected to the second portion 14 is substantially perpendicular to the portion 14).
The frame 2 has, at its upper face 15, substantially perimetric bands 18, which are intended for detachable interlocking in a respective bracket 19, which is coupled to a fixed supporting structure by means of suitable connecting elements (screws 20 in the figure). The perimetric bands 18 are also provided on the plugs 21.
The box 1 can be closed at its ends by means of appropriately provided plugs 21.
Each one of the plugs 21 is constituted by a flat face 22, which is provided with a perimetric lateral edge 23 along which protruding interlocking means 24 are distributed proximate to respective receptacles formed by protrusions 25 which correspond thereto on the frame 2 and facilitate assembly and centering operations (in order to ensure the stability of the connection, screws 24a are provided).
In a preferred embodiment, the plug 21 can be made of plastics in order to avoid any machining on aluminum, which is demanding and can compromise the paintwork with aesthetic problems. Accordingly, the holes are provided only on the plastic plug 21.
The face 22 and the edge 23 delimit a compartment for accommodating the actuation element 4.
In the case of a box 1 for awnings with manual actuation, the edge 23 has a lower opening 26 for the passage of a tab 27 for the manual actuation of the hand winch 4a, in which an appropriate rod, provided with an end crank not shown in the figure, engages.
In the case instead of a box 1 for awnings with automated actuation, the edge 23 generally has only a small opening for the passage of at least one electric power supply cable (not shown in the figure and in any case not essential, since the power supply cables can also be received directly through holes provided in the frame 2) of the electric actuation motor 4b.
In any case, the edge 23 is interrupted in its front portion, and the limits of the edge 23 at the interruption form respective seats 28 for the ends of a removable closure flap 29. The presence of the flap 29 allows to access easily the actuation element 4 for cleaning or maintenance operations.
Once the laminar element 6 has been fitted in the frame 2, the upper end 7 rests on the abutment border 13 and the crest 8 rests within the track 30 delimited by the two surfaces of the third angular portion 16.
In these conditions, the lower end 31 of the lamina 6 is located proximate to a lower cross-member (not designated by a reference numeral in the figure) of the frame 2.
In order to fix the laminar element 6 to the frame 2, it is convenient to follow the operations defined by means of
At this point, it is necessary to lower the laminar element 6, turning it instantly first around a resting point on the second portion 14 and then around the head 34 of the crest 8 which rests within the track 30 until the head 32 of the end 7 rests against the abutment border 13.
The operation of the invention is as follows: once the bracket 19 has been fitted by means of the screws 20, it is necessary to arrange the lateral plugs 21 by coupling the corresponding actuation element 4 to the roller 3.
Assembly is completed by fixing with an interlocking coupling the frame 2 to the bracket 19, which internally accommodates the roller 3 on which the awning is wound and by arranging the laminar element 6 as described above.
Advantageously, the box 1 for roll-up awnings according to the invention can be opened easily for maintenance without the aid of specific equipment.
Conveniently, the lateral plugs 21 also can be opened by removing the flap 29, thus allowing easy maintenance of the actuation elements 4.
It has thus been shown that the invention achieves the intended aim and object.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.