I. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a screen device that can be used as curtain, blind, screen, partitioning, etc.
II. Description of the Related Art
The applicant of the present application has proposed a versatile screen device being ready, smooth, and stable in opening and closing operations (JP-A-2005-351046).
As shown in
The slide guide frames 3 are formed by connection of a plurality of rigid units 6 to be bendable in one direction and not to bend in the other direction to hold straightness and are fixed at one end thereof to the stationary frame 1. The other end of each of the slide guide frames 3 is free to enable development from and reception in the stationary frame 1.
The following improvements, which should be achieved, are found in the screen device described above in order to heighten its performance.
The coil spring received in the roller pipe 4 puts the slide bar 2 in a state of being pulled toward the stationary frame 1 at all times. Therefore, when the screens 5 wound round the roller pipe 4 are pulled out in closing the screen device, an operating force that is larger than a force of the coil spring required for winding of the screens 5 is needed, and therefore the operation of the slide bar 2 feels heavy. This tendency becomes significant when the tension of the screens 5 is made larger than the force required for winding in order to prevent the screens 5 from being bent by wind pressure at the time of closing the screen device.
Also, since the slide bar 2 is pulled toward the stationary frame 1 at all times, the slide bar 2 automatically slides at the time of opening of the screen device, but there is the fear that the slide bar 2 will be forcibly slid so as to threaten safety.
The invention has been thought of in view of the above situation and has as an object, providing a screen device, in which the operating force is decreased so as to make a nimble feeling, with which a slide bar is operated, and the sliding speed of the slide bar is decreased in at the time of closing to achieve an improvement in safety.
The screen device according to the invention includes the following features in order to solve the problem described above.
First, a screen device comprises a rotatable roller pipe arranged between a pair of slide guide frames capable of development from and reception in a slide bar being slidable relative to a stationary frame, the roller pipe also being capable of sliding in a sliding direction of the slide bar, the roller pipe having fixed thereto one end of each of two screens to enable the screens to be wound around and pulled out from the roller pipe, the roller pipe receiving therein a coil spring, the roller pipe rotating and sliding in the sliding direction of the slide bar to accumulate an elastic restoring force in the coil spring when the slide bar is slid to pull out the screens, the accumulated elastic restoring force being released to cause the screens to be wound around the roller pipe, the roller pipe sliding toward the stationary frame, and the slide bar also sliding toward the stationary frame, the screen device being characterized in that a weight is provided to move in the height direction interlocking with development and reception of the slide guide frames, and the weight brakes reception of the slide guide frames owing to an increase in potential energy and promoting development of the slide guide frames owing to a decrease in potential energy.
Second, the weight is received in the slide bar in the first feature.
Third, the slide guide frames are also capable of development from and reception in the stationary frame and the weight is received in at least one of the slide bar and the stationary frame in the first feature.
According to the first aspect of the invention, since the weight moving in the height direction interlocking with development and reception of the slide guide frames brakes reception of the slide guide frames owing to an increase in potential energy, it is possible to decrease the slide bar in sliding speed at the time of closing of the screen device. Accordingly, the screen device is improved in safety.
Also, since the weight promotes development of the slide guide frames owing to a decrease in potential energy, it is possible to decrease an operating force applied to the slide bar at the time of closing of the screen device, so that an operation feeling is nimble.
According to the second aspect of the invention, since the weight is received in the slide bar, an outward appearance can be maintained favorable as heretofore and the storage space for the slide guide frame formed on the slide bar can be effectively used for reception of the weight, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention.
According to the third aspect of the invention, since the slide guide frames are also made to be capable of development from and reception in the stationary frame, a length, over which the slide guide frames are developed, is not limited only to the length of the slide bar but elongated, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention. With such a screen device, since the weight is received in at least one of the slide bar and the stationary frame, the storage space for the slide guide frame formed on the slide bar or the stationary frame can effectively be used for reception of the weight while a favorable outward appearance is maintained.
With the screen device shown in
A rotatable roller pipe 4 is arranged between the pair of slide guide frames 3. The roller pipe 4 is also slidable in a direction, in which the slide bar 2 is slid. One end of each of the two screens 5 is fixed to the roller pipe 4. The other ends of the respective screens 5 are fixed to the slide bar 2 and the stationary frame 1, respectively, and the screens 5 are wound round the roller pipe 4. The roller pipe 4 receives therein a coil spring 7. When the slide bar 2 is horizontally slid at the time of closing of the screen device, the roller pipe 4 is rotated and the screens 5 are pulled out from the roller pipe 4. At the same time, the slide guide frames 3 are developed from the slide bar 2 and the stationary frame 1. As the slide bar 2 slides, the roller pipe 4 slides in a direction, in which the slide guide frames 3 are developed. At this time, an elastic restoring force is accumulated in the coil spring 7 received in the roller pipe 4. Therefore, when the screen device is closed, the screen device is biased in a direction of opening at all times.
When the screen device is opened, the elastic restoring force accumulated in the coil spring 7 is released. Then, the roller pipe 4 is reversely rotated to wind the screens 5 thereround and slid in a direction, in which the slide guide frames 3 are received, that is, toward the stationary frame 1. At this time, the slide bar 2, to which the screens 5 are fixed, is also slid toward the stationary frame 1. The slide guide frames 3 are received in the slide bar 2 and the stationary frame 1.
With the screen device shown in
The upper and lower slide guide frames 3 are joined together at free ends thereof by a tension member 8, such as string, etc., which defines a loop in the shape of the
Also, with the screen device shown in
As described above, the slide bar 2 is put in a state of being pulled toward the stationary frame 1 by the coil spring 7 received in the roller pipe 4 at all times, and so a force, with which the coil spring 7 winds the screens 5, acts in a direction, in which the slide guide frames 3 are received into the slide bar 2 and the stationary frame 1, that is, in a direction of ascent at the free ends. In contrast, the gravitational force acting on the weights 9 acts in a manner to lower the free ends of the slide guide frames 3. Accordingly, a part of the force, with which the coil spring 7 winds the screens 5, is canceled by the gravitational force acting on the weights 9. That is, a part of the work done by the force with which the coil spring 7 winds the screens 5, in receiving the slide guide frames 3 in the slide bar 2 and the stationary frame 1 is consumed for an increase of the weights 9 in potential energy. In this manner, the weights 9 brake reception of the slide guide frames 3 owing to an increase in potential energy. Accordingly, even when the elastic restoring force accumulated in the coil spring 7 is released at the time of opening of the screen device, reception of the slide guide frames 3 is braked by an increase of the weights 9 in potential energy and reception of the slide guide frames 3 is decelerated, so that the slide bar 2 is slid gently and not forcibly slid toward the stationary frame 1. Even when tension of the screens 5 is larger than a force required for winding in order to prevent the screens 5 from being bent by wind pressure at the time of closing of the screen device, that speed, at which the slide bar 2 is slid, can be adjusted by adjusting the mass of the weights 9. The slide bar 2 is not forcibly slid toward the stationary frame 1 at the time of opening of the screen device and so the screen device has improved safety.
Also, the gravitational force acting on the weights 9 acts in a direction, in which the free ends of the slide guide frame 3 are caused to descend, that is, so as to develop the slide guide frames 3. Accordingly, a part of the force, with which the coil spring 7 winds the screens 5, is canceled by the gravitational force acting on the weights 9. That is, owing to a decrease in potential energy, the weights 9 promote development of the slide guide frames 3. Therefore, it is possible to decrease an operating force being applied to the slide bar 2 at the time of closing of the screen device, so that a feeling of operating the slide bar 2 becomes light.
Actually, a coil spring 7, whose maximum torque when the screens 5 are pulled out is 3 kg·cm, is received in a roller pipe 4 having an outside diameter of 20 mm, and weights 9 made of brass of 300 g are put on respective free ends of a lower slide guide frame 3, and received in storage spaces 10, for the slide guide frames 3, formed on a slide bar 2 and a stationary frame 1.
With a screen device, on which weights 9 are not arranged, an operating force being applied to a slide bar 2 to pull out screens 5 was 3.2 kgf at maximum but could be decreased to 2.6 kgf by the arrangement of the weights 9 in the manner described above. Also, speed, at which the slide bar 2 is slid at the time of opening of the screen device, became small and the gravitational force acting on the weights 9 in the vicinity of the stationary frame 1 balanced a force of the coil spring 7 required for winding the screens 5, so that speed, at which the slide bar 2s slid, becomes substantially zero.
In addition, with the screen device, in which slide guide frames 3 can be freely developed from and received in a stationary frame 1 together with a slide bar 2, it suffices that a weight 9 is received in at least one of the slide bar 2 and the stationary frame 1 and it is not necessarily required that weights be provided on both the slide bar 2 and the stationary frame 1. Provided that a mass required for a weight 9 is realized, it can be received in either of the slide bar 2 and the stationary frame 1. Accordingly, with the screen device in which one ends are free, development from and reception in the slide bar 2 are made possible, and the other ends are fixed to the stationary frame 1, shown in
Also, since the weight 9 is received in at least one of the slide bar 2 and the stationary frame 1, the storage space 10, for the slide guide frame 3 formed on the slide bar 2 or the stationary frame 1 can be effectively used for reception of the weight 9 while a favorable outward appearance is maintained.
With the screen device according to the invention, the arrangement of the weights 9 is not limited in configuration to that arrangement, in which the weights are put on free ends of the slide guide frames 3.
As shown in, for example,
Also, in this case, interlocking with development and reception of the slide guide frames 3, the weight 9 can move in the storage space 10 of the slide bar 2 for the slide guide frame 3 in a height direction, and when the slide guide frames 3 are to be received, the weight 9 is pulled upward, so that the weight 9 is increased in potential energy. When the slide guide frames 3 are to be developed, the weight 9 descends, so that it is decreased in potential energy. Accordingly, owing to an increase in potential energy, the weight 9 brakes reception of the slide guide frames 3 and promotes development of the slide guide frames 3 owing to a decrease in potential energy.
Also, as shown in
Also, in this case, interlocking with development and reception of the slide guide frames 3, the weight 9 can move in the storage space 10 of the slide bar 2 for the slide guide frame 3 in a height direction, and when the slide guide frame 3 is to be received, the weight 9 is pulled upward, so that the weight 9 is increased in potential energy. When the slide guide frame 3 is to be developed, the weight 9 descends, so that it is decreased in potential energy. Accordingly, owing to an increase in potential energy, the weight 9 brakes reception of the slide guide frame 3 and promotes development of the slide guide frame 3 owing to a decrease in potential energy.
In this manner, the weight 9, which brakes reception of the upper slide guide frame 3 and promotes development thereof, can be fixed directly to the free end of the slide guide frame 3 without the medium of a tension member 12. Also, braking of reception of and promotion of development of the slide guide frame 3, both of which are effected by the weight 9, can be applied not only to one of the slide guide frames 3 but also to both slide guide frames 3. This can be appropriately selected according to the magnitude of a force of the coil spring 7, which is received in the roller pipe 4 to wind the screens 5.
In addition, while reception of the weights 9 is significant in making effective use of the storage spaces 10, for the slide guide frames 3, formed on the slide bar 2 and the stationary frame 1, reception of the weights 9 decreases the storage spaces 10 in a vertical direction, so that in order to sufficiently elongate a length, over which the slide guide frames 3 are developed, it is preferable in the screen device shown in
Also, the screen device shown in
When the slide bar 2 is caused to slide to the longitudinal frame 14 at the time of closing of the screen device, the hook 18 enters into the opening 17 of the opening member 16 to have its tip end caught by the opening member 16 disposed at a peripheral edge of the opening 17. While the screen device is biased in a direction of opening, movements of the slide bar 2 are braked by virtue of being thus caught and the screen device is held stably in a closed state.
When the screen device is to be opened, the lever 15 is pushed upward. Then, the hook 18 moves upward to have its tip end coming off the peripheral edge of the opening 17 to be released from a state of being caught. The slide bar 2 can be slid toward the stationary frame 1. In addition, an elastic member, such as spring, etc., which provides for downward bias, can be connected to the lever 15, so that as the hook 18 is released from a state of being caught, the lever 15 can be automatically returned to an initial position.
The invention provides a screen device, in which an operating force is decreased so as to make a nimble feeling, with which a slide bar is operated, and the sliding speed of the slide bar is decreased at the time of closing to achieve improvement in safety.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2006-305105 | Nov 2006 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2007/071825 | 11/9/2007 | WO | 00 | 12/28/2009 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2008/056783 | 5/15/2008 | WO | A |
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