Modular shielding system

Abstract

 The invention relates to a modular shielding system (100) comprising a plurality of panels (10) arranged adjacent to each other, wherein each panel (10) comprises a base element (20) and a movable element (30) slidably restrained to said base element (20) in a vertical direction (V) thereof, the system further comprising a plurality of sealing members (40) arranged along vertical edges of the movable elements (30) of adjacent panels (10). The movable elements (30) of the panels (10) are frameless windows and the sealing members (40) are made of a transparent material. Thanks to this configuration it is possible to create a continuous shielding surface formed not only by the base elements of the system, but also by the movable upper elements, thereby ensuring total shielding from air and noise. Moreover, the choice of a transparent material for the sealing members allows to achieve a continuous transparent surface, wherein the presence of the sealing members has a negligible visual impact.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to modular shielding systems that may be used to divide or partition spaces.

[0002] There are known modular shielding systems used to partition outdoor or indoor spaces in public or private places. These systems generally comprise a plurality of panels that are arranged adjacent to one another and serve as a barrier. Modular shielding systems are e.g. used to divide open spaces in bars, restaurants and terraces so as to allow customers to sit outside while being protected from air and noise.

[0003] There are known panels for shielding systems comprising a lower base element and an upper element that is movably restrained to the base element and may be positioned at different heights relative thereto. This configuration, which is particularly designed to divide outdoor areas, allows to adjust the overall height of the panel in order to adapt it to the weather conditions. During winter, in fact, the panels of shielding systems are maintained at the maximum height to achieve a high shielding effect, whereas during the summer season they are kept at an intermediate or minimum height by acting on the movable upper elements in order to prevent overheating of the space divided by the panels and promote its ventilation. Examples of such panels are described in the patent publications EP 2395167 Al and WO 2011/040866 A1.

[0004] These modular shielding systems comprise a plurality of panels, whose lower base elements are generally connected to each other to form a continuous shielding surface. On the contrary, slits are generally present between the movable upper elements of adjacent panels. Hence, the surface formed by the upper elements cannot ensure complete shielding from air and noise.

[0005] Patent US 5198422 discloses a modular office panel system comprising a plurality of panels arranged adjacent to each other, wherein each panel comprises a base element and a movable element slidably restrained thereto in a vertical direction thereof. The office panel system further comprises a plurality of connectors arranged and fixed along vertical edges of the movable elements of adjacent panels.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to improve existing modular shielding systems comprising panels provided with movable elements and in particular modular shielding systems for outdoor spaces, wherein the movable elements of the panels comprise transparent surfaces. Said object is achieved by a modular shielding system whose main features are specified in the first claim, while other features are specified in the remaining claims.

[0007] An idea of solution underlying the present invention is to provide a modular shielding system wherein the movable upper elements of the panels are frameless windows, the system comprising a plurality of transparent sealing members closing the slits between the movable upper elements of adjacent panels. Thanks to this configuration it is possible to create a continuous shielding surface formed not only by the base elements of the system, but also by the movable upper elements, thereby ensuring total shielding from air and noise. Moreover, the choice of a transparent material for the sealing members allows to achieve a continuous transparent surface, wherein the presence of the sealing members has a negligible visual impact.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the invention the transparent sealing members are in the form of deformable gaskets press-fitted into the slits present between the movable upper elements of adjacent panels. These sealing members may e.g. have different heights depending on predetermined heights of the movable elements relative to the base elements.

[0009] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the sealing members may advantageously be associated with the movable elements of the panels, thus allowing to seal the slits at any height of the upper element relative to the base element.

[0010] Further advantages and features of the modular shielding system according to the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed and non-limiting description of embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

• Figure 1 schematically shows a front view of a modular system shielding according to the present invention;
• Figure 2a shows a side view of a panel of the shielding system of Figure 1, wherein the movable element is completely inserted into the base element;
• Figure 2b shows a side view of a panel of the shielding system of Figure 1, wherein the movable element partially protrudes from the base member;
• Figure 2c shows a side view of a panel of the shielding system of Figure 1, wherein the movable element is completely extracted from the base member;
• Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line III-III of Figure 1 showing a sealing solution of the slits between the movable elements of two adjacent panels according to an embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 4 shows a detail IV of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is a cross sectional view similar to that of Figure 3, which shows a sealing solution of the slits between the movable elements of adjacent panels according to an alternative embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 6 shows a detail VI of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is a cross sectional view similar to that of Figures 3 and 5, which shows a further embodiment of the invention for sealing of the slits between the movable elements of adjacent panels;
• Figure 8 shows a detail VIII of figure 7;
• Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line IX-IX of Figure 1 showing driving means of the movable upper element of a panel of the modular shielding system according to the invention;
• Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to that of Figure 9, showing alternative driving means of the movable upper element.

[0011] Referring to Figure 1, the modular shielding system according to the invention is generally designated by reference numeral 100 and comprises a plurality of panels 10 every one of which in turn comprises a lower base element 20 and an upper element 30 movably restrained to the base element 20 in a vertical direction V thereof.

[0012] In the illustrated embodiment, three panels 10 are shown. The panels are arranged side by side lying on a same plane. It will be understood that, depending on size and shape of the space to be divided, the modular system 100 might comprise a different number of panels 10 and that the panels might also be arranged at an angle relative to one another.

[0013] The movable member 30 is slidably restrained to the base element 20 and may be positioned at different heights relative thereto as shown for example in Figures 2a, 2b and 2c. In the illustrated embodiment, the base element 20 has e.g. a box structure made up of a structure comprising a plurality of profiled bars forming frames and of panels inserted in the frames defined by these profiled bars. The box structure of the base element 20 may be, for example, fully enclosed by the panels at the bottom and along the periphery and includes an aperture formed on the top, wherein the movable element 30 is slidably inserted and may be fully hidden.

[0014] Alternatively, the movable element 30 might be arranged externally to the base element 20 and slidably restrained in the vertical direction V along uprights of the base element 20.

[0015] The modular shielding system 100 further comprises sealing members 40 arranged between adjacent panels 10 and adapted to occlude the vertical slits that are formed between their respective movable elements 30 when these are partially or completely raised relative to their respective base elements 20.

[0016] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, according to an embodiment of the invention, the sealing members 40 may be deformable gaskets press-fitted between the edges of the movable elements 30 of adjacent panels 10. As shown in detail in Figure 4, these gaskets may e.g. have an omega shape in cross section, whereby when they are press-fitted between the edges of the movable elements 30 they are deformed upon contact with them, thus ensuring an adequate seal to air. Nevertheless it will be understood that gaskets having cross sections with different shapes might be used as well.

[0017] According to the invention, the modular system 100 comprises a plurality of sealing members having predetermined lengths allowing to occlude the slits at predetermined heights of the movable elements 30 relative to the base elements 20.

[0018] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the sealing members 40 may be restrained along one or both the vertical edges of the movable elements 30, thus being able to slide with them in the vertical direction V. This configuration of the shielding system 100 allows to seal the slits between adjacent panels 10 at any height of the movable elements 30 relative to the base elements 20 and advantageously allows to avoid manual application of the sealing members 40.

[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing members 40 include pairs of members 41 and 42 respectively restrained to the two vertical edges of the movable elements 30. Members 41 and 42 extend from the edges of the respective movable elements 30 in a horizontal direction H perpendicular to the vertical direction V and are so sized that the members 41 restrained to the upper element 30 of a first panel 10 partially overlap the members 42 of the upper element 30 of a second adjacent panel 10 at the slit therebetween, thus forming a barrier that prevents passage of air through the slit. Members 41, 42 may e.g. be in the form of brushes, fins and the like creating a continuous sealing surface in the horizontal and vertical directions H, V.

[0020] Referring to Figures 7 and 8, according to a further embodiment of the invention the sealing members 40 may be partially recessed into the edges of the movable elements 30 of the panels 10 in order to improve their anchoring thereto.

[0021] According to the invention, the movable elements 30 of the panels 10 are frameless windows and the sealing members 40 are made of a transparent material, for example silicone, thereby allowing to achieve a shielding system 100 that provides an effective barrier action while minimizing the visual impact of sealing members 40 employed to seal the transparent surface formed by the frameless windows.

[0022] The sliding movement of the movable element 30 relative to the base element 20 may be controlled manually or automatically through suitable driving means. For instance, as shown in Figures 9 and 10 driving means of the movable element 30 may be housed in the box-shaped structure of the base element 20.

[0023] With reference to Figure 9, the driving means may for example comprise a pair of toothed belts arranged at opposite sides of the base element 20 in the horizontal direction H and tightened between respective pairs of toothed pulleys driven by an electric motor. In the figure, an electric motor is indicated by reference numeral 50, the pulleys are indicated by reference numerals 51 and 52 and are respectively arranged proximate to the bottom and the top of the base element 20. The toothed belts are indicated by reference numeral 53. Two supporting elements 54 are respectively fixed to the toothed belts 53 and configured to receive an edge 31 of the movable element 30 in order to allow it to slide relative to the base element 20 along the vertical direction V. In order to ensure the correct tightening of the belts 53, tightening members 55 e.g. in the form of rollers may advantageously be provided. The electric motor 50 is preferably arranged at the bottom of the base member 20 and operably connected to the pulleys 51 arranged proximate thereto.

[0024] With reference to Figure 10, the driving means may alternatively comprise a pair of ropes 58 which are wound around a drum 56 driven by an electric motor 50. Also in this case the electric motor 50 is preferably arranged at the bottom of the base element 20. Near the top of the base element 20 a pair of pulleys 57 are arranged. The ropes 58 extend vertically from the bottom to the top of the base element 20 and are wound around the drum 56 and the pulleys 57, in correspondence of which they are diverted by 180° toward the bottom surface of the base element 20. Supporting elements 59 are restrained at the free ends of the ropes 58 and configured to receive an edge 31 of the movable element 30 in order to allow to move it relative to the base element 20 in the vertical direction V.

[0025] The present invention has hereto been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is to be understood that there may be other embodiments relating to the same inventive idea as defined by the scope of protection of the claims set forth below.

Claims

1. A modular shielding system (100) comprising a plurality of panels (10) arranged adjacent to each other, wherein each panel (10) comprises a base element (20) and a movable element (30) slidably restrained to said base element (20) in a vertical direction (V) thereof, the system further comprising a plurality of sealing members (40) arranged along vertical edges of the movable elements (30) of adjacent panels (10), characterized in that the movable elements (30) of the panels (10) are frameless windows and in that the sealing members (40) are made of a transparent material.

2. A modular shielding system (100) according to claim 1, wherein said sealing members (40) are gaskets, said gaskets being press-fitted between the edges of the movable elements (30) of adjacent panels (10).

3. A modular shielding system (100) according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of gaskets having predetermined lengths, the lengths of the gaskets corresponding to predefined heights of the movable elements (30) relative to the base elements (20) of the panels (10).

4. A modular shielding system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the sealing members (40) are fixed to at least one of the edges of the movable elements (30).

5. A modular shielding system (100) according to claim 4, wherein the sealing members (40) are fixed to both edges of the movable elements (30) and comprise pairs of members (41, 42).

6. A modular shielding system (100) according to claim 5, wherein the members (41, 42) of each pair are partially fitted in recesses formed in the edges of the respective movable elements (30).

Drawing