Method for protecting opening and closing devices and windows

Abstract

To provide an opening and closing device for opening and closing an opening, which can reduce the damage to the window caused by the bending of the opening and closing body. [Solution] An opening and closing device for opening and closing an opening, comprising: an opening and closing body 11 that opens and closes the opening by sliding; locking members 1112 provided on both sides of the opening and closing body 11 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of sliding; guide rails 12 on both sides of the opening and closing body 11 in the direction perpendicular to the direction of sliding that guide the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing body 11; a movable engaging part 13 that engages with the locking members 1112 within the guide rails 12 and applies tension to the opening and closing body 11; and a switching mechanism 15 that switches between engagement and disengagement between the movable engaging part 13 and the locking members 1112.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening / closing device for opening and closing an opening, and a method for protecting a window by a shutter device.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, due to the influence of global warming and the like, there has been a tendency for typhoons and the like to increase in scale and intensity, and flying objects caused by typhoons and tornadoes have collided with houses. Techniques for protecting windows from wind pressure caused by such typhoons and the collision of flying objects generated thereby are disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An opening / closing device such as a so-called "shutter" is also a device for protecting a window from wind pressure caused by wind such as a typhoon and the collision of flying objects caused by the wind. However, when a large external force based on wind pressure or the collision of flying objects is applied to an opening / closing body (such as a shutter curtain), the opening / closing body may bend, and there is a risk that the opening / closing body may hit the window glass and damage or break the glass. In the case of an opening / closing device provided for a relatively large window, the interval (width dimension) between guide rails that guide the opening / closing body on both sides also becomes large, and therefore the amount of bending of the opening / closing body also becomes large, so the above problem is more likely to occur.

[0005] In view of the above, the present invention aims to provide an opening and closing device for opening and closing an opening that can reduce the damage to the window caused by the bending of the opening and closing body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (Composition 1) An opening and closing device for opening and closing an opening, comprising: an opening and closing body that slides to open and close the opening; locking members provided on both sides of the opening and closing body in a direction perpendicular to the direction of sliding; guide rails on both sides of the opening and closing body in the direction perpendicular to the opening and closing body that guide the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing body; a movable engaging portion that engages with the locking member within the guide rail to apply tension to the opening and closing body; and a switching mechanism that switches between engagement and disengagement between the movable engaging portion and the locking member.

[0007] (Configuration 2) The opening / closing device according to configuration 1, wherein the switching mechanism comprises an operating unit and a driving member that transmits the operation of the operating unit to the movable engaging unit and moves the movable engaging unit in the orthogonal direction so as to apply tension to the opening / closing body.

[0008] (Composition 3) The opening / closing device according to configuration 1 or 2, wherein, in a non-moving state in which the movable engaging portion is not moving in the direction that applies tension to the opening / closing body, the locking member engages with the locking member when the locking member moves in the direction that disengages from the guide rail, thereby preventing the locking member from disengaging from the guide rail.

[0009] (Composition 4) An opening / closing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of the locking members are provided along the direction of the slide, the movable engaging portion has a length along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail that allows it to engage with at least each of the plurality of locking members when the opening / closing body is closed, and the switching mechanism is provided at a position approximately in the center of the longitudinal direction of the guide rail.

[0010] (Composition 5) An opening / closing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the locking members are provided along the direction of the slide, the movable engaging portion has a length along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail that allows it to engage with at least each of the plurality of locking members when the opening / closing body is closed, and a plurality of the switching mechanisms are provided along the direction of the slide.

[0011] (Composition 6) The opening / closing device according to configuration 2, further comprising a biasing means for applying a biasing force in the direction of returning the movable engaging portion, which has been moved to apply tension to the opening / closing device.

[0012] (Composition 7) A method for protecting a window using a shutter device, wherein tension is applied to the shutter curtain provided in the shutter device to reduce the amount of deflection of the shutter curtain, thereby reducing contact between the shutter curtain and the window. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an opening and closing device that can reduce the damage to the window caused by the bending of the opening and closing mechanism. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram showing a shutter device (opening / closing device) according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Schematic diagram showing the shutter device (opening / closing device) of the embodiment. [Figure 3] Schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the shutter device (opening / closing device) of the embodiment. [Figure 4] Schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the shutter device (opening / closing device) of the embodiment. [Figure 5] Schematic diagram showing another example of a movable engagement part. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are one form when embodying the present invention and do not limit the present invention within its scope.

[0016] Figs. 1 to 4 are diagrams showing the shutter device (opening / closing device) of the present embodiment, which are respectively Fig. 1: schematic horizontal cross-sectional view, Fig. 2: diagram showing one side of a structure such as a guide rail on both sides of the shutter device (Fig. 2(a) is a view seen from the inner side in the width direction, Fig. 2(b) is a transparent perspective view showing the switching mechanism portion (before switching) on the lower side, Fig. 2(c) is a transparent perspective view showing the same after switching), Fig. 3: explanatory diagram (schematic horizontal cross-sectional view) of a state where no tension in the width direction is applied to the shutter curtain (opening / closing body), Fig. 4: explanatory diagram (schematic horizontal cross-sectional view) of a state where tension in the width direction is applied to the shutter curtain. Hereinafter, the opening / closing direction (direction orthogonal to the paper surface in Fig. 1) of the shutter curtain 11 is the vertical direction, the width direction (left-right direction in Fig. 1) of the shutter curtain 11 is the width direction, and the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the width direction and going from indoors (downward in Fig. 1) to outdoors (upward in Fig. 1) (or vice versa) (vertical direction in Fig. 1) is referred to as the depth direction.

[0017] The shutter device 1 of the present embodiment is an opening / closing device that opens and closes an opening, and is a device provided on the outdoor side of a window for crime prevention and window protection, etc. The shutter device 1 of the present embodiment is a shutter curtain (opening / closing body) 11 that opens and closes the opening by sliding in the vertical direction, locking members 111 provided on both sides of the shutter curtain 11 in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the sliding direction), guide rails 12 that guide the opening / closing operation of the shutter curtain 11 on both sides of the shutter curtain 11 in the width direction (the orthogonal direction), a movable engaging portion 13 that engages with the locking member 111 within the guide rail 12 to apply tension to the shutter curtain 11 in the width direction (the orthogonal direction), Mounting member 14 for installing guide rail 12 to the wall surface of a building, A switching mechanism 15 for switching between engagement and disengagement between the movable engagement portion 13 and the locking member 111, A spring (biasing means) 16 that biases the movable engagement part 13, It is equipped with. Furthermore, the guide rails and other structural elements on both sides of the shutter device are basically symmetrical (for the sake of clarity in the drawings, some components are labeled only on one side, and Figure 2 shows only one side, but the concept is basically the same on both sides).

[0018] The shutter curtain 11 is composed of multiple slats extending in the width direction. Since the construction of the shutter curtain by connecting multiple slats is the same as in conventional designs, a detailed explanation of the slats and other components is omitted here. Multiple locking members 111 are provided on both sides of the shutter curtain 11 in the width direction, spaced apart along the vertical direction (sliding direction). The locking member 111 has a shaft portion 1111 connected to the slat and a locking portion 1112 which is formed to be partially larger in the depth direction than the shaft portion 1111. In this embodiment, the locking portion 1112 is a circular member when viewed from the side (its shape when viewed from the direction along the width direction).

[0019] The guide rail 12 has a roughly U-shaped cross-section with an opening 121 formed on its inner side surface to receive the widthwise end of the shutter curtain (opening / closing body) 11. The guide rail 12 also has a mounting structure portion for attachment to a mounting member 14 for attachment to a building wall or the like. The guide rail 12 itself is the same as conventional ones (any guide rail can be used), so no further explanation is provided here. Furthermore, since any mounting member 14 that can be used to attach the guide rail 12 to the building wall or the like can be selected to match the guide rail, a detailed explanation regarding this will be omitted.

[0020] The movable engagement portion 13 is a member with a roughly U-shaped cross-section that is slidably provided in the width direction inside the roughly U-shaped cross-sectional portion of the guide rail 12. The movable engaging portion 13 is equipped with engaging protrusions 131 that protrude in the depth direction inside the guide rail 12 so as to engage with the locking portions 1112 at both ends of the shutter curtain 11 and prevent the locking portions 1112 from coming out of the opening 121 (i.e., prevent the shutter curtain 11 from coming out of the guide rail 12). In this embodiment, the engaging projection 131 is configured to protrude from the inner surface of the side of the movable engaging portion 13, which has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, and the distance between the two engaging projections 131 is configured to be wider than the shaft portion 1111 of the shutter curtain 11 and narrower than the locking portion 1112. As can be seen from Figure 2, the movable engaging portion 13 having the cross-sectional shape described above is a member that extends inside the guide rail 12 along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the guide rail 12. In this embodiment, the movable engaging portion 13 has approximately the same length as the guide rail 12 and is arranged inside the guide rail 12. However, the movable engaging portion only needs to be formed from the position of the uppermost locking member to the position of the lowermost locking member among the multiple locking members 111 that are spaced apart vertically at both ends of the shutter curtain 11 when the shutter curtain 11 is closed. In other words, the movable engaging portion only needs to have "a length that allows it to engage with each of the multiple locking members along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, at least when the opening and closing body is closed." The movable engagement portion 13 is configured to slide within the guide rail 12 in the width direction (a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the opening / closing body) and is biased inward in the width direction by a spring 16.

[0021] The switching mechanism 15 switches between engagement and disengagement between the movable engagement portion 13 and the locking member 111. Operating unit 152 and A drive member 151 transmits the operation of the operating unit 152 to the movable engagement unit 13, causing the movable engagement unit 13 to move in the width direction to apply tension to the shutter curtain 11. It has. As shown in Figure 2(a), the switching mechanism 15 is provided in two locations in this embodiment, on the upper and lower sides (meaning that "multiple switching mechanisms are provided along the sliding direction of the opening and closing body"). The drive member 151 is made of a wire (with the inner wire extending and retracting from the wire sheath) in which the inner wire is configured to slide longitudinally inside the sheath. The tip of the inner wire is fixed to the movable engagement part 13, and the tip of the wire sheath is fixed to the guide rail 12 (or mounting member 14). The base end of the drive member 151 is connected to the operating part 152. The operating unit 152 has a switching lever 1521, and is configured to pull the inner wire of the drive member 151 toward the base end relative to the wire sheath based on the operation of rotating (raising) the switching lever 1521 (when the switching lever 1521 is returned, the inner wire is pushed toward the tip side relative to the wire sheath). As can be seen from Figures 2(b) and (c), when the switching lever 1521 is pulled towards the front, the movable engaging portion 13 is configured to move outward in the width direction. Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a holding mechanism that maintains the state in which the switching lever 1521 is pulled forward (a state in which widthwise tension is applied to the shutter curtain 11), or a biasing means that biases the switching lever 1521 to maintain that state (in the direction in which it is pulled forward) when the deflection suppression function is being exerted.

[0022] The spring 16 is provided between the guide rail 12 and the movable engagement portion 13, and biases the movable engagement portion 13 inward in the width direction. The spring 16 is a biasing means that "applies a biasing force in the direction that returns the movable engagement portion, which has moved to apply tension to the opening and closing device." The spring 16 is provided at a position corresponding to the switching mechanism 15 (a position corresponding to the height at which the tip of the drive member 151 is attached), and therefore is provided at two locations, on the upper and lower sides. Furthermore, since the movable engagement portion 13 can be moved inward in the width direction by operating the switching mechanism 15, the spring 16 (a biasing means that applies a biasing force in the direction that returns the movable engagement portion, which has been moved to apply tension to the opening and closing device) is not necessarily required.

[0023] Figure 3 shows the state in which the switching lever 1521 is not raised and the movable engaging portion 13 is located inward in the width direction (a state in which the deflection suppression function is not being exerted). In this state, the engaging projection 131 is also located inward in the width direction and is not engaged with the locking portions 1112 at both ends of the shutter curtain 11. The state shown in Figure 3(a) is the state during normal use (the state in which the deflection suppression function, which is a countermeasure against strong winds, is not used). In this state, as described above, the engaging projection 131 and the locking portion 1112 are not engaged, and the opening and closing operation of the shutter curtain 11 can be performed smoothly (the frictional resistance caused by the engagement of the engaging projection 131 and the locking portion 1112 does not hinder the opening and closing operation of the shutter curtain 11). Figure 3(b) is a schematic diagram showing the state in which an object collides with the shutter curtain 11 in this condition. As shown in Figure 3(b), when an object collides with the shutter curtain 11, an action acts to pull the shutter curtain 11 (slats) inward, causing the engaging projection 131 to move inward, which is then held in place by the locking portion 1112. This prevents the shutter curtain 11 from coming off the guide rail 12. In other words, "In the non-moving state, when the movable engaging portion is not moving in the direction that applies tension to the opening and closing body, the locking member engages with the locking member when the locking member moves in the direction that would cause it to come off the guide rail, thereby preventing the locking member from coming off the guide rail." However, when the deflection suppression function is not in operation, as shown in Figure 3(a), there is a gap between the engaging projection 131 and the locking portion 1112. When an object collides with the shutter curtain 11 as described above, the shutter curtain 11 is pulled out from the guide rail 12 by the amount of this gap. Consequently, as shown in Figure 3(b), the amount of deflection in the depth direction becomes relatively large. As a result, the deflected shutter curtain may come into contact with the window and scratch or break the window glass.

[0024] On the other hand, Figure 4 shows the state in which the switching lever 1521 is pulled up and the movable engaging portion 13 moves outward in the width direction (the state in which the deflection suppression function is being exerted). In this state, the engaging projection 131 also moves outward in the width direction and engages with the locking portions 1112 at both ends of the shutter curtain 11, and tension in the width direction is applied to the shutter curtain 11. In this state, as shown in Figure 4(a), there is no gap between the engaging projection 131 and the locking portion 1112. Therefore, when an incoming object collides with the shutter curtain 11, it is unlikely that the shutter curtain 11 will be pulled out from the guide rail 12, and consequently, as shown in Figure 4(b), the amount of deflection in the depth direction can be reduced. Thus, the risk of the deflected shutter curtain coming into contact with the window and damaging or breaking the window glass can be effectively reduced.

[0025] As described above, according to the shutter device (opening / closing device) 1 of this embodiment, the amount of deflection of the shutter curtain is reduced by applying tension to the shutter curtain provided in the shutter device, thereby reducing contact between the shutter curtain and the window, and thus protecting the window. The deflection suppression function not only protects windows in the event of impact from flying objects, but also reduces noise caused by the flapping of shutter curtains, making it extremely useful in this respect as well. Furthermore, the sagging suppression function can be operated simply by using the switching lever 1521, which is located on the indoor side of the shutter curtain 11 (operation performed indoors), making it highly convenient (easy to use on a daily basis).

[0026] In this embodiment, a shutter device equipped with a shutter curtain made of slats is given as an example of an opening and closing device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the concept of the present invention as understood from the above description can be applied to any opening and closing device that includes an opening and closing body that slides open and closed, and guide rails on both sides of the opening and closing body that guide the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing body. Furthermore, while the embodiments illustrate an example where the opening / closing body opens and closes in the vertical direction, the present invention is not limited to this, and the concept of the present invention can also be applied to, for example, an opening / closing body that opens and closes in the horizontal direction.

[0027] In the embodiment, the movable engaging portion is given as an example of a member with a substantially U-shaped cross-section that is slidable in the width direction inside the guide rail, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the movable engaging portion only needs to be able to "engage with a locking member inside the guide rail and apply tension to the opening / closing body in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the opening / closing body" based on the operation of the switching mechanism, and any structure having this function can be adopted as the movable engaging portion. Figure 5 shows an example of another structure for such a movable engagement part. Figure 5 is similar to Figures 2(b) and (c), with Figure 5(a) being a transparent perspective view showing the switching mechanism (before switching) and Figure 5(b) being a transparent perspective view showing the same after switching. In the example shown in Figure 5, the movable engaging portion 13' is a member that is rotatably mounted so as to protrude inward from the guide rail 12'. The movable engaging portion 13' is a plate-shaped member that extends in the vertical direction (along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, having a length that allows it to engage with each of the multiple locking members when the opening / closing body is closed), with one end in the width direction (outside in the width direction) pivotally supported on the guide rail 12', and is mounted on the guide rail 12' so as to be rotatable between the closed state shown in Figure 5(a) and the open state shown in Figure 5(b). The movable engagement portion 13' has a connecting portion 132 to which the drive member 151 of the switching mechanism 15, which is a concept similar to that described in the embodiment, is connected. The connecting portion 132 is provided on the part of the movable engagement portion 13' that serves as the axis of rotation, and as the inner wire of the drive member 151 connected thereto extends and retracts (i.e., the operation of the operating portion 152), the movable engagement portion 13' rotates between the closed state shown in Figure 5(a) and the open state shown in Figure 5(b). The closed state in Figure 5(a) corresponds to a state where the deflection suppression function is not being activated, and the open state in Figure 5(b) corresponds to a state where the deflection suppression function is being activated. When the operating part 152 is operated (the switching lever 1521 is pulled up) in the state where the deflection suppression function is not being activated, the movable engaging part 13' begins to rotate in conjunction with the operation, and this rotational movement causes the movable engaging part 13' to engage with the locking part 1112 from the inside in the width direction. Further rotational movement of the movable engaging part 13' causes the movable engaging part 13' to push the locking part 1112 outward in the width direction. In other words, the movable engaging part 13' functions to "engage with the locking member within the guide rail and apply tension to the opening / closing body in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the opening / closing body."

[0028] In the embodiment, a movable engaging portion (and a switching mechanism for operating it) is provided on both sides in the width direction as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the movable engaging portion only needs to be capable of applying tension to the opening / closing body. For example, the movable engaging portion (and the switching mechanism for operating it) may be provided only on one side in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the opening / closing body, and the other side may not be a "movable" engaging portion, but simply an engaging portion that engages with and locks a locking member.

[0029] In this embodiment, the switching mechanism 15 is provided in two locations, on the upper and lower sides, as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the switching mechanism may be provided by only one or by three or more. When multiple switching mechanisms are provided, it is preferable to provide them at equal intervals. Furthermore, since the deflection of the opening and closing body tends to be greatest near the center, it is preferable to "provide it at a position approximately in the center in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail." Furthermore, although the embodiments use a manually operated switching mechanism as an example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the switching mechanism may be configured to switch automatically in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing body. For example, a member that is pushed in when the shutter curtain is lowered to its lower end (a member that returns to its pre-pushed state by a biasing means, etc., when the shutter curtain is opened) may be provided, and the drive member (wire) described in the embodiments may be configured to extend and retract in accordance with this pushing operation (and return operation).

[0030] In this embodiment, the locking portion 1112 is T-shaped in a horizontal cross-sectional view, and the engaging projection 131 is provided to protrude from both the outdoor and indoor sides. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the locking portion 1112 may be L-shaped in a horizontal cross-sectional view, and the engaging projection 131 may be provided on only one of the outdoor or indoor sides (the locking portion only needs to have a "partially enlarged dimension in the depth direction in a horizontal cross-sectional view", and the engaging projection only needs to be able to engage with the "partially enlarged dimension in the depth direction" portion in such a way as to apply tension to the opening and closing body).

[0031] In this embodiment, an example is given in which tension is applied in a direction component perpendicular to the opening and closing direction of the opening and closing body. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient as long as the amount of deflection of the opening and closing body can be reduced by applying tension to the opening and closing body, and the direction of the tension may be arbitrary. For example, in a shutter device that can be locked by a locking device provided on the bottom plate at the lower end of the shutter curtain when the shutter is closed, when the shutter is locked, a driving force is generated by a shutter curtain winding device to rewind the shutter curtain, thereby applying tension in a direction along the opening and closing direction of the shutter curtain (opening and closing body) and reducing the amount of deflection of the opening and closing body.

[0032] In this embodiment, a spring 16 is used as an example of a biasing means, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any means capable of "applying a biasing force in the direction of returning the movable engaging part that has been moved to apply tension to the opening and closing device" may be used. For example, the biasing means may be a configuration in which magnets with the same poles facing each other are arranged to repel each other by magnetic force, or an actuator that uses electromagnetic force as the biasing force. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1...Shutter device (opening / closing device) 11...Shutter curtain (opening / closing mechanism) 111...Locking member 1112... Locking part 12... Guide rail 121...Aperture 13...Movable engagement part 131...Engagement protrusion 15... Switching mechanism 151...Driver 152...Operation unit 16... Spring (biasing mechanism)

Claims

1. An opening and closing device for opening and closing an opening, An opening / closing body that opens and closes the opening by sliding, Locking members provided on both sides of the opening / closing body in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the slide, Guide rails that guide the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing body on both sides of the orthogonal direction of the opening and closing body, A movable engaging portion that engages with the locking member within the guide rail to apply tension to the opening / closing body, A switching mechanism for switching between engagement and disengagement between the movable engagement portion and the locking member, A switching device equipped with the following features.

2. The aforementioned switching mechanism Control panel and A drive member transmits the operation of the operating part to the movable engaging part and moves the movable engaging part in the orthogonal direction so as to apply tension to the opening and closing body, The opening and closing device according to claim 1, comprising:

3. The opening / closing device according to claim 2, wherein, in a non-moving state in which the movable engaging portion is not moving in the direction that applies tension to the opening / closing body, the locking member engages with the locking member when the locking member moves in the direction that disengages from the guide rail, thereby preventing the locking member from disengaging from the guide rail.

4. Multiple locking members are provided along the direction of the slide, The movable engaging portion has a length along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail that allows it to engage with at least each of the plurality of locking members when the opening / closing body is closed. The opening and closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the switching mechanism is provided at a position approximately in the center of the longitudinal direction of the guide rail.

5. Multiple locking members are provided along the direction of the slide, The movable engaging portion has a length along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail that allows it to engage with at least each of the plurality of locking members when the opening / closing body is closed. The opening and closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of the switching mechanisms are provided along the direction of the slide.

6. The opening / closing device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a biasing means for applying a biasing force in the direction of returning the movable engaging portion, which has been moved to apply tension to the opening / closing device.

7. A method for protecting a window using a shutter device, wherein tension is applied to the shutter curtain provided in the shutter device to reduce the amount of deflection of the shutter curtain, thereby reducing contact between the shutter curtain and the window.

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