EP4180614A1

EP4180614A1 - Guide chain for a fabric roller blind and fabric roller blind comprising said guide chain

Info

Publication number: EP4180614A1
Application number: EP22206767.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Ostuni; Luca Rossi; Enrico CIOLI; Marco MELANI
Original assignee: Palagina SRL
Current assignee: Palagina SRL
Priority date: 2021-11-10
Filing date: 2022-11-10
Publication date: 2023-05-17

Abstract

Guide chain (1) for a fabric roller blind (100), which is intended to be placed to connect between a first lateral upright (2) of the blind (100) and a handle bar (3) of the blind (100). Such guide chain (1) comprises multiple chaining elements (4) chained together along an extension line. Each of the chaining elements (4) is provided with a first lateral wall (5') and with a second lateral wall (5"), which are facing each other, and with a central body (6), which is placed to mechanically connect between the lateral walls (5', 5").On the first lateral wall (5') of each chaining element (4), at least two housing seats (7) are obtained side-by-side along the extension line.In addition, the guide chain (1) comprises a connection element (8), which is placed to connect the chaining elements (4) and is extended along the extension line with a plurality of engagement portions (9), each of which inserted in a corresponding housing seat (7), and with a plurality of flexible portions (10), each of which placed to connect contiguous engagement portions (9).The housing seats (7) of each chaining element (4) comprise at least one first housing seat (7'), which carries inserted therein, to size, a first engagement portion (9'), and at least one second housing seat (7"), which is side-by-side the first housing seat (7'), is extended in a release direction (X) transverse to the extension line and carries slidably inserted therein a second engagement portion (9"), which is contiguous with the first engagement portion (9') and is connected to the latter by a corresponding flexible portion (10).

Description

Field of application

The present invention regards a guide chain for a fabric roller blind and a fabric roller blind comprising the aforesaid guide chain, according to the preamble of the respective independent claims.
The fabric roller blind comprising the present guide chain is intended to be advantageously employed for closing or screening given openings of building walls, in particular for windows, for doors, for French doors and similar doors/windows/shutters.
More in detail, the aforesaid fabric roller blind is advantageously a blind, or mosquito netting, with horizontal sliding and provided with a handle bar preferably placed vertically and horizontally translatable in order to open or close the aforesaid opening.
The present guide chain and the fabric roller blind of the present invention are therefore inserted in the industrial field of production of doors/windows/shutters or even in the field of production of blinds with sheets for sun protection, in the mosquito netting field, in the field of production of replacement parts for blinds or similar applications.

State of the art

Blinds for closing openings of doors/windows/shutters (such as windows, doors or French windows) are known on the market, and are provided with a box, which is vertically fixed to a lateral upright of the building wall defining the opening to be closed and at its interior houses a roller on which a flexible covering sheet is susceptible of being wound and unwound.
The sheet usually has rectangular shape and is provided with a first lateral flap fixed to the roller and with a second lateral flap opposite the first lateral flap and fixed to a handle bar susceptible of being gripped by a user and aimed to stretch the sheet itself during a movement thereof along a horizontal direction.
In addition, the blind comprises at least one guide placed horizontally along the wall which delimits the opening on the upper part, and to which the handle bar is slidably constrained.
The handle bar is movable by a user between an open position, in which it is side-by-side the box with the sheet completely wound around the roller so as to free the opening to be screened, and a closed position in which the handle bar is side-by-side the opposite lateral wall, with the sheet substantially completely unwound from the roller and placed to close the opening.
In operation, starting from the open position, the user grips the handle bar and drives it at least along the horizontal upper guide up to the desired position, for example up to the closed position, in which the fabric is placed to completely cover the opening.
Known from the Italian patent IT 102009901699762 is an example of a fabric roller blind, which comprises a guide chain composed of a plurality of chaining elements chained together in succession along a main extension line and capable of rotating with respect to the other only in one rotation direction so as to attain, when extended and aligned in succession, a rigid member in the opposite rotation direction and susceptible of attaining a guide for the sheet. Such chaining elements are housed, in a retracted configuration, within a corresponding vertical seat made within the handle bar when the blind is in open position. The chain is constrained at one end thereof to the lower head of the box in which the take-up roller is housed, while the other end is slidably inserted within the vertical seat of the handle bar.
When the blind is moved from the open position to the closed position, the guide chain is driven outside of the vertical seat of the handle bar, being set on the lower wall (usually the floor or a windowsill or a ground guide having thickness, e.g. smaller than 5mm) which delimits the opening to be screened, thus acting as a lower guide for the sheet.
The guide chain, with the blind in closed position, therefore defines a horizontal rectilinear guide for the sheet, which allows retaining it in the spread-out position to close the opening to be screened.
Each chaining element is provided with two lateral walls that are spaced from each other, parallel to the main extension line and connected by a transverse bridge portion in order to define a slit between them in which the lower flap of the sheet is intended to be inserted when the handle bar is in closed position with the guide chain extended.
In addition, the guide chain comprises two elongated connection elements placed to connect the chaining elements, one mechanically connected to the lateral walls of the chaining elements placed on one side and one mechanically connected to the lateral walls placed on the opposite side.
In particular, on the lateral walls of each chaining element, multiple housing seats are provided for, placed side-by-side along the main extension line.
In addition, the aforesaid connection elements comprise multiple enlarged engagement portions inserted to size, each in a corresponding housing seat and each connected to the adjacent engagement portion by a corresponding thin flexible portion.
More in detail, the connection elements maintain under traction the chaining elements of the guide chain, in a manner such to increase the bending rigidity of the latter around directions parallel to the handle bar and thus limit possible swinging movements of the handle bar to which the guide chain is mechanically connected, i.e. undesired rotations of the handle bar around rotation axes parallel to the movement direction of the same between the open position and the closed position.
The lateral walls of the chaining elements are also provided with projecting guide portions, along the main extension line, inserted in corresponding guide seats made in a depression on the lateral walls of the adjacent chaining element. Such guide portions and the corresponding guide seats substantially have curved shape in order to guide the two adjacent chaining elements in rotation around an axis perpendicular to the lateral walls between an aligned position, in which the housing seats of the two chaining elements are placed along a rectilinear direction, and a tilted position, in which the housing seats of the two chaining elements are placed tilted with respect to each other.
Therefore, in operation, the arrangement of the guide portions on the chaining elements and the use of connection elements provided with deformable elastic portions between the engagement portions allows the rotation between adjacent chaining elements such that the guide chain can be bent in order to be inserted in the vertical seat of the handle bar and extracted from the aforesaid vertical seat during the movement of the handle bar. Indeed, the guide portions inserted in the guide seats of the adjacent chaining element precisely rotate one with respect to the other two adjacent chaining elements and the deformable elastic portions allow the connection elements to be bent in order to follow the shape of the guide chain.
The fabric roller blind briefly described above nevertheless has proven in practice that it does not lack drawbacks.
The main drawback of the blind of known type lies in the fact that the connection elements of the guide chain are susceptible of easily breaking at the flexible portions between the engagement portions.
Indeed, the arrangement of multiple housing seats side-by-side on each chaining element and carrying, inserted to size, the engagement portions on one hand ensures a firm mechanical connection between the connection element and the chaining elements, but on the other hand ensure that when two adjacent chaining elements are moved from the aligned position to the tilted position, the deformation of the connection element is completely concentrated at the flexible portion interposed between the engagement portions fixed to the two different adjacent chaining elements. Therefore, the radius of curvature at the aforesaid flexible portion interposed between two adjacent chaining elements will be particularly small and, therefore, such flexible portion, with use, will quickly break due to fatigue.
A further drawback of the blind of known type lies in the fact that the connection element of the guide chain must have particularly precise size tolerances, with regard to the length of the flexible portions, so as to ensure a suitable tensioning of the chaining elements. Indeed, since the engagement portions are inserted to size in the housing seats, the tensioning of the guide chain will only depend on the extension of the flexible portions interposed between engagement portions fixed to adjacent chaining elements. Therefore, an error of production tied to the extension of a single flexible portion interposed between two adjacent chaining elements can deviate the tensioning of the guide chain from the desired values.
A further drawback lies in the fact that the projecting guide portions that determine the movement between the aligned position and the tilted position of two adjacent chaining elements have curved form, in order to ensure an easy movement between the aforesaid positions, and are guidedly inserted in guide seats made in a depression on the lateral walls of an adjacent chaining element. Therefore, such guide portions only allow rotation motions between the two contiguous chaining elements and, consequently, it is not possible to precisely control the tensioning of the deformable elastic portions interposed between adjacent chaining elements for different mutual positions of the aforesaid chaining elements.
In the field of fabric roller blinds, guide chains are also known of the type described in the patent EP3517805 , which are entirely similar to the guide chains described up to now with the difference that the housing seats are made on the upper face of each bridge portion placed to connect the lateral walls of each chaining element, rather than on the lateral walls. However, also such solution has substantially the same drawbacks reported for the guide chain described in IT 102009901699762 . Indeed, the housing seats are made to size with respect to the enlarged engagement portions of the connection elements and, therefore, when the guide chain is bend, the deformation of the connection elements is completely concentrated only at the flexible portions interposed between the engagement portions fixed to two different adjacent chaining elements, with consequent fatigue life of the connection element that is extremely reduced.

Presentation of the invention

In this situation, the problem underlying the present invention is to provide a guide chain for a fabric roller blind and a fabric roller blind comprising the aforesaid guide chain, which are provided with connection elements for the guide chain that do not risk being damaged, with use, at the flexible portions.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a guide chain for a fabric roller blind and a fabric roller blind comprising the aforesaid guide chain, which can be provided with size tolerances of the connection element that are less precise than the size tolerances of the connection elements of the fabric roller blinds of known type.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a guide chain for a fabric roller blind and a fabric roller blind comprising the aforesaid guide chain, which are provided with connection elements with tension that varies in a controlled manner upon varying the mutual position between adjacent chaining elements of the guide chain.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a guide chain for a fabric roller blind and a fabric roller blind comprising the aforesaid guide chain, which allow an easy movement of the handle bar between the open position and the closed position.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a guide chain for a fabric roller blind and a fabric roller blind comprising the aforesaid guide chain, which are entirely reliable in operation.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a guide chain for a fabric roller blind and a fabric roller blind comprising the aforesaid guide chain, which are simple and inexpensive to attain.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical characteristics of the invention, according to the aforesaid objects, can be clearly found in the contents of the below-reported claims and the advantages thereof will be more evident in the following detailed description, made with reference to the enclosed drawings, which represent a merely exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in which:

figure 1 shows a fabric roller blind, object of the present invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;
figure 2 shows a guide chain for a fabric roller blind, object of the present invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, illustrated with the chaining elements thereof all in aligned position with respect to each other;
figure 3 shows the guide chain of figure 2, illustrated with at least one part of the chaining elements thereof in tilted position with respect to each other;
figure 4 shows a front perspective view of a chaining element of the guide chain of figure 2;
figure 5 shows a rear perspective view of the chaining element of figure 4;
figure 6 shows a bottom perspective view of the chaining element of figure 4;
figure 7 shows a front view of the chaining element of figure 4;
figure 8 shows a side view of two adjacent chaining elements of the guide chain of figure 2, which are placed in aligned position;
figure 9 shows a side section view of the two adjacent chaining elements of figure 8 placed in aligned position, such side section made at first stopping means of the two chaining elements;
figure 10 shows a side view of two adjacent chaining elements of the guide chain of figure 2, which are placed in tilted position;
figure 11 shows a side section view of the two adjacent chaining elements of figure 10 placed in tilted position, such side section made at second stopping means of the two chaining elements;
figure 12 shows a side view of two adjacent chaining elements of the guide chain of figure 2, which are placed in intermediate position;
figure 13 shows a side section view of the two adjacent chaining elements of figure 12 placed in intermediate position, such side section made at the second stopping means of the two chaining elements;
figure 14 shows a perspective view of a lower head of a first lateral upright of a support frame of the fabric roller blind, object of the present invention, and of the guide chain, object of the present invention, with several parts of the connection element not illustrated in order to better show other parts;
figure 15 shows a side section perspective view of the lower head and of the guide chain of figure 14, such side section made at retention seats of the lower head, with several parts of the connection element not illustrated in order to better show other parts;
figure 16 shows a side section perspective view of the lower head and of the guide chain of figure 14, such side section made at abutment portions of the lower head;
figure 17 shows a bottom perspective view of the lower head of figure 14;
figure 18 shows a front perspective view of the lower head of figure 14;
figure 19 shows a bottom perspective view of the lower head of figure 14, with third engagement portions of connection elements of the guide chain inserted in the corresponding retention seats of the lower head itself.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the enclosed drawings, reference number 1 overall indicates a guide chain for a fabric roller blind 100, object of the present invention.
More in detail, the blind 100, to which the present guide chain 1 is advantageously applied, is intended to be employed for adjustably closing an opening A of a door/window/shutter, e.g. of a window, of a door or of a French window, made in a load-bearing structure such as the building wall of a building.
As illustrated in figure 1, the aforesaid fabric roller blind 100 advantageously comprises a support frame 14 intended to be fixed to the load-bearing structure in which the opening A is made.
In addition, advantageously, such support frame 14 comprises, to delimit the opening A to be screened, at least one first lateral upright 2, which is extended preferably vertical, and an upper crosspiece 17, which is extended preferably transverse with respect to the aforesaid first lateral upright 2 and is in particular placed horizontally. Possibly, the support frame 14 can also comprise a second lateral upright 2', which is parallel to the first lateral upright 2. In such case, the upper crosspiece 17 is extended advantageously transverse to the first and to the second lateral upright 2, 2' and is placed therebetween.
The support frame 14 can for example be fixed to the load-bearing structure at the opening by embedding it within the building or wood section or fixing it with frontal mounting on the internal or external face of the building wall in which the opening A is made.
Preferably, the first lateral upright 2 of the support structure 14 comprises a box 15, intended to be positioned laterally with respect to the opening A to be screened.
Advantageously, the box 15 is a hollow tubular body, in particular obtained with an aluminum extrusion, which is extended with axis substantially vertical between two opposite upper and lower ends.
Preferably, the second lateral upright 2' is placed alongside the opening A and faces the first lateral upright 2 with the box 15 associated therewith.
The blind 100, to which the guide chain 1 object of the present invention is advantageously applied, preferably comprises a take-up roller 16 rotatably constrained to the first lateral upright 2 of the support frame 14 and, preferably, housed within the box 15. In particular, such take-up roller 16 is provided with a revolution axis W, which is substantially vertical.
Advantageously, the blind 100 also comprises at least one handle bar 3, which is extended parallel to the first lateral upright 2 and is slidably associated with the upper crosspiece 17.
In addition, the blind 100 advantageously comprises at least one extensible sheet 18, preferably having rectangular shape, which is extended between a first lateral flap connected to the first lateral upright 2 and a second lateral flap opposite the first lateral flap and connected to the handle bar 3. In addition, the aforesaid sheet 18 is preferably provided with a lower flap and with an opposite upper flap both placed to connect between the first and second lateral flaps.
The sheet 18 advantageously passes through a vertical slit which is made on a lateral flank of the box 15, in particular directed towards the second lateral upright 2', and is advantageously susceptible of being wound around the take-up roller 16.
More in detail, the first lateral flap of the sheet 18 is connected to the first lateral upright 2 since it is, in particular, fixed to the take-up roller 16, which is in turn advantageously rotatably constrained to the first lateral upright 2 and preferably housed within the box 15 of the same first lateral upright 2.
The sheet 18 can be intended for making a darkening screen, for example in substitution of a rolling shutter, a brise-soleil screen for filtering the sunlight, or for making a mosquito netting. In an entirely general manner, the sheet 18 can be dedicated to closing the opening of a door/window/shutter in order to protect an internal area from the sun and/or from the wind and/or, more generally, from the atmospheric conditions of the outside environment.
The sheet 18, as a function of its different applications, can be made of synthetic material fabric and can have the form of a net in order to prevent the entrance of insects, or it can have a continuous surface of darkening, filtering or transparent type.
More in detail, the handle bar 3 is extended along an extension axis V thereof parallel to the first lateral upright 2, and hence preferably also parallel to the revolution axis W of the take-up roller 16, between an upper termination 19, which is slidably associated with the upper crosspiece 17, and an opposite lower termination 20.
The handle bar 3 is also advantageously provided with an internal axial cavity which is extended along its extension axis V.
Advantageously, the handle bar 3 is made with a hollow tubular body, in particular obtained with an aluminum extrusion.
In addition, the handle bar 3 is advantageously movable between an open position, in which the handle bar 3 is placed close to the first lateral upright 2, and a closed position, in which the handle bar 3 is placed distal with respect to the first lateral upright 2.
In particular, in the open position, the handle bar 3 is placed abuttingly against the box 15, with the sheet 18 preferably wound around the take-up roller 16, so as to free the opening A of the sheet 18 itself.
In addition, in closed position, the handle bar 3 is advantageously placed in abutment against the second lateral upright 2', with the sheet 18 preferably unwound from the take-up roller 16, so as to stretch the same sheet 18 to cover the opening A.
The present guide chain 1 is intended to be placed to connect between the first lateral upright 2 of the support frame 14 of the blind 100 and the handle bar 3 of the same blind 100.
The guide chain 1 comprises multiple chaining elements 4 chained together along an extension line.
More in detail, the present guide chain 1 is extended along the aforesaid extension line between a first end 21, which is intended to be mechanically connected to the first lateral upright 2, in particular at a lower head 23 thereof, and an opposite second end, which is intended to be slidably associated with the handle bar 3, in particular inserted within the axial cavity of the same handle bar 3.
In a manner per se known to the man skilled in the art, the lower termination 20 of the handle bar 3 is advantageously provided with an access opening 41 directed towards the first lateral upright 2 and with a guide profile 42, which is extended starting from the aforesaid access opening 41 within the axial cavity, with preferably curved shape, so as to rotate the chained-together chaining elements 4 of the guide chain 1 with respect to each other and thus allow the same guide chain 1 to enter and exit from the axial cavity of the handle bar 3.
In operation, therefore, with the handle bar 3 in open position, the present guide chain 1 is in a position retracted within the handle bar 3 itself, with at least part of the chaining elements 4 thereof aligned substantially vertically within the handle bar 3.
In addition, in operation, with the handle bar 3 in closed position, the present guide chain 1 is in an extended position, with at least part of the chaining elements 4 thereof aligned substantially horizontally and below the sheet 18.
In this manner, when the handle bar 3 is moved from the open position to the closed position, the present guide chain 1 is susceptible of being extended below the opening A of the load-bearing structure of the building, progressively extending from the axial cavity of the handle bar 3, so as to receive the lower flap of the sheet 18 and guide it as it is progressively unwound from the take-up roller 16.
As can be appreciated from the enclosed figures, the present guide chain 1 is intended to enter into the handle bar 3 (in particular through the access opening 41 made on the lower termination 20), being bent upward and defining a concavity directed towards the first lateral upright 2.
Each of the chaining elements 4 is provided with a first lateral wall 5' and with a second lateral wall 5", which are facing substantially parallel to the extension line, and with a central body 6, which is placed to mechanically connect the first lateral wall 5' and the second lateral wall 5".
Advantageously, at least the central body 6 of each chaining element 4 of the present guide chain 1 internally defines a groove 25 open on the upper part, which is susceptible of housing at its interior the lower flap of the sheet 18 with the handle bar 3 in closed position.
More in detail, the groove 25 of each chaining element 4 is laterally delimited by the first and by the second lateral wall 5', 5" and on the lower part by the same central body 6 and, preferably, longitudinally passes along the extension line and aligned with the grooves 25 of the adjacent chaining elements 4, so as to allow the passage of the lower flap of the sheet 18.
Preferably, each chaining element 4 comprises two upper walls 26, which are mechanically connected one to the first lateral wall 5' and the other to the second lateral wall 5" and both face the central body 6.
In particular, the upper walls 26 are side-by-side and each upper wall 26 is provided with an internal edge 27.
Advantageously, between the two internal edges 27 of the upper walls, a passage opening is defined for the insertion of the lower flap of the sheet 18, which is generally provided with retention brushes that are intended to be housed within the groove 25 and susceptible of abutting against the upper walls 26. Therefore, the upper walls 26 in particular act as undercut portions arranged for locking lower flap of the sheet 18 acting against the brush.
In this manner, when the sheet 18 of the blind 100, to which the present guide chain 1 is applied, is released from the box 15 and, in particular, unwound from the take-up roller 16, the same sheet 18 is guided on the lower part by the present guide chain 1, since the lower flap is inserted in the plurality of grooves 25 aligned along the extension line of the plurality of chaining elements 4.
At least on the first lateral wall 5' of each chaining element 4, at least two housing seats 7 are made, which are placed side-by-side substantially along the extension line.
In addition, the present guide chain 1 comprises at least one flexible and elongated connection element 8, which is placed to connect the chaining elements 4. Such connection element 8 is extended along the extension line with a plurality of enlarged engagement portions 9, each of such engagement portions 9 inserted in a corresponding housing seat 7, and with a plurality of thin flexible portions 10, each of such engagement portions 9 placed to connect two contiguous engagement portions 9.
Advantageously, the first lateral wall 5' is provided with a first internal face 39' and with an opposite first external face 40' and the second lateral wall 5" is provided with a second internal face 39", which is directed towards the first internal face 39' of the first lateral wall 5', and with an opposite second external face 40".
In order to facilitate, during assembly, the insertion of the engagement portions 9 of the connection element 8 in the corresponding housing seats 7, the housing seats 7 are preferably made at least on the first external face 40' of the first lateral wall 5'.
Advantageously, each chaining element 4 is at least rotatably connected to the adjacent chaining element 4 around a rotation axis perpendicular to the first and the second lateral wall 5', 5" at least between an aligned position, in which the part of extension line at the two adjacent chaining elements 4 is substantially rectilinear, and a tilted position, in which the part of extension line at the two adjacent chaining elements 4 defines a broken line.
In particular, with the expression "at least rotatably connected" it must be intended hereinbelow that each chaining element 4, in addition to rotating with respect to an adjacent chaining element 4 around the aforesaid rotation axis perpendicular to the first and second lateral walls 5', 5", can also roll against the adjacent chaining element 4, translating on a plane parallel to the first and second lateral walls 5', 5", hence translating the same rotation axis. In other words, in particular, with the aforesaid expression it must be intended hereinbelow that the movement between aligned position and tilted position of each pair of contiguous chaining elements 4 can be obtained by means of a rotational-translation motion of one of the two chaining elements 4 with respect to the other.
In addition, the first and second lateral walls 5', 5" of each chaining element 4 are extended advantageously along the extension line between a first edge 11 and an opposite second edge 12, which are in particular opposite respectively to the second edge 12 of an adjacent guide element 4 and to the first edge 11 of the other adjacent chaining element 4.
Advantageously, each chaining element 4 comprises two first ribs 28 extended parallel to the extension line and to the first and second lateral walls 5', 5", in particular extended projecting starting from the first edge 11 of the first and of the second lateral wall 5', 5", and two first cavities 29 made on the first and on the second lateral wall 5', 5", in particular adjacent to the second edge 12. More in detail, such first cavities 29 are made in a depression, one on the first external face 40' of the first lateral wall 5' and the other on the second external face 40" of the second lateral wall 5" and, in addition, they are preferably open laterally on the side of the second edge 12.
In this manner, the first ribs 28 of each chaining element 4, projecting in particular with respect to the first edge 11 of the first and second lateral walls 5', 5", are inserted in the first cavities 29 made on the first and second lateral walls 5', 5" of an adjacent chaining element 4.
In particular, in order to weaken as little as possible the first and second lateral walls 5', 5" of the chaining elements 4, attaining first cavities 29 as shallow as possible, the first ribs 28 have thickness smaller than the first and second lateral walls 5', 5".
More in detail, the arrangement of the aforesaid first ribs 28 allows the rotation or rotation-translation of the chaining elements 4 with respect to the adjacent chaining elements 4 between the aligned position and the tilted position around the corresponding rotation axes and at least partly prevents the chaining elements 4 from translating with respect to those adjacent along directions perpendicular to the first and second guide walls 5', 5" and from rotating around axes parallel to the first and second guide walls 5', 5". In other words, in operation, such first ribs 28 at least partly limit possible swinging movements, e.g. due to lateral impact against the first or second lateral walls 5', 5" of the chaining elements 4 or due to rotations of the handle bar 3 around axes parallel to the upper crosspiece 17 of the support frame 14.
According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, each chaining element 4 comprises first stopping means 30, which are preferably placed to mechanically interfere with a contiguous chaining element 4 when the aforesaid two chaining elements 4 are in aligned position, in order to stop the relative movement of the chaining elements 4 themselves from the tilted position to the aligned position.
In this manner, once the guide chain 1 is in extended position on the surface which delimits, on the lower part, the opening A to be screened, the chaining elements 4 are aligned and blocked in their rotation by the first stopping means 30, so as to ensure the linearity of the present guide chain 1.
More in detail, the first stopping means 30 comprise two first abutment portions 31 extended projecting and parallel to the extension line and placed below the housing seats 7.
In particular, such first abutment portions 31 are extended projecting with respect to the second edge 12 of the first and of the second lateral wall 5', 5".
The first stopping means 30 also advantageously comprises two second cavities 32 made on the first and second lateral walls 5', 5", in particular made inside the same.
More in detail, such second cavities 32 are in turn placed below the housing seats 7 and are each delimited by at least one first abutment surface 33 susceptible of receiving in abutment the first abutment portions 31 of the first stopping means 30 of the contiguous chaining element 4, with the two adjacent chaining elements 4 in aligned position.
In particular, the second cavities 32 are made adjacent to the first edge 11 and are laterally open on the aforesaid first edge 11 in order to allow the insertion at their interior of the first abutment portions 31 extended projecting from the second edge 12 of the first and second lateral walls 5', 5" of the adjacent chaining element 4. In addition, such second cavities 32 are advantageously directed in opposite directions with respect to the groove 25 defined at least by the central body 6.
In addition, each chaining element 4 advantageously comprises second stopping means 34, which are preferably placed to mechanically interfere with a contiguous chaining element 4 when the aforesaid two chaining elements 4 are in tilted position, in order to stop the relative movement of the chaining elements 4 themselves from the aligned position to the tilted position.
In this manner, the second stopping means 34 define the maximum tilt that two contiguous chaining elements 4 can take on when they are in tilted position in order to be inserted within the axial cavity of the handle bar 3. More in detail, the second stopping means 34 comprise two second abutment portions 35 with one on the first lateral wall 5' and the other on the second lateral wall 5" above the housing seats 7.
In particular, such second abutment portions 35 are made on the side of the second edge 12.
The second stopping means 34 also advantageously comprise two third cavities 36 made on the first and second lateral walls 5', 5", in particular made inside the same.
More in detail, such third cavities 36 are in turn placed above the housing seats 7 and are each delimited by at least one second abutment surface 37 susceptible of receiving in abutment the second abutment portions 35 of the second stopping means 34 of the contiguous chaining element 4, with the two adjacent chaining elements 4 in tilted position.
In particular, the aforesaid third cavities 36 are made adjacent to the first edge 11 and are open laterally on the first edge 11 in order to allow the insertion at their interior of the second abutment portions 35 made, on the side of the second edge 12, on the first and second lateral walls 5', 5" of the adjacent chaining element 4. In addition, such third cavities 36 are advantageously directed in a direction concordant with respect to the groove 25 defined at least by the central body 6.
In order to reduce as much as possible the thickness of the third cavities 36 made in particular inside the first and second lateral walls 5', 5", the abutment portions 35 are made with thin thickness on the corresponding first and second lateral walls 5', 5".
In particular, the connection element 8 (being provided with engagement portions 9 inserted in corresponding housing seats 7 made on each chaining element 4) maintains the chaining elements 4 connected together and, in addition (since the engagement portions 9 of the aforesaid connection element 8 are connected together by flexible portions 10), it allows the chaining elements 4 to be moved with respect to each other, in particular allowing the rotation or the rotation-translation around rotation axes perpendicular to the first and second lateral walls 5, 5".
In this manner, the guide chain 1 can modify the shape thereof in order to be extracted from the axial cavity of the handle bar 3 and be extended below the opening A when the handle bar 3 is moved towards the closed position and in order to be retracted within the aforesaid axial cavity when the handle bar 3 is moved towards the open position.
In addition, the connection element 8 is advantageously capable of limiting the swinging movements, since it maintains the guide chain 1 itself tensioned, increasing the flexional rigidity thereof around axes parallel to the first and second lateral walls 5', 5" of the chaining elements 4.
In order to increase as much as possible the rigidity of the present guide chain 1 with respect to the swinging movements, advantageously made both on the first lateral wall 5' and on the second lateral wall 5" of each chaining element 4 are the aforesaid at least two housing seats 7 and, in addition, the guide chain 1 itself preferably comprises two connection elements 8, one having the engagement portions 9 thereof inserted in the housing seats 7 of the first lateral walls 5' and the other having the engagement portions 9 thereof inserted in the housing seats 7 of the second lateral walls 5".
In particular, at least two housing seats 7 are made on the first external face 40' of the first lateral wall 5' of each chaining element 4 and at least two housing seats 7 are made second external face 40" of the second lateral wall 5" of each chaining element 4.
In this manner, in the event in which for example there is an impact against the first lateral walls 5' of the chaining elements 4 which tends to modify the shape of the present guide chain 1, forming a concavity on the side of the same first lateral walls 5', the connection element 8 having the engagement portions 9 thereof inserted in the housing seats 7 made on the second lateral walls 5" will be subjected to traction but will maintain the chaining elements 4 substantially aligned with each other.
Analogously, in the event in which for example there is an impact against the second lateral walls 5" of the chaining elements 4 which tends to modify the shape of the present guide chain 1, forming a concavity on the side of the same second lateral walls 5", the connection element 8 having the engagement portions 9 thereof inserted in the housing seats 7 made on the first lateral walls 5' will be subjected to traction but will maintain the chaining elements 4 substantially aligned with each other.
Advantageously, at least the flexible portions 10 of the connection element 8 are made of elastic material.
In this manner, when there is an impact against the guide chain 1, the connection element 8 will be subjected to traction, the flexible portions 10 slightly increase the length thereof in order to allow the guide chain 1 to be slightly deformed so as to absorb the impact and, in addition, due to the elastic properties thereof, following the impact, they will return to the original length in order to bring the chaining elements 4 back aligned. According to the idea underlying the present invention, the housing seats 7 of each chaining element 4 comprise at least one first housing seat 7' carrying inserted therein, substantially to size, a first engagement portion 9' of the plurality of engagement portions 9.
In addition, the aforesaid housing seats 7 comprise at least one second housing seat 7" side-by-side the first housing seat 7'.
Such second housing seat 7" is extended in a release direction X substantially transverse to the extension line and carries, slidably inserted therein, a second engagement portion 9" of the plurality of engagement portions 9.
The aforesaid second engagement portion 9" is contiguous to the first engagement portion 9' and is connected to the latter by a corresponding flexible portion 10.
More in detail, the second engagement portion 9" is inserted in the corresponding second housing seat 7" in a slidable manner along the release direction X, which, preferably, is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the chaining element 4.
In particular, as is visible for example in figures 8, 10 and 12, the release direction X is substantially parallel to the first lateral wall 5' and to the second lateral wall 5" (such first and second first lateral wall 5', 5" face substantially parallel to the extension line of the same present guide chain 1 as described above). Advantageously, the second housing seat 7" has extension, at least along the release direction X, greater than the extension of the corresponding second engagement portion 9" in order to allow the sliding of the latter along the release direction X itself.
In particular, the second housing seat 7" made on the first lateral wall 5' is extended with elongated shape along the release direction X and carries, slidably inserted therein, the corresponding second engagement portion 9" along such release direction X.
Advantageously, the second housing seat 7" made on the first lateral wall 5' is extended along the corresponding release direction X with dimensions greater than those of the first housing seat 7'. Preferably, each first engagement portion 9' and each second engagement portion 9" advantageously have substantially same shape and size. In this manner, while the first engagement portion 9' is housed to size in the corresponding first housing seat 7', the second engagement portion 9" is slidable within the respective second housing seat 7" along the release direction X, which is extended preferably substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the corresponding chaining element 4 and in particular substantially parallel to the first and second lateral walls 5', 5'.
More in detail, the release direction X, along which the second engagement portion 9" inserted in the second housing seat 7' is slidable, is advantageously perpendicular to the extension line of the present guide chain 1. Advantageously, the extension line of the guide chain 1 lies on a lying plane (substantially vertical) on which the guide chain 100 itself is movable (and in particular bendable) and which, in particular, corresponds with the lying plane of the blind that the guide chain 100 is intended to become part of.
Advantageously, since each chaining element 4 is at least rotatably connected to an adjacent chaining element 4 around the rotation axis perpendicular to the first and second lateral walls 5', 5", the aforesaid lying plane of the extension line is substantially parallel to the first and second lateral walls 5', 5" itself (as inferable for example from figures 2 and 3).
Advantageously, the release direction X of the second housing seats 7" is substantially parallel to the aforesaid lying plane (on which the present guide chain 100 is susceptible of being moved).
In particular, with the expressions "transverse" or "perpendicular" referred to the release direction X and to the extension line, these must not be limited hereinbelow only to the case in which the release direction X and the extension line are rectilinear, but rather the case in which at least one of the two or both have curvilinear and/or broken line extension must also be intended as protected. Indeed, as is generally known, two incident curved lines are "transverse" or "perpendicular" if, at their point of incidence, they are provided with tangent lines that are respectively transverse or perpendicular to each other.
More in detail, the arrangement of a first housing seat 7' to size with respect to a corresponding first engagement portion 9' ensures a good mechanical connection between each chaining element 4 and the connection element 8, which thus maintains the chaining elements 4 chained together.
In addition, the arrangement of a second housing seat 7" carrying, slidably inserted therein, a corresponding second engagement portion 9" along the release direction X allows the chaining elements 4 to be easily moved with respect to each other, in particular rotating or rotating-translating between the aligned position and the tilted position, reducing the wear of the connection element 8 during use and, thus, reducing the risk that this is broken.
Indeed, in operation, when two adjacent chaining elements 4 of the present guide chain 1 are moved from the aligned position to the tilted position, the second engagement portion 9" coupled to one of the two chaining elements 4 slides within the corresponding second housing seat 7", allowing bending both at the flexible portion 10 placed to connect between the aforesaid second engagement portion 9" and the contiguous first engagement portion 9', and at the flexible portion 10 placed to connect between the aforesaid second engagement portion 9" and a contiguous engagement portion of the engagement portions 9 inserted in a housing seat 7 of the other chaining element 4. In this manner, therefore, since at least two of the flexible portions 10 are bent (i.e. the flexible portions 10 at the sides of the second engagement portion 9") during the movement of two adjacent chaining elements 4, in particular from the aligned position to the tilted position, the radius of curvature at the aforesaid two flexible portions 10 will be wide and hence the latter will not be excessively stressed.
In addition, the arrangement of the second housing seats 7" also allows using connection elements 8 having less precise size tolerances than those of the prior art. Indeed, even in the event in which the extension of a flexible portion 10 adjacent to a second engagement portion 9" has length that deviates from that of the design, the error generated in the tensioning of the connection element 8 between two adjacent chaining elements 4 will not only depend on the aforesaid flexible portion 10, but will also consider the extension of the other flexible portion 10 adjacent to the same second engagement portion 9".
Preferably also the housing seats 7 made on the second lateral wall 5" comprise a first housing seat 7', containing to size a first engagement portion 9' of the other connection element 8, and a second housing seat 7", carrying slidably inserted therein a second engagement seat 9" of the aforesaid connection element 8.
In particular, the second housing seat 7" made on the second lateral wall 5" of each chaining element 4 is extended with elongated shape along the release direction X (which is advantageously substantially parallel to the first and second lateral walls 5', 5") and carries, slidably inserted therein, the corresponding second engagement portion 9" along such release direction X.
In addition, similar to the second housing seat 7" made on the first lateral wall 5', the second housing seat 7" made on the second lateral wall 5" is advantageously extended along the corresponding release direction X with dimensions greater than those of the first housing seat 7' made on the same second lateral wall 5", while, preferably, each first engagement portion 9' and each second engagement portion 9" have advantageously substantially same shape and size.
In order to increase as much as possible the radius of curvature of the flexible portions 10 in the tilted position of the chaining elements 4, the housing seats 7 of each chaining element 4 advantageously comprise a first housing seat 7' and two second housing seats 7", which in particular carry, inserted therein, respectively a first engagement portion 9', to size, and two second engagement portions 9", slidably along the release direction X. In particular, a first housing seat 7' and two second housing seats 7" are made on the first external face 40' of the first lateral wall 5' of each chaining element 4 and a first housing seat 7' and two second housing seats 7" on the second external face 40" of the second lateral wall 5" of each chaining element 4. More in detail, the first housing seat 7' and the two second housing seats 7" made on the first external face 40' of the first lateral wall 5' of each chaining element 4 carry, inserted therein, respectively a first engagement portion 9' and two second engagement portions 9" of a connection element 8 and, in addition, the first housing seat 7' and the two second housing seats 7" made on the second external face 40" of the second lateral wall 5" of each chaining element 4 carry, inserted therein, respectively a first engagement portion 9' and two second engagement portions 9" of the other connection element 8.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment illustrated in the enclosed figures, the first housing seat 7' is interposed between the two second housing seats 7", which are preferably placed substantially at a same distance along the extension line from the first housing seat 7'.
In particular, the arrangement of the first housing seat 7' between the two second housing seats 7" ensures that the flexible portion 10 interposed between two adjacent chaining elements 4 is connected on both sides to second engagement portions 9" slidable along the release direction X. Therefore, in operation, when the two adjacent chaining elements 4 are moved from the aligned position to the tilted position, in addition to the aforesaid flexible portion 10 interposed therebetween, also the flexible portions 10 will be bent that are interposed between the second engagement portions 9", each coupled to one of the two adjacent chaining elements 4 and to the corresponding first contiguous engagement portions 9'. In this manner, when two chaining elements 4 are moved from the aligned position to the tilted position, three flexible portions 10 are bent and hence the radius of curvature of each of these is particularly wide.
In addition, the arrangement of two second housing seats 7" placed substantially at a same distance along the extension line from the first housing seat 7' ensures that the connection element 8 can have all the flexible portions 10 thereof with substantially equal length with respect to each other.
In addition, the use of two second housing seats 7" with the first housing seat 7' interposed therebetween allows the size tolerances of the connection element 8 to be particularly wide, since the error in the tensioning of the connection element 8 between two adjacent chaining elements 4 (such error can be due to variations of the length of the flexible portions 10 with respect to that established in the design) will be mediated over three flexible portions 10, i.e. the three flexible portions 10 which can be bent during the movement of the two aforesaid chaining elements 4 in the movement between the aligned position and the tilted position.
In order to maintain as limited as possible the extension of the flexible portions 10 along the extension line, the two second housing seats 7" of each chaining element 4 are advantageously placed one adjacent to the first edge 11 and the other adjacent to the second edge 12.
In particular, since one of the two second housing seats 7" is advantageously placed adjacent to the second edge 12, such second housing seat 7" is made at the first cavity 29.
In addition, the aforesaid second housing seat 7" placed adjacent to the second edge 12 preferably has depth smaller than that of the second housing seat 7" placed adjacent to the first edge 11.
In this manner, the flexible portions 10 of the connection element 8 do not have to be bent around curvature axes parallel to the first and second lateral walls 5', 5" in order to allow the insertion of the first and second engagement portions 9', 9" in the corresponding first and second housing seats 7', 7".
In order to allow - during the mounting of the guide chain 1 - easily inserting, on the side, the engagement portions 9 of the connection element 8 in the second housing seats 7, the first ribs 28 of the chaining elements 4 (in particular, at least the first ribs 28 extended projecting from the first edge 11 of the first lateral walls 5' and, in the event in which the guide chain 1 comprises two connection elements 8, preferably also the first ribs 28 extended projecting from the first edge 11 of the second lateral walls 5") are advantageously each provided with a passage opening 38.
In particular, the aforesaid passage opening 38 is made substantially at the second housing seat 7" of the contiguous chaining element 4 placed adjacent to the second edge 12 and is preferably open laterally towards the aforesaid contiguous chaining element 4.
Preferably, each passage opening 38 has elongated shape along the release direction X of the corresponding second housing seat 7", i.e. the second housing seat 7" of the contiguous chaining element 4 placed adjacent to the second edge 12.
In particular, in order to allow the access to the second housing seat 7" both with the chaining elements 4 in aligned position and with the chaining elements 4 in tilted position, the passage openings 38 have extension along the release direction X greater than that of the second housing seats 7".
Advantageously, the release direction X of each second housing seat 7" has substantially curved shape with concavity directed towards the first housing seat 7' of the chaining element 4 thereof, in a manner such that the deformation of the flexible portions 10 is guided in the best possible manner during the movement between the aligned position and the tilted position of the chaining elements 4.
In order to facilitate the sliding of the second engagement portions 9" within the corresponding second housing seats 7", at least the second engagement portions 9" of the connection element 8 advantageously have substantially spherical shape.
Preferably, the engagement portions 9 of the connection element 8 have substantially spherical shape, indiscriminately from whether they are first or second engagement portions 9', 9".
Therefore, preferably, the first housing seats 7' in turn have substantially spherical shape in order to be able to retain, to size, the first engagement portions 9'.
In this manner, it is possible to use as connection element 8 a common ball chain and, in addition, during assembly of the present guide chain 1, the operator charged with the assembly does not have consider differences in the shape of the first and second engagement portions 9', 9".
In addition, so as to allow the flexible portions 10 to be easily bent, the flexible portions 10 of the connection element 8 preferably have substantially wire-like extension along the extension line.
Advantageously, in addition, the engagement portions 9 and the flexible portions 10 of the connection element 8 are made in a single body.
Advantageously, each chaining element 4 is provided with at least one first cam 51 and with at least one second cam 13, which are respectively opposite the second cam 13 of an adjacent chaining element 4 and the first cam 51 of the other adjacent chaining element 4.
Preferably, the first cam 51 is made on the first edge 11 of the first lateral wall 5' and of the second lateral wall 5", in particular adjacent to the first ribs 28 and on the side of the first and second internal face 39', 39".
In addition, the second cam 13 is preferably made on the second edge 12 of the first lateral wall 5' and of the second lateral wall 5".
Advantageously, the first cam 51 of the chaining element 4 and the second cam 13 of the contiguous chaining element 4 are arranged for guiding the two chaining elements 4 between the aligned position and the tilted position, passing through at least one intermediate position, in which the connection element 8 is susceptible of being elastically deformed.
More in detail, with the expression "susceptible of being elastically deformed" referred to the connection element 8, it must be intended that, in the passage through the intermediate position between the aligned position and the tilted position of the chaining elements 4, the connection element 8 is elastically elongated such to exert, on the chaining elements 4, an elastic return force that tends to bring the same chaining elements 4 towards the aligned position or towards the tilted position, hence preventing these from remaining in intermediate position.
Therefore, in particular, the first cam 51 of the chaining element 4 and the second cam 13 of the contiguous chaining element 4 are arranged for guiding the two chaining elements 4 between the aligned position and the tilted position, passing through at least one intermediate position, in which the connection element 8 is susceptible of being elastically elongated.
More in detail, the first cam 51 of each chaining element 4 and the second cam 13 of the contiguous chaining element 4 are shaped for maintaining, in the aligned position of the adjacent chaining elements 4, the first housing seats 7' of the two adjacent chaining elements 4 at a first distance D1.
Such first cam 51 and such second cam 13 are also advantageously shaped for maintaining, in the tilted position of the adjacent chaining elements 4, the first housing seats 7' of the two adjacent chaining elements 4 at a second distance D2.
In addition, the aforesaid first and second cams 51, 13 are advantageously shaped for maintaining, in the tilted position of the adjacent chaining elements 4, the first housing seats 7' of the two adjacent chaining elements 4 at a third distance D3 greater than the first and the second distance D1, D2.
In this manner, the first and the second cam 51, 13 are capable of stabilizing the aligned position and the tilted position of two contiguous chaining elements 4 and rendering unstable the intermediate positions between the aligned position and the tilted position, since advantageously the aforesaid first and second cams 51, 13 are arranged for varying the distance between the first housing seats 7' and since the connection element 8 in intermediate position is susceptible of being elastically deformed.
Indeed, in particular, when two contiguous chaining elements 4 are placed in an intermediate position between the aligned position and the tilted position, their first housing seats 7' are placed at a greater third distance D3 and, therefore, the flexible portions 10 between the two first engagement portions 9' inserted in the aforesaid two housing seats 7' are elongated and under tension. Therefore, in intermediate position, the flexible portions 10 advantageously exert an elastic return force which rotates the contiguous chaining elements 4 with respect to each other and makes them roll on each other along the first cam 51 of one and the second cam 13 of the other, consequently bringing them back towards the aligned position or towards the tilted position, which respectively have a first distance D1 and a second distance D2 between the first housing seats 7' smaller than the third distance D3. In particular, the flexible portions 10 and the first and second cams 51, 13 bring the two contiguous chaining elements 4 back from the intermediate position to the tilted position or aligned position depending on whether the particular intermediate position is closer respectively to the tilted position or to the aligned position.
In this manner, when the handle bar 3 is moved towards the closed position, the chaining elements 4 are placed in tilted position with respect to each other, at the lower termination 20, exiting from the axial cavity of the handle bar 3, and then are extended in aligned position with respect to each other when completely outside the handle bar 3, since they are forced by the elastic return force of the flexible portions 10 which presses the first and second cams 51, 13 against each other. Analogously, when the handle bar 3 is moved towards the open position, the chaining elements 4 pass from the aligned position to the tilted position (with respect to each other) in order to be able to access the axial cavity of the handle bar 3, at the lower termination 20, without them being able to remain in intermediate positions due to the elastic deformation of the connection element 8 and of the first and second cams 51, 13 that slide on each other.
Advantageously, the second distance D2, in particular between the first housing seats 7' of two adjacent chaining elements 4 in the tilted position, is smaller than the first distance D1, in particular between the first housing seats 7' of two adjacent chaining elements 4 in the aligned position.
In this manner, the tilted position is rendered more stable than the aligned position.
Also forming the object of the present invention is a fabric roller blind 100 comprising the above-described guide chain 1, regarding which the same reference numbers will be maintained for the sake of description simplicity. Still for the sake of descriptive clarity, the main characteristics of the guide chain 1 already described above will in any case be used again with reference to the blind 100.
More in detail, the present blind 100 is intended to be employed for adjustably closing an opening A of a door/window/shutter, e.g. of a window, of a door or of a French window, made in a load-bearing structure, such as for example a building wall of a building.
As illustrated in figure 1, the aforesaid fabric roller blind 100 comprises a support frame 14, which is intended to be fixed to the load-bearing structure in which the opening A is obtained.
In addition, such support frame 14 comprises, to delimit the opening A to be screened, at least one first lateral upright 2, which is extended preferably vertical, and an upper crosspiece 17, which is extended preferably transverse to the aforesaid first lateral upright 2 and is in particular placed horizontally.
In addition, the support frame advantageously also comprises a second lateral upright 2', which is parallel to the first lateral upright 2. Preferably, the upper crosspiece 17 is extended advantageously transverse to the first and to the second lateral upright 2, 2' and is placed therebetween.
The blind 100 also comprises at least one handle bar 3, which is extended parallel to the first lateral upright 2 and is slidably associated with the upper crosspiece 17.
In addition, the blind 100 comprises at least one extensible sheet 18, having preferably rectangular shape, which is extended between a first lateral flap connected to the first lateral upright 2 and a second lateral flap opposite the first lateral flap and connected to the handle bar 3.
In addition, such sheet 18 is preferably provided with a lower flap and with an opposite upper flap, both placed to connect between the first and second lateral flap.
Preferably, the first lateral upright 2 of the support structure 14 comprises a box 15, intended to be positioned laterally with respect to the opening A to be screened.
Advantageously, the box 15 is a hollow tubular section, in particular obtained with an aluminum extrusion, which is extended with substantially vertical axis between two opposite upper and lower ends.
Preferably, the second lateral upright 2' is placed alongside the opening A and faces the first lateral upright 2 with the box 15 associated therewith.
The blind 100 advantageously comprises a take-up roller 16 rotatably constrained to the first lateral upright 2 of the support frame 14 and, preferably, housed within the box 15. In particular, such take-up roller 16 is provided with a substantially vertical revolution axis W.
The sheet 18 passes advantageously through a vertical slit that is made on a lateral flank of the box 15, in particular directed towards the second lateral upright 2', and is advantageously susceptible of being wound around the take-up roller 16.
More in detail, the first lateral flap of the sheet 18 is connected to the first lateral upright 2 since it is, in particular, fixed to the take-up roller 16, which is in turn advantageously rotatably constrained to the first lateral upright 2 and preferably housed within the box 15 of the same first lateral upright 2.
The present blind 100 also comprises a guide chain 1, of the above-described type, which is placed to connect between the first lateral upright 2 and the handle bar 3
Such guide chain 1 comprises multiple chaining elements 4 chained together along an extension line.
Each of the aforesaid chaining elements 4 is provided with a first lateral wall 5' and with a second lateral wall 5", which are facing substantially parallel to the extension line, and with a central body 6, which is placed to mechanically connect the first lateral wall 5' and the second lateral wall 5".
On at least the first lateral wall 5' of each chaining element 4, at least two housing seats 7 are made, which are placed side-by-side substantially along the extension line.
The guide chain 1 also comprises at least one flexible and elongated connection element 8, which is placed to connect the chaining elements 4 and is extended along the extension line with a plurality of enlarged engagement portions 9, each of such engagement portions 9 inserted in a corresponding housing seat 7, and with a plurality of thin flexible portions 10, each of such flexible portions 10 placed to connect two contiguous engagement portions 9.
According to the invention, the housing seats 7 of each chaining element 4 comprise at least one first housing seat 7', which carries inserted therein, substantially to size, a first engagement portion 9' of the plurality of engagement portions 9.
In addition, the housing seats 7 of each chaining element 4 comprise at least one second housing seat 7", which is side-by-side the first housing seat 7', is extended in a release direction X substantially transverse to the extension line and carries, slidably inserted therein, a second engagement portion 9" of the plurality of engagement portions 9.
The aforesaid second engagement portion 9" is contiguous with the first engagement portion 9' and is connected to the latter by a corresponding flexible portion 10.
The handle bar 3 is also movable between at least one open position and one closed position.
In the open position, the handle bar 3 is placed close to the first lateral upright 2 and the guide chain 1 is in a position retracted within the aforesaid handle bar 3, with at least part of the chaining elements 4 thereof aligned substantially vertically within the handle bar 3 itself.
In the closed position, the handle bar 3 is placed distal with respect to the first lateral upright 2 and the guide chain 1 is in an extended position, with at least part of the chaining elements 4 thereof aligned substantially horizontally and below the sheet 18.
In particular, in the open position, the handle bar 3 is placed in abutment against the box 15, with the sheet 18 preferably wound around the take-up roller 16, so as to free the opening A of the sheet 18.
In addition, in closed position, it is preferably placed in abutment against the second lateral upright 2', with the sheet 18 preferably unwound from the take-up roller 16, so as to stretch the sheet 18 to cover the opening A.
More in detail, the handle bar 3 is extended along an extension axis V thereof parallel to the first lateral upright 2, and hence preferably parallel also to the revolution axis W of the take-up roller 16, between an upper termination 19, which is slidably associated with the upper crosspiece 17, and an opposite lower termination 20.
Advantageously, the handle bar 3 is made with a hollow tubular body, in particular obtained with an aluminum extrusion.
More in detail, the handle bar 3 is advantageously provided with an internal axial cavity which is extended along the extension axis V.
Advantageously, the guide chain 1 is extended along the extension line between a first end 21, which is mechanically connected to the first lateral upright 2, and an opposite second end, which is slidably associated with the handle bar 3, in particular inserted within the axial cavity of the handle bar 3.
In particular, the lower termination 20 of the handle bar 3 is provided with an access opening 41 directed towards the first lateral upright 2, in a manner such that the guide chain 1 can pass from the retracted position to the extended position, accessing and exiting from the axial cavity during the movement of the handle bar 3 between the open position and the closed position.
In addition, the aforesaid lower termination 20 is advantageously provided with a guide profile 42, which is extended starting from the aforesaid access opening 41 within the axial cavity, with preferably curved shape, so as to guide the guide chain 1 from the extended position to the retracted position and vice versa, rotating the chained-together chaining elements 4 with respect to each other.
In order to maintain the guide chain 1 connected to the first lateral upright 2, the first lateral upright 2 itself advantageously comprises a lower head 23 provided with at least two retention seats 24 directed in opposite direction with respect to the upper crosspiece 17 and each carrying, inserted therein and substantially to size, a corresponding third engagement portion 9‴ of the plurality of engagement portions 9. In particular, such at least two retention seats 24 are placed side-by-side each other and parallel to the extension line of the guide chain 1.
More in detail, the lower head 23 is the part of the first lateral upright 2 intended to be placed in abutment against the (or fixed to the) surface, delimiting on the lower part the opening A to be screened.
Preferably, the connection element 8 projects with respect to the chaining element 4 that defines the first end 21 of the guide chain 1 with at least two third engagement portions 9"', which are advantageously inserted substantially to size in corresponding retention seats 24 directed in opposite direction with respect to the upper crosspiece 17, i.e. directed in particular downward, in a manner such that the aforesaid third engagement portions 9‴ do not exit from the corresponding retention seats 24 once the support frame 14 is installed at the opening A to be screened.
In addition, the present blind 100 is advantageously provided with retention means 43 mechanically connected to the lower head 23 of the first lateral upright 2 and to at least one third engagement portion 9‴ of the connection element 8 in order to retain the aforesaid third engagement portions 9‴ inserted in the corresponding retention seats 24.
Preferably, the retention means 43 comprise at least one projecting element 44 fixed to the lower head 23 and placed to at least partially close at least one of the two retention seats 24, in a manner such that, in the event in which the connection element 8 is stretched, the third engagement portion 9‴ comes to impact against the projecting element 44 and hence remains within the corresponding retention seat 24.
In particular, the projecting element 44 is a screw provided with a threaded stem 45, which is inserted in a threaded seat 46 made in the lower head 23 adjacent to one of the at least two retention seats 24, and with an enlarged head 47, which is placed to at least partially close the aforesaid retention seat 24.
Advantageously, both on the first lateral wall 5' and on the second lateral wall 5" of each chaining element 4, at least two housing seats 7 are made and, in addition, the guide chain 1 comprises two connection elements 8, one having the engagement portions 9 thereof inserted in the housing seats 7 of the first lateral walls 5' and the other having the engagement portions 9 thereof inserted in the housing seats 7 of the second lateral walls 5 ". Therefore, preferably, the lower head 23 is provided with at least one first pair of retention seats 24, which are in particular placed side-by-side each other and parallel to the extension line, are directed in opposite direction with respect to the upper crosspiece 17 and each carry inserted therein, substantially to size, a corresponding third engagement portion 9‴ of a connection element 8, and with a second pair of retention seats 24, which are in particular placed side-by-side each other and parallel to the extension line and to the first pair of retention seats 24, are directed in opposite direction with respect to the upper crosspiece 17 and each carry inserted, substantially to size, a corresponding third engagement portion 9‴ of the other connection element 8. Advantageously, the lower head 23 of the first lateral upright 2 comprises two abutment portions 48 extended projecting along the extension line of the guide chain 1, in particular projecting towards the second lateral upright 2'.
Preferably, the retention seats 24 of the lower head 23 are made on the aforesaid abutment portions 48, in particular the first pair of retention seats 24 on one of the two abutment portions 48 and the second pair of retention seats 24 on the other of the two abutment portions 48.
In particular, the abutment portions receive in abutment against them the chaining element 4 at the first end 21 of the guide chain 1 and, in particular, receive in abutment the first edge 11 of the aforesaid chaining element 4 at the first end 21.
More in detail, the aforesaid abutment portions 48 are at least partially placed between the first ribs 28 of the chaining element 4 at the first end 21 of the guide chain 1 and are preferably provided with hooks 49 inserted in the second cavities 32 of the first stopping means 30 of the aforesaid chaining element 4, so as to limit possible oscillating movements of the guide chain 1 with respect to the first lateral upright 2 to which it is mechanically connected.
Advantageously, the lower head 23 of the first lateral upright 2 comprises at least two tabs 50, which are extended parallel to each other, are preferably placed above the abutment portions 48 and, in particular, project towards the second lateral upright 2'.
More in detail, such tabs 50 are susceptible of receiving against them the lower termination 20 of the handle bar 3 in open position and are arranged for preventing or at least limiting the rotation of the aforesaid handle bar 3 in open position around its extension axis V.
The invention thus conceived therefore attains the pre-established objects.

Claims

Guide chain for a fabric roller blind (100), which is intended to be placed to connect between a first lateral upright (2) of said blind (100) and a handle bar (3) of said blind (100) and comprises:
- multiple chaining elements (4) chained together along an extension line, each of such chaining elements (4) is provided with a first lateral wall (5') and with a second lateral wall (5"), which are facing substantially parallel to said extension line, and with a central body (6), which is placed to mechanically connect said first lateral wall (5') and said second lateral wall (5");
on at least the first lateral wall (5') of each said chaining element (4), at least two housing seats (7) being obtained, which are placed side-by-side substantially along said extension line;

- at least one flexible and elongated connection element (8), which is placed to connect said chaining elements (4) and is extended along said extension line with a plurality of enlarged engagement portions (9), each of such engagement portions (9) is inserted in a corresponding said housing seat (7), and with a plurality of thin flexible portions (10), each of such flexible portions (10) is placed to connect two contiguous engagement portions (9);
said guide chain (1) being characterized in that the housing seats (7) of each said chaining element (4) comprise:
- at least one first housing seat (7') carrying inserted therein, substantially to size, a first engagement portion (9') of said plurality of engagement portions (9);

- at least one second housing seat (7") side-by-side said first housing seat (7'), extended in a release direction (X) substantially transverse to said extension line and carrying slidably inserted therein a second engagement portion (9") of said plurality of engagement portions (9), which is contiguous with said first engagement portion (9') and is connected to the latter by a corresponding said flexible portion (10).
Guide chain according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing seats (7) of each said chaining element (4) comprise a first housing seat (7') and two second housing seats (7").
Guide chain according to claim 2, characterized in that said first housing seat (7') is interposed between said two second housing seats (7"), which are placed substantially at a same distance along said extension line from said first housing seat (7').
Guide chain according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first and second lateral walls (5', 5") of each chaining element (4) are extended along said extension line between a first edge (11) and an opposite second edge (12), which are respectively opposite to the second edge (12) of an adjacent said chaining element (4) and to the first edge (11) of another adjacent said chaining element (4);
said two second housing seats (7") being placed one adjacent to said first edge (11) and the other adjacent to said second edge (12).
Guide chain according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release direction (X) of each said second housing seat (7") has substantially curved shape with concavity directed towards the first housing seat (7') of said chaining element (4) thereof.
Guide chain according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each said chaining element (4) is at least rotatably connected to an adjacent said chaining element (4) around a rotation axis perpendicular to said first and second lateral walls (5', 5") and is movable between at least one aligned position, in which the part of the extension line at said two adjacent chaining elements (4) is substantially rectilinear, and a tilted position, in which the part of the extension line at said two adjacent chaining elements (4) defines a broken line;
each said chaining element (4) being provided with at least one first cam (51) and with at least one second cam (13), which are respectively opposite the second cam (13) of an adjacent said chaining element (4) and the first cam (51) of another adjacent said chaining element (4);

the first cam (51) of one said chaining element (4) and the second cam (13) of a contiguous said chaining element (4) being arranged for guiding said two chaining elements (4) between said aligned position and said tilted position, passing through at least one intermediate position, in which said connection element (8) is susceptible of being elastically deformed.
Guide chain according to claim 6, characterized in that the first cam (51) of each said chaining element (4) and the second cam (13) of said contiguous chaining element (4) are shaped for:
- in said aligned position, maintaining the first housing seats (7') of said two adjacent chaining elements (4) at a first distance (D1);

- in said tilted position, maintaining the first housing seats (7') of said two adjacent chaining elements (4) at a second distance (D2);

- in said intermediate position, maintaining the first housing seats (7') of said two adjacent chaining elements (4) at a third distance (D3) greater than said first and said second distance (D1, D2).
Guide chain according to claim 7, characterized in that said second distance (D2) is smaller than said first distance (D1).
Guide chain according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that both on the first lateral wall (5') and on the second lateral wall (5") of each said chaining element (4), said at least two housing seats (7) are obtained;
said guide chain (1) comprising two connection elements (8), one having said engagement portions (9) thereof inserted in the housing seats (7) of said first lateral walls (5') and the other having the said engagement portions (9) thereof inserted in the housing seats (7) of said second lateral walls (5").
Guide chain according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second engagement portion (9") is inserted in the corresponding said second housing seat (7") in a slidable manner along said release direction (X).
Guide chain according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said release direction (X) is substantially parallel to said first lateral wall (5') and to said second lateral wall (5 ").
Fabric roller blind, which comprises:
- a support frame (14), which is provided with at least one first lateral upright (2) and with one upper crosspiece (17) placed to at least partially delimit an opening (A) to be screened,

- at least one handle bar (3), which is extended parallel to said first lateral upright (2) and is slidably associated with said upper crosspiece (17);

- at least one extensible sheet (18), which is extended between a first lateral flap connected to said first lateral upright (2) and a second lateral flap opposite said first lateral flap and connected to said handle bar (3);

- at least one guide chain (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is placed to connect said first lateral upright (2) and said handle bar (6);
said handle bar (3) being movable between:
- at least one open position, in which said handle bar (3) is placed close to said first lateral upright (2) and in which said guide chain (1) is in a position retracted within said handle bar (3), with at least part of said chaining elements (4) thereof aligned substantially vertically within said handle bar (3);

- at least one closed position, in which said handle bar (3) is placed distal with respect to said first lateral upright (2) and in which said guide chain (1) is in an extended position, with at least part of said chaining elements (4) thereof aligned substantially horizontally and below said sheet (18).
Fabric roller blind according to claim 12, characterized in that said first lateral upright (2) comprises a lower head (23) provided with at least two retention seats (24) directed in the opposite direction with respect to said upper crosspiece (17) and each carrying inserted therein, substantially to size, a corresponding third engagement portion (9‴) of said plurality of engagement portions (9).