The present invention relates to a locking assembly, particularly for awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and the like.

In the field of shades, curtains and the like, shades are known which can slide: of particular interest for the present discussion are vertical sliding shades and shades that slide on slanted surfaces.

Such shades can be motorized for an automatic operation thereof and are generally constituted by a take-up roller onto which and from which, respectively, the shade is wound and unwound.

In order to ensure an effective closure against light, a counterweight is provided which can be associated with the shade at the opposite side with respect to the side associated with the take-up roller, which is arranged at the upper crossbeam of the window or door frame on which the shade is to be installed, and in this manner it is possible to ensure a correct and constant tensioning of the shade.

Such counterweight is typically provided by a movable crossbeam that extends substantially for the entire width of the shade from one post of the window or door frame on which the shade is installed to the other.

Similarly, a similar shape structure can also be found in shades that slide slantwise: the only substantial difference is the inclination of the posts along which the crossmember slides, which are not vertical.

A known technique is to fit such vertically sliding shades with automatic locking devices that are adapted to lock and release, as needed, the shade at its lower stroke limit point, i.e. when the movable crossbeam is arranged at the lower bases of the posts of the window or door frame on which the shade is installed.

Such automatic locking devices of the conventional type are substantially constituted by a slider-guide system that is provided partially on the ends of the movable crossbeam and partially on the posts of the window or door frame at their lower bases.

More precisely, the movable crossbeam, at its ends, is provided with two caps in which contoured channels are provided that have an outward path and a return path, which extend substantially parallel to each other, with arrest portions between them for the temporary locking of two respective pins that are associated with the posts of the window or door frame.

A slider that is elastically articulated on the post can slide in the contoured channel, sliding in the outward path until it locks in descent (and sliding in the return path until its release in ascent, anticipated by a short additional descent).

Such conventional automatic locking devices suffer several drawbacks, including the fact that, since it comprises an outward path and a return path that are substantially parallel to each other, each contoured channel of the two caps is quite large, with consequent increase in the encumbrances of the respective cap.

Reducing the size of the caps and, consequently, bringing the channels closer together, imposes implementations of extreme precision that are not very suited to residential applications (it is unlikely that the walls will be perfectly perpendicular to the floor).

Also, at the same time, the controls of the motors that will be used to move the shade must necessarily be very precise in order to ensure the use of channels that are closer together.

Such extreme precision of the control systems implies a high cost thereof.

Furthermore, the structure of the conventional devices makes it necessary to substitute many parts of the shade, if it becomes necessary to apply the device to awnings that are already installed.

Such substitution operations involve high labor costs which often make the customer abandon the project. It should further be noted that the movable slider is generally arranged proximate to the ground and is particularly subject to the accumulation of sediments and/or dirt which could result in a malfunction thereof (for example by jamming it and/or hindering its movements).

Similar problems are also found with roller blinds, with mosquito screens, with sliding walls and screens and with other, similar components.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a locking assembly, particularly for awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and the like, which can be installed both on new structures and also on existing structures that are already installed without requiring the substitution of parts thereof.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a locking assembly, particularly for awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and the like, which is secure in operation, independently of installation precision and tolerances.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking assembly, particularly for awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and the like, which is simple to install and adjust.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking assembly, particularly for awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and the like, the operation of which cannot be conditioned by any accumulations of dirt and/or sediment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a locking assembly, particularly for awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and the like which is low cost, easily and practically implemented, and safe in use.

This aim and these objects are achieved by a locking assembly, particularly for awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and the like that are provided with at least one guiding track for accommodating one of the lateral ends of said awning, sliding wall, roller blind, mosquito screen and the like, and with at least one lower crossmember that is associated with the lower end of said awning, sliding wall, roller blind, mosquito screen and the like, characterized in that it comprises a bracket, which is coupled to said crossmember, for accommodating a slider that has, at a first end thereof, a tab that can retract with respect to the contour of said bracket, and at least one contoured slider, which is coupled at a predefined height to the at least one guiding track, for the selective accommodation of said tab, with consequent locking of said crossmember on said guiding track, between said slider and an abutment surface of said bracket there being interposed an elastic device for controlling translational movement, of the type used by click pens.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the locking assembly, particularly for awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and the like, according to the invention, which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded axonometric view of a first possible embodiment of a locking assembly, particularly for awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and the like, according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded axonometric view of a second possible embodiment of a locking assembly, particularly for awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and the like, according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a partially exploded axonometric view of the assembly in Figure 1 without the covering housing;

Figure 4 is an axonometric view of the assembly in Figure 1 without the covering housing;

Figure 5 is an axonometric view of the assembly in Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a front elevation view of the assembly in Figure 1 in a first step of operation; Figure 7 is a front elevation view of the assembly in Figure 1 in a second step of operation;

Figure 8 is a front elevation view of the assembly in Figure 1 in a third step of operation, corresponding to the locking of the crossmember;

Figure 9 is a front elevation view of the assembly in Figure 1 in a fourth step of operation, corresponding to the release of the crossmember;

Figure 10 is a schematic view of some of the positions taken by a tab of the assembly 1 during the crossmember locking/release operations;

Figure 11 is a schematic view of other positions taken by a tab of the assembly 1 during the crossmember locking/release operations.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a locking assembly, particularly for awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and the like.

Awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and all similar devices that are adapted to be fitted with the locking assembly 1 according to the invention are provided with at least one guiding track A for accommodating one of the lateral ends of the awning (or screen or roller blind or any other laminar element) and at least one lower crossmember B which is associated with the lower end of the awning (or screen or roller blind or any other laminar element).

The assembly 1 comprises a bracket 2, which is coupled to the crossmember B by way of at least one fixing element.

In particular it should be noted that the bracket 2 will comprise at least one hole for accommodating an element for fixing to the crossmember B, of the type of a screw 3, a rivet, a nail and the like.

In particular it should be noted that at least one slot 4 will be adopted instead of the above mentioned hole in order to enable an adjustment of the positioning of the bracket 2 on the crossmember B.

The bracket 2 is adapted to accommodate a slider 5 that has, at a first end thereof, a tab 6 that can retract with respect to the contour of the bracket 2 proper.

The locking assembly 2 further comprises at least one contoured slider 7, which is coupled at a predefined height to the at least one guiding track A.

The installation height of the slider 7 depends on the usage requirements of the awning (or screen or roller blind or any other laminar element), i.e. at the positioning required for the purposes of the correct use thereof.

The slider 7 is adapted to selectively accommodate the tab 6 of the slider 5, with consequent locking of the crossmember B on the guiding track A.

Interposed between the slider 5 and an abutment surface of the bracket 2, an elastic device 8 is provided for controlling translational movement.

Such elastic device 8 is of the type of that used in click pens: in essence the movement of the tab 6 will be analogous to that of the button for actuating click pens, and this as a result of the abutment of the terminal front of the tab 6 on the shaped regions of the slider 7.

In order to slide easily along the shaped regions of the slider 7, the terminal front of the tab 6 has bevels and connectors that optimize the slideability of the portion thereof that is incident on the shaped regions themselves.

According to a specific embodiment of undoubted practical and applicative interest, the slider 5 has a second end which has a tumbler 9.

The tumbler 9 will preferably be cylindrical and will be provided with at least one radial protrusion 10; the toothed end face 11 of the tumbler 9, with substantially triangular teeth, faces and is proximate to a ring 12 that can rotate about its own axis and is provided with at least one radial expansion 13 in which the front 14 that faces the tumbler 9 is shaped like an inclined plane. Interposed between the bracket 2 and the rotatable ring 12 there is an elastic element for forcing the tab 6, which is integral with the tumbler 9 that is resting on the ring 12, in a configuration that protrudes with respect to the contour of the bracket 2.

Such elastic element will preferably be of the type that has an axial action, such as for example a helical spring that has an axial action 15.

The tumbler 9 and the ring 12 will be accommodated in a channel 16 the inner surface of which has respective selective accommodation notches for the radial protrusions 10 and the radial expansions 13: contiguous notches will be separated by bands that have a profile that is contoured for the abutment of the terminal front 14 of the radial expansions 13 themselves.

In keeping with the above description, the notches and the bands will be entirely analogous to the tracks defined on the inner face of the tubular bodies of click pens: the protrusions of the respective tumblers and rings of the pen can in fact slide in such tracks, or one of the protrusions of the ring can rest on the edges thereof.

Any further details of the possible shape structures of the notches and of the bands can thus be gleaned from observing the various different implementation solutions adopted for the provision of tracks in the tubular bodies of click pens.

The tab 6, following to the abutment on the contoured slider 7, will be movable between a configuration of maximum protrusion and a configuration of minimum protrusion; between such two limit configurations there will further be a configuration of stable intermediate protrusion, at which the at least one radial expansion 13 of the rotatable ring 12 rests on a corresponding band which is arranged between two contiguous notches of the channel 16.

The operation of the elastic device 8 for controlling translational movement that is constituted by the tumbler 9, by the ring 12 and by the spring 15 is intuitive and substantially analogous to the operation that occurs in a click pen: the retraction of the tumbler 9 (as a consequence of the retraction of the tab 6) determines a partial rotation of the ring 12 with consequent modification of the abutment surface of the tumbler 9 on the ring 12, such as to modify the protrusion at rest of the tab 6.

As noted previously, the bracket 2 for accommodating the slider 5 comprises at least one slot 4 for adjustable fixing, along the longitudinal direction of the slot 4, to the crossmember B. It is for example possible for there to be just one slot 4 (although an embodiment that comprises two separate slots 4 is preferable) through which to carry out the previous positioning and fixing.

Once the correct installation position has been determined, we can proceed with the positioning of other locking screws 3, for example of the self-tapping type, which will make it possible to rigidly lock the bracket 2 to the crossmember B permanently.

According to a specific applicative solution, the contoured slider 7 comprises, on its front edge that faces and is proximate to the crossmember B when the assembly 1 is in the locking configuration, a first inclined plane 17, which is arranged in an upper region, the protrusion of which increases from the upper end of the edge to an intermediate plane 18.

Below such intermediate plane 18, a second, short inclined plane 19 is provided, the protrusion of which decreases: such second inclined plane 19 merges into a recess 20 of predefined depth.

The recess 20 will stably accommodate the tab 6 when the assembly 1 is in the configuration of locking the crossmember B to the guiding profile A.

Below such recess 20, a third inclined plane 21 is defined, the protrusion of which increases from the lower end of the recess 20 (that constitutes its upper end) up to a lower end plane 22.

At the descent of the crossmember B (for example when a shade has to be deployed to screen a predefined area) the tab 6 will come into contact with the first inclined plane 17: its shape structure will determine a retraction of the tab 6 (with consequent compression of the spring 15 and retraction of the ring 12 with consequent rotation thereof by the action of the triangular toothing of the edge 11 of the tumbler 9).

The tab 6, retracted, will then slide along the intermediate plane 18 and on the second inclined plane 19 (again increasing its protrusion from the bracket 2 during the descent).

Once the second inclined plane 19 is passed, the tab 6 will arrive in the recess 20 with a further increase of the corresponding protrusion from the bracket 2 by the action of the spring 15.

Once this configuration is reached, thus interrupting the descent stroke of the crossmember B, it will be impossible for the latter to perform a retrograde motion.

In essence, if the action of the wind on the awning (or on another laminar element and the like) tends to inflate it, with consequent lifting of the crossmember B, this will be prevented by the stable insertion of the tab 6 in the recess 20.

In order to ensure a correct tensioning of the awning (or other screen or laminar element or roller blind and the like), it will be appropriate, when the tab 6 arrives in the recess 20, to apply an upward traction to try to lift the crossmember B. The latter, being coupled to the respective guiding profiles A by way of the locking assemblies 1 , cannot move upward: there will thus be a traction applied to the awning (or other screen or laminar element or roller blind and the like) that will ensure a better operation thereof.

When it is desired to raise the awning (or other screen or laminar element or roller blind and the like) it will thus be necessary to release the crossmember B by allowing it to descend further along the guiding profiles A.

In this additional descent step the tab 6 will come to rest on the third inclined plane 21 which will cause a further retraction thereof until it is brought to the configuration of stable intermediate protrusion at which the at least one radial expansion 14 of the rotatable ring 12 rests on a corresponding band which is arranged between two contiguous notches of the channel 16.

At this point it is possible to begin the reascent of the crossmember B (for example rolling up the awning, screen, laminar element, roller blind and the like) which will bypass the wall that delimits the recess 20 (since the tab 6 is retracted and does not interfere with it).

Continuing to ascend, the tab 6 will come into contact with the second inclined plane 19 which will make the tab 6 re-enter further until it imposes a further rotation of the ring 12 (owing to the triangular toothing of the tumbler 9 which acts on the surfaces thereof that are resting on it) thus aligning the at least one radial expansion 14 of the rotatable ring 12 with a respective notch of the channel 16.

At this point the tab 6 is free to exit completely from the bracket 2: it will then proceed first along the intermediate plane 18 and then on the first inclined plane 17, until it leaves them behind (thus only assuming from this point onward the maximum possible protrusion from the bracket 2).

It is convenient to note that the contoured slider 7 comprises, on the opposite face to the front edge, an abutment surface 23 that is designed to abut against a respective fixing area of the guiding track A.

Interposed between the slider 7 and the guiding track A are mutual anchoring means such as for example screws, rivets, nails, double sided adhesive tape and/or adhesives. The possibility is not ruled out of fixing the slider 7 to the rail A using processes such as welding, brazing and the like. The slider will advantageously comprise adapted angular profiles 24 in order to ensure the correct alignment during assembly.

According to a specific application of the present invention that is particularly efficient and is shown by way of example in the enclosed Figure 2, the slider 5 can comprise a cylindrical body having the tab 6 at a first end and the tumbler 9 at a second end; the cylindrical slider 5 can in such case be accommodated slideably within at least one adapted guide of the bracket 2, such as for example an adapted channel 16.

In such embodiment, the slider 5 comprises a main block 25 that is slideably coupled to the bracket 2.

The main body 25 in turn comprises the lower tab 6, which is arranged below the bracket 2, within a longitudinal groove C of the crossmember B in the arrangement for operation.

The main body 25 further comprises the tumbler 9 on the surface that faces the centerline of the crossmember B.

The bracket 2, in such case, will comprise a through slit 26 for the movable accommodation of an interconnection support which is interposed between the lower surface of the main block 25 and the lower tab 6.

The main block 25 in turn comprises an oblong element 27 on the lower face of which is associated, by way of the interconnection support mentioned previously, the lower tab 6, and a frame 28 that is at least partially hollow in order to accommodate the oblong element 27 proper.

The bracket 2 will comprise guiding means 29 for specific lips 30 of the frame 28 for the guided sliding of the slider 5.

It should further be noted that the frame 28 will further comprise a contoured recess 31 for the accommodation of the complementarily shaped head 32 of the tumbler 9.

The complementarily shaped head 32 is arranged opposite the toothed end face 11 , with substantially triangular teeth, of the tumbler 9.

It should be noted that in this embodiment the tab 6 can have a tip 33 at its other end, which is designed to ensure the correct alignment of the tab 6 when sliding within the groove C.

It is convenient to note that the ring 12, which can rotate about its own axis, can advantageously be provided with a stem 34 that protrudes from the front that faces the tumbler 9.

In turn the tumbler 9 will comprise an axial cavity 35 for accommodating the protruding stem 34.

The ring 12 will thus be partially inserted in the tumbler 9 in order to ensure the correct coupling and alignment of the two elements.

It should be noted that there is a bottom 36 that is provided with a recess 37; the bottom 36 can be detachably coupled to the bracket 2, downstream of the channel 16.

The recess 37 is adapted to accommodate an elastic element that has an axial action, for example the spring 15, in abutment against the opposite surface of the ring 12 with respect to the surface that is provided with the stem 34.

The entire locking assembly 1 can be protected by way of a covering housing 38 of detachable type: the fixing of the housing 38 can be done, for example, by way of a latch 39 that is accommodated in the housing 38 proper and is engageable with the groove C through an opening 40 in the housing 38 and an opening 41 in the bracket 2.

It should be noted that the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 lends itself to being efficiently applied to crossmembers B that are provided with a longitudinal groove C.

The embodiment shown by way of example in Figure 2 is adapted to be installed on any type of crossmember B: thus it is a particularly advantageous applicative solution in that it can be easily installed on awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and the like that are already installed, without any modification thereto being required.

In such case it should be noted that the contoured slider 7 has shims that are adapted to ensure the alignment of its front edge with the tab 6.

Conveniently, the present invention solves the previously mentioned drawbacks, by providing a locking assembly 1, particularly for awnings, sliding walls, roller blinds, mosquito screens and the like, which can be installed both on new structures and also on existing structures that are already installed without requiring the substitution of parts thereof.

Advantageously, the locking assembly 1 according to the invention ensures a secure operation, independently of installation precision and tolerances.

Conveniently the locking assembly 1 according to the invention is simple to install and adjust.

Conveniently the operation of the locking assembly 1 according to the invention cannot be conditioned by any accumulations of dirt and/or sediment (the covering housing 38 prevents the accumulation of sediment on the portions of the assembly 1 that are subject to movement).

Conveniently the locking assembly 1 according to the invention is low cost, easily and practically implemented and furthermore is safe in use.

The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. BO2013A000125 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.