GUIDING ELEMENT FOR MOSQUITO NETS AND MOVABLE SCREENS IN GENERAL

Abstract

 A guiding element (1) for mosquito nets (A) and movable screens in general comprising a fixed upright (B) and a movable upright (C) between which a mosquito net/screen element (D) is fixed. The element (1) comprises a series of contiguous modular units (2, 3) that are mutually interconnected by means of a flexible coupling lamina (4) that is rigidly coupled to the end units (5, 6) of the series. A first unit (2) comprises side walls (7) that have a lower end face that is shorter than the upper end face and delimit a central cavity (8); the side walls (7) are mutually coupled by a connecting portion (9) that is planar in an upward region and is provided with a seat (10) for the slidable accommodation of the flexible lamina (4). A second unit (3) comprises side walls (11) that have a lower end face that is longer than the upper end face; the side walls (11) are mutually coupled by a tab (12) that is planar in an upward region and is provided with a recess (13) for the slidable accommodation of the flexible lamina (4). The tab (12) comprises respective protrusions (14) at its ends that can be accommodated within the central cavities (8) delimited between the side walls (7) of first contiguous units (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a guiding element for mosquito nets and movable screens in general.

[0002] It is known to use mosquito nets that can be gathered (when not in use) within respective housings (wound onto a roller or compacted following a pleating of said mosquito net) when not in use.

[0003] These mosquito nets are installed in an opening of a wall and have a slidable upright that can drag the screen (constituted by the mosquito net) from a gathered configuration (in which the upright is arranged proximate to a lateral edge of the opening and the mosquito net is wound completely onto the roller or compacted within the respective housing) to an extended closure configuration, in which the upright is arranged proximate to the opposite lateral edge of the opening and the mosquito net is completely extended so as to close the opening.

[0004] The same methods are used with other types of screen, such as shades, screens made of transparent polymeric sheets for blocking the wind, and the like.

[0005] In order to ensure the linearity of the motion of the movable upright there is a lower guide that is integral with the threshold of the opening.

[0006] When the opening is open and the mosquito net (screen) is gathered, however, that type of guide can constitute an obstacle on which people crossing the opening may trip.

[0007] It is known from EP0999335 in the name of METACO to use a movable guide, which therefore can be picked up by the movable upright upon its passage.

[0008] Such guide is shaped substantially like a chain or a track, which in turn are constituted by a sequence of mutually identical structural units.

[0009] Each one of these units has respective side walls coupled by means of a central bridge portion: the side walls comprise the coupling means (respectively protrusions and holes) that allow to mutually articulate them.

[0010] There are also stroke limiting means that prevent the mutual rotation of the units in one direction.

[0011] This solution is not devoid of problems: first of all, the units identified therein have a particularly complex shape and therefore, being provided by molding, require the adoption of expensive molds, which must be subjected to maintenance frequently in order to ensure perfect operation.

[0012] Secondly, the guide proposed by Metaco in EP0999335 can be damaged easily in case of impact of the upright and/or in case of strong wind that tends to strip out the upright by acting on the mosquito net.

[0013] This condition is particularly evident in the case of a partially open mosquito net: the wind can act on the mosquito net by applying an intense pressure that is discharged (through the upright) onto the movable guide.

[0014] The units of the movable guide are mutually articulated on the side walls by means of protrusions and holes: it is evident that the side walls, which have a limited thickness, might undergo even destructive deformations.

[0015] Furthermore, it should be noted that the deformations of the side walls caused by an external stress, even if they are limited to the elastic range, might be sufficient to cause some protrusions to exit temporarily from the respective holes, with consequent jamming (disassembly) of the movable guide.

[0016] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, by providing a guiding element for mosquito nets and movable screens in general that is constituted by components that are simple and easy to manufacture.

[0017] Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to devise a guiding element for mosquito nets and movable screens in general that is not subject to easy damage in case of external stresses.

[0018] Another object of the invention is to devise a guiding element for mosquito nets and movable screens in general whose shape and structure are significantly different from those of existing equivalent devices.

[0019] A further object of the present invention is to provide a guiding element for mosquito nets and movable screens in general that has low costs, is relatively simple to provide in practice and is safe in application.

[0020] This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a guiding element for mosquito nets and movable screens in general, said mosquito nets and movable screens being of the type that comprises a fixed upright and a movable upright between which a mosquito net/screen element is fixed and is provided with end faces that are mutually interconnected by a folding guiding element, characterized in that it comprises a series of contiguous modular units that are mutually interconnected by means of a flexible coupling lamina that is rigidly coupled to the end units of said series, a first unit comprising side walls that have a lower end face that is shorter than the upper end face and delimit a central cavity, said side walls being mutually coupled by a connecting portion that is planar in an upward region and is provided with a seat for the slidable accommodation of said flexible lamina, a second unit comprising side walls that have a lower end face that is longer than the upper end face, said side walls being mutually coupled by a tab that is planar in an upward region and is provided with a recess for the slidable accommodation of said flexible lamina, said tab comprising respective protrusions at its ends that can be accommodated within said central cavities delimited between the side walls of first contiguous units.

[0021] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the guiding element for mosquito nets and movable screens in general according to the invention, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partially sectional perspective view of a guiding element according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the units that constitute a guiding element according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a front view of a mosquito net provided with a guiding element according to the invention.

[0022] With reference to the figures, the numeral 1 generally designates a guiding element for mosquito nets A and movable screens in general.

[0023] The mosquito nets A and the movable screens for which the element 1 according to the invention has been devised and designed comprise a fixed upright B and a movable upright C, between which a mosquito net/screen element D is fixed.

[0024] The folding guiding element 1 is arranged between the end faces of the fixed upright B and of the movable upright C, providing a mutual interconnection.

[0025] The element 1 comprises a series of modular units 2, 3, which, in the configuration for use, are contiguous and mutually interconnected by means of a flexible coupling lamina 4 that is coupled rigidly to the end units 5, 6 of the series.

[0026] It is specified that the lamina 4 might be made of metallic material, such as for example steel, spring steel, stainless steel and the like.

[0027] A constructive solution that is particularly interesting and suitable to be installed even in damp environments or environments characterized by the possible presence of briny mists provides for the adoption of laminas made of polymeric and/or composite material. This type of material is not subject to oxidation and therefore ensures optimum behavior even in particularly aggressive environments, in which therefore it ensures considerable durability.

[0028] A first unit 2 comprises side walls 7 the lower end face of which is shorter than the upper end face: the side walls 7 delimit a central cavity 8 and are mutually coupled by a blending portion 9 that is planar in an upward region.

[0029] The blending portion 9 is provided with a seat 10 for the sliding accommodation of the flexible lamina 4.

[0030] A second unit 3 also comprises two side walls 11 in which the lower end face is longer than the upper end face.

[0031] The side walls 11 are mutually coupled by a tab 12 that is planar in an upward region and is provided with a recess 13 for the sliding accommodation of the flexible lamina 4.

[0032] The tab 12 comprises respective protrusions 14 at its ends.

[0033] In the assembly configuration, the protrusions 14 of the second unit 3 can be accommodated within the central cavities 8 delimited between the side walls 7 of the first units 2 that are contiguous therewith.

[0034] In practice, the flexibility of the lamina 4 gives the guiding element 1 the advantageous ability to fold onto itself, thus being easily concealable (gathered inside the movable upright C, for example).

[0035] At the same time, the presence of the protrusions 14 that can be accommodated within the cavities 8 gives rigidity to the guiding element 1, ensuring that correct linearity is maintained in the advancement/retraction direction of the movable upright C with respect to the fixed upright B.

[0036] According to a specific constructive solution of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, the seat 10 and the recess 13, intended to accommodate slidably the flexible lamina 4 (the seat being provided on the first unit 2 and the recess being provided on the second unit 3), are mutually aligned and have dimensions that are not smaller than those of the lamina 4 in order to allow its sliding.

[0037] In particular, therefore, during the assembly step the units 2, 3 (mutually alternated) can be engaged on the lamina 4 until it is completely covered, allowing to fix its ends to the end units 5, 6 of the series, which, as exemplified in the accompanying figures, may have a specific different configuration (intended to facilitate the locking of said lamina 4).

[0038] It should be noted that conveniently it has been chosen to provide the seat 10 and the recess 13 proximate to the top of the respective units 2, 3: in this manner, the flexible lamina 4 accommodated slidably therein, in case of flexing of the guiding element 1 along a radius of curvature that is centered above the blending portion 9 and the tab 12, is not subjected to deformations induced by traction and/or compression.

[0039] The lamina 4 is always free with respect to all the units 2 and 3 and is coupled rigidly exclusively to the end units 5 and 6.

[0040] It is specified that the units 2, 3 comprise, on their top, articulation means that are mutually complementarily shaped and are substantially aligned with the lamina 4.

[0041] The articulation means of contiguous units 2, 3 are mutually coupled by way of the action of the lamina 4, which is coupled to the end units 5 and 6 of the guiding element 1 in order to determine the packing of the respective units 2, 3 delimited by said units 5 and 6.

[0042] It is specified that validly the articulation means comprise, on the first units 2, mutually opposite substantially cylindrical recesses 15, which are aligned with the seat 10 for the accommodation of the lamina 4; on the second units 3, the articulation means comprise mutually opposite substantially cylindrical tabs 16, which are aligned with the recess 13 that accommodates the flexible lamina 4.

[0043] The recesses 15 and the tabs 16 are mutually complementarily shaped in order to form an articulation guide when the respective units 2, 3 are aligned and proximate, i.e., in the configuration for use of the guiding element 1, in which the flexible lamina 4 forces this condition of proximity and alignment for the units 2 and 3.

[0044] It is appropriate to specify that the units 2 and 3 comprise at least one notch 17 that is parallel to the side walls 7 and 11 for the slidable accommodation of the lower edge of the mesh D of the mosquito net and/or of the lower edge of a different sliding screen.

[0045] It is specified that at the end units 5, 6 provisions are made for the assembly of specific terminals 18 provided with stiffening ribs that can be accommodated in the notch 17 of the end unit 6 and/or also of a unit 2, 3 that is contiguous thereto.

[0046] The end units 5 and 6, according to a particular embodiment, are constituted by actual end blocks, which are shaped complementarily to a respective unit 2, 3, and are provided with retention means 19 for a respective end of the lamina 4.

[0047] It is specified that the retention means 19 comprise a hole that can be aligned with a respective opening of the end of the flexible lamina 4, for the accommodation of a respective fixing element of the type of a screw, a pin, a nail, a rivet and the like.

[0048] It has been shown that the units 2, 3 (and also the end units 5 and 6) are simple components that ensure correct mutual articulation thanks to the presence of the recesses 15 and of the tabs 16 in combination with the flexible lamina 4, which renders mutually integral all the units 2, 3, 5 and 6 that constitute the guiding element.

[0049] The presence of the cavity 8 and of the protrusions 14 further gives the necessary rigidity to the guiding element 1 even when it is curved (since the protrusions 14 protrude enough to be always at least partially accommodated in the corresponding cavity 8 upon curvatures of the guiding elements 1 that can occur in a mosquito net A and/or in a movable screen).

[0050] Advantageously, the present invention solves the problems described earlier, providing a guiding element 1 for mosquito nets A and movable screens in general that is constituted by components that are simple and easy to manufacture.

[0051] It is in fact evident that the units 2, 3, 5 and 6 can be obtained by molding with molds that have a simple shape and moreover their shape ensures sufficient structural rigidity even if they are provided with side walls 7 and 11 and protrusions 14 that are hollow (or partially hollow), thus allowing an additional saving of raw material.

[0052] Conveniently, the guiding element 1 is not subject to easy damage in case of external stresses, owing to the fact that the articulation between contiguous units 2, 3 is ensured by the elastically flexible behavior of the lamina 4, without requiring the mutual pivoting of said units 2, 3.

[0053] Said pivoting would have to be provided with small parts that would be easily subject to abrasions and/or breakage; the absence of the pivoting components and the use of the lamina 4 therefore ensures that the guiding element 1 is structurally more solid and resistant than those of the known type.

[0054] Validly, the guiding element 1 has a shape and a structure that are significantly different from those of existing equivalents devices, identifying a new family of guiding elements that is free from the problems that affect those of the known type and that in particular the applicant has found in the guiding element disclosed in the prior art document no. EP0999335 of the company METACO.

[0055] Efficiently, the guiding element 1 for mosquito nets A and movable screens in general described and claimed herein can be provided in practice in a relatively simple manner and with substantially low costs: for this reason it is evident that the guiding element 1 according to the invention will have an assured industrial application.

[0056] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0057] In the examples of embodiment shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other examples of embodiment.

[0058] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0059] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A guiding element for mosquito nets (A) and movable screens in general, said mosquito nets (A) and movable screens being of the type that comprises a fixed upright (B) and a movable upright (C) between which a mosquito net/screen element (D) is fixed and is provided with end faces that are mutually interconnected by a folding guiding element, characterized in that it comprises a series of contiguous modular units (2, 3) that are mutually interconnected by means of a flexible coupling lamina (4) that is rigidly coupled to the end units (5, 6) of said series, a first unit (2) comprising side walls (7) that have a lower end face that is shorter than the upper end face and delimit a central cavity (8), said side walls (7) being mutually coupled by a connecting portion (9) that is planar in an upward region and is provided with a seat (10) for the slidable accommodation of said flexible lamina (4), a second unit (3) comprising side walls (11) that have a lower end face that is longer than the upper end face, said side walls (11) being mutually coupled by a tab (12) that is planar in an upward region and is provided with a recess (13) for the slidable accommodation of said flexible lamina (4), said tab (12) comprising respective protrusions (14) at its ends that can be accommodated within said central cavities (8) delimited between the side walls (7) of first contiguous units (2).

2. The guiding element according to claim 1, characterized in that said seat (10) and said recess (13) for the slidable accommodation of said flexible lamina (4), respectively of said first unit (2) and of said second unit (3), are mutually aligned and have dimensions that are not smaller than those of said lamina (4) for an at least partially slidable accommodation thereof.

3. The guiding element according to claim 1, characterized in that said seat (10) and said recess (13), for the slidable accommodation of said flexible lamina (4), respectively of said first unit (2) and said second unit (3), are arranged substantially proximate to the top of the respective units (2, 3).

4. The guiding element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said units (2, 3) comprise, on their top, articulation means that are mutually complementarily shaped and are substantially aligned with said lamina (4), articulation means for contiguous units (2, 3) being mutually coupled by way of the action of said lamina (4), coupled to the ends of the guiding element (1) in order to produce the packing of the respective units (2, 3).

5. The guiding element according to claim 4, characterized in that said articulation means comprise, on the first units (2), substantially cylindrical mutually opposite recesses (15) that are aligned with said seat (10) for the accommodation of said lamina (4) and, on the second units (3), substantially cylindrical mutually opposite tabs (16) that are aligned with said recess (13) for the accommodation of said lamina (4), said recesses (15) and said tabs (16) being mutually complementarily shaped.

6. The guiding element according to claim 1, characterized in that said units (2, 3) comprise at least one notch (17), which is parallel to the side walls (7, 11), for the slidable accommodation of an edge of said screen/mosquito net element (D).

7. The guiding element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises end blocks which are shaped complementarily to the shape of a respective unit (2, 3) and are provided with retention means (19) for a respective end of said lamina (4).

8. The guiding element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said retention means (19) comprise a hole that can be aligned with a respective opening of the end of said lamina (4) in order to accommodate a respective fixing element such as a screw, a pin, a nail, a rivet and the like.

Drawing