Abstract:
A connector for securing a side support for a roller shaft to a slideway for guiding closure selectively wound about the roller shaft wherein the connector includes a tab having a lower portion engaging the slideway and an upper portion engageable with the side support for the roller shaft. The connector further includes an elastic lock member insertable within an opening in the tab for securing the tab to the side support for the closure member by way of at least two resilient hooks associated with the elastic lock member which are engageable with the tab and the side support for the roller shaft.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for connection between a roller shaft support and slideways for laterally holding a shade body in a closure or sun protection installation. The invention also relates to a mechanism for manoeuvring a closure or sun protection installation comprising such a connection device. 
     Closure installation is understood to mean doors, gates, blinds and equivalent equipment. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     EP-A-0 671 537 discloses a universal support for laterally guiding a roller blind, this support comprising interchangeable lateral rods or tabs intended to be inserted in a slideway for guiding a roller blind, being fixed in the lower part of a lateral face of a box. These interchangeable rods or tabs make it possible efficiently to position the slideways with respect to the box of the blind. However, it has appeared from experience that, when an installation comprising such a box and such slideways is positioned, it may happen that the aforementioned rods or tabs become detached from the bracket and drop to the floor, which means that the installer must stop positioning them in order to pick up the dropped element and replace it, such manipulations most often obliging the installer to get down from a ladder. 
     It is a more particular object of the present invention to overcome the problems set forth hereinabove by proposing a connection device which virtually eliminates the risks of a connecting tab being unhooked with respect to its environment when the closure installation is being positioned and used. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To that end, the invention relates to a device for connection between a roller shaft support and at least one slideway for laterally maintaining a shade body of a closure or sun protection installation, which comprises at least one connection tab adapted to engage, on the one hand, with the slideway and, on the other hand, with the support. This device is characterized in that it comprises an elastic member for locking the tab with the support by cooperation of shapes, this member comprising at least an elastically deformable first tongue equipped with a first beak adapted to clip against a surface of the tab and at least an elastically deformable second tongue equipped with a second beak adapted to clip against a surface of the support, this elastic member being adapted to form a stop against a displacement of the tab with respect to the support in the sense of separation of the tab with respect to the support. 
     The elastic locking member or clip of the invention avoids an untimely disconnection of the connecting tab with respect to the support and therefore limits the risks of this tab, which is at least partially engaged inside the slideway in question, dropping. 
     According to advantageous but non-compulsory aspects of the invention, the device incorporates one or more of the following characteristics: 
     The elastic locking member comprises two substantially parallel first tongues each equipped with a beak adapted to clip against a surface of the tab, these beaks being oriented towards the outside of the tongues with respect to an intermediate space defined therebetween. The elastic clipping of the locking member on the tab may thus occur by an expansion of the tongues which may be compressed due to the geometry of the surfaces of the tab with which they cooperate. The second tongue may be provided to extend, from a zone forming a base common to the first tongues and to the second tongue, at least partially in a direction substantially parallel to the first tongues and outside the intermediate space mentioned above. 
     Each beak is bordered by a retaining surface substantially perpendicular with respect to a principal direction of the tongue in question and by a surface forming a ramp, inclined with respect to this principal direction. The inclined surface of each beak makes it possible to generate a progressive deformation of the tongue which bears it, during positioning of the elastic locking member. 
     The tab forms a housing for receiving the locking member, this housing defining at least one surface for cooperation with the beak of the first tongue. The support is advantageously provided with a heel projecting, from an end surface of the support and when the tab is in engagement on the support, towards the interior of the said housing, while this heel defines a surface adapted to cooperate with the beak of the second tongue. The housing may be provided with an opening for access to at least one of the beaks, this opening allowing the insertion of a means for disengaging this beak with respect to a corresponding surface of the support or of the tab. Thanks to this opening, it is possible to release the locking member with respect to the support or to the tab, which allows the installation to be dismantled. 
     The housing forms a stop adapted to abut against the locking member in place in the housing during a relative movement of the tab and of the support in a sense of separation of the tab and of the support. 
     The tab is adapted to be brought into engagement with the support by a translation in a direction and a sense defined by the cooperating parts of this support and this tab, this locking member being adapted to oppose, after engagement of the tab on the support, a translation of the tab with respect to the support in the same direction and in opposite sense. 
     The invention also relates to a mechanism for maneuvering a closure or sun protection installation which comprises a connection device as described hereinabove. Such a mechanism is simpler to install and to adjust than the mechanisms of the prior art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be more readily understood and other advantages hereof will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an embodiment of a mechanism for manoeuvring a closure installation in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 schematically shows a step of assembly of a mechanism for maneuvering a roller blind according to the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a view in perspective, on a larger scale and from the rear, of the mechanism of FIG. 1 in the course of assembly. 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 while the device is in assembled configuration. 
     FIG. 4 is a section along line IV—IV of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a section along line V—V of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a view in perspective on a larger scale of the elastic locking member used in the device of FIGS. 1 to  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a view in perspective in the same direction as FIG. 1 of the mechanism of FIG. 1 in the course of dismantling. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, a roller blind box C is shown partially in dashed and dotted lines in FIG. 1 by its bottom board. An end bracket  1  of the box C is provided to be connected with a slideway  2  by means of a tab  3  partially engaged in the upper part of this slideway  2 . The bracket  1  is equipped with a central projection  11  allowing it to support, directly or indirectly, a roller shaft  4  provided to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis X-X′. 
     In its lower part, the bracket  1  is provided with a projection  13  extending downwardly from the lower edge  14  of the principal part of the bracket  1  and forming elements in relief for hooking the tab  3 . These elements in relief comprise two male dovetails  15  and  15 ′ disposed symmetrically on either side of a median plane P 1  of the projection  13 . These elements in relief also comprsie a lower male dovetail  16  extending over the whole length of the projection  13  while the male dovetails  15  and  15 ′ are limited by a stop  17 . 
     Recesses  35 ,  35 ′ and  36  in the form of a female dovetail are respectively provided in the upper part  33  of the tab  3  with a geometry complementary of that of the male dovetails  15 ,  15 ′ and  16 . Elements  15 ,  15 ′,  16 ,  35 ,  35 ′ and  36  allow the projection  13  to hook on the tab  3  by a translation in the direction of arrows F 1  in FIGS. 1 and 2, the progress of the bracket  1  in the direction of arrows F 1  being limited by the stop  17 . 
     According to the invention, an elastic locking member  5  is provided to immobilize the tab  3  in position engaged on the projection  13 . This member is in one piece and moulded from plastics material. It comprises a base part  51  from which extend two tongues  52  and  52 ′ substantially parallel to a central axis X 5 -X′ 5  of the member  5  and between which is defined an intermediate space E. At its free end, each tongue  52  or  52 ′ is provided with a beak  53  or  53 ′ facing outwardly with respect to the space E and defined by a surface  54 ,  54 ′ respectively, substantially perpendicular to axis X 5 -X′ 5 . Each beak  53 ,  53 ′ is also bordered by a surface  55 ,  55 ′ respectively, inclined with respect to axis X 5 -X′ 5 . 
     From part  51  there also extends another tongue  56  of generally L-shaped section, with the result that it extends firstly in a direction substantially perpendicular to axis X 5 -X′ 5  then in a direction substantially parallel to this axis. At its end, the tongue  56  is provided with a beak  57  defined between a surface  58  perpendicular to axis X 5 -X′ 5  and a surface  59  inclined with respect to this axis. 
     A housing  37  is provided in part  33  of the tab  3  for receiving the member  5 . This housing traverses right through the tab  5  and  37   a  denotes its opening on the side of tab  3  opposite the stop  17  when the tab  3  is mounted on the projection  13 . 
     The opening  37   a  comprises an upper part for passage of the tongue  56  and a substantially wider lower part for passage of the tongues  52  and  52 ′. As is more clearly seen in FIG. 5, the lower part of the opening  37   a  is convergent in the direction of the lower volume of the housing  37 . In its entrance zone, the opening  37   a  has a width 1 1  substantially equal to the distance d 1  separating the outer ends of the beaks  53  and  53 ′ of the member  5  at rest. The width of the lower part of the zone  37   a  decreases to a value l 2  substantially equal to the distance separating the outer faces of the tongues  52  and  52 ′ in those parts where they do not comprise beaks. 
     When the member  5  is positioned in the housing  37 , the tongues  52  and  52 ′ are deformed in the sense of approach or of narrowing of the space E by the cooperation of the inclined surfaces  55  or  55 ′ with the inclined introduction surfaces  37   b  and  37 ′ b  of the housing  37 . Opposite the opening  37   a , the housing  37  forms two shoulders  37   c  and  37 ′ c  for receiving the beaks  53  and  53 ′, the housings  37   c  and  37 ′ c  each being provided with a surface  37   d  or  37 ′ d  perpendicular to the direction F 2  of introduction of the member  5  into the housing  37 . 
     In this way, when the beaks  53  and  53 ′ are in place in the shoulders  37   c  and  37 ′ c , the member  5  is firmly held in position with respect to the tab  3  by cooperation of surfaces  54  and  37   d , and  54 ′ and  37 ′ d , respectively. 
     A heel  18  projects from the lower surface  19  of the projection  13 . This heel comprises a surface  18   a  inclined with respect to the directions of arrows F 1  and F 2  and a surface  18   b  substantially perpendicular to these directions. The heel  18  is positioned so that, when the tab  3  is engaged on the projection  13  and when the member  5  is introduced into the housing  37 , the surface  59  of the beak  57  slides against the surface  18   a  to such a point that the surface  58  of this beak is locked against the surface  18   b  by elastic deformation of the tongue  56 , which guarantees a firm immobilization of the member  5  with respect to the projection  13  as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     A rib  38  extends into the housing  37 , transversely with respect to the direction of introduction of the member  5 . This rib limits the movement of the member  5  in the direction of arrow F 2 . Moreover, in the case of a beginning of relative movement of the tab  3  and the bracket  1 , in the sense of moving apart or of separation of these elements, as represented by arrows F′ 1  in FIG. 4, the rib  38  abuts against the beak  57  which is itself retained in position by the heel  18 . As a result, the movement in the direction of arrows F′ 1  is blocked by the cooperation of the rib  38  and the member  5 . 
     In this way, the simple introduction of the member  5  into the housing  37  makes it possible to lock this member both with respect to the tab  3  and to the bracket  1  in a direction opposite arrows F 1  and F 2 , which guarantees an efficient connection of the elements  1  and  3  in the direction of arrows F 1  and in the direction of arrows F′ 1 . 
     In practice, the member  5  is positioned in the housing  37  before the projection  13  is introduced in the recesses  35 ,  35 ′ and  36  of the tab  3 , which induces the connection of elements  1  and  3 . The assembly thus formed is then engaged in the slideway  2 . 
     When the assembly thus produced is to be dismantled, the end of the screwdriver  100  can be introduced into the housing  37  through an opening  37   e  provided on the inner side of the tab  3  visible in FIGS. 1 and 7. The housing  37  is accessible by that side, as represented by arrow F 3  in FIG. 4, so that the tip  101  of the screwdriver  100  can exert on the beak  57  an effort of thrust F 4  making it possible to disengage the beak  57  with respect to the heel  18  and to separate the assembly formed by the tab  3  and the member  5  from the bracket  1  in the direction of arrows F′ 1 .