Darkening device comprising a roller shutter curtain

Abstract

Roller shutter curtain (2), comprising a plurality of hinged slats (4), adopting a deployed position in which at least a part of the hinged slats (4) extends substantially along a principal plane (P), and comprising at least one means of reinforcing the curtain (2) which includes a reinforcing slat (6), interposed between an upper slat (4a) and a lower slat (4b) of the curtain (2), mounted hinged at least with respect to the upper slat (4a), adopting a folded position in which the reinforcing slat (6) extends substantially along the principal plane (P) and a deployed position in which the reinforcing slat (6) extends along a plane (Pr) which forms a non-zero angle (α) with the principal plane (P).This deck (2) is characterized in that said reinforcing blade (6) is mounted in a hinged manner with respect to the upper blade (4a) and the lower blade (4b), comprises at least one upper half-blade (7), one lower half-blade (8) and means for reinforcing the upper half-blade (7) with respect to the lower half-blade (8), adopts an unfolded configuration in which the upper half-blade (7) and the lower half-blade (8) of this reinforcing blade (6) are substantially aligned and adopts a folded configuration in which at least a part of the upper half-blade (7) is positioned over at least a part of the lower half-blade (8).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a roller shutter apron and to a concealment device which comprises such a roller shutter apron.

[0002] This invention relates to the field of construction and, more particularly, to the manufacture of concealment devices intended to equip an opening in a construction.

[0003] This invention will find a particularly suitable application when it comes to supplementing a closing system (such as a door, a window or the like) configured to close an opening of a construction by a concealment device.

[0004] We already know of concealment devices, which are intended to equip an opening of a building, and which comprise, on the one hand, lateral slides and, on the other hand, a roller shutter apron which comprises a plurality of articulated slats having lateral ends which are movable inside the lateral slides.

[0005] When such a concealment device is fitted to a large opening, the roller shutter slats are very long. When the roller shutter apron is subjected to a strong wind, this wind exerts pressure on this apron, which deforms and adopts a curved shape which hinders, or even prevents, the proper rolling of this apron inside a box included in the concealment device. In the extreme, such a strong wind can cause the lateral ends of the roller shutter slats to be extracted from the side guides, which requires, at best, dismantling of at least part of the concealment device in order to reposition the apron inside the guides, at worst, replacement of this apron or even the entire concealment device.

[0006] A solution has been devised in the form of a roller shutter apron which comprises adjustable slats which are capable of adopting, on the one hand, a folded position in which these adjustable slats extend substantially along a plane which corresponds substantially to a main plane along which the apron extends in the deployed position and, on the other hand, a deployed position in which these adjustable slats extend at an acute angle with the main plane of the apron and thus confer a certain rigidity to this apron. Such an occultation device is for example disclosed in document DE2904868 A1.

[0007] In such an apron, the slats are movable relative to each other in a direction of movement of the apron in the lateral slides as well as in a determined stroke. Due to the mobility of the slats relative to each other in this direction, the apron, in the deployed position, can adopt, on the one hand, a suspended configuration in which the slats are suspended one under the other and the adjustable slats adopt a folded position and, on the other hand, a compressed configuration in which the slats are compressed and the adjustable slats adopt a deployed position. The transition from the suspended configuration to the compressed configuration of the apron is ensured under the effect of an additional deployment of the apron from its suspended configuration.

[0008] This apron then also comprises means for controlling the tilting of these adjustable slats from the folded position to the deployed position, this under the effect of the displacement of the slats relative to each other in accordance with the direction of movement of the apron in the side slides. In fact, under the effect of the additional deployment of the apron from its suspended configuration, the slats of the apron are compressed which actuates the control means which then cause the tilting of the adjustable slats from the folded position to the deployed position.

[0009] Thus, to cause such a tilting of the adjustable slats, it is necessary for the slats of the apron to be movable relative to each other, this according to a determined stroke. In this regard, it will be observed that such a stroke influences the winding diameter of the apron inside the box so that, the greater the stroke, the greater the winding diameter of the apron, and the greater the dimensions of the box must be, this to the detriment of the aesthetics and / or the insulation and / or the habitability of a dwelling. These disadvantages have led to the development of apron slats, on the one hand, which have a reduced height and, on the other hand, which are movable relative to each other according to reduced strokes.

[0010] The reduction in the height of the slats results in an increase in the number of slats of the apron and, consequently, an increase in the number of strokes between these slats and, therefore, also an increase in the number of means for controlling the tilting of these slats. As regards the reduction in the stroke of the slats, this has required the development of more sophisticated and more precise tilting control means, which are therefore more expensive, more difficult to design and adjust, but also more fragile and less reliable. In addition, the reduction in the stroke of the slats means that a strong wind more easily manages to fold the articulated slats from their deployed position to their folded position in which, as mentioned above, the wind resistance of the apron is reduced, this with the consequences mentioned above on the extraction of the slats from the side guides.

[0011] The present invention aims to remedy the disadvantages of roller shutter aprons and concealment devices of the state of the art.

[0012] To this end, the invention relates to a device for concealing an opening that a construction comprises, this concealing device comprising, on the one hand, lateral slides and, on the other hand, a roller shutter apron, which comprises a plurality of slats articulated two by two which each comprise lateral end portions which extend inside the lateral slides, which adopts a deployed position in which at least a part of the articulated slats extends substantially along a main plane, and which comprises at least one means for reinforcing the apron which comprises a reinforcing slat. This reinforcing slat, on the one hand, is interposed between an upper slat and a lower slat that the apron comprises, on the other hand,is mounted in an articulated manner relative to the upper blade by means of upper articulation means which the apron comprises and relative to the lower blade by means of lower articulation means which the apron comprises, on the other hand also comprises at least one upper half-blade, one lower half-blade and articulation means for reinforcing the upper half-blade relative to the lower half-blade, on the other hand again and when the deployed apron adopts a suspended configuration, adopts a folded position in which the reinforcing blade extends substantially along the main plane and adopts an unfolded configuration in which the upper half-blade and the lower half-blade of this reinforcing blade are substantially aligned and, on the other hand also and when the deployed apron adopts a compressed configuration,adopts a deployed position in which the reinforcing blade extends along a plane which forms a non-zero angle with the main plane and adopts a folded configuration in which at least a portion of the upper half-blade is positioned over at least a portion of the lower half-blade.,

[0013] This concealment device is characterized by the fact that, on the one hand, the upper articulation means comprise internal upper articulation portions positioned inside the lateral slides, on the other hand, the lower articulation means comprise internal lower articulation portions positioned inside the lateral slides while, on the one hand, the reinforcing blade comprises a part of the internal upper articulation portions of the upper articulation means as well as a part of the internal lower articulation portions of the lower articulation means and, on the other hand, in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing blade, the part of the internal upper articulation portions of the upper articulation means that the reinforcing blade comprises cooperates with the part of the internal lower articulation portions of the lower articulation means that this reinforcing blade comprises.

[0014] According to another characteristic, in the deployed position and in the folded configuration, the reinforcing blade extends along a plane which forms, with the main plane, an angle of less than 90°, preferably between 70° and 85°.

[0015] Another feature relates to the fact that, on the one hand, the upper articulation means are configured to mount the reinforcing blade in an articulated manner relative to the upper blade, this in rotation about an upper axis of rotation, on the other hand, the lower articulation means are configured to mount the reinforcing blade in an articulated manner relative to the lower blade, this in rotation about a lower axis of rotation while the reinforcing articulation means of the upper half-blade relative to the lower half-blade are configured to mount this upper half-blade in an articulated manner relative to the lower half-blade, this in rotation about a reinforcement axis of rotation which is laterally offset relative to a plane in which the upper axis of rotation and the lower axis of rotation extend.

[0016] Yet another feature concerns the fact that at least part of the upper articulation means cooperates with at least part of the lower articulation means, this in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcement blade.

[0017] An additional feature concerns the fact that the reinforcing blade comprises flow deflecting means which are configured to deflect the flow of rainwater relative to the main plane, this in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing blade.

[0018] Thus, the invention relates to a roller shutter apron which comprises at least one reinforcing means which comprises a reinforcing blade which, on the one hand and in the folded position, adopts an unfolded configuration in which the upper half-blade and the lower half-blade of this reinforcing blade are substantially aligned and, on the other hand and in the deployed position, adopts a folded configuration in which at least a part of the upper half-blade is positioned above at least a part of the lower half-blade.

[0019] For such a reinforcing slat, the transition from a folded position to a deployed position (and vice versa) is effected by the movement of the slats of the apron (more particularly the movement of the upper slat of this apron) according to a determined stroke which corresponds substantially to the height of the reinforcing slat. Such a determined stroke is considerably longer than the stroke of the movement of the slats of the rolling shutter aprons of the state of the art, which goes against the usual approach of the person skilled in the art who seeks to reduce such a stroke.

[0020] Furthermore, the transition from a deployed position to a folded position of the reinforcing blade requires the blades of the apron (more particularly the upper blade) to travel said determined path which, even under the effect of a particularly violent wind exerted on the reinforcing blade, is extremely improbable. This advantageously results in an improvement in the rigidity and wind resistance of the apron according to the invention.

[0021] Another feature concerns the fact that, in the deployed position and in the folded configuration, the reinforcing blade extends along a plane which forms, with the main plane, an angle of less than 90°, preferably between 70° and 85°. Such an angle advantageously makes it possible, on the one hand, to facilitate the flow of rainwater and, thus, to avoid the stagnation of this rainwater on this reinforcing blade and, on the other hand, to make it more difficult to fold the reinforcing blade from the deployed position to the folded position, this under the effect of the wind.

[0022] Yet another feature concerns the fact that the reinforcement rotation axis is offset laterally with respect to a plane in which the upper rotation axis and the lower rotation axis extend. This feature advantageously makes it possible to constitute a three-point knee joint. This feature also and advantageously makes it possible to move the reinforcement blade from the folded position to the deployed position solely under the effect of the movement of the blades of the deck, more particularly under the effect of the movement of the upper blade, in particular when the deck moves from the suspended configuration to the compressed configuration, this under the effect of an additional deployment of the deck from its suspended configuration. This feature then also and advantageously makes it possible to dispense with any additional means of controlling the tilting of such a reinforcement blade.

[0023] Other aims and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which follows relating to embodiments which are given only as indicative and non-limiting examples.

[0024] Understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawings in which: [ Fig 1 ] is a schematic, partial and perspective view of a concealment device, which is in accordance with the invention, and which comprises a roller shutter apron, which is in the deployed position and in the suspended configuration, and which comprises at least one reinforcement means which adopts the form of a reinforcement blade which adopts a folded position and an unfolded configuration. [ Fig 2 ] is a schematic, partial and perspective view of the roller shutter apron which is illustrated figure 1 . [ Fig 3 ] is a schematic, partial, side view of the roller shutter apron which is illustrated figures 1 And 2 . [ Fig 4 ] is a schematic, partial, perspective view of a concealment device, which is illustrated figures 1 to 3 , and which comprises a roller shutter apron, which is in the deployed position and in the compressed configuration, and which comprises at least one reinforcing means which adopts the form of a reinforcing blade which adopts a deployed position and a folded configuration. Fig 5 ] is a schematic, partial and perspective view of the roller shutter apron which is illustrated figure 4 . [ Fig 6 ] is a schematic, partial, side view of the roller shutter apron which is illustrated figures 4 And 5 . [ Fig 7 ] is a schematic, partial and perspective view of the roller shutter apron which is illustrated figures 4 to 6 , this in the area of ​​a side slide that the concealment device includes.

[0025] With particular reference to the above-mentioned figures, the present invention relates to the field of construction and, more particularly, to the manufacture of concealment devices intended to equip an opening in a building. This invention will find a particularly suitable application when it is a question of equipping, with such a concealment device, a large opening such as a bay window or the like.

[0026] Such a concealment device 1 adopts, more particularly, the form of a roller shutter.

[0027] Such a concealment device 1 then comprises a winding shaft (not shown), which is movable in rotation around an axis, and which is usually positioned inside a roller shutter box (not shown) which equips the masonry of a construction.

[0028] Such a concealment device 1 also comprises drive means (not shown), which are configured to drive said winding shaft, and which may be of the manual or motorized type.

[0029] Such a concealment device 1 also comprises a roller shutter apron 2, which is connected to the winding shaft, which unwinds from this winding shaft and which winds onto this winding shaft, this under the impulse of the drive means.

[0030] Such a concealment device 1 also comprises lateral slides (3; 3'), which equip the masonry of a construction or which equip a closing system (more particularly a door, a window or the like) of an opening that such a construction comprises, and inside which the roller shutter apron 2 passes, more particularly inside which lateral ends (20; 20') that this roller shutter apron 2 has pass.

[0031] In fact, this roller shutter apron 2 comprises a plurality of articulated slats 4 and adopts, on the one hand, a folded position in which at least a portion of these slats 4 is wound around the winding shaft and, on the other hand, a deployed position in which at least a portion of these articulated slats 4 extends substantially along a main plane P and inside the lateral slides (3; 3').

[0032] In this regard, it will be observed that, in this deployed position, this apron 2 can adopt, on the one hand, a suspended configuration in which the articulated blades 4 are suspended one under the other ( figures 1 to 3 ) and, on the other hand, a compressed configuration in which these articulated blades 4 are compressed ( figures 4 to 7 ). The transition from the suspended configuration to the compressed configuration of the deck 2 is ensured by the effect of an additional deployment of the deck 2 from its suspended configuration.

[0033] Said concealment device 1 further comprises at least one means 5 for reinforcing the apron 2 which is configured to reinforce this apron 2, more particularly when this apron 2 adopts a deployed position and a compressed configuration.

[0034] In fact, said at least one reinforcing means 5 of the apron 2 comprises a reinforcing blade 6.

[0035] This reinforcing blade 6 which is interposed between an upper blade 4a and a lower blade 4b which the apron 2 comprises.

[0036] This reinforcing blade 6 is mounted in an articulated manner at least relative to the upper blade 4a.

[0037] It will be observed that, when the deployed apron 2 adopts a suspended configuration ( figures 1 to 3 ), said reinforcing blade 6 adopts a folded position in which this reinforcing blade 6 extends substantially along the main plane P.

[0038] In addition, and when the deployed apron 2 adopts a compressed configuration ( figures 4 to 7 ), said reinforcing blade 6 adopts a deployed position in which this reinforcing blade 6 extends along a plane Pr which forms a non-zero angle α with the main plane P.

[0039] According to the invention, said reinforcing blade 6, on the one hand, is mounted in an articulated manner relative to the upper blade 4a as well as relative to the lower blade 4b.

[0040] According to another characteristic, said reinforcing blade 6 comprises at least one upper half-blade 7, one lower half-blade 8 and means 9 for reinforcing articulation of this upper half-blade 7 relative to this lower half-blade 8.

[0041] Yet another feature concerns the fact that, in the folded position of the reinforcing blade 6 (illustrated figures 1 to 3 ), said reinforcing blade 6 adopts an unfolded configuration in which the upper half-blade 7 and the lower half-blade 8 of this reinforcing blade 6 are substantially aligned, or even extend in a direction substantially parallel to the main plane P, or even coincident with this main plane P.

[0042] An additional feature is that, in the deployed position of the reinforcing blade 6 (illustrated figures 4 to 7), said reinforcing blade 6, adopts a folded configuration in which at least a portion of the upper half-blade 7 is positioned over at least a portion of the lower half-blade 8.

[0043] In this regard, it will be observed that, in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing blade 6, said at least one part of the upper half-blade 7 is folded over said at least one part of the lower half-blade 8. In fact, in this deployed position and in this folded configuration of the reinforcing blade 6, said at least one part of the upper half-blade 7 is, more particularly, in contact with said at least one part of the lower half-blade 8. According to a particular embodiment, the upper half-blade 7 has a lower face 70 which can then be in contact with an upper face 80 that the lower half-blade 8 has, this in this deployed position and in this folded configuration of the reinforcing blade 6.

[0044] As mentioned above, when the deployed apron 2 adopts a compressed configuration ( figures 4 to 7), said reinforcing blade 6 adopts a deployed position in which this reinforcing blade 6 extends along a plane Pr which forms a non-zero angle α with the main plane P. Also and according to another characteristic, in this deployed position of the reinforcing blade 6, this reinforcing blade 6 adopts the folded configuration and extends along a plane Pr which forms, with the main plane P, an angle α less than 90°, preferably between 70° and 85°. The fact that this reinforcing blade 6 extends along a plane Pr which forms such an angle α with the main plane P advantageously makes it possible, on the one hand, to facilitate the flow of rainwater and, thus, to avoid the stagnation of this rainwater on this reinforcing blade 6 and, on the other hand, to make it more difficult to fold the reinforcing blade 6 from the deployed position to the folded position, this under the effect of the wind.

[0045] As mentioned above, said reinforcing blade 6 is mounted in an articulated manner relative to the upper blade 4a as well as relative to the lower blade 4b.

[0046] In fact, said reinforcing blade 6 is mounted in an articulated manner under this upper blade 4a as well as above this lower blade 4b.

[0047] Also and according to another characteristic, the apron 2 comprises, on the one hand, upper articulation means 10 which are configured to mount the reinforcing blade 6 (more particularly the upper half-blade 7 of this reinforcing blade 6) in an articulated manner relative to the upper blade 4a (more particularly under this upper blade 4a), this in rotation about an upper rotation axis Xs, on the other hand, lower articulation means 11 which are configured to mount the reinforcing blade 6 (more particularly the lower half-blade 4b of this reinforcing blade 6) in an articulated manner relative to the lower blade 4b (more particularly above this lower blade 4b), this in rotation about a lower rotation axis Xi.

[0048] An additional characteristic then concerns the fact that the reinforcing articulation means 9 of the upper half-blade 7 relative to the lower half-blade 8 are configured to mount this upper half-blade 7 in an articulated manner relative to this lower half-blade 8 (more particularly on this lower half-blade 8), this in rotation around a reinforcing rotation axis Xr which is laterally offset relative to a plane in which the upper rotation axis Xs and the lower rotation axis Xi extend.

[0049] Alternatively or (and preferably) additionally, at least a portion of the upper articulation means 10 (more particularly the portion of the upper articulation means 10 that the upper half-blade 4a comprises) cooperate with (or even overlap with and / or are in contact with) at least a portion of the lower articulation means 11 (more particularly with the portion of the lower articulation means 11 that the lower half-blade 4b comprises), this in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing blade 6.

[0050] As mentioned above, the reinforcing blade 6 comprises an upper half-blade 7 and a lower half-blade 8.

[0051] In this regard, it will be observed that, on the one hand, the upper half-blade 7 comprises said lower face 70 which has a lower profile, on the other hand, the lower half-blade 8 comprises said upper face 80 which has an upper profile which has a shape complementary to the lower profile of the lower face 70 of the upper half-blade 7 and, on the other hand again, in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing blade 6, the lower profile of the lower face 70 of the upper half-blade 7 cooperates with the upper profile of the upper face 80 of the lower half-blade 8.

[0052] In this regard, it will be observed that, on the one hand, the lower profile of the lower face 70 of the upper half-blade 7 can then comprise at least one groove 71, on the other hand, the upper profile of the upper face 80 of the lower half-blade 8 comprises at least one rib 81, and, on the other hand also and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing blade 6, the rib 81 of the upper profile of the upper face 80 of the lower half-blade 8 cooperates with the groove 71 of the lower profile of the lower face 70 of the upper half-blade 7, more particularly by interlocking.

[0053] The characteristics of these profiles (lower and upper) advantageously make it possible to reduce (or even prevent) the passage of light through the apron 2, this in the deployed position and in the compressed configuration of this apron 2 as well as in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing blade 6.

[0054] Yet another characteristic concerns the fact that the reinforcing blade 6 comprises flow deflecting means 12 which are configured to deflect the flow of rainwater relative to the main plane P, this in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing blade 6.

[0055] As can be seen in the attached figures, the flow deflection means 12 comprise at least one wing 120, which extends laterally from the upper half-blade 7, and which diverges relative to the apron 2, this being in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing blade 6.

[0056] In this regard, it will be observed that, in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing blade 6, this wing 120 extends along a plane which forms, with the main plane P, an angle α less than 90° (preferably between 60° and 80°), which again advantageously makes it possible to facilitate the flow of rainwater and, thus, to avoid the stagnation of this rainwater on this reinforcing blade 6.

[0057] Yet another feature concerns the fact that the flow deflecting means 12 further comprise a fin 121 which extends laterally from the wing 120 and forms an angle (preferably substantially right) with this wing 120.

[0058] The characteristics of these flow deflection means 12 advantageously make it possible to give the reinforcing blade 6 a so-called water drop configuration.

[0059] An additional characteristic of the apron 2 concerns the fact that, on the one hand, the lower half-blade 8 has a lower face 82 which has a lower profile, on the other hand, the flow offset means 12 have an offset profile which has a shape complementary to the lower profile of the lower face 82 of the lower half-blade 8 and, on the other hand, in the folded position and in the unfolded configuration of the reinforcing blade 6, the offset profile of the flow offset means 12 cooperates with the lower profile of the lower face 82 of the lower half-blade 8, more particularly by interlocking. These characteristics advantageously make it possible to increase the rigidity and the wind resistance, on the one hand, of the reinforcing blade 6 in the folded position and in the unfolded configuration of this reinforcing blade 6, and, on the other hand, of the apron 2 in the deployed position and in the suspended configuration of this apron 2.

[0060] As mentioned above, the reinforcing blade 6 comprises reinforcing articulation means 9. These reinforcing articulation means 9 comprise, on the one hand, a lower rim 73 which the upper half-blade 7 comprises and which adopts the shape of a longitudinal lower spiral and, on the other hand, an upper rim 83, which the lower half-blade 8 comprises, which adopts the shape of a longitudinal upper spiral, and which cooperates with the lower rim 73 of the upper half-blade 7. The characteristics of these reinforcing articulation means 9 advantageously allow articulation of the upper half-blade 7 relative to the lower half-blade 8 with a very large angular amplitude.

[0061] As mentioned above, the invention also relates to a device 1 for concealing an opening in a construction.

[0062] This concealment device 1 then comprises the lateral slides (3; 3') described above as well as the roller shutter apron 2, which is described above, and which has at least some of the characteristics described above.

[0063] In particular, this roller shutter apron 2 comprises the plurality of articulated slats 4 mentioned above.

[0064] In this concealment device 1, these articulated blades 4 are articulated two by two and each comprise lateral end portions (40; 40') which extend inside the lateral slides (3; 3').

[0065] In this concealment device 1, the apron 2 also comprises the reinforcement means 5, which are described above, and which have at least some of the characteristics described above.

[0066] This roller shutter apron 2 also comprises, as mentioned above, on the one hand, the upper articulation means 10 which are configured to mount the reinforcement blade 6 in an articulated manner relative to the upper blade 4a and, on the other hand, the lower articulation means 11 which are configured to mount the reinforcement blade 6 in an articulated manner relative to the lower blade 4b.

[0067] In this regard and as visible figure 7 , it will be observed that the upper articulation means 10 comprise internal upper articulation portions 100 which are positioned inside the slides (3; 3') while the lower articulation means 11 comprise internal lower articulation portions 110 which are also positioned inside the slides (3; 3'), this in the deployed position of the apron 2.

[0068] The presence, inside the lateral slides (3; 3'), of these internal upper articulation portions 100 and of these internal lower articulation portions 110 advantageously makes it possible to improve the guidance of the apron 2 in these lateral slides (3; 3').

[0069] Yet another characteristic concerns the fact that, on the one hand, the reinforcing blade 6 (more particularly the upper half-blade 7 of this reinforcing blade 6) comprises a part of the internal upper articulation portions 100 of the upper articulation means 10 and, on the other hand, the reinforcing blade 6 (more particularly the lower half-blade 8 of this reinforcing blade 6) comprises a part of the internal lower articulation portions 110 of the lower articulation means 11.

[0070] The presence, inside the lateral slides (3; 3'), of this part of the upper internal articulation portions 100 and of this part of the lower internal articulation portions 110 advantageously makes it possible to improve the guidance of the reinforcing blade 6 in these lateral slides (3; 3') as well as the maintenance of the reinforcing blade 6 (more particularly of the part of the upper internal articulation portions 100 and of the part of the lower internal articulation portions 110 that this reinforcing blade 6 comprises), or even of the entire apron 2, this inside the lateral slides (3; 3'), in particular in the event of stress exerted (for example by burglary or by wind) on the apron 2.

[0071] Also, in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing blade 6, the part of the upper internal articulation portions 100 of the upper articulation means 10 that the reinforcing blade 6 comprises (more particularly that the upper half-blade 7 of this reinforcing blade 6 comprises) cooperates with the part of the lower internal articulation portions 110 of the lower articulation means 11 that this reinforcing blade 6 comprises (more particularly that the lower half-blade 8 of this reinforcing blade 6 comprises), more particularly by being in contact with the part of the lower internal articulation portions 110 of the lower articulation means 11 that this reinforcing blade 6 comprises.

[0072] According to another characteristic and as mentioned above, the part of the upper internal articulation portions 100 of the upper articulation means 10 that the reinforcing blade 6 comprises comprises a groove 71 (corresponding, more particularly to the groove 71 mentioned above) while the part of the lower internal articulation portions 110 of the lower articulation means 11 that the reinforcing blade 6 comprises comprises a rib 81 (corresponding, more particularly to the rib 81 mentioned above) which cooperates (in particular by interlocking) with the groove 71, this in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing blade 6.

Claims

1. Device (1) for darkening an opening that comprises a construction, this darkening device (1) comprising, on the one hand, lateral slides (3; 3') and, on the other hand, a roller shutter curtain (2), which comprises a plurality of slats (4) articulated in pairs which each comprise, lateral end portions (40; 40') which extend inside the lateral slides (3; 3'), which adopts a deployed position wherein at least one part of the articulated slats (4) extends substantially along a main plane (P), and which comprises at least one means (5) for reinforcing the roller shutter curtain (2) which comprises a reinforcing slat (6), on the one hand, which is interposed between an upper slat (4a) and a lower slat (4b) that comprises the roller shutter curtain (2), on the other hand, which is mounted in an articulated manner in relation to the upper slat (4a) by means of upper articulation means (10) that comprises the roller shutter curtain (2) as well as in relation to the lower slat (4b) by means of lower articulation means (11) that comprises the roller shutter curtain (2), on the other hand also, which comprises at least one upper half-slat (7), a lower half-slat (8) and means (9) for reinforced articulation of the upper half-slat (7) in relation to the lower half-slat (8), on the other hand again and when the deployed roller shutter curtain (2) adopts a suspended configuration, which adopts a folded position wherein the reinforcing slat (6) extends substantially along the main plane (P) and adopts an unfolded configuration wherein the upper half-slat (7) and the lower half-slat (8) of this reinforcing slat (6) are substantially aligned and, on the other hand in addition and when the deployed roller shutter curtain (2) adopts a compressed configuration, which adopts a deployed position wherein the reinforcing slat (6) extends along a plane (Pr) which forms a non-zero angle (α) with the main plane (P) and which adopts a folded configuration wherein at least one part of the upper half-slat (7) is positioned above at least one part of the lower half-slat (8), characterised by the fact that, on the one hand, the upper articulation means (10) comprise upper internal articulation portions (100) positioned inside the lateral slides (3; 3'), on the other hand, the lower articulation means (11) comprise lower internal articulation portions (110) positioned inside the lateral slides (3; 3') while, on the one hand, the reinforcing slat (6) comprises a part of the upper internal articulation portions (100) of the upper articulation means (10) as well as a part of the lower internal articulation portions (110) of the lower articulation means (11) and, on the other hand, in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing slat (6), the part of the upper internal articulation portions (100) of the upper articulation means (10) that comprises the reinforcing slat (6) cooperates with the part of the lower internal articulation portions (110) of the lower articulation means (11) that comprises this reinforcing slat (6).

2. Darkening device (1) according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that, in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing slat (6), said at least one part of the upper half-slat (7) is folded over said at least one part of the lower half-slat (8), or even is in contact with said at least one part of the lower half-slat (8).

3. Darkening device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that, in the deployed position and in the folded configuration, the reinforcing slat (6) extends along a plane (Pr) which forms, with the main plane (P), an angle (α) less than 90°, preferably between 70° and 85°.

4. Darkening device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that, on the one hand, the upper articulation means (10) are configured to mount the reinforcing slat (6) in an articulated manner in relation to the upper slat (4a), this in rotation about an upper axis of rotation (Xs), on the other hand, the lower articulation means (11) are configured to mount the reinforcing slat (6) in an articulated manner in relation to the lower slat (4b), this in rotation about a lower axis of rotation (Xi) while the reinforcement articulation means (9) of the upper half-slat (7) in relation to the lower half-slat (8) are configured to mount this upper half-slat (7) in an articulated manner in relation to this lower half-slat (8), this in rotation about a reinforcement axis of rotation (Xr) which is laterally offset in relation to a plane wherein the upper axis of rotation (Xs) and the lower axis of rotation extend (Xi).

5. Darkening device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised by the fact that at least one part of the upper articulation means (10) cooperates with at least one part of the lower articulation means (11), this in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing slat (6).

6. Darkening device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that, on the one hand, the upper half-slat (7) comprises a lower face (70) which has a lower profile, on the other hand, the lower half-slat (8) comprises an upper face (80) which has an upper profile which has a shape complementary to the lower profile of the lower face (70) of the upper half-slat (7) and, on the other hand again, in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing slat (6), the lower profile of the lower face (70) of the upper half-slat (7) cooperates with the upper profile of the upper face (80) of the lower half-slat (8).

7. Darkening device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the reinforcing slat (6) comprises means for offsetting the flow (12) which are configured to offset the flow of rainwater in relation to the main plane (P), this in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing slat (6).

8. Darkening device (1) according to claim 7, characterised by the fact that, on the one hand, the lower half-slat (8) comprises a lower face (82) which has a lower profile, on the other hand, the means for offsetting the flow (12) have an offset profile which has a shape complementary to the lower profile of the lower face (82) of the lower half-slat (8) and, on the other hand again, in the folded position and in the unfolded configuration of the reinforcing slat (6), the offset profile of the means for offsetting the flow (12) cooperates with the lower profile of the lower face (82) of the lower half-slat (8), more particularly by interlocking.

9. Darkening device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the reinforcement articulation means (9) comprise, on the one hand, a lower edge (73) that comprises the upper half-slat (7) and which adopts the form of a longitudinal lower spiral and, on the other hand, an upper edge (83), that comprises the lower half-slat (8), which adopts the shape of a longitudinal upper spiral, and which cooperates with the lower edge (73) of the upper half-slat (7).

10. Darkening device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that, in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing slat (6), the part of the upper internal articulation portions (100) of the upper articulation means (10) that comprises the reinforcing slat (6) is in contact with the part of the lower internal articulation portions (110) of the lower articulation means (11) that comprises this reinforcing slat (6).

11. Darkening device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the part of the upper internal articulation portions (100) of the upper articulation means (10) that comprises the reinforcing slat (6) comprises a groove (71) while the part of the lower internal articulation portions (110) of the lower articulation means (11) that comprises the reinforcing slat (6) comprises a rib (81) which cooperates with the groove (71), this in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing slat (6).

12. Darkening device (1) according to claim 11, characterised by the fact that the rib (81) cooperates with the groove (71) by interlocking, this in the deployed position and in the folded configuration of the reinforcing slat (6).

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