Tubular closing member, particularly gate, equipped with lighting members

Abstract

 A tubular closing member (1), particularly a gate, equipped with lighting members is disclosed, comprising a plurality of transverse members (3) that are partially or completely recess, at least one of such transverse members (3) being equipped on a surface thereof with openings (7) connecting the inside of such transverse member (3) with the outside; at least one luminous source (2) contained inside such transverse member (3), a light emitted by such luminous source (2) being visible to the outside through such openings (7); and an electric supply and control system adapted to electrically supply and manage turning-on modes of such luminous sources (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to a tubular closing member equipped with lighting members. The present invention will be described herein below as applied to a particular type of closing member, namely a gate, but it is obvious that the invention can also be applied to other closing members, such as partitioning members for building interiors, walls, etc.

[0002] Numerous gate arrangements are known in the art, typically of the rolling gate or packing gate type, used, due to their particular shape, particularly for protecting windows and accesses in shops.

[0003] It is also known that such gates, in order to be able to be actuated, are typically composed of transverse members and of longitudinal upright members made of stainless steel or other suitable metals, that are mutually linked in order to be easily packed onto themselves by using belts or ropes or other known handling systems, or wound around an axis belonging to a winding system.

[0004] However, there are no prior art gates and/or no commercially-available gates that are equipped with lighting members integrated into their own transverse members and/or longitudinal upright members.

[0005] Object of the present invention therefore is providing a closing member, and particularly a gate, equipped with lighting members integrated in its own transverse members and/or its own longitudinal upright members, at the same time keeping the intrinsic features that are typical of a gate, particularly related to protection, resistance and safety.

[0006] The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, which will appear from the following description, are obtained by a closing member, and particularly a gate, equipped with lighting members as disclosed in claim 1, Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a nonlimiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of an embodiment of a gate equipped with lighting members according to the present invention;
• FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the gate equipped with lighting members of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 shows a schematic front view of another embodiment of a gate equipped with lighting members according to the present invention;
• FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of some members of an electric supply and control system of the gate equipped with lighting members according to the present invention;
• FIG. 5 shows a side view of some members of another embodiment of the electric supply and control system of the gate equipped with lighting members according to the present invention;
• FIG. 6 shows a side cutaway view of some members of another embodiment of the electric supply and control system of the gate equipped with lighting members according to the present invention; and
• FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of other members of the electric supply and control system shown in FIG. 6.

[0008] With reference to FIG. 1, 2 and 3, it is possible to see a preferred embodiment of the gate 1, particularly of the winding or packing type, equipped with lighting members according to the present invention. The gate 1 is composed of a plurality of transverse members 3: depending on the different shapes of the gate 1 itself, such transverse members 3 can typically be straight (as shown in FIG. 1) and joined by a plurality of longitudinal upright members 5 linked thereto in a known way in order to allow the movement of the gate 1 for its opening or closing, or can be curved (as shown in Fig. 3). Generally, anyway, the present invention can be applied to any type of existing gate, also conceived as sliding gate, in which namely the transverse members 3 and the longitudinal upright members 5, or functionally equivalent members, are mutually integral. It is also clear that the transverse members 3 and/or the longitudinal upright members 5 can have any shape and/or mutual space arrangements, though different from those that have been described here as an example, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0009] As can be noted from the Figures, the transverse members 3 are partially or totally recess and equipped, on their surface, with openings 7 connecting the recess inside of the transverse member 3 with the outside, such openings 7 being preferably realised as micro-drilling. Inside the transverse member 3, at least one luminous source 2 is placed, for example a tubular neon light; alternatively, inside the transverse member 3, a plurality of luminous sources 2 are placed, preferably known LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), such luminous sources 2 emitting at least one colour tone, whose light is visible outside through the openings 7.

[0010] The luminous sources 2 inside the transverse members are supplied and managed as regards their life, turning-on sequence and/or frequency by an electric supply and control system.

[0011] With reference now to FIG. 4, it is possible to note the members belonging to an embodiment of the electric supply and control system: in order to allow both the necessary supply and management of luminous sources 2 and the correct movement for opening and closing the gate 1 using traditional actuating systems, particularly in case of packing or winding systems, such electric supply and control system comprises at least one connecting member 9 placed on at least one end of every transverse member 3 of the gate 1 equipped with luminous sources 2 and of at least one supply bus bar 11 placed inside a sliding guide of the gate 1 or that is part of the sliding guide itself: the supply bus bar 11 is composed of at least two conducting reeds 13, that operate as busway-trolley, preferably longitudinal to the supply bus bar 11 and electrically supplied through an electric mains energy connection or a battery power supply by possibly interposing electronic controlling means for controlling and adjusting the turning-on modes and the intensity of luminous emissions from the luminous sources 2; the connecting member 9 is equipped with sliding connections 15, to which the luminous sources 2 are electrically connected, adapted to slide on such conducting reeds 13 and to guarantee an electric contact therewith: such sliding connections 15 are preferably copper brushes, but could also be highly resilient metal reeds that are very scarcely subjected to permanent set or any other system having analogous functionality and characteristics. It is cleat that, depending on the types of luminous sources 2 being used, on specific supply and control needs of the luminous sources 2 themselves, the supply bus bar 11 can be equipped with many different conducting reeds 13 and consequently each connecting member 9 can be equipped with the same number of sliding connections 15.

[0012] With reference to FIG. 5, it is possible to note an alternative embodiment of the electric supply and control system comprising at least one sliding connector assembly 17 connected to at least two adjoining transverse members 3, each sliding connector assembly 17 being provided with at least one sliding connector member 19 (the Figures show sliding connector assemblies 17 provided with four sliding connector members 19), to which luminous sources 2 are electrically connected, adapted to electrically cooperate with at least one fixed connector element 23 of at least one fixed connector assembly 21 (the Figures show sliding connector assemblies 21 provided with four fixed connector elements 23), such fixed connector element 23 being electrically supplied by first electric connection means 27 to an electric energy network or a battery supply, with the possible interposition of the electronic management means for the control and the regulation of the lighting and intensity modes of the bright issues of the luminous sources 2, such fixed connector assembly 21 being preferably positioned inside the sliding guide of the gate 1 or being part of the sliding guide itself. Always with reference to FIG. 5, it is possible to note that the sliding connector assembly 17 is provided with at least two seats 29, each seat 29 being adapted to receive therein a transverse member 3; besides, each sliding connector assembly 17 is provided with second electric connection means 31 for the connection of the bright source 2 with at least one sliding connector member 19.

[0013] Besides, it is possible to note that, in order to always guarantee with continuity a perfect contact between the fixed connector elements 23 and its corresponding sliding connector elements 19, the fixed connector assembly 21 is provided with elastic pushing means, such as, for example, at least one spring 33; alternatively, each fixed/sliding connector element can be provided with its own elastic pushing means.

[0014] With reference to FIG. 6 and 7, it is possible to note a kinematic system adapted to avoid that, during the motion of the gate 1, relative sliding is created between the sliding connector assemblies 17 and the fixed connector assemblies 21, which could damage the respective connector members 19, 23. Therefore, such kinematic system comprises a sliding bar 35, which is longitudinal and inside the sliding guide 25, cooperating with a lever positioned next to a closing limit switch of the gate 1, such a sliding bar 35 being provided with at least one resting recess 43 adapted to house a pushing protrusion 45 of a respective fixed connector assembly 21. Therefore, when the lever is in a first position (shown in FIG. 6 as 37a), the sliding bar 35 is in a resting position in which the pushing protrusions 45 are housed in the respective resting recess 43 and the fixed connector assemblies 21 are far from the sliding connector assemblies 17: consequently, it is possible to move the gate 1 avoiding advantageously contacts and creeping between the respective connector elements; instead, when the gate 1 acts on the lever (for example during the lowering of the gate 1), the lever itself is brought to a second position (shown in FIG. 6 as 37b) pulling the sliding bar 35 longitudinally to the sliding guide 25; during such movement, the resting recess 43 moves related to its own pushing protrusions 45 which come to cooperate with a profile of the recess 43 itself, which pushes at least the fixed connector elements 23, which are integral with the respective pushing protrusion 45, toward the relative sliding connector elements 19, realising the electric connection. When the gate 1 stop its action on the lever (for example during the opening of the gate 1 itself), the elastic returning means 41 bring the sliding bar 35 to its resting position and the elastic pushing means of the fixed connector assemblies 21 guarantee that each pushing protrusion 45 re-enters into its own resting recess 43.

[0015] It is also possible to provide a gate 1 version, not shown, according to the present invention in which also the longitudinal upright members 5, if present, can be equipped with luminous sources 2, for example LEDs: in this case, apart from what has been previously described, also such longitudinal upright members 5 must be completely or partially recess, with recesses inside which the luminous sources 2 are arranged and supplied through electric connections with concentric rings (not shown), adapted to connect them with the electric supply provided by the electric supply and control system to the luminous sources 2 inside the transverse members 3, arranged on connection linkages between transverse members 3 and longitudinal upright members 5 to allow winding the gate 1.

[0016] Moreover, it is clear that it is possible to provide the electric supply and control system, and in particular the electronic controlling means, with more complex and versatile electronics, that allow, for example, alternately turning the luminous sources 2 on and off, with different colours and/or variable intensities, consequently suiting, in a known way and without difficulties, the realisation characteristics of the electric supply and control system, in order to suit such components to the adopted electronics needs.

[0017] It is further clear that not all transverse members 3 and/or upright members 5 must be equipped with luminous sources 2: in fact, it is possible to place such members 3, 5 that are lighted on the gate 1 layout in order to form different designs, shapes and/or writings.

[0018] It is further clear that both transverse members 3 and longitudinal upright members 5 and all other functional members of the gate 1 are made of adequate materials, in order to guarantee protection and safety levels not lower than those of a traditional gate.

[0019] For the particular arrangement with which it is equipped, finally, the inventive closing member can be equipped with an alarm system (not shown), which is supplied by the same supply of the luminous sources and which is able to signal (by means of remote transmissions, for example of the infrared, radio-frequency, etc. types) attempts of tampering to external sound and visual signalling devices, or to telephone switches for creating alarm messages.

Claims

1. Tubular closing member (1), particularly gate, equipped with lighting members, characterised in that it comprises:

- a plurality of transverse members (3) that are partially or completely recess, at least one of said transverse members (3) being equipped on a surface thereof with openings (7) connecting the inside of said transverse member (3) with the outside;

- at least one luminous source (2) contained inside said transverse member (3), a light emitted by said luminous source (2) being visible to the outside through said openings (7); and

- an electric supply and control system adapted to electrically supply and manage turning-on modes of said luminous sources (2).

2. Closing member (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least one longitudinal recess upright member (5) equipped with openings (7) containing a plurality of luminous sources (2) supplied through electric connections adapted to electrically connect said luminous sources (2) with said electric supply and control system.

3. Closing member (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said transverse member is straight or curved.

3. Closing member (1) according to claim 1 or 2,
characterised in that said transverse members (3) and said at least one longitudinal upright member (5) are mutually linked.

4. Closing member (1) according to claim 1 or 2,
characterised in that said transverse members (3) and said at least one longitudinal upright member (5) are mutually integral.

5. Closing member (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that it is windable.

6. Closing member (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that it is able to be packed.

7. Closing member (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that it is slidable.

8. Closing member (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said openings (7) are micro-drillings.

9. Closing member (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said transverse member (3) contains a plurality of luminous sources (2) composed of luminous sources (2) emitting lights having the same tones and/or intensities.

10. Closing member (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said transverse member (3) contains a plurality of luminous sources (2) composed of luminous sources (2) emitting lights having different tones and/or intensities.

11. Closing member (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said luminous source (2) is a neon light.

12. Closing member (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said luminous source (2) is a LED.

13. Closing member (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said electric supply and control system comprises:

- a supply bus bar (11) equipped with at least two electrically supplied conducting reeds (13);

- at least one connecting member (9) placed on at least one end of every transverse member (3) equipped with said luminous sources (2), said connecting member (9) being equipped with at least two sliding connections (15) that are electrically connected to said luminous sources (2) adapted to slide and be electrically connected to said conducting reeds (13) to electrically supply said luminous sources (2).

14. Closing member (1) according to claim 14,
characterised in that said sliding connections (15) are copper brushes.

15. Closing member (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said electric supply and control system comprises at least one sliding connector assembly (17) connected to at least two adjoining transverse members (3), said sliding connector assembly (17) being provided with at least one sliding connector member (19) electrically connected with said luminous sources (2), said sliding connector member (19) being adapted to electrically cooperate with at least one fixed connector member (23) of at least one fixed connector assembly (21), said fixed connector member (23) being electrically supplied.

16. Closing member (1) according to claim 16,
characterised in that said sliding connector assembly (17) is provided with at least two seats (29), each one of said seats (29) being adapted to receive therein said transverse member (3).

17. Closing member (1) according to claim 16,
characterised in that said fixed connector assembly (21) is provided with elastic pushing means.

18. Closing member (1) according to claim 17,
characterised in that said elastic pushing means are at least one spring (33).

19. Closing member (1) according to claim 15,
characterised in that said electric supply and control system comprises a sliding bar (35), which is longitudinal and inside said sliding guide (25), co-operating with a lever (37a; 37b) positioned next to a closing limit switch of said gate (1), said sliding bar (35) being provided with at least one resting recess (43) adapted to house a pushing protrusione (45) of a respective fixed connector assembly (21).

20. Closing member (1) according to claim 19,
characterised in that said electric supply and control system comprises elastic returning means (41) for said sliding bar (35).

21. Closing member (1) according to claim 14 or 16, characterised in that said electric supply and control system comprises electronic control means adapted to control and ad just turning-on modes of said luminous sources (2).

22. Closing member (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that it is equipped with an alarm system adapted to signal, by means of remote transmissions, attempts of tampering with said closing member (1) to external sound and visual signalling devices, or to telephone switches for creating alarm messages.

Drawing