Shielding device for environments

Abstract

Shielding device (A) for environments comprising a frame (10) with support elements (11) and guide elements (12) transverse to each other, a perforated protective element (14) and a handle-bar (17), wherein the protective element has a first edge (15) rigidly constrained to a support element (11) and a second edge (16) constrained to the handle-bar (17) which has free translation inside guides (19 ) arranged on the guide elements (12) so that the perforated protective element (14) is movable between a closed position and an open position; the shielding device (A) further comprising at least a first and a second support cable (20a-20b-20c-20d) in tension having first ends rigidly connected to the support element (11) on the side of the protective element ( 14), and such first and second support cables extending from said first ends towards the handle-bar (17).

Description

[0001] “SHIELDING DEVICE FOR ENVIRONMENTS”

[0002] Description

[0003] Field of the art

[0004] The present invention relates to the field of shielding devices for both external and internal environments, in particular to a shielding device comprising a frame and an element movable between a closed and an open position.

[0005] Prior art

[0006] In geographical areas subject to insect proliferation and infestation, in particular flying ones such as mosquitoes, bees, etc., shielding devices are widely used which offer protection from insects adapted to separate an environment in which a user is located, e.g., inside a house, from another environment from which the insects come, e.g., the environment outside the house such as a garden or a forest, so as to protect the user from unwanted infestations and any bites which such insects can cause, sometimes even dangerous for the user's health. In particular, such devices are also known as 'mosquito nets' and can be arranged inside a room of the house, e.g., a net hanging from the ceiling surrounding a bed to protect the user while sleeping, or on the windows or on the doors of a building to block the entry of insects therein. In recent years, common mosquito nets are finding new uses in domestic environments. They are no longer intended only as shielding from the external environment but also as dividing elements between internal environments. Shielding devices comprising a frame and a protective net mounted on the frame are widely commercially available, such devices being mounted in use so that the net extends over all or a part of the surface of a window or door. Furthermore, solutions are widely spread in which the protective net is foldable, e.g., an accordion bellows, so as to favor a variability of the shielding offered which can be total, when the net is completely extended, zero when the net is completely bellows-folded, or partial in all the intermediate configurations. For example, currently commercially available foldable protective net solutions comprise a handle-bar connected to one end of the protective net, while the opposite end is connected to the frame. In particular, the handle-bar generally has ends engaged inside one or more guides or grooves present on the frame of the device, so as to make the handle-bar transversely movable along the frame guides. Thereby, e.g., by means of a gripping device mounted on the handle-bar, it is possible to move the handle-bar in a first direction so that the protective net is completely extended, or in a second direction opposite to the first, so that the net is folded, e.g., like an accordion, thus leaving the passage through the window or door free. Such solutions, although versatile in use, have a problem linked to the cleaning and maintenance of the guides on the frame in which the ends of the handle-bar slide. In particular, being generally exposed to the environment outside a building, over time the frame and in particular the guides accumulate dust and debris, whereby periodic maintenance must be carried out to prevent an excessive accumulation of debris and dust inside the guides from obstructing the space inside the guides and / or damaging components located inside the guides such as, for example, tensioning cables of the protective net.

[0007] It is therefore an ever-felt need to make solutions which reduce maintenance to a minimum, and which at the same time have a construction configuration such as to protect the areas in which dust and debris can accumulate to reduce the risk of malfunctions of the shielding device.

[0008] Description of the invention

[0009] The present invention has the aim of at least partly satisfying the needs indicated above, wherein such a purpose is achieved by means of a shielding device for environments according to claim 1.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a shielding device for environments is provided configured to minimize maintenance interventions following malfunctions due to dust and debris entering the device. The shielding device of the present invention comprises a frame which can be mounted in an opening of a building preferably, but not necessarily, facing an environment outside the building, e.g., an opening in which a window or door is located. In particular, the frame has support elements and guide elements, e.g., uprights and crosspieces, transverse to each other and respectively facing each other so as to delimit an area of the opening representative of a passage area through the opening, for example defining a peripheral structure around a window. Furthermore, for example to shield an environment inside the building through the opening, the shielding device comprises a perforated protective element, e.g., net or other conformation with a plurality of passages capable of preventing the entry of insects approximately the size of a mosquito and, at the same time, allowing an exchange of air, and a bar-handle, wherein the perforated protective element has a first edge rigidly constrained to a support element and a second edge, opposite to the first edge, rigidly constrained to the handle-bar. For example, the perforated protective element is a net comprising mesh configured to have dimensions such as to prevent the passage of flying insects such as mosquitoes, bees, etc. The handle-bar instead has a longitudinal profile having opposite ends and freely engaged for translation inside guides arranged on the guide elements so that the protective element is movable between a closed position in which it is extended at least on the area of the opening shielding the passage, and an open position in which the protective element is at least partly folded, leaving the opening free. For example, to obtain these two configurations, a bellows or accordion type net can be used, which unfolds when the handle-bar is moved towards a closed position, and folds when the handle-bar is moved in the opposite direction. Furthermore, the insect protection device comprises at least first and a second support cable in tension having first ends connected to the support element to which the shielding element is constrained, and extending such first and second support cables from said first ends towards the handle-bar so as to have a section engaged with the shielding element, supporting the latter transversally to the translation direction of the handlebar. For example, the first and second support cables extend through the mesh of the net, preventing the net from collapsing due to its own weight, causing unwanted curves towards one of the shielded environments with the risk of creating cracks between the edges of the net and the frame through which insects can pass. Furthermore, the first and second support cables further extend through a first channel made inside the handle-bar and open at the ends, so as to exit from such a channel and have second ends constrained to the frame passing through the guides. According to an aspect of the present invention, the shielding device further comprises a band connected from a first part rigidly to the frame, and having a section arranged in a second channel of the handle-bar, preferably parallel to the first channel, such that a another part longitudinally opposite to the first part and inside the second channel is connected to the frame through a series with the first support cable. Thereby, since the band and the first support cables are connected to each other in series and the band in turn is connected to the frame, the band and at least a first support cable have a common tension. For example, such a tension can be provided by means of a tensioning device on board the frame to which the band is connected. Therefore, according to such a construction configuration, the band is configured to exit from the handle-bar, covering a section of the guide comprised between the handle-bar and the support element opposite the perforated protective element when the handle-bar moves back to reach the open position.

[0011] Description of the figures

[0012] The construction and functional characteristics of the insect protection device for buildings can be better understood from the detailed description which follows, in which reference is made to the attached figure which depicts a preferred and non-limiting embodiment, wherein: - Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; a diagram of the composition of the support elements 11 is shown above; while on the right a composition diagram of the guide elements 12 is shown.

[0013] Detailed description of the invention

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a shielding device A for environments as a whole. Such a device is configured to shield an opening facing an external or internal environment of the building, e.g., in which a fixture such as a door or window is installed. In particular, the shielding device A has a frame 10 comprising support elements 11 and guide elements 12 which can be installed on the peripheral surfaces of the opening, e.g., a rectangular or square opening in which a window is installed. The support elements 11 are arranged in use in a transverse and preferably perpendicular manner with respect to the guide elements 12. For example, the support elements and the guide elements 11, 12 can be metal profiles with the function of uprights or crosspieces, respectively. Furthermore, when the frame 10 is installed, the support elements 11 are arranged facing opposite peripheral surfaces of the opening, e.g., a pair of uprights installed on the vertical walls, while the guide elements 12 are also arranged facing opposite peripheral surfaces of the opening, e.g., a pair of crosspieces installed on the horizontal walls, thus defining a peripheral structure around the opening. Furthermore, it is possible to connect the support elements to the guide elements 11, 12 so that the frame 10 has a peripheral structure extended along the entire perimeter of the opening, for example a frame around a window or a door. In particular, to obtain this result, the support elements 11 and the guide elements 12 are installed so as to have ends facing and rigidly engaged with each other, e.g., in an area of the opening in which a vertical and a horizontal wall converge by means of connecting elements. Therefore, according to such a construction configuration, the support and guide elements 11, 12 delimit an area Bl of the opening area, such an area Bl being representative of the portion of the passage area of the opening. In particular, to shield the opening, the insect protection device A further comprises a perforated protective element 14 mounted on the frame 10, wherein such a protective element is comprised between the support and guide elements 11 , 12 so as to create a barrier extending over the area B 1 of the opening to separate the environments. Preferably, the shielding device A is installed in an opening of a building so as to be interposed between the window or door mounted in such an opening, e.g., a window, and the environment outside the building. Thereby, the environment inside the building remains protected even when the window is open. For example, the perforated protective element 14 can be a net comprising mesh configured to have dimensions such as to block the passage of insects of dimensions such as mosquitoes, bees, etc. According to an aspect of the present invention, the perforated protective element 14 is configured to be movable between a closed position in which it is extended so as to cover the area Bl, blocking the passage of insects through the opening, and an open position in which the protective element is at least partly folded so as to cover a portion of the area Bl, thus allowing the passage of insects through the portion of the area B 1 not protected by the perforated protective element 14. For example, the perforated protective element can be a net model, e.g., of the bellows type or the accordion type. Furthermore, to be movable between an open position and a closed position, the perforated protective element has a first edge 15 facing and rigidly engaged with one of the support elements 11 so as to rigidly constrain the net to one side of the frame 10, e.g., an edge of the net is constrained to an upright of the frame. The perforated protective element 14 also has a second edge 16, opposite to the first, which is instead free to advance or retreat by means of the guide elements 12 towards the support element 11 which is located on the opposite side of the frame. To do this, the second edge 16 of the protective element is rigidly engaged with a handle-bar 17 extending longitudinally between the guide elements 12, such a handle-bar having opposite ends engaged with the guide elements 12 so as to make the handle-bar movable by translation by means of such guide elements. In particular, the handle-bar 17 has sliders 18 at the ends which are engaged along grooves 19 made longitudinally on the guide elements 12 so that the handle-bar can be movable by translation between the support elements 11 of the frame to carry the perforated protective element 14 in a closed or open position. The protective element also has third edges facing the guide elements 12 and arranged inside the grooves 19 so as to prevent the passage of insects by means of any cracks which could be created between the third edges 13 and the guide elements. For example, to bring the protective element into a closed position, the handle-bar 17 performs a translation movement towards the support element 11 opposite to that to which the first edge 15 of the protective element is constrained up to when the handle-bar does not reach such a support element 11, creating a barrier which shields the opening. Preferably, the support element 11 towards which the handle-bar 17 approaches to bring the protective element into a closed position can have a longitudinal recess arranged parallel to the handlebar, such that a portion of the handle-bar can be inserted inside such a recess to constrain the handle-bar to the frame, e.g., by means of a snap mechanism. Thereby, it is also possible to prevent an incomplete translation of the handle-bar 17 from leaving a free space between the latter and the support element 11 and thus allowing the passage of insects or in any case incomplete shielding through the opening. Furthermore, to support the perforated protective element 14 transversally, preventing its weight from causing unwanted curvatures due to gravity towards one of the shielded environments, with the consequent risk of the third edges 13 exiting from the grooves 19 of the guide elements 12, the perforated protective element 14 has at least a first group of support cables and at least a second group of support cables tensioned, having first ends rigidly connected to the support element 11 on which the first edge 15 of the protective element is constrained. For example, Fig. 1 shows a pair of first support cables 20a, 20b and a second pair of support cables 20c, 20d. In particular, such first and second support cables have a section which extends from the first ends towards the handle-bar 17 so as to be engaged with the perforated protective element 14 to transversally support said protective element. For example, the cables pass through the mesh of the net parallel to the guide elements 12. To keep the first and second support cables tensioned, the latter have second ends, longitudinally opposite to the first, rigidly connected to a tensioning device 21 housed inside the frame. This tensioning device 21 is configured to keep the first and second support cables in tension while the perforated protective element is brought from the open position to the closed position and vice versa. In particular, when the perforated protective element 14 is in a closed position, i.e., fully extended over the area Bl, the length of the section of first and second support cables which transversely supports the perforated protective element 14 is greater than the length of the cable section which transversally supports such a perforated protective element when the latter is in an open position, such a length progressively reducing as the opening of the protective element increases, i.e., the area not protected by the protective element. Furthermore, the handle-bar 17 is longitudinally hollow, defining a first channel 22 between one end and the other through which the section of the first and second support cables coming from the protective element passes so as to connect the second ends of the first and second support cable to the tensioning device 21. To obtain this result, such second ends exit from the ends of the handle-bar engaged in the grooves 19 of the guide elements, for example through slots made on the sliders 18. It is thereby possible to pass a section of support cables, e.g., via pulleys not shown in the figure, through the grooves 19 of the guide elements 12 so that such cables remain housed and protected inside the frame 10 during the opening and closing operations of the perforated protective element. In particular, as shown in Fig. 1, the shielding device A comprises a dedicated tensioning device 21 for each guide element 12 so that the first support cables 20a, 20b pass through one of the guide elements 12, e.g., the lower one, and the second support cables 20c, 20d pass through the other of the guide elements 12, e.g., the upper one, by means of the grooves 19. According to an aspect of the present invention, to protect the grooves 19 from the entry of dust, debris or other foreign bodies such as to cause a possible clogging thereof and a consequent blocking of the sliding of the first and second support cables, the second ends of the cables of the first and second support cables are rigidly connected to a band 23, in turn connected to the tensioning device 21. In particular, such a band 23 is configured to have a first part rigidly connected to the frame and another part, longitudinally opposite to the first, partly housed inside the handle-bar 17. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the handle-bar 17 comprises a further longitudinal cavity extending from one end to the other defining a second channel 24, preferably parallel to the first channel 22, in which a part of band 23 is arranged for use. However, since the first and second support cables are arranged at least partly in the first channel 22 and configured to exit from the end of the handle-bar 17, to connect the second ends of the first support cables to the frame, a section of support cables is brought inside the second channel 24. To do this, the sliders 18 comprise second slots 25 through which a section of first support cables, exiting from one end of the handle-bar, is rotated in the opposite direction to enter into the second channel 24 and connect to the band 23 by means of a series with at least a first support cable at a connection point C. Thereby, the band and the first support cables have a common tension supplied by the tensioning device 21 to which they are connected. Thereby, the band is configured to exit from the handle-bar 17, covering a section of the guide 19 comprised between the handle-bar and the support element 11 opposite the perforated protective element 14 when the handle-bar moves back to reach the open position. Furthermore, according to such a construction scheme, the band is configured to exit from the end opposite to the entry end of the section of first cables of the second channel 24, exploiting the presence of the second slot 25 to rotate again in the opposite direction and enter in a longitudinal recess 26 preferably made parallel to the first and second channels 22, 24, such a longitudinal recess being configured to guide the band towards the section of groove to be protected. To protect the longitudinal recess 26 from the entry of dust and debris, a cover 27 is further provided which can be removed to carry out, for example, maintenance work on the band. Thereby, with both ends of the first and second support cables rigidly constrained, a translation of the handle-bar 17 determines a variation in the length of the section of support cables engaged with the perforated protective element 14, e.g., the section of cables passing through the mesh of a net, and a corresponding variation in the length of the groove section 19 covered by the band 23. Furthermore, on the basis of such a construction configuration, depending on the direction of translation of the handle-bar 17, the connection point C moves along the second channel 24. For example, when the handle-bar is brought closer to an upright of the frame to bring the net into a closed configuration, the portion of support cables passing through the mesh of the net increases while the section of groove covered by the band is reduced.

[0015] Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or variations that are obvious to a person skilled in the art can be made to the invention described so far, without thereby departing from the scope of protection provided by the attached claims.

Claims

Claims1. Shielding device (A) for environments comprising a frame (10) that can be mounted in an external or internal opening of a building, presenting the frame with support elements (11) and guide elements (12) transverse to each other and respectively facing each other in such a way as to delimit an area (B 1) of the opening; the shielding device (A) further comprising a perforated protective element (14) and a handle-bar (17), wherein the protective element has a first edge (15) rigidly constrained to a support element (11) and a second edge (16), opposite to the first, rigidly constrained to the handle-bar (17), and having said handle-bar opposite ends and freely engaged in translation within guides (19) arranged on the guide elements (12) such that the perforated protective element (14) is movable between a closed position in which it extends at least over the area (B 1) of the opening, and an open position in which the perforated protective element (14) is at least partially folded leaving the opening free for passage; the shielding device (A) further comprising at least a first and a second support cable (20a, 20b; 20c, 20d) in tension having first ends rigidly connected to the support element (11) on the side of the protective element (14), and extending said first and second support cables from said first ends towards the handle-bar (17) so as to have a section engaged with the protection element to support the latter transversely to the direction of translation of the handle-bar (17), and further extending said first and second support cable through a first channel (22) of the handle bar open at the ends, and protruding in such a way as to have second ends constrained to the frame (10) passing through the guides (19); and further comprising this shielding device (A) a band (23) rigidly connected by a first part to the frame (10) and having a section arranged in a second channel (24) of the handle bar in such a way that another part longitudinally opposite to the first part and inside the second channel, it is connected to the frame through a series with the first support cable, the band being configured to come out of the handle-bar (17) covering a portion of the guide (19) between the handle-bar (17) and the support element (11) opposed to the perforated protective element (14) when the handle-bar (17) moves back to reach the open position.

2. Shielding device (A) according to claim 1, wherein the handle-bar (17) comprises sliders (18) engaged at the ends of the handle-bar, including these sliders first slots through which the at least a first and second cable support cables extend out of the first channel (22), and second slots (25) by which the second support cable is guided through an opening of thesecond channel (24) and a length of band (23) is guided through the opposite opening of the handle bar (17).

3. Shielding device (A) according to claim 2, wherein the handle-bar (17) comprises a longitudinal recess (26) configured to guide a portion of the band (23) coming from the second channel (24) towards the guide (19), this longitudinal recess being covered by a removable lid (27).

4. Shielding device (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a first tensioner device (21) connected to the second ends of the first support cable and a second tensioner device (21) connected to the first part of the band (23).

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