EP2381049A2

EP2381049A2 - Screen device

Info

Publication number: EP2381049A2
Application number: EP11163460A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bart Pieter Jules Abeel; Steven Rita André Vanhoutte
Original assignee: Renson Sunprotection Screens NV
Current assignee: Renson Sunprotection Screens NV
Priority date: 2010-04-21
Filing date: 2011-04-21
Publication date: 2011-10-26
Also published as: BE1019300A5; EP2381049A3; EP2388430A2; EP2388430A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a screen device, comprising a screen roller, a screen which can be rolled up onto and rolled down from said screen roller, supporting elements (6) on the lateral sides of the screen roller for installing the screen roller in an interior space (4), a fixing body (7) to which at least one supporting element (6) can be attached by means of a sliding movement, comprising one or more guide elements (8a, 8b) for guiding said supporting element (6) during the sliding movement, in which the supporting element (6) can be attached to the guide elements (8a, 8b) for attaching the supporting element (6) to the fixing body (7), so that the screen roller can be installed in the interior space (4) from several directions.

Description

The present invention relates to a screen device, comprising a screen roller, a screen which can be rolled up onto and rolled down from said screen roller, an interior space in which the screen roller can be fitted in order to accommodate the latter in the fitted position of the screen device, supporting elements on the lateral sides of the screen roller for installing the screen roller in the interior space, a fixing body to which at least one supporting element can be attached by means of a sliding movement, comprising one or more guide elements for guiding said supporting element during said sliding movement, in which the supporting element can be attached to said guide elements for attaching said supporting element to said fixing body and comprising a first opening at first ends of the guide elements, via which the supporting element can be slid in with respect to the one or more guide elements in order to attach these to the fixing body and can be slid out in order to detach these from the fixing element.
Such screen devices are described, for example, in EP 0 546 313 A1 and in DE 298 04 060 U1 .
Such screen devices are usually placed near doors or windows, in which case these are positioned in such a manner with respect to these doors or windows that the screen can screen this door or window at least partially against, for example, sunlight and/or insects and/or cold and/or heat.
Said interior space is then situated on top of and/or next to said door or window. Depending on the environment factors, such as, for example, installation under a pitched roof, in a flat roof, in a wall, these being more readily accessible from one side, this interior space can then best be accessed from the top or from the bottom or from the front of the door or window or from the rear of the door or window. In practice, a different embodiment of a fixing body is available for each of these directions, in which the screen roller is guided in the desired direction by the guide elements after installation. In this case, it is not possible to rotate the fixing bodies in the desired direction for installation of the screen roller, as these are in practice always adapted to roll up and/or roll down the screen with respect to such a fixing body in a fixed direction.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide fixing bodies with which a screen roller can be fitted in several directions in said interior space. In this way, the same fixing body can be incorporated in several types of screen devices, in which case the screen roller can be attached to this fixing body in several desired directions.
This object of the invention is achieved by providing a screen device, comprising:

a screen roller;
a screen which can be rolled up onto and rolled down from said screen roller;
an interior space in which the screen roller can be fitted in order to accommodate the latter in the fitted position of the screen device;
supporting elements on the lateral sides of the screen roller for installing the screen roller in the interior space;
a fixing body to which at least one supporting element can be attached by means of a sliding movement, comprising one or more guide elements for guiding said supporting element during said sliding movement, in which the supporting element can be attached to said guide elements for attaching said supporting element to said fixing body ;
a first opening at first ends of the guide elements, via which the supporting element can be slid in with respect to the one or more guide elements in order to attach these to the fixing body and can be slid out in order to detach these from the fixing body, a second opening at second ends of the guide elements, via which the supporting element can be slid in with respect to the one or more guide elements in order to attach these to the fixing body and can be slid out in order to detach these from the fixing body.

In this case, the sliding movement is preferably a sliding movement in a direction virtually at right angles to the axis of the screen roller.
In a particular embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention, the screen device comprises an opening on at least one of the ends of the guide elements, via which the supporting element can be slid in with respect to the one or more guide elements in order to attach these to the fixing body and can be slid out in order to detach these from the fixing body and the guide elements can be detachably attached to the fixing body in two or more positions, so that said opening can assume two or more corresponding positions.
In order to be able to attach these guide elements to the fixing body in the different positions in a simple manner, a more particular embodiment of such a fixing body comprises one or more perforations for each of said positions for fitting the guide elements to the fixing body.
A further particular embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention comprises a motor for driving the rolling/unrolling movement of the screen, with the supporting element being arranged on one end of this motor.
Preferably, such a screen device then comprises a power supply cable for supplying electrical power to the motor, said screen device comprises an electrical connection for electrically connecting the power supply cable to the motor, comprising a male connecting piece and a female connecting piece, in which the male or the female connecting piece can be fitted to the end of the motor and the female or the male connecting piece can be fitted to said fixing body, respectively, and the male and the female connecting piece are positioned on the motor and the fixing body in such a manner that they are electrically connected at the end of said sliding movement.
The male or the female connecting piece which can be attached to the fixing body, can then also preferably be detachably attached in two or more positions to the fixing body, these positions corresponding to the two or more positions of the guide elements. The guide elements can in this case be detachably attached to the fixing body independently from the male or the female connecting piece, or can form an integral part of said male or said female connecting piece, in which case these can be detachably attached to the fixing body as a single part.
In a screen device according to the present invention, the guide elements are preferably positioned on the fixing body in such a manner that when the supporting element is fitted to the guide elements via the first opening, it is virtually in the same position as when the supporting element is fitted to the guide elements via the second opening.
In a preferred embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention, the sliding movement is a movement in a direction virtually at right angles to the plane in which the screen can be rolled up and rolled down.
With a screen device according to the present invention, the supporting element can preferably be attached to the fixing body by means of a linear sliding movement.
More preferably, the fixing body comprises two guide elements which slide out virtually parallel to one another.
Still more preferably, a screen device according to the present invention comprises fastening members for fastening the supporting element to the guide elements.
More specifically, said fastening members then preferably comprise an external screw thread and the guide elements comprise a corresponding internal screw thread.
The present invention will now be explained in more detail by means of the following detailed description of some preferred screen devices according to the present invention. This description only intends to give illustrative examples and to indicate further advantages and features of these screen devices, and can therefore not be interpreted in any way as a limitation of the area of application of the invention or of the patent rights defined in the claims.
Reference numerals are used in this detailed description to refer to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 diagrammatically shows how a supporting element of an embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention is fitted to a fixing body from the left-hand side of the figure;
Figure 2 diagrammatically shows how the supporting element of the embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention from Figure 1 is fitted to the fixing body from the right-hand side of the figure;
Figure 3 diagrammatically shows how the supporting element of the embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention from Figure 1 is fitted to the fixing body from the top side of the figure.

The embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention as illustrated comprises a screen roller and a screen (3) which can be rolled up onto and rolled down from said screen roller. In the figures, said screen roller and said screen have not been illustrated. The screen can be rolled up and rolled down in a virtually vertical plane.
The screen roller can be fitted in an interior space (4) in order to accommodate it in the fitted position of the screen device. On the one hand, supporting elements (6) are fitted on the lateral sides of the screen roller in order to fit the screen roller in the interior space (4). On the other hand, there is arranged on each end of the interior space (4) a fixing body (7) to which a corresponding supporting element (6) can be attached by means of a linear sliding movement.
At least the illustrated fixing body (7) comprises two guide elements (8a, 8b) which are arranged parallel to one another in order to guide the illustrated supporting element (6) on this fixing body (7). The illustrated supporting element (6) can be attached to said guide elements (8a, 8b) in order to fix the supporting element (6) to the fixing body (7). In the illustrated screen devices, the guide elements (8a, 8b) are to this end provided with bores having internal screw thread into which screws (11) with a corresponding external screw thread can be fitted in order to thereby attach the supporting element (6) to the guide elements (8a, 8b).
The second, non-illustrated supporting element (6) can be embodied in the same way and be attached to a similar fixing body (7) in the same manner or may, for example, be designed as a ball support which can be fitted in a bearing on a fixing body (7) adapted for this purpose.
This screen device furthermore comprises a screen and/or lath guide on both sides of the screen. Each screen and/or lath guide on the one hand guides a lateral side of the screen during the rolling/unrolling movement of the screen. On the other hand, each screen and/or lath guide also guides a lateral side of a bottom lath which is provided on the bottom side of the screen in order to stretch this screen, likewise during the rolling/unrolling movement of the screen.
The supporting element (6) can be slid in via a first opening (9a) or via a second opening (9b) between the guide elements (8a, 8b) in order to attach these to the fixing body (7) and slid out in order to detach these from the fixing body (7). The guide elements (8a, 8b) can in each case be detachably attached in several positions to the fixing body (7), so that said openings (9a, 9b) can assume several corresponding positions.
In order to be able to attach the guide elements (8a, 8b) to the fixing body (7) in the different positions in a simple manner, various perforations (12) are provided in the fixing body (7) for each position and the guide elements (8a, 8b) are provided with corresponding bores, so that these can be attached to the fixing body (7) by means of screws at the intended positions.
In a screen device according to the present invention, the supporting element (6) can be slid in, both via a first opening (9a) on first ends of the guide elements (8a, 8b) and via a second opening (9b) on second ends of the guide elements (8a, 8b), between these guide elements (8a, 8b) in order to attach the latter to the fixing body (7) and can be slid out in order to detach them from the fixing body (7). The guide elements (8a, 8b) are in this case positioned in their different positions on the fixing body (7) in such a manner that when the supporting element (6) is attached to the guide elements (8a, 8b) via the first opening (9a), it is in virtually the same position as when the supporting element (6) is attached to the guide elements (8a, 8b) via the second opening (9b).
If the guide elements (8a, 8b) have been attached to the fixing body (7) in a first position, as is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, then the supporting element (6) can in this way be fitted between the guide elements (8a, 8b) both from the left-hand side, via the first opening (9a), as is illustrated in Figure 1, and from the right-hand side, via the second opening (9b), as is illustrated in Figure 2.
If the guide elements (8a, 8b) have been attached to the fixing body (7) in a second position, as is illustrated in Figure 3, then the supporting element (6) can in this way be fitted between the guide elements (8a, 8b) both from above, via the first opening (9a), as is illustrated in Figure 3, or from below, via the second opening (9b) (not shown). However, in practice, the presence of the screen or lath guide will prevent the supporting element (6) from being fitted from below in the illustrated embodiment. However, it is clear that by adjusting the dimensions of, for example, the fixing body (7), the screen roller can be fitted between the guide elements (8a, 8b) via the lower side.
A second embodiment (not shown) of a screen device according to the present invention could be obtained by, for example, fixedly attaching the guide elements (8a, 8b) from Figures 1 and 2 to the fixing body (7). Such an embodiment of a screen device still offers the advantage compared to the prior art that the screen roller can be installed in the interior space (4) from two directions.
The above-described embodiments of a screen device according to the present invention may also be designed as a motorized screen device. With such embodiments, it is also possible to provide an electrical connection which is achieved at the end of the sliding movement.
Such a motorized screen device comprises a motor for driving the rolling/unrolling movement of the screen. This motor has not been shown in the figures. The supporting element (6) may then be a motor support (6) which is provided on the end of the motor. The motor can then be attached to the fixing body (7) by means of a linear sliding movement at right angles to its axis. In this case, the motor is for example a tube motor which is fitted in the screen roller, so that by attaching the motor support (6) to the fixing body (7), the screen roller is also secured in the interior space (4).
The screen device then furthermore comprises a power supply cable (not shown) for supplying electrical power to the motor. In addition, it comprises an electrical connection for electrically connecting the power supply cable to the motor, comprising a male connecting piece and a female connecting piece, in which the male or the female connecting piece is fitted to the end of the motor and the female or the male connecting piece is fitted to said fixing body (7), respectively. The male and the female connecting piece are in this case positioned on the motor and the fixing body (7) in such a manner that they are electrically connected at the end of said sliding movement.
The male or the female connecting piece are preferably detachably attached to the fixing body (7) in the first opening (9a) and the second opening (9b), and this in any of the different positions of the guide elements (8a, 8b) which may be possible.

Claims

Screen device, comprising:
- a screen roller;

- a screen which can be rolled up onto and rolled down from said screen roller;

- an interior space (4) in which the screen roller can be fitted in order to accommodate the latter in the fitted position of the screen device;

- supporting elements (6) on the lateral sides of the screen roller for installing the screen roller in the interior space (4);

- a fixing body (7) to which at least one supporting element (6) can be attached by means of a sliding movement, comprising one or more guide elements (8a, 8b) for guiding said supporting element (6) during said sliding movement, in which the supporting element (6) can be attached to said guide elements (8a, 8b) for attaching said supporting element (6) to said fixing body (7);

- a first opening (9a) at first ends of the guide elements (8a, 8b), via which the supporting element (6) can be slid in with respect to the one or more guide elements (8a, 8b) in order to attach these to the fixing body (7) and can be slid out in order to detach these from the fixing body (7); characterized in that said screen device comprises a second opening (9b) at second ends of the guide elements (8a, 8b), via which the supporting element (6) can be slid in with respect to the one or more guide elements (8a, 8b) in order to attach these to the fixing body (7) and can be slid out in order to detach these from the fixing body (7).
Screen device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the guide elements (8a, 8b) can be detachably attached to the fixing body (7) in two or more positions, so that each said opening (9a, 9b) can assume two or more corresponding positions.
Screen device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the fixing body (7) comprises one or more perforations (12) for each of said positions for fitting the guide elements (8a, 8b) to the fixing body (7).
Screen device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said screen device comprises a motor for driving the rolling/unrolling movement of the screen, with the supporting element (6) being arranged on one end of this motor.
Screen device according to Claim 4, characterized in that said screen device comprises a power supply cable for supplying electrical power to the motor, in that said screen device comprises an electrical connection for electrically connecting the power supply cable to the motor, comprising a male connecting piece and a female connecting piece, in which the male or the female connecting piece can be fitted to the end of the motor and the female or the male connecting piece can be fitted to said fixing body (7), respectively, and the male and the female connecting piece are positioned on the motor and the fixing body (7) in such a manner that they are electrically connected at the end of said sliding movement.
Screen device according to Claims 2 and 5 , characterized in that the male or the female connecting piece which can be attached to the fixing body (7), can be detachably attached to the fixing body (7) in two or more positions, these positions corresponding to the two or more positions of the guide elements (8a, 8b).
Screen device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide elements (8a, 8b) are positioned on the fixing body (7) in such a manner that when the supporting element (6) is fitted to the guide elements (8a, 8b) via the first opening (9a), it is virtually in the same position as when the supporting element (6) is fitted to the guide elements (8a, 8b) via the second opening (9b).
Screen device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding movement is a movement in a direction virtually at right angles to the plane in which the screen can be rolled up and rolled down.
Screen device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting element (6) can be attached to the fixing body (7) by means of a linear sliding movement.
Screen device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the fixing body (7) comprises two guide elements (8a, 8b) which slide out virtually parallel to one another.
Screen device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises fastening members (11) for fastening the supporting element (6) to the guide elements (8a, 8b).
Screen device according to Claim 11, characterized in that said fastening members (11) comprise an external screw thread and in that the guide elements (8a, 8b) comprise a corresponding internal screw thread.