Guide for a roller shutter or the like

Abstract

The present invention relates to a slide (1) for guiding a roller shutter or the like, notable in that it comprises at least: - a main profile (2) including a longitudinal pivot axis (3) and a longitudinal retaining element (4), and forming one of the longitudinal edges of a guide slot (5), - a removable profile (7) including a longitudinal hinge element (8) and cooperating in a functional position with said main profile (2) to form the other longitudinal edge of the guide slot (5), and - a clamping member (9) elastically deformable, removably fixed to the removable profile (7) and having an engagement protrusion (10), said slide (1) being configured so that the rotation of the hinge element (8) of the removable profile (7) around the pivot axis (3) ensures that said engagement protrusion (10) engages on the retaining element (4).

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of roller shutters or similar devices such as, for example, sunshades. More specifically, it relates to the rails, conventionally called tracks, which guide the roller shutter or similar device during its opening or closing. State of the art

[0002] Building openings are frequently equipped with roller shutters or similar devices that allow them to be closed or opened. These roller shutters or similar devices consist of a rotating shaft coupled to a curtain or fabric that can be wound around the shaft or unwound to respectively open or close the corresponding opening; the winding and unwinding are achieved by rotating the shaft in one direction or the opposite direction.

[0003] In the case of roller shutters, the curtain is generally composed of multiple slats extending parallel to the axis of the roller tube and hinged to one another. These slats are typically curved to facilitate the curtain's rolling around the tube. The lateral ends of the curtain slats are generally engaged in tracks, commonly called guides, whose cross-section is generally U-shaped. These guides allow the lateral ends to be guided during the opening and closing of the roller shutter curtain, ensuring the correct positioning of the curtain during and after its movement. These guides also prevent any lateral intrusion when the roller shutter is closed.

[0004] In the case of sunshade screens, the fabric is attached by its lower edge to a profile whose lateral ends also engage in tracks, the latter allowing to guide said lateral ends of said profile during the opening and closing of the sunshade screen fabric, so as to guarantee the correct positioning of the fabric during and after its movement.

[0005] For obvious reasons of ease of maintenance of the apron or canvas, each track, like the one described in US patent application US 2022 / 127905, is advantageously composed of several metal profiles, for example in aluminum alloy, assembled together by interlocking and secured tightly together preferably by non-visible screws.

[0006] These profiles are manufactured, in the conventional manner, by extrusion. In this case, it is understandable that the profiles may have dimensions that vary over time, because the extrusion dies have tolerances that can also vary over time due to wear and dimensional changes.

[0007] Furthermore, these profiles generally receive at least one initial powder coating, followed by one or more additional coats in the case of overcoating. These additional coats are necessary when the manufacturing site is not equipped with a powder coating booth, or when the profiles need to be painted in a non-standard color. It is clear that these varying coating thicknesses also influence the dimensional variations of the profiles.

[0008] It is clear that these dimensional variations are detrimental because the correct positioning of the profiles relative to each other is no longer ensured and the guidance of the roller shutter or similar by the tracks is no longer optimal, which can result in a lack of sealing and / or a decrease in the quality of blackout or sun protection. Summary of the invention

[0009] The aim of the present invention is therefore to propose a guide rail for a roller shutter or similar, composed of a plurality of profiles assembled together and allowing to limit the relative movement of one profile with respect to another, while guaranteeing the maintenance of the profiles together and freeing oneself from the dimensional variations of said profiles.

[0010] According to the invention, a guide rail is therefore proposed for guiding a roller shutter or similar device used to close or, conversely, open an opening located in a window or doorway of a building, comprising: a main profile arranged to be applied to a vertical face of said embrasure, comprising a longitudinal pivot axis and a longitudinal retaining element, and forming one of the longitudinal edges of a guide slot, a removable profile comprising a longitudinal hinge element and cooperating in a functional position with said main profile to form the other longitudinal edge of the guide slot, and an elastically deformable clamping member and being provided with an engagement protuberance, said slide being configured so that the rotation of the hinge element of the removable profile around the pivot axis until the functional position of said removable profile ensures that said engagement protuberance engages on the retaining element, said slide being notable in that the clamping member is removably fixed to the removable profile.

[0011] Advantageously, the main profile has a cross-section in the general shape of an E rotated 90° to the left and comprises at least: a first flat wing and a second wing, the latter being generally parallel to each other and extending towards the inside of the slide, a web connecting said first and second wings together and being arranged to be applied by its outer face to said associated vertical face of the embrasure, and an inner wing extending generally perpendicularly from said web and towards the inside of the slide and between said first and second wings, and the retaining element is disposed between the inner wing and the second wing, and projecting towards the inside of the slide.

[0012] The removable profile advantageously has a cross-section in the general shape of a T and comprises a generally horizontal wing and a web arising perpendicularly from an approximately median area of ​​the wing and configured to be disposed between the inner wing and the second wing of the main profile, when the removable profile is in its functional position.

[0013] According to a particular embodiment, the cross-section of the first wing of the main profile is in the general shape of an asymmetrical U rotated by 180°, and arranged so that the shorter part of the U is located inside the slide and oriented towards said inside, said part of the first wing then forming one of the longitudinal edges of the guide slot of the slide, and the wing of the removable profile has a cross-section in the general shape of an L rotated by 90° to the right and has a vertical rim then forming the other longitudinal edge of said guide slot.

[0014] Advantageously, the inner wing of the main profile has at its free end a first branch and a second branch, each extending globally perpendicularly to the web of said main profile, and an intermediate branch originating from an approximately median area of ​​said inner wing and extending towards the second wing of said main profile, said first branch having a free end of at least hemisylindrical shape determining the pivot axis of the main profile, the neutral fiber of said intermediate branch has a curvature homothetic in shape to that of the hemisylindrical free end of the first branch, and the hinge element of the removable profile is disposed on its wing near said rim, said hinge element being a tongue whose neutral fiber has a curvature homothetic in shape to that of the hemisylindrical free end of said first branch.

[0015] According to a particular embodiment, the web of the removable profile has a free end whose cross-section is advantageously in the general shape of an asymmetric U rotated about 45° to the left, said free end being arranged so that the shorter part of the U is located on the side of the inner wing of the main profile and forming a longitudinal groove opening at each of the longitudinal ends of said web and on the side of said inner wing, and a bearing area on the side of the longer part of the U of said free end.

[0016] Advantageously, the clamping member is generally in the form of an angle bracket and comprises a first substantially horizontal wing and a second substantially vertical wing and is provided with a longitudinal slot opening at each of its longitudinal ends, but also at the free edge of said second wing and in that the engagement protuberance extends globally perpendicularly from said second wing in a direction opposite to the first wing.

[0017] The engagement protuberance advantageously includes a groove provided on its face located on the side opposite the first wing. Brief description of the figures

[0018] Other advantages and features will become clearer from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: [ Fig 1] is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of a slide according to the invention in its functional position for vertically guiding a roller shutter or similar device, said slide being fully assembled, [ Fig 2 ] is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of a slide of the figure 1 , currently being assembled, [ Fig 3 ] is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of a main profile of the slide of the figure 1 , [ Fig 4 ] is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of a removable profile of the slide of the figure 1 . [ Fig 5 [ ] is an enlarged schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of a clamping element for the slide of the figure 1 . Description of the implementation methods

[0019] On the figures 1 and 2A guide rail 1, according to the invention, is shown for guiding a roller shutter or similar device used to close or open an opening, for example a door or window, located in a recess of a building (not shown). The guide rail 1 is fixed vertically, in the conventional manner, to one of the vertical faces of the recess. It is understood that the guide rail 1 can also be fixed horizontally or at a greater or lesser angle to one of the faces of the recess, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In such cases, terms such as horizontal, vertical, lower, or upper should be adapted accordingly.

[0020] Said slide 1 comprises at least three elements, namely: a main profile 2 arranged to be applied to a vertical face of said opening, comprising a longitudinal pivot axis 3 and a longitudinal retaining element 4, and forming one of the longitudinal edges of a guide slot 5 configured to guide a shutter profile 6 receiving one of the lateral edges of the shutter, not shown in the figures, a removable profile 7 comprising a longitudinal hinge element 8 and cooperating in a functional position, shown in the figure 1, with said main profile 2 to form the other longitudinal edge of the guide slot 5, and an elastically deformable clamping member 9 removably fixed to the removable profile 7 and having an engagement protrusion 10, said slide 1 being configured so that the rotation of the hinge element 8 of the removable profile 7 around the pivot axis 3 to the functional position of said removable profile 7 ensures that the engagement protrusion 10 of the clamping member 9 engages on the retaining element 4 of the main profile 2.

[0021] It is clear that this sliding configuration according to the invention is particularly advantageous because it allows the relative movement of one profile to be limited to another, while ensuring that the profiles remain together and freeing oneself from dimensional variations of said profiles.

[0022] Furthermore, the elastically deformable clamping member 9 is shaped to exert pressure on the removable profile 4 and the main profile 2, so as to guarantee that said removable profile 4 is held in its functional position.

[0023] With reference to the figure 3 , the main profile 2 has a cross-section in the general shape of an E rotated 90° to the left and comprises at least, from left to right on the figure 1 , a first wing 21 planar and a second wing 22, the latter being generally parallel to each other and extending in the same direction, a web 23 connecting said first and second wings 21, 22 to each other and being arranged to be applied by its external face on said associated vertical face of the embrasure, and an internal wing 24 extending generally perpendicularly from said web 23 and towards the interior of the slide 1 and between said first and second wings 21, 22.

[0024] Here, "internal" refers to elements or parts of elements oriented or arranged towards and inside the slide 1, and "external" refers to elements or parts of elements oriented or arranged towards and outside said slide 1.

[0025] Similarly, here we designate as "globally perpendicular(ly)" and "globally parallel(ly)" elements or parts of elements making an angle between them respectively between 70° and 110° and an angle between -20° and +20°.

[0026] For obvious reasons of mechanical resistance, the cross-section of the first wing 21 is advantageously in the general shape of an asymmetrical U rotated by 180°, said first wing 21 being arranged so that the shorter part 25 of the U is located inside the slide 1 and oriented towards said inside, said part 25 of the first wing 21 then forming one of the longitudinal edges of the guide slot 5 of the slide 1. Similarly, the first wing 21 and the inner wing 24 are advantageously connected to each other by an internal reinforcement 26 extending parallel to the web 23.

[0027] The said inner wing 24 has at its free end a first branch 27 and a second branch 28, each extending generally perpendicularly to the web 23 of the main profile 2, and an intermediate branch 29 originating from an approximately median area of ​​the inner wing 24 and extending towards the second wing 22 of said main profile 2. The first branch 27 has a free end of at least hemisylindrical shape, determining the pivot axis 3 of the main profile 2. Finally, the neutral fiber of the intermediate branch 29 is advantageously curved and has a curvature homothetic to that of the hemisylindrical free end of the first branch 27.

[0028] Furthermore, the retaining element 4 is positioned between the inner wing 24 and the second wing 22, and protrudes towards the inside of the slide 1.

[0029] With reference to the figure 4The removable profile 7 has a generally T-shaped cross-section and comprises a generally horizontal flange 71 and a web 72 extending perpendicularly from an approximately median area of ​​the flange 71 and configured to be positioned between the inner flange 24 and the second flange 22 of the main profile 2, when the removable profile 7 is in its functional position, shown in the figure 1 .

[0030] The wing 71 has a cross-section generally shaped like an L rotated 90° to the right and includes a vertical flange 73 which forms the other longitudinal edge of the guide slot 5 of the slide 1. Furthermore, the longitudinal hinge element 8 of the removable profile 7 is disposed on its wing 71 near said flange 73, said hinge element 8 being a tongue whose neutral axis is advantageously curved and has a curvature homothetic to that of the free hemispherical end of the first branch 27 of the inner wing 24 of the main profile 2. In addition, said hinge element 8 is configured to be disposed between the first and second branches 27, 28 of the inner wing 24 of the main profile 2, when the removable profile 7 is in its functional position, shown in the figure 1 .

[0031] The web 72 of the removable profile 7 has a free end 74 whose cross-section is advantageously in the general shape of an asymmetric U rotated about 45° to the left, said free end 74 being arranged so that the shorter part 75 of the U is located on the side of the inner flange 24 of the main profile 2 and forming a longitudinal groove 76 opening out at each of the longitudinal ends of said web 72 and on the side of said inner flange 24, and a bearing area 77 on the side of the longer part 78 of the U of said free end 73.

[0032] With reference to the figure 5The clamping member 9 of the slide 1 is generally angle-shaped and comprises a first, substantially horizontal, flange 91 and a second, substantially vertical flange 92, having a longitudinal slot 93 opening at each of its longitudinal ends, but also at the free edge of said second flange 92. The clamping member 9 further comprises the engagement protrusion 10 extending generally perpendicularly from said second flange 92 in a direction opposite to the first flange 91. This engagement protrusion 10 advantageously comprises a groove 94 formed on its face located on the side opposite the first flange 91.

[0033] With the configuration described above and with reference to figures 1 to 5 To assemble the slide 1 according to the invention, the following procedure is used.

[0034] First, the main profile 2 is put in place by applying the external face of its core 23 to the associated vertical face of the opening of the building, then the said main profile 2 is fixed, in a conventional manner, to the frame associated with the said opening by any suitable means such as, for example, screws.

[0035] Next, the clamping member 9 of the slide 1 is secured to the removable profile 4. To do this, the clamping member 6 is moved so as to engage its longitudinal slot 93 on the shortest part 75 of the U of the free end 74 of the web 72 of the removable profile 7 until its first wing 91 comes into contact with the bearing area 77 of the web 72 of the removable profile 74.

[0036] Finally, the removable profile 7 and the main profile 2 are made to cooperate in order to place said removable profile 7 in its functional position, namely when said removable profile 7 and main profile 2 form the guide slot 5. To do this, the removable profile 7 is moved so as to engage its hinge element 8 between the first and second arms 27, 28 of the inner flange 24 of the main profile 2, so that said hinge element 8 comes into contact with the free end, which is at least hemispherical in shape, of the first arm 27, in order to pivot said removable profile 7 around the pivot axis 3, as shown in the arrow on the figure 2 , until its wing 71 comes into contact with the second wing 22 of the main profile 2. In this position shown in the figure 1 , the engagement protuberance 10 of the clamping member 9 is engaged, at the level of its groove 94, on the retaining element 4 of the main profile 2.

[0037] Furthermore, in this position represented at the figure 1 , the clamping member 9 of the elastically deformable slide 1 is supported on the intermediate branch 29 of the internal wing 24 of the main profile 2 and exerts pressure between the main profile 2 and removable profile 7, so as, like the engagement protuberance 10, to limit the relative displacements of said removable profile 7 with respect to the main profile 2 and to allow compensation of existing clearances related, in particular, to the geometry of the profiles, to the relative displacements of the latter, or to the thicknesses of paint.

[0038] To disassemble the slide 1 according to the invention, it is sufficient to rotate the removable profile 7 around the pivot axis 3 by pulling on the end of its wing 71 opposite the hinge element 8 in a direction opposite to the arrow shown on the figure 2 , then to detach said removable profile 7.

[0039] It is therefore understood that the configuration of the slide 1 according to the invention is particularly simple (only three elements) and easy to implement, while still allowing the main 2 and removable 7 profiles to be locked in their functional position and the existing gaps to be taken up.

[0040] The person skilled in the art will have no difficulty in dimensioning the clamping member 9, on the one hand, to allow the engagement of its engagement protuberance 10 on the retaining element 4 of the main profile 2 and, on the other hand, so that said clamping member 9 exerts a pressure between the main profile 2 and removable profile 7.

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment, the clamping member 9 has a shorter length than the slide 1 so as to be able to adjust the value of the pressure exerted between the main profile 2 and removable profile 7 by adapting the number of clamping members 9 placed along said slide 1 according in particular to the length of the latter.

[0042] The slide 1 according to the invention finds a particular application for guiding a roller shutter or similar device fitted to an opening in a building.

[0043] Finally, it goes without saying that the examples of slide 1 conforming to the invention which have just been described are only particular illustrations, in no way limiting of the invention.

Claims

1. Slide (1) for guiding a roller shutter or the like used to seal or, on the contrary, release an opening disposed in an opening of a building, comprising: - a main profile (2) arranged to be applied to a vertical face of said opening, comprising a longitudinal pivot axis (3) and a longitudinal retaining element (4), and forming one of the longitudinal edges of a guide slot (5), - a removable profile (7) comprising a longitudinal hinge element (8) and cooperating in a functional position with said main profile (2) to form the other longitudinal edge of the guide slot (5), and - a clamping member (9) elastically deformable and provided with an engagement protrusion (10), said slide (1) being configured so that the rotation of the hinge element (8) of the removable profile (7) about the pivot axis (3) to the functional position of said removable profile (7) ensures that said engagement protrusion (10) engages on the retaining element (4), said slide (1) being characterised in that the clamping member (9) is detachably attached to the removable profile (7).

2. Slide (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the main profile (2) has a cross-section in general shape of E pivoted by 90° to the left and comprises at least: - a first flat wing (21) and a second wing (22), these being globally parallel to each other and extending towards the inside of the slide (1), - a web (23) connecting said first and second wings (21, 22) to each other and being arranged to be applied by its outer face on said associated vertical face of the opening, and - an inner wing (24) extending globally perpendicularly from said web (23) and towards the inside of the slide (1) and between said first and second wings (21, 22), and in that the retaining element (4) is disposed between the inner wing (24) and the second wing (22), and protruding towards the inside of the slide (1).

3. Slide (1) according to claim 2 characterised in that the removable profile (7) has a general T-shaped cross-section and comprises a wing (71) globally horizontal and a web (72) arising perpendicularly from an approximately central area of the wing (71) and configured to be disposed between the inner wing (24) and the second wing (22) of the main profile (2), when the removable profile (7) is in its functional position.

4. Slide (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the cross-section of the first wing (21) of the main profile (2) is generally in the general form of an asymmetrical U rotated by 180°, and arranged so that the shortest part (25) of the U is located inside the slide (1) and oriented towards said inside, said part (25) of the first wing (21) then forming one of the longitudinal edges of the guide slot (5) of the slide (1) and in that the wing (71) of the removable profile (7) has a general L-shaped cross-section pivoted by 90° to the right and includes a vertical rim (73) then forming the other longitudinal edge of the guide slot (5) of the slide (1).

5. Slide (1) according to either one of claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the inner wing (24) of the main profile (2) includes at its free end a first branch (27) and a second branch (28) each extending globally perpendicular to the core (23) of said main profile (2), and an intermediate branch (29) originating from an approximately central area of said inner wing (24) and extending in the direction of the second wing (22) of said main profile (2), said first branch (27) comprising an at least hemicylindrical free-form end determining the pivot axis (3) of the main profile (2), the neutral fibre of said intermediate branch (29) has a curvature with a form homothetic to that of the hemicylindrical free end of the first branch (27) and in that the hinge element (8) of the removable profile (7) is disposed on its wing (71) in the vicinity of said rim (73), said hinge element (8) being a tongue whose neutral fibre has a curvature of shape homothetic to that of the free hemicylindrical end of said first branch (27).

6. Slide (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the web (72) of the removable profile (7) has a free end (74) whose cross-section is generally in the form of an asymmetric U pivoted about 45° to the left, said free end (74) being arranged so that the shortest part (75) of the U is located on the side of the inner wing (24) of the main profile (2) and forming a longitudinal groove (76) opening at each of the longitudinal ends of said core (72) and on the same side as said inner wing (24), and a bearing area (77) on the side of the longer portion (78) of the U of said free end (73).

7. Slide (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the clamping member (9) is in general angle shape and comprises a first wing (91) substantially horizontal and a second wing (92) substantially vertical and being provided with a longitudinal slot (93) opening at each of its longitudinal ends, but also in line with the free edge of said second wing (92) and in that the engagement protrusion (10) extends globally perpendicularly from said second wing (92) in a direction opposite to the first wing (91).

8. Slide (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the engagement protrusion (10) includes a groove (94) arranged on its face located on the side opposite the first wing (91).

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