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(11) | EP 3 095 950 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | TENSIONING SYSTEM FOR CURTAINS |
| (57) Tensioning system (1) for curtains (10) comprising a length of cloth (11) slidably
attached to the rails of uprights (12a, 12b) of a frame, further comprising first
magnetic means (2a, 2b) coupled to the side edges (11a, 11b) of the length of cloth
(11) and second magnetic means (3a, 3b) coupled to the rails of uprights (12a, 12b).
The first magnetic means (2a, 2b) comprise a plurality of metal cylinders (2aa, 2ba)
alternated to plastic cylinders (2ab, 2bb).
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[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a tensioning system for curtains, of the type comprising a cloth able to slide in a pair of uprights of a frame of an opening, for example a curtain to obscure, or, alternatively, a shielding net for mosquito, both horizontally and vertically scrolling, or, alternatively, any type of shield of an opening.
[0003] As it is known, a curtain comprises a cloth configured to obscure an opening, for example a cloth made of plastic material or of fabric, operated by a cord, or by a motor or by a rod to be retracted during the opening allowing the passage of light, or to be lying down, during the blackout. The opening and the closing of the curtain is, for example, in vertical fall, in which case the cloth is slidable in a pair of guiding uprights of a frame. Generally the guiding uprights are perpendicular to the floor and the cloth can slide vertically; the uprights can also be vertical and the cloth can slide horizontally. More particularly, known buttons, preferably made of plastic, slidable within the guiding uprights buttons, are inserted in the opposite sides of the cloth. The guiding uprights, since have a size larger than the geometric opening of the uprights, allow the cloth to remain inside the guides without escaping during the operation.
[0004] Another possible known solution is represented by a zip strip which is appropriately welded in the opposite sides of the cloth. This zip slides within known section members, preferably made of plastic, that guide the cloth in the upright, preventing the escape of the zipper section member, and hence of the cloth. The section member has substantially the same length as the upright and is retained in a thickness of the upright within a predetermined tolerance, which damps the horizontal displacement of the cloth, during the action of the wind. The known systems for curtains are rather noisy, especially when they are lying, due to the fact that the cloth can be invested by air currents which tend to abruptly move it between the uprights. The section member is fixed to the upright of the frame of a window and comprises a seat S for an edge or side of the cloth; during assembly, the edge of the cloth is slidingly inserted in a specific location through an opening of the section member, leaving the rest of the cloth comes out this (and from the upright) through a slot. The slot has an amplitude lower than the edge of the cloth, to retain the edge within the seat in the upright. The opposite edge of the cloth is similarly associated with a section member of the other upright of the frame. When the air acts on the surface of the cloth, the cloth moves the section member which, as said, is coupled to the upright with a predetermined tolerance, making bumping the cloth against it. On the other hand, rigidly tensioning the cloth between the uprights, for example by fixing the section member rigidly to the uprights, without leaving any margin of displacement, is not an effective solution, since in the long run the wind damages the cloth or however it loosens its coupling with the section member, and ruins the blinding apparatus.
[0005] A solution to this problem is to incorporate, within a pocket created by a tape of plastic material, or mixed plastic or fabric, or tissue, welded to the lateral edges of the cloth, or created by folding each edge on the same fabric of the cloth, a rod that acts an extending element of the cloth edges and allows the cloth to be arranged in extended configuration.
[0006] Shock-absorbing systems are also known, these systems comprising a tab or a plurality of tabs glued along the section member, to cushion the impact of the section member on the upright. However, even in these shielding systems it is necessary to leave the room for movement to the upright section member, which would prevent optimal tension of the cloth, even in the absence of wind. Moreover, the tabs are subject to damage, which causes the detachment from section member or loss of efficacy in absorbing the shot against the upright. In addition, their application is rather laborious, especially if carried out manually.
[0007] However, the problem of these known systems used to maintain the cloth extended is that the cloth or the fabric of the curtain or of a mosquito net is not always in a perfect tensioning configuration, especially when they are invested by air currents which tend to move sharply causing it crash into the uprights of the compartment to be shielded. For this reason, for example, the known curtain systems are quite noisy, especially when they are extended.
[0008] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a tensioning system for curtains which economically allows to perfectly tend the curtain's cloth, avoiding damage of the cloth itself and ensuring that the cloth remains extended even under the action of the wind, thus having characteristics that overcome the limits that influence the tensioning systems previously described.
[0009] According to the present invention, a tensioning system for curtains is provided, as defined in claim 1.
[0010] For a better understanding of the present invention it is now described a preferred embodiment, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a tensioning system for curtains, according to the invention;
- Figures 2A-2B show schematic section views of assembling steps of the tensioning system for curtains, according to the invention;
- Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional view of a curtain comprising the tensioning system, according to the invention.
[0011] Referring to these figures and, in particular to the figure 1, a tensioning system 1 for curtains is shown, according to the invention. In detail, the tensioning system 1 is applied, by way of example, to a curtain 10 configured to obscure an opening and comprising a cloth 11 sliding vertically in seats S of section members of a pair of guide uprights 12a and 12b perpendicular to the floor, of which only the upright 12b is shown in the figure 1.
[0012] The tensioning system 1 comprises first magnetic means 2a, 2b coupled to the side edges 11a and 11b, the edge 11b only being shown in Figure 1, of the shielding apparatus, or curtain, 10 and second magnetic means 3a, 3b coupled to the vertical uprights 12a and 12b.
[0013] More precisely, the first magnetic means 2a, 2b are coupled to the side edges 11a and 11b as they are positioned inside pockets 13a and 13b respectively formed by the side edges 11a and 11b folded back on themselves inside the seat S of each upright 11a and 11b, or, alternatively, formed by means of tapes, made of plastic or of mixed plastic fabric, applied so as to join the side edges 11a and 11b.
[0014] The second magnetic means 3a, 3b are coupled to the section members of the vertical uprights 12a and 12b as are placed inside a further seat S' adjacent to the seat S.
[0015] According to an aspect of the invention, as best shown in Figure 2, the first magnetic means 2a, 2b are elements, for example tubular, comprising ferromagnetic material.
[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, the first magnetic means 2a, 2b are made of metallic material.
[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, the first magnetic means 2a, 2b comprise a plurality of metal cylinders 2aa, 2ba alternated to plastic cylinders 2ab, 2bb, as shown, by way of example, in Figure 2A.
[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, the first magnetic means 2a, 2b are cylindrical metallic rods shaped so as to be suitable to be inserted vertically within the pockets 13a and 13b.
[0019] Advantageously according to the invention, the particular shape of the uprights comprising the seat S' allows to fit perfectly second magnetic means 3a, 3b.
[0020] Figure 2 shows, in particular, the steps of assembling the tensioning system to the curtain 10, consisting in the insertion of the first magnetic means 2a, 2b inside the pockets 13a, 13b formed at the edges 11a, 11b of the cloth 11 vertically sliding inside the vertical uprights 12a, 12b and of the second magnetic means 3a, 3b within the seats S'.
[0021] Figure 3 shows the curtain 10, comprising a horizontal handle bar 14, the two vertical uprights 12a and 12b, one for each side of the compartment to be shielded, and the cloth 11 having the side edges 11a and 11b sliding inside the vertical uprights 12a and 12b, and the tensioning system 1 that serves to couple magnetically the edges 11a and 11b with the section members of the vertical uprights 12a and 12b.
[0022] In use, the magnetic attraction exerted between the first and the second magnetic means, namely between the metallic tubular elements and the magnetic bars, makes sure that the curtain is kept perfectly extended, even under the wind action. In particular, both for curtain and for the mosquito shielding, this attraction remains effective or during the sliding of the net either when the cloth is completely unfolded, in closing position, even under the action of the wind.
[0023] Also under the strong wind action, if the metal tubular elements were detached from magnetic bars, when the action of the wind ceases the same metal tubular elements would return to its original position while maintaining the cloth in tension between the uprights.
[0024] Advantageously according to the invention, the curtain comprising the tensioning system according to the invention is a shading apparatus.
[0025] Still advantageously according to the invention, the curtain comprising the tensioning system according to the invention is a mosquito shielding.
[0026] Still advantageously according to the invention, the curtain comprising the tensioning system according to the invention is any shielding.
[0027] Therefore, the tensioning system for curtains according to the invention ensures that the cloth remains always perfectly extended also under the action of the wind.
[0028] Another advantage of the tensioning system for curtains according to the invention is the simplicity of construction.
[0029] A further advantage of the tensioning system for curtains according to the invention consists in being economic.
1. Tensioning system (1) for curtains (10) comprising a length of cloth (11) slidably
attached to the rails of uprights (12a, 12b) of a frame and first magnetic means (2a,
2b) coupled to side edges (11a, 11b) of the length of cloth (11) and second magnetic
means (3a, 3b) coupled to the rails of uprights (12a, 12b), characterized in that the first magnetic means (2a, 2b) comprise a plurality of metal cylinders (2aa, 2ba)
alternated to plastic cylinders (2ab, 2bb).
2. Tensioning system (1) for curtains (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first magnetic means (2a, 2b) are positioned within pockets (13a, 13b) present
at said side edges (11a, 11b) inside a seat S of the rails of the uprights (12a, 12b).
3. Tensioning system (1) for curtains (10) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the second magnetic means (3a, 3b) are positioned inside a seat S' adjacent to the
seat S.
4. Tensioning system (1) for curtains (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first magnetic means (2a, 2b) are ferromagnetic tubular elements.
5. Tensioning system (1) for curtains (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second magnetic means (3a, 3b) are magnetic bars shaped so that they can be vertically
insertable inside the seat S'.
6. Curtain (10) comprising the tensioning system (1) according to any one of the preceding
claims.
7. Curtain (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that it is a shading apparatus.
8. Curtain (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that it is a mosquito net.
9. Curtain (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that it is any shielding.