WO2018051350A1

WO2018051350A1 - Device for splitting a roller shutter

Info

Publication number: WO2018051350A1
Application number: PCT/IL2017/051046
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ayelet Adina GOLDSTEIN; Ofer EYAL
Original assignee: OFEK ESHKOLOT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Ltd
Current assignee: OFEK ESHKOLOT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Ltd
Priority date: 2016-09-15
Filing date: 2017-09-14
Publication date: 2018-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-15

Abstract

The present subject matter provides a device for splitting a rolling shutter comprising: an upper splitting component, and a lower splitting component, wherein the rolling shutter comprises an upper shutter part and a lower shutter part, and wherein the upper splitting component is attached to a lower edge of the upper shutter part, and the lower splitting component is attached to an upper edge of the lower shutter part. Additional embodiments of the device for splitting a rolling shutter are disclosed herein.

Description

DEVICE FOR SPLITTING A ROLLER SHUTTER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/394,767, filed September 15, 2016, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present subject matter relates to roller shutters. More particularly, the present subject matter relates devices for splitting roller shutters.

BACKGROUND

A roller shutter is a type of door or window shutter comprising a plurality of slats hinged together.

Figs. 1A-B schematically illustrate, according to an exemplary embodiment, a perspective side view and a side view, respectively, of a prior art slat of a roller shutter. According to one embodiment, the slat 10 is a substantially long, thin and narrow strip comprising a hinge-like structure 12 along the upper edge of the slat 10, and a hook-like structure 14 along the lower edge of the slat 10.

Fig. 2A schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a prior art upper slat and a prior art lower slat separated one from the other.

Figs. 2B schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a prior art upper slat and a prior art lower slat hinged together.

According to one embodiment, the hinge-like structure 12 of the lower slat 10 is configured to be caught by the hook-like structure 24 of an upper slat 10, thus connecting the upper slat 10 and the lower slat 20. hi a roller shutter, a plurality of slats 10 are hinged together as described above. Fig. 3 A schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front perspective view of a prior art roller shutter 100 in a fully closed state. Fig. 3B schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front perspective view of a prior art roller shutter in a partially opened state.

According to one embodiment, the rolling shutter 100 is rolled around an axis positioned above an opening in a wall, for example a door or a window, and a mechanism, comprising for example a strap, allows rolling down the roller shutter 100 for blocking the opening. The mechanism may be operated either manually, or with an electric motor turning the axis around which the rolling shutter 100 is rolled, as well known in the art. Thus, the roller shutter 100 may be in a fully closed state, as illustrated in Fig. 3 A, where the entire opening is blocked by the rolling shutter 100. Alternatively, the roller shutter 100 may be in a partially opened state, as illustrated in Fig. 3B, where only an upper part of the opening is covered by the roller shutter 100. Because of the position of the axis above the opening, these are the only states of opening of the roller shutter 100, which are possible with prior art roller shutters 100.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front view of a roller shutter in a desired state where the roller shutter is split to an upper shutter part and a lower shutter part. According to one embodiment, the lower shutter part 120 covers the opening from the bottom and upwards, and the upper shutter part 110 covers the opening from the top and downwards, and a gap is formed between the upper shutter part 1 10 and the lower shutter part 120. In addition, the upper shutter part 110 can still be moved upwards and downwards regularly, like in a prior art roller shutter 100, whereas the lower shutter part 120 remains steady one a bottom of the opening.

An embodiment of a roller shutter 100 that may be split to an upper shutter part 110 and a lower shutter part 120, as illustrated in Fig. 4, is a desired embodiment, for several reasons. For example, the lower shutter part 120 may be considered as a partition wall, whereas opening the upper shutter part 110 upwards allow entry of air and light through the gap between the upper shutter part 110 and the lower shutter part 120. In addition, splitting of a rolling shutter 100 allows the creation of an open gap on an upper part of an opening, as well as changing the height of the open gap as desired. SUMMARY

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this subject matter belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present subject matter, suitable methods and materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

According to one aspect of the present subject matter, there is provided a device for splitting a rolling shutter comprising: an upper splitting component, and a lower splitting component, wherein the rolling shutter comprises an upper shutter part and a lower shutter part, and wherein the upper splitting component is attached to a lower edge of the upper shutter part, and the lower splitting component is attached to an upper edge of the lower shutter part.

According to one embodiment, the upper splitting component comprises: a ring bolt that is partially cut, thus having a bolt gap, residing inside a bolt house having a shape corresponding to the shape of the ring bolt, and configured to allow free movement of the ring bolt inside the bolt house, and a bolt moving mechanism configured to facilitate movement of the ring bolt by a user, and wherein the lower splitting component comprises: a bolt receiver configured to accommodate the ring bolt, attached to a lower attachment element configured to attach the lower splitting component to an upper edge of a slat of a rolling shutter.

According to another embodiment, the bolt moving mechanism comprises: a shaft configured to turn around its longitudinal axis, and a screw shaft placed over the shaft and configured to be in contact with the bolt ring, and being turned by a user.

According to yet another embodiment, the bolt moving mechanism comprises a knob attached to the ring bolt.

According to still another embodiment, the bolt moving mechanism comprises a motor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the embodiments. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how several forms may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

- Figs. 1A-B schematically illustrate, according to an exemplary' embodiment, a perspective side view and a side view, respectively, of a prior art slat of a roller shutter.

- Fig. 2A schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a prior art upper slat and a prior art lower slat separated one from the other.

- Figs. 2B schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a side view of a prior art upper slat and a prior art lower slat hinged together.

- Fig. 3 A schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front perspective view of a prior art roller shutter in a fully closed state.

- Fig. 3B schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front perspective view of a prior art roller shutter in a partially opened state.

- Fig. 4 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front view of a roller shutter in a desired state where the roller shutter is split to an upper shutter part and a lower shutter part.

- Fig. 5 A schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front view of a rolling shutter comprising a device for splitting a rolling shutter in a connected state.

- Fig. 5B schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front view of a rolling shutter comprising a device for splitting a rolling shutter in a disconnected state. - Figs. 6A-B schematically illustrate, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front see- through view and a front perspective see-through view, respectively, of a splitting device comprising an upper splitting component and a lower splitting component. - Fig. 7 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a screw shaft comprising a screw pattern, and a ring bolt comprising a screw pattern corresponding to the screw pattern of the screw shaft.

- Figs. 8A-C schematically illustrate, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front view, a front perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a lower splitting component of the splitting device.

- Fig. 9 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front see-through view of a splitting device assembled on adjacent slats of the rolling shutter.

- Fig. 10 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front see-through view of an upper splitting component of a splitting device, comprising a motor.

- Figs. 11A-B schematically illustrate, according to an exemplary embodiment, an electric wire for supplying power to a motor of a motor-operated splitting device, the electric wire attached to a slat of a roller shutter.

- Figs. 12A-B schematically illustrate, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front see- through view and an upper see-through view, respectively, of a motor assembled externally to a housing of an upper splitting component of a splitting device.

- Fig. 13 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front perspective see-through view of a motor-operated splitting device assembled with slats of a roller shutter.

- Fig. 14 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, an upper slat and a marked part of the upper slat that should be cut in order to allow assembly of an upper spli tting component with the upper slat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The subject matter is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. In discussion of the various figures described herein below, like numbers refer to like parts. The drawings are generally not to scale.

For clarity, non-essential elements were omitted from some of the drawings. One aim of the present subject matter is to provide a device for splitting a roller shutter.

Another aim of the present subject matter is to provide a method for splitting a roller shutter.

Yet another aim of the present subject matter is to provide a method for installing a device for splitting a roller shutter on a roller shutter. Fig. 5 A schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front view of a rolling shutter comprising a device for splitting a rolling shutter in a connected state.

Fig. 5B schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front view of a rolling shutter comprising a device for splitting a rolling shutter in a disconnected state.

The present subject matter provides a device for splitting a rolling shutter 3. For the sake of simplicity only, the device for splitting a rolling shutter 3 may be occasionally designated hereinafter as "splitting device 3". According to one embodiment, the splitting device 3 comprises an upper splitting component 31 and a lower splitting component 32. According to another embodiment, a rolling shutter 100, comprising a splitting device 3, comprises an upper shutter part 110 and a lower shutter part 120. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 5 B, the upper splitting component 31 of the splitting device 3 is attached to a lower edge of the upper shutter part 110, and the lower splitting component 32 of the splitting device 3 is attached to an upper edge of the lower shutter part 120. According to another embodiment, the splitting device 3 may be in a connected state, as illustrated in Fig. 5 A, wherein the upper splitting component 31 is connected to the lower splitting component 32, and as a result the upper shutter part 110 is connected to the lower shutter part 120. According to yet another embodiment, the splitting device 3 may be in a disconnected state, as illustrated in Fig. 5B, wherein the upper splitting component 31 is disconnected from the lower splitting component 32, and as a result the upper shutter part 110 is separated from the lower shutter part 120. When the splitting device 3 is in a connected state, the connected upper shutter part 110 and the lower shutter part 120 function as an intact prior art rolling shutter 100. When the splitting device 3 is in a disconnected state, the lower shutter part 120 stands on a bottom of an opening and blocks a lower part of the opening, and the upper shutter part 110 may be rolled upwards and downwards regularly, since it is rolled around the axis of the rolling shutter 100. Figs. 6A-B schematically illustrate, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front see-through view and a front perspective see-through view, respectively, of a splitting device comprising an upper splitting component and a lower splitting component. According to one embodiment, the upper splitting component 31 comprises a housing 310 configured to accommodate the components of the upper splitting component 31. The upper splitting component 31 further comprises a ring bolt 314 that is partially cut, thus having a bolt gap 3142. The ring bolt 314 resides inside a bolt house 312 having a shape corresponding to the shape of the ring bolt 314, and configured to allow free movement of the ring bolt 314 in side the bolt house. The upper splitting component 31 further comprises a bolt moving mechanism 316 configured to facilitate movement of the ring bolt 314 by a user. According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6A-B, the bolt moving mechanism 316 comprises a shaft 3164 configured to turn around its longitudinal axis, and a screw shaft 3162 placed over the shaft 3164 and configured to be in contact with the bolt ring 314, as well as being turned by a user. In order to facilitate access of a user to the screw shaft 3162, the housing 310 of the upper splitting component comprises an access opening 3102 adjacent to the screw shaft 3162. In order to allow movement of the ring bolt 314 by turning the screw shaft 3162, the ring bolt 314 further comprises a screw pattern corresponding to the screw pattern of the screw shaft 3162.

Fig. 7 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a screw shaft 3162 comprising a screw pattern, and a ring bolt 314 comprising a screw pattern corresponding to the screw pattern of the screw shaft 3162. Returning now to Figs. 6A-B, the housing 310 of the upper splitting component 31 further comprises a bolt opening at a lower part of the housing 310, configured to allow part of the ring bolt 314 to protrude beyond the lower part of the housing 310 of the upper splitting element 31. Turning the ring bolt 314, by using the bolt moving mechanism 316 may bring the ring bolt 314 to two alternative states. In one state, illustrated in Figs. 6A-B, the bolt gap 3142 protrudes beyond the lower part of the housing 310. In another state, illustrated for example in Fig. 7, the ring bolt 314 protrudes beyond the lower part of the housing 310.

Figs. 8A-C schematically illustrate, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front view, a front perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a lower splitting component of the splitting device. According to one embodiment, the lower splitting component 32 comprises a bolt receiver 322 configured to accommodate the ring bolt 314. The bolt receiver 322 is attached to a lower attachment element 324 configured to attach the lower splitting component to an upper edge of a slat of a rolling shutter. For example, the lower attachment element 324 may comprise at least one hole 3242 configured to receive a screw, a nail, and the like for attaching the lower splitting element 32 to the slat. Fig. 9 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front see- through view of a splitting device assembled on adjacent slats of the rolling shutter. According to one embodiment, the upper splitting element 31 of the splitting device 3 is attached to a lower part of an upper slat 10, and the lower splitting element 32 is attached to an upper part of a lower slat 20. When a splitting device 3 is assembled with a rolling shutter 100, two adjacent slats of the rolling shutter 100 are separated one from the other, namely they are not hinged together like the other slats of the roller shutter 100. The slats that are to be separated are chosen as desired, while taking into account the height of the desired height of the lower shutter part 120. The splitting device 3 illustrated in Fig. 9 is similar to the splitting device 3 illustrated in Figs. 6 A-B, except of the following: According to one embodiment, the bolt moving mechanism 316 of the upper splitting component 31 comprises a knob 3166 attached to the ring bolt 314, and the access opening 3102 in the housing 310 corresponds to the position of the ring bolt 314 and the knob 3166, in a manner that allows access to the knob 3166 by a user and movement of the ring bolt 314 clockwise and anticlockwise by the user while using the knob 3166.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 9, the ring bolt 314 is in a state where it is protruding beyond the lower part of the housing 310, and inserted into the bolt receiver 322. Atthis state the splitting device 3 is locked and does not allow splitting of the roller shutter 100. When the bolt gap 3142 protrudes beyond the lower part of the housing 310 of the upper splitting component 31, the splitting device 3 is in an opened state, because the ring bolt 314 is released from the bolt receiver 322. At this state, the upper shutter part 110 is separated from the lower shutter part 120, and while the upper shutter part 110 is rolled upwards, the lower shutter part remains standing on a bottom part of an opening where the roller shutter 100 is installed.

The embodiments of the upper splitting component 31 of the splitting device 3, illustrated in Figs. 6A-B and 9, describe a manually operated bolt moving mechanism 316. As illustrated in Figs. 6A-B, the screw shaft 3162 is accessed by a user and turned manually: and as illustrated in Fig. 9, the knob 3166 is accessed by a user and moved manually.

Fig. 10 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front seethrough view of an upper splitting component of a splitting device, comprising a motor. According to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 10, the upper splitting component 31 comprises a motor-operated bolt moving mechanism 316. The upper splitting component 31 illustrated in Fig. 10 is similar to the upper splitting component 31 illustrated in Figs. 6A-B, except that it further comprises a m otor 400 attached to one edge of the shaft 3164 and configured to turn the shaft 3164 and the screw shaft 3162 connected to the shaft 3164. According to a preferred embodiment, the motor 400 is an electric motor 400. When the roller shutter 100 is operated manually, power may be supplied to the motor 400 from the mains, and the power supply may be controlled by a switch. When the roller shutter 100 is electrically operated, namely the roller shutter comprises a motor that turns the axis of the roller shutter 100, power to the motor 400 of the splitting device 3 may be supplied from the motor of the roller shutter 100.

Figs. I IA-B schematically illustrate, according to an exemplary embodiment, an electric wire for supplying power to a motor of a motor-operated splitting device, the electric wire attached to a slat of a roller shutter. According to one embodiment, the electric wire 500 is attached to a lower edge of an upper slat 10, and connected to the motor-operated splitting device 3. Fig. 11A further illustrates a switch 550 controlling the supply of power to the motor- operated splitting device. The motor 400 illustrated in Fig. 10 is assembled inside the housing 310 of the upper splitting component 31 of the splitting device 3. According to another embodiment, the motor 400 may be assembled externally to the housing 310. Figs. 12A-B schematically illustrate, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front see-through view and an upper see-through view, respectively, of a motor assembled externally to a housing of an upper splitting component of a splitting device. According to one embodiment, a gear 3170 is attached to one edge of the shaft 3164, and a perpendicular gear 3172 is movably connected to the gear 3170 attached to the shaft 3164, in a manner that turning of the perpendicular gear 3172 causes turning of the gear 3170 attached to the shaft 3164, and eventually turning of the shaft 3164. The perpendicular gear 3172 is configured to be connected to an external motor 400, and turned by the external motor 400.

Fig. 13 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a front perspective see-through view of a motor-operated splitting device assembled with slats of a roller shutter. The motor-operated splitting device 3 illustrated in Fig. 11 is similar to the one illustrated in Fig. 10. According to one embodiment, the lower splitting component 32 of the splitting device 3 is assembled with an upper edge of a lower slat 20, for example by attaching the lower attachment element 324 of the lower splitting component 32 with the upper edge of the lower slat 20, for example with a screw, a nail, and the like. According to another embodiment, the upper splitting component 31 of the splitting device 3 is assembled with a lower edge of an upper slat 10. This is achieved, for example, but cutting a part of the upper slat 10 adjacent to the lower edge of the upper slat 10, inserting the upper splitting component 31 into the cut area of the upper slat, and fixing the upper splitting component 31 in place for example by gluing, with screw or nails, and the like.

Fig. 14 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, an upper slat 10 and a marked part 15 of the upper slat 10 that should be cut in order to allow assembly of an upper splitting component 31 with the upper slat 10. According to one embodiment, the marked area 15 of the upper slat 10 should be cut, and the upper splitting component 31 should be placed instead of the cut part of the upper slat 10.

According to another embodiment, the upper splitting component 31 may be assembled with the upper slat 10 without cut the marked part 15 illustrated in Fig. 14. For example, the upper splitting component 31 may be attached on the surface of the upper slat 10, or pushed inside an internal space of the upper slat 10.

An advantage of the splitting device 3 of the present subject matter is that it is configured to be assembled with an existing prior art roller shutter 100 in one hand, and also be assembled with a roller shutter during manufacturing of the roller shutter 100.

It is appreciated that certain features of the subject matter, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the subject matter, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub combination.

Although the subject matter has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A device for splitting a rolling shutter comprising:

an upper splitting component, and

a lower splitting component,

wherein the rolling shutter comprises an upper shutter part and a lower shutter part, and wherein the upper splitting component is attached to a lower edge of the upper shutter part, and the lower splitting component is attached to an upper edge of the lower shutter part.

The device for splitting a rolling shutter of claim 1, wherein the upper splitting component comprises:

a ring bolt that is partially cut, thus having a bolt gap, residing inside a bolt house having a shape corresponding to the shape of the ring bolt, and configured to allow free movement of the ring bolt inside the bolt house, and

a bolt moving mechanism configured to facilitate movement of the ring bolt by a user, and wherein the lower splitting component comprises:

a bolt receiver configured to accommodate the ring bolt, attached to

a lower attachment element configured to attach the lower splitting component to an upper edge of a slat of a rolling shutter.

The device for splitting a rolling shutter of claim 2, wherein the bolt moving mechanism comprises:

a shaft configured to turn around its longitudinal axis, and

a screw shaft placed over the shaft and configured to be in contact with the bolt ring, and being turned by a user.

The device for splitting a rolling shutter of claim 2, wherein the bolt moving mechanism comprises a knob attached to the ring bolt.

The device for splitting a rolling shutter of claim 2, wherein the bolt moving mechanism comprises a motor.