Patent Grant
7152655
The present invention relates generally to window shades, wall hangings, and the like and more particularly, to an apparatus of such type which has a plurality of parallel light deflecting slats which when hung form a flat article.
For regulating the light that enters through windows, it is known to use slatted shades. A slatted shade comprises many individual slats extending parallel to one another and as a rule horizontally. The slats are curved cylindrically about an axis extending parallel to the slat axis in order to provide adequate stability against kinking. The individual slats are kept spaced apart, creating a light gap between adjacent slats. The spacers for the slats are structures similar to a rope ladder, on the rungs of which the slats rest. With the aid of two tapes extending through all the slats, the length of the thus-formed slatted rollup shade can be varied. The entry of light also can be varied by means of positioning the slats more or less obliquely.
It is also known to vary the acoustical properties in a room and the appearance of the room with the aid of wall coverings and ceiling coverings.
The object of the invention is to create a multi-purpose novel flat article. In a further aspect of the invention, a flat article is provided in which the passage of light through it, observed from reflection, is further reduced.
In carrying out the invention, a novel flat article is provided that comprises plurality of bars extending parallel to one another, which are joined together by connecting means, specifically in such a way that at least in the position for use, a gap is produced between each two adjacent bars. The connecting means furthermore make flexibility of the flat article possible about axes that extend parallel to the bars.
The novel flat article can not only be used for window shades, awnings and the like, that is, to regulate the passage of light through them, but also for wall coverings or ceiling coverings, and particularly for varying the acoustics of a room. Because of the gaps between the bars, the sound absorption in the room can be varied.
To join the individual bars to one another, various alternative connecting means can be used. The connecting means can be formed by at least two connecting elements that are at least approximately linear or bandlike, and the individual bars are joined together in a way to make the flat article. The linear connecting means can either pass through openings in the bars or extend over circumferential surfaces of the bars and be connected to the outer circumferential surface. The latter option is possible if there are two linear elements per connecting point which are twisted together in the region of the gap are used. The other kind of connecting means resides in the use of individual members that each join together only two bars. Their shape depends on the type of bars involved.
The bars of the flat article are preferably predominantly hollow in order to minimize weight.
Depending on the intended use, it is expedient if the bars have a constant cross section over their length. The bars can have the shape of tubes that are completely closed in the circumferential direction, or they can be tubelike articles with a gap extending lengthwise on one side. Using the gap makes production substantially simpler. In the case of individual connecting elements, they can be provided with a shank and a head, with the head resting on the edges of the slit and the shank extending to the outside through the gap. At an appropriate spacing, the shank into a corresponding opening in the adjacent bar and is anchored in that opening. The simplest form of anchoring is to bend the shank over 90° in the next bar.
Insertable individual connecting elements can simplify assembly. The linear connecting element need only be threaded through one hole, while on the opposite side of the tubular bar it can emerge through the gap.
The bars of the flat article preferably are produced by roll forming, by means of which bars with a longitudinal slit in particular can be easily produced in endless form.
The bars expediently comprise a material that does not oxidize in the particular environment in use, such as aluminum or special steel, preferably with a satin-finished surface. The wall thickness of the bars in window shade applications is between 0.1 and 0.5 mm, and preferably between 0.2 and 0.4 mm. The latter range is a good comprise between weight, deformability in the roll forming, and stability in later use. Plastic can also be used. The joining technique in each case depends on the material as well as the weight and the resultant force that may occur at the most heavily loaded point.
If the flat article is used to control the entry of light, the bars preferably have a substantially elliptical or kidney-shaped form in such case, even when the sun is low in the sky, good shading still is possible without the bars having to be placed too close together. The diameter of the bars can be between 2 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 2 and 5 mm. The spacing range preferably is between 0.5 and 5 mm, and the wall thickness of the bars is between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm. The bars may be straight so they can be rolled up onto a winding roller, but alternatively can be curved.
Securing means prevent the bars from being displaceable counter to one another in the longitudinal direction.
To keep the bars spaced apart, spacer elements in the form of short tubular portions can be used, or the spacer elements can be an integral component of the bars or of the connecting elements. In the case of a linear connecting element of spring steel wire, the steel wire can be bent in zigzag fashion, with one bar disposed at each sharp bend.
The linear connecting means can be monofilaments of plastic or metal and preferably spring steel. The connecting elements preferably should be UV-resistant and should also not oxidize.
The spacing between the bars can be constant over the width of the flat article, that is, in the direction transverse to the length, or it can vary in that direction. The variation can be intermittent or continuous.
Depending on the geometry of the individual bars, on the side of the flat article remote from the light source a very brightly lighted, almost glaringly bright strip can be observed, which has the width of the light source and spreads over the entire vertical or horizontal extent of the flat article. The direction of propagation of the bright strip depends on whether the bars are disposed horizontally or vertically. With horizontal bars, a vertical strip results.
In the flat article of the invention, the bars form a circumferentially closed tube. The bars all have the same cross-sectional profile. By design, each bar forms a continuous groove on its outside, that is, on the side facing away from the light source. The groove points upward at an angle of approximately 26° relative to a plane defined by the deployed flat article.
Because of this groove, incident light is reflected toward the underside of the bar above it at an angle such that no reflection occurs, and the light is cast onto the other side of the flat article.
Especially favorable conditions result if the groove is defined by two substantially flat faces which form an angle of between 165° and 120° with one another, preferably an angle of 137°. In this case, the direction of the groove means that the bisector of the angle between the two faces that define the groove extends at an angle of approximately 26° to a plane that is defined by the deployed flat article. Especially favorable reflection conditions, that is, the least possible passage of light through, result if the cross-sectional profile is pentagonal.
With the pentagonal cross-sectional profile, two edges of the cross-sectional profile can extend parallel to one another.
An edge extending between the edges parallel to one another forms an angle of 86° with the longer of the two parallel edges. When the flat article is deployed, this means that the underside of the applicable bar is no longer perpendicular to the plane or the two-dimensional outline defined by the deployed flat article. The orientation is selected such that the front edge of the bar is toward the light source and somewhat higher than the edge of the bar that faces away from the light source.
Production becomes especially simple if the bar is edge-rolled from a sheet-metal strip. The rolled profile can be formed embodied as overlapping one side. This has the advantage on the one hand of an improved appearance, and on the other, given a suitable location of the overlap, a defined sharp edge is created in the region of the underside of the applicable bar, and hence more-favorable conditions when light shines through, or in other words better shading action.
To hold the bars firmly to the connecting elements, laser welding also can be used, which is relatively simple in production because it makes threading or insertion operations unnecessary. The pentagonal profile is quite suitable for laser welding because a plane face is already available.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:
While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Referring now more particularly to
Each bar 6 in this case comprises a circular steel tube which is circumferentially closed. Viewed over their length, the bars 6 have a constant cross section. Instead of a steel tube, a plastic or drawn aluminum tube may be used as will be shown hereinafter. It also is possible to produce the bars 6 by roll-forming. Brass or bronze can also be used as the material.
The surface of the bars 6 can be satin-finished or shiny, depending on the visual effect to be attained.
To keep the bars 6 spaced apart in the flat article 5 and secure them to one another, connecting means 7 are provided. Each of the connecting means 7 comprises a connecting element 8, in the form of a steel wire, for instance, of small diameter. For receiving the connecting element 8, which to use weaving terminology is equivalent to a warp thread, each bar 6 is provided at the applicable point with bores 9 aligned with one another. The axes of the bores 9 are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bars 6 and pass through the respective bar 6 across the diameter of the bars 6.
Since when the flat article 5 is deployed the connecting elements 8 are located in the same plane, all the bores of the bars 6 are oriented identically as well; that is, the bores 9 in each bar 6 are axially parallel. The connecting element 8, in the form of the steel wire, extends uncut successively through all the bars 6; that is, the connecting element 8 extends over the entire length of the flat article 5. The bar 6 at the lower edge of the flat article 5 is anchored to the connecting element 8 in a suitable way, for instance by welding, adhesive bonding, or deformation.
So that the bars 6 will always maintain the desired spacing from one another, a spacer sleeve 11 is threaded onto each connecting element 8 between each two adjacent bars. The spacer sleeves 11 all have the same dimensions, and as a result, the parallel bars 6 are kept spaced apart with the same spacing from one another in the longitudinal direction of the flat article 5, namely in the vertical direction as viewed in
The diameter of the bars 6 and the size of the gap between them can be adapted to the particular use. The diameter of the base preferably is between 2 and 15 mm, most preferably between 2 and 5 mm, and the spacing between the bars preferably is on the same order of magnitude. The wall thickness of the bars preferably is from 0.1 to 0.5 mm, and most preferably from 0.2 to 0.4 mm.
In
On the side diametrically opposite the slit 12, each bar is formed with a row of holes 14, which correspond in number to the number of desired connecting elements.
While in the exemplary embodiment of
Each connecting element 8 is in the form of a “nail” and comprises a wirelike shank 15 which is provided with a head 16 on one end. At a point remote from the head 16, the shank 15 is bent over at a right angle at 17 so that a longer portion 18 of the shank 15 extends in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bar 6. The length of the portion 18 is greater than the inside diameter of the bar 6. For instance, the portion 14 has a length equivalent to approximately two to three times the diameter of the bar 6.
As the drawings show, when the flat article 5a is suspended, the head 16 rests on the side of the two slit edges 13 oriented toward the interior, while the bent portion 18 rests against the inside of the bar on the side opposite the slit 12.
One connecting element 8a is inserted into each hole 14, with the bent portion 18 leading. Although the portion 18 is larger than the diameter of the bar 6, there is no hindrance to the insertion process. During assembly, the portion 18 can protrude freely through the slit 12 on the opposite side, so that the connecting element 8a can be inserted far enough that the bending point 17 is located in the hole 14. Next, the connecting element 8a is rotated 90° until the portion of the shank 15 with the head 16 on it protrudes perpendicularly away from the bar 6a. For further assembly, a filler piece can be thrust temporarily into the applicable bar 6a, and by means of it the bent portion 18 is firmly held in contact with the inside of the bar 6. The filler piece can be in bar form and therefore can be introduced easily because all the connecting elements 8a are inserted into the applicable bar 6a with the same orientation of the bent portion 18. Next, the bar 6a prepared in this way is connected to a further bar 6a; the connecting elements 8a are introduced from the side into the slit 12 of this further bar 6a, with their head 16 located in the interior of the applicable bar 6a. Next, the filler piece, which serves to fix the portions 18 temporarily, is pulled out again. The process described above is repeated until such time as the flat article 5a has achieved the desired length.
During assembly, the portion 18 can protrude freely through the slit 12 on the opposite side, so that the connecting element 8 can be inserted far enough that the bending point 17 is located in the hole 14. Next, the connecting element 8 is rotated 90° until the portion of the shank 15 with the head 16 on it protrudes perpendicularly away from the bar 6. For further assembly, a filler piece can be thrust temporarily into the applicable bar 6, and by means of it the bent portion 18 is firmly held in contact with the inside of the bar 6. The filler piece can be in bar form and therefore can be introduced easily because all the connecting elements 8 are inserted into the applicable bar 6 with the same orientation of the bent portion 18. Next, the bar 6 prepared in this way is connected to a further bar 6; the connecting elements 8 are introduced from the side into the slit 12 of this further bar 6, with their head 16 located in the interior of the applicable bar 6. Next, the filler piece, which serves to fix the portions 18 temporarily, is pulled out again.
The process described above is repeated until such time as the flat article 5 has achieved the desired length.
For laterally locking the bars together, a suitable end piece can be inserted into each of the bars 6a. The end piece prevents the head 16 of the connecting element 8 on the end from being able to slip out of the associated bar 6a.
Each connecting element 8b, as depicted in
Adjoining the curves 20, the back 19 merges with two legs 21 axially parallel to one another, which as
The legs 21, in the exemplary embodiment of
As can be seen, the curves 20 have the purpose of enabling a defined contact of the straight part of the back 19 with the inside of the bar 6, without this contact being hindered by the curvatures at the transition between the back 19 and the legs 21.
In a departure from the exemplary embodiment of
First, the U-shaped connecting element 8b is held in readiness; the legs 21 still extend all the way and do not have extensions 22 bent at an angle. The connecting elements 8b thus furnished are introduced through the slit 12b by their legs 21 into the respective openings 14. After the legs 21 have been inserted, they are bent at an angle to opposite sides on each connecting element 8b, creating the opposed extensions 22 bent at an angle. Once the applicable bar 6b has been equipped completely with the desired number of connecting elements 8b, and these connecting elements have also been bent over as shown, the legs 21 are introduced from the side into the applicable slit 12b of the next bar 6b. The result is a configuration as depicted in
The production of this embodiment is as follows:
From the free end, a bar is positioned onto the applicable connecting element. In this process the connecting element 8c first passes through the slit 12c and then through the opening 14c. After this assembly is completed, the wirelike connecting element 8c, which can also be considered linear, is pressed flat, specifically in such a way that the longitudinal extent of the pressed-flat portion 22c is located parallel to the slit 12c. This creates an enlargement in width that creates two shoulders 24 and 25. When the next bar 6c is then positioned onto the connecting element 8c, the slit 12c can readily pass over the widened portion 22c, while the opening 14c will stand with its edges on the two shoulders 24 and 25.
Finally, a configuration is obtained as depicted in
If the length of the portion 22c, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the connecting element 8c, protrudes out of the bar 6c, as shown, and the spacing between adjacent flattened portions 22c is approximately equivalent to the thickness of the material comprising the bar 16c in the region of the hole 14c, the spacing between adjacent bars 6c is largely fixed. This arrangement furthermore has the advantage that each bar 6c is individually coupled to the applicable connecting element 8c. In a suspended arrangement, the lowermost bar 6c need not support the weight of everything above it, in the way that is required for instance in the exemplary embodiment of
This arrangement furthermore has the advantage that each bar 6 is individually coupled to the applicable connecting element 8. In a suspended arrangement, the lowermost bar 6 need not support the weight of everything above it, in the way that is required for instance in the exemplary embodiment of
The spacing that the loops 26 have from one another defines the spacing of the bars, in a suspended arrangement. If the diameter of the loops 26 is enough, and adjacent loops 26 nearly touch one another, the flat article 5d cannot be folded up all the way. In every case, a corresponding gap remains between adjacent bars 6d.
The production of the flat article 5d of
In
In the exemplary embodiment of
Correspondingly, in successive bars 6, the openings 14 are offset by the rise of the zigzag pattern.
In all the exemplary embodiments described above, the connecting elements are linear; that is, they comprise a wire. With the exception of the exemplary embodiment of
In the exemplary embodiment of
The advantage of the linear or wirelike connecting elements is that the requisite openings can be created by punching with a simple needle into the relatively very thin-walled material of the bars.
Instead of the wirelike connecting elements, bandlike connecting elements 8g, 8h, 8i, can also be used, as depicted in
The bars 6 again have the cross-sectional shape described above and comprise a thin-walled roll-formed material. Opposite the slit 12, for each connecting element there are oblong slots 31, which extend with their longer axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the applicable bar 6.
Each connecting element 8g, 8h, 8i comprises a narrow steel band, from the middle of each a tongue 32g, 32h, 32i is bent out. The tongue 32g, 32h, 32i is rectangular in shape, and in the position for use it is joined on its upper end to the rest of the band. The lower edge protrudes freely. Because of the spring elasticity in the tongue, the individual bars can be assembled on one after another. When the tongues 32g, 32h, 32i pass through the opening 14g, 14h, 14i, the tongues 32g, 32h, 32i correspondingly deflect spring-elastically to the side, making it easily possible to slip on the bars.
In the assembled state, the free end of the tongue 32i as shown in
The weight of each individual bar 6 is too slight for the tongue 32 to be deflected by it and be able to pass through the opening 14.
The tongue 32 is moreover bent out of the material in such a way that, as
The flat article of the invention can be used not only in shades and comparable shading devices, but also can be used to vary the acoustics of a room or to achieve particular visual effects.
If the flat article is used for shading purposes, it can be modified for that purpose such that spacing between the individual bars 6 varies along the flat article.
In order to largely preclude interfering reflections when sun shines in, the bars can also have the kidney-shaped cross-sectional form shown in
In the exemplary embodiments described above, the connecting element 8 extends through each respective bar. However, it is possible to create a flat article 5k in which the connecting element 8k extends on the outside, around the bar 6k, such as shown in
Where each of the bars 6k is engaged by the connecting means 7k, the bars are provided with an encompassing groove 37. The connecting elements 8k are once again steel wires; specifically, two steel wires or in other words two connecting elements 8k per connecting point are used. The wirelike connecting elements 8 pass on both sides of the flat structure 5k through the grooves 37 and between two adjacent bars are twisted once or multiple times together, as shown. The length of the twisted portion defines the spacing that adjacent bars 6 have from one another.
With the aid of the groove 27, it is assured that the bars 6 cannot be displaced axially in the loop, each loop being formed by one pair of connecting elements 8k, that extends between two twisted portions.
On the side opposite the flat side 38, the cross-sectional profile is curved in an arc at 39. At an apex 41, this profiled portion 39 merges with the flat side 38. The holes 14l are contained in the apex 41.
On the lower end, the region 39 extends as far as the slit 12l. On the other side of the slit 12l, the profile also has a straight portion 42, which at an edge 43 changes over with a slight radius to the flat side 38.
The cross-sectional profile of
A flattened region 45 also exists on either side of the slit 12m and is approximately parallel to the flattened region 44. The two flattened regions 44 and 45 are each joined together by partially cylindrical portions 46 and 47; the radius of curvature is greater than the spacing between the two flattened regions 44 and 45.
Finally,
The lower side of the bar 6n also is shaped in groovelike fashion; that is, two surface regions 54, 55, which are located beside the slit 12n and include the lower edges of the regions 52 and 53, are bent upward toward the inside; that is, the edges of their slit point upward to a certain degree.
Instead of special steel for the bars, plastic or aluminum can also be considered. It is possible to produce the bars from suitable bands by roll forming. Brass or bronze can also be considered as materials. The surface of the bars can be satin-finished, matte-finished or shiny in either some portions or overall, depending on the visual effect to be attained.
The surface of the bars 6 can be satin-finished, matte-finished or shiny in either some portions or overall, depending on the visual effect to be attained.
The bar 6 as depicted in
On an opposed edge 63, the underside 60 continues in the form of a straight flange 64. As the drawing shows, the height of the flange 64 makes up approximately half of the back side 62. The flange 64 and the back side 62 extend parallel and at a spacing from one another. If the back 62 is disposed vertically, the underside 60 extends at an angle of 86° to a plane defined by the back wall 62, or in other words, the underside 60 rises by approximately 4° in the direction of the flange 64.
The back side 62 ends at an edge 65, where the profile of the bar changes over into a face 66. The face 66 is a straight face with an angle to the horizontal of approximately 50°, that is, a perpendicular to the plane defined by the back side 62. At a sharp bend 67, the face 66 changes over into a face 68, which is likewise a straight face.
With respect to the aforementioned horizontal defined, the face 68 is inclined downward by approximately 7° in the direction of an edge 69, where the material of the profile is bent downward vertically, forming a further flange 71. The two flanges 79 and 64 rest flatly on one another, resulting in the aforementioned intrinsically closed but not seamless profile. The two flanges 71 and 64 rest loosely on one another. The two faces 66 and 68 form a groove pointing upward.
Because of the angles given, the angle bisector between the two faces 66 and 68 points upward at an angle of approximately 26°, measured as the angle between the angle bisector and the plane defined by the back side 32.
The thickness of the bar 6p, measured from the back side 62 to the outside of the flange 71, is approximately 4 mm, and the spacing of the two edges 61 and 65 from one another is approximately 5 mm. It can also be seen from
It can also be seen from
If the flat article is assembled from bars 6p having the profile of
The laser spot welds 72 are expediently located at the same height, so that winding up of the flat article 5 onto the winding roller 2 is unhindered.
Instead of spot-welding the bars 6 to the bandlike connecting means 7, they can be adhesively bonded to the bandlike connecting means over the height of the face 62.
Through each pair of slits 73, 74, which are located transversely to the longitudinal direction of the band 7q, a clamp 75 is inserted having legs 76 and 77. The legs 76, 77 are bent over on the front side with the bars 6q, as shown in
The inclination of the face 83 is equivalent to the inclination of the face 60.
Instead of providing the overlap in the back region, the overlap can also be provided in the region of the bending edge 84. In that case it is similar to the arrangement shown in
It can be seen that the illustrated bar profiles not only can be used for flat articles that can be wound up but also for a rigid flat article. For that purpose it suffices if the connecting bands are made rigid. Finally, it can be seen that the length dimensions given above also can be increased proportionately, for instance in order to create a light-protection means that is permanently in place in front of an opening such as a window where light enters. For that purpose, the length dimensions of the bars can be increased accordingly. For edge lengths, for instance, values of 4 to 5 cm can be provided, instead of 4 and 5 mm as given above. Still greater enlargements of the profile are equally possible. If the profile dimensions of the bars are relatively large, seamless extruded profile sections can also be used.
In all cases, the width of the gap between adjacent bars is between 25% and 100% of the diameter of each bar. The smaller the spacing, the lower the angle of the sun above the horizon at which it shines directly through.
The bars in this way can then readily be mounted individually in front of the applicable opening. It is important only that the angles given be at least approximately adhered to. So that enough light can pass through, the spacing between the individual bars should be increased or decreased in accordance with the changes in the length dimensions
From the foregoing, it can be seen that a flat article is provided that comprises bars extending parallel to one another in spaced-apart fashion, which are joined together by connecting means. The connecting means can be designed such that they extend over the full length of the flat article, or alternatively they can each join together only two immediately adjacent bars
A bar for a sun shading or light shading device has an essentially pentagonal profile, and on the side toward the light the profile is provided with an obliquely upward-pointing groove. The groove is defined by two straight faces, inclined and an angle of approximately 134° to one another, extending through the length of the bar.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 39 583 | Aug 2001 | DE | national |
| 101 61 159 | Dec 2001 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP02/08830 | 8/7/2002 | WO | 00 | 9/27/2004 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO03/014513 | 2/20/2003 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1247599 | Hough | Nov 1917 | A |
| 1612771 | Pfeiffer | Dec 1926 | A |
| 2042002 | Hovey | May 1936 | A |
| 3586091 | Roberts | Jun 1971 | A |
| 4574861 | Mao | Mar 1986 | A |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 106341 | Oct 1963 | NL |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20050022945 A1 | Feb 2005 | US |
