The present invention relates to a flexible drive mechanism for covering building openings and to coverings for building openings comprising such a mechanism

Very large glass panels are often used in modern buildings or even on the complete surface thereof. Venetian blinds, shutters and the like are one solution for covering windows and doors as sunshade and they can have decorative effects as well. For lager openings or complete façades, the Venetian blinds' slats and shutter panels can attain very large dimensions both relating to width hereof as well as the longitudinal extension of the slats or panels. For installations of this kind, some kind of motorized drives can be employed for convenience, since the coverings are frequently mounted from the outside and in considerable heights. Traditionally the drives make use of electric motors where the rotary motion by some means are converted to linear motion in order to open and close said coverings.

Traditional Venetian blinds are operated by pulley and cord mechanisms based on gravity. This method can be motorized, but does not by itself contribute to any support for the blinds, which must be accomplished in another way. It is not possible by this method to use horizontal motion Other solutions have been proposed such as WO 2004/059116 where the rotary to linear conversion is done by means of a screw-threaded rod. This method offers a better support for the slats but lacks flexibility since this type of rotary to linear conversion is truly linear. US 3845669 discloses a partial bendable guide and a flexible rack drive system. Rack kind of drive systems make use of more than twice the length of the working distance of the object to be operated.

Shutter systems are frequently used for covering doors and gates for security or other reasons and are mostly opened in a vertical direction by means of chain or belt pulleys.

On this background, it is the object of the present invention to provide coverings for building openings of the Venetian blinds or shutter types and in particular drive means for the same, which offer greatest possible freedom in design and implementation, horizontal or vertical.

It is another object of the invention to improve the aesthetical effect by providing suspension and operation of the systems in a manner that ascertains proper alignment of all slats and panels in the shutter system in a predetermined way even in non-rectilinearity.

These and other objects and advantages are achieved according to the invention by providing a support and drive mechanism, which can be tailored, free of previously known restrictions by combining straight portions and arced portions into an entirety or it can assume any other shape The drive mechanism can combine slat and panel support and drive means, and can be tailored as an integral part of a building structure and is fully scalable to suit any dimensional requirements.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a mechanism for converting a rotary motion originating from a rotary energy generator into a longitudinal motion of a carriage in a guideway, characterised in that said guideway comprises a first track for guiding a rotary flexible drive shaft and a second track for guiding a carriage, said carriage having means for guiding said carriage relative to said guideway and such that the carriage is substantially prevented from tilting longitudinally relative to the guideway and engagement means for interconnection with said drive shaft to obtain linked motion with said drive shaft, and that said guideway is part of a formable or workable profile. Tilting of the carriage can for instance be prevented by providing the carriage with at least two roller or slider means at a suitable distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the carriage,

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a folding shutter system comprising a plurality of slats substantially extending in parallel with each other and interconnected in a displacement system, characterised in that said slats comprise rotational axles substantially in the centre part of each longitudinal end of each slat and other rotational axles in the rear part of each longitudinal end of each slat and in the front part of each longitudinal end of each slat, and a connecting rod connecting each front rotational axle through and with the centre rotational axle on the neighbouring slat with the rear rotational axle in the slat next to the neighbouring slat in a pantograph-like mechanism, and the distance between connecting points of said connecting rod being substantially equal to the distance between said centre and rear axles in same slat, and said rear axles are extended to include roller or slider means for displaceable engagement with a track in a guideway.

According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a folding shutter system comprising a plurality of panels hinged together in an accordion fashion with an outer hinge system and an inner hinge system, characterised by the ends of the panels connected by the inner hinge system extending away from the hinge forming an end part of the ends of each panel, and at least one end part is equipped with one or more rollers or sliders extending away from the panels for rolling or sliding along and guided by a guideway, and at least one of the end parts of one end panel having means for fixation to said guideway, and at least one of the end parts of the opposite end panel having means for fixation to said carriage running in the guideway, the guideway being formed such that disengagement between the rollers or sliders is prevented during operation of the system

Specific embodiments of the various aspects are described in the detailed description of the present invention.

Embodiments built on the idea of a carriage running in a bendable or workable profile comprise at least one guideway, said guideway accommodating drive means for said carriage. It is part of the present invention that the drive means can adapt to the curvatures of said guideway. One simpler embodiment is carried out as a straight only version, but still has the advantages of the integral solutions. Said carriage constitutes support for the slats or the interconnection between slats Said profile can be an integral part of a building structure and can be made of metal or pulltruded polymer composites. The guideway drive system can be adapted to comprise and guide shutter systems as described below, but can be utilized in all situations where flexible linear or curvilinear movement is required in any direction and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment of the invention, a folding shutter system comprising a plurality of slats substantially extended in parallel with each other and interconnected in a displacement system, where the slats comprise rotational axles in the centre part of each longitudinal end of each slat and other rotational axles in the rear part of each longitudinal end of each slat, and a connecting rod connecting each centre rotational axle with each rear rotational axle in the adjacent slat in a pantograph-like mechanism, and the distance between connecting points of said connecting rod being equal to the distance between said centre and rear axles in same slat, and said rear axles are extended to include means for guidance in a guideway, and one outer rear axle has means for fixation to said guideway and the opposite outer axle has means for coupling to a guided carriage which, when engaged and operated by a linear drive mechanism, will operate all slats synchronized in perfect parallelism to each other. Guiding and fixation means for the slats and rods can be separated from the guideway drive system, means for guiding said slats, or can be integrated in the drive systems guideway. This type of folding shutter system is often referred to as Venetian blinds and the slats as so can take any shape suitable for its purpose and be made of any material or combinations thereof.

Yet according to another embodiment of the invention, a folding shutter system comprising a plurality of panels hinged together in an accordion fashion, and with an outer hinge system and an inner hinge system, where the ends of the panels connected by the inner hinge system have been extended orthogonally away from the hinge, thus forming an end part of the ends of each panel, and at least one end part is equipped with one or more rollers extending away from the panels for rolling along and guided by a guideway, and at least one of the end parts of one end panel having means for coupling to a guided carriage which, when engaged and operated by a linear drive mechanism, will operate all shutters synchronized in pairs, and all pairs of shutters are operated in a predetermined pattern whether the shutter systems operate rectilinearly or curvilinearly or in combination. Guiding and fixation means for the slats and rods can be separated from the guideway drive system or means for guiding said slats, or can be integrated in the drive systems guideway. The panels can take any shape suitable for its purpose and can be made of any material. The system described is perfectly suitable for horizontal and vertical operation or any direction in between.

• Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the flexible drive system according to an embodiment of the invention and a panel attached and coupled to be driven by the drive system and shown with a coaxial electric motor,
• Fig. 2 is another schematic view of the flexible drive system shown with engagement means for driving a guided roller and a gearbox with a worm gear for connection to a rotary energy source,
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment where it is shown that the profile 2 can be made of separate profiles for guiding the flexible drive spindle and a guide track for guiding carriages or rollers according to the embodiments,
• Fig. 4 is schematic representations of a Venetian blind system according to one of the embodiments shown from fully open in a) and to fully closed in c),
• Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of another embodiment for opening and closing building openings with a shutter system preferably driven by the drive system from fig. 1 making the shutters move in a rectilinear or curvilinear fashion,
• Fig. 6 is a stepwise illustration of the embodiment represented in fig. 5 showing 1) closed position, 2 through 5) opening the shutter system, and 6) showing the shutters in a fully open position,
• Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the embodiment represented in fig. 5 and fig. 6 in A) fully closed position and B) fully open position,
• Fig 8 a and 8 b, respectively, is a shematic representation of the basics of an embodiment of the drive, where the flexible drive shaft 5) is composed of two opposite convolutions in order to facilitate contrary movement of panels. Fig. 8 a shows rotational direction and movement towards each other, and Fig. 8b shows the opposite rotational direction and accordingly the movement away from each other, and
• Fig. 9 a to 9 d, respectively, shows pictures of a set of panels in different position during travel of the panels. The shown embodiment has a symmetrical movement.

For fully understanding the present invention, a detailed description of embodiments of the flexible drive mechanism will be given below. With reference to fig. 1-3, different schematic drawings show perspective views of the common flexible drive system The drive system comprises a profile 2, which can be made by rolling, pulltrusion or other suitable process and in one or more interlockable profiles joinable into one said profile. Said profile can consist of pieces of straight portions connected with portions being curved for example by rolling into arched portions in any combination hereof.

The profile 2 accommodates two or more tacks 3 and 4 for guiding of shutter systems and the like and drive mechanisms for same. First track, 3, guides a flexible drive shaft 5 which can be implemented as a compression spring type of spindle with or without a centre core, but other types of drive shaft of flexible nature might become applicable. The flexible drive shaft resting in the track 3 will inherit the curvature from the profile. Second track, 4, has the characteristics of a guideway for a carriage 6 with a longitudinal axis X with or without rollers and carrier means 8 for driving panels, shutters and the like relative to the profile and guideway. Said carriage has means for engagement 7 with the flexible drive shaft securing longitudinal motion synchronous with said drive shaft and following the profile and the flexible drive shaft. Tracks 3 and 4 might be lined with a suitable low friction material for low wear and noise operation. The lining has grooves for interconnection of the coupling means between the drive shaft and the guided carriage 6. The spindle drive motor I, preferably an electric type of motor mounted coaxially with the spindle or worm 5 and with a planetary type of reduction gear for easier integration into the profile can be accommodated, but any drive type like a worm gear can be used. In case of all solid panels to be driven along the flexible drive mechanism the panel 31 can constitute the carriage itself as seen in fig 1. A special variant of the flexible drive shaft 5 can be composed of two or more opposite convoluted drive shaft units 5a and 5 b. The opposite convolutions can have the same pitch, but are not limited to.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a Venetian blind system is presented in fig 4. The slats can be modelled on the slats described in US2006/0225849 A1 or might take any form and shape for its purpose. The slats 10 have rotational axles 11 in the centre and in the inner 12 and outer 14 end of each longitudinal end of each slat. A connecting rod connects the outer rotational axle of each slat through the centre rotational axle of the neighbouring slat and to the inner rotational axle of the slat next to the neighbouring one. On the uppermost slat, the connecting rod connects the centre rotational axle and the inner rotational axle on the neighbouring slat. The distance between the connecting points of the connecting rod is equal to or close to the distance between the inner rotational axle 12 and the centre I 1 rotational axle. Each inner rotational axle 12 is extended in the longitudinal direction of the slats to include guiding and securing means for guiding of the guideway 4. The guideways for each side of the Venetian blind system are secured to the framework of the building opening to be covered. The inner rotational axles 16 in each end of the outermost slat 10 are secured to the guideways in a way rendering rotation of the slat possible, but sliding in the guideway is not possible. The inner rotational point opposite said outermost slat 17 can be coupled by means of carrier means 8 to said guided carriage 6. Whenever the carriage is driven closer to said inner rotational axles 16 in each end of the outermost slat 10 and is coupled to the inner rotational point opposite said outermost slat 17, the slats will operate as fig. 4 c-a, and when the carriage is driven away from said inner rotational axles 16 in each end of the outermost slat 10, the Venetian blind system will operate as fig. 4 a-c. As can be seen in fig. 4 a-c, the slats by this invention will operate in synchronism with each other in a way so as to close the building opening, wltile the slats are tilted in continuation of each other fig. 4c and opening the building opening will bring about the slats being stacked fag. 4 a. By individual tailoring of said distances and their relationships, the present invention brings about Venetian blinds capable of changing directions following said curvature of the profile and said guideway. Guiding and fixation means for the slats and rods can be separated from the guideway drive system or means for guiding said slats, or can be integrated in the drive systems guideway. This type of folding shutter system is often referred to as Venetian blinds.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is a folding shutter system as shown in fig. 5. The shutter system comprises a plurality of panels 20 arranged in pairs and connected by hinges in the inner edges 22 and outer edges 21, respectively. Each panel in a pair connected by the inner hinges 22 is extended away from the hinge and away from each other forming a support 23 for one or more guide rollers 24. Extensions 23 with guide rollers 24 can count one or more along the edges of the panels along the inner hinge end side. The rollers rolling in the guideway profile 2 will support and guide the panels. The guideway profile 2 in fig. 5 corresponds to the track 4 of the guide profile 2 in fig. 1. The outer guide rollers 24 are equipped with means 8 for coupling to a guided carriage 6 in fig. 1 or one end can be anchored to the guideway profile 2. The structure and arrangement of extensions 23 and guide rollers 24 on the extensions 23 of the panels 20 bring about a predetermined and synchronized aesthetical movement of the panels whether the shutter systems operate rectilinearly or curvilinearly or in combination. Guiding and fixation means for the panels and guide rollers can be separated from the guideway drive system or means for guiding said rollers, or can be integrated in the drive systems guideway if applicable. The panels 20 can take any form and shape suitable for its purpose and can be made of any material. The system described is perfectly suitable for horizontal and vertical operation or any direction in between. Various situations of the embodiment are shown schematically in fig. 6 and in a perspective view in fig. 7.

The basics of a third embodiment of the invention is seen schematically in fig. 8 a and 8 b, respectively. The flexible drive shaft 5 is composed of two opposite convoluted parts 5a and 5b, both driven by the spindle drive motor 1. As for the preceding embodiments, the drive shaft 5 can turn both ways and hence the flexible drive system will initiate movement of driven carriages 7a and 7b which by this mechanism can be brought to approach each other or to be withdrawn from each other dependant on the direction of rotation of the drive shaft 5 comprising parts 5a and 5b. This embodiment is in particular advantageous for opening or closing of panels as seen in figs. 9a to 9d, where four intermediate positions during opening of panels are shown, but other realizations can be accomplished.

It is understood that although the drive mechanism comprising a rotary and flexible drive shaft described in preceding paragraphs of the description can be used to guide and drive the systems shown in figures 4 to 7 and figure 9, other guide and drive systems may alternatively be used for this purpose. Likewise, the mechanism for converting rotary motion to longitudinal (linear or non-linear) motion may also be used for other purposes than for guiding and driving the systems shown and described in the present specification without departing from the scope of the invention.