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(11) | EP 2 218 865 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Device for keeping an insect screen that can be rolled up taut during rolling and unrolling |
| (57) A device (1) for keeping an insect screen (11) that can be rolled up distended during
rolling and unrolling; the device (1) is installed within a casing (10) designed to
house at least one winding roller (12) on which the screen (11) is rolled up; the
device (1) possesses a flexible structure (2) having fixing members (5) for guaranteeing
a fixed positioning within said casing (10) and comprises at least one roller (7)
rotating on a shaft of its own, which is installed on a pair of supports (6) projecting
in cantilever fashion from the structure (2), and is able to turn with respect to
said structure (2), which is always in physical contact with at least one portion
of screen (11) that is rolled on said roller (12) as a result of the flexibility of
said structure (2); the roller (7) moreover has a lateral surface that develops in
a plane parallel to the surface of the screen (11); the structure (2) is flexible
in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the roller (7).
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[0001] The present innovation relates to the field of accessories for insect screens and in particular regards a device for keeping an insect screen that can be rolled up distended during rolling and unrolling.
[0002] There are known insect screens that can be rolled up, where the screen is rolled on a roller in such a way as to be able to be rolled up when it is not necessary and unrolled when, instead, it is used.
[0003] Typically, the roller is contained within the a door or window frame or within a respective casing constituted for example by a metal sectional element that is fixed in a known way to a wall of a building at an opening (for example a window or a French window).
[0004] The screen is typically either moved by hand or by a command from an electric motor; in the first case, the end of a spring (for example, a flat spiral spring) is constrained to the roller, said spring being tensioned when the screen is unrolled, hence acting with a force of return in such a way that, when it is rolled up, the screen sets itself in a distended way on the roller.
[0005] Insect screens that can be rolled up are provided with an end constrained to a handle or to a slidable extension device, which is gripped by a user and enables a force of unrolling imposed by the spring constrained to the roller to be overcome.
[0006] Consequently, said handle or extension device is removably fixed to a support present on an opposite part of the aforesaid opening in such a way as to prevent rolling up of the screen, which, as a result of the force of return of the spring, remains tensioned.
[0007] However, screens of a known type present certain disadvantages. In particular, the calibration of the spring constrained to the roller must be made on the basis of the weight of the screen itself, of its dimensions, and of the possible presence of strong wind. This calibration can be critical in so far as, on the one hand, an excessively weak force can lead to failure of the screen itself to roll up as a result of an - even combined - action of weight and friction. On the other hand, an excessively stiff spring leads to the risk of the handle being released unintentionally or of it slipping out of the user's hand during the steps of extension and release of the screen. During a rather fast rolling up of the insect screen, caused, for example, by the undesired disengagement of the handle or extension device, or by the latter being accompanied too fast by the user towards the casing of the roller, it is possible for the screen itself not to be rolled up in a uniform way but with folds or creases that may:
- in the first place be compressed, thus causing creases that remain evident even when the screen is fully extended;
- in the second place get caught up in the casing of the roller, on projections or the like, or directly on the spring, blocking the action thereof and thus causing tearing of the screen itself or other damage thereto so that it then becomes unusable.
[0008] The purpose of the present innovation is to provide a device for keeping an insect screen that can be rolled up distended during rolling and unrolling, which will enable solution of the drawbacks described above.
[0009] Provided according to the present innovation is a device for keeping an insect screen that can be rolled up distended during rolling and unrolling, as claimed in the first claim.
[0010] The innovation will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting example of embodiment thereof and in which:
- Figure 1 is a first perspective view of the device according to the present innovation;
- Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a side view of the device according to the present innovation, housed within a support for a roller; and
- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the support for a roller of Figure 3, with a see-through schematic illustration of the device of Figure 1.
[0011] With reference to Figure 1, designated as a whole by 1 is a device for keeping an insect screen that can be rolled up distended during rolling and unrolling.
[0012] The device 1 possesses a rotatable roller 7 and a structure 2, which comprises:
- two lateral curved sides 3a, 3b;
- a planar area 4, which separates the two lateral curved sides 3a, 3b;
- a member 5 for fixing an insect screen that can be rolled up 11 to a supporting frame 10; and
- a pair of supports 6 for the aforesaid roller 7.
[0013] All the elements described above are provided in a single moulding of preferably plastic material.
[0014] The two supports 6 are positioned on a first end of a respective lateral curved side 3a, 3b and each have a through hole 6a for the passage of a pin for fixing the roller 7, which in this way - once mounted - is free to rotate in a substantially idle way with respect to the structure 2.
[0015] The pin for fixing of the roller 7, made of plastic or metal material, can pass throughout the axial extension of the roller or, by way of non-limiting example, be provided on the edges of the roller itself.
[0016] In detail, the through holes 6a of the two supports 6 are positioned on a single axis X, which represents the axis of maximum extension of the device 1. The axis X is moreover orthogonal to a plane along which the two lateral curved sides 3a, 3b are positioned. Consequently, the axis of rotation of the roller 7 coincides with the axis X.
[0017] The planar area 4, which is positioned in a respective plane parallel to the axis X and orthogonal to the parallel planes in which the lateral curved sides 3a, 3b lie, is radiused to a second end of the lateral curved sides 3a, 3b via an arched part 4a, which is in turn radiused to a full area 8. The full area 8, which forms a means of union between the two lateral curved sides in a position opposite to the roller 7, has a first face 8a and a second face 8b.
[0018] In detail, the first face 8a has the same curvature as that of lateral sides 3a, 3b in the area in which they join up with the first face 8a and terminates at the edge of the their second end.
[0019] As shown in Figure 2, the second face 8b of the full area 8, opposite to the first face 8a, is instead substantially plane (or in any case curved with a considerably wider radius) and includes the fixing member 5, which extends along the axis X.
[0020] Observing the device in a direction of the second face 8b, it may be noted that a rear part 4b of the planar area 4, also has a plane shape and is radiused to the pair of supports 6 via a pair of rear walls 4c inclined towards the supports 6 themselves, which extend projecting in cantilever fashion from the rear 4b of the planar area 4.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the device 1, illustrated in the annexed figures, the fixing member 5 is substantially cylindrical and is set at a distance from the face 8b by a parallelepipedal profile 5a.
[0022] Alternatively, the fixing member 5 may extend also only partially behind the second face 8b and may not envisage the parallelepipedal profile 5a.
[0023] As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the device is installed within a supporting frame 10 of an insect screen 11 that can be rolled up. In detail, the device 1 is blocked inside in a seat 10a designed to house within it the fixing member 5 and positioned in such a way that during the step of rolling up of the screen 11 on a cylinder 12, the roller 7 will turn in a direction opposite to the rotation of the cylinder 12, being always in contact with the surface of the screen 11 that is being rolled up.
[0024] The device 1 can be blocked in the seat 10a for example via clinching of the seat itself, in such a way as to reduce the dimensions thereof immediately above and underneath the device itself or, alternatively, via a blocking means, such as an insert, or via a localized heating or welding.
[0025] Given that the supports 6 are mounted projecting in cantilever fashion from the rear 4b of the planar area 4, and given that they are moreover arranged on the lateral curved sides 3a, 3b, a flexibility is obtained along an axis orthogonal to the axis X, which enables the rollers 7 to be kept always in contact with at least part of the rolled screen 11, regardless of the thickness that derives from the amount of screen 11 that is rolled on the cylinder 12. In this way, possible creases or folds are eliminated, so that the screen 11 is distended more evenly and so as to prevent, following upon fast rotation, any penetration of parts onto the roller, thus causing folding or creasing thereof.
[0026] The rear 4b of the planar area 4 enables the device 1 to be rested on a wide surface of an internal wall 14 of the supporting frame 10 in such a way as to render it stable, capable of supporting a load due to rolling-up of the screen 11, which presses against the roller 7.
[0027] Furthermore, in the case where the extension of the seat 10a proceeds throughout a height 13 of the supporting frame 10, more than one device 1 can be stacked in such a way that a greater area of screen 11 can be kept under control. Consequently, the device according to the present invention is configurable in a modular way according to the requirements and the height 13 of the supporting frame 10.
[0028] The advantages of the device for keeping an insect screen that can be rolled up distended during rolling and unrolling are disclosed in the light of the foregoing description. In particular, it enables rolling of the screen 11 on the roller 12 in such a way as to keep it tensioned even in the case where it is rolled up very fast, without any risk of it jamming or creasing during the step of rolling-up.
[0029] Since the device is substantially made up of two physically distinct elements (the structure 2 and the roller 7), it is inexpensive to produce even on a large scale.
[0030] Finally, the flexibility of the structure 2, in particular in the area of the rear wall 4c, enables adaptation of the device 1 also in the case of change of length of the screen 11, which necessarily causes a variation of thickness thereof when it is rolled on the roller 12.
1. A device (1) for keeping an insect screen (11) that can be rolled up distended during
rolling and unrolling, said device (1) being installed within a casing (10) designed
to house at least one winding roller (12), rolled on which, by rotation thereof, is
said screen (11); said device (1) being characterized in that it comprises at least one roller (7), which rotates on a shaft of its own, hinged
on a pair of supports (6) of said structure (2), and turns about an axis substantially
parallel to the axis of rotation of the winding roller (12), to which it is always
kept in physical contact thanks to the flexibility of the supports (6); there moreover
being provided means (5) for anchorage of said device (1) within the casing (10).
2. The device according to Claim 1, comprising at least two lateral sides (3a, 3b), each
having a first end and a second end, and in which said support (6) is positioned,
on each of the lateral sides (3a, 3b), in said first end; the support (6) being provided
with a hole (6a) for fixing of a means for retention of said at least one roller (7).
3. The device according to Claim 2, wherein each of said holes (6a) of the supports (6)
is positioned on an axis (X), said axis (X) moreover being:
- orthogonal to a plane along which the two lateral sides (3a, 3b) are positioned;
- the axis on which said roller (7) rotates.
4. The device according to Claim 3, wherein said two lateral sides (3a, 3b) are separated
by a planar area (4), which extends on a respective plane parallel to said axis (X)
and orthogonal to parallel planes on which the lateral curved sides (3a, 3b) lie.
5. The device according to Claim 4, wherein said planar area (4) is radiused to said
second end of the lateral curved sides (3a, 3b) via an arched part (4a); said arched
part (4a) being in turn radiused to a full area (8) extending as far as the end of
said second end of said lateral curved sides; said full area (8) forming a means of
union between said two lateral curved sides (3a, 3b).
6. The device according to Claim 5, wherein said full area (8) has a first face (8a)
and a second face (8b) opposite to said first face (8a) and in which said first face
(8a) has a curvature, whilst said second face (8b) is substantially planar.
7. The device according to Claim 6, wherein said first face (8a) has a curvature identical
to that of the lateral sides (3a, 3b) in the area that it faces.
8. The device according to Claim 6, wherein said second face (8b) houses said anchorage
means (5) having a substantially cylindrical shape, which extends along said axis
(X); said anchorage means (5) being set at a distance from said second face (8b) via
a parallelepipedal profile (5a).
9. The device according to Claim 6, wherein said second face (8b) houses said anchorage
means (5) having a substantially cylindrical shape, which extends along said axis
(X); said anchorage means (5) having at least one line of direct contact with said
second face (8b).
10. The device according to Claim 4, wherein said planar area (4) has a rear face (4b),
which is radiused at its lateral ends with said supports (6) via rear walls (4c) inclined
towards the supports (6) themselves in such a way that the roller (7) projects in
cantilever fashion from said rear face (4b).
11. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said structure (2)
is made of plastic material, as is said roller (7).
12. The device according to Claim 1, further characterized in that, in the case where the extension of the seat (10a) proceeds throughout a height (13)
of the supporting frame (10), more than one device (1) can be stacked in such a way
that a greater area of screen (11) can be kept under control, the device according
to the present invention thus being configurable in a modular way according to the
requirements and the height (13) of the supporting frame (10)