Actuating device for a venetian blind or the like arranged inside a double-glazing unit

Abstract: An actuation device for a Venetian blind or the like arranged inside a double-glazing unit (13,113) comprises a first magnet (19,119), which is arranged inside the double-glazing unit (13,113) and is directly connected to the respective actuation system, and a second external magnet (29,129). The second magnet (29,129) is associated, in a box-like structure (22,122) which is applied horizontally on the outside of the double-glazing unit (13,113), with a kinematic element (23) extending between two end elements (25,26), one (25) of which is arranged on an actuation rod (27) which can rotate about its own axis.

Description: The present invention relates to an actuation device for a Venetian blind or the like arranged inside a double- glazing unit. Venetian blinds or the like arranged inside a double- glazing unit with magnet-type actuation means are already known, wherein the blind is accommodated in the hermetic interspace formed between the two glazed surfaces of the double-glazing unit and is actuated, as regards the adjustment of the packing and/or inclination of its slats, by means of a magnetic coupling, through one of the glazed surfaces, between a first internal magnet, which is directly connected to respective actuation systems, and a second external magnet. The internal mechanical devices are constructed so that they are actuated by means of a straight-line translatory motion of the magnets. In home installations, actuation is mostly manual: the user moves the second magnet in a straight line along the border of the double-glazing unit inside which the first magnet is arranged. There are vertically-arranged actuations and actuations which are mostly adapted only to adjust the inclination of the slats of the double-glazing unit which are arranged on the horizontal upper border, mainly due to aesthetic impact concerns, and are therefore not particularly handy, especially for short people. DE-A-2921608 discloses a double glazed window unit consisting of two panes of glass which are held apart on the periphery by a spacer frame to create a sealed space between them, which is wide enough to accept a shaft near the top on which a blind is wound up. At one end the shaft is supported in a blind bush and at the other it is supported in a bore through the frame and carries a circular magnet outside. A nonmagnetic cup is soldered around it and another magnet on its outside can be revolved by a pull cord. EP-A-0611873 discloses an operating device for a Venetian blind located in an insulating glass frame which comprises: an internal magnet arranged inside the insulating glass frame and carried by a bush screwed about a helical profile of a rotatable horizontal shaft carrying pulleys about which there are wound vertical cords connected to the slats of the Venetian blind; and an external magnet coupled to the internal magnet through a glass plane, the external magnet being carried by a nut screwed about a horizontal worm screw rotatable by means of a gearmotor. The aim of the present invention is to provide an actuation device for a Venetian blind arranged inside a double-glazing unit which eliminates the drawback described above in conventional types. A consequent primary object is to provide an actuation device in which the part that can break or malfunction lies outside the double-glazing unit and can be replaced simply and quickly. Another important object is to provide an actuation device which can be easily applied even to existing double- glazing units. Another object is to provide an actuation device which has a simple structure and a low cost. In accordance with the invention, there is provided an actuation device for a Venetian blind as defined in the appended claims. The particular characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in phantom lines, of the upper part of a double-glazing unit which internally accommodates a Venetian blind, not forming part of the present invention but useful for understanding the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken along a horizontal plane, of the region related to the actuation device of the blind of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view, partly in phantom lines, of the upper part of a double-glazing unit which internally accommodates a Venetian blind with the actuation device according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal plane, of the upper part of the double-glazing unit of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a top view of a detail of the actuation device shown in Figure 3. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a Venetian blind is designated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a plurality of slats which are connected to the upper side of the framework 15 of the double-glazing unit 13 in which the Venetian blind 10 is inserted. Conventionally, the double-glazing unit 13 is substantially constituted by a pair of glazed surfaces 14 which are mutually spaced by an aluminum framework 15 which is hermetically coupled thereto by sealing. The Venetian blind 10 has means for adjusting the inclination of the slats comprising a shaft 16 which is rotatably connected to the framework 15 and has a helical median portion 17. As shown in the figures, the shaft 16 is arranged inside the horizontal upper portion of the frame 15. A bush 18 is connected to the median portion 17 of the shaft 16 and is internally shaped complementarily to the helical profile; a first magnet 19 is fixed to said bush, also rests internally on the corresponding glazed surface 14, and is slidingly coupled thereon. Pulley-type supports 20 are also fixed to the shaft 16; the cords 21 surround said supports and, through their vertical movement, synchronously turn all the slats of the Venetian blind 10 about a longitudinal axis thereof. On the outside of the double-glazing unit 13, in a box-like structure 22 which is fixed thereto by means of double-adhesive or other movable systems, a kinematic system 23 is provided and is composed of a flexible element, such as a cord 24, which is stretched in a loop between two pulley-type guiding elements which have a vertical axis and are designated respectively by the reference numerals 25 and 26; the first guiding element is arranged on an actuation rod 27 which protrudes downward and is rotatable about its own axis. The cord 24 surrounds several times the first pulley 25 in order to avoid slippage during actuation. A second magnet 29 is fixed to the cord 24, either directly or by means of a support 28, and is coupled to said first magnet 19 through the glazed surface 14. The box-like structure 22 is conveniently composed of two complementarily shaped profiles 22a and 22b which are substantially C-shaped; the first profile is fixed, as mentioned, to the double-glazing unit 13 and rotatably supports the pulleys 25 and 26, while the second profile acts as a covering which can be coupled by snap action onto the first profile by way of interlocking elements which are not shown in the figures. The actuation rod 27 has a length which makes it available, in a downward region, to the action of the user at a region where a grip knob 27a is provided. In practice, by actuating the rod 27 the cord 24 is moved, accordingly producing a translatory motion of the magnets 29 and 19 and of the bush 18 and a rotation of the shaft 16. This entails a movement of the cords 21 and therefore a variation in the inclination of the slats of the blind 10. Since the kinematic actuation system is arranged outside the double-glazing unit 13, it can be easily replaced or repaired in case of breakage or malfunction simply by disconnecting the box-like structure 22 from the rest. It should also be observed that the kinematic system used for the movement for adjusting the inclination can also be used to adjust the packing of the blind or, if said blind is constituted by a sheet, its rolling-up; in this case, however, it is convenient to provide the rod 27 with a crank-shaped lower end to facilitate the maneuver, which entails a considerable number of turns. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, a Venetian blind 110 has adjustment means which comprise, in this case, on the outside of the double-glazing unit, now designated by the reference numeral 113, and inside a box-like structure 122 which is fixed to said unit by means of a double-adhesive element or other removable fixing systems, a kinematic system 123 which is composed of a rack 124 which is parallel to the shaft, now designated by the reference numeral 116, and is supported by a C-shaped guide 126. A pinion 125 is coupled to said rack 124 and is associated, at one end, with an actuation rod 127 which protrudes downwards and can rotate about its own axis. In this case, a second magnet 129 is associated with one end of said rack 124 and is coupled to the first magnet, now designated by the reference numeral 119, through the glazed surface 114. Conveniently, the first magnet 119 is fixed to the bush, now designated by the reference numeral 118, which is internally shaped complementarily to the helical profile of the shaft 116. Still another embodiment can be provided by arranging, inside the box-like structure, a kinematic system which is composed of a worm screw coupled to a nut, arranging the worm screw so that it is parallel to the shaft and associating the actuation rod with the nut. In this manner, the movement produced by the actuation of the nut on the worm screw must be transmitted, by means of an adapted transducer, to the second magnet and, by means of the magnetic coupling, to the first magnet. In practice it has been observed that the intended aim and objects of the present invention have been achieved. In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the contingent use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements. The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. PD97U000063 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: An actuation device for a Venetian blind or the like, arranged inside a double-glazing unit of the type comprising a first magnet (119), which is arranged inside the double-glazing unit (113) and is directly connected to the respective actuation system, and a second external magnet (129) in a box-like body (122) applied horizontally on the outside of the double-glazing unit (113), said device being characterized by a kinematic system (123) comprising a rack (124) with a pinion (125) which is associated, at one end, with an actuation rod (127) which is rotatable about its own axis, said rack (124) having an end with which said second magnet (129) is associated. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first magnet (119), slidingly rigidly coupled to said double-glazing unit (113), is fixed externally to a bush (118) which is internally provided with a helical profile which is shaped complementarily with respect to the helical profile of a corresponding portion of a shaft (116) which lies inside said double-glazing unit (113) and is part of said respective actuation system. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that pulley-type supports for winding the cords for the adjustment of the inclination of the slats of said Venetian blind or the like are keyed to said shaft (116). A device according to claim 2, characterized in that said shaft (116) is directly or indirectly connected to pulley-type supports for winding the cords for packing said Venetian blind or the like. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuation rod (127) is crank-shaped.

Inventors: ROSSINI MAURO, ROSSINI, MAURO
Applicants: FINVETRO S P A, FINVETRO S.P.A.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: E06B9
IPC codes: E06B9