SCREEN DEVICE

Abstract

Screen device (1) comprising a screen (2) which, on a screen edge (4), is provided with a fitting element (5), a screen slat (3) which comprises a fitting slot (6), in which this fitting element (5) is at least partly accommodable and one or several click-action means (9, 10) which are at least partly elastic in order to secure the fitting element (5) in the fitting slot (6) by means of a click-fit connection.

Claims

1. Screen device comprising a screen and a screen slat, which is fittable to a screen edge of the screen, wherein the screen, on this screen edge, is provided with a fitting element which is attached to or forms part of the screen, wherein the screen slat comprises a fitting slot, in which this fitting element is at least partly accommodable for fitting the screen slat to the said screen edge of the screen and wherein the screen slat comprises an access opening to this fitting slot, through which the screen and/or the fitting element extends in the installed position, characterized in that the screen device comprises one or several click-action means which are at least partly elastic in order to secure the fitting element in the fitting slot by means of a click-fit connection via the access opening.

2. Screen device according to claim 1, characterized in that the screen device comprises at least one detaining element which, in the mounted position, prevents the click-action means from breaking loose from the fitting slot.

3. Screen device according to claim 1, characterized in that the screen slat is provided with a flange which at least partly delimits the access opening to the fitting slot and in that the click-action means comprise at least one click-fit leg which is elastically displaceable and, in the mounted position, engages behind the flange in order to achieve the click-fit connection.

4. Screen device according to claims 2, characterized in that the click-fit leg serves as a detaining element.

5. Screen device according to claim 3, characterized in that the click-fit leg, viewed in the mounted position, extends up to a certain distance (A) from the said screen edge next to the screen and is elastically displaceable in a direction from and towards the screen.

6. Screen device according to claim 5, characterized in that the said distance (A) is greater than the width (B) of the access opening.

7. Screen device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the click-fit leg, viewed in the mounted position, is provided, at a certain distance from the said screen edge, with a supporting rib which is upright with respect to the rest of the click-fit leg and is arranged adjacent to the screen.

8. Screen device according to claim 7, characterized in that, in the mounted position, the supporting rib touches the screen.

9. Screen device according to claim 1, characterized in that the click-action means comprise two said click-fit legs which, in the mounted position, extend on either side of the screen.

10. Screen device according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting rib of the one click-fit leg is provided at a different distance from the screen edge than the distance at which the supporting rib of the other click-fit leg (10) is provided.

11. Screen device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fitting element is welded to the screen by means of a weld seam (14), and in that this weld seam is accommodated in the screen slat when the fitting element is accommodated in the fitting slot.

12. Screen device according to claim 1, characterized in that the click-action means comprise a fitting slot for at least partly holding the fitting element herein.

13. Screen device according to claim 1, characterized in that the click-action means form part of the fitting element.

14. Screen device according claim 1, characterized in that the said click-action means form part of a one and the same click-fit element.

15. Screen device according to claim 14, characterized in that the click-fit element is configured as a click-fit profile which, in the mounted position, extends over virtually the entire length of the said screen edge.

16. Screen device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fitting element is configured as a widening of the said screen edge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The present invention will now be explained in more detail by means of the following detailed description of some preferred screen devices according to the present invention. The sole aim of this description is to provide illustrative examples and to indicate further advantages and particulars of the present invention, and may thus by no means be interpreted as a limitation of the area of application of the invention or of patent rights defined in the claims.

[0039] In this detailed description, reference numerals are used to refer to the attached drawings, in which:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a part of a first embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention at the location of the screen slat in cross section, cut through the screen slat;

[0041] FIG. 2 shows the part of the screen with the fitting element of the screen device from FIG. 1 separately, in cross section;

[0042] FIG. 3 shows the click-fit element of the screen device from FIG. 1 separately, in cross section;

[0043] FIG. 4 shows the part of the screen with the fitting element and the click-fit element of the screen device from FIG. 1 together, in cross section;

[0044] FIG. 5 shows the screen slat of the screen device from FIG. 1 separately, in cross section;

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a first slat part and a part of the screen with the fitting element and the click-fit element of a second embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention in cross section, in a dismantled position;

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a cross section of the first slat part and a part of the screen with the fitting element and the click-fit element from FIG. 6, in a partly mounted position;

[0047] FIG. 8 shows the first slat part and a part of the screen with the fitting element and the click-fit element from FIG. 6 in cross section, in a mounted position;

[0048] FIG. 9 shows the screen slat and a part of the screen with the fitting element and the click-fit element of the second embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention in cross section, in a mounted position, without a fixing element;

[0049] FIG. 10 shows the screen slat and a part of the screen with the fitting element and the click-fit element of the second embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention in cross section, in a mounted position, fixed with the fixing element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The illustrated screen devices (1) comprise a screen (2) which can be rolled up on and unrolled from a screen roller (not shown). On the other side of the screen (2) from the side where this screen (2) can be rolled up on and unrolled from the screen roller, a screen slat (3) is attached.

[0051] The screen devices (1) may furthermore comprise a slat guide on both lateral sides for guiding the lateral sides of the screen (2) and/or the screen slat (3) during the rolling and unrolling movement of the screen (2).

[0052] On the side where the screen (2) is attached to the screen slat (3), the screen edge (4) is in each case provided with a thickening (5) as fitting element (5), which is configured, for example, as a half zip. In the illustrated embodiments, this thickening (5) is welded to the screen (2) in a known manner by means of a weld seam (14).

[0053] The thickening (5) is in each case held in a fitting slot (15) of a click-fit element (7) by sliding the click-fit element (7), for example beforehand, over this thickening (5) during production of the screen (2). In the first illustrated embodiment, this thickening (5) may also be click-fitted in this fitting slot (15). The further fastening of this click-fit element (7) in the screen device (1) then prevents the thickening (5) from breaking free from the click-fit element (7).

[0054] The screen slat (3) is in each case provided with a fitting slot (6), having an access opening (11) which is delimited on either side by a flange (12, 13) of the screen slat (3). The click-fit element (7) may in each case be click-fitted into this fitting slot (6), in which case click-fit legs (9, 10, 30) thereof engage being the flanges (12, 13). In the first embodiment, the click-fit element (7) comprises two flexible click-fit legs (9, 10) to this end. In the second embodiment, one click-fit leg (30) is of a rigid design and a second click-fit leg (10) is of a flexible design.

[0055] The screen slat (3) or the parts (18, 19) thereof may be made of plastic or aluminium, for example by means of extrusion.

[0056] In the illustrated embodiments, the click-fit element (7) is designed as a profile which extends along virtually the entire length of the screen edge (4). Such a click-fit profile (7) may be made from plastic, for example by means of extrusion. It would also be possible to provide several relatively short click-fit elements (7) distributed over the length of the screen edge (4). Such relatively short click-fit elements (7) may be produced, for example, by means of injection-moulding.

[0057] In the first illustrated embodiment, the click-fit legs (9, 10), viewed in the mounted position, extend on either side of the screen (2) up to a certain distance (A) from the screen edge (4) next to the screen (2) and are elastically displaceable in a direction from and towards the screen (2). This distance (A) is greater than the width (B) of the access opening (11). In this way, the access opening (11) may be made relatively narrow, which is deemed to be aesthetically pleasing. In this case, the click-fit legs (9, 10) may be made sufficiently high to be able to achieve a strong click-fit connection. In the illustrated embodiment, this height (A) is such that the weld seam (14), in the mounted position, is accommodated in the screen slat (3), which is likewise deemed to be aesthetic.

[0058] When click-fitting the click-fit profile (7) into the fitting slot (6), the click-fit legs (9, 10) serve as barbs (8) which engage behind the flanges (12, 13) and prevent the click-fit profile (7) from breaking free from the fitting slot (6).

[0059] After they have been click-fitted, the click-fit legs (9, 10) are held in the fitting slot (6) of the screen slat (3), as a result of which they can no longer move apart and the thickening (5) can no longer unintentionally break free from the fitting slot (15) in the click-fit profile (7).

[0060] Viewed in the mounted position, the click-fit legs (9, 10) are provided, at a certain distance (C, D) from the screen edge (4), with a supporting rib (16, 17) which is upright with respect to the rest of the click-fit leg (9, 10) and is arranged adjacent to the screen (2), so that the screen slat (3) is attached to the screen (2) in a stable manner. These supporting ribs (16, 17) minimize the free space next to the screen (2), so that less dirt can accumulate in the screen slat (3). The supporting rib (16) on the first click-fit leg (9) is arranged at a greater distance (C) from the screen edge (4) than the distance (D) at which the supporting rib (17) is arranged from the second click-fit leg (10). In this way, these supporting ribs (16, 17) cannot prevent the click-fit legs (9, 10) from moving toward each other, so that the click-fit connection can be achieved. When the click-fit legs (9, 10) are moving towards each other, the screen (2) will temporarily fold around these supporting ribs (16, 17).

[0061] In the second illustrated embodiment, the screen slat (3) comprises a first slat part (18) and a second slat part (19), between which the click-fit element (7) is accommodated, and which are attachable to each other.

[0062] As can be seen in FIGS. 6 to 8, the click-fit element (7) may be click-fitted into the fitting slot (6) which is provided in the first slat part (18) by means of the click-fit legs (30, 10). To this end, the bottom hook-shaped click-fit leg (10) is of a flexible design. After click-fitting has taken place, the first slat part (18) is securely attached to the click-fit element (7) and the fitter has his/her hands free to take the second slat part (19) and attach it to the first slat part (18).

[0063] In order to attach the second slat part (19) to the first slat part (18), the first slat part (18) comprises an attachment recess (26) in which a fitting element (22) of the second slat part (19) is finable. The access opening for this attachment recess (26) is provided on the side, viewed in the figures. To this end, the fitting element (22) is hooked into the attachment recess (26) in such a way that it is secured against an upward or downward displacement, viewed in these figures. The fitting element (22) is furthermore provided with a securing element (29) and the attachment recess (26) is partly delimited by means of a corresponding securing element (28), so that this fitting element (22), after it has been fitted in the attachment recess (26), is also partly secured against breaking free from the attachment recess (26). In this way, the second slat part (19) may be released without it breaking free from the first slat part (18), so that the fitter has his/her hands free to secure the second slat part (19) with respect to the first slat part (18) by means of fixing elements (25) which will be described below.

[0064] In an intermediate step during the fitting of the fitting element (22) into the attachment recess (26), the second slat part (19) may first be hooked into the first slat part (18) to ensure that the fitting element (22) is secured sufficiently well in the attachment recess (26), so that the second slat part (19) can be released. The fitting of this fitting element (22) in the fitting recess (26) requires accurate positioning of the second slat part (19) with respect to the first slat part (18). The first slat part (18) comprises a first hook element (21) and the fitting element (22) of the second slat part (19) forms a second hook element (22) which can be hooked into the first hook element (21) in order to hook the second slat part (19) into the first slat part (18). For this hooking operation, the slat parts (18, 19) do not have to be so accurately positioned with respect to each other, so that these slat parts (18, 19) can be moved with respect to each other more easily when arranging the fitting element (22) in the fitting recess (26).

[0065] In order to then be able to secure the slat parts (18, 19) with respect to each other, the first slat part (18) comprises a first channel-shaped recess (23) which ends in the fitting opening (26) and the second slat part (19) comprises a second channel-shaped recess (24) which is provided in the fitting element (22). The first channel-shaped recess (24) is delimited by the first hook element (21) and the second channel-shaped recess (24) is delimited by the second hook element (22). The first channel-shaped recess (24) is configured as a screw channel. Via the underside of the screen slat (27), openings may be drilled into this screw channel (23) in order to screw fixing elements (25) therein, as can be seen in FIG. 10. These fixing elements (25) are preferably screwed into the screen slat (3) at several locations at a distance apart. These fixing elements (25) comprise a bottom part which is provided with an external screw thread which can engage in the screw channel (23). The top part of the fixing elements (25) is not threaded so that this part can easily engage into the second channel-shaped recess (24) in the second slat part (19). To this end, the fixing elements (25) are screwed sufficiently far into the screw channel (23), until the top part engages into the second channel-shaped recess (24). In this way, the slat parts (18, 19) cannot break free from each other in an undesirable manner. In this way, the second slat part (19) can serve as a detaining element (8) which prevents the click-fit profile (7) from breaking free from the fitting slot (6) in the first slat part (19).

[0066] In the channel-shaped recess (27) which is provided at the bottom of the screen slat (3), a damping profile may for example be arranged, so that when the screen slat (3) hits a surface during unrolling of the screen (2), the impact is damped. This damping profile also ensures that the fixing elements (25) are covered.

[0067] Due to the fact that the screen slat (3) comprises two slat parts (18, 19), it may adjoin the screen (2) more closely than is possible with single-part screen slats (3). This is deemed to be more aesthetic and ensures that less dirt can accumulate in the space between the screen (2) and the screen slat (3).