Device for supporting end caps of shutter slat ends

Abstract

A support device for end caps of shutter slats, of the type comprising a straight portion (4) onto which the end caps are intended to be threaded, the end caps having an opening in their central portion for this purpose, and one end (5) of which is formed into a stop. It is made of a semi-rigid material, and it comprises, at its extreme portion opposite the stop-formed portion (5), a section (6) having an elastically deformable portion (60), capable of assuming 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 (F) parallel to the straight portion (4), so as to allow the escape of the end cap as well as those also subjected to the force (F).

Description

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

[0002] It is known, in particular from document DE 37 42 874, to arrange end caps at the ends of the shutter apron slats. The slats are generally hollow, obtained by extrusion, and are cut to size, and in order to ensure the finish, an end cap is arranged at each of the ends of the slats, essentially by interlocking, then fixed by appropriate processes which can be of different natures, such as, but not limited to, screwing or gluing.

[0003] Document FR 2 904 251 relates to a machine enabling these operations of placing end caps on the ends of blades and fixing them by screwing. These operations are automated, the ends of the blades are brought one by one opposite a unitary end cap distribution means, in order to be equipped with them. Upstream of the distribution means, the end caps are stored in a magazine comprising vertical slides between which the end caps are arranged one after the other.

[0004] To avoid having to use a vibrating bowl to feed the tip storage magazine, the tips are packaged in a strip, by threading them onto the straight part of a support, said tips having for this purpose an opening which can be closed or not. This straight part is of non-round section to prevent the tips from pivoting, and preferably conforms to at least part of said opening for indexing purposes. The straight part must allow continuous stacking without overlapping of the tips.

[0005] In practice, the bar thus formed is introduced into the magazine then the support is removed to release the tips.

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

[0007] The most frequently used support is shown on the figure 1 , it consists of a tab 1 made of thermoformed plastic material, intended to carry end pieces 2, only two of which are shown in this figure, and one of which is shown in the figure 2 .

[0008] The tab 1 is intended to be introduced into an opening 20, which each of the end pieces 2 has, and visible on the figure 2 .

[0009] This tongue 1 comprises on the one hand a main body 10, shaped to said opening 20 so as to prevent the pivoting of the end pieces 2, on the other hand, at one end, a protrusion 11 which forms a stop for the end pieces 2, and on the other hand, at its other end, a flexible tongue 12 which is not shaped, capable of being bent, as shown in broken lines, in order to create a loop by being partially introduced into the stacked end pieces 2, in order to prevent the escape of the end pieces 2.

[0010] It is also possible to use tabs cut to size from a sheet of plastic material, to create at one end a widening forming a stop, which has the advantage of being able to quickly correspond to several types of end pieces, but with the disadvantage of less resistance due to excessive flexibility. Such a tab is shown in document FR 2 904 251, where it cooperates with end pieces which each have an unclosed opening.

[0011] These tabs have another disadvantage, that of having to be loaded manually and not being able to be loaded mechanically, due to their flexibility and the closing system by folding the end.

[0012] Finally, some use metal supports, in the form of a U-shaped steel ring on the branches of which the tips are threaded, while an elastic band is placed around the free ends of the branches to prevent the tips from escaping. These metal supports are more expensive than the aforementioned plastic tabs, so that, unlike the latter which are disposable after use, they are returnable, which requires planning operations for returning them to the manufacturer.

[0013] In addition, handling elastic bracelets does not make loading the machines easier.

[0014] The present invention aims to propose a device for supporting end caps of shutter apron slats, making it possible to combine all the advantages of existing devices, without having their disadvantages. The aim is thus to propose a disposable support device, sufficiently rigid and easy to handle, and which allows automated loading of end caps.

[0015] The device for supporting end caps of shutter apron slats according to the invention is of the type comprising a rectilinear part onto which said end caps are intended to be threaded, which have for this purpose an opening in the middle part, and one of the ends of which is shaped into a stop, and it is characterized in that it is made of a semi-rigid material, and in that it comprises at its end part opposite that shaped into a stop, a section comprising 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 rectilinear 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 characteristic of the device according to the invention, the end shaped as a stop consists of an enlargement.

[0017] According to another additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the elastically deformable part consists of at least one curved and detached blade, projecting laterally to extend beyond the plane of the edge of the rectilinear part, and capable of being placed in alignment 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 curved and detached blades projecting laterally on either side of the section comprising said elastically deformable part.

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

[0020] Without limitation, this plastic material may consist of polypropylene.

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

[0022] This characteristic makes it possible to give the rectilinear part a certain rigidity, while using a material whose flexibility is necessary for the deformability of the elastically deformable part.

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

[0024] The advantages and characteristics of the device for supporting the end caps of shutter apron slats according to the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which refers to the appended drawing, which represents a non-limiting embodiment thereof.

[0025] In the attached drawing: [ Fig.1 ] represents a schematic perspective view of a device for supporting end caps of shutter apron slats of the state of the art, [ Fig.2 ] represents a schematic plan view of a shutter apron blade end cap, [ Fig.3 ] represents a partial plan view of a device for supporting 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] In reference to the figures 3 et 4, we can see a device 3 for supporting the end caps of shutter apron blades according to the invention.

[0027] This support device 3 is in the form of an elongated part, comprising at one end of a rectilinear middle part 4, a widening 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, in order to save material, while combining flexibility and rigidity, it has a peripheral rib 30, which borders a central part which only has a web 31, while, essentially at the level of the rectilinear part 4, a lattice of bars 32 provides rigidity.

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

[0030] The elastically deformable part 60 of the section 6 comprises, in this embodiment, two curved blades 61 projecting outwards, extending 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 a protrusion of a dimension greater than the width of the rectilinear part 4, as well as the width of the opening 20 of the end piece 2, so that an end piece 2 engaged on the rectilinear part 4 cannot escape therefrom, unless a force F is exerted on this end piece, parallel to the rectilinear part and in the direction of the section 6, and sufficient to deform the blades 61.

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

[0033] The passage of a tip 2, in one direction as in the other, is not only linked to the deformability of the blades 61, but to the fact that the latter are curved, in fact, and that the transition between them and the rectilinear part 4 as well as the free end 63, is made through a slightly inclined plane.

Claims

1. Device for supporting end caps of shutter apron slats, of the type comprising a rectilinear part (10; 4) onto which said end caps (2) are intended to be threaded, which have for this purpose an opening (20) in the middle part, and one of the ends (11; 5) of which is shaped as a stop, characterized in that it is made of a semi-rigid material, and in that it comprises at its end part opposite that shaped as a stop (5), a section (6) comprising an elastically deformable part (60), capable of taking at least two different configurations, a first, at rest, where it has dimensions preventing the escape of a tip (2), and a second where it retracts under the effect of the passage of a tip (2) subjected to a force (F) parallel to said rectilinear part (4), so as to allow the escape of said tip (2) as well as those also subjected to said force (F).

2. Device (3) for supporting tips according to claim 1, characterized in that the end (5) shaped as a stop consists of a widening.

3. Device (3) for supporting tips according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the elastically deformable part (60) consists of at least one curved and detached blade (61), projecting laterally to extend beyond the plane of the edge of the rectilinear part (4), and capable of being placed in alignment with said plane under the action of an axial force (F).

4. Device (3) for supporting tips according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastically deformable part (60) comprises two curved and detached blades (61) projecting laterally on either side of the section (6) comprising said elastically deformable part (60).

5. Device (3) for supporting tips according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that It comes from molding a semi-rigid plastic material.

6. Device (3) for supporting tips according to claim 5, characterized in that the rectilinear part (4) has a structure comprising bars (32) forming a lattice.

7. Device (3) for supporting tips according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free end, beyond the section (6) which comprises the elastically deformable part (60), has a point shape (63).

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