EP0676514A1 - Shading and/or darkening device with flexible membrane - Google Patents

Abstract

The blind is made of a flexible fabric (2) which covers the glazed surface (3). It has a shaft (4) on which and from which the fabric unrolls. The end of this shaft (5) is attached to a support (6). The shaft (4) moves and when the blind is unrolled it moves to the front, or above the surface. The support (6) to which the end of the fabric is fixed, is attached to a substrate, such as a wall. When the blind is vertical or at a steep angle, the blind is unrolled by rotation of the shaft (4) and the tension exerted on the membrane by the weight of the shaft. When the blind is horizontal or at a slight angle there are extending arms (9) which push the shaft over the surface. The arms are elastically sprung to move to their opened position. The back end of each arm (12) is mounted on a fixed base (13) at the same height as the support (6). The other end (14) of each arm (10, 11) is fixed to the shaft (4) by a crossbar (16) which lies parallel to the shaft. At each end (17 18) there is a section (19) in which the shaft rotates. There are sections (20) attached to the upper section (16) with rollers or wheels (8) which help to roll the blind. The blind is rolled and unrolled by an electric motor, preferably a tubular motor which is placed inside the shaft. An electric cable (27) can be provided inside one of the arms (10, 11) to drive the motor. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a shading and / or occultation device with flexible membrane intended to cover a surface, in particular glazed, such as a veranda, a window or the like, comprising a tree on which is wound and from which takes place at least one flexible membrane, the end of which is made integral with a support profile.

The present invention will find its application to industrialists specializing in shading and / or blackout flexible membrane devices.

In fact, a certain number of masking devices of the type described above are already known.

Thus, there are devices, often called blinds, which, although not at all suitable for covering glass surfaces, such as the roof of a veranda, include a shaft, the ends of which are mounted in bearings secured to fixed supports, by example, against a wall. On this shaft is wound a flexible membrane, the end of which is made integral with a profile which is itself fixed on articulated arms with elastic return means in the unfolded position. These articulated arms, the rear end of which is fixed, like the shaft, against the wall, extend, under the action of said elastic return means, progressively during the unwinding of the flexible membrane. They provide it. thus, maintaining tension according to a desired inclination above the surface to be protected from sunlight.

In fact, the impossibility of adapting these blinds to the covering of glass surfaces is first of all due to their sensitivity to the wind. Indeed, the slightest current of air gives the end of this blind, when it is deployed, beats so that it is essential to separate it sufficiently from the glass surface otherwise it risks colliding systematically against the latter.

Note, moreover, that the winding and unwinding shaft is only supported at its ends. Also, it flexes under its own weight. However, due to this deformation, the flexible membrane cannot be wound, around the shaft in a regular manner. In addition, it is impossible to stretch it evenly after unwinding.

Also, beyond a certain length, it is necessary to subdivide the winding and unwinding shaft into several tree sections authorizing the arrangement of intermediate bearings.

However, this entails the obligation to subdivide, also, the membrane into several sections since it is necessarily interrupted at the level of the bearings. Of course, at the height of these interruptions, we cannot prevent the sun's rays from entering the house or inside the veranda.

There are also other types of shading and / or blackout devices which differ somewhat from the blinds described above. Thus, these devices comprise a shaft around which and on which the flexible membrane is wound and unwound. This shaft is subjected to elastic return means ensuring its rotation in the direction corresponding to the winding of the flexible membrane. It is, moreover, fixed, by means of bearings, situated at its ends, on a support such as a wall or the like. As for the end of the membrane, it is made integral with a profile whose lateral ends move in guide rails while cooperating with transmission means of the chain, belt, rope or the like type. In fact, these transmission means describe a looped circuit and are wound, on the one hand, around a deflection pulley or the like placed at the lower end of the guide rails and, on the other hand, around a pulley or driving wheel capable of being rotated by motorized or non-motorized control means.

This shading and / or blackout device is very complex due to the transmission means arranged in the lateral guide rails. In addition, these guide rails must necessarily be fixed on supports such as profiles used in the composition of the structure of a veranda or constituting the uprights of a window.

It is also known, from document FR-A-2,643,110, to replace the transmission means, arranged in the guide rails, articulated arms similar to blinds. However, said guide rails are, here, preserved and receive guide carriages integral with the profile mounted at the free end of these articulated arms and to which the fabric or any flexible membrane is fixed. Also, the constraints are, substantially, similar to those set out above.

Finally, we observe that we find, in these solutions, the same drawbacks as previously mentioned, that is to say that the winding and unwinding shaft must necessarily have a reduced length without which its deformation risk, at this point, of being important that the flexible membrane cannot be adequately stretched. Consequently, to cover a large area, it is necessary to use several juxtaposed devices which may need to be connected in order to ensure synchronized operation. Of course, several juxtaposed devices can only be used if it is possible to support the multitude of guide rails by an adequate support structure.

The present invention aims to remedy all of these drawbacks, including those related to a shading and / or blackout device of the blind type.

The invention as characterized in the claims. solves this problem and consists of a shading and / or occultation device with flexible membrane intended to cover a surface, in particular glazed, said flexible membrane having one end secured to a support profile and winding around and unwinding from a winding shaft, said support profile being fixedly mounted on a support such as a wall while the winding shaft being movable and made integral, by means of suitable connecting means, with the free end at least two articulated arms with elastic return in the unfolded position, these arms themselves being mounted articulated, at their rear end, on a fixed base situated substantially at the height of said support profile to which the end of the flexible membrane.

The advantages obtained thanks to this invention consist in that the winding and unwinding shaft is no longer simply supported by its ends, but over its entire length by means of the flexible membrane. Therefore, this tree cannot deform and the flexible membrane is wound, necessarily, as it should be, without there being any squaring problem causing a progressive lateral shift of said flexible membrane on this shaft during winding.

Consequently, it is not necessary to subdivide the tree into several sections regardless of the length of the surface to be covered.

In addition, when covering a veranda, the total weight of the winding shaft rests on the structure of the latter so that the device cannot start beating in the event of wind, as occurs with stores.

• la figure 1 représente une vue schématisée et en perspective d'un dispositif d'ombrage et/ou d'occultation, conforme à l'invention, dans une disposition horizontale ou inclinée ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématisée d'une coupe réalisée à hauteur de l'arbre d'enroulement et de déroulement dans une configuration correspondant à la figure 1.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which follows, the understanding of which will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawings:

• Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a shading and / or blackout device according to the invention, in a horizontal or inclined arrangement;
• FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a section made at the height of the winding and unwinding shaft in a configuration corresponding to FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the attached drawings, the present invention relates to a shading and / or blackout device 1 with flexible membrane 2 in particular intended to cover a glazed surface 3, such as a veranda, a window or the like.

Thus, this device 1 comprises a winding shaft 4 on which and from which the flexible membrane 2 is wound and unwound, the end 5 of which is made integral with a support profile 6.

Advantageously, according to the invention, this support profile 6 is fixed, while the winding shaft 4 moves in front of or above the glass surface 3 to be covered during the deployment and folding of the flexible membrane 2.

So when it comes to obscuring a corresponding inclined glass surface in an arrangement illustrated in Figure 1, the winding shaft 4 rests on the latter by means of suitable rolling means 8.

It should be observed that in a horizontal position or of slight inclination, the deployment of the flexible membrane 2 cannot be done simply by gravity, that is to say under the influence of the weight of the tree which comes to pull on the flexible membrane 2. Under these conditions, extension means 9 are used which, according to the invention, are present, substantially, in the form of at least two arms 10, 11, articulated with elastic return in the unfolded position. Thus, these arms 10, 11 are able to push the winding shaft 4 above the surface to be covered 3 during the deployment of the flexible membrane 2. More precisely, the rear end 12 of these arms 10, 11 is mounted articulated on a fixed base 13 situated substantially at the height of the support profile 6 to which the end 5 of the flexible membrane is made integral 2. The other free end 14 of these arms 10, 11 is, for its part, connected to the winding shaft 4 by means of suitable connecting means 15.

In the context of the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, these connecting means 15 are in the form of a profile 16 extending substantially parallel above the winding shaft 4. Furthermore, this profile 16 is equipped, at its ends 17, 18, with bearing supports 19 at which the winding shaft 4 is rotatably mounted.

On this profile 16 are also mounted brackets 20 also visible in FIG. 2, equipped with rolling means 8 in the form of rollers or rollers with an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of the winding shaft 4. Advantageously, the consoles 20 using the configuration of cradles partially enveloping the winding shaft 4. Inside these consoles 20, in the form of cradles, can thus rest this winding shaft 4 while preventing it from bending under its own weight in the case of a horizontal or inclined arrangement. Note, moreover, that the peripheral speed of the rollers or rollers, constituting the rolling means 8, is necessarily identical to the peripheral speed of the winding shaft 4 so that it can rest on said rollers or rollers. This avoids the friction which is the cause of premature wear of the flexible membrane 2.

Very often, for reasons of wind resistance but also in order to avoid any contact of the articulated arms 10, 11 with the membrane 2 when they are in the unfolded position, these articulated arms 10, 11 do not unfold in a linear fashion , but form a bend substantially at the height of the intermediate articulation 21. On the other hand, in the folded position, the two parts 22, 23 connected by said intermediate articulation 21 and forming an arm 10, 11 are substantially juxtaposed and are located in the same plan. Also, the articulation means 24 by means of which the rear end 12 of the articulated arms 10, 11 is connected to the fixed base 13, are determined so as to allow pivoting of said articulated arms 10, 11 around an axis 25 perpendicular to their longitudinal axis and around a substantially horizontal axis 26.

Thus, in the context of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 during the deployment of the flexible membrane 2, the rear part 22 of the articulated arms 10, 11 will tend to lift so as to move away from said flexible membrane 2, this by pivoting about the horizontal axis 26. However, this also results in the rotation of the profile 16 to which the end 14 of the articulated arms 10, 11 is connected. This rotation takes place, substantially, around the axis of the winding shaft 4. In order to avoid that the rolling means 8, under the influence of this rotation of the profile 16, no longer rests on the structure of the surface to be covered, said rolling means 8 of the type rollers or rollers are split, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, it is ensured that at least one of these rollers or rollers at all times maintains contact with the bearing structure, corresponding, for example, to that of the veranda to be covered, whatever the po angular position of the brackets 20 supporting these rolling means 8 and connected to the profile 16.

In the context of FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated according to which the articulated arms 10, 11 extend above the flexible membrane 2. It is understood that it is entirely makes it possible to arrange these articulated arms 10, 11 under the flexible membrane 2. In fact, it suffices, at this time, that the bases 13 are are located under the support profile 6 and that the profile 16 is disposed at the front of the winding shaft 4, under the flexible membrane 2 instead of extending, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, parallel to the above this winding shaft 4.

Note, moreover, that in an inclined arrangement corresponding to Figure 1, the flexible membrane 2 is wound around the winding shaft 4 from above the latter. Although it is possible to envisage a winding from below the winding shaft 4, the above solution is preferable insofar as it avoids winding over the dirt resting on the flexible membrane 2 On the contrary, this dirt is freely removed during the winding of said flexible membrane 2.

Earlier in the description, it was pointed out that the rotation of the winding shaft 4 can be controlled by a tubular motor 7 placed inside. The supply of this motor 7 is preferably carried out by a supply cable 27 housed in one of the articulated arms 11.

It should be observed that the flexible membrane 2 comes from a fabric whose width is necessarily limited. Also, for large area coverage, it is usual to juxtapose several sections of fabric, the seams or welds extending parallel to the direction of deployment of the flexible membrane. However, such welds or seams necessarily generate local extra thicknesses on the winding shaft 4 when said flexible membrane is gradually wound around the latter. However, it is obvious that such local excess thicknesses hinder, here again, a suitable winding of the flexible membrane. Also and according to the invention, said flexible membrane 2 consists of one or more sections of juxtaposed fabrics welded or sewn together transversely in the direction of deployment of said flexible membrane 2, ie parallel to the winding shaft 4.

The advantages resulting from this invention consist essentially in that one is certain of a suitable winding of the flexible membrane 2 around the winding shaft 4, whatever the length thereof. Therefore, the length of such a device conforms to the invention can be easily adjusted to large glass surfaces.

Furthermore, such a device according to the invention avoids any lateral guidance of the flexible membrane. Indeed, the squaring of the assembly is ensured by means of the latter maintained constantly in tension.

In addition, such a device according to the invention is not very sensitive to wind, in particular in the case of an inclined or horizontal arrangement insofar as the total weight of the winding shaft 4 rests on the bearing structure, for example the structure of a veranda.

Claims (10)

Shading and / or blackout device with flexible membrane (2) intended to cover a surface (3), in particular glazed, such as a veranda, a window or the like, said flexible membrane (2) having one end (5 ) made integral with a support profile (6) and winding around and unwinding from a winding shaft (4), characterized in that said support profile (6) is fixedly mounted on a support, such as a wall, while the winding shaft (4) is movable and made integral, by means of suitable connecting means (15), with the free end (14) of at least two arms (10, 11) articulated with elastic return in the unfolded position, these arms (10, 11) being themselves articulated, at their rear end (12), on a fixed base (13) situated substantially at the height of said support profile ( 6) to which the end (5) of the flexible membrane (2) is made integral. Shading and / or blackout device according to claim 1, characterized in that, arranged above a surface, for example, glazed, horizontal or inclined, the winding shaft (4) rests on the latter by means of suitable rolling means (8). Shading and / or blackout device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the connecting means (15) are in the form of a profile (16) extending parallel to the 'winding shaft (4) and having, at its ends (17, 18), bearing supports (19) at which the winding shaft (4) is rotatably mounted. Shading and / or blackout device according to claim 3, characterized in that on the profile (16) are mounted brackets (20) equipped with said rolling means (8) in the form of rollers or rollers. Shading and / or blackout device according to claim 4, characterized in that the brackets (20) take the configuration of cradles inside which rests the winding shaft (4). Shading and / or blackout device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the arms (10, 11) extend above or below the flexible membrane (2) , the latter being wound from above around the winding shaft (4). Shading and / or blackout device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rear end (12) of the arms (10, 11) is made integral with the fixed bases (13) by by means of articulation means (24) allowing said arms (10, 11) to pivot, on the one hand, around an axis (25) perpendicular to their longitudinal axis and, on the other hand, around a horizontal axis (26). Shading and / or blackout device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the winding shaft (4) is rotated by an electric motor, preferably of the tubular type, arranged at the interior of said winding shaft (4). Shading and / or blackout device according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a power cable (27) housed in one of the arms (10, 11) for the connection of the electric motor (7 ) to a power supply. Shading and / or blackout device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible membrane (2) consists of several sections of fabrics welded or sewn together in a direction parallel to the winding shaft (4).

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