FR2717845A1 - Device for shading and / or occultation with a 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.

Description

The invention relates to a device for shading and / or occultation

  flexible membrane intended to cover a surface, in particular a glazed surface, such as a veranda, a window or the like, comprising a shaft on which and at least one flexible membrane is wound and unwound, the end of which is made integral with a support profile. The present invention will find its application to manufacturers specializing in shading devices and / or flexible membrane occultation. In fact, a number of occultation devices are already known

of the type described above.

  Thus, there are devices, often called blinds, which, although not adapted to cover glazed surfaces, such as the roof of a veranda, have a shaft whose ends are mounted

  in bearings secured to supports fixed, for example, against a wall.

  On this shaft is wound a flexible membrane whose end is secured to a profile which is itself fixed on articulated arms with elastic return means in unfolded position. These articulated arms, whose rear end is fixed, just like the shaft, against the wall, extend, under the action of said elastic return means, progressively during the unwinding of the flexible membrane. They ensure, thus, maintaining tension in a desired inclination above the surface to be protected

solar rays.

  In fact, the impossibility of adapting these blinds to the covering of glazed surfaces is due first and foremost to their sensitivity to the wind. Indeed, the slightest air flow gives the end of this blind, when deployed, beats so that it is essential to separate it sufficiently from the glass surface otherwise it may collide systematically against the latter. It is further noted that the winding and unwinding shaft is supported only at its ends. Also, he flexed under his own weight. However, because of this deformation, the flexible membrane can not wrap, evenly around the tree. Moreover, it is impossible to stretch it

uniformly once unwound.

  Also, beyond a certain length, it is necessary to subdivide the winding and unwinding shaft into several tree sections

  authorizing the development of intermediate levels.

  However, this entails the obligation to subdivide, also, the membrane into several segments since it is necessarily interrupted at the level of the bearings. Of course, up to these Interruptions, we can not prevent sunlight from entering the home or inside the veranda. There are also other types of shading devices and / or occultation that differ, somewhat, blinds described above. Thus, these devices comprise a shaft around which and on which wraps and unwinds the flexible membrane. This shaft is subjected to elastic return means ensuring its rotation in the direction corresponding to the winding of the flexible membrane. It is further fixed, by bearings, located at its ends, on a support such as a wall or other. As for the end of the membrane, it is secured to a profile whose lateral ends move in guide rails while cooperating with transmission means of the chain type, belt, rope or the like. In fact, these transmission means describe a looped circuit and wind, on the one hand, around a return pulley or the like disposed at the lower end of the guide rails and, on the other hand, around a pulley or drive wheel that can be driven

  in rotation by motorized control means or not.

  This shading and / or occultation device is highly complex

  linked 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

  a veranda or constituting the amounts of a window.

  Finally, we observe that we find, Here, the same disadvantages as previously mentioned, that is to say that the winding shaft and unwinding must necessarily have a reduced length otherwise its deformation risk, at this point, to be important that the flexible membrane can not be properly stretched. Therefore, to cover a large area it is necessary to use several juxtaposed devices that are appropriate,

  possibly connect to ensure synchronized operation.

  Of course, it is possible to use several juxtaposed devices only if it is possible to support the multitude of guide rails by a

adequate support structure.

  The present invention aims to remedy all of these disadvantages including those related to a shading device and / or

occultation of the store type.

  For this purpose, the invention relates to a flexible membrane shading and / or occultation device intended to cover a surface, in particular a glazed surface, such as a veranda, a window or the like, comprising a shaft on which and at least one flexible membrane is wound and unwound, the end of which is secured to a support profile, characterized in that said winding and unwinding shaft is movable and moves in front of or above the surface to be covered during deployment and refolding of the flexible membrane, while the support profile to which the end of the membrane is attached is fixedly mounted on a support

any such as a wall.

  The advantages obtained by virtue of this invention consist in that the winding and unwinding shaft is no longer simply supported at its ends, but throughout its length via the flexible membrane. As a result, this shaft can not deform and the winding of the flexible membrane takes place, necessarily, as it is necessary, without there being any problem of squareness causing a progressive lateral shift of said

  flexible membrane on this shaft during winding.

  Therefore, it is not necessary to subdivide the tree into

  several sections regardless of the length of the surface to be covered.

  In addition, in case of cover of a veranda, the total weight of the winding shaft rests on the structure of the latter so that the device can not start beats in the event of wind, as it happens.

produced with the blinds.

  Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from

  course of the following description relating to an embodiment

  which is given only as an indicative and non-limiting example.

  The understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to

  attached drawings and in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a shading device and / or occultation, according to the invention, in a vertical arrangement; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a shading device and / or occultation, according to the invention, in a horizontal or inclined arrangement requiring the use of extension means 9; FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a section made at the height of the winding shaft and unwinding in a configuration

corresponding to Figure 2.

  As shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the present invention relates to a shading device and / or occultation 1 flexible membrane 2 in particular for covering a

  glazed surface 3, such as a veranda, a window or the like.

  Thus, this device 1 comprises a shaft 4 on which and wraps and unwinds the flexible membrane 2 whose end 5 is secured

a support profile 6.

  Advantageously, according to the invention, this support section 6 is fixed, while

  that the winding and unwinding shaft 4 moves forward or

  above the glass surface 3 to be covered during deployment and

folding of the flexible membrane 2.

  More specifically, in the context of a vertical arrangement as shown in Figure 1 and when controlling the rotation of the shaft 4, for example by means of a motor 7 of the tubular type, this shaft 4 goes up or down causing the winding or unwinding of the flexible membrane 2. When it is a matter of concealing an inclined glazed surface corresponding to an arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2, the shaft 4 rests on the latter

  through appropriate rolling means 8.

  It should be noted that in a horizontal position or of low inclination, the deployment of the flexible membrane 2 can not be done simply by gravity, that is to say under the influence of the weight of the tree that draws on the flexible membrane 2. Under these conditions, it is used extension means 9 which, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, are substantially in the form of at least two arms 10, 11, hinged return elastic in unfolded position. Thus, these arms 10, 11 are able to push the shaft 4 above the surface to be covered 3 during the deployment of the flexible membrane 2. More specifically, the rear end 12 of these arms 10, 11 is mounted articulated on a fixed igniter 13 located substantially at the height of the support profile 6 which is secured to the end 5 of the flexible membrane 2. The other end 14 of these arms 10, 11 is, in turn, connected to the tree 4 by

  via connecting means 15.

  In the context of the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, these connecting means 15 are in the form of a profile 16 extending substantially parallel to the shaft 4. Furthermore, this profile 16 is equipped with at its ends 17, 18, bearing supports 19 at which the shaft 4 is rotatably mounted. On this profile 16 are also mounted consoles 20 also visible in Figure 3, equipped with rolling means 8 in the form of rollers or rollers with axis of rotation parallel to the axis of the shaft 4 Advantageously, the consoles 20 borrowing the configuration of cradles partially enclosing the shaft 4. Inside these brackets 20, in the form of cradles, can thus rest this shaft 4 by preventing it from bending under its own weight in the case of a horizontal arrangement or inclined. 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 shaft 4 so that it can rest on said rollers or rollers. This avoids the friction that is

  the origin of premature wear of the flexible membrane 2.

  Very often, for wind resistance issues but also to avoid contact of the articulated arms 10, 11 with the membrane 2 when in the unfolded position, these articulated arms 10, 11 do not unfold linearly. but form a bend substantially at the height of the intermediate articulation 21. By cons, in folded position, the two parts 22, 23 connected by said intermediate hinge 21 and forming an arm 10, 11 are substantially juxtaposed and lie in the same plane . Also, the articulation means 24 through which the rear end 12 of the articulated arms 10, 11 is connected to the fixed base 13, are determined so as to allow a pivoting of said articulated arms 10, 11 around an axis 25 perpendicular to their longitudinal axis and about an axis 26

substantially horizontal.

  Thus, in the context of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 during the deployment of the flexible membrane 2, the rear portion 22 of the articulated arms 10, 11 will tend to lift up so as to deviate from said

  flexible membrane 2, this by pivoting about the horizontal axis 26.

  However, this also results in the rotation of the section 16 to which the end 14 of the articulated arms 10, 11 are connected. This rotation takes place substantially around the axis of the shaft 4. In order to avoid that the rolling means 8, under the influence of this rotation of the profile 16, is no longer based on the structure of the surface to be covered, said rolling means 8 of the roller or roller type are split, as shown in Figure 3 Thus, it is ensured that at any time at least one of these rollers or rolls maintains contact with the supporting structure, corresponding, for example, to that of the veranda to be covered, regardless of the angular position of the consoles 20 supporting these rolling means 8 and connected

to the profile 16.

  In the context of Figure 2, there is illustrated a mode of execution of the

  Invention according to which the articulated arms 10, 11 extend beyond

  above the flexible membrane 2. It is understood that it is quite possible to arrange these articulated arms 10, 11 under the flexible membrane 2. In fact, it is sufficient, at this time, that the bases 13 are located under the support profile 6 and that the profile 16 is disposed at the front of the shaft 4, under the flexible membrane 2 instead of extending, as shown in FIGS.

  Figures 2 and 3, parallel above this shaft 4.

  It will be noted, in addition, that in an inclined arrangement corresponding to Figure 2, the flexible membrane 2 wraps around the shaft 4 from above the latter. Although it is possible to envisage a winding from below the shaft 4, the above solution is preferable insofar as it avoids winding on the dirt resting on the flexible membrane 2. on the contrary, this dirt can be evacuated freely

  during winding of said flexible membrane 2.

  Higher up in the description, it was specified that the rotation of the tree

  4 can be controlled by a tubular motor 7 placed inside.

  The power supply of this motor 7 is effected, preferably, by a power supply cable 27 housed in one of the articulated arms 11. In the absence of such an articulated arm, for example, in the context of a vertical arrangement , the power cable 27 can be freely suspended between the motor 7 and

  the power supply.

  It should be noted that the flexible membrane 2 is derived from a fabric whose width is necessarily limited. Also, for the large surface coverage, it is customary 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 generate, necessarily, local extra thicknesses on the shaft 4 when said flexible membrane is gradually wound around the latter. However, it is obvious that such local extra thicknesses interfere, again, a suitable winding of the flexible membrane. Also and according to the invention, said flexible membrane 2 consists of one or more juxtaposed fabric sections welded or sewn together transversely to the direction of deployment of said flexible membrane 2, or parallel to the winding shaft 4. The advantages This invention essentially consists in that there is certainty of a suitable winding of the flexible membrane 2 around the shaft 4, whatever the length thereof. Therefore, the length of such a device according to the invention can be adjusted without

  difficulties, to large glass surfaces.

  Moreover, such a device according to the invention avoids any lateral guidance of the flexible membrane. Indeed, squaring of the whole is ensured

  via the latter kept constantly in tension.

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

  example the structure of a veranda.

  Although the invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment, it is understood that it is in no way limited and that various modifications of shapes, materials and combinations thereof can be made. various elements, without departing from the framework and

the spirit of the invention.

Claims (13)

claims   1. Device for shading and / or occultation with a flexible membrane (2) intended to cover a surface (3), in particular glass, such as a veranda, a window or the like, comprising a shaft (4) on which and which is wound and unwinds at least one flexible membrane (2) whose end (5) is secured to a support profile (6), characterized in that said shaft (4) winding and unwinding is movable and moves in front of or above the surface (3) to be covered during deployment and refolding of the flexible membrane (2), while the support profile (6) to which the end (5) is attached of the flexible membrane (2) is fixed mounted on a support such as a wall.   Shade and / or occultation device according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in a vertical or steeply inclined arrangement, the deployment of the flexible membrane (2) is obtained under the influence of rotation. of the shaft (4) and the pull of the weight   of the latter on said flexible membrane (2).   3. shading device and / or occultation according to claim 1, characterized in that, in a horizontal position or in low inclination, it comprises extension means (9) able to push the shaft (4) above the surface to be covered (3) when deploying the flexible membrane (2).   Shade and / or occultation device according to claim 3, characterized in that, arranged above a surface, for example, glazed, horizontal or inclined, the shaft (4) rests on the latter by   via appropriate rolling means (8).   Shade and / or occultation device according to claim 3, characterized in that the extension means (9) are in the form of at least two arms (10, 11), articulated with elastic return in the unfolded position, the rear end (12) of which is 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 (2) is secured, while the other end (14) of these arms (10, 11) is connected to the shaft (4) via connecting means (15).   Shade and / or occultation device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the connecting means (15) are in the form of a profile (16) extending parallel to the shaft (4). ) and having, at its ends (17, 18), bearing supports (19) at which the shaft (4) is rotatably mounted.   Shade and / or occultation device according to claims 4 and   6, characterized in that on the profile (16) are mounted brackets (20) provided with said rolling means (8) in the form of rollers or rollers. Shade and / or occultation device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the brackets (20) take the configuration of   cradles inside which the tree (4) rests.   Shade and / or occultation device according to claim 5,   characterized in that the arms (10, 11) extend above or below   below the flexible membrane (2), the latter coming to wind from above around the tree (4).   Shade and / or occultation device according to claim 5, characterized in that the rear end (12) of the arms (10, 11) is secured to the fixed bases (13) via articulation means (24) allowing pivoting of said arms (10, 11), on the one hand, about an axis (25) perpendicular to their longitudinal axis and, on the other hand, around a horizontal axis (26).   11. A shading and / or occultation device according to any one of   preceding claims, characterized in that the shaft (4) is   rotated by an electric motor, preferably of the type   tubular, disposed within said shaft (4).   12. A shading and / or occulting device according to claims 5 and   11, characterized in that it comprises a power cable (27) housed in one of the arms (10, 11) for connecting the electric motor (7) to   a supply of electrical energy.   13. A shading and / or occultation device according to any one of   preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible membrane   (2) consists of several sections of fabric welded or sewn on   to each other in a direction parallel to the shaft (4).