US20040169116A1

US20040169116A1 - Universal support for rolling up curtains

Info

Publication number: US20040169116A1
Application number: US10/483,473
Authority: US
Inventors: Pietro Nogare; Simone Dalle Nogare
Original assignee: Dalex SRL
Current assignee: Dalex SRL
Priority date: 2001-07-13
Filing date: 2002-07-11
Publication date: 2004-09-02
Also published as: ITBO20010444A1; EP1407109A1; WO2003006776A1; ITBO20010444A0; CA2453545A1

Abstract

A universal support for a rolling up curtain is aimed at being fastened, together with another identical support (100), to a surface (1) for holding opposite heads (93) of a rolling roll (91) of a rolling up curtain (90). The support (100) includes an upright (3) of polygonal section and a bracket (4) extending from the upright (3), in cantilevered fashion with respect to the surface (1). The bracket has, at its distal portion (4 b), a seat (5) for receiving and holding the head (93). The terminal portions (30,40) feature front holes (31,41) and lateral holes (32,42) for allowing the universal support (100) to be fastened to different surfaces (1). Other fastening means (80) are made on the upright (3) and include “L”-like grooves (81,82) aimed at assembling the support (100) on a section bar (85). A diagonal strengthening bar (60) is also situated between the distal portion (4 a) of the bracket (4) and the upright (3).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the technical field concerning the production of rolling up curtains for both outdoors and indoor.

In particular, the invention relates to a universal support, which supports the curtains in any mounting configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

The rolling up curtains are usually rolled up on the outer surface of a tubular element, or hollow roll of circular or polygonal section, possibly equipped with devices situated thereinside for making easier or performing automatically unrolling and rolling up operations.

The roll is usually equipped with a pair of motionless heads, situated at its ends and held in position by suitable supports.

The roll can rotate with respect to the heads during the unrolling or rolling up of the curtain.

During the installation operations of the rolling up curtains, both outdoors and indoors, it can be necessary to fasten the above mentioned supports to different surfaces, and/or in different ways.

In particular, a curtain can be mounted to the wall, vertically or inclined at a different angle, with the longitudinal axis of the roll substantially parallel thereto; to the ceiling, with the axis of the roll still parallel; between two opposite walls, with the axis of the roll substantially perpendicular to the walls.

The curtain can be also contained inside a box-like container, obtained by suitable drawn-pieces and in turn fastened to the wall or to the ceiling; a stiff bar is often fixed between the supports in order to strengthen the support structure of the curtain.

All the above mentioned techniques for installing the curtains, and also other similar ones, require preparation and use of a great number of support and fastening elements.

In fact, each model of the curtain is provided with relative supports, which have different conformation and fastening points, in relation to the type of installation.

Moreover, these supports usually are not suitable for all sizes of each type of curtain.

Therefore, there must be a certain number of different sizes for each type of support in order to match the whole range of sizes of the corresponding curtain.

Obviously, this causes high costs of design, production and storage for the producer. Furthermore, the disadvantages are still bigger for distributors and installers, who must have supplies and handle a magazine with a really high number of such parts.

From the publication GB-A-1.352.731 a support is known for rolling up curtains, which support is to be fastened to a surface and includes one upright which is to be set in alignment with the surface, and one bracket extending from the upright. The bracket has a seat for receiving the head of a wind-up roll. The upright has holes for fastening the upright to the surface.

From the publication U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,146 discloses a roller blind structure including a support bracket featuring a seat for receiving the wind-up roll head therein.

From the U.S. Pat. No. 985,327 a shade roller is known which includes a support bracket with a vertical member and a horizontal member. The vertical member has holes for connecting the bracket to a wall and the horizontal member has a seat for receiving a respective end of the wind-up roller.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to propose a support for rolling up curtains, which allows fastening the curtains to surfaces arranged in any way.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a support which can be also fastened inside box-like containers of standard type.

A further object of the present invention is to propose a support which can house other fastening and operating elements of the curtain.

A still further object of the present invention is to propose a support which is strong, simple to install and cheap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above mentioned objects are wholly obtained, in accordance with contents of the claims, by a universal support for rolling up curtain, aimed at being fastened to a surface for holding a head of a rolling up roll of the rolling up curtain.

The universal support is characterized in that it includes: an upright, aimed at being disposed in a position substantially in alignment with said surface; one bracket, extending from said upright in cantilevered fashion with respect to the surface, and connected rigidly to the upright in the region of its end and equipped with a seat for receiving and holding said head; the upright is also equipped with terminal portions featuring holes for allowing said universal support to be fastened to said surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristic features of the invention, as will result from the claims, are pointed out in the following detailed description, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: [0023]
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a support obtained according to the present invention; [0024]
FIG. 2 shows a view of a pair of supports according to FIG. 1, fastened to a vertical wall; [0025]
FIG. 3 shows a view of a pair of supports according to FIG. 2, equipped also with a strengthening bar; [0026]
FIG. 4 shows a support according to the one shown in FIG. 2, fastened to a section bar inside a box-like container; [0027]
FIG. 5 shows an example of installation of a rolling up curtain according to the technique of FIG. 2; [0028]
FIG. 6 shows an example of installation of a rolling up curtain according to the technique of FIG. 3; [0029]
FIG. 7 shows an example of installation of a rolling up curtain according to the technique of FIG. 4.[0030]

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, the [0031] reference numeral 100 indicates the assembly of the universal support for the rolling up curtain, proposed by the present invention.
The [0032] support 100 is aimed at being fastened to a surface 1, such as a wall, a ceiling or other, to support a rolling up curtain 90 (see also FIG. 5 for the application example).
In particular, in the example illustration of FIG. 5, a pair of identical supports [0033] 100 hold opposite heads 93 of a rolling up roll 91 of the previously mentioned rolling up curtain 90.
The curtain can be of any known type, e.g. operated by means of a chain or by automatic rolling up due to elastic reaction. [0034]
The [0035] supports 100 are fastened to a surface 1, in this case constituted by a vertical wall.
The [0036] universal support 100 is advantageously obtained from one block of material having suitable mechanical characteristics.
It is preferably obtained by die forming of plastic material, but it can be also obtained by die casting of known alloys. [0037]
The structure of the [0038] support 100 includes an upright 3, aimed at being substantially aligned with the surface 1. The upright 3, according to the shown embodiment, has a square section, but it can have different sections and conformations.
The upright [0039] 3 has widened terminal portions 30, 40, of approximately cubic conformation, which allow the upright 3 to be fastened to the surface 1.
Each [0040] terminal portion 30, 40 features front through holes 31, 41, made between the front face 31 a, 41 a and rear face 31 b, 41 b, and a lateral through hole 32, 42, made between the lateral faces 32 a, 42 a and 32 b, 42 b.
The [0041] front holes 31, 41 and lateral holes 32, 42 are aimed at receiving corresponding screws 33, 43 and 34, 44 for the fastening to the surface 1.
Thus, as it can be easily understood, it is especially simple to fasten the [0042] support 100 to any wall, which is arranged parallel to the rolling up curtain 90 (FIG. 2), using the front fastening holes 31, 41, or between facing walls, extending perpendicular to the curtain 90, using the lateral fastening holes 32, 42.
It is also possible to fasten the [0043] supports 100 to the ceiling using always front holes 31, 41.
The [0044] universal support 100 includes also a bracket 4, which extends from the upright 4, perpendicular with respect thereto and cantilevered with respect to the surface 1, near one of the above mentioned terminal portions 30, 40.
Actually, it is advantageous that the [0045] proximal end 4 a of the bracket is introduced into the upright 3 in the region of the widened terminal portion 40.
The [0046] distal portion 4 b of the bracket 4 has a seat 5, which receives and supports the head 93 or the rolling roll 91.
In particular, the [0047] seat 5 is made between two protrusions, outer 51 and inner 52, respectively, which extend perpendicularly to the distal portion 4 b of the bracket 4, at a predetermined distance one from the other.
The [0048] protrusions 51, 52 have respective holes 53, 54, mutually aligned axially and receiving a pin 55 for locking the head 93.
The [0049] universal support 100 includes also a strengthening bar 60, which stiffly connects the distal portion 4 a of the bracket 4 with the upright 3.
In particular, the [0050] bar 60 extends diagonally from the free end of the above mentioned inner protrusion 52.
In order to fulfill in the best way its function to make the structure stronger and more stiff, without making it heavy, the [0051] bar 60 meets the upright 3 in a region of the latter which is suitably distant from the point where the bracket 4 is fastened to the upright 3, near the terminal portion of the latter.
According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the [0052] bar 60 has a polygonal section, substantially identical with the section of the upright 3 and the bracket 4.
However, it is obvious that the bar can have different conformations. [0053]
For instance, the strengthening structure can be full-sectioned and extend also over the space between the [0054] upright 3, the bracket 4 and the bar 60, as they are shown in FIG. 1.
The [0055] upright 4 features also a pair of lateral though holes 71, 72 which are aimed at fastening one end of a stiffening bar 70 (See FIG. 3). According to a particular application of the present invention, the stiffening bar 70 is aimed at connecting rigidly a pair of identical supports 100, which support the opposite heads 93 of the rolling roll 91 of the rolling up curtain 90.
The [0056] bar 70 is fastened to the supports 100 in a very simple way, by screws 34, 45. An example of the above mentioned application is shown in FIG. 6.
Connecting means [0057] 80, aimed at fastening the support 100 to a corresponding section bar 85, are provided on the face of the upright 3 which is opposite to the face from which the bracket 4 extends (see also FIG. 4). In particular, the connecting means 80 include a pair of L- like grooves 81, 82, made in the upright 4, at a predetermined mutual distance, and sliding on corresponding longitudinal profiles 83, 84, which extend from the section bar 85.
The above described connecting system is particularly advantageous if the [0058] curtain 90 must be installed inside a closed box-like container 86.
An application of the invention in this case is shown as example in FIG. 7. [0059]
The [0060] support 100 is also equipped with lateral lightening grooves 9 (see FIG. 2), made in all the support lateral surfaces in order to improve its stiffness and lightness.
The advantages of the use of the above described [0061] support 100 in the installation of the rolling up curtains 90 derive first of all from the fact that it fulfills all installation needs of any kind of rolling up curtain and in any assembling conditions in an extremely simple and immediate way, by a single support made in few sizes.
Actually, it has been seen that the [0062] support 100 obtained according to the present invention, allows to fasten a curtain 90 easily to a wall, a ceiling, to two facing walls or inside close box-like containers.
Another advantage lies in a considerable reduction of handling costs for both the [0063] support 100 producer and installer, because it is no longer necessary to produce and store (for the producer), or to purchase and keep in a magazine (for the installer) big numbers of assembling devices, which are usually to be provided with different types of curtain.
Finally, the [0064] universal support 100 is particularly cheap to produce, specially if it is obtained from a single block by pressing or casting, and it can also be mounted visible because of its pleasant look.
It is understood that what above, has been described as a pure, not limitative example, therefore, possible variants of the invention remain within the protective scope of the present technical solution, as described above and claimed hereinafter. [0065]

Claims

1. A universal support for a rolling up curtain, aimed at being fastened to a surface (1) for holding a head (93) of a rolling roll (91) of said rolling up curtain (90), said support including:

at least one upright (3), aimed at being disposed substantially in alignment with said surface (1);

at least one bracket (4), extending from said upright (3) in cantilevered fashion with respect to said surface (1), and connected rigidly to the upright (3) in the region of its end (4 a) and equipped, at its distal portion (4 b), with a seat (5) for receiving and holding said head (93);

said upright (3) being also equipped with terminal portions (30,40) featuring holes (31,41) and (32,42) for allowing said universal support (100) to be fastened to said surface (1);

the support being characterized in that connecting means (80), aimed at fastening said support (100) to a 20 corresponding section bar (85), are situated in the face of said upright (3) opposite to the face from which said bracket (4) extends, said connecting means (80) including a pair of grooves (81,82), made in said upright (3), at a predetermined mutual distance, and sliding in corresponding longitudinal profiles (83,84), which extend from said section bar (85).

2. A support, according to claim 1, characterized in that said bracket (4) meets said upright (3) near said terminal portion of the latter.

3. A support, according to claim 1, characterized in that said bracket (4) extends from said upright (3) in a direction substantially orthogonal with respect thereto.

4. A support, according to claim 1, characterized in that said upright (3) and bracket (4) have polygonal section.

5. A support, according to claim 4, characterized in that said upright (3) and bracket (4) have square section.

6. A support, according to claim 1, characterized in that said terminal portions (30,40) have parallelepiped conformation and include at least one respective front through hole (31,41) extending between the fore faces (31 a,41 a) and rear faces (31 b,41 b) of said terminal portions (30,40), and at least one respective lateral through hole (32,42) between the lateral faces (32 a,42 a) and (32 b,42 b) of said terminal portions (30,40).

7. A support, according to claim 1, characterized in that said seat (5) is made between two protrusions (51,52), which extend, parallel to each other, from said distal portion (4 b) of said bracket (4), at a predetermined distance one from the other and in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bracket (4).

8. A support, according to claim 7, characterized in that said protrusions (51,52) have respective holes (53,54), mutually aligned axially and aimed at receiving a pin (55) to lock said head (93).

9. A support, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes also a strengthening bar (60), connecting said distal portion (4 a) of said bracket (4) with said upright (3), in a region of the latter which is distanced from the point where the bracket (4) is fastened.

10. A support, according to any of previous claims, characterized in that it is made out in a single block.

11. A support, according to claim 1, characterized in that said upright (4) features also a pair of lateral though holes (71,72) which are aimed at fastening one end of a stiffening bar (70), said stiffening bar (70) being aimed at connecting rigidly a pair of said supports (100) for supporting opposite heads (93) of a rolling roll (91).

12. A support, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes also lateral lightening grooves (9H).