Rolling door panel and connection unit thereof

Abstract

This invention relates to a roller door panel and its connecting unit. The connecting unit includes a main connector having at least one connecting portion, and a fastening area and a slot on the outer side of its base surface, and a fastening groove formed on the inner side of its base surface. The fastening groove has opposing first sidewalls and second sidewalls, with a protruding buckle protruding from the opening of the fastening groove on the second sidewall. A clamping member is connected to the connecting portion. The clamping member has an insertion portion and a snap fastener extending into the fastening groove. The snap fastener includes an insertion portion that can engage with the protruding buckle and a clamping surface facing the first sidewall. The first sidewall of the main connector is connected to a main clamping surface, and the clamping surface of the clamping member, which is opposite to the clamping member, together form a second gap for clamping the door panel; a first gap is formed between the snap fastener clamping surface and the first sidewall. The door panel unit is made of a sheet material with folded edges at both ends. The folded edges extend into the fastening groove and are clamped in the first gap, while the two end areas of the door panel are clamped in the second gap. Through the dual clamping interface formed by the clamp and the main connector, clamping force can be provided to the door panel and the folded edge at the same time, effectively dispersing the composite stress of the folded edge bending line, improving the structural strength, anti-slip ability and durability of the door panel, and making the assembly faster and more secure. It is suitable for the connection structure of roller door panels.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a design for a door panel made of composite materials, which makes the roller door panel aesthetically pleasing and possesses bending resistance, durability, and low cost. Prior Technology

[0002] The manufacturing methods of existing roller shutter panels can be broadly divided into two categories: those formed by rolling thin steel sheets and those made by extruding aluminum. The most common and lowest-cost type is the one shown in Taiwan's utility model patent M244358, which uses thin steel sheets rolled into a wavy cross-section. While this structure reduces material costs and allows for rapid mass production through continuous rolling, the limited thickness of the sheet metal results in insufficient overall rigidity when subjected to wind pressure, impacts, or bending during rolling. This makes it prone to vibration, deformation, and even dents, and the appearance is relatively monotonous and unattractive. Therefore, in practice, additional reinforcing components are often required to extend its service life. Furthermore, because it is a single thin sheet structure, it cannot provide significant torsional strength and bending resistance, increasing the risk of damage to the roller shutter panel over long-term use.

[0003] Besides thin steel sheet types, the industry also has structures mainly based on aluminum extrusion door panels. However, aluminum extrusion door panels themselves have a high material cost, and their cross-sectional shape is limited by the extrusion mold. In order for the door panel to roll up smoothly, the width of a single door panel should not be too large. Therefore, when making wide rolling doors, more door panels must be used, which increases the weight and consequently requires the rolling door's transmission system to be designed to be more robust.

[0004] To combine the low cost of thin steel sheets with the strength of aluminum extrusion, some technologies have proposed composite door panels using aluminum extruded side frames combined with a middle steel plate. For example, Taiwan Patent 099120402 primarily uses aluminum extrusions on both sides to provide hinge functionality, while the middle thin steel plate is fixed by being embedded in the grooves of the aluminum extrusions through a folded edge. However, due to the limited contact area between the inner wall of the aluminum extrusion groove and the folded edge of the thin steel plate, when the door panel is subjected to wind pressure, impact, or bending during rollover, the folded edge of the thin steel plate often bears combined stresses, including shear force, bending moment, and axial force, making the folded edge bending line the area most prone to fatigue fracture. Furthermore, the interlocking structure between the middle steel plate and the aluminum extrusions is prone to gap deformation under external forces, leading to unstable bonding and further affecting the durability of the door panel.

[0005] In summary, existing roller door panel technologies, whether using thin steel plates, reinforcing structures, or extruded aluminum, each have their limitations. While thin steel plates are low-cost, they lack sufficient strength; reinforcing structures improve rigidity but increase weight and manufacturing costs; extruded aluminum panels offer both aesthetics and strength, but are expensive, have limited single-panel width, and complex hinge mechanisms; and composite panels combining extruded aluminum side frames and thin steel plates suffer from insufficient durability due to poor fixing. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a roller door panel connection technology that combines strength, lightweight design, controllable cost, and improved edge stress issues to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies.

[0006] In view of this, based on the inventor's many years of experience in manufacturing, developing and designing related products, and after detailed design and careful evaluation for the above objectives, the inventor has finally obtained an invention that is truly practical. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a rolling door panel and its connecting unit in response to the above-mentioned deficiencies in the prior art.

[0008] The primary objective of this invention is to provide a novel roller door panel connecting unit that allows the panel to be fixed to the main connector via a double clamping interface. This allows the clamping member and the main connector to simultaneously clamp the panel and the folded edge, creating a stable multi-faceted clamping effect. This disperses the stress on the folded edge and reduces the concentration of composite stress along the bending line, ensuring that the panel remains stably connected even when subjected to wind pressure, impact, or bending during rolling.

[0009] The second main objective of this invention is to improve upon the problems of difficult assembly or poor jointing in traditional roller door panel connection structures. It utilizes quick-locking to achieve high-efficiency, low-error assembly, and ensures that the door panels have good resistance to external forces after installation.

[0010] Other purposes, advantages, and novel features of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and related figures.

[0011] This invention provides a roller shutter panel and its connecting unit, the connecting unit comprising:

[0012] A main connector has at least one joint, and a base surface is defined on a y-axis, with the two sides of the base surface facing an x-axis as an inner side and an outer side of the base surface.

[0013] The joint has a fastening area located on the outer side of the base surface, and a fastening groove located on the inner side of the base surface and adjacent to the fastening area. The fastening groove includes a first side wall and a second side wall facing each other and an opening facing the outer side of the base surface. The second side wall faces a protruding buckle in the fastening groove. The joint has a slot on the outer side of the base surface that extends into the y-axis direction and forms a slot opening facing the fastening area.

[0014] The joint is fitted with a clamp, which has a plug-in portion at one end of the y-axis to engage with the slot, and a buckle extending into the buckle groove. The buckle includes an engaging portion for engaging the protruding buckle and a clamping surface facing the first side wall. The engaging portion is concave and forms a hook portion at its lower edge. The clamping surface and the corresponding position of the first side wall form a first gap for clamping.

[0015] The first sidewall is connected to a main clamping surface, and the two form a first included angle; the main clamping surface and the corresponding clamping surface of the clamping member form a second gap for clamping, the main clamping surface is located on the base surface, and the clamping surface is located on one of the extension arms of the clamping member adjacent to the main clamping surface.

[0016] Preferably, the end of the plug is an arc shape that rotates relative to the slot, and the clamp has an arc-shaped path for snapping movement with the center of the arc as the pivot center, and the opening of the snap groove is located in the arc-shaped path.

[0017] Preferably, the joint includes a supporting structure located outside the main connector in the y-axis direction, and the outer surface of the supporting structure on the base surface is the main clamping surface.

[0018] The second side wall has the protruding buckle at the opening of the buckle groove. The protruding buckle is located on the outer side of the base surface and has an x-axis positional difference with the main clamping surface.

[0019] The slot is located on the socket of the main connector on the outer side of the base surface. One side of the two opposing inner surfaces of the slot extends a stepped surface to the latch groove, and the other inner surface of the slot gradually widens at the slot opening to form a blocking part.

[0020] The rolling door panel includes a plurality of connecting units and a plurality of door panel units. Each door panel unit is made of a sheet material with a certain thickness. Each door panel unit has a door panel panel of a certain width. Each end of the width is connected to a connecting unit and a flange extending into a latching groove is formed at each end. The flange and the door panel panel form a second angle. The areas of the door panel panel near both ends are clamped in the second gap, and the flange is clamped in the first gap.

[0021] In one embodiment, the main connector has a joint on each of the two opposite sides of the y-axis.

[0022] In one embodiment, the main connector has a groove on the inner side of the base surface, and a soft pad is attached to the groove. One side of the soft pad protrudes outward from the groove, and there are side grooves on two opposite sides inside the groove. The soft pad has a corresponding protruding edge that fits into the side groove.

[0023] In one embodiment, the main connector has a joint on one side of the two opposite sides of the y-axis and a hinge structure on the other side. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0024] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the connecting unit of the roller door panel of the present invention. Figure 2 is a plan view of the main connector of the connecting unit of the present invention. Figure 3 is a plan view of the fastener of the connecting unit of the present invention. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the main connector of the connecting unit of the present invention engaging with the fastener. Figure 5 shows the second embodiment of the connecting unit of the present invention. Figure 6. Schematic diagram of the combination of the connecting unit and the door panel unit of the present invention. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the roller door panel of the present invention combined with the door panel roller and a partially enlarged view. Implementation

[0025] To enable your review committee to have a better understanding of the purpose, features, and effects of this invention, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with (brief explanation of the drawings):

[0026] A connecting unit 1 for a roller shutter panel, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, includes:

[0027] A main connector 2 is defined with a base surface P located on the y-axis, and the two sides of the base surface facing the x-axis are defined as an inner side Pi and an outer side Po of the base surface. The main connector 2 has a joint 21 on each of the two opposite sides on the y-axis.

[0028] The joint 21 has a fastening area 211 located on the outer side Po of the base surface, and a fastening groove 212 located on the inner side of the base surface and adjacent to the fastening area 211. The fastening groove 212 includes a first side wall 2121 and a second side wall 2122 facing each other and an opening 2123 facing the outer side of the base surface. The second side wall 2122 has a protruding buckle 2124 at the opening 2123 of the fastening groove, which protrudes into the fastening groove. The protruding buckle 2124 is located on the outer side Po of the base surface.

[0029] The main connector 2 includes a support structure 22 located on the outer side in the y-axis direction. The outer surface of the support structure 22 on the base surface is a main clamping surface 221. The protrusion 2124 and the main clamping surface 221 have an x-axis positional difference h.

[0030] The first sidewall 2121 is connected to the main mating surface 221, and the two form a first included angle θ1; in this embodiment, the included angle is a right angle, but in other examples it can be any angle between 70° and 90°.

[0031] A slot 213 is provided on the socket 214 of the main connector 2 located on the outer side of the base surface. The slot 213 extends into the y-axis direction. The two opposing inner surfaces 2131 of the slot 213 extend a stepped surface 214 to the latch groove 212. The other inner surface 2132 of the slot gradually expands at the slot opening to form a blocking part 215.

[0032] Each joint 21 is connected to a clamp 3. The clamp 3 has a plug-in portion 31 at one end of the y-axis to be connected to the slot 213. The clamp 3 has a recess 34 corresponding to the blocking portion 215 extending to the plug-in portion 31, and a buckle 32 extending into the buckle groove 212. The buckle 32 includes an engagement portion 321 that engages with the protruding buckle 2124 and a clamping surface 322 facing the first side wall 2121. The engagement portion 321 is concave and forms a hook portion 323 at its lower edge. The clamping surface 322 and the first side wall 2121 correspond to each other to form a first gap d1 for clamping.

[0033] The clamp 3 has an extension arm 33 adjacent to the main clamping surface 221. A clamping surface 331 is located on the side of the extension arm 33 facing the base surface P. The clamping surface 331 and the main clamping surface 221 form a second gap d2 for clamping.

[0034] The end 311 of the plug part 31 is an arc shape that rotates relative to the bottom of the slot 213. The clamp has an arc-shaped path for snapping movement with the center of the arc shape as the pivot center. The opening 2123 of the snap groove is located in the arc-shaped path.

[0035] The main connector 2 has a groove 23 on the inner side of the base surface Pi, and a soft pad 4 is attached to the groove. One side of the soft pad 4 protrudes outward from the groove 23. There are side grooves 231 on two opposite sides inside the groove, and the soft pad has a corresponding protruding edge 41 that fits into the side groove.

[0036] In another embodiment, the main connector 8 has a connecting part 81 on one side of the two opposite sides of the y-axis and a hinge structure 82 on the other side. This is used to connect another main connector (not shown) that can be hinged to each other, or to connect to the door panel roller 7 through a hinge 71 at the upper end of the roller door panel as shown in FIG7, or to connect to the tail piece 61 at the lower end of the roller door panel.

[0037] The roller door panel 6 includes multiple connecting units 1 and door panel units 5. The door panel unit 5 is made of a plate with a thickness of +0.001mm to +0.1mm, which is the positive tolerance of the first gap d1 and the second gap d2. The door panel unit 5 has a door panel 51 with a width W. Each end of the width is connected to a connecting unit 1, and each end has a folded edge 52 that extends into the latching groove 212. The folded edge 52 and the door panel 51 form a second included angle θ2 that is the same as the first included angle θ1. The area near both ends of the door panel 51 is clamped in the second gap d2, and the folded edge 52 is clamped in the first gap d1.

[0038] The connecting unit 1 of the present invention is made of materials including, but not limited to, aluminum, and the door panel unit 5 is made of materials including, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, copper, fiber composite materials, and plastic.

[0039] The connection mechanism between the connecting unit 1 and the door panel unit 5 is as follows: First, one end of the door panel unit 5 is placed across the main clamping surface 221 of the supporting structure 22, with the folded edge 52 of this end extending into the latching groove 212. Then, a clamping member 3 with a plug-in portion 31 is inserted into the slot 213, so that the latch 32 faces the latching groove 212. When force is applied to the clamping member 3, preferably by pressing down on the extension arm 33, the clamping member 3 uses the plug-in portion 31 as a fulcrum, and the extension arm 33 provides a long lever arm, causing the latch 32 to push towards the opening 2123 of the latching groove, with the hook portion 323 abutting against the protruding latch 2124. The guide at the end of the clamping surface 322... Angle 324 abuts against the first side wall 2121 at the turning point of the main clamping surface 221. Because the buckle 2124 and the main clamping surface 221 have an x-axis positional difference, the pushing force of the buckle 32 is oblique, which makes the opening 2123 of the buckle groove slightly outward. When the hook 323 passes through the buckle 2124, its fitting part 321 abuts against the buckle 2124, and the clamping surface 322 abuts against the folded edge 52 and forms a clamping force with the first side wall 2121. At this time, the end 311 of the insertion part 31 completely abuts against the bottom of the slot 213, so that the clamp 3 and the main connector 2 are firmly connected.

[0040] When the roller shutter panel 6 is subjected to external forces such as strong winds, collisions, and deflection during rolling, the force analysis of the connecting unit 1 and the door panel unit 5 is as follows:

[0041] When the door panel 51 is subjected to force and bends, a tangential force is generated at the clamping interface. The clamping point of the connecting unit 1 bears the bending moment and in-plane shear force of the door panel. The clamping force provided by the clamping surface 331 and the main clamping surface 221 at the clamping point acts perpendicularly on the surface of the door panel 51. This normal compressive stress and the contact area constitute a frictional force, so that the door panel 51 will not slip.

[0042] The clamping force provided by the clamping surface 322 and the first side wall 2121 acts perpendicularly on the surface of the folded edge 52. This normal compressive stress and the contact area constitute a frictional force, reducing the clamping force required at the clamping surface 331 and the main clamping surface 221. When the door panel 51 is subjected to force and slides outward, the folded edge 52 provides a reaction surface perpendicular to the sliding direction. In addition, when the middle section of the door panel 51 is pressed down, there will be a bending moment near the clamping surface 331 and the main clamping surface 221. The folded edge 52 provides lateral rigidity to suppress overturning.

[0043] The contact surface of the folded edge 52 will be subjected to frictional shear stress, which will be transmitted to the bending line and subjected to additional axial pushing or stretching. Therefore, by clamping the clamping surface 331 with the main clamping surface 221 and the clamping surface 322 with the first side wall 2121, the stress concentration caused by the compound stress on the folded edge 52 can be reduced.

[0044] The above description is a preferred embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention; that is, all equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application of the present invention should still fall within the scope of the patent of the present invention.

[0045] 2.8: Main connector 21, 81: Joint 211: Snap-fit ​​area 212: Snap-in groove 2121: First side wall 2122: Second side wall 2123: Opening 2124: Convex buckle 213: Slot 214: Socket 215: Blocking section 22: Supporting structure 221: Main mating surface 23: Groove 231: Side Ditch 3: Clamping parts 31: Connector 311: End 32: Buckle 321: Chimeric part 322: Clamping surface 323: hook part 324: Chamfer 33: Extended Arm 331: Clamping surface of clamping component 34: Depression 4: Soft pad 41: Convex edge 5: Door panel unit 51: Door panel 52: Folded edge 6: Roller door panel 61: Ending film 7: Scroll 71: Hinges 82: Hinged structure h: x-axis positional difference Pi: Inner side of the base plane Po: outer side of the base plane d1: First gap d2: Second gap W: Width θ1: First included angle θ2: Second included angle

Claims

1. A connecting unit for a rolling door panel, comprising: A main connector has at least one engaging portion and a base surface defined on a y-axis, with two sides of the base surface defined as an inner side and an outer side facing an x-axis. The engaging portion has a fastening area on the outer side of the base surface and a fastening groove on the inner side of the base surface adjacent to the fastening area. The fastening groove includes opposing first and second side walls and an opening facing the outer side of the base surface. The second side wall faces a protruding buckle within the fastening groove. The engaging portion has a slot on the outer side of the base surface facing the y-axis. The y-axis extends into the slot, forming an opening facing the engagement area; the engagement part is fitted with a clamp, which has a plug-in portion at one end of the y-axis to engage with the slot, and a snap fastener extending into the slot. The snap fastener includes an engagement portion engaging with the protruding snap and a clamping surface facing the first side wall; the engagement portion is concave and forms a hook portion at its lower edge; the clamping surface and the corresponding position of the first side wall form a first gap for clamping; the first side wall is connected to a main clamping surface, and the two form a first included angle; the main clamping surface and the corresponding clamping surface of the clamp form a second gap for clamping.

2. The connecting unit for the roller shutter panel as described in claim 1, wherein, The main clamping surface is located on the base surface, and the included angle is a right angle or any angle between 70° and 90°; the clamping surface of the clamp is located on one of the extension arms of the clamp adjacent to the main clamping surface.

3. The connecting unit for the roller shutter panel as described in claim 2, wherein, The end of the plug is an arc shape that rotates relative to the slot. The clamp has an arc-shaped path for the snap-fit ​​movement with the center of the arc as the pivot center. The opening of the snap-fit ​​slot is located in the arc-shaped path.

4. The connecting unit for the roller shutter panel as described in claim 3, wherein, The joint includes a supporting structure located on the outer side of the main connector in the y-axis direction, and the outer surface of the supporting structure on the base surface is the main clamping surface.

5. The connecting unit for the roller shutter panel as described in claim 4, wherein, The second sidewall has a protruding buckle at the opening of the buckle groove, and the protruding buckle is located outside the base surface and has an x-axis positional difference with the main clamping surface.

6. The connecting unit for the roller shutter panel as described in claim 5, wherein, The slot is located on the outer side of the base surface, and the main connector has a socket. One side of the two opposing inner surfaces of the slot extends a stepped surface to the latch groove. The other inner surface of the slot gradually widens at the slot opening to form a blocking portion. Corresponding to the blocking portion, the clamp has a recessed portion extending to the insertion portion.

7. The connecting unit for the roller shutter panel as described in claim 6, wherein, The main connector has a joint on each of the two opposite sides of the y-axis; the main connector has a groove on the inner side of the base surface, and a soft pad is attached to the groove; one side of the soft pad protrudes outward from the groove, and there are side grooves on two opposite sides inside the groove, and the soft pad has a corresponding protruding edge that fits into the side groove.

8. The connecting unit of the roller shutter panel as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The main connector has a joint on one side of the two opposite sides of the y-axis, and a hinge structure on the other side.

9. A roller shutter panel, comprising a connecting unit for the roller shutter panel according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and: a plurality of door panel units, each door panel unit being made of a sheet material having a thickness, each door panel unit having a door panel panel of a width, each of the two ends of the width being joined to a connecting unit, and each of the two ends having a flange extending into the latching groove, the flange forming a second included angle with the door panel panel; the two ends of the door panel unit being clamped in the second gap and the first gap.

10. The rolling door panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the near-end regions of the panel are clamped in the second gap, and the folded edge is clamped in the first gap.

11. The rolling door panel as described in claim 10, wherein, The main connector has a joint on one side of the two opposite sides of the y-axis, and a hinge structure on the other side.

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