Abstract:
The subject 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 slabs 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 slabs to the vertical elements for eliminating the need to weld the blind assembly.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
         [0001]    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  
         [0002]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , currently steel blinds are realized employing some commercial profiles (AA) already provided with slots, because of the slats introduction (see FIG. 1) such blinds are cut, assembled and welded to be then finished with lapping machines. The profile has particular features, that is the upper part of the wings post is cut at 45°, while in the bottom part it is cut at 90° (see FIG. 2).  
           [0003]    During the last twenty years the above system has not been changed, because it had been reached an optimum compromise between the need of employing fixed pitch slotted elements and the ideal solution providing the use of the variable terminal, the latter (that is still used), when used in the bottom part of the casing, completing the gap (D) in the use of the slots useful in the wing post and the real measure necessary to have a blind with the measures of the counterframe. Said solution was positively introduced by the applicant with the patent no. 0218144 that is actually of public domain.  
           [0004]    However, the above solution provided the assembling by weldings and following grindings (in other words, they are two “C” shaped profiles, slidable each other to conform with the profile (A) to the last usable slot (U) and with the profile (B) to the base end. All the basic industry has maintained fixed and as a strong point the fixed pitch slot without being able to depart from the wing&#39;s welding. This is valid both in the upper part, coupled at 45°, and in the bottom part coupled at 90° to the variable terminal.  
           [0005]    The system providing the use of anchorage square elements for the steel has been a failure for the same steel, since this method has been derived from the constructing system for aluminum casings. This was evident for the colossal difference existing between the wellgauged extrusion products (aluminum) and the low precision profiled product (steel), the latter being also characterized by infinite size variations, even in the section of the same lot. Thus, the square element fitting followed the profile imperfections creating some minimal gaps and clearances, not compatible with a skilful structure.  
           [0006]    The object of the inventor is allowing to the steel blind manufacturers to realize them with perfectly skilful structures, without welding some profiles and leaving the galvanizing film intact in the contact points; and further reducing the execution times even of the 80%.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0007]    The system “Advanced Siver” realizes all the above having joined the wing coupling system with the thoughness required by the user. By this innovation it is wished to create a metallurgical and mechanical company supplying to the national and foreign market the prefabricated product as a kit ready to be assembled by the client, not raw but already painted, because the “Advanced Siver” system does not damage the preliminary painting in the final assembling phase.  
           [0008]    The blind is comprised of five profiles by which it is possible to realize every kind of blinds that could be required on the market, two of said profiles carrying out the function of a chassis, and the three others are employed for the wings.  
           [0009]    A basic characteristic is that the wings are rigorously cut and assembled at 90°, using particular arrangements of absolute toughness; so it is possible to be sure to realize an effective armor plating without employing too expensive structures, deriving from profiles welded and then ground, adjusted, etc.  
           [0010]    All the accessories are assembled with as much care and attention to the market request; that is absolute inaccessibility to the forcing attempts. The measures of the wing&#39;s height cut have 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 employing the adjustable butterfly support.  
           [0011]    It is believed that this study could be the subject matter of an industrial invention patent, solving all the innumerable problems that had prevented their realization till now, also modifying the profiles, the accessories and the working mode.  
           [0012]    In particular, the subject 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 slabs 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 slabs to the vertical elements for eliminating the need to weld the blind assembly. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    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:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a interior view of a vertical support element of the prior art;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a fragmented side view of the vertical support element of the prior art;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a fragmented interior view of the vertical support element of the prior art;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a blind assembly in accordance with the subject invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the blind assembly;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a frame in accordance with the subject invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a fragmented side view of a portion of the frame;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a fragmented perspective view of the frame having a hinge disposed therein;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a side view of the frame and hinge of FIG. 6;  
         [0023]    [0023]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;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is a side view of a transverse element being mounted to a vertical element in accordance with the subject invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 is a end view of the transverse element;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 is perspective view of a transverse element being mounted to a vertical element in accordance with the subject invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of the transverse element;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 15 is an end view of a slab with a tie rod extending therethrough;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 16 is a fragmented top view of a slab;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 17 is a fragmented interior view of a vertical element;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 18 is a fragmentary side view of a transverse element mounted to a vertical element;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 19 is a fragmented partially cross-sectional interior view of a vertical element with a pair of transverse elements mounted thereto;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 20 is a partially cross-sectional top view of a transverse element mounted to a vertical element;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 21 is a bottom view of another portion of the frame;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 22 is a side view of the frame portion of FIG. 19;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 23 is a end view of the frame portion of FIG. 19;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional end view of the frame being mounted to a structure;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 25 is a front view of a position plate;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional end view of the frame mounted to a structure;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 27 is a top view of a butterfly element;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional side view of the butterfly element; and  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 29 is a side view of the butterfly element mounted to a structure.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0043]    A blind assembly  5  in accordance with the subject invention is generally shown in FIG. 4. The blind assembly  5  shown in FIG. 4 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.  
         [0044]    The frame system is comprised of a shaped profile, said shape being necessary to justify the use of the fittings, such as hinges, pressure elements, square elements, “bifort supports”, seat protections, deformations (drawings).  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 6 shows a corner of the profile, with the square element inserted in position.  
         [0046]    Profile of the frames  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  450 . FIG. 6 only shows one of them, and how it can be seen. 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  of the frame  10 , allowing its integral coupling (transverse square element). Employing a bolt (not shown), having an oval head and a square base, in FIG. 6 it can be seen the position that will receive two tie rods  16 ; said tie rods  16  will restraint by the bolt head, within rectangular seats  22 , to be there kept by a shaped base  24 .  
         [0047]    The base  24  is tightened by a bolt, as already said, sliding within the square seat of the frames  10  and of the round hole base.  
         [0048]    The square element  12  represents a reinforcing element of the cutting corner. As also shown in FIG. 7, it is inserted between the sheet bent parties, in such a way to form a perfect reference restraint plane. Abutment  26  creates a forced point in the profile bent, thus eliminating mechanical clearances.  
         [0049]    In the frame profile, as seen in FIG. 8, seats are obtained, defining four functions, this representing the optimum solution well realized. Its object is:  
         [0050]    1. receiving a hinge  28  of a bearing fixed part;  
         [0051]    2. allowing a fixed joint of a support  30 , named “bifort”;  
         [0052]    3. realizing 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;  
         [0053]    4. by this seat it is possible to have the relief of the load forces directly from the frame to the counterframe in the wall.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 8 represents the four function system from inside. It is possible to see both the frame  10  and the support  30  and the hinge  28  overlapped. Locking screws (not shown) are inserted within two holes  34  of the hinge  28 , said screws, due to the shape combinations, of the frame  10 , the hinge  28 , and the support  30 , realize the four functions total block assembly without constraining to the frame  10  but only to the support  30 . In fact, hinge  28  cannot slide due to tooth  36 . Neither the support  30  can slide, since it constraints the hinge  28  and is bucked by the frame  10 , that in this way 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 knot.  
         [0055]    [0055]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 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.  
         [0056]    Essential feature is the use of the horizontal transverse elements  46 . In the Figure it is possible to note that the use of the traverse elements  46  is the same above and at the bottom, but in the upper part it is assembled upset with respect to the base. The upsetting is essential to be able to cover the assembling screws  50 , exploiting the inclination of the slabs. 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.  
         [0057]    As shown in the alternative embodiment of FIG. 5, the vertical portions of the frame  10  can have the slots to receive the slabs  64  thereby eliminating the 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 .  
         [0058]    Referring back to the preferred embodiment, mounting blocks  48  are put into evidence in their evidence, but they are described in particular in FIGS. 11 and 12. As it can be noted, mounting blocks  48  with its tooth  52  enters within 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 to be integral in the corresponding opening in the element  46 ; this allows to relief the torsion force in the opening and not in the screw  50 .  
         [0059]    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 it can be seen in FIG. 10, in the upper part axis A 2  is used, while in the bottom part axis A 1  is used, this solution concealing the tightening system from the effraction by ill-intentioned, not allowed to reach them from outside.  
         [0060]    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 .  
         [0061]    Characteristic of the elements  46  is that, as it can been 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 noted in FIG. 13.  
         [0062]    Nuts  56  enter within a seat  58 , obtained in the elements  46 , said seats  58 , beside housing the nuts  56 , keep the bridge nuts  56  within the seat  58 , since the seat  58  has elastic features allowing their retaining.  
         [0063]    The last feature is indispensable since, without the same, it would be impossible the wiring of the brackets  54  with the profiles retaining inside the nuts  56  without the possibility of reaching the same.  
         [0064]    The coupling knot has been conceived in this way since all the steel profiles when cut and assembled always have reference quotes and construction tolerances too big.  
         [0065]    Thus, each other attempt to assemble them is never equal to the preceding one. Therefore, making the seats  58  that are better described in FIG. 14, said seats  58  house the coupling nuts  58  in all the outer corners of the wing; a seal quote with zero tolerance is determined both for the transverse elements  46  and the vertical slotted elements  43 , without taking into consideration the shape, but calibrating the depth of the drawing with the position that will be taken by the bracket  54 , to which is entrusted also the prosecution of the ideal alignment of the knot and the oblique part of the seal. In fact, tightening screws, being threaded, do not have the drawback of the tapping screws, that would offset the grip joints, but, on the contrary, since the nuts are realized with sloped planes crimping, it is sufficient to calculate the pulling or the displacement, so that each time the corner is tightened with the bracket  54  and the nuts  56 , a perfect mechanical sealing is obtained independently from the constructive defects of the profiles.  
         [0066]    In FIG. 14, it is put into evidence the mechanical effect of the bridge nut  56 ; 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.  
         [0067]    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 in the vertical seats they are crimped (FIG. 13).  
         [0068]    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, since two wings of the casing, to be closed, require a perfect aligmnent, generally impossible to obtain; reasons for this are due to the not vertical position of the two edges, that never are parallel each other, and to the already mentioned constructive tolerances of the two profiles. But with the open elements  46 , it is obtained the correction effect since edges and can slide in such a way to conform to the vertical elements  43  with the contact planes. This operation is allowed by the nut seat  58 , then by the tightening of the screws  50 , FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, bracket  54  with its bent is shown, said bracket  54  being measure shaped to be fixed close to the drawings obtained both in the transverse element  46  and in the vertical element  43  of FIG. 13. 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  of FIG. 13. The drawn hole  62  is obtained in the bracket  54  for the passage of the sliding bar (not shown), while three holes collimate with zero tolerance with the nut  56  already fixed in the seats  58 . The assembly bracket  54 , nuts  56  and seats  58  are thus integral, being very important for the solidity of the corner wing knot.  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 14 put into evidence seats  58  retaining the nut  56  in a tightening position, also without the screw, before being put under pulling conditions.  
         [0070]    It is well evident that the use of the nuts  56  is consolidated and used also with closed profiles, provided that a perfect execution of the constructive tolerances it ensured, said tolerance being obtained well working in the drawings of the profiles. FIG. 15- 17  show the working of the slab  64 , i.e. in the oval profile that will be inserted in the slotted element  43 . An opening  65  is carried out in the end portion of the width, passing through the two walls of the slab  64 . The installed slab  64  has an angle of  270  with respect to a support wall in the vertical element  43 ; said support wall will be the bucking zone for a square rod  67  inserted therein, passing the oval slab  64 .  
         [0071]    Square rod  67  can also be a round rod  67 , even if the square rod  67  better works for obvious insertion reasons, being provided with a point in the correct direction, while the round rod  67  rotates. However, two systems can be interchangeable. The oval slab  64 , once introduced within the vertical slotted element  43  abuts against the wall with a tapered neck  66  and cannot prosecute 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  is obtained by bucking.  
         [0072]    In FIG. 10, it can be seen the assembly of the oval slabs  64  with the slotted vertical elements  43  that all together create the wing, that is blocked by the insertion of the square or oval rods  67  profiles and using the mounting blocks  48 , put under traction by bolt  68  and by the use of the bracket  54  with its nuts  56 .  
         [0073]    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 realized. In FIGS.  18 - 20 , it is put into evidence the support and meeting plane of the slotted vertical element  43 , on that side of the slots of the Figures only some abutments are put into evidence, to better understand the Figure, as it can be seen they are flush realized with respect to the section of the horizontal transverse elements  46  in such a way that in case one pull the tie rod  70  in the mounting blocks  48 , the knots blocks without any possibility of translating. Since the buckling abutments creates a out of plane condition on the tie rod  70  side, traction would not be correct; furthermore, slots, creating 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 prefixed 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  passing through the slab  64  are in the position, can put the tie rods  70  under pulling condition, with the further object of blocking also the square rods  67 , thus all the knot is tightened on a ribbed insert base with round or square rods  67  participating to the solidity and toughness of the joint.  
         [0074]    Tie rod  70  is a scaling bolt with a head having the same length of the thickness of the tubular vertical element  43 , the object being that of realizing a grip with the transverse elements  46  but maintaining an orthogonal alignment between the tubular vertical element  43  and the base of the measure pre-holed wall. In all cases where the tubular vertical element  43  is very big and it is wished to couple 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, as it can be seen the difference is the reentering base allowing to the oval slab  64  to completely occupy its seat and to give to the esthetical aspect of the part the same dimension of the bottom part or base.  
         [0075]    Frame  10  is shown in FIG. 6, it can be closed on all the four corners, 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 square element, but 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 obtain a deform able ear  78  with a hole for the fixing of the fixing screw, said ear  78 , as it can be seen, passing through the frame  10  within the groove suitably realized and during the blocking it is folded upward, deformation occurring in the relieved point  80 , as it can be seen from FIG. 22, detail already folded, tapping screw  50  blocking the whole within the seat. 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.  
         [0076]    As described in the introduction of the presentation of the state of the art, it is mentioned a gap.  
         [0077]    Since “Advanced Siver” system does not provide two C shaped profiles (variable end) since they are not suitable to the total prefabricated, it is necessary to solve in a different way the problem of the various measures referred to the gaps, thus 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. Transverse portion is represented in a descriptive and not limitative way. In FIG. 24, it can be seen the section of the butterfly element  82  installed in the lowest point of the plate element  84 , the four positions represent a sum 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 placing 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 be occupied to 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°, 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.  
         [0078]    In the Figure it is put into evidence the space that must be recovered at the maximum, to have available another useful slot.  
         [0079]    It is obvious that in this way all the possible cut measures of the slots in 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 slab 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 be always 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 limitative, so that the specification is continued in the same way, and it is assumed that X=42.5 minus. Device divides said measure in four spaces, but it is indifferent if more or less spaces are obtained. In the example, four spaces from 1° to 5° place are sufficient. Butterfly element  82  is positioned in place 1°, see FIG. 24, is blocked by screw  50 , engaging within its seat, thus creating the grip point, pressure coupling the strap sliding all along the frame  10 .  
         [0080]    Parallely, at the opposite, butterfly element  82  grasps in the position of the position plate  84  in the lower point 1°; in this way the starting point has been created for the first quarter of the {fraction (4/4)} of the pitch in case we should recover at most 1/4 of the pitch, in case we should recover {fraction (2/4)} of the pitch, we would arrive to install the butterfly element  82  within the position plate element  84  in place  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 fixed to the upper transverse architrave with the screw  50 . If we consider FIG. 24, butterfly element  82  can deform until the maximum plane from 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 realized to allow to the butterfly element  82  to slide while screw tightens and pulls upward the deformed base point, making the device suitable to the useful limit space of the 1°¼ of the pitch. FIG. 29 shows the butterfly of FIGS. 27 and 26, already deformed in the 1°¼ 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 more 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 .  
         [0081]    Prefabricated steel blind realized by the “Advanced Siver” system can be a consumer good, with a reduced price in view of the solutions adopted after a careful study, thus the grant of patent for industrial invention is required for its global solution.