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(11) | EP 2 110 507 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Blind overlapping element |
| (57) Blind overlapping element comprising a first sliding-block portion (1A) which is
to be mounted along a guide track (2), and a second portion to which a blind sheet
is to be connected that projects in cantilever fashion along its own longitudinal
direction (14a, 14b) in a staggered plane (14b) from the first portion, wherein the
second portion (14) is pivotally mounted on the first portion so as to be adapted
to oscillate around an axis (4') that is parallel to said staggered plane (14B) and
is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (14A, 14B) of the second
portion.
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[0002] A roller blind is usually provided with two or more sheets that are attached to a plurality of sliding-blocks, which are slidably mounted in a guide bar fixed to a wall. As already known in the art, in order to realise a partial overlapping of two sheets of a blind, which are attached to respective series of sliding-blocks disposed in the same guide track, one of the two series of sliding-blocks is provided with a "blind overlapping element" at an end position.
[0003] The above-cited blind overlapping element consists of a supporting arm connected to a respective pair of sliding-blocks, which projects in cantilever fashion from the respective sliding-block pair and lay, at least partially, on a plane that is parallel and spaced from the plane traversing said guide track that is globally defined by the blind. The sheet that is attached to the above-cited arm is capable of overlapping the end side of the other sheet in the closed condition of the blind.
[0005] Particularly, in figure 1 a blind overlapping element of known type is shown slidably mounted on a rectilinear guide track, whereas in figure 2 the blind overlapping element is disposed on a guide track with curvilinear extension. As visible in these figures, the projecting arm of a blind overlapping element of a known type stays always substantially parallel to a longitudinal section plane (horizontal with respect to the figures) of the sliding-block pair, to which it is connected. It follows that, as schematically shown in figure 2, beyond a certain curvature value of the trajectory of the guide track the arm of the blind overlapping element comes into contact with the bar provided with the guide track, so that an impediment, or at least an obstacle, to the movement of the blind overlapping element is created.
[0006] Therefore, a very low threshold value of the curvature of the trajectories of the guide tracks does exist for these to be traversed, in a smooth and fluid way, by the driving systems of blinds provided with blind overlapping element of known type.
[0007] Nowadays, however, glass windows with a sinuous shape, such as, for example, those forming the so-called "winter gardens", have become more and more widespread.
[0008] "Winter gardens" consist of pavilions having a metal supporting structure on which wide glass windows are disposed to form the housing walls of the pavilions. These glass windows have often very undulating shapes so that the need arises for providing driving systems that are provided with blind overlapping element that do not have the above-described drawbacks, in order to guarantee a perfect operation of the driving systems of the blinds slidably disposed along said undulating shapes.
[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a blind overlapping element that is able to overcome the above-described drawbacks and, particularly, that is susceptible of being easily adopted with any type of trajectory of guide track to which it is associated. In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a blind overlapping element comprising a first sliding-block portion which is to be movably mounted along a guide track, and a second portion to which a blind sheet is to be connected that projects, along a longitudinal direction thereof, in cantilever fashion and on a plane that is staggered with respect to the first portion, characterised in that the second portion is pivotally mounted on the first portion so as to oscillate around an axis that is parallel to said staggered plane and substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal direction. In a preferred embodiment of the blind overlapping element according to the present invention said second portion is provided, at its region in cantilever fashion that lays on said staggered plane, with a sliding-block adapted to cooperate with the guide track.
[0010] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be made clear with reference to the attached drawings, provided by way of non-limitative example, wherein:
- Figures 1 and 2 represent a blind overlapping element according to the prior art;
- Figure 3 represents an overlapping element according to the present invention mounted on a curvilinear guide track;
- Figures 4a and 4b represent the overlapping element of figure 3 in a partially sectioned view, in a first and a second position, respectively;
- Figures 5 and 6 show an overlapping element according to the present invention in a partially sectioned perspective view, in the above-mentioned first and second positions of figures 4a and 4b, respectively.
[0011] With reference to figures 4 and 5, the blind overlapping element 1 according to the present invention comprises a first portion 1a for movably mounting the overlapping element along a guide track 2 (which is shown in figures 3 and 4). The first portion 1a is provided with a pair of sliding-blocks with rollers (not shown) of known type in the art, which will not, therefore, be described in detail since it is of little relevance with respect to the invention.
[0012] Instead of the above-mentioned pair of blocks, it is possible to provide devices called "chutes", which are susceptible to slide along guide track 2.
[0013] A support bracket 11 is attached to the above-mentioned pair of sliding-blocks and has a support element 11a projecting in cantilever fashion on which a case 11b is mounted.
[0014] The case 11b consists of a base element 12 directly in contact with the support element 11a and closed on top by a cover 13. The case 11b has an opening 12a at its front region (with reference to the direction of movement indicated by arrow in figure 4A).
[0016] The rod 14 has a flattened crossed section and a broken-line shape that is formed by substantially rectilinear sections. The rod 14 particularly defines two rectilinear section 14a and 14b, which are connected by a section 14c that is inclined thereto and which define two planes that are parallel and staggered relative to each other.
[0017] The planes defined by sections 14a and 14b of rod 14 are, with reference to figure 3, orthogonal to the plane that is defined by the trajectory of the guide track 2, on which the blind overlapping element 1 moves.
[0018] Rod 14 is pivotally mounted with respect to the case 11b so as to be adapted to oscillate around axis 4', which is parallel to the above-mentioned staggered planes defined by sections 14a and 14b of rod 14 and at the same time orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of this latter.
[0020] The rectilinear section 14a of rod 14 passes through opening 12a and is pivotally connected to case 11b by means of a band element 15.
[0021] The band element 15 envelops a portion of section 14a that is within case 11b, to which it is connected by means of screws. The band element 15 has at a central region a cylindrical outer surface 4 with its own axis laying substantially in the plane defined by the rectilinear section 14a.
[0022] The cylindrical surface 4 is connected, at its ends, to the side walls of case 11b where suitable seats (not shown) are respectively provided, which allow to the ends of the cylindrical surface 4 only a rotation around its own axis, which coincides with the above - mentioned axis 4'.
[0023] The oscillation of the band element 15, and therefore of rod 14, with respect to case 11b can be realized between a first and a second end positions, which are respectively defined by stop surfaces provided within case 11b.
[0024] Figures 5 and 4a show a first end position wherein rod 14 is disposed substantially collinear with a section plane of case 11 parallel to the support element 11a.
[0025] Such a position is a rest position of rod 14, which is adopted by this latter when the overlapping element is in a rectilinear guide track.
[0026] Elastic means, which are represented by two coil springs 5 in the specific example of the figures, are provided in order to ensure that such a rest position is steadily maintained. Coil springs 5 are arranged on the sides of the band element 15 that are opposed with respect to the cylindrical surface 4, and act respectively on opposite faces of the band element 15. Particularly, coil springs 5 act on the band element 15 so as to generate a torque that is adapted to bring the distal end 14d of the rod section disposed within case 11b, and the enveloping portion 15a of the band element 15 that is opposed to the distal end 14d with respect to the cylindrical portion 4, against respective stop surfaces 6, which are provided one in cover 13 and the other in the base element 12.
[0027] As visible in figures 5 and 6, the band element 15 has, furthermore, respective cylindrical seats, which are orthogonal to the main longitudinal section plane of the band element 15 and are adapted to receive the two coil springs 5.
[0028] In order to stabilize the above-described rest position of rod 14, the stop surfaces 6 are defined by respective magnets that are adapted to exert a magnetic attraction force with respect to the end 14d and to the enveloping portion 15a, respectively.
[0029] Particularly, these magnets have the function of dampening the vibrations caused by the two coil springs whenever these push the end 14d and the enveloping portion 15a against the respective stop surfaces 6.
[0030] Obviously, parts of end 14d and portion 15a that are destined to come into contact with the above-mentioned stop surfaces 6 are made of metal. In this respect, it is possible to provide that both the rod 14 and the band element 15 are completely made of metal, or otherwise, that bolts, or similar devices adapted to interact with the above-mentioned magnets, are attached thereto.
[0031] The position shown in figures 4b and 6 is an active position of rod 14, wherein this latter is inclined with respect to a section plane of case 11b that is parallel to the support element 11a.
[0032] Particularly, the position adopted by rod 14 with respect to case 11b, which is shown in figure 6, is a position of maximum inclination of rod 14, which is defined by a stop surface 7 against which the end 14d of rod 14 comes into contact.
[0033] Rod 14 has, at the end 14a, which is opposed to end 14d, a sliding-block 3 having a roller with axis parallel to axis 4', which is adapted to engage in rolling contact a track portion 2a of the guide track 2.
[0034] With reference to figures 3 and 4, it is clear that the interaction between roller 3 and track portion 2a, while the overlapping element moves along the guide track 2, causes an oscillation of rod 14 with respect to case 11b, the former being, therefore, adapted to assume non-interference conditions with respect to the bar of the guide track 2.
[0035] The overlapping element according to the present invention is, therefore, generally susceptible to move along guide tracks that are characterised by the most varied curvilinear trajectories, without any problem of interference or obstruction.
[0036] As said above, rod 14 can, in particular, oscillate with respect to case 11b within the space comprised between the two end positions represented schematically in figures 5 and 6, respectively. In this respect, these end positions can, for example, be determined during the design phase of the blind overlapping element, so as to guarantee for any application a space of oscillation of rod 14 with respect to case 11b that is adapted, in relation to what said above, to the trajectory of the guide track that will be engaged by the blind overlapping element. Finally, the applicant has noted that the particular configuration of the blind overlapping element according to the present invention also favours the overlapping effect according to which an edge of a blind sheet overlaps the edge of another blind sheet that slides on the same guide track, reducing as much as possible the distance between the sheet and the guide track.
1. Blind overlapping element comprising a first sliding-block portion (1a) which is to
be movably mounted along a guide track (2) and a second portion (14) which a blind
sheet is to be connected to that is projecting in cantilever fashion along its own
longitudinal direction (14a, 14b) in a plane (14b) that is staggered with respect
to the first portion, characterised in that said second portion (14) is pivotally mounted on said first portion (1a) so as to
be adapted to oscillate around an axis (4') that is parallel to said staggered plane
(14b) and substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal direction (14a, 14b).
2. Element according to claim 1, characterised in that, at its portion in cantilever fashion on said staggered plane (14b), said second
portion is provided with a sliding-block (3) that is adapted to cooperate with said
guide track (2).
3. Element according to claim 2, characterised in that said second portion (14) is adapted to oscillate between a first position wherein
said second portion is substantially collinear with said first portion (1a) and a
second position wherein said second portion (14) is inclined with respect to said
first portion (1a) of a certain angle.
4. Element according to claim 3, characterised in that said element is provided with elastic means (5), which are adapted to oppose an oscillation
of said second portion (14) from said first position towards said second position.
5. Element according to claim 4, characterised in that said first portion (1a) defines a first and a second stop surface (6, 7), which are
adapted to define said first and second positions of said second portion (14), respectively.
6. Element according to claim 5, characterised in that said first stop surface (6) is defined by a magnet.
7. Element according to claim 5, characterised in that said elastic means comprise at least a coil spring (5), which is disposed substantially
transversal with respect to said second portion (14).
8. Element according to claim 7, characterised in that said elastic means comprise two coil springs (5) that are disposed respectively at
the opposite sides of the pivot (4) of said second portion (14) and that act against
opposite faces of said second portion.
9. Element according to claim 8, characterised in that said sliding-block is disposed at the distal end (14e) of said second portion (14)
and is provided with a roller (3) that is apt to rotate around an axis that is parallel
to said oscillation axis (4').