EP1306515B1 - Locking device for the apron of a roller shutter and a roller shutter box incorporating said device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a latch device for shutter apron or the like.

More particularly, the invention relates to an automatic locking device which ensures, on the one hand, the blocking of the deck when it is in the fully lowered position (that is to say that the last deck blade rests on the shelf of the window opening or the door sill thus equipped with the shutter) and, on the other hand, the impossibility of raising the deck from the completely lowered position, by any external action (attempted break-in by example) other than a normal action on an operating device that caused its downward movement, this operating device can be of the type for example winch, or electric motor.

The document EP-A-0 937 859 discloses an example of an automatic locking device which comprises, in addition to the set of at least two articulated links, mounted between the winding tube of the deck and the latter, and specific to this document, a winding tube for shutter apron, at least one of the ends of the tube is adapted to be rotated about an axis of rotation by a drive device, within a shutter box.

This winding tube is provided with a plurality of stiffening grooves, each of substantially semicylindrical shape projecting towards the inside of the tube and extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the tube and connecting substantially perpendicular to the external surface. substantially cylindrical conformant the tube, the fastening to at least one attachment link connected to the apron of the shutter being provided by a metal clip and a locking pin being wedged in slots in a portion of the cylindrical outer surface of the tube.

Such a locking device for rolling shutter apron is satisfactory from the point of view of its operation, but nevertheless has the disadvantage of having a large winding diameter; indeed, the links of the lock are wrapped around the periphery of the tube.

The present invention is intended to overcome this disadvantage.

For this purpose, according to the invention, a locking device of the kind in question is characterized in that the winding tube is provided with a single groove, extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the tube, and protruding radially outwardly with respect to a cylindrical tube portion of circular section of substantially constant radius with an outer surface extending over most of the circumference of the tube, the groove being delimited by a bottom wall extending over an arcuate portion external to the outer surface of the tube, between two side walls both perpendicular to the bottom wall and to said outer surface conforming the tube at their connections to said bottom wall and outer surface, the side walls extending in planes passing through the axis of rotation and outwardly of said outer surface so as to give the groove an undercut shape allowing the solidar isation with at least one attachment link connected to the shutter apron, said arcuate portion of said bottom wall having a length of rope greater than the complementary rope length defined by the perimeter of the outer surface of the tube.

Thanks to these arrangements, the first links of the automatic lock connected to the tube are wound on a portion of tube of diameter less than the diameter at the groove, ensuring a small footprint of the shutter box when the deck is fully wound on the tube.

• l'une au moins, mais de préférence chacune des parois latérales de la cannelure comporte une pluralité d'ouvertures adaptées pour permettre l'accrochage d'ergots appartenant au moins au maillon d'accrochage reliant le tablier du volet roulant au tube d'enroulement,
• le tube est obtenu par profilage d'un feuillard dans lequel sont formées deux parois latérales orientées sensiblement radialement vers l'extérieur de ladite surface externe du tube et s'étendant sensiblement dans des plans diamétraux passant par l'axe de rotation du tube, et chacune comportant l'un respectivement de deux rabats réunis au niveau d'une zone d'agrafage,
• la zone d'agrafage du tube est positionnée sensiblement au niveau d'un plan médian sensiblement équidistant des parois latérales de la cannelure,
• le maillon d'accrochage comporte un évidement sur sa face interne, tournée vers le tube, et dont le profil est conformé de manière à s'adapter, de préférence par clipsage, sur au moins une portion de la cannelure du tube.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following provisions may also be used:

• at least one, but preferably each of the side walls of the groove comprises a plurality of openings adapted to allow the attachment of lugs belonging at least to the attachment link connecting the apron of the roller shutter to the winding tube ,
• the tube is obtained by profiling a strip in which are formed two side walls oriented substantially radially outwardly of said outer surface of the tube and extending substantially in diametrical planes passing through the axis of rotation of the tube, and each having respectively one of two flaps joined at a staple zone,
• the staple zone of the tube is positioned substantially at a median plane substantially equidistant from the side walls of the groove,
• the hooking link comprises a recess on its inner face, facing the tube, and whose profile is shaped to fit, preferably by clipping, on at least a portion of the groove of the tube.

According to another aspect of the invention, it also relates to a shutter comprising a box intended to be embedded in an opening made in a wall or to be mounted on the wall, this box housing, on the one hand, a winding and unwinding tube of an apron of the shutter, and, secondly, a locking device as referred to above, this locking device for securing the connection between the rolling shutter deck and the winding tube and unrolling said apron around the tube.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective schématique d'un caisson de volet roulant dont la liaison entre le tablier et l'arbre tubulaire ou tube d'enroulement et de déroulement du tablier est assurée par le dispositif de verrou objet de l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective du tube d'enroulement avec les premiers maillons du dispositif de verrou en position arc-boutée,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective du dispositif de verrou représenté de manière éclatée.

On the drawings:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a rolling shutter box whose connection between the deck and the tubular shaft or winding and unwinding tube of the deck is provided by the locking device which is the subject of the invention;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the winding tube with the first links of the latch device in an end-to-end position,
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lock device shown exploded.

In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

In Figure 1, there is shown a roller shutter 1 which comprises a housing 2 intended to be embedded in an opening in a wall or wall mounted on the wall to achieve a window bay. This arrangement is known per se, and will not be described in more detail.

This box 2 is intended to house, on the one hand, a tube 3 for winding and unwinding an apron 4 consisting of a plurality of plastic or metal blades 5, and, on the other hand, a device for drive 6 to ensure the winding and unwinding of the apron 4 around the tube 3, the connection between the tube 3 and the apron 4 being provided by an automatic locking device 7, of the general type described in EP 937 859 , EP 684,362 , EP 833 035 , and more particularly as described in EP 937 859 as regards the structure and the joints of the links which are bridged when the apron 4 is fully deployed.

Thus, in the inner part of the box 2 and at its lateral ends 8, 9 are provided support cheeks 10, only one of these cheeks being visible in Figure 1. Each of these cheeks 10 incorporates a bearing 11 in which is mounted free to rotate, on the side of the end 8, the free end of said winding tube 3 and, on the side of the other end 9, the driving device 6 mechanically secured to the other end of the tube d winding 3.

In the example shown, the driving device 6 is an electric motor, most of which is fitted inside the tube 3. As a variant, not shown in the figures, the driving device 6 could consist of a winch gear and bevel gear, operated by a cord or crank, or strap operation.

FIG. 2 shows the winding tube 3, which is formed by profiling from a metal strip 12 of thickness between 0.5 and 1 mm and whose width is greater than the mean perimeter of the tube 3 measured at its mean diameter, due to the formation of a single groove 18 oriented axially and projecting radially outwardly, as explained below.

Flaps 15, 16 are formed by counter-bending or by stamping at the ends of two side walls 13, 14 of the strip 12, which are themselves made by folding the strip, substantially radially outwards, relative to the rest of the strip 12 which is profiled in cylindrical tube of circular cross-section of outer surface 3b with a constant radius over most of its circumference, about the axis of rotation X. The side walls 13, 14 extend substantially in two diametrical planes, passing through the axis X, so as to give the groove 18, projecting outwards, a slightly undercut shape relative to the outer surface 3b. The edge of each of these flaps 15, 16 is folded so as to form lips 17 of a stapling system, these lips 17 being taken one inside the other.

These lips 17 joined together with the flaps 15, 16 a bottom wall 3a which extends parallel to the axis of rotation X of the tube 3 and thus with the side walls 13, 14 a groove 18 (visible in Figure 3 ), the stapling system being substantially in a median plane P equidistant from the side walls 13, 14.

The bottom wall 3a thus extends in a radially outer arcuate portion to the outer surface 3b, between the two side walls 13, 14 which are connected substantially perpendicularly to the outer surface 3b as to the bottom wall. 3a at the conformal folds of said side walls 13, 14 in the strip 12.

Thus, the rope underlying the arc-of-circle of the bottom wall 3a is of greater length than the rope underlying the arc-of-circle between the ends of the outer surface 3b, at the level of from the base of the side walls 13, 14.

The groove 18 allows attachment, in particular by clipping, of the automatic locking device 7 to the winding tube 3. This locking device 7 comprises at least two links 19a, 19b, articulated to each other as described in EP 937 859 which will be referred to for further details on this subject.

In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the latch device comprises three links 19a, 19b, 19c, and allows to connect the winding tube 3 to the apron 4.

Thus the first link 19a, called "hooking tube", is made of plastic or metal and is in the form of a rigid bent plate, to fit as accurately as possible to the curvature of the groove 18 undercut against the winding tube 3, due to the difference in diameter between the surface 3b and the bottom wall 3a and the inclination of the side walls 13, 14.

For this purpose, the tube hook 19a, shown in Figure 3, comprises, at its inner face (facing the tube 3), a recess 20 by which the link 19a is intended to bear against the contour protruding from the groove 18, and is held in position by clipping on the tube 3, via, on the one hand, a tongue 21 located on a transverse edge 22 of the link 19a, and oriented substantially radially towards the the inside of the tube 3, to press against the outside of a lateral face 13 or 14 and, secondly, thanks to lugs 23 mounted on resilient devices of the spring type.

These lugs 23 protrude from the other transverse edge 24 of the link 19a which delimits the recess 20, on the side opposite to the tongue 21, and these lugs 24 cooperate, after interlocking of the tongue 21 on the side wall 13 of the groove 18, with a plurality of orifices 25 made in the other side wall 14 of the groove 18, and in which the lugs 24 are engaged.

Preferably, the groove 18, which corresponds to a raised section, extends over an angular sector of approximately 45 ° defined by the two lateral walls 13, 14 inclined at a V with respect to each other, to allow by elastic deformation of the link 19a, its locking on the groove 18. To disassemble the lock, simply slide a tool such as screwdriver under the tongue 21 of the link 19a and lift it to unlock the link 19a and release it from the tube 3.

In order for the lock device to be mounted on the winding tube 3 in a wide variety of mounting configurations of the roller shutter box 1, apertures 25 are made in each of the side walls 13, 14 so that may immobilize the attachment link 19a on the tube 3 on one side or the other of the groove 18 by simply pivoting the hooking link 19a tube.

The other links 19b, 19c (visible in FIG. 2 and respectively an intermediate link 19b and an apron attachment link 19c) which also belong to the lock device 7 are also, like the hooking link 19a, made of plastic or each extend in the form of a curved rigid plate so as to adapt as precisely as possible to the curvature of the winding tube 3. The lateral edges of these links, parallel to the axis of rotation X of the tube 3, comprise connecting devices to ensure the hinged mechanical connection hinge between two adjacent links.

Thus, between the tube hook 19a and the link 19b and between the link 19b and the link 19c, the connection is obtained by a hinge. In a variant not shown in the figures, this connection could be obtained by any equivalent means which allows two consecutive links to pivot relative to each other so that they fit as closely as possible to the outer surface 3b of the tube. winding 3, with the exception of the first link 19a which covers the groove 18.

Depending on the size of the casing 2 of the shutter 1, the user will adapt the lock device 7 by adding or removing one or links 19b between the links 19a and 19c.

The connection between the link 19c and the first blade 5 of the apron 4 of the roller shutter is obtained by a groove 26 formed on the edge of the link 19c.

The operation of the lock device 7 is as follows:

It is understood that when the apron 4 is completely unwound and the end blade 5 of the apron 4 rests on the window sill or threshold door, any inadvertent lifting of the apron 4 which is not consecutive to a normal operation of the drive device 6 causes an arching of the links 19a, 19b, 19c at their respective hinges. This bracing particularly at the level of the hinge between the links 19b and 19c generates a mechanical blockage in the normal winding kinematics of the deck 4 and makes it impossible to rotate the winding tube 3 in the direction of the ascent of the deck 4. It is furthermore conceivable that this bracing between two consecutive links has the advantage of also constituting a safety member for the shutter.

Indeed, if the amplitude of the bracing exceeds the mechanical limits allowed by the hinge, it breaks, thus preventing damage to the entire winding mechanism and unfolding of the deck 4 integrated within the box 2.

In addition, it can be noted that for the maintenance of the casing 2 of the shutter 1, it is thus easier to reconnect the links 19a, 19b, 19c between them that having to intervene within the box 2 to change parts broken or deteriorated.

The connection according to the invention between the tube 3 and the tube hook 19a provides, on the one hand, a small footprint, optimizing the winding capacity of the boxes or boxes 2, and, on the other hand, a large ease of implementation, without parts or additional tools.

Claims (6)

1. Automatic locking device (7) having a winding tube (3) for the shutter (4) of a roller shutter, in which at least one of the ends of the tube (3) is adapted to be driven in rotation about an axis of rotation (X) by a drive device (6) within a box (2) of the roller shutter, characterised in that the winding tube (3) is provided with a single groove (18), extending parallel to the axis of rotation (X) of the tube (3), and projecting radially outwards with respect to a circular-section cylindrical tube part of substantially constant radius with an outer surface (3b) extending over the major part of the circumference of the tube (3), the groove (18) being delimited by a bottom wall (3a) extending over a circular-arc-shaped portion outside the outer surface (3b) of the tube (3), between two lateral walls (13, 14) perpendicular both to the bottom wall (3a) and to the said outer surface (3b) forming the tube (3) at their connections to the said bottom wall (3a) and outer surface (3b), the lateral walls (13, 14) extending in planes passing through the axis of rotation (X) and towards the outside of the said outer surface (3b) so as to give the groove (18) an undercut shape permitting the securing to at least one attachment link (19a) connected to the shutter (4) of the roller shutter, the said circular-arc-shaped portion of the said bottom wall (3a) having a chord length greater than the complementary chord length defined by the perimeter of the outer surface (3b) of the tube (3).
2. Locking device according to Claim 1, in which at least one, but preferably each one, of the lateral walls (13, 14) of the groove (18) has a plurality of openings (25) adapted to permit the attachment of lugs (23) belonging to the said attachment link (19a) connecting the shutter (4) of the roller shutter to the winding tube (3).
3. Locking device according to either one of Claims 1 and 2, in which the tube (3) is obtained by shaping a strip (12) in which are formed two lateral walls (13, 14) oriented substantially radially towards the outside of the said outer surface (3b) and extending substantially in diametral planes passing through the axis of rotation (X) of the tube (3), and each having respectively one of two folds (15, 16) joined at a lock-seaming zone (17).
4. Locking device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the lock-seaming zone (17) of the tube (3) is positioned substantially at a mid-plane (P) substantially equidistant from the lateral walls (13, 14) of the groove (18).
5. Locking device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the attachment link (19a) has a recess (20) on its inner face turned towards the tube (3), and the profile of which is shaped so as to fit, preferably by clipping, onto a portion of the groove (18) of the tube (3).
6. Roller shutter (1) having a box (2) intended to be flush-mounted in an opening made in a wall or to be surface-mounted on the wall, this box (2) housing, on the one hand, a tube (3) for winding and unwinding a shutter (4) of the roller shutter, and, on the other hand, a locking device (7) permitting the securing between the shutter (1) of the roller shutter and the tube (3) for winding and unwinding the said shutter (4) about the tube (3), characterised in that the said locking device (7) is according to any one of Claims 1 to 5.

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