EP2199486A1 - Florentine blind, of the type with a case - Google Patents

Abstract

The blind has a loading bar (3) connected to a front end of a sheet (1), and articulated arms (4) connected to the loading bar. A protecting and covering unit is constituted by a case (9) housing a sheet winding tube (2) and the sheet, when the sheet is rolled. Another case (10), housing the articulated arms in folding position of the blind, is placed below and/or front of the former case. Posterior elements (6) of the articulated arms are mounted pivotingly on arms support (23).

Description

The present invention relates generally to the technical field of awnings, comprising a textile cover or other similar sheet, unwinding to provide coverage and protection of a certain area. More particularly, this invention relates to awnings of the boot type.

As a preliminary, it is recalled that a awning is a protective equipment against the sun or rain, having a deployable canvas in a plane, above the area to be protected. Currently, in most embodiments of awnings, the fabric is wrapped around a tube, and the front end of the fabric is connected to a horizontal load bar, carried by articulated arms. The fabric may have a length of deployment more or less important, and it can be deployed in a plane more or less inclined to the horizontal.

The assembly of such an awning is usually intended to be fixed against a front wall or under a building ceiling, the frame composed of the load bar and the articulated arms folding close to the wall when the fabric is fully wrapped around the tube.

In the case of a chest awning, there is provided a kind of fairing that envelops the entire blind in the wound position of the fabric, thus providing effective protection of the elements of the awning against wind or other atmospheric agents.

As a general rule, existing chest awnings are called "monobloc" and are fully assembled at the factory. There are two main families of "monobloc" awnings.

In a first family, the armature of the awning comprises a horizontal support bar square section, rectangular or more specific profile, steel or aluminum, on which are fixed the various element supports of the awning, in particular the supports articulated arms and the winding tube of the fabric, as well as the supports of the "trunk" part. The carrier bar is also used, through brackets fixed to a wall or under a ceiling, connecting element of the blind to a building to receive the blind.

In the second family, the blind comprises an envelope made of aluminum profiles, inside which is housed and fixed the whole of the blind, that is to say not only the fabric but also the frame complete, the load bar closing the envelope in the wound position of the fabric.

A simplified and more economical version of this last family comprises a section section "C" forming the envelope, closed at both ends by two flanges which serve as both supports for the articulated arms, supports for the tube of winding the canvas and fastening brackets to the facade of a building.

In all cases, in order to withstand the stresses to which the awning is subjected, in particular the bending and torsion torques generated by the articulated arms, as well as the action of the wind, the elements constituting a awning must be robust, which implies the use of mechanically resistant supports and aluminum profiles of consistent thickness. As a result, the weight of the current awnings is high, especially in the case of large awnings.

As a result of the high weight of these awnings, and considering their "monobloc" design, the handling and installation of such blinds are difficult and painful operations, since it is appropriate to install these blinds in height, he it is an installation to be done against a wall of facade or under a ceiling, by raising the total weight of the blind.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks, and thus the objective of the invention is to facilitate the installation of a awning, both in the case of a fixing against a wall that in the case of a fixation under a ceiling, while maintaining full protection of the fabric and other components of the awning, and always having the possibility of adjusting the inclination of the fabric.

To this end, the invention relates to a awning, of the boot type, the awning comprising a fabric, a winding tube of the fabric, a load bar connected to the front end of the fabric, and to at least two articulated arms connected to the load bar, as well as means provided for wrapping and protecting the rolled cloth and the articulated arms, in the fully folded position of the awning, this awning being essentially characterized by the fact that said means consist of by a first chest housing the winding tube of the canvas, as well as the canvas itself when it is wound, and by a second chest, placed below and / or in front of the first chest and housing the arms articulated in the folded position of the blind.

Thus, the idea underlying the invention is, instead of having a single metal casing protecting both the canvas and the articulated arms, to provide two separate boxes, namely a first chest that can be designated as " canvas box ", intended to house the fabric and its winding tube, and a second chest that can be designated as" chest ", arranged parallel to the first and designed to house the articulated arms. This configuration makes it possible to manufacture, store, handle, transport and especially to pose the awning in the form of two distinct subsets. In particular, it allows the separate installation of the two subassemblies, one made from the canvas box and the other made from the chest by arm, dividing substantially by two the weight to be lifted each time during the various manipulations and operations of installation of the awning.

Thanks to the configuration with double trunk, proposed by the invention, it also becomes possible to make the first trunk, housing the winding tube and the fabric, with a length different from that of the second trunk housing the articulated arms. The length of the canvas box is determined by the width of the canvas, while the length of the chest is expected depending on the size of the articulated arms in their folded position. Thus, in general, given the position of the articulated arms, the length of the second chest, housing the articulated arms, may be substantially shorter than the length of the first chest, housing the winding tube and the fabric. This makes it possible to minimize the size and weight of the second box, thus also minimizing the total weight of the awning.

In this respect, it will also be noted that no resistance to wind pressure is required for the first trunk, housing the fabric, since these pressures result in a bending force on each articulated arm, an effort which is taken up by the arm supports and wall brackets or ceiling brackets. Thus the canvas chest, certainly in general longer (see above), may be lighter construction, for example steel or aluminum of lesser thickness, or plastic even with a greater thickness. All this also contributes to reducing the weight of the first chest and, consequently, the total weight of the awning.

As is understood, the articulated arms being usually located under the fabric, the first trunk housing the winding tube and the fabric is, in mounted position, above the second trunk housing the two articulated arms, the second trunk can also to be more forward than the first chest. From there, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, only the first box housing the winding tube and the fabric is intended to be fixed directly to the wall brackets or ceiling, while the second chest housing the arms articulated is hung under the first chest and / or in front of it. The chest does not have to be directly fixed against a wall. However, to lock in position the chest to arm and allow the recovery of weight of this chest arm is advantageously provided a cradle located under the first trunk housing the winding tube and the fabric, cradle which connects between the second chest housing the articulated arms, on the one hand, and the wall brackets or under ceiling, on the other hand.

This securing of the two boxes, in the assembled state of the awning, also makes it possible to adjust simultaneously the inclination of the plane in which the fabric unfolds and the corresponding inclination of the plane in which the articulated arms unfold.

Finally, the design of the awning, object of the invention, makes it desirable to completely close the two boxes of this blind, in the fully folded position of the blind. For this purpose, an embodiment of the present invention provides, on the one hand, a load bar of length corresponding to that of the first chest is carried by the front ends of the articulated arms and closes the exit slot of the canvas defined by this first trunk, and secondly, a hatch of length corresponding to that of the second trunk is articulated around a horizontal axis at the base of the load bar and closes the second trunk when the articulated arms are fully folded inside this second chest.

As a variant to the above, the hinged door at the base of the load bar is replaceable by a flap hinged about a horizontal axis at the base and at the front of the second trunk housing the articulated arms, said flap being movable pivoting between a substantially horizontal position, allowing the output of the articulated arms, and a raised position substantially vertical, for which it is placed in front of the articulated arms folded inside the second chest.

• La charge à soulever lors du transport et de la pose étant réduite, en pratique divisée par deux, ce store offre une grande facilité de pose, deux personnes pouvant facilement effectuer la pose ou éventuellement la dépose d'un tel store.
• De plus, la pose du store banne devient réalisable par l'acheteur final, et ne nécessite plus le recours à un personnel spécialisé.
• Ce store assure toujours une protection intégrale de la toile et des bras, en position repliée.
• Malgré sa construction légère, le store assure très convenablement la reprise et la transmission des efforts, notamment ceux liés à l'action du vent, jusqu'au mur ou au plafond contre lequel est installé le store.

Overall, the awning object of the invention has the following advantages:

• The load to be lifted during transport and laying is reduced, in practice halved, this blind offers a great ease of installation, two people can easily perform the installation or possibly the removal of such a blind.
• In addition, the installation of the awning can be achieved by the end buyer, and no longer requires the use of specialized personnel.
• This awning always provides full protection of the canvas and arms, in the folded position.
• Despite its light construction, the awning very suitably ensures the recovery and transmission of forces, including those related to the action of the wind, to the wall or ceiling against which the blind is installed.

• Figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un store banne conforme à la présente invention, cette figure correspondant à la configuration du store avant installation, et montrant les deux coffres ;
• Figure 2 est une vue de côté du store banne de la figure 1, montrant l'amenée du coffre à toile sur le berceau d'une console murale ;
• Figure 3 est une vue de côté du store banne des figures 1 et 2, montrant l'amenée du coffre à bras sur le berceau de la console murale ;
• Figure 4 est une vue de côté avec coupe partielle du store banne des figures précédentes, montrant les deux coffres finalement posés et illustrant le montage d'une trappe prévue pour obturer le coffre à a bras ;
• Figure 5 est une vue partielle en perspective de ce store banne, en position déployée ;
• Figure 6 représente, à plus grande échelle, une extrémité du store banne de la figure 5, en position repliée, en montrant le rôle de la trappe ;
• Figure 7 représente, en vue de côté, une variante de ce store banne, avec volet pivotant de fermeture du coffre à bras.

Anyway, the invention will be better understood, and other features and advantages will be highlighted, with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the attached schematic drawing representing, by way of examples, some forms of execution of this awning:

• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an awning according to the present invention, this figure corresponding to the configuration of the awning before installation, and showing the two boxes;
• Figure 2 is a side view of the awning of the figure 1 , showing the supply of the linen box on the cradle of a wall console;
• Figure 3 is a side view of the awning of figures 1 and 2 , showing the bringing of the chest to the cradle of the wall console;
• Figure 4 is a side view with partial section of the awning of the previous figures, showing the two chests finally laid and illustrating the mounting of a hatch designed to close the trunk arm;
• Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the awning, in the deployed position;
• Figure 6 represents, on a larger scale, one end of the awning of the figure 5 , in the folded position, showing the role of the hatch;
• Figure 7 represents, in side view, a variant of this awning, with pivoting shutter closing the chest.

The awning, represented in the most complete way on the figures 1 and 5 , comprises in a generally known manner: a fabric 1, a winding tube 2 of horizontal axis for the fabric 1 whose rear end is connected to this tube 2, a horizontal load bar 3 connected to the other end or front end of the fabric 1, and articulated arms 4 to the number of two to less (only one being shown) which are linked to the load bar 3. In the example, it is a storefront blind, which has for this purpose wall brackets 5. Articulated arms 4 keep the fabric 1 in tension, each arm 4 being formed of a posterior element 6 and an anterior element 7, connected by an intermediate articulation 8. The awning also comprises, in a generally known manner and not shown, manual means or motorized for the rotation of the winding tube 2 in one direction or the other, so as to unwind or wind the fabric 1, the latter unfolding in a plane more or less inclined to the horizontal. The articulated arms 4 unfold during the unwinding of the fabric 1, and fold during the winding of this fabric 1.

According to the invention, the awning still includes two separate boxes and specific roles, namely a first chest also called canvas chest 9 and a second chest also called chest 10. In the mounted position of the blind, the two chests 9 and 10 extend horizontally, parallel to each other, near the wall against which is installed the blind.

The trunk 9 consists of at least one profile, here two sections 11 and 12, for example aluminum, which delimit at the front an outlet slot 13 for the fabric 1. The trunk 9 houses the tube winding 2, as well as the entire roll formed by the fabric 1, when it is wound. On its rear side, the trunk 9 has a longitudinal groove 14, the lower edge forms (seen in section) a hook directed upwards.

The chest 10 also consists of at least one profile, here a single section 15 for example aluminum, which houses the articulated arms 4, at least when they are fully folded. The rear part of the chest 10 forms (seen in section) a kind of spout 16, directed downwards.

The two chests 9 and 10 are not necessarily of the same length. The canvas box 9 has a length L determined according to the width of the fabric 1, while the length I of the chest 10 is dependent on the size of the articulated arms 4 in the folded position. Thus, the length I of the chest 10 can be substantially shorter than the length L of the trunk 9, the difference in length of these two chests being clearly visible on the figures 1 and 2 (This difference in length is naturally distributed symmetrically on both sides of the blind).

With particular reference to Figures 2 to 4 We will now describe in more detail the structure of the two chests 9 and 10, in relation to that of the wall supports 5 and also explaining the successive steps of the manufacture and installation of the blind.

Each wall support 5 consists, here, of a bracket 17 of metal, for example cast aluminum, fixed against a wall 18 by any appropriate means, and a cradle 19 also made of metal, for example extruded aluminum. The cradle 19 has an angularly adjustable position relative to the console 17, to adjust the inclination of the entire blind. This cradle 19 has, on its rear part, a flange 20 projecting forwardly and in the form of a hook directed downwards. In its front portion, which protrudes in front of the console 17, the cradle 19 further comprises a "T" groove 21, and an upper edge 22 facing upwards, with a rounded profile.

The trunk 9 is equipped, at the factory, the winding tube 2 and the fabric 1 with its load bar 3, the winding mechanism of the fabric 1, and side cheeks that close the trunk at its ends .

After installation of the wall supports 5, the canvas case 9 thus equipped is brought to these wall supports 5, as indicated on the figure 2 by an arrow F1. Referring also to the figure 3 , the canvas case 9 is placed on the cradle 19, by a tilting movement in which the lower edge of its longitudinal groove 14 is engaged and finally hooked under the wing 20 of the cradle 19, while the lower part of its profile It is placed on the cradle 19. The coffer 9 is thus positioned and already maintained, before the chest 10 is fixed.

The chest 10 is, in turn, factory equipped with arm supports 23 on which are pivotally mounted the rear elements 6 of the articulated arms 4. Each arm support 23 has, in its upper rear part, a kind of beak 24 by which it is hooked in the part of the corresponding beak 16, belonging to the profile 15. At both ends, the chest 10 is closed by lateral cheeks 25 - see also the figures 1 and 5 .

Thus equipped, the chest 10 is brought, as shown in the figure 3 (arrow F2), to the cradle 19. Referring also to figure 4 , the part of the spout type 16 of the chest 10 is finally hooked behind the upper front edge 22 of the cradle 19, between this edge and the area, located vis-à-vis, of the profile 11 of the trunk 9. The chest 10 is thus suspended from the cradle 19, the weight of the chest 10 being then taken up by said cradle 19.

To immobilize the chest 10, there is a bolting linking the chest 10 to the cradle 19. For example, as shown in FIG. figure 4 , a screw 26 passes through the arm support 13, through a hole in the latter, and the screw 26 is tightened in a nut 27 housed and immobilized in rotation in the "T" groove 21 of the cradle 19.

In addition to this attachment, the profile 15 of the chest 10 has, at the top of its nose-like portion 16, a longitudinal fin 28 directed towards the rear, which is placed above another longitudinal fin 29 directed to the front which belongs to the profile 11 of the canvas box 9. The superposition of the two fins 28 and 29 prevents the lifting of the trunk 9 under the effect of wind infiltrating under the fabric 1 in the deployed position (this phenomenon being known to those skilled in the art under the name of "reverse gust of wind").

It will also be noted that, in the mounted position of use of the awning, as shown in FIG. figure 4 , the articulated arms 4 are each connected to an arm support 23 itself hooked to the cradle 19, so that the bending forces of each arm 4 (forces related to the wind) are taken up by the arm support 23 and transmitted directly to the cradle 19 and the wall console 17. This allows a thin, therefore lightweight embodiment of the profile 15 of the chest 10 arm.

In the fully folded position of the awning, as shown in figure 4 , the load bar 3 closes the slot 13 of the trunk 9, this load bar 3 being hingedly connected to the front elements 7 of the articulated arms 4, then fully folded inside the chest 10. that the load bar 3 also closes the upper opening of the chest 10.

In order to completely close the awning, a hatch 30 of equal length to that of the chest 10 is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis A, at the base of the load bar 3. The hatch 30, constituted for example by an aluminum profile, has along its upper edge a "C" shaped section engaging in a complementary portion formed on the profile of the load bar 3, so as to form a hinge. Thus, when the articulated arms 4 are folded back to inside the chest 10, the hatch 30 closes the front part of this chest 10, as shown by the figures 4 and 6 .

Finally, for a total closure, the load bar 3 and the hatch 30 are closed at their ends by lateral flanges 31 and 32, respectively.

In a variant, represented on the figure 7 , the hatch mounted on the load bar 3 is replaced by a flap 33 hinged about a horizontal axis B at the base and front of the profile 15 of the chest 10. The flap 33 is placed in a substantially horizontal position (position shown in solid line) to allow the deployment of the blind, and it is raised substantially vertical position (position shown in dashed line) when the blind is fully folded, according to the principle described in French Patent Application No. 9213284/2697557 in the name of the Applicant.

• en modifiant les détails de forme des composants du store, tels que les profilés des coffres, ceux-ci pouvant être réalisés en une ou plusieurs pièces ;
• en prévoyant des variantes concernant l'accrochage du coffre à toile sur le berceau et/ou l'accrochage du coffre à bras sur le berceau ;
• en adaptant les consoles pour une fixation du store non plus murale mais sous plafond ;
• en réalisant le coffre à bras avec une longueur égale à celle du coffre à toile ;
• en appliquant l'invention à un store banne comprenant plus de deux bras articulés ;
• en remplaçant la trappe ou le volet par d'autres moyens de fermeture du coffre à bras ;
• en attribuant des fonctions complémentaires à la trappe ou autre moyen de fermeture, telles que celles de lambrequin enroulable, d'éclairage, d'enseigne lumineuse, de panneau solaire ou photovoltaïque, etc. ;
• en prévoyant au contraire des versions plus simples et plus économiques, en particulier sans protection intégrale des bras auquel cas seraient supprimées la trappe et/ou une portion du profilé du coffre à bras, seule la toile étant dans ce cas protégée intégralement dans la position repliée du store.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments of this awning which have been described above, as examples; it embraces, on the contrary, all variants of implementation and application respecting the same principle. Thus, in particular, it is not departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims:

• by modifying the shape details of the components of the blind, such as the profiles of the boxes, which can be made in one or more rooms;
• by providing variants concerning the attachment of the canvas box on the cradle and / or the attachment of the chest to the cradle;
• adapting the brackets for fixing the awning no longer a wall but under the ceiling;
• realizing the chest with a length equal to that of the linen box;
• applying the invention to an awning comprising more than two articulated arms;
• replacing the hatch or shutter with other means of closing the chest;
• by attributing complementary functions to the hatch or other means of closure, such as those of the lambrequin rolling, lighting, light sign, solar panel or photovoltaic, etc. ;
• on the contrary providing for simpler and more economical versions, in particular without integral protection of the arms in which case the hatch and / or a portion of the profile of the chest would be eliminated, only the fabric being in this case completely protected in the folded position of the awning.

Claims (11)

Banner awning, of the boot type, the awning comprising a fabric (1), a winding tube (2) of the fabric (1), a load bar (3) connected to the front end of the fabric (1) ), and at least two articulated arms (4) connected to the load bar (3), as well as means provided for wrapping and protecting the wound web (1) and the articulated arms (4), in the fully folded position of the blind, characterized in that said means are constituted by a first box (9) housing the winding tube (2) of the fabric (1), as well as the fabric (1) itself when it is wound, and by a second trunk (10) placed below and / or in front of the first trunk (9) and housing the articulated arms (4) in the folded position of the blind. Awning according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first box (9) housing the winding tube (2) and the fabric (1) is of different length from that of the second box (10) accommodating the articulated arms ( 4), the length (I) of this second trunk (10) being preferably substantially shorter than the width (L) of the first trunk (9). Awning according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first box (9) housing the winding tube (2) and the fabric (1) is designed to be fixed directly to wall supports (5) or under the ceiling , while the second chest (10) housing the articulated arms (4) is hooked under the first chest (9) and / or in front thereof. Awning according to Claim 3, characterized in that the first box (9), housing the winding tube (2) and the fabric (1), has on its rear face a longitudinal groove (14) whose edge lower section, seen in section, a hook directed upwards, this lower edge being engaged and hooked under a wing (20) directed downwards of a cradle (19) of adjustable angular position, belonging to a wall bracket (5 ) or under ceiling. Awning according to claim 4, characterized in that the cradle (19) comprises, in its front part, an upper edge (22) facing upwards, provided for the attachment of a part of the genus beak (16) belonging to a profile (15) of the chest (10). Awning according to Claim 5, characterized in that the chest (10) is equipped with arm supports (23) on which the rear elements (6) of the articulated arms (4) are pivotally mounted, each support of arm (23) having, in its upper rear part, a kind of spout (24) by which it is hooked in the part of the kind beak (16) of the chest arm (10). Awning according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the chest (10) is connected by bolting (26,27) to the cradle (19). Folding blind according to Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the cradle (19) has in its front part a "T" groove (21), and in that the bolting linking the chest (10) in the cradle (19) comprises a screw (26) which passes through the arm support (23) and is tightened in a nut (17) housed and rotatably immobilized in the "T" groove (21). Awning according to any one of claims 5, 6 and 8, characterized in that a profile (15) of the chest (10) has, at the top of its beak-like part (16), a longitudinal blade ( 28), which is placed above another longitudinal fin (29) facing towards the front, which belongs to a profile (11) of the canvas box (9), so as to avoid the lifting of the linen box (9). Awning according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a load bar (3) of length corresponding to that (L) of the first box (9) carried by the ends of the articulated arms (4) and closing the exit slot (13) of the fabric (1) delimited by the first box (9), and secondly, a hatch (30) of length corresponding to that (I). ) of the second trunk (10), hinged about a horizontal axis (A) at the base of the load bar (3) and closing the second trunk (10) when the articulated arms (4) are fully folded to the inside this second trunk (10). Awning according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a load bar (3) of length corresponding to that (L) of the first box (9) carried by the ends is provided on the one hand. articulated arms (4) and closing the exit slot (13) of the fabric (1) delimited by this first box (9), and secondly, a flap (33) hinged about a horizontal axis ( B) at the base and front of the second trunk (10), said flap (33) being pivotally movable between a substantially horizontal position, allowing the output of the articulated arms (4), and a raised position substantially vertical, for which it is placed in front of the articulated arms (4) folded inside second chest (10).

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