Folding-slat guiderail system

Abstract

A folding-slat sliding guiderail system composed of a frame (1) with two slat-bearing sides (2), each of which is fitted with a profile (3) that supports two cars (4) connected to the slats (2). The cars (4) are equipped with arms (5) that end in couplings (6) that slide on the respective profile (3). Each car (4) is joined to its arm (5) by a joint (7) the axis of which is parallel to the profile. The coupling (6) can be a rectangular "C"-shaped part with an opening for the profile (3) in the centre of one of its long sides and it may have a bearing (8) in contact with the profile (3).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention presents a folding slat guiderail system especially suitable for folding slats on pergolas and other similar enclosures.STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Pergolas fitted with folding slats that can be gathered at one end are known in the state of the art. They are based on a series of mobile slats supported by sliding cars at each end. The cars travel on guiderails and are moved by drive systems. The examples closest to the invention can be seen in US10094121B2 and WO2014195916A1.

[0003] The system described in the first of the aforesaid patents consists of a series of cars that slide along profiles. To allow a certain degree of angular adjustment, the profiles and guiderails are complementarily concave and convex. Among other things, this angular adjustment enables the assembly to assimilate any manufacturing mismatches. However, its main function is to enable the use of the same parts to assemble pergolas or similar enclosures with different dimensions, always keeping the slats at an angle that prevents water from accumulating on the surface.

[0004] As can be seen in its claim 1, the system proposed by US10094121B2 is extremely complex, since it requires that the guiderail consist of a slotted tube and that one end of some of the cars be inserted into said slot. This entails the use two types of cars instead of only one. Furthermore, the system is driven by a worm screw, which entails fitting a second guiderail system that is difficult to reposition, with the result that the degree of angular adjustment possible is less than could be desired.

[0005] Moreover, using two cars and fastening them alternatively to the external and internal parts entails a very significant limitation when performing maintenance tasks. In order to detach a given car, all those cars positioned between said car and the end of the tubular guiderail must be removed. This entails demanding time, cost, and labour requirements.

[0006] The applicant does not know of any solution similar to the claimed invention.BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention consists of a folding-slat guiderail system in accordance with the claims. Its various embodiments solve the problems of the state of the art.

[0008] The folding slat guiderail system consists of a frame with two parallel slat-bearing sides. As usual in the art, each slat-bearing side is fitted with a support profile on which cars connected to the slats can slide. The cars in the invention are fitted with separate arms with couplings at one end that slide on the respective profile. At the other end, the arms are joined to their car by means of a joint, the which axis runs parallel to the profile. This enables positional adjustment by means of the joint without affecting its sliding capacity.

[0009] The profile is preferably provided with two insertion notches to ensure that the coupling can only exit at the ends. In an example of this solution, the coupling is a rectangular "C"-shaped part with an opening for the profile in the centre of one of its long sides.

[0010] To ensure that the couplings slide smoothly on the profile, they can be made of low-friction materials or be fitted with a bearing composed of a suitable arrangement of balls or rollers that make contact with the profile.

[0011] Other variations will be described hereunder.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The following figures are included for a better understanding of the invention. Figure 1: Perspective view of an example of a pergola to which the enclosure system can be applied. Figure 2: Exploded perspective view of an example of the guiderail profile with the car. Figure 3: Cross-section of the car mounted on the profile in accordance with the example of figure 2. EMBODIMENT MODES

[0013] The following briefly explains, for purely illustrative purposes, one way of embodying the invention.

[0014] Figure 1 shows an example of a pergola that could be fitted with the system proposed by the invention. It consists of an elevated frame (1) with two sides that bear the slats (2). The slats (2) can be moved from an open to a closed position. It must be understood that the pergola can have several frames (1) that form different surfaces.

[0015] An example of a cross-section of a slat-bearing side can be seen in Figure 2. It is composed of a guiderail profile (3) along which a car (4), joined to the slats (1), can travel. The slats (1) are generally mounted on the cars (4) using a swivel joint to enable adjustment of their orientation. Each slat (2) is mounted on two cars (4), one at each end, at least one of which is provided with a mechanism to produce rotation around the slat's longitudinal axis (2). This part is known in the state of the art and is not relevant to the present invention.

[0016] As can be seen in the figures, each car (4) is coupled to the profile (3) by means of an articulated arm (5). The arm (5) is fitted with a coupling (6) that engages the profile (3) and an articulation (7) that joins it to the car (4). The joint (7) enables rotation, preferably limited rotation, between the arm (5) and the car (4) around an axis parallel to the profile (3).

[0017] The coupling (6) is fixed to the profile (3) without rotation capacity but with sliding capacity along the profile (3). In the figures, the coupling (6) is a rectangular "C"-shaped part with an opening for the profile (3) in the centre of one of its long sides. The coupling (6) shown here has a bearing (8) that facilitates the movement of the coupling (6) over the profile (3). This bearing (8) can be removable for ease of replacement or maintenance.

[0018] In this embodiment, the profile (3) has two notches (9) into which part of the coupling (6) is inserted to prevent accidental extraction.

[0019] Thus, the longitudinal movement along the profile (3) is enabled by the coupling (6), while any misalignment or angular movement is assimilated by the joint (7).

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0013]The following briefly explains, for purely illustrative purposes, one way of embodying the invention.

[0014]Figure 1 shows an example of a pergola that could be fitted with the system proposed by the invention. It consists of an elevated frame (1) with two sides that bear the slats (2). The slats (2) can be moved from an open to a closed position. It must be understood that the pergola can have several frames (1) that form different surfaces.

[0015]An example of a cross-section of a slat-bearing side can be seen in Figure 2. It is composed of a guiderail profile (3) along which a car (4), joined to the slats (1), can travel. The slats (1) are generally mounted on the cars (4) using a swivel joint to enable adjustment of their orientation. Each slat (2) is mounted on two cars (4), one at each end, at least one of which is provided with a mechanism to produce rotation around the slat's longitudinal axis (2). This part is known in the state of the art and is not relevant to the pre...

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention presents a folding slat guiderail system especially suitable for folding slats on pergolas and other similar enclosures.STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Pergolas fitted with folding slats that can be gathered at one end are known in the state of the art. They are based on a series of mobile slats supported by sliding cars at each end. The cars travel on guiderails and are moved by drive systems. The examples closest to the invention can be seen in US10094121B2 and WO2014195916A1.

[0003] The system described in the first of the aforesaid patents consists of a series of cars that slide along profiles. To allow a certain degree of angular adjustment, the profiles and guiderails are complementarily concave and convex. Among other things, this angular adjustment enables the assembly to assimilate any manufacturing mismatches. However, its main function is to enable the use of the same parts to assemble pergolas or similar enclosures with different dimensions, always keeping the slats at an angle that prevents water from accumulating on the surface.

[0004] As can be seen in its claim 1, the system proposed by US10094121B2 is extremely complex, since it requires that the guiderail consist of a slotted tube and that one end of some of the cars be inserted into said slot. This entails the use two types of cars instead of only one. Furthermore, the system is driven by a worm screw, which entails fitting a second guiderail system that is difficult to reposition, with the result that the degree of angular adjustment possible is less than could be desired.

[0005] Moreover, using two cars and fastening them alternatively to the external and internal parts entails a very significant limitation when performing maintenance tasks. In order to detach a given car, all those cars positioned between said car and the end of the tubular guiderail must be removed. This entails demanding time, cost, and labour requirements.

[0006] The applicant does not know of any solution similar to the claimed invention.BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention consists of a folding-slat guiderail system in accordance with the claims. Its various embodiments solve the problems of the state of the art.

[0008] The folding slat guiderail system consists of a frame with two parallel slat-bearing sides. As usual in the art, each slat-bearing side is fitted with a support profile on which cars connected to the slats can slide. The cars in the invention are fitted with separate arms with couplings at one end that slide on the respective profile. At the other end, the arms are joined to their car by means of a joint, the which axis runs parallel to the profile. This enables positional adjustment by means of the joint without affecting its sliding capacity.

[0009] The profile is preferably provided with two insertion notches to ensure that the coupling can only exit at the ends. In an example of this solution, the coupling is a rectangular "C"-shaped part with an opening for the profile in the centre of one of its long sides.

[0010] To ensure that the couplings slide smoothly on the profile, they can be made of low-friction materials or be fitted with a bearing composed of a suitable arrangement of balls or rollers that make contact with the profile.

[0011] Other variations will be described hereunder.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The following figures are included for a better understanding of the invention. Figure 1: Perspective view of an example of a pergola to which the enclosure system can be applied. Figure 2: Exploded perspective view of an example of the guiderail profile with the car. Figure 3: Cross-section of the car mounted on the profile in accordance with the example of figure 2. EMBODIMENT MODES

[0013] The following briefly explains, for purely illustrative purposes, one way of embodying the invention.

[0014] Figure 1 shows an example of a pergola that could be fitted with the system proposed by the invention. It consists of an elevated frame (1) with two sides that bear the slats (2). The slats (2) can be moved from an open to a closed position. It must be understood that the pergola can have several frames (1) that form different surfaces.

[0015] An example of a cross-section of a slat-bearing side can be seen in Figure 2. It is composed of a guiderail profile (3) along which a car (4), joined to the slats (1), can travel. The slats (1) are generally mounted on the cars (4) using a swivel joint to enable adjustment of their orientation. Each slat (2) is mounted on two cars (4), one at each end, at least one of which is provided with a mechanism to produce rotation around the slat's longitudinal axis (2). This part is known in the state of the art and is not relevant to the present invention.

[0016] As can be seen in the figures, each car (4) is coupled to the profile (3) by means of an articulated arm (5). The arm (5) is fitted with a coupling (6) that engages the profile (3) and an articulation (7) that joins it to the car (4). The joint (7) enables rotation, preferably limited rotation, between the arm (5) and the car (4) around an axis parallel to the profile (3).

[0017] The coupling (6) is fixed to the profile (3) without rotation capacity but with sliding capacity along the profile (3). In the figures, the coupling (6) is a rectangular "C"-shaped part with an opening for the profile (3) in the centre of one of its long sides. The coupling (6) shown here has a bearing (8) that facilitates the movement of the coupling (6) over the profile (3). This bearing (8) can be removable for ease of replacement or maintenance.

[0018] In this embodiment, the profile (3) has two notches (9) into which part of the coupling (6) is inserted to prevent accidental extraction.

[0019] Thus, the longitudinal movement along the profile (3) is enabled by the coupling (6), while any misalignment or angular movement is assimilated by the joint (7).

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0013]The following briefly explains, for purely illustrative purposes, one way of embodying the invention.

[0014]Figure 1 shows an example of a pergola that could be fitted with the system proposed by the invention. It consists of an elevated frame (1) with two sides that bear the slats (2). The slats (2) can be moved from an open to a closed position. It must be understood that the pergola can have several frames (1) that form different surfaces.

[0015]An example of a cross-section of a slat-bearing side can be seen in Figure 2. It is composed of a guiderail profile (3) along which a car (4), joined to the slats (1), can travel. The slats (1) are generally mounted on the cars (4) using a swivel joint to enable adjustment of their orientation. Each slat (2) is mounted on two cars (4), one at each end, at least one of which is provided with a mechanism to produce rotation around the slat's longitudinal axis (2). This part is known in the state of the art and is not relevant to the pre...

Claims

1. A folding-slat guiderail system comprised of a frame (1) with two slat-bearing sides (2), each fitted with a profile (3), that supports two cars (4) connected to the slats (2), characterised in that the cars (4) are provided with separate arms (5) ending in couplings (6) that slide on the respective profile (3), and each car (4) is joined to its arm (5) by a joint (7), the axis of which runs parallel to the profile (3).

2. A folding-slat guiderail system in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the profile (3) has two notches (9) for insertion of the coupling (6).

3. A folding-slat guiderail system in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the coupling (6) is a rectangular "C"-shaped part with an opening for the profile (3) in the centre of one of its long sides.

4. A folding-slat guiderail system in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the coupling (6) has a bearing (8) in contact with the profile (3).

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