[0001] The present invention relates to an insect screen with a driving device of the net
guiding chain and system for facilitating assembly and for correcting the positioning
arrangement.
Field of the invention
[0002] The invention finds particular but not exclusive application in the sector of the
industry for the production and marketing of components and accessories for door and
window frames, such as insect screens, for example insect screens for doors and windows
with horizontal sliding, aimed at preventing insects from entering the conventionally
inhabited places, be they buildings for civilian, commercial or industrial use, in
particular in the industry for the preeminent production and marketing of insect screens
and net barrier elements for equipping openings of buildings.
[0003] With specific reference to the known solutions of insect screens, in extreme synthesis
they consist in arranging a net barrier interposed to the openings of buildings, typically
doors or windows, in such a way as to allow, although with the permanent possibility
for air to remain between the internal environment and the external environment, to
prevent the intrusion of insects into the internal environments of the building. In
a solution of the traditional type it is provided to realize a rigid frame supporting
a close-mesh net, said frame being peripherically compatible with the sizes of the
opening of the doors or the windows which are intended to be equipped with the insect
screen itself. In the current more widespread solutions, the insect screens can be
distinguished into two categories. A first, so-called custom-sized, that is to say,
a type of insect screen made at the origin according to the sizes received from the
customer, to be delivered to the final user allowing for its installation by means
of specialized staff; a second category, indicated as an insect screen in an assembly
kit, which is much more widespread on the market. In the insect screens of said two
categories it is possible to find common elements, which consist of the box, of the
type generally made up of an aluminium section or extruded bar, into which one coaxially
inserts the winding roller of the net of the insect screen which holds a first end
of said net. By means of said box, from a suitable longitudinal opening comes out
the net, which has the second end joined to a handlebar which is movable to and fro
with respect to the box. In some solutions the winding roller can also comprise a
corresponding pre-loaded return spring for rewinding the net. Furthermore, as for
the ends of the box, they are usually closed by suitable plates, which are provided
in association with counter-plates of the adjustable type. The box, in this solution,
contributes to the installation with one or more guides or driving elements, inside
which the end of the handlebar and the corresponding side edge of the net slide to
and fro.
[0004] Among the different solutions of insect screens some variants are also known, such
as some insect screens which, instead of sliding vertically, slide horizontally, imposing
to the handlebar a translation movement which is aimed at driving the net along a
horizontal axis. From the structural point of view, said insect screens look very
similar to the now described solutions and are recurrent both in roller blinds and
in sunshades. One of these, for example, concerns some insect screens of lower quality,
without the pre-loaded spring inside them. The latter differ from the first because
they require some manual operations, both to unwind the net from the roller and to
wind it up again. In one case, for example, one has the habit of using a closed circuit
chain, which by engaging, on the one side, a wheel or pulley keyed to the respective
winding roller, which is received in a box, causes the controlled winding or unwinding
of the net of the insect screen.
[0005] Said original solutions of insect screens, with the net sliding horizontally or vertically,
are thus made up as follows:
- a) a box, closed at its ends by corresponding heads;
- b) a winding roller, internal to said box, supported in correspondence of its ends
by a pair of heads, which are engaged at the end of the box;
- c) an optional torsion coil spring, which is arranged coaxially and cooperates with
said winding roller;
- d) a net, which on the one side is anchored to said winding roller and on the other
side is joined to a handlebar;
- e) and, finally, driving elements, parallel to each other, inside which the ends of
said handlebar and the side edges of the net are slidable.
Prior art
[0006] With particular reference to patent literature various solutions of horizontal movement
of the net of the insect screen can be found. For example in
EP753642 (Metaco) a shielding device is described, which comprises a foldable shield having
a base side, a left side and a right side, the screen extending longitudinally between
a left frame element extending upwards and a right frame element extending upwards,
which are longitudinally movable with respect to each other in order to open the foldable
screen, the apparatus also including a top guiding element extending longitudinally
and a base guiding element extending longitudinally, each guiding element being flexible
and bent in a cross direction adjacent with respect to one of the left and right frame
elements in such a way as to have one free end which moves upwards and downwards with
respect to said one of the left and right frame elements when the shield is opened
or closed, each guiding element having flexing elasticity determining an elastic return
force, characterised in that the free end of each guiding element slides along said
one of the left or right frame elements, in that the other end of each guiding element
is fixed to the other one of the left and right frame elements, and in that the left
frame element, the right frame element, the top guiding element and the base guiding
element form a frame.
[0007] EP 999335 (Metaco) describes a shielding device comprising:
- a pair of mounting frames of the shield opposite to each other, at least one of which
is sliding;
- a shield mounted between said mounting frames of the shield in such a way as to be
able to be opened and closed;
- a sliding guiding frame placed close to one side of said shield which is not connected
to the mounting frame of the shield, at least one end of which is a free end, insertable
and extractable from inside one of said mounting frames of the shield; said guiding
frame being formed by a plurality of interconnected rigid units, each of which has
a pair of side walls, opposite to each other, and a connecting portion which interconnects
said side walls, the adjacent rigid units being revolving with respect to each other
in such a way that the sliding guiding frame is foldable; stopping means associated
with said rigid unit, said stopping means preserving the straightness of an extracted
portion of the sliding guiding frame when the sliding guiding frame is extracted from
the mounting frame of the shield in correspondence of the sliding of the mounting
frame of the sliding shield.
[0008] Guides formed by consecutively interconnected rigid units are known.
JP 53-51648 discloses the guide formed by consecutively hinged rigid units, a section of which
extends parallel to the edges of the screen. One end of the structure formed by the
concatenated portions is received and extracted inside the mounting frame of the screen,
represented by the box or roller shutter box.
JP 06-158961 proposes the use of folding guiding structures formed by consecutively interconnected
rigid units, extending along the opposite edges of a curtain and having the terminal
sections arranged to be extracted from and inserted into one of the stanchions of
the framework. It clearly relates to a shielding device having a curtain extending
between a fixed stanchion and a movable stanchion. Along each of the opposite horizontal
edges of the curtain there is a flexible guiding structure made up of a plurality
of rigid units pivotably connected one after the other by means of pins. The guiding
structure, engaged in a sliding way along a fixed section, has one end fixed to the
movable stanchion and a terminal section guided in a sliding way along a shaped extension
of the section. The guiding structure therefore maintains a straight development in
the section extracted from the fixed stanchion, and flexes in correspondence of an
entry opening in the stanchion to be received into and extracted from the latter in
accordance with the opening and closing movement of the curtain.
State of the art closest to the invention
[0010] D1 describes an insect screen with a protection net with a net guiding chain, as
the guiding device of a horizontally sliding net. In particular, it is an object of
the invention to provide a winding-up screen device in which, when a screen is wound
around a winding axis to make the opening portion open, a screen guide guides the
edge portion of the screen unwound from the winding axis. The winding-up screen device
comprises a fixed frame fixed to an opening frame of a building; a movable frame,
which is provided so as to be parallel to the fixed frame and movable to and from
the fixed frame; a slit of the screen wound around a winding axis, the screen provided
so as to extend between the fixed frame and the movable frame, and the screen to be
opened and closed by winding and unwinding the screen around the winding axis with
the forward and backward movement of the movable frame; and a screen guide formed
so as to be long and bendable, going in and coming out of the inner portion of the
fixed frame or the movable frame through the opening provided at the end portion of
the fixed frame or the movable frame with the forward and backward movement of the
movable frame, and linearly led out along the edge portion of the screen unwound from
the winding axis and guiding the edge portion. A portion of the guide is attached
to the screen along the edge portion to be guided by the screen guide, the screen
guide contains a plurality of guide parts in which a joining groove is provided in
the axial direction on the inner surface disposed on the screen side and is formed
by connecting neighboring guide parts at both sides sandwiching the joining groove
on the inner surface so as to be bendable.
[0011] D2 describes an insect screen comprising:
- (a) a vertical box for a winding roller, lateral with respect to an upper guide which
is fixed to the beam, wherein said box contains the winding roller of the protection
net; said network is joined with a first end to the winding roller;
- (b) an upper fixed horizontal guide, joined to an end at the top portion of the box;
- (c) a vertical handlebar, to which the second end of the net is joined, the handlebar
being with the upper part fixed and movable longitudinally with respect to the fixed
guide;
- (d) a guiding chain, which contains seats for the lower edge of the net; the guiding
chain consisting of reciprocally interconnected modules, wherein said net guiding
chain is with a first end engaged to the lower part of the box, while the second end
slides within the handlebar;
- (e) a guiding device of the guiding chain, comprising a rope and related connecting
means, placed within the handlebar and in the fixed upper guide.
[0012] D3 synthetically describes an insect screen with a retractable net guiding chain
for a horizontally sliding net, made up of:
- a) a vertical box which contains a winding roller, lateral with respect to a fixed
horizontal upper guide, said protection net is joined with a first end to the winding
roller;
- b) a fixed horizontal upper guide;
- c) a vertical handlebar to which the second end of the net is joined, with the upper
end constrained to the fixed guide longitudinally movable;
- d) a net guiding chain with a seat for containing the lower edge of the net; consisting
of modular elements interconnected with each other, with a first end engaged to the
lower end of the box, while the second end slides inside the handlebar;
- e) a driving device of the net guiding chain, made up at least of one rope, chain,
and related transmission means placed at least inside the handlebar and the box.
[0013] D4 synthetically describes a guiding system with tensioned cables for moving the
net with a horizontally sliding handlebar in an insect screen with a controlled driving
device of the net guiding chain, comprising:
- a) a vertical box, lateral with respect to a fixed horizontal upper guide, which contains
the winding roller of the protection net; said net is joined with a first end to said
winding roller;
- b) a fixed horizontal upper guide, joined with an end to the upper end of the vertical
box;
- c) a vertical handlebar to which the second end of the protection net is joined; the
handlebar being with the upper end constrained to the fixed guide and longitudinally
movable with respect to said fixed guide;
- d) a lower net guiding chain with a seat for containing the lower edge of the net;
the net guiding chain being made up of modular elements interconnected to each other,
wherein said net guiding chain is with a first end engaged to the lower end of the
box, while the second end slides inside the handlebar;
- e) a driving device of the net guiding chain, made up of at least cables and related
transmission means placed inside the handlebar and the fixed upper guide;
and with, inside the vertical box, in correspondence of the upper end of the winding
roller of the protection net which is contained inside said box, a winding spool or
reel provided with an elastic return spring, to which winding spool or reel a cable
of the driving device is constrained, in such a way that, by translating the handlebar
which drives the net guiding chain and the protection net of the insect screen, the
cables of said driving device remain constantly stretched.
[0014] In conclusion, it is reasonable to consider as known an insect screen, in which the
protection net, wound around a shaft or winding roller inside the vertically arranged
box, is driven along a horizontal axis by means of a handlebar which slides by manually
moving it, moving away and approaching with respect to said vertical box, said handlebar
laying along its path a guiding chain which holds the lower edge of the protection
net, the upper edge of said protection net being sliding inside a fixed guide, wherein
said guiding chain is guided by the guiding device which comprises at least one rope
and connecting means with respective transmissions, placed within the handlebar and
in the fixed upper guide; furthermore, one must also consider as known a solution
in which inside the vertical box, in correspondence of the upper end of the winding
roller of the protection net which is contained inside said box, there is a winding
spool or reel provided with an elastic return spring, to which winding spool or reel
a cable of the driving device is constrained, in such a way that, by translating the
handlebar which drives the net guiding chain and the protection net of the insect
screen, the cables of said driving device remain constantly stretched.
Drawbacks
[0015] Although from the functional point of view the solutions indicated as closest to
the invention allow to obtain a good result, all the prior art solutions found have
some drawbacks and/or limits.
[0016] A first drawback common to all the solutions of insect screens as in the found prior
art, according to the applicant, consists of the fact that the current solutions of
insect screens, in particular the solutions with a net guiding chain device, given
the characteristics of their current structure, do not allow to obtain an easy assembly
both in the case in which said installation is carried out by specialized staff and,
even more, in the case in which the installation of the insect screens is carried
by personnel not having specific technical skills.
[0017] A second drawback common to all the known solutions, according to the applicant,
was found to consist of the fact that none of said known solutions allows to easily
obtain the arrangement adjustments of the insect screen already during its assembly
in order to prevent all those drawbacks which are caused by possible misalignments
and which are typically translated into a difficult movement in opening and closing
of the curtain of the insect screen itself. In particular, none of the prior art solutions
is provided with such technical features as to allow and maintain, already during
the installation phase, the necessary orthogonality between the box and the upper
guide in an insect screen structure which has already been arranged for this purpose
at the sales stage.
[0018] A third drawback involving all the mentioned prior art solutions, according to the
applicant, was found to consist of the fact that the current solutions do not allow,
after assembly, to carry out in an easy way the necessary arrangement adjustments.
[0019] Furthermore, the current insect screen solutions, and in particular the insect screen
solutions of the type provided with a movable handlebar equipped with a net guiding
chain, according to the applicant, do not allow to suitably reduce the friction and
wear caused by the rubbing of the net as a consequence of the movement of the latter
when opening and closing the insect screen.
[0020] As a whole, from these introductory remarks, one realizes that it is preeminent to
find some alternative solutions.
[0021] Aim of the present invention is also to prevent the above-mentioned drawbacks.
Summary of the invention
[0022] This and other aims are achieved by the present invention according to the characteristics
as in the appended claims solving the mentioned problems by means of an insect screen
(1) with a driving device of the net guiding chain and a system for facilitating assembly
and for correcting the positioning arrangement comprising a vertical box (2) which
contains the winding roller (3) of the protection net (4) said net being joined with
a first end to said winding roller (3) and with a second end to a horizontally sliding
vertical handlebar (7), wherein to the unwinding of the net, which is suitably kept
under tension, a net guiding chain (8) contributes, which is intended to keep the
net under tension in its lower part, wherein to the vertical box (2) an upper guide
(5) is hinged, the upper end of said vertical box (2) being provided with a pushing
device (11) cooperating for the positioning with a comb-like backing plate (13) for
positioning the lower end of the box (2), it being provided that the upper guide (5)
is equipped with a sliding adjustment device (14) and wherein inside the box (2) there
are some friction reducing sections (17) facilitating the movement of the net.
Aims and Advantages
[0023] In this way, by the considerable creative contribution the effect of which constitutes
an immediate technical progress, several advantages are achieved.
[0024] A first advantageous aim of the present invention is to facilitate, by improving
it, the installation of the insect screen both in the case in which it is carried
out by qualified personnel and even more allowing for its correct and facilitated
installation also if it is carried out by the final user even without specific technical
skills.
[0025] A second advantageous aim of the present invention is to easily allow to obtain the
arrangement adjustments of the insect screen already during the assembly phase in
order to prevent all the drawbacks which are caused by possible misalignments consequent
to a non-correct assembly providing the insect screen with such technical features
as to allow and maintain, already during the installation phase, the necessary orthogonality
between the box and the upper guide in an insect screen structure which has already
been prearranged for this purpose at the sales stage.
[0026] A third advantageous aim of the present invention is to allow, after assembly, to
easily perform the necessary arrangement adjustments.
[0027] Another advantageous aim of the present invention is to allow, by providing innovative
technical features, to significantly reduce the friction and, as a consequence, the
wear caused by the rubbing of the net as a consequence of the movement of the latter
when opening and closing the insect screen.
[0028] These and other advantages will appear from the following detailed description of
some preferred embodiments with the aid of the enclosed schematic drawings, whose
details are not to be considered limitative but only illustrative.
Content of the drawings
[0029]
Figure 1 shows an overall view of the insect screen according to the present invention
in a preassembly condition;
Figure 2 shows an overall view of the insect screen according to the present invention
in which the box is installed while the upper guide is still in a condition of non-operativeness;
Figure 3 shows an overall view of the insect screen according to the present invention
in which the box is installed while the upper guide is shown in the condition of being
taken in the operative position;
Figure 4 shows an overall view of the insect screen according to the present invention
associated with the opening of the door and in an operativeness condition, in which
the net is not unfolded;
Figure 5 shows an overall view of the insect screen according to the present invention
associated with the opening of the door and in which the net is completely unfolded;
Figure 6 shows a view of a portion of the box, with the handlebar in a bearing condition,
and of the upper guide showing their section, in the insect screen according to the
present invention, where the upper guide hinged to the upper head of the vertical
box is in a non-operative position;
Figure 7 shows a view of a portion of the box, with the handlebar in a bearing condition,
and of the upper guide showing their section, in the insect screen according to the
present invention, where the upper guide hinged to the upper head of the vertical
box is in an operative position;
Figure 8 shows a sectional three-quarter view from above of a portion of the vertical
box and handlebar in a closing position in which their internal components are highlighted;
Figure 9 shows an orthogonal sectional view of the vertical box and of the handlebar
in a closing position in which the friction reducing sections, with which the insect
screen according to the present invention is equipped, are highlighted;
Figure 10 shows an orthogonal sectional view of the vertical box and of the handlebar
in an opening position in a variant of the insect screen according to the present
invention in which the protection net is of the pleated type;
Figure 11 shows a view of the insect screen according to the present invention, showing
the orthogonal sections, of a portion of the vertical box with in a bearing condition
a part of the handlebar in a closing position and of a portion of the upper guide
hinged to the upper head of the vertical box in a non-operative position, where the
detail of the pushing device, with which the head of the vertical box is provided,
is highlighted in section;
Figure 12 shows an orthogonal sectional view of the head of the vertical box associated
with the upper guiding track with the pushing device in an operativeness condition
of the insect screen according to the present invention;
Figure 13 shows a view of the insect screen according to the present invention installed
with the adjustment device of the upper guide highlighted in section;
Figure 14 is a view of the detail in section of Figure 13;
Figure 1 5 shows a view of the bottom profile of the vertical box of the insect screen
according to the present invention;
Figure 1 6 shows a view of the comb-like device for the alignment of the insect screen
according to the present invention;
Figure 17 shows a view of the bottom profile of the vertical box of the insect screen
according to the present invention in a possible position with respect to the comb-like
device;
Figure 1 8 shows a view of the bottom profile of the vertical box of the insect screen
according to the present invention in a possible position with respect to the comb-like
device;
Figure 1 9 shows an axonometric view of a portion of the net guiding chain of the
insect screen according to the present invention;
Figure 20 shows an axonometric view of an articulated body of the net guiding chain
of the insect screen according to the present invention with the engagement joint
particularly evident.
Practical realization of the invention
[0030] With reference also to the representations as in Figures 1 to 20, an insect screen
(1) is described with a driving device of the net guiding chain and a system for facilitating
assembly and for correcting the positioning arrangement which, in a preferred embodiment
as in Figures 1 to 20 comprises a box (2), lateral and vertical, made up of a preferably
metallic box-like element, wherein inside said box (2) there is a winding roller (3),
which, too, is placed vertically in a suitable housing with which said box (2) is
provided, said winding roller (3) engaging for the unwinding and winding a protection
net (4) which, through a slit made longitudinally with respect to said box (2), unwinds
spreading out and vice-versa along a horizontal axis. For the purpose of obtaining
the winding and unwinding, the protection net (4), otherwise known as curtain, is
provided with a first end constrained to said winding roller (3) around which the
protection net (4) is wound to be unwound coming out of the box (2) laterally through
the provided longitudinal slit. The insect screen (1) according to the invention may
also be of the type in which the winding roller (3) can have a loading coil spring
which is constrained with one end to the winding roller (3), in such a way that, on
the one side by unwinding the protection net (4) the winding roller (3) rotates as
well, involving the loading by torsion of the coil spring, not shown, and the consequent
tensioning of the protection net (4), there being the possibility that the tensioning
of the protection net (4) can also be achieved by tensioning means of the known type
alternative to the loading coil spring constrained to one end of the winding roller
(3), through said tensioning means the appropriate tensioning of the protection net
(4) being achieved. To the box (2) is joined, in an operativeness condition, orthogonally
in correspondence of the upper end, a horizontal upper guide (5), which in an operativeness
condition is provided associated with an engagement track (6) fixed to the lintel
of the opening in which the insect screen (1) is intended to be placed. Along said
upper guide (5), which is provided with two ends, right and left end respectively,
in correspondence of its lower side, there is provided longitudinally movable, to
and fro, the vertical handlebar (7) which is with the upper end (71) perpendicularly
constrained with respect to the upper guide (5), in such a way as to slide driven
longitudinally with respect to said upper guide (5). Furthermore, it is provided that
the insect screen (1) according to the invention, in correspondence of the lower end
of the box (2), engages a first end of the net guiding chain (8) which is made up
of a series of rigid modules (81) hinged to each other in an articulated way, each
of which is provided with suitable seats (82) countershaped with respect to the engagement
bodies (831) of a hinging device (83) comprising some engagement bodies (831) constrained
to a flexible cable (832), wherein the length of the net guiding chain (8) is at least
equal to the width of the opening to be closed by installing the insect screen (1).
The second end of the net guiding chain (8), opposite to said first end, slides in
a controlled way vertically inside the handlebar (7) which is substantially hollow,
entering in correspondence of the base (72) to be then guided vertically.
[0031] In more detail, to the handlebar (7) is engaged the second end of the protection
net (4) whose first end, as previously described, is engaged to the winding roller
(3) of the box (2). In this way, by moving horizontally in one direction or in the
other the handlebar (7) one obtains the simultaneous winding - unwinding by spreading
out of the protection net (4) and the sliding inside the handlebar (7) of the net
guiding chain (8) by means of the driving device, not shown, with which the insect
screen (1) is provided, said driving device being of the known type and being able
to comprise cables, chains, cables-chains, spool or reel pulleys or another known
tensioning device in such a way as to keep said cables, chains, cables-chains constantly
under tension. In this way, with the aid of the driving device, one enables the movement
of the handlebar (7), which with the upper end is guided by the upper guide (5) while
with the lower end it is configured in such a way as to lay down the net guiding chain
(8) which, as described, also slides inside and along said handlebar (7) in such a
way as to enable the function of the net guiding chain (8) which in particular consists
in holding and guiding, during its spreading out and after the movement of the handlebar
(7), the lower edge of the protection net (4), while the upper edge of the protection
net (4) slides and remains inside the upper guide (5).
[0032] In accordance with the described embodiment example as in the present invention,
it is provided that the insect screen (1), in order to allow for its simplified installation,
is innovatively provided with specific technical features. In detail, as it is shown
in Figures 1 to 5, for the purpose of facilitating the correct positioning of the
insect screen (1) on the opening of the door or window of the building which will
be equipped with it, so as to facilitate the achievement and the maintenance of the
orthogonality between the box (2) and the upper guide (5) in such a way as to allow
that the unwinding and winding of the protection net (4) occurs in optimal operativeness
conditions, it is provided that the upper end of the box (2) is equipped with a head
(21) which is suitably structured in a known way to allow being associated with the
corresponding end of the box (2) so as to constitute its removable closing element,
in which it is innovatively provided that to said head (21) the end of the upper guide
(5) is suitably hinged, by means of an articulation hinge (9) of the known type, in
such a way as to advantageously allow said upper guide (5) to be articulated to the
head (21) of the box (2) so that it is, already before assembly, positioned in such
a suitable way as to allow, in the following assembly phase, to be placed orthogonally
with respect to the box (2) and that said orthogonality can be maintained during the
assembly phase of the insect screen (1) and after assembly. The maintenance of said
orthogonality between the box (2) and the upper guide (5) already during the assembly
phase has been found to greatly facilitate the correct positioning of the insect screen
(1) on the opening of the door or of the window limiting the interventions by the
operator to the simple unfolding of the upper guide (5).
[0033] In more detail, it is provided that the articulation hinge (9) allows the upper guide
(5) to accomplish a rotation angle which goes at least from 0 to 90° in such a way
as to allow that from a preassembly position in which the upper guide (5) is parallel
to the box (2), said upper guide (5) can be moved until it reaches orthogonality with
respect to said box (2), wherein the hinged end of the upper guide (5) abuts the hinging
end of the head (21). Furthermore, for the purpose of allowing to maintain the orthogonality
condition between the box (2) and the upper guide (5) the head (21) may be provided
with known restraint devices (211) also of the known elastically deformable and snap-on
type and cooperating in the engagement with at least one suitable restraint seat,
not shown, with which the upper guide (5) is provided. The positioning of the upper
guide (5) orthogonally to the box (2) also being simplified by a suitable protrusion
(212) with which the head (21) is equipped, in the example it being provided that
said protrusion (212) has a suitable through-seat (213) so as to allow for the positioning
of a fixing means (10) of the known type for anchoring the head (21) to the lintel.
In the described embodiment, as it is particularly clear from what is shown in Figure
11, it is provided that the head (21) develops in such a way as to extend beyond the
width of the handlebar (7) in such a way that when the latter is put close the box
(2) the upper guide (5), which is in a condition of non-operativeness, is almost close,
parallel, to the handlebar (7).
[0034] Furthermore, again for the purpose of facilitating the installation of the insect
screen (1), said head (21) is innovatively provided with an elastic pushing device
(11) in which, in the embodiment example described particularly with reference to
Figure 11 and Figure 12, said pushing device (11) is placed inside a suitable blind
seat (214) with which the head (21) is provided, it being provided that, in the example,
the pushing device (11) comprises a coil spring (111) and a movable pushing pin (112)
constrained to the spring (111), wherein said pushing pin (112) acts as a consequence
of the push performed by the spring (111) as it is constrained to the latter to be
inserted in correspondence of the upper end opposite to the end in which the spring
(111) is held within the blind seat (214) into which the spring (111) is inserted.
The action of said pushing device (11) in contrast to the engagement track (6) fixed
to the lintel of the opening of the door or window where the insect screen (1) is
arranged allows to facilitate the positioning and the maintenance of the bottom profile
(12) of the box (2) constrained to a comb-like backing plate (13) which is anchored
to the threshold of the door or of the window.
[0035] In more detail, as it particularly shown in Figures 15 to 18, and in particular in
Figure 16, the comb-like backing plate (13) is made in such a way as to comprise at
least one countesunk hole (131) and a slotted hole (132) to allow for its engagement
to the threshold by known threaded fixing means (10), classically some screws. Furthermore,
the comb-like backing plate (13), for the purpose of allowing the adjustment of the
positioning of the bottom profile (12) of the box (2) of the insect screen (1) has
a portion which is provided, in correspondence of both the opposite sides, with a
series of protruding teeth (133) equidistant from each other as they are placed like
in a comb. In order to allow for the positioning and the adjustment of the positioning
of the box (2) with respect to the opening of the door or window of arrangement in
such a way as to allow for the correct installation of the insect screen (1), it is
provided that to this purpose the bottom profile (12) of the box (2) in correspondence
of the lower end is made in such a way as to comprise a first protruding wall (121)
and an opposite second protruding wall (122) each of which is shaped identically and
symmetrical to the other, wherein the shape of the two protruding walls (121, 1 22)
is such as to allow both for the engagement of the bottom profile (12) of the box
(2) to the comb-like backing plate (13) and for the adjustment of the position of
the box (2) itself so as to allow for the correct operation of the insect screen (1)
in an operativeness condition. In detail, as it is shown in Figure 16 the two protruding
walls (121, 122), in the example, are each provided with two engagement teeth (123)
placed in correspondence of the end of the bottom profile (12), it being provided
that each protruding wall (121, 122) is shaped in such a way as to comprise a recess
(124) which is compatible for the engagement to the portion provided with the protruding
teeth (133) of the comb-like backing plate (13) when the engagement teeth (123) of
the bottom profile (12) engage the ends of the comb-like backing plate (13) over the
whole portion provided with said protruding teeth (133). In this way, the positioning
and the adjustment of the position of the box (2) are facilitated, allowing that during
the installation the operator can easily and, by means of the comb-like backing plate
(13), proceed in a guided way to the correct positioning of the box (2) perpendicularly
with respect to the threshold, said adjustment being simplified by the interaction
between the bottom profile (12) of the box (2), which engages the comb-like backing
plate (13), and the pushing device (11) which allows both to facilitate the adjustment
of the position of the bottom profile (1 2) with respect to the comb-like backing
plate (13), and to maintain the engagement position of the bottom profile (12) on
the comb-like backing plate (13).
[0036] The solution of an insect screen (1) according to the invention, for the purpose
of facilitating the operations of installation, is structured in such a way that the
upper guide (5), which in a condition of installation is placed in a backing condition
with respect to the engagement track (6), sliding with respect to it constrains in
a movable way an adjustment device (14) which, as it is particularly shown in Figure
1 3 and in Figure 1 4, is made up of a body comprising a base (141), which at the
bottom is provided with guiding pins (146) intended to be inserted within a suitable
guiding groove, not shown, with which the upper guide (5) is provided, and a central
portion (142) which comprises a threaded seat (143) having a through-hole (144), wherein
the threaded seat (143) houses a threaded dowel (15) adjustable, in the example, by
means of a conventional hexagonal wrench. Said central portion (142) of the adjusment
device (14) is further provided with a suitable housing (145) provided with a through-opening
intended to allow for the passage of a threaded fixing means (10) able to engage a
sliding constraint body (16) which is engaged in a sliding way with the engagement
track (6) which, in order to allow for the constrained sliding of the sliding constraint
body (16), is provided with suitable guides (61) intended to engage the base with
projecting elements (161) of the sliding constraint body (1 6).
[0037] Furthermore, the sliding constraint body (16) is intended both to be engaged by a
threaded fixing means (10) and to be sliding inside the housing (145) of the adjustment
device (14). Given the described structure of the adjustment device (14) the latter
can be placed along the upper guide (5) in the position which is considered the most
appropriate, it also being provided that the adjustment of the distance between the
upper guide (5) and the engagement track (6) can be performed by means of the action
of the operator by screwing or unscrewing the threaded dowel (15) and the locking
in position obtained by screwing the threaded fixing means (10) on the sliding constraint
body (16) in such a way as to join the adjustment device (14), and with it the upper
guide (5), to the engagement track (6).
[0038] Given the described structure of the insect screen (1), its installation can be facilitated,
allowing to realize and maintain the necessary orthogonality between the box (2) and
the upper guide (5), in such a way as to ensure that the movement of the protection
net (4) by means of the movement of the handlebar (7) occurs in a condition of optimal
operativeness allowing to easily maintain said orthogonality between the box (2) and
the upper guide also during the operations of adjustment of the alignments necessary
for the correct positioning of the insect screen (1) on the opening of the building
to be equipped with the insect screen (1). Operatively, it is provided that in a condition
before the installation, the upper guide (5) of the insect screen (1) is placed parallel
to the box (2), adjacent to the handlebar (7) which is in a closing condition being
close to the box (2). During assembly, one mounts on the lintel of the opening of
the building to be equipped with the insect screen (1) the engagement track (6) which
consists of a "U" section, suitably anchored to the lintel in a known way by means
of at least two threaded fixing means (10). In axis with the engagement track (6),
in correspondence of the threshold and close to the jamb, by means of a threaded fixing
means (10) preferably placed on the slotted hole (132), the comb-like backing plate
(13) is suitably anchored in such a way as to allow for the correct positioning of
the insect screen (1) so that the head (21) of the box (2) is suitably positioned
at the end of the engagement track (6).
[0039] Due to said positioning, the pushing device (11) is forced down in such a way as
to allow the bottom profile (12) with which the box (2) is equipped to be lifted with
respect to the comb-like backing plate (13) on which it is intended to be engaged
allowing the operator to easily perform all the movements necessary for the purpose
of obtaining a correct positioning of the box (2) so that it is perpendicular to the
ground, as a consequence, thanks to the pushing action in contrast to the engagement
track (6) exerted by the pushing device (11), once the operator has engaged the bottom
profile (12) with the comb-like backing plate (13), it will be allowed both to maintain
the engagement of the bottom profile (12) to the comb-like backing plate (13) and
to contribute to keeping the head (21) of the box (2) at the positioning track up
to the final anchoring of the head (21) by a known threaded fixing means (10). Following
the engagement of the box (2) the operator will position the upper guide (5) in an
operativeness position orthogonally to the box (2), until obtaining the constraint
of the upper guide (5) to the engagement track (6), said operation being simplified
by hinging the upper guide (5) to the head (21) of the box (2). For the purpose of
enabling the precise adjustment of the distance between the lower part of the handlebar
(7) and the threshold, in such a way as to obtain the optimal sliding of the handlebar
(7), the operator is allowed to act on the adjustment device (14) in such a way as
to place it in the position which is considered the most appropriate along the upper
guide (5) at the same time being able to proceed to the adjustment of the distance
between the upper guide (5) and the engagement track (6) by adjusting the threaded
dowel (15) fixing the final positioning by screwing the fixing means (10) on the sliding
constraint body (16).
[0040] Furthermore, in order to limit the wear of the protection net (4) during its winding
and unwinding it is provided that the box (2), as it is particularly shown in Figure
8 and in Figure 9, is structured in such a way as to allow for the positioning of
friction reducing sections (17) of plastic material which are suitably placed in such
a way as to allow that the possible rubbing of the protection net (4) during winding
or unwinding occurs against them. In the example said friction reducting sections
(17) having a shape compliant with what is shown in Figures 8 and 9.
[0041] In a variant of the invention, as it is shown in Figure 10, the insect screen (1)
according to the invention can be of the type with the protection net (4) of the pleated
type, wherein in said variant there is no winding roller and related devices.
Reference
[0042]
(1) insect screen
(2) box
(21) head
(211) restraint devices
(212) protrusion
(213) through-seat
(214) blind seat
(3) winding roller
(4) protection net
(5) upper guide
(6) engagement track
(61) guides
(7) vertical handlebar
(71) upper end
(72) base
(8) net guiding chain
(81) modules
(82) seats
(83) hinging device
(831) engagement bodies
(832) flexible cable
(9) articulation hinge
(10) fixing means
(11) pushing device
(111) spring
(112) pushing pin
(12) bottom profile
(121) first protruding wall
(122) second protruding wall
(123) engagement teeth
(124) recess
(13) comb-like backing plate
(131) countersunk hole
(132) slotted hole
(133) protruding teeth
(14) adjustment device
(141) base
(142) central portion
(143) threaded seat
(144) through-hole
(145) housing
(146) guiding pins
(15) threaded dowel
(1 6) sliding constraint body
(161) base with protruding elements
(17) friction reducing sections