Anti-slide protection for a roller shutter and roller shutter with anti-slide protection

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a push-up protection device for a roller shutter with the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a roller shutter with a push-up protection device.

[0002] An anti-lift device for a roller shutter is designed to prevent or at least hinder the shutter from being forced open. A roller shutter consists of a curtain with slats that are pivotally connected to each other around pivot axes perpendicular to the curtain's direction of movement, allowing them to be wound onto a roller shutter shaft. The slats typically have roughly flat rectangular profiles, which are usually slightly curved in the direction of movement for easier winding. A roller shutter usually has guide rails on both sides of the curtain, which allow the slats to slide smoothly in the direction of movement. The term "curtain" does not necessarily imply armor plating; the slats are typically made of plastic or an aluminum alloy. There is usually a gap between the guide rails and the roller shutter shaft.

[0003] European patent application EP 0 731 247 A2 discloses a roller shutter in which the slats closest to the shutter shaft are designed as anti-lift devices. These slats are connected to each other by hinges, like conventional roller shutter slats, but unlike conventional slats, they can slide into one another a certain distance in the direction of travel when unwound from the shutter shaft. The slats, when pushed into one another, cannot pivot relative to each other, so that they can transmit a thrust force to the shutter shaft and thereby lock the roller shutter against being pushed open, provided that the shutter shaft is held in a rotationally fixed position.

[0004] The object of the invention is to increase the robustness of a push-up protection device for a roller shutter of the type described above.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1.

[0006] The anti-lift device according to the invention is designed for a roller shutter with a curtain comprising slats. The anti-lift device has a push-link chain that connects a slat of the curtain to a roller shutter shaft. The curtain is preferably guided slidably by a sliding guide that is spaced apart from the roller shutter shaft. When the roller shutter is wound onto the roller shutter shaft, the push-link chain of the anti-lift device is first wound onto the roller shutter shaft and pulls the curtain onto the roller shutter shaft, so that the curtain is wound onto the roller shutter shaft on the wound push-link chain. The push-link chain has articulated chain links that are designed like plugs and couplings and which, when a push is applied, are pushed together, so to speak, inserted into one another, so that they can no longer pivot relative to each other.This enables the push-link chain to transmit not only a tensile force but also a thrust force. Once the roller shutter curtain and the push-link chain are unwound from the roller shutter shaft and the roller shutter shaft is held in a rotationally fixed position, the interlocking chain links of the push-link chain, which cannot pivot relative to each other, prevent the roller shutter curtain from being pushed in the guide towards the roller shutter shaft. In other words, the interlocking chain links of the push-link chain of the anti-lift device according to the invention prevent, or at least make it more difficult, to push the roller shutter open. A degree of play in the interlocking chain links relative to each other, for example by 3°, 5°, or 7°, is possible.

[0007] Furthermore, the anti-lift device according to the invention comprises a traction element, such as a rope or a band, in particular a metal band, which can be wound onto the roller shutter shaft. The traction element movably connects two chain links of the push-link chain or a chain link and the roller shutter shaft in a longitudinal direction of the push-link chain. Preferably, the traction element connects a first and a last chain link to each other, or a last chain link connected to the roller shutter curtain to the roller shutter shaft. However, traction elements can also be provided that movably connect two, for example, adjacent chain links of the push-link chain to each other in the longitudinal direction of the push-link chain.The movement of the chain links in the push-link chain relative to the pull cord allows the links to be pulled apart, so that they can pivot against each other, and pushed together, i.e., slid into one another, so that they cannot pivot against each other. The movement of the chain links in the push-link chain relative to the pull cord is dimensioned such that the pull cord transmits a tensile force between the chain links or between the roller shutter shaft and the last chain link, thereby relieving the articulated connections of the chain links of this tensile force. The chain links transmit the push force against the roller shutter being pushed up, from the shutter curtain to the rotationally fixed roller shutter shaft, and the pull cord transmits the tensile force to the roller shutter shaft when the roller shutter is being wound up. Specifically, only the pull cord transmits the tensile force between the chain links or from the roller shutter shaft to the shutter curtain.However, it is not impossible that the chain links of the push-link chain also transmit some of the tensile force.

[0008] The term "first chain link" refers to a link connected to the roller shutter shaft, and the term "last chain link" refers to the link connected to the roller shutter curtain, regardless of whether it is actually the first or last chain link, or whether the push-link chain has further chain links outside of the first and last chain links.

[0009] A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a channel extending longitudinally through the chain links of the push-link chain, through which the traction element is guided. The channel forms a guide for the traction element, it holds the traction element in the chain links even when the push-link chain runs in a curve, and the channel allows the traction element to move relative to the chain links in the longitudinal direction of the push-link chain.

[0010] One embodiment of the invention provides snap connectors for the chain links of the push-link chain, which connect the chain links in a pivotal manner and allow movement along the longitudinal direction of the push-link chain. The snap connectors allow the chain links to be easily connected and preferably also disconnected. Because the tensile element transmits the tensile force, only minimal requirements are placed on the mechanical strength of the connection between the chain links.

[0011] One embodiment of the invention provides a stop for the traction element that comes into contact with the first chain link or the roller shutter shaft when the push-link chain is subjected to tensile stress, so that the tensile force is transferred via the contacting stop from the first chain link or the roller shutter shaft to the last chain link, which is connected to the roller curtain, and the chain links are relieved of the tensile force.

[0012] A further development of the invention provides that fastening points for the stop are provided on the traction element, for example, holes for fixing the stop with a screw, a pin, or the like. The fastening points are provided at intervals of each other in the longitudinal direction on the traction element, wherein the distances of the fastening points are at least as large as the distance between two successive pivot axes of the chain links of the push-link chain when the chain links are nested and at most as large as the distance between successive pivot axes of the chain links of the push-link chain when the chain links are pulled apart.This embodiment of the invention allows for simple adjustment of the stop on the traction element depending on the number of chain links: If the push-link chain has one more or one less link, the stop is moved closer to or further away from the roller shutter shaft on the traction element by one attachment point. The attachment points for the stop on the traction element make it possible to position the stop on the traction element in such a way that the traction force is transmitted by the traction element and the chain links are relieved of the traction force.

[0013] To secure the first chain link of the push-link chain to the roller shutter shaft, one embodiment of the invention provides an openable fastening ring which, enclosing the roller shutter shaft, can be fixed to the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. The fastening ring has, for example, two half-rings or more than two partial rings that are connected or connectable to one another. When opened, the fastening ring can be placed radially onto the roller shutter shaft and, by closing it, is preferably connected to the roller shutter shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. It is conceivable to clamp the fastening ring so tightly around the roller shutter shaft that it is rotationally fixed to the roller shutter shaft by friction. Because roller shutter shafts are usually polygonal, the fastening ring can be fixed to the roller shutter shaft in a rotationally fixed manner by means of a corresponding inner circumference, in particular a polygonal annular hole, through a positive locking mechanism.The first chain link of the push-link chain, that is, the one connected to the roller shutter shaft, is or is connected - preferably articulated - to the fastening ring, so that the first chain link of the push-link chain is connected to the roller shutter shaft via the fastening ring.

[0014] To connect to the roller shutter curtain, one embodiment of the invention provides that the last chain link of the push-link chain can be connected to the roller shutter curtain slat by means of a positive locking connection transverse to the longitudinal direction of the roller shutter slat, thus creating a tensile-resistant connection. The longitudinal direction of the roller shutter slats runs transversely to the direction of movement and the longitudinal direction of the roller shutter curtain.

[0015] For example, the last chain link, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the roller shutter slat, has the same profile as the roller shutter slat, which, due to its profile, can be articulated to another roller shutter slat by sliding it in the longitudinal direction. This embodiment of the invention enables a simple connection of the push-link chain to the roller shutter curtain.

[0016] The subject matter of claim 10 is a roller shutter with a push-up protection device as described above.

[0017] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawing. The drawing shows: Figure 1 shows a sliding protection device for a roller shutter according to the invention in a perspective view; and Figure 2 shows individual parts of the sliding protection device made of Figure 1 in an exploded view.

[0018] The in Figure 1The roller shutter 1 shown, according to the invention, has a polygonal, in the exemplary embodiment octagonal tube as the roller shutter shaft 2, a roller curtain 3 and a push-link chain 4 which connects the roller curtain 3 to the roller shutter shaft 2. The push-link chain 4 forms part of the anti-lift device 5 for the roller shutter 1 according to the invention.

[0019] The push-link chain 4 has chain links 6, which are supplied as individual parts in Figure 2The chain links 6 are articulated about pivot axes and movably connected to each other in a longitudinal direction of the push-link chain 4. The pivot axes of the chain links 6 run parallel to the pivot axes of the roller shutter slats 7 of the roller curtain 3. For their connection, the chain links 6 have longitudinally extending tabs 8 on their lateral edges, which have outwardly projecting snap pins 9 at their free ends. The snap pins 9 are snapped into elongated holes 10 of the next chain link 6 by elastic deformation of the tabs 8. These elongated holes 10 also run longitudinally in the push-link chain 4. The elongated holes 10 are again arranged on the lateral edges of the chain links 6 and extend from an end of the chain links 6 furthest from the snap pins 9 towards the tabs 8.The snap pins 9, which are inserted into the elongated holes 10, are slidable within the elongated holes 10, allowing the chain links 6 to be displaced relative to each other by a length equal to the elongated holes 10 in the longitudinal direction of the push-link chain 4. The snap pins 9 and the elongated holes 10 form snap connectors 24, which connect the chain links 6 to each other in a pivotal and longitudinally movable manner.

[0020] As in Figure 2 As can be seen, the chain links 6 have rectangular, longitudinally extending projections that form plugs 11 and can be inserted into corresponding rectangular holes of the next chain link 6, forming couplings of the chain links 6, which are not visible in the drawing. By pushing the chain links 6 together, the plugs 11 of each chain link 6 engage in the coupling of the next chain link 6 and hold the chain links 6 together in a straight line, preventing them from pivoting, as shown in Figure 1 can be seen.

[0021] To connect the push-link chain 4 to the roller shutter shaft 2, the anti-lift device 5 has two mounting rings 12 with a polygonal inner circumference adapted to the polygonal shape of the roller shutter shaft 2. These rings are positively locked onto the roller shutter shaft 2, preventing rotation. The mounting rings 12 have two half-rings that are pivotally connected by integral tabs forming film hinges 13. The mounting rings 12 are open at the points opposite the film hinges 13, allowing their half-rings to pivot apart and the mounting rings 12 to be placed onto the roller shutter shaft 2. The mounting rings 12 are closed by screws 14 that are screwed tangentially into the open circumferential points. The mounting rings 12 are held axially and, as described, rotationally locked onto the roller shutter shaft 2 by friction.

[0022] On their opposing end faces, the fastening rings 12 have several axially parallel holes into which bearing pins 15 engage, which protrude laterally outwards at an end of a first chain link 61 of the push-link chain 4 furthest from the snap pin 9, so that the first chain link 61 is pivotably connected to the fastening rings 12 and pivotably connected to the roller shutter shaft 2 on or outside a circumference of the roller shutter shaft 12 via the fastening rings 12 about a pivot axis parallel to the roller shutter shaft 2.

[0023] A final chain link 16 of the push-link chain 4 has a hook-shaped profile, viewed in a longitudinal direction along the roller shutter slats 7, at one end facing the roller shutter curtain 3, serving as a sliding connecting element 17. The sliding connecting element 17 allows the final chain link 16 of the push-link chain 4 to be slid longitudinally along the roller shutter slats 7 into a complementary hook-shaped profile on an upper longitudinal edge of a first or uppermost roller shutter slat 7, facing the roller shutter shaft 2, and thus pivotally connected to the roller shutter slat 7. The final chain link 16 of the push-link chain 4 is connected to the first or uppermost roller shutter slat 7 by sliding longitudinally, just as the roller shutter slats 7 are connected to each other. The longitudinal direction of the roller shutter slats 7 runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the roller shutter curtain 3, which is also a sliding direction of the roller shutter curtain 3.

[0024] The roller shutter slats 7 of the roller curtain 3 are slidably guided at both ends in grooves, which form a sliding guide 18 for the roller shutter slats 7 and for the roller curtain 3. The sliding guide 18 ends, as shown in Figure 1 to be seen, at a distance from the roller shutter shaft 2. To connect the roller curtain 3 to the roller shutter shaft 2, as many chain links 6 are connected by snapping the snap pins 9 into the elongated holes 10 of the chain links 6 as are necessary to bridge the distance between the sliding guide 18 and the roller shutter shaft 2.

[0025] The last chain link 16 of the push-link chain 4 is pushed into the complementary hook-shaped profile of the first or uppermost roller shutter slat 7 by sliding it longitudinally along the roller shutter slats 7, thereby connecting it articulatedly to the first or uppermost roller shutter slat 7. The other chain links 6 may already be connected to the last chain link 16 or may be connected to it subsequently.

[0026] The two mounting rings 12 are arranged on the roller shutter shaft 2 in a rotationally and axially fixed manner as described above, and the first chain link 61 is articulated to the two mounting rings 12 and, via the mounting rings 12, articulated to the roller shutter shaft 2. Here too, the other chain links 6 can be connected to the first chain link 61 when the first chain link 61 is attached to the roller shutter shaft 2 with the mounting rings 12, or the remaining chain links 6 can be connected to the first chain link 61 subsequently.

[0027] The rectangular holes in the chain links 6, which form the couplings of the chain links 6, 16, 61, and the rectangular tubular projections, which form the plugs 11 of the chain links 6, 16, 61, form a channel 19 that passes through each chain link 6, 16, 61 and the push-link chain 4 as a whole in its longitudinal direction. From the first chain link 61, a strip of sheet metal, that is, a metal band, which can also be generally considered a tensile element 20, is pushed through the channel 19 of the push-link chain 4 to the last chain link 16 and screwed to the last chain link 16 with a screw 21. In general terms, the tensile element 20 is fixed to the last chain link 16 of the push-link chain 4. Compared to the other chain links 6, 61, the traction element 20 is movable in the longitudinal direction of the push link chain 4 in the channel 19 of the push link chain 4.

[0028] At an end projecting tangentially from the first chain link 61 to the roller shutter shaft 2, the metal band forming the tensioning element 20 has several holes, which are here referred to as attachment points 22 for a stop 23. The holes forming the attachment points 22 are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the tensioning element 20, corresponding to the distance between the snap pins 9 and the elongated holes 10 of the chain links 6. The distance between the attachment points 22 is at most as large as the distance between the snap pins 9 of adjacent chain links 6 when the chain links 6 are pulled apart, and the distance between the attachment points 22 is at least as large as the distance between the snap pins 9 of adjacent chain links 6 when they are pushed together.In other words, the distance between the attachment points 22 for the stop 23 on the traction element 20 is at most as large as a maximum distance between the pivot axes of adjacent and extended chain links 6 and at least as large as a minimum distance between the pivot axes of adjacent and compressed chain links 6. The pivot axes of the chain links 6 are defined by the snap pins 9.

[0029] A screw with a nut is attached as a stop 23 in one of the holes forming the fastening points 22 in the tension member 20. When the chain links 6 are pulled apart by winding the push-link chain 4 onto the roller shutter shaft 2, the stop 23 comes into contact with the first chain link 61. One of the fastening points 22 is selected that allows the chain links 6 to be pulled apart sufficiently to remove the plugs 11 from the couplings and allow the chain links 6 to pivot relative to each other. Furthermore, the fastening point 22 is selected such that a tensile force is transmitted not via the chain links 6, but via the tension member 20 from the first chain link 61 to the last chain link 16. A suitable fastening point 22 is provided on the tension member 20 for varying numbers of chain links 16.

[0030] The roller curtain 3 can be wound onto the roller shutter shaft 2 via the push link chain 4, whereby the end of the metal band forming the traction element 20 protruding from the first chain link 6 is wound onto the roller shutter shaft 2 under the push link chain 4 and the push link chain 4 is wound onto the roller shutter shaft 2 under the roller curtain 3.

[0031] When the roller shutter curtain 3 is unwound from the roller shutter shaft 2, if a last or lowest roller shutter slat 7 is placed on a windowsill or the roller shutter curtain 3 is otherwise held against further movement in its guide 18 away from the roller shutter shaft 2, the roller shutter slats 7 slide together as is usual with roller shutters. Likewise, the chain links 6, 16, 61 of the push-link chain 4 of the anti-lift device 5 according to the invention are pushed together, so that the plugs 11 of the chain links 6 engage in the couplings of the chain links 6 and the chain links 6 can no longer pivot relative to each other. The push-link chain 4 now transmits a thrust force from the roller shutter shaft 2 to the first roller shutter slat 7, so that the roller shutter curtain 3 cannot be moved upwards or towards the roller shutter shaft 2, i.e., cannot be pushed open, provided that the roller shutter shaft 2 is held rotationally fixed. Reference symbol list

[0032] 1 Roller shutter 2 Roller shutter shaft 3 Roller curtain 4 Push link chain 5 Anti-lift device 6 Chain link 7 Roller shutter slat 8 Tab 9 Snap pin 10 Slotted hole 11 Plug 12 Mounting ring 13 Film hinge 14 Screw 15 Bearing pin 16 Last chain link 17 Sliding connector 18 Sliding guide 19 Channel 20 Pulling element 21 Screw 22 Mounting point 23 Stop 24 Snap connector 61 First chain link

Claims

1. Anti-lift device for a roller shutter (1), with a push link chain (4) for connecting a roller shutter curtain (3) to a roller shutter shaft (2), which has a first chain link (61) that can be connected to the roller shutter shaft (2) and a last chain link (16) that can be connected to the roller shutter curtain (3) , wherein the push link chain (4) is wound onto the roller shutter shaft (2) under the roller shutter curtain (3) when wound onto the roller shutter shaft (2), and wherein chain links (6, 16, 61) of the push link chain (4) are connected in an articulated manner and in a longitudinal direction of the push link chain (4) and are designed as plugs (11) and couplings which, when a thrust is exerted on the push link chain (4), are pushed into one another and can then no longer pivot relative to one another, and which, when a pull is exerted on the push link chain (4), are pulled apart and can then pivot relative to one another, characterized in that the anti-lift device (5) has a pulling device (20) that can be wound onto the roller shutter shaft (2) and is connected to two chain links (6, 16, 61) of the push link chain (4) or to one chain link (6, 16, 61) and the roller shutter shaft (2) in such a way that the pulling device (20) connects the two chain links (6, 16, 61) of the push link chain (4) or the chain link (6, 16, 61) and the roller shutter shaft (2) to each other in a limited manner in a longitudinal direction of the push link chain (4) , and which, when the thrust is exerted on the push link chain (4), transmits a tensile force between the two chain links (6, 16, 61) so that the articulated connections of the two chain links (6, 16, 61) between which the pulling device (20) transmits the tensile force between them, are relieved of the tensile force, or transmits a tensile force between the one chain link (6, 16, 61) and the roller shutter shaft (2), so that the articulated connections between the one chain link (6, 16, 61) and the roller shutter shaft (2), between which the pulling device (20) transmits the pulling force, are relieved of the pulling force.

2. Anti-lift device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pulling device (20) is connected to the roller shutter shaft (2) or to the first chain link (61), which can be connected to the roller shutter shaft (2), and to the last chain link (16), which can be connected to the roller shutter curtain (3).

3. Anti-lift device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the chain links (6, 16, 61) of the push link chain (4) have a channel (19) passing through the chain links (6, 16, 61) in the longitudinal direction of the push link chain (4), through which the pulling device (20) is guided.

4. Anti-lift device according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the chain links (6, 16, 61) of the push link chain (4) have snap connectors (24) with which they can be connected in an articulated manner and movably relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the push link chain (4) by snapping them into place.

5. Anti-lift device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pulling device (20) has a stop (23) which, when the pull is exerted on the push link chain (4), comes into contact with the first chain link (61) or the roller shutter shaft (2) and thereby transfers the pulling force to the pulling device (20).

6. Anti-lift device according to claim 5, characterized in that the pulling device (20) has fastening points (22) for the stop (23) at which the stop (23) can be fixed to the pulling device (20), the distance between which in the longitudinal direction of the pulling device (20) is at least as great as the distance between two consecutive pivot axes of the chain links (6, 16, 61) of the push link chain (4) when the chain links (6, 16, 61) are pushed into one another and at most as large as the distance between the successive pivot axes of the chain links (6, 16, 61) of the push link chain (4) when the chain links (6, 16, 61).

7. Anti-lift device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pulling device (20) is a strip or a band, in particular a metal band.

8. Anti-slip protection according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the last chain link (16) of the push link chain (4), which can be connected to the roller shutter curtain (3), has a sliding fastener (17) with which it can be connected to the roller shutter slat (7) of the roller shutter curtain (3) in a tensile-resistant manner by sliding in a longitudinal direction of a roller shutter slat (7) of the roller shutter curtain (3) by form-fitting transversely to the longitudinal direction of the roller shutter slat (7).

9. Roller shutter with an anti-lift device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roller shutter (1) has an openable fastening ring (12) for connecting the push link chain (4) to the roller shutter shaft (2), which surrounds the roller shutter shaft (2) and is fixed to the roller shutter shaft (2) in a rotationally secure manner and can be removed radially from the roller shutter shaft (2) by opening and to which the first chain link (61) of the push link chain (4) can be connected.

10. Roller shutter with anti-lift device protection according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the roller shutter (1) comprises a roller shutter curtain (3) with hingedly connected roller shutter slats (7), a sliding guide (18) which guides the roller shutter slats (7) in a sliding manner, a roller shutter shaft (2) which is arranged at a distance from the sliding guide (18) and onto which the roller shutter curtain (3) can be wound and from which it can be unwound, and a push link chain (4) which connects one of the roller shutter slats (7) to the roller shutter shaft (2) and which, when the roller shutter curtain (3) is wound onto the roller shutter shaft (2), is wound onto the roller shutter shaft (2) under the roller shutter curtain (3), wherein chain links (6, 16, 61) of the push link chain (4) are connected in an articulated manner and in a longitudinal direction of the push link chain (4) and are designed as plugs (11) and couplings which are pushed into one another when a thrust is exerted on the push link chain (4) and can then no longer pivot relative to one another, and which are pulled apart when a pull is exerted on the push link chain (4) and can then pivot relative to one another.