DE20305389U1 - Spring device for securing e.g. roller shutters to winding shaft, has main part releasably secured to end section for securing to shutters - Google Patents

Abstract

The end section (17) of the spring (5) for securing to the roller shutters (1) is releasably connected to the main part (16) of the spring. The spring device comprises a strip of leaf spring material which is secured to the winding shaft (4) at one end and is curved to form a loop (14) at the other end. This loop can be passed through an opening (11) and around a mounting web (12) at the top of the shutters (1).

Description

JJ in

G 22469 - dls 28 March 2003

Gottlieb Klenk, 73642 Welzheim

Device for connecting a roller blind to a winding shaft

The invention relates to a device for connecting a roller blind to a winding shaft for winding up the roller blind, with a band-shaped spring element made of leaf spring material, which can be fastened to the winding shaft at one end and has a holding eyelet at the other end for gripping around a holding web adjacent to a passage opening on the roller blind side, wherein the spring element forms a main section running between the end fastenable to the winding shaft and the holding eyelet and an end section bent back from the main section towards the main section to form the holding eyelet.

In the simplest case, a roller shutter curtain and a roller shutter winding shaft are connected to one another using several belt pieces made of fabric material that are distributed along the length. However, a roller shutter curtain attached in this way can be pushed up by hand, so that security against burglary is not guaranteed. If, on the other hand, band-shaped spring elements made of leaf springs are used instead of the belt pieces,

material that is less flexible, the roller shutter panel cannot wind itself up onto the shaft if someone wants to push it up, because the spring elements keep the upper end of the roller shutter panel at a distance from the roller shutter shaft.

Instead of a roller shutter curtain, it can in principle also be another roller curtain, for example a roller door.

A device of the type mentioned above is known, for example, from DE 20020733 Ul.

Conventional roller shutter panels are made of slatted roller shutter bars that are hinged together and run horizontally when assembled. The spring elements are each connected to the roller shutter panel using a suspension profile piece. The suspension profile piece forms the through-opening and the retaining web arranged next to it, which is surrounded by the leaf spring material that is guided through the through-opening. The bent-back end section of the spring element is firmly connected to the main section of the spring element by welding or riveting. The suspension profile piece, which thus forms a firmly connected unit with the spring element, is plugged together with the top roller shutter bar in the longitudinal direction of the latter. The spring elements are then detachably connected to the winding shaft.

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This assembly, as well as the disassembly required in the event of repairs, can be carried out from the inside without any spatial problems in the case of roller shutter boxes that have an inspection opening to the inside of the building in question. In the case of roller shutter boxes that are increasingly used today and do not have such an inspection opening to the inside of the building, the roller shutter curtain must be installed or removed through the slot on the outside of the building through which the roller shutter curtain is raised or lowered. This slot can be made wide enough so that the winding shaft can fit through. However, the winding shaft is not accessible when the roller shutter curtain is hanging on the suspension profile pieces, so that in the event of disassembly the roller shutter curtain must be lowered completely and then pushed to the side away from the suspension profile pieces. This is often not possible or only possible with great difficulty if the reveal of the building opening belonging to the roller shutter prevents the roller shutter curtain from being pushed away from the suspension profile pieces. The same applies to assembly if the roller shutter curtain has to be plugged together with the suspension profile pieces.

Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the object of creating a device of the type mentioned at the outset, with which the assembly and disassembly of the respective roller blind is facilitated.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the end section of the spring element can be detachably connected to the main section of the spring element.

This means that the suspension profile pieces and the spring elements are separate parts that only need to be connected to one another during assembly. In this way, the spring elements can first be attached to the winding shaft and then connected to the suspension profile pieces that were previously put together with the roller shutter. Accordingly, when dismantling after lowering the roller shutter, the spring elements are removed from the suspension profile pieces so that the winding shaft becomes accessible. This means that it is no longer necessary to move the roller shutter sideways.

As already mentioned, the device according to the invention can also be used with roller blinds other than roller shutters.

Furthermore, the device according to the invention is also suitable for roller blinds in which the spring elements are not connected to the respective roller blind via the aforementioned suspension profile pieces, but in another way, provided that the roller blind has passage openings delimited by retaining webs for guiding the eyelet section of the spring elements through.

A cost-effective and particularly easy-to-use embodiment is characterized in that a slide element is mounted on the main section of the spring element so that it can move in the longitudinal direction of the main section, said slide element having a crossbar arrangement that spans the flat side of the main section facing the end section of the spring element, so that a slot is formed between the flat side of the main section and the crossbar arrangement, into which the end section can be inserted when the slide element is moved in the direction of the retaining eyelet. To make the connection, it is only necessary to insert the end section of the spring element through the relevant through-opening and then hold it against the main section, after which the slide element is pushed onto the end section. The connection is released in the opposite direction. The connection can thus be made and released without the aid of a tool.

In this context, an expedient further development consists in that a locking element protruding from the plane of the end section is arranged on the end section, which is releasably locked to the crossbar arrangement when the end section is inserted into the slot.

Further expedient embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawing.

Fig. l shows an oblique view of a spring element according to the invention, which is detachably attached to a winding shaft (indicated by dash-dotted lines and shown cut off), together with a suspension profile piece plugged together with the uppermost roller shutter bar (indicated by dash-dotted lines) of a roller shutter curtain (shown cut off) in a separated state,

Fig. 2 the spring element together with the slide element sitting on it in cross section according to the section line II-II in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 the slide element and the spring element guided through it, shown cut off, in bottom view according to arrow III in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 the spring element in the state merely suspended from the suspension profile piece, with the slide element in an ineffective position, in the section corresponding to the section line IV-IV in Fig. 1 and

Fig. 5 shows the arrangement according to Fig. 4, wherein the slide element is displaced into its operative position and holds the end portion of the spring element firmly to the main portion.

The device according to the invention is shown in the drawing in connection with a roller shutter curtain as a roller blind. Such a roller shutter curtain 1 consists of slat-like roller shutter bars, usually made of plastic, which are hinged together with their long sides, of which the uppermost roller shutter bar 2 is indicated in dash-dotted lines in Fig. 1. The roller shutter bar 2 is shown cut off, i.e. it is actually much longer, with its length depending on the dimensions of the window or door opening to which the roller shutter curtain 1 is assigned.

The roller shutter 1 is assigned a winding shaft 4 (also shown cut off) which is arranged in a roller shutter box (not shown) or the like and which can be rotated around its axis line 3. The roller shutter 1 is wound up when it is raised and from which the roller shutter 1 is unwound when it is lowered when the respective window or door is to be closed. The rotation of the winding shaft 4 required for this can be carried out by means of a manually operated drive or a mechanism inside the winding shaft.

cover shaft 4. The winding shaft 4 is designed as a hollow shaft for this purpose.

To connect the top roller shutter slat 2 to the winding shaft 4, band-shaped spring elements 5 made of leaf spring material and thus formed from an elastic sheet metal band, so-called safety springs, are used, which are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the winding shaft 4. Only one of these spring elements 5 is shown in the drawing.

The respective spring element 5 can be detachably connected at one end to the winding shaft 4 and at the other end to the roller shutter curtain 1. The design of the detachable connection to the winding shaft 4 is not of interest in the present context, so that it can be designed in different ways. In the case shown, it is the type of connection described in DE 20020733 Ul, in which hooks 6 arranged on the spring element 5 are hooked onto the winding shaft 4.

The connection of the respective spring element 5 with the roller shutter rod 2 is made via a suspension profile piece 7 which is assigned only to the respective spring element and which extends a little way along the roller shutter rod 2 and is profiled in such a way that it can be pushed together with the roller shutter rod 2 in its longitudinal direction, so that an articulated connection

is formed. The suspension profile piece 7 is pushed on from one of the longitudinal ends of the roller shutter rod 2. In this case, a suspension bar 9 with a hook-shaped cross-section forming the upper edge of the roller shutter rod 2 engages in the suspension profile piece 7 having a suitable cross-section, so that the roller shutter rod 2 hangs in an articulated manner on the suspension profile piece 7. The spring element 5 is detachably connected to the suspension profile piece 7.

A roller shutter curtain 1 connected to the winding shaft 4 via the spring elements 5 and guided by its longitudinal ends on the building cannot be pushed up by hand. The spring elements 5 hold the roller shutter curtain 1 away from the winding shaft 4 so that the upper roller shutter rod 2, if a force is exerted on the roller shutter curtain 1 from below upwards, is pressed against the wall of the roller shutter box or the like in front of the winding shaft 4 and hits a suitable stop at the top inside the roller shutter box. The spring elements 5 thus provide burglary protection.

All of this is generally known, with the exception of the detachable connection of the respective spring element 5 with the roller shutter curtain 1, so that further description is unnecessary.

The suspension profile piece 7 has a through-opening 11 above its plug-in section 10 that can be plugged together with the suspension bar 9 of the roller shutter rod 2, which is adjacent to a retaining web 12 in the direction away from the plug-in section 11. The spring element 5 forms a retaining eyelet 14 at its end opposite the end 13 that can be connected to the winding shaft 4, which engages around the retaining web 12 when assembled. The eyelet section 15 of the spring element 5 that forms the retaining eyelet 14 engages through the through-opening 11.

The spring element 5 forms a spring element main section 16 running between the end 13 that can be fastened to the winding shaft 4 and the retaining eyelet 14, and a spring element end section 17 that is bent back from the main section 16 to the main section 16 to form the retaining eyelet 14. The end section 17 can be detachably connected to the main section 16. In the unconnected state (Fig. 1 and 4), the retaining eyelet 14 is open at the side, so that during assembly the end section 17 can be inserted through the through opening 11 until the retaining web 12 is in the retaining eyelet 14. Disassembly takes place in the opposite direction, i.e. the end section 17 is pulled out through the through opening 11. However, if the spring element main section 16 is connected to the spring element end section 17 (Fig. 5), the retaining eyelet 14 is no longer open laterally to the outside, so that the spring element 5 is held firmly on the retaining web 12.

A simple way of realizing the detachable connection between the main section 16 and the end section 17 is that a slide element 18 is mounted on the spring element main section 16 so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction 19 of the main section, the slide element 18 having a crossbar arrangement 20 which overlaps the flat side 21 of the spring element main section 16 facing the spring element end section 17. The slide element 18 sits on the spring element main section 16 with such play that a slot 22 is formed between the said flat side 21 of the main section 16 and the crossbar arrangement 20, into which slot the spring element end section 17 can be inserted when the slide element 18 is displaced in the direction of the retaining eyelet 14. The assembled state can be seen in Fig. 5. To release the connection, the slide element 18 must be moved away from the retaining eyelet 14 so that the spring element end section 17 is released (Fig. 1 and 4).

In the initial state, when it is free from the slide element 18, the spring element end section 17 protrudes from the spring element main section 16 in a V-shape. In order to bring it into its position for insertion into the slot 22, it is pivoted elastically by hand in the direction of arrow 23 towards the main section 16. The pivot axis is located at the holding eyelet 14. When held against the main section 16, the spring element end section 17 is acted upon by the properties of

elasticity of the spring element material one of the main section

16 directed away. If the slide element 18 with the crossbar arrangement 20 is pushed over the spring element end section 17, the end section presses against the crossbar arrangement 20 with this force.

When the end section 17 is pivoted in the direction of arrow 23 towards the main section 16, the slot 24, through which the retaining eyelet 14 is laterally open, narrows. In general, the arrangement is expediently such that the spring element main section 16 and the spring element end section 17 are spaced apart in the area arranged between the retaining eyelet 14 and the slider element 18 when the end section 17 is inserted into the slot 22 on the slider element 18, as can be seen from Fig. 5. This makes it possible to press the end section 17 against the main section 16 by hand in this area to release the connection, so that the slider element 18 can be pulled off the spring element end section 17 more easily.

In order to secure the slide element 18 in its state when plugged onto the spring element end section 17, a

17 protruding locking element 25 can be arranged, which is releasably locked to the crossbar arrangement 20 when the end section 17 is inserted into the slot 22.

The locking element 25 is expediently formed by a punched and bent tongue 25, 26 of the end section 17, i.e. the locking element 25 is a tongue-like punched-out portion connected in one piece to the end section 17, which has been bent slightly outward from the plane of the end section 17. The punched and bent tongue 26 is directed towards the retaining eyelet 14.

When inserted into the slot 22, the locking element 25 is expediently locked behind a transverse edge 27 of the crossbar arrangement 20 running transversely to the longitudinal direction 19 of the spring element 5.

If the spring element end section 17 is pressed by hand towards the main section 16, the locking element 25 is disengaged from the slide element 18. When the punched and bent tongue 26 is inserted into the slot 22, it slides with its outer side along the inside of the crossbar arrangement 20, since it is directed towards the holding eyelet 14, until it is locked into place at the transverse edge 27.

In addition to the first crossbar arrangement 20, the slide element 18 also has a second crossbar arrangement 28 which overlaps the other flat side 29 of the spring element main section 16, which faces away from the end section 17. The two crossbar arrangements 20, 28 are connected to one another on both sides of the spring element main section 16. The spring

element main section 16 runs between the two cross-web arrangements 20, 28.

In any case, the slide element 18 is expediently a one-piece sheet metal part 30. The sheet metal part 30 can be made from a flat piece of sheet metal and have edge sections projecting laterally in front of the spring element main section 16 on both sides thereof, between which the sheet metal part is slotted in the transverse direction, in the exemplary embodiment by two transverse slots, so that successive transverse webs 33, 34, 35 are formed in the longitudinal direction 19 of the spring element main section 16, which form the two transverse web arrangements 20, 28. In the case shown, there are three transverse webs 33, 34, 35, of which the two outer transverse webs 33, 35 form one of the transverse web arrangements, expediently the first transverse web arrangement 20, and the middle transverse web 34 forms the other transverse web arrangement, expediently the second transverse web arrangement 28.

As can be seen from Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the two crossbars 33, 35 forming the first crossbar arrangement 20 are bent out of the plane of the sheet metal piece in which the two edge sections 31, 32 run towards one side and the crossbar 34 forming the second crossbar arrangement 28 is bent out of the plane of the sheet metal piece in which the two edge sections 31, 32 run towards the other side. In principle, it would also be possible to bend only the crossbar or crossbars of one of the two crossbar arrangements out of the plane of the sheet metal piece by a corresponding distance.

Finally, it can be seen from Fig. 5 that the locking element 25, when inserted into the slot 22, is locked behind the transverse edge 27 facing away from the holding eyelet 14 of the transverse web 33 of the first transverse web arrangement 20 facing the holding eyelet 14.

Claims (13)

1. Device for connecting a roller blind to a winding shaft for winding up the roller blind, with a band-shaped spring element made of leaf spring material, which can be fastened at one end to the winding shaft and at the other end has a holding eyelet for gripping around a holding web adjacent to a passage opening on the roller blind side, wherein the spring element forms a main section running between the end fastenable to the winding shaft and the holding eyelet and an end section bent back from the main section towards the main section to form the holding eyelet, characterized in that the end section ( 17 ) of the spring element ( 5 ) can be detachably connected to the main section ( 16 ) of the spring element ( 5 ). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a slide element ( 18 ) is mounted on the main section ( 16 ) so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction ( 19 ) of the main section ( 16 ), which has a cross-web arrangement ( 20 ) which overlaps the flat side ( 21 ) of the main section ( 16 ) facing the end section ( 17 ), so that a slot ( 22 ) is formed between the flat side ( 21 ) of the main section ( 16 ) and the cross-web arrangement ( 20 ), into which slot the end section ( 17 ) can be inserted when the slide element ( 18 ) is displaced in the direction of the holding eyelet ( 14 ). 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the end section ( 17 ) in the initial state, when it is free from the slide element ( 18 ), protrudes from the main section ( 16 ) in a V-like manner and is elastically pivoted towards the main section ( 16 ) when inserted into the plug-in slot ( 22 ). 4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the main section ( 16 ) and the end section ( 17 ) are spaced apart from one another in the region arranged between the retaining eyelet ( 14 ) and the slide element ( 18 ) when the end section ( 17 ) is inserted into the slot ( 22 ). 5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that a locking element ( 25 ) protruding from the plane of the end section ( 17 ) is arranged on the end section ( 17 ), which is releasably locked to the crossbar arrangement ( 20 ) when the end section ( 17 ) is inserted into the plug-in slot ( 22 ). 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking element ( 25 ) is formed by a punched and bent tongue ( 26 ) of the end section ( 17 ). 7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the locking element ( 25 ) is locked behind a transverse edge ( 27 ) of the transverse web arrangement ( 20 ) when inserted into the plug-in slot ( 22 ). 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the slide element ( 18 ) has a second transverse web arrangement ( 28 ) which overlaps the flat side ( 29 ) of the main section ( 16 ) facing away from the end section ( 17 ), wherein the two transverse web arrangements ( 20 , 28 ) are connected to one another on both sides of the main section ( 16 ) of the spring element ( 5 ). 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the slide element ( 18 ) is a one-piece sheet metal part ( 30 ). 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the sheet metal part ( 30 ) is made from a flat piece of sheet metal which is slotted across the main section ( 16 ) of the spring element ( 5 ) up to edge parts ( 31 , 32 ) of the sheet metal part ( 30 ) which project laterally in front of the main section ( 16 ) on both sides of the main section ( 16 ), so that successive transverse webs ( 33 , 34 , 35 ) are formed in the longitudinal direction ( 19 ) of the main section ( 16 ) of the spring element ( 5 ), which form the two transverse web arrangements ( 20 , 28 ), wherein the transverse web or webs ( 33 , 34 , 35 ) of at least one of the transverse web arrangements (20, 28) is or are bent out of the plane of the sheet metal piece. 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the sheet metal part ( 30 ) forms three transverse webs ( 33 , 34 , 35 ), of which the two outer transverse webs ( 33 , 35 ) form one of the transverse web arrangements ( 20 ) and the middle transverse web ( 34 ) forms the other transverse web arrangement ( 28 ). 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the two outer transverse webs ( 33 , 35 ) form the first transverse web arrangement ( 20 ) and the middle transverse web ( 34 ) forms the second transverse web arrangement ( 28 ). 13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the locking element ( 25 ) is locked in the state inserted into the slot ( 22 ) behind the transverse edge ( 27 ) of the transverse web ( 33 ) facing the holding eyelet ( 14) facing away from the holding eyelet (14 ) .