Abstract:
The subject of the invention is directed toward a blind assembly having a pair of vertical elements. The vertical elements each have a top and bottom and a plurality of slots formed therein. An upper transverse element engages the tops of the vertical elements and a lower transverse element similarly engages the bottoms of the vertical elements. A plurality of slats engage the slots of the vertical elements and extend substantially parallel with the upper and lower transverse elements. A mounting arrangement interlocks the upper transverse element to the tops of the vertical elements, the lower transverse element to the bottoms of the vertical elements, and the slats to the vertical elements for eliminating the need to weld the blind assembly.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   The subject patent application claims priority to and the benefits of co-pending Italian Patent Application, serial no. 2002A000214, which was filed on Apr. 17, 2002. 
   PRIOR ART 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , traditional steel blinds employ commercial profiles (AA) provided with slots to receive slats. (See FIG.  1 ). Such blinds are cut, assembled, welded, and finished with lapping machines. The profile includes wing posts where the upper part is cut at 45°, while in the bottom part it is cut at 90° (see FIG.  2 ). 
   During the last twenty years, the above system has not changed, because it reached an optimum compromise between the need of employing fixed pitch slotted elements and providing the use of the variable terminal. The variable terminal, when used in the bottom part of the casing, completes a gap (D) created by the use of the slots in the wing post and any discrepancy in dimensions between the counterframe and the blind. Said solution was positively introduced by the applicant with the Italian Patent No. 0218144. 
   However, the above solution provided assembling by welding followed by grinding (in other words, there are two “C” shaped profiles, each slidable with respect to each other, conforming with the profile (A) to the last usable slot (U) and with the profile (B) to the base end. Industry manufacturing fixed pitch slot blinds has not been able to depart from the wing&#39;s welding. This is true both in the upper part, coupled at 45°, and in the bottom part coupled at 90° to the variable terminal. 
   The system providing the use of anchorage square elements for the steel has been a failure because the steel manufacturing methods, since this method derived from the constructing system for aluminum casings. This is illustrated in the colossal difference existing between the well gauged extrusion products (aluminum) and the low precision profiled product (steel), the steel being characterized by infinite size variations, even within sections of the same lot. Thus, the square element followed the profile imperfections creating some minimal gaps and clearances, not compatible with a skillful structure. 
   The object of the inventor is allowing the manufacture of steel blinds without traditional welding, and leaving a galvanizing film intact in the contact points; and further reducing the execution times even up to 80%. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The system “Advanced Siver” realizes the aforementioned advantages by providing a wing coupling system that possesses the toughness required by the user. By this innovation it is desired to create a prefabricated product, such as a kit, ready to be assembled by the client, already painted, because the “Advanced Siver” system does not damage the preliminary painting in the final assembling phase. 
   The blind comprises five embodiments that illustrate every kind of blinds that could be required in the market, two of the profiles function as a chassis, and the three others are employed for the wings. 
   A basic characteristic is that the wings are rigorously cut and assembled at 90° angles using particular arrangements of absolute toughness; so, it is possible to realize an effective armor plating without employing expensive welded, ground, or adjusted structures. 
   All the accessories are assembled with as much care and attention as the market demands; that is absolute inaccessibility to penetrating forces. The measures of the wing&#39;s height cut has a fixed pitch corresponding to the slot pitch, the other variations with respect to the real measure of the light gap are compensated in the upper traverse element employing the adjustable butterfly support. 
   It is believed that this innovation could be the subject matter of an industrial invention patent, solving many problems by modifying the profiles, the accessories, and the working mode. 
   In particular, the invention is directed toward a blind assembly comprising a pair of vertical elements each having a top and bottom and a plurality of slots formed therein. An upper transverse element engages the tops of the vertical elements. A lower transverse element similarly engages the bottoms of the vertical elements. A plurality of slats engage the slots of the vertical elements and extend substantially parallel with the upper and lower transverse elements. A mounting arrangement interlocks the upper transverse element to the tops of the vertical elements, the lower transverse element to the bottoms of the vertical elements, and the slats to the vertical elements for eliminating the need to weld the blind assembly. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a interior view of a vertical support element of the prior art; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmented side view of the vertical support element of the prior art; 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmented interior view of the vertical support element of the prior art; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a blind assembly in accordance with the subject invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the blind assembly; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a frame in accordance with the subject invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a fragmented side view of a portion of the frame; 
       FIG. 8  is a fragmented perspective view of the frame having a hinge disposed therein; 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the frame and hinge of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a partially assembled blind assembly in accordance with the subject invention having a pair of vertical elements and three transverse elements; 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of a transverse element being mounted to a vertical element in accordance with the subject invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a end view of the transverse element; 
       FIG. 13  is perspective view of a transverse element being mounted to a vertical element in accordance with the subject invention; 
       FIG. 14  is a fragmentary sectional view of the transverse element; 
       FIG. 15  is an end view of a slat with a tie rod extending therethrough; 
       FIG. 16  is a fragmented top view of a slat; 
       FIG. 17  is a fragmented interior view of a vertical element; 
       FIG. 18  is a fragmentary side view of a transverse element mounted to a vertical element; 
       FIG. 19  is a fragmented partially cross-sectional interior view of a vertical element with a pair of transverse elements mounted thereto; 
       FIG. 20  is a partially cross-sectional top view of a transverse element mounted to a vertical element; 
       FIG. 21  is a bottom view of another portion of the frame; 
       FIG. 22  is a side view of the frame portion of  FIG. 19 ; 
       FIG. 23  is a end view of the frame portion of  FIG. 19 ; 
       FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional end view of the frame being mounted to a structure; 
       FIG. 25  is a front view of a position plate; 
       FIG. 26  is a cross-sectional end view of the frame mounted to a structure; 
       FIG. 27  is a top view of a butterfly element; 
       FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional side view of the butterfly element; and 
       FIG. 29  is a side view of the butterfly element mounted to a structure. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A blind assembly  5  in accordance with the invention is generally shown in FIG.  4 . The blind assembly  5  has two wing sections. For illustrative purposes, only one of the wing sections is discussed in greater detail below.  FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the blind assembly, which is discussed in greater detail below. 
   The frame system is comprised of a shaped profile, said shape being necessary to enable the use of the fittings, such as hinges, pressure elements, square elements, “bifort supports”, seat protections, and deformations. 
     FIG. 6  shows a corner of the profile, with the square element inserted in position. 
   Profile of the frame  10  of  FIG. 6 , is cut at 45°, coupled with the particular double tie rod system. In this system, a square element  12  is inserted within the upper transverse portion, into the two ends already cut at 45°. The square element  12  has two round holes  14 , that will receive tie rods  16  and a square hole  18  corresponding to a square hole  20  on the frame  10 , allowing its integral coupling. Employing a bolt (not shown), having an oval head and a square base, in  FIG. 6 , the position can be seen that will receive two tie rods  16 ; said tie rods  16  will be restrained by the bolt head within rectangular seats  22 , to be secured there by a shaped base  24 . 
   The base  24  is tightened by a bolt sliding within the square seat of the frames  10  and of the round hole base. 
   The square element  12  represents a reinforcing element of the corner. As shown in  FIG. 7 , it is inserted between the bent sheet parts in such a way to form a perfect restraint plane. Abutment  26  creates a forced point in the profile bend, thus eliminating mechanical clearances. 
   In the frame profile, as seen in  FIG. 8 , seats are provided to function in four ways. The functions include: 
   1. receiving a hinge  28  of a bearing fixed part; 
   2. allowing a fixed joint of a support  30 , named “bifort”; 
   3. providing a box  32  in the coupling, as if the shaped frame  10 , that is an opened profile, is twisted in such a way to become box-type, thus stiff; 
   4. by this seat it is possible to relieve load forces directly from the frame to the counterframe in the wall. 
     FIG. 8  represents the four function system from inside. It is possible to see both the frame  10 , the support  30 , and the hinge  28  overlapped. Locking screws (not shown) are inserted within two holes  34  of the hinge  28 . These screws, due to the shapes of the frame  10 , the hinge  28 , and the support  30 , provide the four functions totally blocking the assembly without constraining the frame  10  and only constraining the support  30 . In fact, hinge  28  cannot slide due to tooth  36 . The support  30  cannot slide because it constrains the hinge  28  and is bucked by the frame  10  such that it cannot twist. Creating the box  32 , pressure elements  38  adjust the installation spaces in the counterframe. The counterpart of the hinge  28  is screwed in the wing posts.  FIG. 9  represents the section, summarizing  FIG. 8  in combination with the other hinge  40  and the wing where the wing  42  is already hinged with the four functions joint. 
     FIG. 4  represents the typical wings in an exploded view and  FIG. 10  represents the typical wing already assembled. It is possible to see the slotted vertical elements  43 , the characteristic offset lugs  44  of the vertical elements  43  extending in a vertical direction and not in a horizontal direction. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a handle and locking mechanism may be incorporated into the vertical elements  43  as is known in the art. 
   Structures of the present invention include the horizontal transverse elements  46 . In the Figure it is possible to note that the use of the traverse elements  46  is the same at the top and at the bottom, but in the upper part it is assembled inverted with respect to the base. The inversion is essential to be able to cover the assembling screws  50  and compliment the inclination of the slats. In fact, with the shape of the transverse elements  46 , the part that can be seen is the outer side, and the screws  50  are on the inner side. 
   As shown in the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the vertical portions of the frame  10  can have the slots to receive the slats  64 ; thereby, eliminating the need for vertical elements  43 . The transverse elements  46  can also be eliminated. The removal of the vertical elements  43  and the transverse elements  46  simplifies the design of the blind assembly  5 . 
   Referring back to the preferred embodiment, mounting blocks  48  are illustrated in other figures, but they are described with specificity in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . As it can be noted, mounting blocks  48  include a tooth  52  that enters the thickness of the already breached horizontal element  46 , so that, when the screw  50  is tightened, it interlocks the blocks  48  in such a way as to be integral with the corresponding opening in element  46 . This relieves the torsion force in the opening and not in the screw  50 . 
   It is obvious that the mounting blocks  48  can be applied both in the axis position A 1  and in the axis position A 2  of  FIGS. 10 ,  11 , and  12 . In fact, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , mounting blocks in the upper transverse element are placed along the A 2  axis, while in the mounting blocks in the bottom transverse element are placed along the A 1  axis. This solution conceals the tightening system from the ill-intentioned person who is not able to reach them from outside. 
   In the opposed part of the profile, a partial drawing is created wherein a bracket  54  is housed for the coupling between the vertical slotted elements  43 , that are partially drawn, and elements  46 . 
   Characteristic of the elements  46  is that, as it can be seen from the Figures, the profile is not welded. Therefore, it is an open profile that will be blocked and stiffened by the coupling of the bracket  54  and bridge nuts  56 , that can be better observed in FIG.  13 . 
   Nuts  56  sit within a seat  58  provided in the elements  46 . The seats hold the nuts  56  in place while attaching the brackets  54  to the profiles. This is necessary because the brackets eliminate the possibility of manually securing the nuts during installation. 
   The last feature is indispensable since, without the same, it would be impossible to attach the brackets  54  to the profiles retaining the nuts  56  inside without the possibility of reaching the same. 
   The joint between the profiles has been conceived in this way since all the steel profiles when cut and assembled, always have large tolerances. 
   Thus, each attempt to assemble them is never quite the same to the earlier attempts. Therefore, using the seats  58 , that house the bridge nuts  56  in all the outer corners of the wing permits accurate assembly of the transverse elements  46  and the vertical slotted elements  43 . So that each time the corner is tightened with the bracket  54  and the nuts  56 , a perfect mechanical seal is obtained independently from any manufacturing defects of the profiles. 
   In  FIG. 14 , the mechanical effect of the bridge nut  56  is illustrated. The section has the tightening plane with drawing and sloped planes of the nut  56  with four sides; respectively, two inner sides and two outer sides. 
   Due to the effect of the tightening of the screws, they approach the edges and of the transverse elements  46  (FIGS.  13  and  14 ), while they are held in the vertical seats (FIG.  13 ). 
   In this way, transverse elements  46  take the rigidity of the anti-sloping tubular element as an in situ correction. In the mechanical field this effect is really important, mainly for casings, because the two wings of the casing to be closed require a perfect alignment, generally impossible to obtain. Reasons for this include the angled position of the two edges that never are parallel each other, and to the already mentioned manufacturing imperfections of the two profiles. With the open elements  46 , the correction is obtained because the edges and can slide in such a way to conform to the vertical elements  43  with the contact planes. This operation is created by the nut seat  58  and by the tightening of the screws  50 , shown in FIG.  13 . In  FIG. 13 , bracket  54  is shaped to attach both the transverse element  46  and the vertical element  43 . In this way, bracket  54  can maintain a perfect alignment of the same profiles since the wide body  60  of the bracket fixes in the vertical element  43 . The drawn hole  62  is provided in the bracket  54  for the passage of the sliding bar (not shown), while three holes with the nuts  56  already fixed in the seats  58 . The assembly bracket  54 , nuts  56  and seats  58  are thus integral, being very important for the attachment of the corner wing joint. 
     FIG. 14  illustrates seats  58  retaining the nut  56  in a tightened position, without the screw, before being put under pulling conditions. 
   The use of the nuts  56  is consolidated and used also with closed profiles, provided that a perfect execution of the constructive tolerances is ensured, said tolerance being obtained well working in the drawing of the profiles.  FIGS. 15-17  show the working of the slat  64 , i.e., in the oval shape that will be inserted in the vertical element  43 . An opening  65  is provided in the end portion of the width passing through the two walls of the slat  64 . The installed slat  64  has an angle of 27° with respect to a support wall in the vertical element  43 . A square rod  67  may be inserted therein, passing through the openings  65  in the slats  64 . 
   Square rod  67  can also be a round rod, even if the square rod  67  works better. However, two systems can be interchangeable. The oval slat  64 , once introduced within the vertical slotted element  43  abuts against the wall with its tapered neck  66  and cannot proceed beyond that point. Thus, introducing the square rod  67  into the opening  65 , the locking of the square rod  67 , and the wall of the slotted vertical tubular element  43  provide the bucking. 
   In  FIG. 10 , the assembly of the oval slats  64  with the slotted vertical elements  43  can be seen that altogether create the wing that is blocked by the insertion of the square or oval rods  67  profiles, and the tension along the mounting blocks created by bolt  68  and by the use of the bracket  54  with its nuts  56 . 
   All the above is not in any case sufficient to give an attitude such that all the wing can be said rigid, without any tendency to move some alignment. But since the alignments must not move at all, the system provides that when the transverse elements  46  and the vertical slotted elements  43  meet, a particular bucking abutment is created.  FIGS. 18-20  illustrate the support and meeting plane of the slotted vertical element  43  on that side of the slots. To better understand the Figure as it can be seen, the slotted vertical elements are flush with respect to the section of the horizontal transverse elements  46  in such a way that in case one pulls the tie rod  70  in the mounting blocks  48 , the joints block without any possibility of moving. Since the bucking abutments creates an out of plane condition on the tie rod  70  side, tension would not be correct; furthermore, slots, would create some empty sections as in the case of the bottom part, where the passage of the tie rod  70  occurs. Therefore, the shaped plate  72  is provided, that is put within the slotted vertical element  43  restoring the resting base of the tie rods. Plate  72  is fixed in the holes  74 , always on the side opposite with respect to the tie rod, provided with tearing rivet, in such a way that when the square rod  67  passes through the slat  64 , the slat is in the position and the tie rods  70  can be put under tension, with the further function of blocking the square rods  67 . Thus the entire joint is tightened on a ribbed insert base with round or square rods  67  participating to support the joint. 
   Tie rod  70  is a scaling bolt with a head having the same thickness as the tubular vertical element  43 , the object being that of providing a grip with the transverse elements  46  but maintaining an orthogonal alignment between the tubular vertical element  43  and the base of the pre-holed wall. In all cases where the tubular vertical element  43  is very big and it is desired to join the wall beside the bracket  54  also on the head of the sealing bolt, the bolt  68  is tightened, said bolt  68  having a threading smaller than the coupling hexagon of the tie rod  70  in the wall. The central transverse element  46  has its shape shown in  FIG. 10 , and it can be seen reentering base allowing the oval slat  64  to completely occupy its seat and to give an aesthetical aspect to the part having the same dimension of the bottom part or base. 
   Frame  10  is shown in  FIG. 6 , it can be closed on all the four comers, but in cases where it is not possible to make it, as in the stamping planes and in some windows, a closure  76  with the transverse element  46  is provided, without a square element, but instead with a U shaped transverse profile, see  FIGS. 21-23 , as it can be seen from the left side the closure  76  is shaped to provide a deformable ear  78  with a hole that secures the screw, said ear  78 , as it can be seen, passing through the frame  10  within the groove suitably created and during the blocking it is folded upward, deformation occurring in the relieved point  80 , as it can be seen from  FIG. 22 , already folded, tapping screw  50  blocking the whole within the seat. The profile is holed before its use, to receive the key locking sliding bars and the anchoring screw in the stamping plane, as well as water discharges, etc. 
   As described in the introduction of the presentation of the state of the art, it mentions gaps. 
   Since “Advanced Siver” system does not provide two C shaped profiles (variable end) because they are not suitable to total prefabrication, it is necessary to solve the problem in a different way. The solution has been individuated transferring the problem of the variable terminal to the frame  10 , and precisely, in the following way, see  FIG. 24 , the upper transverse portion of the frame  10 , with a butterfly element  82  and a four position plate  84  are provided. The transverse portion is represented in a descriptive and not limiting way. In  FIG. 24 , a section of the butterfly element  82  is installed in the lowest point of the plate element  84 , the four positions represent a series of spaces, representing the slot pitch of the slotted vertical elements  43 . The base profile of transverse element  46  is always the same and cannot be modified. In fact, if the profile could rise until it was under the slot, if the measure of the slotted element is the same it would be necessary to lower the profile of the element  46  of a length corresponding to the space; but in this way, the upper plane of the transverse element  46  would go in the point and the sectioned slot would be half inside and half outside, and thus it could not occupy a whole profile, thus all the measures exceeding a pitch are compensated by the butterfly element  82 . Vertical elements  43  are thus cut at 90° angles, respecting the whole slot, that differs from the cut of few millimeters, always the same, and reducing the bottom of the preceding slot, the same applying for the bottom part of the element  43 , in this way we would have posts with fixed pitch slots, always complete slots, both outside the sections occupied by the profiles and within said profiles. 
   In the Figure it is put into evidence the space that must be recovered at the maximum, to have available another useful slot. 
   It is obvious that in this way all the possible cuts in the slots of the elements  43  are limited and always multiple, starting from the minimum measure that will correspond to the space occupied by two transverse elements  46  plus the space of a slot, so that if the transverse elements  46  are 85 and 92 and the slat 42.5, we will have the measure of 85+92+42.5=(219,5), the following measure will be 219,5+42,5=(219,5+42,5)=262. Thus, all the possible measures will be progressively 262+42,5 etc., all the intermediate spaces between a possible measure and the following one will always be lower than the pitch and recovered by the butterfly element  82 . In  FIGS. 24 and 23 , said space is represented in by X, the example with millimeters is only representative, but not limiting, so that the specification is continued in the same way, and it is assumed that X=42,5. In on embodiment, the device divides said measure into four spaces, but the number of spaces is not critical. In the example, four spaces from 1 to 4 are sufficient. Butterfly element  82  is positioned in space  1 , see  FIG. 24 , and is blocked by screw  50 , engaging with its seat, thus creating the grip point, pressure coupling the strap sliding all along the frame  10 . 
   At the opposite, butterfly element  82  grasps in the position of the position plate  84  in the lower space  1 ; in this way the starting point has been created for the first quarter of the four quarters of the pitch in case we should recover at most ¼of the pitch, in case we should recover 2/4 of the pitch, we would arrive to install the butterfly element  82  within the position plate element  84  in space  2  employing strap  2 , and so on until the last quarter. Therefore, butterfly element  82  can be deformed, see  FIG. 26 , from a position to the following one in order to attach to the upper transverse architrave with the screw  50 . If we consider  FIG. 24 , butterfly element  82  can deform until the maximum plane from space  1 , sliding, with deformation, all along the space  1 , so that we will have the architrave plane, see FIG.  26 . If we observe  FIGS. 27 and 28 , the portion destined to the deformation can be noted, i.e., two necks of the butterfly element  82  the slots are suitably provided to allow to the butterfly element  82  to slide while the screw tightens and pulls upward the deformed base point, making the device suitable to the useful space of the first of the four quarters of the pitch.  FIG. 29  shows the butterfly of  FIGS. 27 and 26 , already deformed in the first quarter in position  2  being fixed in  1 . The device can be fixed in the central point of the transverse frame  10  by screws  50  that are as longer as more the position of the butterfly is moved upward from 1° to 4° place, thus we will have also four measures of straps, one for each fixing position. All the above device is sufficiently rigid, since the straps are fixed within the folding of the frame, see  FIGS. 24 and 26 , and position plate  84  in fold  86 . 
   Prefabricated steel blind realized by the “Advanced Siver” system can provide an inexpensive armored blind.