MODULAR SCREEN STRUCTURE WITH TOTAL VISION PROVIDED WITH AN ELECTRICALLY LIFTABLE UPPER PANEL

Abstract

 A description is given of a modular screen structure (1) for the demarcation of spaces comprising a base element (10) made up of a pair of vertical uprights (12a, 12b) designed to support a first panel (11) and an upper element (20) made up of a pair of vertical uprights (22a, 22b) designed to support a second panel (21), said upper element (20) being designed to be raised and lowered with respect to said base element (10), wherein each of the vertical uprights (12a, 12b) of the base element (10) has a profile such as to slidably accommodate the profile of a respective vertical upright (22a, 22b) of the upper element (20) and is provided with a vertical opening (16) designed to allow the sliding of the upper element (20) is regulated by two electromechanical actuation units placed in the vertical uprights (12a, 12b, 22a, 22b).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to screen structures made up of transparent panels or sheets used for the demarcation of outdoor spaces, such as gardens, terraces, restaurant or bar terraces, as well as in a context of prefabricated structures such as gazebos, pavilions, etc.

[0002] These systems are very widespread and used mainly because of their ability to provide shelter during the colder months in spaces that would otherwise remain unused, which is of fundamental importance in the case of premises such as restaurants and bars, which need to exploit the number of seats to the full. It should be noted, however, that these structures, once installed, are generally not removed during the warmer months, in that removal and subsequent reinstallation are often long, complex and costly operations.

[0003] The use of structures that have only one panel or sheet, generally transparent, to protect from the external environment leads in turn to several disadvantages. During the dry season, in fact, these panels are oversized, offering excessive heating of the enclosed space both because of the greenhouse effect, produced by the transparent sheet, and because of the poor air circulation produced by the panel itself, which acts as a mechanical obstacle. During this summer season, it would therefore be necessary to completely remove the entire demarcation system formed by the screen panels and reinstall them at the beginning of the windy seasons, which, as already mentioned, is obviously awkward.

[0004] In order to reduce these disadvantages, for some time now systems have been widespread that have one or more panels that can be lifted with respect to a base element, so as to allow different levels of screen height and obtain a surface of variable coverage, thus limiting heating due to the greenhouse effect and increasing air circulation.

[0005] Italian utility model No. 278572, in the name of the same Applicant, describes, for example, a modular screen element for a sectional structure comprising a lower base element and an upper element, each consisting of a frame enclosing a corresponding panel. The frames are made up of a pair of uprights and two crosspieces respectively, and the uprights of the lower element have a seat suitable for allowing the sliding and the lifting of the upright of the upper element.

[0006] The upper element can be lifted with respect to the lower element by means of electromechanical means housed in the lower element, in particular a pair of electric motors mounted in the lower crosspiece (or base) which actuate a respective worm screw provided in the uprights by means of a bevel gear.

[0007] Although convenient from the point of view of construction and of use, the screen structure just described has the negative feature of having frames to support the panel.

[0008] In particular, the transverse elements that support the panel produce a visual obstacle in both the position of panel lowered and of panel raised. This disadvantage is present in almost all the modular systems currently used. The crosspieces, in fact, stand between the internal and external environment dividing the field of vision into quadrants, thus producing an aesthetically unpleasant impact.

[0009] International application WO2018/163029 overcomes this disadvantage by proposing a screen structure made up of three elements, i.e. a fixed base element, an intermediate element sliding vertically with respect to the first fixed element and a terminal element sliding vertically with respect to the intermediate element, each of these elements comprising a transparent panel which is fixed by means of screws to a pair of vertical uprights. The uprights are characterised by profiles that allow the telescopic housing of the upright(s) of the upper element, to obtain the vertical sliding of the intermediate element and of the terminal element. The vertical sliding of the sheets is permitted by means of a pair of gas springs provided inside the uprights.

[0010] The modular system according to WO2018/163029, not providing systems transverse to the uprights, allows an almost total vision effect to be obtained. However, the raising and lowering of the panels can only be carried out manually, i.e. by exerting a downward force on the terminal element. This operation entails a considerable output of energy, especially when the system is in the lifted condition and the terminal panel is at a height higher than that of the person who has to perform the operation, a circumstance which in itself is very frequent. The pressure to be exerted, in fact, must be such as to overcome the force exerted by the springs, which is in itself greater than that of the weight of the moving elements, in that necessary to support these elements in a stable manner.

[0011] Moreover, the actuation by means of gas springs does not allow regulation of the lifting height, i.e. it is not possible to stop the panels in an intermediate position between the totally lifted one and the lowered one, thus making the system formed in this way not very versatile and not very adaptable to different environmental situations.

[0012] European patent application EP2775057A1 describes a screen structure consisting of two side uprights that support a fixed panel and an upper liftable panel. In this structure too, the use of gas springs is provided for lifting the upper panel.

[0013] From what has just been disclosed, the disadvantages of the products in circulation up to now are evident.

[0014] Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a modular screen structure able to overcome the disadvantages listed above of the prior art.

[0015] More particularly, the main object of the present invention is that of obtaining a screen adjustable in height according to needs and able to offer a total vision effect.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to obtain a modular screen structure in which the upper element is electronically adjustable and can be controlled remotely.

[0017] A further object is to provide such a modular structure that is not invasive and in which the actuation assembly is appropriately sized and designed to be inserted in the structure and to withstand the most varied external conditions.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a structure that is simple to build, easy to install and convenient to use, as well as being inexpensive.

[0019] These and other objects are achieved by a modular screen structure in accordance with the invention having the features listed in the annexed independent claim 1.

[0020] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed by the dependent claims.

[0021] Substantially, the present invention relates to a modular screen structure comprising a base element made up of a pair of vertical uprights designed to support a first panel and an upper element made up of a pair of vertical uprights designed to support a second panel, said upper element being designed to be raised and lowered with respect to said base element; in which each of the vertical uprights of the base element has a profile such as to accommodate slidably the profile of a respective vertical upright of the upper element and is provided with a vertical opening for the sliding of the panel of the upper element; and in which the sliding of the upper element is regulated by two electromechanical actuation units arranged in the vertical uprights, each of said electromechanical actuation units being formed by an electric motor arranged in the lower part of the vertical upright of the base element, a worm screw actuated by said electric motor and a nut fixed to the profile of the vertical upright of the upper element capable of being engaged by said worm screw to allow the sliding of the upper element with respect to the base element.

[0022] Further features of the invention will be made clearer by the following detailed description, referred to a purely illustrative, and therefore non-limiting, embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a frontal view showing a module of the modular screen system in raised configuration;

Figure 2 is a view taken along line A-A in Figure 1 with parts in section and in transparency;

Figure 3 is a cross section view showing the profile of a vertical upright of the base element supporting a first panel;

Figure 4 is a plan view from above showing schematically the profile of a vertical upright of the upper element supporting a second panel associated with a vertical upright of the base element;

Figure 5 is a section view of a portion of an upright through a vertical plane when the upper element is in lowered position; and

Figure 6 is a section view of a portion of an upright through a vertical plane when the upper element is in raised position; and

Figure 7 is a plan view from above showing schematically the profiles of the structure of the vertical uprights of the base element and of the upper element according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0023] A modular screen structure will now be described in detail according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which in Figures 1 to 6 is denoted overall by reference numeral 1.

[0024] Fig. 1 shows a frontal view of a screen structure 1 formed by a base element 10 and by an upper element 20. The upper element 20 is mobile with respect to the base element 10, which remains fixed after its installation and is generally mounted on a base 30. The base element 10 and the upper element 20 have a very simple structure and formed essentially by a panel, or sheet, supported only by a pair of vertical uprights.

[0025] The panels are preferably glass sheets, although it is possible to use other types of different transparent material such as plastic, plexiglass, etc.

[0026] Specifically, base element 10 has a first panel 11 supported by a first pair of vertical uprights 12a, 12b which have the feature of having a hollow profile.

[0027] The schematic view of Fig. 3 shows from above one of the vertical uprights 12a, 12b of the base element 10, whose profile has a substantially rectangular shape and is provided with a transversal fin 15 designed to support the first panel 11 on one side. In the screen structure 1, a second vertical upright 12b has a symmetrical configuration with respect to the first upright, it also being provided with a fin 15 designed to support panel 11 on the other side. Specifically, panel 11 is supported by zones of contact 13a, 13b between the panel itself and the two fins 15, through the interposition of a suitable double-sided adhesive layer, glue in general, or other fixing systems.

[0028] In this way, the base element 10 has a pleasing aesthetic appearance and a direct coupling with the vertical uprights.

[0029] The profile of the vertical uprights 12a, 12b of the base element 10 is configured in such a way as to allow the sliding of the upper element 20 in its interior.

[0030] The upper element 20, similarly to the base element 10, consists essentially of a panel 21 supported by a pair of vertical uprights 22a, 22b. The uprights 22a, 22b also have a hollow profile.

[0031] Fig. 4 is a plan view from above of a portion of the screen structure 1 showing the coupling between one of the profiles 22a, 22b of the upper element 20 and one of the profiles 12a, 12b of the base element 10, both carrying a respective panel 21, 11. As previously described, the panels are supported on the other side by profiles 12a, 12b, 22a, 22b symmetrical to those shown in the drawing. Therefore, here below, in the description of symmetrical components, reference will be made generically to the whole reference numeral (e.g. fin 15 and not fin 15a or 15b), although it is to be understood that these elements are in mirror pairs.

[0032] The profile of the upright 22 of the upper element 20 has a substantially square shape which is suitable for being contained within the profile of the upright 12 of the base element 10. The profile of the upright 22 also has a protrusion 25 placed at an outermost edge so as to define a seat 23 for the contact between panel 21 and the vertical upright 22.

[0033] Similarly to what occurs for the base element 10, panel 21 is also supported only by vertical uprights 22a, 22b by means of the application of a double-sided adhesive layer or glue in the contact seat 23a, 23b.

[0034] As can be seen in Fig. 4, in order to allow the sliding of the upper element 20, provided with panel 21, with respect to the base element 10, the vertical upright 12 of the base element 10 has an opening 16 on its inner side which develops vertically.

[0035] The modular screen structure 1 has been described hitherto in its structural and constituent components which, as will have been understood, have the feature of being versatile, lightweight and of reduced overall dimensions. In fact, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the profile of the vertical uprights 12a, 12b of the base element 10 has a depth (dimension transversal to the front surface of the panels 11, 21) of 9 cm and a width of 4.5 cm.

[0036] In this way a pleasing aesthetic situation is created given that, once installed, the modular screen structure 1 offers a very open view, with the front of the side bars which has a dimension of only 4.5 cm.

[0037] Screen structure 1 can be appropriately rested or fixed on the floor, according to needs. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show, in fact, inside the profile of the vertical uprights 12 of the base element 10, the presence of some fastening means, which in the drawings take on the shape of a horseshoe.

[0038] In the modular screen structure 1 according to the present invention, the lowering and the lifting of the upper panel 20 are regulated by two innovative electromechanical actuation units that are designed and sized specially in order to be integrated directly inside the profiles of the vertical uprights and to withstand the various conditions due to exposure in an outdoor environment.

[0039] The electromechanical actuation unit can be seen schematically in the sections in Figures 2, 5 and 6 and basically consists of three elements: a vertical motor 101, a worm screw 102 and a nut 103.

[0040] The motors 101 have dimensions such that they are inserted and fixed in the internal surface of the profile of the vertical uprights 12a, 12b of the base element 10 and actuate the worm screws 102, also arranged vertically inside the uprights 12a, 12b of the base element 10.

[0041] According to the invention, the use in the structure of an electromechanical actuation unit equipped with a 24V vertical motor is particularly advantageous and innovative.

[0042] The nuts 103 are fixed, generally by means of screws, to the internal profile of the uprights 22a, 22b of the upper element 10. In this way the nuts 103, when engaged by the worm screws 102, allow the sliding in vertical direction of the whole upper element 20.

[0043] Fig. 2 shows a vertical section view along line A-A of Fig. 1, showing laterally a module of the modular structure 1 equipped with the actuation unit with the upper element 20 in the raised position. As previously indicated, the view is symmetrical to that which would be taken from the other side of the module.

[0044] When the structure is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the upper element 20 protrudes leaving the vertical opening 16 free, which is instead occupied by the upper panel 21 when it is in the lowered position. The nut 103 can be engaged between a maximum position, corresponding to the maximum protrusion of the upper element 21 and a minimum position, in which the upper element is totally contained in the vertical opening 16, making regulation possible at different heights.

[0045] Fig. 5 shows schematically a section of the lower upright 12 when the upper element 20 is lowered. In this condition, the nut 103, fixed to the vertical upright 22, is in the position closest to motor 101.

[0046] Fig. 6 shows instead a section of the lower upright 12 when the upper element 20 is raised and the nut 103 is in a position away from the motor 101.

[0047] Figure 7 is a schematic view like that of Fig. 4 showing a second embodiment of the invention. The structure and the functioning of this embodiment are substantially similar to those of the embodiment described above, with the difference that the first panel 11 is supported at both ends by a pair of additional vertical profiles 132a, 132b coupled to the profiles of the vertical uprights 12a, 12b of the base element 10. Optionally the additional profiles 132a, 132b can be made in a single body with the profiles of the uprights 12a, 12b.

[0048] The profile of the vertical uprights 12a, 12b remains substantially rectangular, with a vertical opening 16 provided on one of its larger sides. With reference to Fig. 7, profile 12 can be closed at vertical opening 16 by transverse walls 26 and 28. On a section 29 of the side of the profile defining vertical opening 16, holes are provided for the passage of screws 141 designed to allow coupling with an additional vertical profile 132.

[0049] The additional vertical profile is hollow with a generally square or rectangular shape and has on one side 133 turned towards the corresponding profile 12 holes for the passage of said screws 141. A side 134 adjacent to side 133 defines instead a contact surface 13 to support the first panel 11. Such a configuration makes it possible to adjust according to structural needs and tolerances the position of the first panel 11 on the base element 10. The screw coupling 141, in fact, allows horizontal sliding (i.e. transversely to the vertical opening 16) of panel 11 carried by the vertical profile 132, whose side 133, after coupling, is superimposed on a portion of the vertical opening 16.

[0050] In the second embodiment, the profile of the upright 22 of the upper element 20 has a substantially square shape such that it can slide inside the profile of the first upright 12 and has a fin 117 that protrudes from the vertical opening 16 and has a contact surface 23 designed to support the upper panel 21.

[0051] In both embodiments, preferably, the base element 10 is mounted on a base 30 placed transversely between the vertical uprights and inside which a seat 32 is formed for the insertion of the control card of the actuation units.
Furthermore, communication with the control card can be advantageously achieved through the use of a remote control, thus allowing remote adjustment of the lifting height of the upper element 20.

[0052] From what is disclosed the advantages of the present invention are clear, which provides a modular screen structure with a pleasing, non-invasive appearance and provided with panels capable of achieving a total vision effect and which can be adjusted in height.

[0053] Although in the description above specific reference has been made to screen structures, the structure according to the invention can also be used as a parapet with appropriately sized thickness of the panels.

[0054] Naturally the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment previously described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but numerous detailed changes may be made thereto by the person skilled in the art, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention itself, as defined by the annexed claims.

Claims

1. Modular screen structure (1) for the demarcation of spaces comprising:

- a base element (10) consisting of a pair of vertical uprights (12a, 12b) designed to support a first panel (11);

- an upper element (20) consisting of a pair of vertical uprights (22a, 22b) designed to support a second panel (21), said upper element (20) being designed to be raised and lowered with respect to said base element (10);

wherein each of the vertical uprights (12a, 12b) of the base element (10) has a profile such as to slidably receive the profile of a respective vertical upright (22a, 22b) of the upper element (20) and is provided with a vertical opening (16) designed to allow the sliding of the panel (21) of the upper element (10);
and wherein the sliding of the upper element (20) is regulated by two electromechanical actuation units placed in the vertical uprights (12a, 12b; 22a, 22b), each of said electromechanical actuation units being formed by:

- an electric motor (101a, 101b) placed in the lower part of the vertical upright (12a, 12b) of the base element (10);

- a worm screw (102a, 102b) actuated by said electric motor (101a, 101b);

- a nut (103a, 103b) fixed to the profile of the vertical upright (22a, 22b) of the upper element (20) designed to be engaged by said worm screw (102a, 102b) to allow the sliding of the upper element (20) with respect to the base element (10).

2. Modular screen structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of said vertical uprights (12a, 12b) of the base element (10) has a substantially rectangular hollow profile provided with a fin (15) projecting transversely in the direction of the other vertical upright (12a, 12b) designed to define a longitudinal surface of contact (13a, 13b) with the first panel (11).

3. Modular screen structure (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of said vertical uprights (22a, 22b) of the upper element (20) has a hollow profile designed to be slidably contained within the profile of the vertical uprights (12a, 12b) of the base element (10) and one side has a surface of contact (23a, 23b) with the second panel (21).

4. Modular screen structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of said vertical uprights (12a, 12b) of the base element (10) has a substantially rectangular hollow profile with said vertical opening (16) at one of the two larger sides, whereto a respective additional vertical profile (132a, 132b) is coupled, supporting the first panel (11).

5. Modular screen structure (1) according to claim 4, wherein said additional vertical profile (132a, 132b) has a rectangular or square shape and is coupled by screwing to the respective vertical upright (12a, 12b) with one of its sides (133) which occupies a portion of the vertical opening (16), a side (134) adjacent to said side (133) defining a surface of contact (13a, 13b) with the first panel (11).

6. Modular screen structure (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein each of said vertical uprights (22a, 22b) of the upper element (20) has a hollow profile designed to be contained slidably inside the profile of the vertical uprights (12a, 12b) of the base element (10) and has a fin (117) projecting from said vertical opening (16), designed to define a surface of contact (23a, 23b) with the second panel (21).

7. Modular screen structure (1) according to claims 5 and 6, wherein said coupling through screwing of the additional vertical profile (132a, 132b) to the respective vertical upright (12a, 12b) allows regulation of the width of said opening (16) and therefore the distance between said panels (11, 21).

8. Modular screen structure (1) according to claims 2, 3, 5 and 6 wherein in said contact areas (13a, 13b; 23a, 23b) is applied a double-sided adhesive tape, glue or other, suitable for fixing the first panel (11) and the second panel (21) to the respective vertical uprights (12a, 12b; 22a, 22b).

9. Modular screen structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said base element (10) is fixed to a base (30) which develops transversely between the vertical uprights (12a, 12b; 22a, 22b).

10. Modular screen structure (1) according to claim 9, wherein a seat (32) is arranged in said base (30) to house a control card for the electromechanical actuation units.

11. Modular screen structure (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said card is controlled by means of a remote control device.

Drawing