Slat for a roller shutter

Abstract

 A slat for a roller shutter (1) suitable to be assembled modularly in series to compose said roller shutter.
The slat (1) comprises:
- a weight-bearing portion (10) having a box-shaped section, in a metal alloy, positioned towards the outer side (E);
- an insulating portion (20), engaged in the weight-bearing portion (10) having a box-shaped section, in plastic material, positioned towards the inner side (I).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a slat for a roller shutter for closing a window or French window.

[0002] Typically, the roller shutter runs in guides specially made on the jambs of the window or French window, and rolls up on itself in a special compartment, for example in a box, placed above the window or French window.

[0003] In the prior art said roller shutters are composed of a plurality of slats mounted in a modular way, so as to compose the entirety of its length as a function of the dimensions of the windows and French windows.

[0004] The main function of said shutters is to divide the internal environment from the external one, interposing themselves between the two, so that environmental agents do not affect the internal environment. In other words, the roller shutters, and thus the slats which compose them, must have characteristics of resistance such as to react effectively to atmospheric agents acting as a dividing wall and must also be extremely durable.

[0005] The roller shutters, and thus the slats which compose them, must also be lightweight, to make them easy to handle.

[0006] In the design and production of roller shutters a compromise must therefore always be made in order to solve both these problems.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a slat for roller shutters which satisfies the above requirements and in particular which is effective in coping with atmospheric agents, remaining lightweight.

[0008] Such purpose is achieved by a slat as claimed in claim 1. The dependent claims show preferred embodiment variants having further advantageous aspects.

[0009] The object of the present invention will be described in detail below, with the help of the appended drawings, wherein:

[0010] - Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the side of a portion of a roller shutter of the present invention comprising a plurality of slats according to a preferred embodiment;

[0011] - Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a detail of the slat of the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment;

[0012] - Figure 3 is a side view of two slats as in figure 2 mutually engaged with one another;

[0013] - Figures 4a and 4b show two side views of the weight-bearing portion and the insulating portion comprised in a slat according to a preferred embodiment.

[0014] With particular reference to the appended drawings, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a slat for a roller shutter. Said slat 1 is suitable to be modularly assembled in series to compose the roller shutter in its length.

[0015] The slat 1 thus identifies an outer side E suitable to be placed towards the outside and an inner side I opposite said outer side E.

[0016] The outer side E is thus the externally exposed side, and therefore subject in a direct manner to atmospheric agents such as rain, wind or sun. The inner side I is instead facing the inside, i.e. towards the closed environment, thus being subject to atmospheric agents only in an indirect manner, as a result of their direct action on the outer side. Moreover, it may be added that, in a preferred embodiment, the inner side I is on the inside when the roller shutter is wound up.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the slat is preferably composed of a weight-bearing portion 10 and an insulating portion 20.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the weight-bearing portion 10 has box-shaped section and is positioned towards the outer side E.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the insulating portion 20 has a box-shaped section and is positioned towards the inner side I.

[0020] It is to be noted that in the following description and the following claims, a box-shaped section defines an element having a closed annular cross-section, for example in accordance with the forms shown in the appended drawings.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the insulating portion 20 is engaged with the weight-bearing portion 10.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the weight-bearing portion 10 is in a metal alloy. Preferably said metal alloy is aluminium. Preferably, the weight-bearing portion 10 is builtable in one piece by bending a sheet of aluminium.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the weight-bearing portion 10 is filled internally with foam material 30, such as polyurethane foam. Preferably, the foam material 30 is suitable to reinforce the weight-bearing portion 10 so as to avoid, or minimise its bending, e.g. following a collision.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the insulating portion 20 is in a plastic material. Preferably said plastic material is PVC. Preferably, the insulating portion 20 is builtable in one piece by extrusion.

[0025] In accordance with the above, the weight-bearing portion 10 and the insulating portion 20 are mutually engaged; in particular, the weight-bearing portion 10, towards the inner side I, has a housing cavity 100 suitable to receive the insulating portion 20, to perform said mutual engagement.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the insulating portion 20 is inserted in the weight-bearing portion 10, in the housing cavity 100, in the direction parallel to the extension of said slat 1.

[0027] In other words, the housing cavity 10 has a shape such that the insulating portion 20, having a substantially complementary shape is engaged to it by means of its longitudinal insertion.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment, the housing cavity 100 is, in fact, shaped so that, from the inner side I toward the outer side E, it widens, or in other words, following said direction the housing cavity 100 has wider dimensions than the opening facing the inner side I. Preferably, the housing cavity 100 is shaped so that it has at its ends retention slots 101 for retaining the insulating portion 20, so that the latter is not extractable in a perpendicular direction; the insulating portion 20 is also removable along its direction of insertion, i.e. extracting it parallel to its extension.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the insulating portion 20 has at its ends suitable retention protrusions 201 suitable to be inserted in, and to act in conjunction with said retention slots 101.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, moreover, the insulating portion 20 has a shape such that it does not rest on the bottom 105 of the housing cavity 100, but between the insulating portion 20 and said bottom 105 of the housing cavity 100 a cushion of air is present. In other words, the insulating portion 20 has a shape substantially complementary to the housing cavity 100, less than said air cushion, which preferably extends along the whole extension of the slat 1, and covers the bottom 105 of the housing cavity 100.

[0031] Preferably, the insulating portion 20 has, internally, reinforcing ribs 21, suitable to reinforce it transversely. Preferably, the insulating portion 20 presents said ribs so that these pass through the empty space inside the box-shaped section, from the outer side E to the inner side I.

[0032] Preferably, the reinforcement ribs 21 are also placed at the ends of the insulating portion 20, in particular in the vicinity of the retention protrusions 201 which engage the weight-bearing portion 10 in the retention slots 101.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment, the weight-bearing portion 10 has a coupling strip 11 at the top, and a coupling opening 12 at the bottom, so that two consecutive slats 1 are reciprocally engaged by means of the engagement between the coupling strip 11 and the coupling opening 12.

[0034] Preferably, the coupling strip 11 is substantially hook-shaped. Preferably the coupling opening 12 is shaped so as to permit the housing inside it of the coupling strip 11.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, in fact where two consecutive slats 1 are reciprocally engaged, one is inserted in the other in the direction parallel to the extension of the slat 1, so that the coupling strip 11 is inserted in the coupling opening 12.

[0036] Preferably, the reciprocal engagement between the coupling strip 11 and the coupling opening 12 permits a reciprocal movement of the two consecutive slats 1, mutually engaged, thus allowing the rolling of the roller shutter composed of them on itself. Such as for example illustrated in figure 3, upon the action of the force of gravity, two consecutive slats are mutually spaced from each other, despite their engagement being ensured by the mutual engagement of the coupling strip 11 and the coupling opening 12.

[0037] Moreover, according to a preferred embodiment, in order to facilitate said winding of the roller shutter the weight-bearing portion 10 is convex towards the outer side E, and the insulating portion 20 is concave towards the inner side I. Preferably, the curvature of the weight-bearing portion 10 and the curvature of the insulating portion 20 are substantially complementary so that the winding and the mutual positioning of one on the other is facilitated.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment, the insulating portion 20 comprises an upper lip 25 and/or a lower lip 26 suitable to cover the weight-bearing portion 20 on the inner side, for example to cover the coupling strip 11 and/or the coupling opening 12.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, the roller shutter has specific application for a window.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment, the roller shutter has specific application for a French window.

[0041] According to a further aspect, the present invention also relates to a method of production of a slat 1 for a roller shutter, having the characteristics described above, comprising the steps of:

[0042] - making a weight-bearing portion 10, by cutting a metal sheet, for example aluminium, and bending it onto itself in such a way as to obtain a box-shaped section, where preferably the weight-bearing portion 10 is bent in such a way as to have the inside thereof facing the inside I of a housing cavity 100;

[0043] - producing by means of extrusion an insulating portion 20, for example in plastic material, preferably PVC, having a box-shaped section;

[0044] - engaging the weight-bearing portion 10 with the insulating portion 20 in such a way that the latter is inserted in the direction parallel to the extension of the slat 1, for example in the housing cavity 100.

[0045] A further production step consists of

• filling the weight-bearing portion 20 with a foam material 30, for example polyurethane foam.

[0046] Or again, in the bending of the sheet metal to obtain the weight-bearing portion 1, the method provides for:

• bending the sheet metal at its opposite ends to obtain a coupling strip 11 and a coupling opening 12.

[0047] The production method further provides for the steps of:

• producing a plurality of slats 1 for a roller shutter according to the steps described above;
• assembling two slats, engaging them to each other, in particular by inserting the coupling strip 11 of a slat 1 in the coupling opening 12 of the other slat 1, in the direction parallel to the extension of said slats;
• repeating said last step a plurality of times according to the length of the roller shutter.

[0048] Innovatively, the slat for a roller shutter of the present invention meets the needs of the prior art; in particular, it is particularly effective in counteracting the action of environmental agents, isolating the internal environment from the external environment, while maintaining outstanding structural qualities combined with excellent lightness.

[0049] Advantageously, the slat for roller shutters has outstanding qualities against the action of environmental agents, isolating the internal environment from the external environment; in particular in fact the sequence of two box-shaped section portions achieves considerable thermal cutting. In other words, the condition in which the weight-bearing portion of the metal conducts heat from the outside to the inside environment is avoided. In the present case the qualities of thermal cutting of the slat are particularly strong, thanks to the cavities present inside the insulating portion. Advantageously, the air cushion between the weight-bearing portion and the insulating portion is suitable to improve these characteristics. Advantageously the foam material inside the weight-bearing portion is suitable to improve these characteristics.

[0050] Also advantageously, the slat of the present invention also has particular sound insulation qualities.

[0051] According to a further advantageous aspect, the slat of the present invention is suitable to demonstrate strong wear-resistance, in particular thanks to the fact that only the outer portion is directly subjected to the action of environmental agents.

[0052] Another advantageous aspect of the slat is that it is particularly light in relation to the slats of the prior art; shutters of large dimensions may thus be obtained which are easy to move.

[0053] Advantageously, the slat has the insulating portion, inside, in plastic material, thereby facilitating the rolling of the roller shutter, favouring sliding between the parts. Advantageously, the rolling of the roller shutter is also favoured by the complementary rounded shapes of the weight-bearing portion and the insulating portion.

[0054] Also advantageously, the two portions comprised in the slat are engaged to one another, and it is not necessary to use adhesive materials or additional means for their mutual locking.

[0055] A further advantageous aspect lies in the simplicity of production of said slats, which results in an obvious economic saving.

[0056] A person skilled in the art may make variations to the embodiments of the slat according to the present invention, replacing elements with others functionally equivalent so as to satisfy specific requirements. Such variants are also contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.

[0057] For example, in further embodiment variants, the coupling strips and the coupling openings are made on the insulating portion rather than on the weight-bearing portion.

[0058] In further alternative embodiments, the engagement between the various components and between two consecutive slats is obtained, rather than by mutual threading, by means of snap interactions, for example the insulating portion snaps to the weight-bearing portion.

[0059] In addition, each variant described as belonging to a possible embodiment may be realised independently of the other embodiments described.

Claims

1. Slat for roller shutter (1) suitable to be assembled modularly in series to compose said roller shutter, for example to close a window or French window, where said slat (1) has an outer side (E) suitable to be placed outwards and an inner side (I) opposite said outer side (E), where said slat (1) comprises:

- a weight-bearing portion (10) having a box-like cross-section, in a metal alloy, positioned towards the outer side (E);

- an insulating portion (20) having a box-like cross-section, in plastic material, positioned towards the inner side (I);
where said insulating portion (20) is engaged with the weight-bearing portion (10).

2. Slat (1) according to claim 1, where the insulating portion (20) is in PVC.

3. Slat (1) according to claim 2, where the weight-bearing portion (10), towards the inner side (I), has a housing cavity (100) suitable to receive the insulating portion (20).

4. Slat (1) according to claim 3, where the insulating portion (20) is inserted in the weight-bearing portion (10), in the housing cavity (100), in the direction parallel to the extension of said slat (1):

5. Slat (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the insulating portion (20) is obtainable by extrusion as one piece.

6. Slat (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the insulating portion (20) has, internally, reinforcement ribs (21), suitable to reinforce it transversally.

7. Slat (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the weight-bearing portion (10) may be made in one piece by bending an aluminium sheet.

8. Slat (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the weight-bearing portion (10) is filled inside with foam material (30), for example polyurethane foam.

9. Slat (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the weight-bearing portion (10) has a coupling strip (11) at the top, and a coupling opening (12) at the bottom, where two consecutive slats (1) are reciprocally engaged by means of the engagement between the coupling strip (11) and the coupling opening (12).

10. Slat (1) according to claim 9, where two consecutive slats (1) are reciprocally engaged, one inserted in the other in the direction parallel to the extension of the slat (1), so that the coupling strip (11) is inserted in the coupling opening (12).

11. Slat (1) according to any of the claims 9 and 10, wherein the insulating portion (20) comprises an upper lip (25) and/or a lower lip (26)suitable to cover the weight-bearing portion (20) on the inner side, for example to cover the coupling strip (11) and/or the coupling opening (12).

12. Slat (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the weight-bearing portion (10) is convex towards the outer side (E), and the insulating portion (20) is concave towards the inner side (I).

13. Roller shutter for a window comprising a plurality of slats according to any of the previous claims.

14. Roller shutter for a French window comprising a plurality of slats according to any of the previous claims.

15. Production method of a slat (1) according to any of the previous claims, comprising the steps of:

- making a weight-bearing portion (10), by cutting a metal sheet, for example aluminium, and bending it onto itself in such a way as to obtain a box-like cross-section, where preferably the weight-bearing portion (10) is bent in such a way as to have the inside thereof facing the inside (I) of a housing cavity (100);

- producing by means of extrusion an insulating portion (20), for example in plastic material, preferably PVC, having a box-like cross-section;

- engaging the weight-bearing portion (10) with the insulating portion (20) in such a way that the latter is inserted in the direction parallel to the extension of the slat (1), for example in the housing cavity (100).

Drawing