DEVICE FOR HOLDING END CAPS OF ROLLER SHUTTER LEAVES

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for supporting end caps of shutter apron slats.

[0002] We know, notably from document DE 37 42 874, about fitting end caps to the ends of shutter curtain slats. The slats are generally hollow, obtained by extrusion, and are cut to size. To ensure a finished look, an end cap is fitted to each end of the slats, essentially by interlocking, and then fixed by appropriate methods which can be of various kinds, such as, but not limited to, screwing or gluing.

[0003] Document FR 2 904 251 concerns a machine for fitting and screwing end caps to blades. These operations are automated; the blade ends are brought one by one to a unit dispensing device for the end caps to be fitted. Upstream of the dispensing device, the end caps are stored in a magazine with vertical rails between which the end caps are arranged sequentially.

[0004] To avoid using a vibratory bowl feeder to supply the bit storage magazine, the bits are packaged in a strip by threading them onto the straight section of a holder. The bits have an opening for this purpose, which can be either closed or open. This straight section has a non-round cross-section to prevent the bits from pivoting, and preferably conforms to at least part of the opening for indexing. The straight section must allow for continuous, non-overlapping stacking of the bits.

[0005] In practice, the resulting strip is inserted into the magazine and then the support is removed to release the tips.

[0006] There are several ways to create these supports.

[0007] The most frequently used support is shown on the figure 1 It consists of a thermoformed plastic tab 1, designed to hold tips 2, of which only two are shown in this figure, and one of which is shown on the figure 2 .

[0008] The tab 1 is intended to be inserted into an opening 20, which is present on each of the ends 2, and visible on the figure 2 .

[0009] This tongue 1 comprises, on the one hand, a main body 10, shaped to the said opening 20 so as to prevent the pivoting of the tips 2, on the other hand, at one end, a prominence 11 which forms a stop for the tips 2, and on the other hand, at its other end, a flexible, unshaped tongue 12, capable of being bent, as shown in dashed lines, in order to create a loop by being partially inserted into the stacked end tips 2, in order to prevent the escape of the tips 2.

[0010] Alternatively, tabs cut to size from a sheet of plastic can be used to create a widened stop at one end. This has the advantage of quickly adapting to various types of nozzles, but the disadvantage of a less secure fit due to excessive flexibility. Such a tab is shown in document FR 2 904 251, where it is used with nozzles, each of which has an open, unclosed opening.

[0011] These tabs have another drawback: they must be loaded manually and cannot be loaded mechanically, due to their flexibility and the folding end closure system.

[0012] Finally, some use metal supports, in the form of a U-shaped bent steel band onto which the tips are threaded, while an elastic band is placed around the free ends of the temples to prevent the tips from slipping off. These metal supports are more expensive than the aforementioned plastic tabs, so unlike the latter, which are disposable after use, they are returnable, requiring a return procedure to the manufacturer.

[0013] Furthermore, the handling of elastic bands does not facilitate the loading of the machines.

[0014] The present invention aims to provide a support device for end caps on shutter slats, combining all the advantages of existing devices without their drawbacks. The goal is to offer a disposable support device that is sufficiently rigid, easy to handle, and allows for automated loading of the end caps.

[0015] The end cap support device for shutter slats according to the invention is of the type comprising a straight part onto which said end caps are intended to be threaded, which for this purpose have an opening in the middle part, and one end of which is formed into a stop, and it is characterized in that it is made of a semi-rigid material, and in that it comprises at its extreme part opposite to that formed into a stop, a section having an elastically deformable part, capable of taking at least two different configurations, a first, at rest, where it has dimensions preventing the escape of an end cap, and a second where it retracts under the effect of the passage of an end cap subjected to a force parallel to said straight part, so as to allow the escape of said end cap as well as those also subjected to said force.

[0016] According to an additional feature of the device according to the invention, the end formed as a stop consists of an enlargement.

[0017] According to another additional feature of the device according to the invention, the elastically deformable part consists of at least one convex and detached blade, protruding laterally to extend beyond the plane of the edge of the straight part, and capable of aligning itself with said plane under the action of an axial force.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the elastically deformable part comprises two detached, convex blades projecting laterally on either side of the section comprising said elastically deformable part.

[0019] According to another additional feature of the device according to the invention, it is made from molded semi-rigid plastic material.

[0020] This plastic material may, but is not limited to, consist of polypropylene.

[0021] According to another additional feature of the device according to the invention, the straight part has a structure comprising bars forming a lattice.

[0022] This characteristic allows the straight part to have a certain rigidity, while using a material whose flexibility is necessary for the deformability of the elastically deformable part.

[0023] According to another additional feature of the device according to the invention, the end, beyond the section which includes the elastically deformable part, has a pointed shape.

[0024] The advantages and characteristics of the end cap support device for shutter apron blades according to the invention will become clearer from the following description, which relates to the attached drawing, which represents a non-limiting embodiment thereof.

[0025] In the attached drawing: [ Fig.1 ] represents a schematic perspective view of a prior art end cap support device for shutter apron slats, [ Fig.2 ] represents a schematic plan view of a shutter apron slat end cap, [ Fig.3 ] represents a partial plan view of a device for supporting the end caps of shutter apron slats according to the invention, [ Fig.4 ] represents a side view of the same tip support device according to the invention.

[0026] With reference to figures 3 et 4, we can see a device 3 for supporting end caps of shutter apron blades according to the invention.

[0027] This support device 3 is in the form of an elongated piece, comprising at one end a straight median part 4, an enlargement 5 forming a stop, and at the other end a section 6 comprising an elastically deformable part 60.

[0028] The support device 3 is molded from a plastic material, with the aim of saving material, while combining flexibility and rigidity, it has a peripheral rib 30, which borders a central part which has only a web 31, while, essentially at the level of the straight part 4, a lattice of bars 32 gives rigidity.

[0029] In this embodiment, the straight part 4 has a rectangular cross-section, which corresponds to the opening 20 of the nozzle 2, so that a nozzle 2 can slide without pivoting, the widening 5 having at least one dimension preventing the passage of a nozzle 2.

[0030] The elastically deformable part 60 of the section 6 comprises, in this embodiment, two convex blades 61 projecting outwards beyond the outer plane of the part, and detached from the rest of the section by the presence of voids 62. In fact, the blades 61 consist of portions of the peripheral rib 30.

[0031] It will be understood that the blades 61 form an outgrowth of a dimension greater than the width of the straight part 4, as well as the width of the opening 20 of the tip 2, so that a tip 2 engaged on the straight part 4 cannot escape from it, except by exerting on this tip a force F, parallel to the straight part and in the direction of the section 6, and sufficient to deform the blades 61.

[0032] It should be noted that the engagement of the tips on the straight part 4, of course requires exerting a force opposite to F. Moreover, to facilitate such engagement, the free end 63 of the section 6 is shaped into a point.

[0033] The passage of an end piece 2, in either direction, is not only related to the deformability of the blades 61, but to the fact that the latter are indeed curved, and that the transition between them and the straight part 4 as well as the free end 63, is made through a slightly inclined plane.

Claims

1. Support device for end caps of shutter curtain slats, of the type comprising a straight part (10; 4) onto which said end caps (2) are intended to be threaded, and which end caps for this purpose feature an opening (20) in the central part, and one of the ends (11; 5) of which is formed into a stop, characterised in that it is made of a semi-rigid material, and in that it comprises, at its end opposite that formed as a stop (5), a section (6) comprising an elastically deformable part (60), capable of adopting at least two different configurations: a first, at rest, where it has dimensions that prevent the escape of an end cap (2), and a second where it retracts in response to an end cap (2) subjected to a force (F) parallel to said straight part (4), thereby allowing the escape of said end cap (2) as well as those also subjected to said force (F).

2. Support device (3) for end caps according to claim 1, characterised in that the end (5) formed as a stop consists of a widened portion.

3. Support device (3) for end caps according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the elastically deformable part (60) comprises at least one curved and detached slat (61) protruding laterally to extend beyond the plane of the edge of the straight part (4), and is capable of aligning with said plane by the action of an axial force (F).

4. Support device (3) for end caps according to claim 3, characterised in that the elastically deformable part (60) comprises two curved and detached slats (61) protruding laterally on either side of the section (6) containing said elastically deformable part (60).

5. Support device (3) for end caps according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it comes from molding a semi-rigid plastic material.

6. Support device (3) for end caps according to claim 5, characterised in that the straight part (4) has a structure comprising bars (32) that form a lattice.

7. Support device (3) for end caps according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the free end, beyond the section (6) which comprises the elastically deformable part (60), has a pointed shape (63).