Patent Grant
11708721
This application claims priority to European Application Serial No. 20151120.1, filed Jan. 10, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a system for guiding a flexible curtain for at least partially closing an opening.
Systems for closing an opening with a flexible curtain usually comprise frame elements along which a support strip or handle strip connected to the curtain is guided, whereby the opening can be closed. A common application is, for example, closing a door or a window with an insect screen or a plissé.
The movement of the support strip along the frame elements may be impaired by dirt on the sliding surfaces of the support strip or of the frame element and damage may occur to the sliding surfaces, which in the worst case may lead to the movement being permanently disturbed. A further problem with previous systems consists in that the curtain may be damaged or may even tear in its stretched state if an external force is applied to it, for example, if a door with an insect screen is slammed by a gust of wind and the door handle collides with the insect screen.
EP 2 675 965 B1 relates to a conventional insect protection device comprising a frame and a pulling strip, wherein a hanging fabric or curtain is movable by means of the pulling strip such that an opening delimited by the frame can be closed with the hanging fabric. The frame comprises a lower frame profile, on which the pulling strip is slidably arranged with a slider. The slider is positively guided on the lower frame profile.
However, this type of guiding a curtain leads to the problem that the curtain may be damaged in its spread-out state, i.e., when the opening is at least partially closed, e.g., when a foreign object collides with the curtain. As a consequence, the function of the curtain may be impaired. Furthermore, this guide involves the risk that easily accessible areas of the guide become soiled, which may lead to increased friction and therefore faster wear or, in an extreme case, to a blockage of the guide.
Therefore, the present invention is based on the object of guiding a flexible curtain along an opening in order to at least partially close the opening. In particular, the aforementioned soiling of the guide should be avoided as far as possible so that as little friction as possible arises between the parts of the guide system moving relative to each other and no blockage of the guide can occur. A further object of the present invention consists in preventing damage when a foreign body hits a support strip or a curtain that is attached thereto and at least partially closes an opening.
The mentioned objects are achieved by the system according to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are indicated in the dependent claims.
The present invention relates to a system for guiding a flexible curtain for at least partially closing an opening, for example, a door or a window, preferably a door or a window of a vehicle and particularly preferably a door or a window of a recreational vehicle.
The system comprises an upper, a lower and at least one lateral frame element, which delimit an opening, i.e., define an area to be closed. A first edge of a flexible curtain is fixed to the lateral frame element. The system according to the invention further comprises a support strip, which is configured to hold a second, opposite edge of the flexible curtain. An upper and a lower end of the support strip are displaceably guided in the upper and the lower frame element, respectively. The lower frame element comprises a guide area and a cover area covering the guide area, which extend along a longitudinal direction of the lower frame element. Thus, it is possible to prevent dirt from getting into the guide area. Furthermore, the cover area may also serve as a stable tread strip, for example in the case of a door curtain. Furthermore, by designing the cover area accordingly, it is possible to positively influence the aesthetics of the lower frame element, for example, in that the guide area and the elements necessary for guiding are hidden. The lower end of the support strip comprises a sliding element, which is or is being displaceably engaged with the guide area. Additionally, the sliding element may be supported relative to the lower frame element by means of sliders.
There is preferably a first distance between the lower end of the support strip and the cover area. The first distance is preferably at least 1 mm and particularly preferably at least 2 mm. Furthermore, the first distance may be at least 3 mm and, for example, between 3 mm and 5 mm.
The frame elements as well as the support strip are preferably made of metal or plastic, preferably of aluminum. Alternatively, the frame elements and/or the support strip are preferably made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamide (PA), polyurethane (PU) or a compound of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). One or more frame elements may also be an integral part of a window or door. For example, the system according to the invention may be used, for example, in mobile homes. In this case, the system according to the invention may be fitted into a door or window of a mobile home. Alternatively, one or more frame elements of the system may be an integral part of a window or door of the mobile home and, for example, be identical to one or more frame elements of the window or door.
The flexible curtain may comprise one or a combination of the following elements: insect screen or mesh, plissé, woven fabric, cloth, pleated insect gauze, honeycomb plissé and honeycomb insect gauze.
Additionally, the system according to the invention may comprise a second lateral frame element that delimits the opening on a second side. The second lateral frame element is preferably configured to be engaged with the support strip when the flexible curtain is in a fully stretched state. It is ensured thereby that the flexible curtain completely closes the opening, i.e., without any spaces between the flexible curtain and the frame elements. Particularly preferably, the second frame element is configured to detachably fix the support strip to the second edge of the opening so that a minimum force is required to release the engagement of the support strip and the second frame element. Thus, it is possible to prevent the support strip from unintentionally disengaging from the second edge of the opening causing the opening to be no longer completely closed. In order to fix the support strip to the second frame element, for example, magnetic elements or a locking mechanism, for example, tensioning hooks, snap hooks, annular snap fits, spring connections or combinations thereof may be used.
The cross-section of the lower frame element and/or the cross-section of the lower end of the support strip are preferably configured as a C-profile. The cover area of the lower frame element preferably extends into the opening formed by the C-profile of the lower end of the support strip so that, viewed from above, the cover area covers the guide area. Alternatively, the cross-section of the lower frame element and/or the cross-section of the lower end of the support strip may have any profile that allows the two elements to engage with each other, e.g., an L-profile or a U-profile, with which a cranked hook engages. The lower frame element and the lower end of the support strip may have different cross-sections.
The lower end of the support strip is preferably an injection molded part made of, for example, polyamide (PA). Alternatively, the lower end of the support strip may comprise or consist of metal, preferably aluminum or brass. Furthermore, the lower end of the support strip may comprise a bushing that is made of a metal and preferably embedded in a plastic, particularly preferably in a thermoplastic. For example, polyoxymethylene (POM), polyamide (PA) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are suitable therefor.
The sliding element and/or the guide area of the lower frame element preferably comprise connecting elements in order to be brought into engagement with each other. These connecting elements may preferably be configured as a bar or projection and/or recess and/or as a joint and/or as elastic elements and/or as magnetic elements which are configured to be brought into engagement with a corresponding connecting element of the guide area of the lower frame element and/or the sliding element. Alternatively, both the guide area of the lower frame element and the sliding element may comprise one or more connecting elements and one or more recesses. The connecting element may be configured as a projection or bar which engages with a groove of the respective other connecting partner. Preferably, the at least one connecting element extends vertically. Alternatively, the connecting element may be configured horizontally or obliquely, i.e. a combination of vertically and horizontally, in order to enable the sliding element to be guided along the lower frame element in accordance with requirements.
Preferably, the recess and/or the connecting element is provided on a lower side of the sliding element facing the upper side of the guide area. The advantage of such an arrangement consists in that the engagement of the sliding element on the lower frame element cannot be unintentionally released due to gravity.
The sliding element preferably comprises a brush on a side facing the guide area to remove unwanted particles from the guide area when the sliding element is moved relative to the lower frame element. Thus, low-friction sliding of the sliding element can be ensured along the lower frame element.
The lower frame element preferably comprises a cord area, through which a cord is passed to tension the flexible curtain. Such a tensioning mechanism is common for such guide systems of flexible curtains and is described, for example, in EP 2 675 965 B1. The cord is preferably led from the cord area of the lower frame element through the sliding element into the support strip. At least one cord tensioner may be provided in at least one frame element to tension the cord.
The cord area is preferably arranged in the cover area, preferably above the guide area. The cord area may be located at an inner side of the lower frame element or at an outer side at which the lower end of the support strip is located. The lower end of the support strip is preferably configured to guide the cord from the cord area into the support strip.
The lower frame element may comprise a plurality of cord areas in order to achieve complex cord systems/courses.
Preferably the sliding element is releasably engaged with the guide area. In other words, the sliding element can be non-destructively detached from the guide area under the influence of an external force that is not parallel to the area to be closed. The force required to release the engagement and effective at the point of engagement is preferably between 10 and 50 N, preferably between 20 and 40 N, and particularly preferably between 25 and 30 N. The force is transmitted to the engagement by an external force, whereby the engagement is non-destructively released. This external force may be, for example, an external force which acts on the support strip and/or the curtain and the magnitude of which that is required to release the engagement depends on the position at which it acts on the support strip or the curtain. Alternatively, a predetermined breaking point is provided on the sliding element and/or the guide area of the lower end of the support strip, said predetermined breaking point being destroyed under the influence of the external force to release the engagement between the sliding element and the guide area.
Preferably, the sliding element can be brought back into engagement with the guide area by returning it to its original state.
According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a system for guiding a flexible curtain for at least partially closing an opening. The system comprises an upper, a lower and a lateral frame element, which delimit an opening defining the area to be closed. The lateral frame element is configured to fix a first edge of a flexible curtain to one side of an opening. Furthermore, the system according to the invention includes a support strip configured to hold a second edge of a flexible curtain. An upper and a lower end of the support strip are displaceably guided in the upper and lower frame elements. The lower frame element comprises a guide area. The lower end of the support strip comprises a sliding element. The guide area and the sliding element displaceably engage with each other via connecting elements. At least one of the connecting elements is configured in a deformable manner so that a movement of the support strip perpendicular to the area defined by the opening is made possible. Preferably at least one of the connecting elements is non-destructively and reversibly deformable.
Preferably, at least one of the connecting elements is configured in a multi-part manner, particularly preferably in a two-part manner. The multi-part connecting element preferably comprises at least one joint and/or one bar or projection and/or one elastic element. The joint is preferably a joint or a hinge connection made of metal, e.g. spring steel, or of plastic, e.g., polyurethane. Alternatively, the joint or the hinge connection may consist of a plurality of materials and comprise a rotatably mounted bar or projection.
Further preferably, the lower end of the support strip is structured in a multi-part manner so that the sliding element can be non-destructively uncoupled from the remaining part of the lower end of the support strip. The sliding element may be connected to the remaining part of the lower end of the support strip, for example, by means of magnetic elements.
The sliding element is preferably non-destructively detached from the guide area by a force acting perpendicularly to the area defined by the opening. Preferably, at least one of the connecting elements is deformed for this purpose. Particularly preferably, the bar or projection of the at least one connecting element is tiltable relative to the guide area and/or the sliding element in order to enable the movement of the support strip perpendicular to the area defined by the opening.
The bar or projection is preferably supported by an elastic element in order to return it to its original position once the force acting on it falls below a certain threshold value.
Preferably, the sliding element can be brought back into engagement with the guide area by returning it to its original state.
The system may also comprise a second lateral frame element that delimits the opening on a second side. Preferably, the second frame element is configured to be engaged with the support strip when the flexible curtain is in a fully stretched state.
The system may further comprise a flexible curtain, at least one end of which is attached to the support strip.
According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a door or window, preferably a door or window for a recreational vehicle, such as, for example, a mobile home or a travel trailer, which comprises a frame comprising one of the above described systems according to the invention.
The invention is explained in more detail by means of the annexed Figures.
The lower frame element 20 comprises a cover area 200, which extends along a longitudinal direction of the lower frame element and covers the guide area 100. Preferably, when viewed vertically from above, the guide area is completely covered by the cover area 200. Thus, it can be prevented that unwanted particles get into the guide area 100 and impair the movement of the sliding element 12 along the lower frame element 20. The cover area 200 may comprise one or more reinforcing struts 23 to stabilize the cover area 200. This is in particular advantageous if the cover area 200 also serves as a tread strip when the system is used in a door. For this purpose, the top side of the cover area 200 may also comprise ribbing 25, as schematically shown in
As can be schematically seen in
Moreover, a cord area 300, through which a cord 50 is passed to tension the flexible curtain 2, may be provided within the cover area 200. The cord 50 is guided from the cord area 300 into a cord area 310 of the lower end 10 of the support strip 15.
As schematically illustrated in
An alternative arrangement of the cord area 300 is illustrated in
The sliding element 12 may comprise a brush 70 (cf.
As illustrated in
In
As further schematically shown in
The hinged support of the bar or projection and/or the bar or projection may preferably be manufactured of plastic, such as, e.g., polyurethane. Alternatively, a bar or protrusion 21 manufactured of aluminum may be mounted in a hinged manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the entire bar 21 including the hinged support is configured as a one-piece injection molded part, wherein the three joints 28 are formed in that the material is configured to have a thinner wall thickness at the respective sites. Preferably, the wall thickness at the joints is less than 3 mm, more preferably less than 2 mm and especially preferably between 0.25 mm and 1.5 mm.
However, instead of the illustrated joints 28, for example, film hinges or joints made of an elastic material may also be provided. The combination of a joint and a support alternatively could also comprise one or more spring elements. As a further alternative, a friction-based hinge connection 90 may also be provided. As shown in
Of course, the hinged bar or the hinge element may also be used in the other illustrated preferred embodiments, wherein the hinge variant according to
The folding-over movement of the bar or projection 21 is preferably reversible, i.e., the sliding element 12 may be brought back into engagement with the lower frame element 20 via the recess 11 when the force ceases to be exerted. The restoring force required therefor may be generated by elasticities of the material used for the hinged support. Alternatively, the required restoring force may be provided by means of an additional elastic element on the hinged support of the bar or projection 21.
If the lower end 10 of the support strip 15 has a multi-part structure, the sliding element 12 may remain in engagement with the bar or projection 21 even under the influence of an external force. For this purpose, elements which enable a reversible uncoupling of the sliding element 12 from the remaining part of the lower end 10, for example, magnetic elements, may be provided between the sliding element 12 and the remaining part of the lower end 10 of the support strip 15.
The system according to the invention for guiding a flexible curtain for at least partially closing an opening offers the advantage that unwanted particles can be prevented from entering the guide area. This enables a low-friction movement between the sliding element and the lower frame element. Furthermore, damage to the sliding surfaces of the sliding element as well as of the lower frame element can be avoided thereby.
The system according to the invention is characterized in that, by separating the sliding element from the lower frame element, damage to the curtain can be avoided when an undesired external force acts on the support strip or the curtain.
Although the invention is illustrated and described in detail by means of the Figures and the respective description, this illustration and this detailed description are to be understood as illustrative and exemplary and not as limiting the invention. It is understood that persons skilled in the art may make changes and modifications without leaving the scope of the following claims. In particular, the invention also includes embodiments comprising any combination of features mentioned or shown above in connection with different aspects and/or embodiments.
The invention likewise comprises individual features in the Figures even if they are shown there in connection with other features and/or are not mentioned above.
In the context of the invention, the term “comprise” including derivatives thereof does not exclude other elements or steps. Likewise, the indefinite article “a” does not exclude a plurality. The functions of several features mentioned in the claims may be fulfilled by a unit. The terms “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” and the like in connection with a property and/or a value in particular also define exactly the property and/or exactly the value. All reference signs in the claims are not to be understood as limiting the scope of the claims.
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