Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1
Fastener for a sunshade
The invention relates to a fastener for a sunshade having a gripping part to
be
secured to an edge rail of a sunshade and a suspension means to be secured to
a
structural part. The invention also relates to a sunshade having an edge rail
and a
suspension means to be secured to a structural part.
Blinds are often used as sunshades in glazed balconies to prevent excess solar
radiation from entering the balcony. Sunshades are usually fastened to an edge
profile of the balcony glazing by means of separate fasteners having a
gripping
part to be secured to the sunshade and a suspension means to be secured to the
edge profile of the balcony glazing.
Patent documents WO 2007/065972, EP 2677109 and Fl 123588 B describe
sunshade fasteners comprising a gripping part to be secured to an edge rail of
a
sunshade and a hook-shaped suspension means to be secured to an edge profile
of a glazing. In documents WO 2007/065972 and Fl 123588 B, the suspension
means is tightly fitted inside a groove in the edge profile of the glazing,
and, in
document EP 2677109, the suspension means is tightly fitted around one flank
of
the groove in the edge profile. The known fasteners are secured to the edge
profile by using a tight fit between the suspension means and the edge
profile.
This kind of fastening based on a tight fit necessitates that accurately
dimensioned
fasteners must be available for different profiles. However, manufacturing
tolerances and dimensional variances due to thickness variation in the paint
layer
often result in variation in the width of the groove of the edge profile and
of the
flank of the groove, making it sometimes hard to secure the fasteners exactly
in a
desired position on the edge profile, and, the edge profile, or the fastener,
may
have to be machined. In addition, the fasteners described by the documents,
once
installed, are not movable in the longitudinal direction of the edge profile.
Therefore, if the fastener is not installed in the right position at one go,
the fastener
must removed from the edge profile and reinstalled.
Usually, the gripping part of the fastener is first secured to the edge rail
of the
sunshade, and, then, the suspension means of the fastener is secured to the
edge
profile of the glazing. Once the rigid fastener is secured to the edge rail,
the
suspension means thereof is no longer freely pivotable to a desired position.
This
is a disadvantage especially where the edge profile of the glazing is located
behind a cover strip and where the portion of the edge profile serving as the
fixing
point only can be accessed through a narrow slot. These cases do not allow the
2
above-mentioned fasteners to be used without removing the cover strip. Special
problems in the fastening of sunshades are encountered in terrace glazings of
the
sliding glass type in which the glazing has its edge rail, or its rail-free
glass edge,
inserted into a guide profile.
An objective of the invention is to provide a fastener for a sunshade and a
sunshade,
allowing the disadvantages of the prior art to be eliminated.
In accordance with one broad aspect, the sunshade fastener, to which the
invention
relates, has a gripping part to be secured to an edge rail of a sunshade and a
suspension means to be secured to a structural part. The suspension means is
pivotably connected to the gripping part. The gripping part of the fastener is
intended
to be secured into the edge rail of the sunshade. The pivotable connection of
the
suspension means to the gripping part allows the suspension means to be
pivoted
to an appropriate position in each fastening situation where the entire
fastener
cannot be pivoted. As an example, a situation like this arises when the
gripping part
of the fastener is unpivotably secured to the edge rail of the sunshade. The
structural part to which the fastener is to be secured can be a glazing part
of a
balcony or a terrace, a door or a window for instance. The glazing part can
have a
profile, such as an aluminum profile, or, the edge of the glazing part can be
a so-
called free edge having no edging parts. The suspension means comprises an
elongated shaft having a first end connected to the gripping part, and the
suspension
means is adapted to pivot around a pivoting axis parallel to the longitudinal
direction
of the shaft. Preferably, the shaft has a round cross-sectional shape,
allowing it to
pivot in a slot whose width only is slightly greater than the diameter of the
shaft.
In a second preferred embodiment of the sunshade fastener according to the
invention, the shaft has a second end, provided with a hook, the hook having a
tip.
The hook can be suspended from a structural part in such a way that the edge
of
the structural part is received into the hook, between the shaft and the tip.
In a third preferred embodiment of the sunshade fastener according to the
invention,
the suspension means comprises a pivoting member for pivoting the shaft. The
pivoting member allows the shaft to be pivoted around its longitudinal axis to
make
the hook provided in its second end protrude from the shaft in a desired
direction.
Preferably, said pivoting member is provided in the first end of the shaft.
In still another preferred embodiment of the invention of the sunshade
fastener
according to the invention, the suspension means is pivotable to a first
position in
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-04
3
which the hook protrudes from the shaft in a first direction, and, to a second
position
in which the hook protrudes from the shaft in a second direction, the second
direction
being substantially perpendicular to the first direction. This is useful
especially when
the hook must first be fitted through a narrow slot, in the first position
parallel to the
slot, and, after being fitted through the slot, pivoted to the second position
transverse
to the slot, to be suspended from the edge of the structural part. Preferably,
the
suspension means can be unpivotably locked in the first position.
In still another preferred embodiment of the invention of the sunshade
fastener
according to the invention, the suspension means is pivotable to a third
position in
which the hook protrudes from the shaft in a third direction. The third
direction is
substantially opposite to the first direction. The third position of the
suspension
means is intended as a locking position in which the hook of the gripping part
is
engaged with the edge of the structural part. The engagement is due to the
fact that,
in the third position, the edge of the structural part is clamped between the
shaft and
the free end of the hook. Preferably, the suspension means can be unpivotably
locked in the third position. The locking can be carried out by unmovably
supporting
the pivoting member, provided in the first end of the shaft, against the
gripping part
or the edge rail of the sunshade.
In still another preferred embodiment of the invention of the sunshade
fastener
according to the invention, the gripping part and the suspension means are
separate
parts connectable to and removable from each other. Thus, the gripping part
and
the suspension means can be made of different materials having different
properties. Each member can be manufactured in the most appropriate way and
the
separately manufactured members can be connected to each other in an
assembling step. This embodiment allows the fastener to be easily variated by
providing the gripping part with suspension means varying in shaft length
and/or
hook shape, for example. Preferably, the suspension means is a shaped, wire-
like
part made of spring steel.
In still another preferred embodiment of the invention of the sunshade
fastener
according to the invention, the gripping part is a metallic or plastic part
shaped out
of a sheet-like body. Alternatively, the gripping part can be a metallic or
plastic,
molded or injection molded part.
In accordance with another broad aspect, the sunshade, to which the invention
relates, has an edge rail and a suspension means to be secured to a structural
part.
The suspension means is connected into the edge rail to be pivotable around a
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-04
4
pivoting axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the edge rail.
The
pivotable connection of the suspension means to the edge rail allows the
suspension means to be pivoted to an appropriate position in each fastening
situation. The suspension means comprises an elongated shaft having a first
end to
be connected to the edge rail, and the suspension means is adapted to be
pivotable
around a pivoting axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shaft.
In a preferred embodiment of the sunshade according to the invention, the
shaft has
a second end provided with a hook, the hook having a tip. The hook can be
suspended from a structural part in such a way that the edge of the structural
part
is received into the hook, between the shaft and the tip. Preferably, the
suspension
means has a pivoting member for pivoting the shaft.
In a second preferred embodiment of the sunshade according to the invention,
the
suspension means is pivotable to a first position, in which the hook protrudes
from
the shaft in a first direction, and to a second position, in which the hook
protrudes
from the shaft in a second direction, the second direction being substantially
perpendicular to the first direction. The hook of the suspension means, while
it is in
the first position, can extend in a plane substantially parallel to the edge
rail of the
sunshade. Preferably, the suspension means is also pivotable to a third
position in
which the hook protrudes from the shaft in a third direction, the third
direction being
substantially opposite to the first direction.
In a third preferred embodiment of the sunshade according to the invention,
the
suspension means can be unpivotably locked in the first and/or the third
position.
In still another preferred embodiment of the sunshade according to the
invention,
the suspension means is removably connected to the edge rail. Preferably, the
suspension means is a shaped, wire-like part made of spring steel.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-04
CA 02930130 2016-05-13
An advantage of the fastener and the sunshade according to the invention is
that it
allows the sunshade to be secured to structural parts that are difficult to
access,
such as structural parts located behind narrow slots.
Another additional advantage of the invention is that it allows the same
fastener to
5 be secured to structural parts of a different width.
Still another additional advantage of the invention is that the fastener
and/or the
sunshade can be easily variated to suit it to different installation sites by
changing
the structure and/or dimensions of the gripping part and/or suspension means.
In the following, the invention will be described in more detail. The
description
refers to the accompanying drawings wherein
Figure la is an exemplary lateral view of a sunshade fastener according to the
invention,
Figures lb and lc show the gripping part of the sunshade fastener,
Figure Id show the suspension means of the sunshade fastener,
Figures 2a, 2b and 2c show how the fastener according to the invention, while
seated into an edge rail of a sunshade, is suspended from a structural part,
Figure 3 is an exemplary view of a preferred embodiment of the sunshade
fastener
according to the invention, and
Figures 4a and 4b exemplary oblique top views view of a sunshade according to
the invention.
Figure la is an exemplary lateral view of a sunshade fastener according to the
invention. Figures lb and 1 c show the gripping part of the sunshade fastener,
seen from two different directions, and Figure ld shows the suspension means
of
the sunshade fastener. In the following, the content of the above-mentioned
Figures will be described at the same time.
The fastener comprises a gripping part 10 and a suspension means 20 pivotably
connected to the gripping part. The gripping part is a body formed out of a
metal
plate, preferably an aluminum plate, having a sheet-like base 12 with a first
edge
11 and a second edge 13. The first edge of the base is provided with two
gripping
members 14a, 14b in the form of a sheet-like protrusion, the first one of them
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being located in a first end of the first edge and and the second one of them
being
located in a second end of the first edge. The first gripping member 14a is
bent,
from the plane of the base, to a substantially right angle in a first
direction, and the
second gripping member 14b is bent, from the plane of the base, to a
substantially
right angle in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The length
of the
gripping members, in the direction 11 of the first edge, is substantially
smaller than
the length of the first edge. In Figures 1 a to Id, the width of the first
gripping
member, i.e. its protrusion from the plane of the base, is substantially
greater than
the width of the second gripping member. The widths of the gripping members
can
also be equal, or, the width of the second gripping member can be greater than
the width of the first gripping member. By selecting appropriate widths for
the
gripping members, the edge rail of the sunshade can be suspended at a desired
distance from the surface of the structural part, such as a glass sheet of a
balcony
glazing, even in case that the structural part has a wide edge profile. The
gripping
members are co-planar. The second edge 13 of the base has en edging 15 bent,
from the plane of the base, to a substantially right angle in the second
direction.
The first side 12 of the base is fitted with a chased chute 16 protruding from
the
plane of the base and having its longitudinal direction oriented substantially
perpendicular to the plane defined by the gripping members. The chute is
located
on the first side of the base, at the second gripping member, being open on
the
second side of the base. The first end of the chute is open, on the first side
of the
base, near the first edge of the base, and the second end of the chite is
open, on
the first side of the base, near the second edge of the base. Narrow strips of
the
straight portion of the base are left at both ends of the chute.
The suspension means 20 of the fastener is a part shaped out of an elastic
wire
having a round cross-section. Preferably, the suspension means is made of
spring
steel. The diameter of the wire can be 1.0 to 2.0 mm. The suspension means
comprises an elongated straight shaft 22 the first end of which is fitted with
a
straight lever member 24 bent to a substantially right angle from the shaft.
The
free end of the lever member has been provided with a pivoting member 26 by
bending the end of the lever member into the shape of a V lying on its side. A
portion of the suspension means bent into the shape of an acute angle and
forming a locking member 28 for the suspension means is located between the
straight lever member 24 and the pivoting member. The second end of the
suspension means is fitted with a hook 30 having a hook bottom 32, bent to a
substantially right angle from the shaft 22, and a tip 34 further bent to a
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substantially right angle from the bottom. The tip is substantially parallel
to the
shaft 22, and its free end is directed towards the lever member 24. The bottom
32
is substantially parallel to the lever member and extends, from the shaft, in
a
direction opposite to the lever member.
The suspension means 20 is pivotably connected to the gripping part 10 by
fitting
the shaft 22 of the suspension means into the chute 16 of the gripping part.
The
lengths of the bottom 32 and the tip 34 of the hook in the end of the hook are
dimensioned to allow the hook to be pushed from the first or the second end of
the
chute, with the free end of the tip ahead, through the chute, in order to
place the
chute around the shaft of the suspension means, on the first side of shaft,
and in
order to place the straight strips of the base, found at the ends of the
chute, on the
second side of the shaft. The suspension means can be removed from the
gripping part by a reverse action. The width and depth of the chute are
dimensioned in such a way that a small clearance is left between the outer
face of
the shaft inside the chute and the inner face of the chute, to allow the shaft
to be
pivoted. Thus, the suspension means 20 connected to the gripping part 10 is
pivotable, inside the chute, around the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
The gripping part 10 is a body intended to be secured to an edge rail of a
sunshade in a manner that will be described later. The suspension means 20, in
turn, is a part by means of which the fastener is secured to a structural
part, such
as a glazing part of a balcony or terrace, a door or window. The gripping part
10
can also have shape differing from that shown in Figures la to Id. What is
essential for the gripping part is that it comprises gripping members to be
secured
to the edge rail of the sunshade and a connecting point for pivotably
connecting
the suspension means.
Figures 2a, 2b and 2c illustrate, by means a sequence of images, how the
sunshade is fastened to a structural part by using the fastener of the
invention.
The figures only show the edge rail 50 of the sunshade. The actual solar
radiation
protecting part of the sunshade may comprise a zigzag-folded curtain secured
to
the edge rail, or, a plurality of blind laths suspended from the edge rail by
means
of cords. These solar radiation protecting parts are not shown in the figures.
When fastening the sunshade, firstly, a necessary number of fasteners are
secured to the edge rail 50 of the sunshade. As sunshades often are relatively
narrow, two fasteners per edge rail are usually needed to secure them. In this
case, the fasteners are seated in place in the proximity of the ends of the
edge rail.
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,
8
If the sunshade is wide, a larger number of fasteners can be secured to the
edge
rail. The edge rail 50 of the sunshade shown in the Figures has two parallel
sides
52a, 52b the second faces of which are provided with grooves 54 open towards
each other. The gripping part is fastened to the edge rail by first fitting
the gripping
part 10 between the sides in such a way that the gripping members are co-
planar
with the grooves. At this stage, the fastener is pivoted to a position in
which its
base 12 is slightly oblique to the longitudinal direction of the edge rail.
Thereafter,
the base is pivoted to a position parallel to the longitudinal direction of
the edge
rail, thus inserting the tips of the gripping members into the grooves of the
sides. A
compressible band is provided on the upper face of the edge rail (the band is
nor
shown in the figures), pushing the gripping part upwards from the upper face
of the
edge rail and thus increasing the friction force acting between the tips of
the
gripping members and the wall surface of the grooves and securing the fastener
to
the edge rail.
Once the fasteners are secured to edge rail 50, the edge rail is suspended
from an
edge of the structural part. The structural part shown in the Figures, to
which the
sunshade is fastened, is a glass door 200, and the edge rail is fastened to
the
upper edge 202 of the glass door. Likewise, the fastener can be secured to a
free
end of a strip-like part of a window frame profile or a balcony glazing edge
profile.
When fastening the sunshade, firstly, the suspension means 20 of the fastener
is
pivoted to the position required by the structural part. If the fastening
point on the
structural part is freely accessible (as in Figures 2a to 2c), the position of
the
suspension means often is of no importance. However, the fastening point may
sometimes be covered by a cover strip, for example, there only extending a
narrow slot to the fastening point in the installation direction. In this
case, the
suspension means 20 is pivoted to a first position in which the hook 30
provided in
the end of the shaft 22 lies in a plane parallel to the slot, allowing the
hook to be
pushed up to a position above the upper face of the structural part.
The hook 30 of the suspension means 20 is lifted up to a position above the
upper
edge 202 of the structural part 200, and the suspension means is pivoted to a
second position in which the bottom 32 of hook is substantially perpendicular
to
the surface of the structural part. Thereafter, the fastener is lowered with
the result
that the upper edge of the structural part and the bottom 32 of hook are
received
into the hook and against the upper edge, respectively (figure 2b). The length
of
the bottom of the hook is dimensioned to be substantially longer than the
width of
the edge of the structural part. The sunshade is now seated to be suspended
from
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the upper edge of the structural part by the suspension means. The sunshade
suspended by the suspension means is freely movable to the right installation
point along the upper edge of the structural part.
The sunshade is locked in place on the structural part by pivoting the
suspension
means to a third position, whereby the hook 30 provided in the second end of
the
shaft 22 is turned towards to a position parallel to the plane of the
structural part,
and, the distance from the shaft 22 of the suspension means, and from the tip
34
of the hook, to the surface of the structural part becomes smaller. The shaft
is
pivoted to such an extent that that lever member 24 is seated between the
sides of
the edge rail 50, and the shaft is locked in this position by inserting a
locking
member 28 into a groove 54 provided in the first side 52a of the edge rail.
The
upper edge 202 of the structural part, which in this case is glass door 200,
is now
clamped between the shaft 22 of the suspension means and the tip 34 of the
hook
(Figure 2c). In the locking step, the shaft 22 of the suspension means, the
hook 30
and the shaft part are subjected to deformations causing tensional forces in
the
suspension means. These tensional forces maintain the clamping force between
the hook and the upper edge of the structural part, holding the fastener in
place on
the structural part. If necessary, the fastener can be removed from the
structural
part by releasing the locking member out of the groove provided in the edge
rail
and by pivoting the suspension means back to the position shown in Figure 2b.
In
this position, the suspension means can be lifted away from the upper edge of
the
structural part.
Figure 3 is an exemplary lateral view of a preferred embodiment of the
sunshade
fastener according to the invention. The embodiment of the fastener shown in
the
Figure comprises a gripping part 110 and a suspension means 20 pivotably
connected to the gripping part. The suspension means is of the same kind as in
the description of the above-mentioned Figures. Likewise, the gripping part is
mostly of the same kind as in the above-mentioned Figures, i.e. it comprises a
sheet-like base 112 having a first edge 111 and a second edge 113. The first
edge
of the base is fitted with two gripping members in the form of a sheet-like
protrusion of which the first gripping member 114a is bent, from the plane of
the
base, to a substantially right angle in a first direction, and the second
gripping
member is bent, from the plane of the base, to a substantially right angle in
a
second direction opposite to the first direction. In this embodiment, the
second
edge 113 of the base is straight, i.e. without an edging bent to an angle from
the
plane of the base. In addition, the base has a third edge 115 and a fourth
edge
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,
117 extending parallel to each other and in a substantially right angle to the
first
and the second edge.
The first side of the base 112 is provided with a chased chute 116 protruding
from
the plane of the base and having its longitudinal direction oriented
substantially
5 perpendicular to the plane defined by the gripping members. The suspension
means 20 is pivotably connected to the gripping part 110 by fitting the shaft
22 of
the suspension means into the chute 116. The third and the fourth edge have
faces 140, 142 protruding from the plane of the base and created out of the
portions at the third 115 and the fourth edge 117 of the base 112 by shaping.
The
10 edge of the first face 140 directed towards the first side 11
of the base 112 is
provided with a recess 144 to the free edge of which the pivoting member 26
can
be locked while the suspension means is pivoted to its third position shown in
Figure 3, i.e. to a position in which the hook 30 of the suspension means is
locked
to a structural part in the manner described above. The edge of the second
face
142 directed towards the first side 111 of the base 112, is, in turn, provided
with a
protrusion 146 to which the pivoting member 26 can be locked while the
pivoting
member is pivoted to its first position in which the hook 30 of the suspension
means extends in a plane substantially parallel to the base 112 and is
directed
towards the third edge 115 of the base. Thus, in this embodiment, the
suspension
means 20 can be unmovably locked with respect to the gripping part 110 by
locking the pivoting member to the base 112.
Figures 4a and 4b are oblique top views of a sunshade according to the
invention.
In the following, both the Figures will be explained at the same time. The
Figures
only show the edge rail 150 of the sunshade. The actual solar radiation
protecting
part of the sunshade may comprise a zigzag-folded curtain fastened to the edge
rail, or, a plurality of blind laths suspended from the edge rail by means of
cords.
These solar radiation protecting parts are not shown in the Figures. The edge
rail
150 has two parallel sides 152a, 152b the second faces of which are provided
with
ledges 154 facing each other. The first side is fitted with a hole 118 running
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the edge rail and extending,
through
the ledges provided on the side, from the upper face of the first side to the
lower
face of the side. The lower face of the first side shows a lower ledge 156
having
two locking holes 158a, 158b spaced from the the hole 118. The suspension
means 120 is pivotably connected to the edge rail by inserting the elongated
shaft
122 of the suspension means into the hole 118. The second end of the shaft is
fitted with a hook 130 having a tip 134, and, the first end of the shaft,
extending
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11
through the hole 118, is fitted with a pivoting member 126. The length of the
pivoting member is dimensioned to allow its free end to be inserted into the
locking
holes 158a, 158b provided in the lower ledge while the pivoting member is
pivoted
to a position parallel to the edge rail.
In the sunshade shown in Figures 4a and 4b, the suspension means 120 is
pivotably connected to edge rail of the sunshade, directly without a separate
gripping part. The fastening of the sunshade to a structural part takes place
in the
same manner as in the above description of the fastener for a sunshade. When
fastening the sunshade, firstly, the suspension means 120 is pivoted to the
position required by the structural part (the structural part is not shown in
the
Figures). This position can be the first position shown in Figure 4a in which
the
hook 130 provided in the end of the shaft 122 extends in a plane parallel to
the
edge rail 150, allowing the hook to be pushed, through a narrow slot, to a
position
above the upper edge of the structural part.The free end of the gripping part
can
be inserted into the first locking hole 158a to prevent the suspension means
from
being pivoted to a position that makes the installation harder.
The hook 130 of the suspension means 120 is lifted up to a position above the
plane of the upper edge of the structural part and the suspension means is
pivoted
to its second position in which the bottom of the hook is substantially
perpendicular
to the surface of the structural part. Thereafter, the fastener is lowered,
resulting in
that the upper edge of the structural part and the bottom 132 of hook are
received
into the hook and against the upper edge, respectively. The sunshade is locked
in
place on the structural part by pivoting the suspension means 120 to its third
position shown in Figure 4b in which the edge of the structural part is
clamped
between the shaft 122 of the suspension means and the tip 134 of the hook. The
suspension means is locked in this position by fitting the free end of the
pivoting
member 126 into the second locking hole 158b.
The above only described some preferred embodiments of the sunshade fastener
and the sunshade according to the invention. The invention is not restricted
to the
above-described solutions but the inventive idea can be realized in a number
or
ways within the scope defined by the claims.
